Radio communication equipment

• US 6,529,714 B1
• Filed: 05/19/1999
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Mobile Communications Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Yutaka, Koike, Noboru
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US09/314,148
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/550, 455/128, 455/347, 455/348, 455/351, 455/573, 439/500, 429/97, 429/123, 320/111, 320/112
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/716 Coupling device provided on the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A radio communication equipment including a housing and a battery pack to be attached to said housing, said radio communication equipment having a male connector of a floating connector provided on said housing, and a female connector the floating connector provided on said battery pack to engage with said male connector.

Claims

1. A radio communication device comprising:

a housing defining a battery storage recess and configured to store radio communication equipment;

a casing shaped to store a battery cell and configured to fit in the battery storage recess of the housing;

a first connector supported by the casing and shaped to define a concave portion, the first connector having a contact electrically connected to the battery cell;

a second connector shaped to define a convex portion protruding away from the housing so as to fit within the concave portion of the first connector, the second connector having a contact electrically connected to the radio

communication equipment stored in the housing, the contact of the second connector configured to be electrically connected to the contact of the first connector; and

wherein the contact of the second connector is arranged to selectively move relative to the housing and bias against the contact of the first connector when the convex portion of the second connector is fitted within the concave portion of the first connector and while the casing selectively moves relative to the housing.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the convex portion of the second connector is configured to protrude away from an inner wall of the battery storage recess of the housing.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a lid shaped to cover the casing and be attached to the housing.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the lid is shaped to fit around different casings.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first connector comprises a female connector and the second connector comprises a male connector.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the contact of the second connector is configured to move relative to the housing while maintaining an electrical connection with the contact of the first connector.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the second connector protrudes away from the housing along a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the housing.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the contact of the second connector is configured to move along a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the housing.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein a central axis of the concave portion of the first connector extends along a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the casing.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the second connector protrudes away from the housing along a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the housing.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the contact of the second connector is configured to move along a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein a central axis of the concave portion of the first connector extends along a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the casing.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the contact of the second connector comprises a cantilever member configured to move relative to a pivot point.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the second connector comprises a connector block supported by the housing and the cantilever member is configured to move relative to the connector block.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the first connector comprises a connector block defining a first wall of the concave portion, and the contact of the first connector defines a second wall of the concave portion.

16. A battery device for use with an electrical circuit comprising:

a housing having a recess and arranged to support the electrical circuit;

a casing configured to support a battery cell and be inserted into the recess of the housing;

a first connector supported by the casing and arranged to define a groove, the first connector having a contact element extending inside the groove and electrically connected to the battery cell;

a second connector supported by the housing and arranged to protrude within the groove defined by the first connector when the casing is inserted into the recess of the housing, the second connector having a contact element electrically connected to the electrical circuit supported by the housing, the contact element of the second connector being arranged to be electrically connected to the contact element of the first connector; and

wherein the contact of the second connector moves relative to the housing and biases against the contact element of the first connector when the casing is inserted into the recess of the housing and while the casing selectively moves relative to the housing.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the second connector protrudes away from an inner wall of the battery storage recess of the housing.

18. The device of claim 16, further comprises a lid shaped to cover the casing and be attached to the housing.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the first connector comprises a female connector and the second connector comprises a male connector.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the contact element of the second connector is configured to move relative to the housing while maintaining an electrical connection with the contact element of the first connector and the electrical circuit supported by the housing.

21. The device of claim 16, wherein the second connector protrudes away from the housing along a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the housing, and the contact element of the second connector is configured to move along a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the housing.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein a central axis of the groove defined by the first connector extends along a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the casing.

23. The device of claim 16, wherein the second connector protrudes away from the housing along a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the housing, and the contact element of the second connector is configured to move along a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein a central axis of the groove defined by the first connector extends along a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the casing.

25. The device of claim 16, wherein the contact of the second connector comprises a cantilever member configured to move relative to a pivot point.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the second connector comprises a connector block supported by the housing and the cantilever member is configured to move relative to the connector block.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the first connector comprises a connector block defining a first wall of the groove, and the contact element of the first connector defines a second wall of the groove.

28. A device for electrically connecting a battery to a circuit board comprising:

a housing arranged to support the circuit board;

a casing configured to support the battery and be connected to the housing;

a female connector having a connector block supported by the casing and defining a groove portion, and a contact electrically connected to the battery;

a male connector having a connector block supported by the housing and shaped to protrude away from the housing and fit within the groove portion defined by the connector block of the female connector when the casing is connected to the housing, the male connector having a contact electrically connected to the circuit board supported by the housing, the contact of the male connector arranged to be electrically connected to the contact of the female connector; and

wherein the contact of the male connector moves relative to the housing and is biased against the contact of female connector when the casing is connected to the housing and while the casing selectively moves relative to the housing.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the housing is shaped to define a casing storage recess and the casing is shaped to fit within the casing storage recess when the casing is connected to the housing.

30. The device of claim 28, wherein the connector block of the male connector protrudes away from an inner wall of the casing storage recess of the housing.

31. The device of claim 28, further comprising a lid shaped to cover the casing and be attached to the housing.

32. The device of claim 28, wherein the contact of the male connector moves relative to the housing and the connector block of the male connector while maintaining an electrical connection with the contact of the female connector and the circuit board supported by the housing.

33. The device of claim 28, wherein the male connector protrudes away from the housing along a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the housing, and the contact of the male connector moves along a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the housing.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein a central axis of the groove portion defined by the female connector extends along a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the casing.

35. The device of claim 28, wherein the male connector protrudes away from the housing along a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the housing, and the contact of the male connector moves along a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein a central axis of the groove portion defined by the female connector extends along a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the casing.

37. The device of claim 28, wherein the contact of the male connector comprises a cantilever member configured to move relative to a pivot point on the connector block of the male connector.

38. The device of claim 28, wherein the connector block of the female connector defines a first wall of the groove portion, and the contact of the female connector defines a second wall of the groove portion.

39. A battery pack, for use in a radio communication equipment enclosed in a housing, mounted in a battery compartment comparted by attaching a lid to the housing, the battery pack being enclosed in a casing and having a longitudinal portion and a lateral portion, the housing including a first connector block having a projection, the projection projecting in a first direction such that the battery pack is mounted in the compartment, the first connector block having a first contact with elasticity along a second direction intersecting the first direction, the battery pack comprising:

a second connector block having a groove portion provided at the lateral portion in the casing of the battery pack without projecting from the casing, the second connector block having a second contact; and

wherein, when the battery pack is mounted in the battery compartment, the first connector block mates with the second connector block, and the elasticity of the first contact biases the first contact against the second contact.

40. A connector for electrically connecting a radio communication apparatus with a battery pack for use in a radio communication equipment enclosed in a housing, the battery pack being mounted in a battery compartment comparted by attaching a lid to the housing, the battery pack being enclosed in a casing of the battery pack, the battery pack having a longitudinal portion and a lateral portion, the connector comprising:

a female connector portion including a first connector block having a groove portion provided on the lateral portion in the casing of the battery pack without projecting from the casing, the female connector block having a first contact;

a male connector portion including a second connector block having a projection provided on the housing, the projection projecting along a first direction such that the battery pack is mounted in the compartment, the male connector portion having a second contact having elasticity along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and

wherein, when the battery pack is mounted in the housing, the second connector block mates with the first connector block, and the second contact contacts the first contact based on the elasticity of the second contact.

41. The connector of claim 40, wherein the second direction is substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the longitudinal portion of the battery pack.

42. The connector of claim 40, wherein the male connector is arranged to contact an inner wall of the groove portion of the first connector block of the female connector when the second connector block mates with the first connector block.

43. The connector of claim 40, wherein the male connector includes a rectangular portion and the groove portion of the first connector block of the female connector is rectangular.

44. A radio communication equipment comprising:

a housing shaped to enclose the radio communication equipment and define a battery compartment;

a battery pack enclosed in a casing and including a longitudinal portion and a lateral portion, the battery pack being configured to be mounted in the battery compartment comparted by attaching a lid to the housing;

a first connector block including a groove portion provided at the lateral portion in the casing of the battery pack without projecting from the casing, and a first contact;

a second connector block including a projection supported by the housing so as to project along a first direction such that the battery pack is mounted in the battery compartment of the housing, the second connector block mating with the first connector block, and a second contact having elasticity along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the second contact being in contact with the first contact when the second connector block mates with the first connector block.

45. The equipment of claim 44, wherein the second direction is substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the longitudinal portion of the battery pack.

46. The radio communication equipment of claim 44, wherein the projection of the second connector block substantially encloses the second contact of the second connector block.

47. The radio communication equipment of claim 44, wherein the projection of the second connector block is arranged to contact an inner wall of the groove portion of the first connector block when the second connector block mates with the first connector block.

48. The radio communication equipment of claim 44, wherein the projection of the second connector block is substantially rectangular and the groove portion of the first connector block is substantially rectangular.

49. A battery powered equipment comprising:

a housing shaped to define a battery compartment;

a battery pack enclosed in a casing and including a longitudinal portion and a lateral portion, the battery pack being configured to be mounted in the battery compartment comparted by attaching a lid to the housing;

a first connector block including a groove portion provided at the lateral portion in the casing of the battery pack and including a first contact; and

a second connector block including a projection supported by the housing so as to project along a first direction such that the battery pack is mounted in the battery compartment of the housing, the second connector block mating with the first connector block, and the second connector block including a second contact having elasticity along a second direction, the second contact being in contact with the first contact when the second connector block mates with the first connector block.

50. A battery powered equipment comprising:

a housing shaped to define a battery compartment;

a battery pack enclosed in a casing and including a longitudinal portion and a lateral portion, the battery pack being configured to be mounted in the battery compartment comparted by attaching a lid to the housing;

a first connector block including a groove portion provided at the lateral portion in the casing of the battery pack and including a first contact;

a second connector block including a projection supported by the housing so as to project along a first direction such that the battery pack is mounted in the battery compartment of the housing, the second connector block mating with the first connector block, and the second direction and being in contact with the first contact when the second connector block mates with the first connector block.

51. A battery pack for use in a battery powered equipment enclosed in a housing, mounted in a battery compartment comparted by attaching a lid to the housing, and having a longitudinal portion and a lateral portion, the housing including a first connector block having a projection, the projection projecting in a first direction such that the battery pack is mounted in the compartment, the first connector block having a first contact with elasticity along a second direction, the battery pack comprising:

a second connector block including a groove portion provided at the lateral portion in the casing of the battery pack, and the second connector block having a second contact; and

wherein when the battery pack is mounted in the battery pack compartment, the first connector block mates with the second connector block, and the elasticity of the first contact biases the first contact against the second contact.

52. A battery pack for use in a battery powered equipment enclosed in a housing, mounted in a battery compartment comparted by attaching a lid to the housing, and having a longitudinal portion and a lateral portion, the housing including a first connector block having a projection, the projection projecting in a first direction such that the battery pack is mounted in the compartment, the first connector block having a first contact, the battery pack comprising:

a second connector block including a groove portion provided at the lateral portion in the casing of the battery pack, and the second connector block having a second contact; and

wherein when the battery pack is mounted in the battery pack compartment, the first connector block mates with the second connector block, and the first contact is biased along the second direction and is in contact with the second contact.

53. A connector for electrically connecting an electrical component with a battery pack for use in a battery powered equipment in a housing, the battery pack being mounted in a battery compartment comparted by attaching a lid to the housing, the battery pack being enclosed in a casing of the battery pack, the battery pack having a longitudinal portion and a lateral portion, the connector comprising:

a female connector portion including a first connector block having a groove portion provided on the lateral portion in the casing of the battery pack, the female connector block having a first contact;

a male portion including a second connecter block having a projection provided on the housing, the projection projecting along a first direction such that the battery pack is mounted in the compartment, the male connector portion having a second contact having elasticity along a second direction; and

wherein, when the battery pack is mounted in the housing, the second connector block mates with the first connector block, and the second contact contacts the first contact based on the elasticity of the second contact.

54. A connector for electrically connecting an electrical component with a battery pack for use in a battery powered equipment enclosed in a housing, the battery pack being mounted in a battery compartment comparted by attaching a lid to the housing, the battery pack being enclosed in a casing of the battery pack, the battery pack having a longitudinal portion and a lateral portion, the connector comprising:

a female connector portion including a first connector block having a groove portion provided on the lateral portion in the casing of the battery pack, the female connector block having a first contact;

a male portion including a second connector block having a projection provided on the housing, the projection projecting along a first direction such that the battery pack is mounted in the compartment, the male connector portion having a second contact to be biased along a second direction; and

wherein, when the battery pack is mounted in the housing, the second connector block mates with the first connector block, and the second contact is biased to the first contact along the second direction and contacts the first contact.