Configurable battery connector

• US 6,638,086 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2001
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PAG Limited
• Original Assignee: PAG Limited
• Inventors: Lavender, Alan Howard, Roberts, Peter Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, P. Austin
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUONGCHI T
• Application Number:
  US09/957,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20020048981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 439/171, 439/166, 439/342, 439/343, 439/345, 439/350, 439/246, 439/836, 439/32, 439/49, 439/151, 439/500, 439/172-175, 439/176, 439/224, 439/217, 439/218, 439/131, 439/136, 320/106, 320/110
• US Class Current: 439/171
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/267 having means for adapting to batteries or cells of different types or different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A configurable battery connector (20) is provided for accommodating a plurality of different battery types (10). The connector (20) includes a plurality of slots (24, 26) for receiving enlarged headed connectors of a battery and two sets of electrical terminals (32, 34), each for a specific battery type. The electrical terminals (34) of one of the sets of terminals are provided on movable members (36, 38) which are coupled together to as to move from a first configuration in which these terminals (34) are active to a second configuration in which they are located behind a face plate (22) of the connector (20) and out of use, such that the terminals (32) of the other set of terminals are active. A latch keeps the connector (20) in one of its two configurations while a plurality of springs bias it to the other configuration when the latch is released. The connector allows different battery types to be attached to cameras, chargers and the like without the need for an adapter.

Claims

1. A configurable battery connector including at least one mechanical coupling designed to couple different battery types to the connector and at least two sets of electrical terminals connectable to electrical terminals of a battery, the mechanical coupling being reconfigurable to couple batteries which are mechanically dissimilar from one another to the connector, the electrical terminals being reconfigurable to be able to connect different configurations of battery terminals to the connector, each set of electrical terminals including at least one electrical terminal and being designed for an individual battery type, each set being configurable to accommodate its associated battery type, the connector being provided with a reconfiguring mechanism operable to reconfigure the connector automatically upon coupling of a battery to the connector, wherein the electrical terminals of one set are electrically isolated from an incompatible battery connected to the connector.

2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the electrical terminals of one set are located in a different plane relative to the electrical terminals of another set.

3. A configurable battery connector including at least one mechanical coupling designed to couple different battery types to the connector and at least two sets of electrical terminals connectable to electrical terminals of a battery, the mechanical coupling being reconfigurable to couple batteries which are mechanically dissimilar from one another to the connector, the electrical terminals being reconfigurable to be able to connect different configurations of battery terminals to the connector, each set of electrical terminals including at least one electrical terminal and being designed for an individual battery type, each set being configurable to accommodate its associated battery type, the connector being provided with a reconfiguring mechanism operable to reconfigure the connector automatically upon coupling of a battery to the connector, wherein the electrical terminals of one set are electrically isolated from an incompatible battery connected to the connector and said electrical terminals are movable to a position in which they cannot contact the electrical terminals of an incompatible battery when such battery is coupled to the connector.

4. A connector according to claim 3, wherein the electrical terminals of one set are located in a different plane relative to the electrical terminals of another set.

5. A configurable battery connector including at least one mechanical coupling designed to couple different batteries having different configurations of connector plate to the connector and a plurality of electrical terminals connectable to electrical terminals of a battery, the mechanical coupling being reconfigurable to couple batteries which are mechanically dissimilar from one another to the connector, the electrical terminals being reconfigurable to be able to connect different configurations of battery terminals to the connector, wherein the connector is provided with a reconfiguring mechanism operable to reconfigure the connector automatically upon coupling of a battery to the connector.