Battery pack for electronic device

• US 6,803,144 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2001
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kanninen, Mika, Nummentalo, Nina, Hovi, Jussi, Astala, Jari
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parsons, Thomas H
• Application Number:
  US10/033,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20030082441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 429/123, 429/96, 429/97, 429/99, 429/100, 429/7, 264/272.21
• US Class Current: 429/123
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/10 Temperature sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery pack for use with a cellular telephone device includes a flat battery cell assembly encased by a resin using low temperature molding techniques or injection molding techniques under low pressure. An interface assembly cap provides an electrical connection means between the cell assembly and the cellular telephone device with which it is used. The resin molded cell assembly accommodates a smaller physical size than preformed plastic battery packs without sacrificing relative available power density.

Claims

1. A battery pack for an electronic device comprising:

a battery cell assembly having a flat profile construction comprising a first end portion defining a face portion and a second end portion opposite said first end portion and defining a bottom end portion, a positive voltage reference potential contact and a negative voltage reference potential contact located on said face portion, a first major face surface and a second major face surface disposed opposite said first major face and located between said face portion and said bottom portion;

an interface assembly cap comprising an electrical circuit board assembly and located between said face portion and said bottom portion, having a size and shape for complementary engagement with said face portion of said battery cell assembly far providing an electrical connection means between said battery cell assembly and the electronic device, said interface assembly cap further providing an electrical connection to said battery cell whether the battery pack is positioned within or outside the electronic device; and

a resin encasing said interface assembly cap and said battery cell assembly to seal and hold the battery pack to together.

2. The battery pack as defined in claim 1, wherein said resin further comprises a low temperature melting resin.

3. The battery pack as defined in claim 2, wherein said resin further comprises a polyamide.

4. The battery pack as defined in claim 1, further comprising a thin foil wrapped around said battery cell assembly.

5. The battery pack as defined in claim 4, wherein said thin foil further comprises an adhesive foil.

6. The battery pack as defined in claim 4, wherein said thin foil further comprises a non-metallic/non-conducting adhesive foil.

7. The battery pack as defined in claim 1, wherein said interface assembly cap further comprises a holder having a size and shape for complementary engagement with said face end portion of said battery cell assembly and for holding said electrical circuit board assembly.

8. The battery pack as defined in claim 7, further comprising a low-temperature melting resin encasing said holder and said interface assembly cap.

9. The battery pack as defined in claim 8, wherein said interface assembly cap further comprises electrical connection contacts for providing external access to said respective positive and negative voltage reference potentials contacts.

10. The battery pack as defined in claim 9, wherein said voltage reference potential electrical connection contacts are positionally located in accordance with the positional locations of the voltage reference potential contacts of the electronic device with which the battery pack is used.

11. The battery pack as defined in claim 10, further comprising means for aligning the battery pack when positioned within the electronic device.

12. The battery pack as defined in claim 1 for use in a cellular telephone.

13. A method for molding a battery pack for an electronic device comprising the steps of:

providing a battery cell assembly having a flat profile construction comprising a first end portion defining a face portion, a second end portion disposed opposite said face portion and defining a bottom end portion, a first major face surface and a second major face surface disposed opposite said first major face and located between said face end portion and said bottom end portion, and having a desired shape and size and a positive voltage reference potential contact terminal and a negative voltage reference potential contact terminal;

providing an electrically conductive means for interfacing between the battery cell assembly and the electronic device;

electrically connecting the electrically conductive means to the battery cell assembly wherein the positive voltage potential contact terminal is connected to the positive voltage supply path of the electrically conductive means and the negative voltage potential contact terminal is connected to the negative voltage supply path of the electrically conductive means;

placing the electrically conductive means and the battery cell assembly into a mold;

positioning and maintaining the electrically conductive means adjacent to and in contact with the face end portion of the battery cell assembly;

closing the mold;

pouring a low temperature melting resin into the mold thereby encasing the electrically conductive means and battery cell assembly in the resin to seal and hold the battery pack together; and

removing the thus molded battery pack from the mold.

14. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the step of pouring further comprises pouring a polyamide.

15. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the step of pouring further comprises pouring a polyurethane.

16. The method as defined in claim 13, further comprising the step of molding under low pressure.

17. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the step of providing an electrically conductive means further comprises providing an electrical circuit board assembly.

18. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the step of providing an electrically conductive means further comprises providing a gold-plated nickel conductor.

19. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the step of placing into a mold further comprises placing into a metal mold.

20. A battery pack for a cellular telephone comprising:

a battery cell assembly having a flat profile construction comprising a first end portion defining a face portion, a second end portion disposed opposite said face portion and defining a bottom end portion, a first major face surface and a second major face surface disposed opposite said first major face and located between said face end portion and said bottom end portion, and having a desired shape and size and a positive voltage reference potential contact terminal and a negative voltage reference potential contact terminal;

an interface assembly cap comprising an electrical circuit board assembly defining an electrical conductive path between the battery cell assembly and the cellular telephone for interfacing the battery cell assembly and the cellular telephone, wherein the electrical conductive path has a positive voltage potential contact electrically connected to the battery cell assembly positive voltage reference potential contact terminal and a negative voltage reference potential contact electrically connected to the battery cell assembly negative voltage reference potential contact terminal, said positive and negative voltage potential contacts located and positioned for contact with the positive and negative voltage reference potential contact terminals of a cellular telephone with which the battery pack is used; and

a resin encasing said interface assembly cap and said battery cell assembly to form a relatively thin wall molded battery pack.

21. A battery pack as defined in claim 20, wherein said resin further comprises a low temperature melting resin.

22. The battery pack as defined in claim 21, wherein said resin comprises a polyamide.

23. The battery pack as defined in claim 21, wherein said resin comprises a polyurethane.

24. The battery pack as defined in claim 21, wherein said electrical conductive path further comprises charging control circuitry.

25. The battery pack as defined in claim 21, wherein said electrical conductive path further comprises battery cell voltage and current monitoring and status indication circuitry.

26. The battery pack as defined in claim 21, wherein said electrical conductive path further comprise interfacing connection means between the battery cell assembly and charging control circuitry in the cellular telephone.

27. The battery pack as defined in claim 21, wherein said electrical conductive path further comprises interfacing connection means between the battery cell assembly and battery cell monitoring and status indication circuitry in the cellular telephone.