Battery pack with built in communication port

• US 7,019,420 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Yakhnich, Vladimir, Kogan, Eduard
• Primary Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US10/610,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20040263117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 307/150, 320/107, 320/112, 320/114, 439/352, 439/76.1, 361/683, 361/807, D14/41, 455/90.3, 455/575.1, 455/575.7, 228/246
• US Class Current: 307/150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A system and method for providing a communication port integral with a battery pack assembly is disclosed. The system provides a pathway between an external unit and a host unit via a printed circuit board of the battery pack. The battery pack can include communication ports mounted on the printed circuit board for interfacing with external units. The printed circuit board further includes a substrate(s) formed with a predetermined wiring pattern electrically and/or mechanically joined to the CPU of the host unit, as well as the battery cell(s).

Claims

1. A battery pack system that provides power to a portable terminal comprising:

a printed circuit board encased within a battery pack that passes signals between an external unit and the portable terminal, the printed circuit board extending substantially parallel to a battery cell of the battery pack, the battery pack comprising an upper housing and a lower housing, the battery cell in spaced relation to the circuit board via a latch member that assembles the upper housing with the lower housing, and

at least one communication port connected to the printed circuit board, the at least one communication port accessible to the external unit.

2. The battery pack system of claim 1, the printed circuit board comprising a flexible printed circuit board.

3. The battery pack system of claim 2, the flexible printed circuit board comprising bump electrodes.

4. The battery pack system of claim 1, the communication port mounted on a side of the printed circuit board.

5. The battery pack system of claim 1, the signals comprising communication data.

6. The battery pack system of claim 1, the battery cell coupled to the circuit board.

7. The battery pack system of claim 6, the battery cell powers the portable terminal via the printed circuit board.

8. A method for a portable terminal having a battery pack, to communicate with an external unit assembly comprising:

receiving a signal from the external unit at a communication port coupled to a printed circuit board of the battery pack, to battery pack comprising an upper housing and a lower housing and further comprising a battery cell coupled to the printed circuit board, the battery cell positioned in spaced relation to the printed circuit board via a latch member that assembles the upper housing with the lower housing; and

transferring the signal via printed circuit board to the portable terminal.

10. The method of claim 8, storing the battery cell within the battery pack comprising a top housing and a bottom housing.

11. The method of claim 10, the battery pack comprises a plurality of contact points for providing access to the printed circuit board.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising disposing bump electrodes on the printed circuit board.

13. The method of claim 8, powering the portable terminal with the battery cell via the printed circuit board.

9. A battery pack for a mobile terminal comprising:

a communication port mounted on a printed circuit board of the battery pack, the battery pack comprising an upper housing and a lower housing and further comprising a battery cell in spaced relation to the circuit board via a latch member that assembles the upper housing with the lower housing the battery cell powers the portable terminal via the printed circuit board; and

means for transferring a signal to the portable terminal.