Battery

• US 8,199,469 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2009
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Coish, Robert L., Hopkinson, Ron, Raff, John, Ligtenberg, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Edmonds, Lisa Lea
• Application Number:
  US12/580,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20100310916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.02
• US Class Current: 361/679.02
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making

Abstract

By being embedded in a portable computing device, a battery pack is made essentially inaccessible to unauthorized users, thereby allowing for a battery pack that can be made smaller and of lighter construction material, thereby facilitating greater component density within the portable computing device, lower cost to manufacture, and more environmentally secure. In another embodiment, the battery pack can take the form of a battery assembly formed of a single piece housing having a cantilever portion to provide additional stiffness.

Claims

1. A computing device, comprising:

a flexible housing;

a load transferring inner frame;

a load absorbing layer arranged to mechanically couple the housing and the inner frame;

a structural support layer connected to the load transferring inner frame; and

a battery assembly mechanically connected to the load transferring inner frame, wherein when a load is applied to the flexible housing, the applied load is transferred by way of a load path to the structural support layer without substantially affecting the flexible housing, wherein the load path includes the battery assembly, the battery assembly comprising;

a single piece battery housing configured to provide structural support to battery components included therein, the single piece housing formed of durable material, wherein the single piece battery housing comprises;

a top portion, the top portion arranged to provide protection to a plurality of battery components and to provide connectors for securing the battery to the housing, and

a cantilever beam portion, the cantilever beam portion integrally formed with the top portion and extending along a lower edge of the top portion, the cantilever beam portion enhancing a resistance to flexing of the battery housing; and

a lightweight minimum Z stack impact bottom layer attached to the cantilever beam portion and at least some of the battery components by way of a high bond adhesive, the lightweight bottom layer having a thickness that does not substantially impact the Z stack of the battery assembly.

2. The computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein battery assembly is attached to the inner frame by at least one tamper-resistant fastener that can be manipulated only by a customized tool.

3. The computing device as recited in claim 2, wherein the battery assembly includes at least one specially shaped recess arranged to accommodate the at least one tamper-resistant fastener in such a way as to allow meaningful access to the at least one tamper resistant fastener only with a customized tool.

4. The computing device as recited in claim 1, further comprising an electrical connector arranged to electrically connect circuits external to the battery assembly with circuits and battery cells internal to the battery assembly.

5. The computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the minimum Z stack impact bottom layer has a thickness of about 0.1 mm.

6. The computing device as recited in claim 5, wherein the minimum Z stack impact bottom layer comprises MYLAR.

7. The computing device as recited in claim 5, wherein the protective layer comprises stainless steel.

8. The computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer housing includes a plurality of frame members attached to an inside surface of the computer housing.

9. The computing device as recited in claim 8, wherein the high bond adhesive is VHB.

10. The computing device as recited in claim 8, wherein the plurality of frame members includes a rear frame.

11. The computing device as recited in claim 10, wherein at least one of the connectors used to secure the battery assembly to the computer housing by way of the rear frame is a tamper resistant fastener.