Battery pack system

• US 10,629,886 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2017
• Issued: 04/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Dabov, Teodor
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, James
• Application Number:
  US15/465,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20170194618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 429 93
• 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 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/058 Construction or manufacture
• 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 2010/4271 Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/00 Safety devices for primary or secondary batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/572 Means for preventing undesired use or discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4911 including sealing

Abstract

An improved battery pack and system including such battery pack is disclosed. The battery pack includes a power control module positioned to allow for increased battery power or reduced battery pack size.

Claims

1. A battery pack for an electronic device, the battery pack comprising:

a housing;

a main logic board in the housing;

a battery portion having a bottom surface located on a top surface of the main logic board, the battery portion located in the housing and between a top surface of the housing and the main logic board;

an electrode connected to the battery portion; and

a power control module separate from the main logic board, laterally adjacent to the main logic board, and directly contacting the electrode, wherein the bottom surface of the battery portion is further located over a top surface of the power control.

2. The battery pack for an electronic device of claim 1 further comprising electronic circuitry attached to a bottom side of the main logic board.

3. The battery pack for an electronic device of claim 1 wherein the battery portion is a lithium-ion battery.

4. The battery pack for an electronic device of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a laptop computer.

5. The battery pack for an electronic device of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a portable media player.

6. The battery pack for an electronic device of claim 1 wherein the power control module is outside the battery portion.

7. The battery pack for an electronic device of claim 1 wherein the power control module is not located in the battery portion.

8. A battery pack for an electronic device, the battery pack comprising:

a housing;

a main logic board in the housing;

a battery portion in the housing;

an electrode in the housing and attached to the battery portion; and

a power control module directly contacting the electrode, wherein the main logic board and power control module are separate structures and are laterally adjacent to each other, and the battery portion completely overlies the power control module and at least partially overlies the main logic board.

9. The battery pack for an electronic device of claim 8 wherein the main logic board is positioned beneath the battery portion.

10. The battery pack for an electronic device of claim 8 wherein a portion of the electrode forms a U-shape.

11. An electronic device comprising:

a battery pack including;

a housing;

a main logic board in the housing;

a battery portion located in the housing;

an electrode connected to the battery portion; and

a power control module directly connected to the electrode, the power control module external to the battery portion,

wherein the main logic board and power control module are located relative to each other in a first direction, and the battery portion is located relative to both the main logic board and the power control module in a second direction, the first direction orthogonal to the second direction.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein the housing is flexible.

13. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein the housing has an inverted tray shape including a top surface and four sides, each side attached to the top surface of the housing.

14. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein the battery portion is located between a top surface and four sides of the battery pack housing and a top side of the main logic board.

15. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein the battery portion is a lithium-ion battery.

16. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein the power control module is not located in the battery portion.

17. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein a top side of the power control module is attached to a top side of the electrode.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 further comprising electronic circuitry attached to a bottom side of the main logic board.