Battery connector structures for electronic devices

• US 7,965,495 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Brock, John, Goldberg, Michelle Rae, Hendren, Keith J., Ching, Hank D., Coster, Daniel J., Ligtenberg, Chris, Wheelock, Glenn E., Mathew, Dinesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards; Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US12/340,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20100091451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• 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 1/188 Mounting of power supply units

Abstract

A portable computer is provided that has a housing. A removable battery may provide power to the portable computer. A connector on the battery may mate with a corresponding battery connector in the portable computer housing. The battery connector may be mounted in the portable computer housing using a floating arrangement. This allows the position of the connector to move slightly to accommodate variations in the position of the battery. A cable may be used to route power between the battery and a main logic board. A cover may be used to hold the battery connector and cable to the housing of the portable computer without excessively impeding movement of the connector.

Claims

1. A battery connector structure for an electronic device having a housing, comprising:

a cable;

a battery connector attached to the cable; and

a cover mounted to the housing that covers the cable while allowing the cable to float with respect to the housing along a length of the cable that is between the cover and the housing to accommodate variations in battery connector position.

2. The battery connector structure defined in claim 1 wherein the cover comprises a sheet of material having a plurality of perforations.

3. The battery connector structure defined in claim 1 wherein the cover comprises a metal sheet and wherein there are perforations over substantially all of the metal sheet.

4. The battery connector structure defined in claim 1 wherein the cover comprises a sheet of material having an opening and wherein the battery connector protrudes through the opening when the cover is mounted to the housing.

5. The battery connector structure defined in claim 4 wherein the battery connector has lateral dimensions and wherein the opening is configured to have lateral dimensions that are larger than the lateral dimensions of the battery connector so that the battery connector translates laterally to accommodate variations in battery connector position.

6. The battery connector structure defined in claim 5 wherein the cover is mounted to the housing on a planar surface of the housing, wherein the cable has a vertical dimension perpendicular to the planar surface, and wherein the cover has a vertical dimension that is greater than the cable vertical dimension so that the battery connector and the cable translate laterally to accommodate variations in battery connector position.

7. A portable computer, comprising:

a housing;

a printed circuit board having circuitry;

a cable connected on one end to the printed circuit board;

a battery connector on another end of the cable; and

a cover with which the cable and battery connector are mounted to a planar inner surface of the housing, wherein the cover is configured to provide clearance that allows the cable to move relative to the cover and the housing when the cover is mounted to the planar inner surface.

8. The portable computer defined in claim 7 wherein the cover comprises a metal sheet that covers substantially all of the cable.

9. The portable computer defined in claim 7 wherein the cover comprises a sheet of material having edges that are attached to the planar inner surface.

10. The portable computer defined in claim 9 wherein the cover comprises a metal sheet having an array of at least ten holes.

11. The portable computer defined in claim 7 further comprising a midwall member under which the cable is routed.

12. The portable computer defined in claim 7 wherein portions of the cover are configured to define an opening through which the battery connector protrudes and connects to a battery.

13. The portable computer defined in claim 12 wherein the opening is substantially rectangular and wherein the portions of the cover are further configured to define screw holes at either end of the rectangular opening.

14. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

circuitry on a printed circuit board mounted within the housing;

wires connected to the circuitry;

a battery connector that is attached to the wires;

a battery with a connector that mates with the battery connector attached to the wires; and

a planar cover that is attached to the housing and that holds the wires to a planar inner surface of the housing, wherein the planar cover has an opening through which the battery connector protrudes and wherein the planar cover is configured to provide clearance that allows the wires and the battery connector that is attached to the wires to move when the connector of the battery mates with the battery connector attached to the wires.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the planar cover comprises a sheet of material and a strip of adhesive interposed between the sheet of material and the planar inner surface.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the opening comprises a first opening, wherein the planar cover has a portion that defines a second opening wherein the second opening is between the planar cover and the housing when the planar cover is attached to the and housing, wherein the wires pass through the second opening between the planar cover and the housing.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the planar cover comprises a sheet of material and a strip of adhesive interposed between the sheet of material and the planar inner surface and wherein the first opening comprises a rectangular opening through which the battery connector protrudes to mate with the battery.