Battery pack

• US 9,385,403 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2010
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Stokes, Robert M., Friebel, Timothy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crepeau, Jonathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Buchanan, Jacob
• Application Number:
  US12/941,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20120114983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,066 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• 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: H01M 50/269 Mechanical means for varying the arrangement of batteries or cells for different uses, e.g. for changing the number of batteries or for switching between series and parallel wiring methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance H01M6/50, H01M10/42
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/291 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/50 Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

In certain embodiments, an apparatus comprises a battery housing and mechanical switches. The battery housing is configured to house one or more batteries and comprises a connector configured to provide current to a device. A surface of the battery housing forms slots, where each slot is configured to receive a battery. Each mechanical switch is coupled to a slot and is configured to allow current from the battery to flow to the connector if a battery is received in the slot, and to pass current through the slot if a battery is not received in the slot.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a battery housing configured to house multiple batteries, the battery housing comprising a connector configured to provide current to a device, a surface of the battery housing forming a plurality of slots, each slot configured to receive at least one of the batteries; and

a plurality of switches, each switch associated with one of the slots and configured to;

when at least one of the batteries is present in the associated slot, allow current from the at least one battery to flow to the connector; and

when the associated slot is empty, pass current through the associated slot;

wherein the plurality of switches includes at least one switch that is a spring-loaded mechanical shorting lever switch comprising a lever pivotable about a fulcrum, a spring, and a contact, wherein the fulcrum, the spring, and the contact are disposed on a same surface of the lever;

wherein, when the slot associated with the spring-loaded mechanical shorting lever switch is empty, a decompression force of the spring against the lever and against the housing causes the contact and the battery housing to physically touch and electrically short together; and

wherein, when at least one of the batteries is present in the slot associated with the spring-loaded mechanical shorting lever switch, the at least one battery and the lever physically separate the contact from the battery housing to open the spring-loaded mechanical shorting lever switch by compressing the spring.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the battery housing comprises:

a battery carrier having the surface forming the plurality of slots; and

a battery container comprising a vessel configured to receive the battery carrier.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the battery housing comprises:

a battery carrier having the surface forming the plurality of slots; and

a battery container removably coupled to the battery carrier.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the battery housing comprises:

a vessel having the surface forming the plurality of slots.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the battery housing comprises:

a vessel configured to receive the batteries; and

a lid configured to removably couple to the vessel to reduce passage of an external substance into the vessel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of switches comprises a mechanical switch configured to selectively (i) open to allow current from at least one of the batteries to flow to the connector and (ii) close to pass current.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one other switch of the plurality of switches comprises an electrical switch configured to selectively (i) allow current from at least one of the batteries to flow to the connector and (ii) pass current.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a hot shoe connector.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each switch in the plurality of switches comprises a spring-loaded mechanical shorting lever switch.

10. A method comprising:

receiving multiple batteries in a plurality of slots of a battery housing, each slot configured to receive at least one of the batteries and having a switch, the battery housing comprising a connector configured to provide current to a device; and

for each switch;

when at least one of the batteries is present in the associated slot, allowing current from the at least one battery to flow to the connector using the switch; and

when the associated slot is empty, passing current through the associated slot using the switch;

wherein the plurality of switches includes at least one switch that is a spring-loaded mechanical shorting lever switch comprising a lever pivotable about a fulcrum, a spring, and a contact, wherein the fulcrum, the spring, and the contact are disposed on a same surface of the lever;

wherein, when the slot associated with the spring-loaded mechanical shorting lever switch is empty, a decompression force of the spring against the lever and against the housing causes the contact and the battery housing to physically touch and electrically short together; and

wherein, when at least one of the batteries is present in the slot associated with the spring-loaded mechanical shorting lever switch, the at least one battery and the lever physically separate the contact from the battery housing to open the spring-loaded mechanical shorting lever switch by compressing the spring.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing the current from the batteries to the device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving the batteries comprises:

receiving the batteries into a battery carrier of the battery housing; and

receiving the battery carrier into a battery container of the battery housing.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving the batteries comprises:

receiving the batteries into a vessel of the battery housing; and

reducing passage of an external substance into the vessel using a lid.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein, for at least one of the plurality of switches:

allowing the current from at least one of the batteries to flow to the connector comprises opening a mechanical switch to allow current from the at least one battery to flow to the connector; and

passing the current through one of the slots comprises closing the mechanical switch to pass current through the slot.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein, for at least one of the plurality of switches, allowing the current from at least one of the batteries to flow to the connector and passing the current through one of the slots comprise:

when a live battery terminal is detected in one of the slots, allowing the current from the at least one battery to flow to the connector; and

when a live battery terminal is not detected in one of the slots, passing current through the slot.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a battery housing configured to house multiple batteries, the battery housing comprising a connector configured to provide current to a device, a surface of the battery housing forming a plurality of slots, each slot configured to receive at least one of the batteries, the battery housing comprising;

a battery carrier having the surface forming the plurality of slots;

a battery container comprising a vessel configured to receive the battery carrier; and

a lid configured to removably couple to the vessel to reduce passage of an external substance into the vessel; and

a plurality of switches, each switch associated with one of the slots and configured to;

when at least one of the batteries is present in the associated slot, allow current from the at least one battery to flow to the connector; and

when the associated slot is empty, pass current through the associated slot;

wherein the plurality of switches includes at least one switch that is a spring-loaded mechanical shorting lever switch comprising a lever pivotable about a fulcrum, a spring, and a contact, wherein the fulcrum, the spring, and the contact are disposed on a same surface of the lever;

wherein, when the slot associated with the spring-loaded mechanical shorting lever switch is empty, a decompression force of the spring against the lever and against the housing causes the contact and the battery housing to physically touch and electrically short together; and

wherein, when at least one of the batteries is present in the slot associated with the spring-loaded mechanical shorting lever switch, the at least one battery and the lever physically separate the contact from the battery housing to open the spring-loaded mechanical shorting lever switch by compressing the spring.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of the plurality of switches comprises a mechanical switch configured to selectively (i) open to allow current from at least one of the batteries to flow to the connector and (ii) close to pass current.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one other switch of the plurality of switches comprises an electrical switch configured to selectively (i) allow current from at least one of the batteries to flow to the connector and (ii) pass current.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the connector comprises a hot shoe connector.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the connector is configured to be coupled to an imaging system.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the connector is configured to be coupled to a helmet.