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Rechargeable battery assembly having data and power connector plug

Rechargeable battery assembly having data and power connector plug description/claims

This application is a continuation from U.S. application Ser. No. 11/211,934 filed Aug. 25, 2005, which claims priority from British Patent Application No. 0425967.7 dated 25 Nov. 2004, the content of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes;

Not Applicable.

The present invention relates to a rechargeable battery assembly. The invention relates in preferred embodiments generally to a rechargeable battery that has a deployed configuration forming a regular battery format and a collapsed configuration where an integral connector is revealed that can fold out to enable the battery to be plugged into a suitable ‘Bus’ socket on a computing device for recharging, such as a standard or miniature USB (‘Universal Serial Bus’) connector socket. Preferred battery formats are generally cylindrical AAA, AA, C or D types.

An ongoing problem with rechargeable batteries is their general dependency on an external recharging unit, plug and AC socket, which are often unavailable when recharging is required. Whilst attempts have been made to embed North American style mains supply connectors within large battery assemblies, these require access to a US AC socket. Furthermore all such approaches require a geographic specific plug or connector. Our preferred embodiments provide an integrated and mechanically compact solution for small batteries that are suitable for enabling universal recharging from a general portable or desktop computing device in any territory. This provides a modern rechargeable battery solution in standard formats readily suitable for portable computing accessories such as input devices, digital cameras and media players.

There is substantial and diverse prior art relating to rechargeable batteries in general, both on custom battery formats and transformers with embedded sockets and connectors, some where the connectors fold or slide to reduce profile. There are also many examples of recharging cradles for holding a plurality of batteries that connect either to a mains supply or in some case via a cable or directly to a USB connector or for custom batteries (such as a mobile phone). Various prior art exists on mechanical methods of collapsing the two flat prongs forming a North American mains supply socket, either to reduce format in a transformer or to store within a large format battery such as a C or D type.

By way of example U.S. Pat. No. 4,086,523 by Izumi (1978) shows an example of a large battery encasing sprung folding North American socket connectors and provides a detailed prior art description documenting various related rechargeable battery approaches, from US 2,876,410 by Fry through to U.S. Pat. No. 3,665,285 by Mullersman et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,622,507 by Persen (1986) discloses an integrated battery and re-charger for a large format battery with a removable mains plug. Similarly U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,567 by Yeh (1995) discloses a battery with integral mains supply connectors that slide out from the large format battery. Various other mechanical solutions appropriate for large format batteries and North American AC sockets are searchable within these patent families. Of particular note is the connector approach disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,805 by Aragon for connecting a sleeve over AC power blades on an external plug connected to a socket. Whilst a strip containing AC power slits has been used in a similar manner on previous art, the inclusion of this as a small flexible strap is perhaps the only prior art identified that proposes a method of embedding a AC power connector within the small form factor batteries such as AA and AAA that do not have space for supporting rigid AC power blades internally. However, this approach is only appropriate in combination with an external North American plug and AC mains supply so does not address the geographic issue.

Prior art also exists at the ornamental or aggregate assembly level for various portable electronic devices such as memory cards, media players, digital cameras that have methods of enclosing or reducing the impact of a connector, such as a rigid USB, by having a removable lid, sliding cover, or overall hinge mechanism. By way of example U.S. Pat. No. 6,456,500 by Chen, shows a typical memory device employing a sliding sheath and slot to enclose a projecting adapter to protect it during transportation. Similarly the more recent U.S. Pat. No. 6,808,400 by Tu discloses a specific structure for protecting the USB with a spring sliding element.

However, despite the large volume of granted patents covering various approaches for rechargeable batteries with integral connectors, either as custom devices or devices forming an existing standard format, the prior art has not addressed or presented a mechanical approach of integrating a generic USB or other computer peripheral connector into a small format battery that can form a typical battery in one configuration in which it can be used in an identical way to the standard format battery, and can form a further configuration in which the peripheral connector is exposed and deployed suitable for recharging. Furthermore, no approach has presented a mechanical method of providing a USB connector in such a manner as to be integrated within a battery assembly, either as a flexible configuration or as a rigid folding configuration or in such a manner as to form a reduced section suitable for fastening within a USB socket. Similarly no prior art examined has proposed a battery adaptor suitable for converting an AAA battery into a AA format with an integral external connector. Nor has it disclosed the approach of embedding recharging circuitry within the USB connector volume itself.

According to the present invention, there is provided a rechargeable battery unit; and, a data and power connector plug; the battery assembly having a deployed configuration in which the battery assembly has the general form of and functions as a conventional battery format, and a recharge configuration in which the data and power connector plug is made accessible to enable said connector to be connected to a suitable receptacle on a computing or peripheral device for recharging of the battery.

The connector plug is preferably a USB connector. Alternatively, a FireWire connector or other suitable connector type can be used. The present invention preferably provides a rechargeable battery with integral USB connector that forms a typical and standard small battery format, such as an AAA, AA type or larger format, with a recharge configuration that reveals a USB connector suitable for convenient recharging in a portable or desktop computing device, without the typical geographic problem associated with recharging batteries of carrying a separate recharging adaptor or unit for charging directly in AC mains sockets. The battery therefore provides a universal battery suitable for using in many devices and particularly in computing peripherals, such as input devices, digital music players and cameras. A further advantage of the invention is to provide a rechargeable battery with integral USB in an AA format that can receive a standard rechargeable AAA battery unit providing manufacturing efficiency or the option for a consumer to recharge their individual AAA batteries.

Preferably, the rechargeable battery unit has a smaller length than said battery assembly, and said connector is located adjacent said rechargeable battery unit and is rigidly supported directly or indirectly by said rechargeable battery unit. The rechargeable battery unit may be a discrete unit provided separately from said connector. Alternatively, the rechargeable battery unit may incorporate at least part of the connector or circuitry or support therefor within the battery unit.

In a further preferred embodiment the rechargeable battery assembly comprises a cap for covering the data and power connector plug in the deployed configuration. The cap may have a first terminal and the battery assembly may have a second terminal to deliver current to a load connected between the first and second terminals. The cap may have a prong for making an electrical connection between the first terminal and the rechargeable battery unit thus bypassing the connector. The rechargeable battery assembly could be implemented in a compact AA cylindrical format with a sliding outer sub-section or end-cap, and a rigid USB connector that could be either a micro or standard format, and using a reduced length AA type internal battery encased within the overall assembly.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the rechargeable battery assembly comprises a casing for containing the rechargeable battery unit and the connector. The battery assembly may have at least one terminal formed on a movable section of the battery casing, and the movable section of the battery casing may be movable to make the connector accessible. The connector may be made accessible by sliding a sub-section of the casing relative to the rest of the casing, the sub-section having a hole through which said connector can pass upon said sliding. As an alternative, the connector can be made accessible by sliding a sub-section of the casing relative to the rest of the casing to allow the connector to pivot out of the casing to an accessible position.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the connector is constructed and arranged to be able to fold between a rigid form suitable for making a said connection when the battery assembly is in said recharge configuration, and a storage form suitable for being accommodated within the envelope of said battery assembly conventional battery format when the battery assembly is in said deployed configuration. The connector may be formed from two units hinged and sprung together along a central axis, where each unit supports a respective power and data connection prong and supports side plates that are sprung hinged or fixed, such that the connector in its rigid form has a partial box-section with rigid sides arranged in a perpendicular fashion.

The rechargeable battery assembly, of the present invention, in a preferred embodiment comprises an outer case formed to be a regular cylindrical battery format in a deployed or storage configuration, which supports a sliding sub-section, internal recharging circuitry and a folding integral connector that is accessible in the charging configuration. The outer casing may be generally shaped to be AAA or AA format with a standard metallic positive prong at one end and a flat metallic face on the opposite end where the face is directly hinged to the outer casing or may support sprung hinging flaps to allow a connector to protrude in the charging configuration. The integral connector in a preferred configuration is a micro (Series B) or full-size (Series A) USB connector plug comprising two power and two data prongs and is connected to local USB control circuitry to regulate power recharging. The USB connector may preferably be formed as a collapsible sub-assembly by hinging along a central axis and along the metallic edges to allow a more compact storage configuration within an AA or AAA battery. The overall USB assembly may be connected to a folding axis, to enable the USB to rotate for easier access in the charging configuration. The collapsible USB assembly may be formed with a reduced cross-section profile consisting primarily of two sides and a base to reduce the overall storage volume whilst maintaining the ability of locking securely within a respective USB socket. The sliding sub-section in a preferred configuration would consist of a sub-section of the outer shell that can slide relative to the outer casing and may preferably be supported by a shaped section with appropriate rails and grooves.

In a preferred embodiment the rechargeable battery assembly has a casing and a first standard battery format, said rechargeable battery unit has a second standard battery format smaller than said first standard battery format so that the rechargeable battery unit can be contained in the casing, the rechargeable battery unit being removable from said battery assembly. The rechargeable battery assembly may be implemented in an AA cylindrical format with a sliding outer sub-section, and a hinged folding sub-assembly USB connector that is stored by collapsing around a smaller AAA cylindrical format battery stored within the overall assembly. The AAA battery is accessible and replaceable by folding the hinged metallic base of the outer casing, such that the overall assembly acts as a converter of an AAA to AA battery format and to support the folding USB assembly for recharging. The sliding outer sub-section is preferably connected to an internal support structure, that is shaped to fix within the outer cylinder and support two guide rails for locking and allowing sliding of the outer partial cylindrical shell sub-section, and also preferably forms rotation pins for supporting the folding USB axis. The structure maybe shaped internally to provide a cylindrical groove for positioning and enabling sliding of the AAA battery. The overall structure may support internal wiring or electrical connectivity to connect the sliding battery to both the outer AA end faces and to the USB control circuitry and connector. The hinged metallic base may preferably support the USB control chip circuitry. The overall mechanism may support sprung biasing means such that the USB sub-assembly spring folds together and folds open as the sliding sub section is fully open and secured over a release catch, with a corresponding reverse action by folding the USB inwards onto the locking catch on the sliding sub-section allowing it to return to the closed storage configuration.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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