Patent Application
20070236170
The present invention is generally related to electronic devices requiring battery power, more particularly, to systems and methods for arranging multiple batteries in a housing.
Many electronic devices rely on power provided from one or more dry cell batteries that must be inserted within a housing in a certain orientation in order to safely provide the proper voltage. The batteries may fit within the electronic device itself or may be housed in a separate enclosure and be coupled by a cord.
Night vision systems include image intensification, thermal imaging, and fusion monoculars, bioculars, binoculars, and goggles, whether hand-held, weapon mounted, or helmet mounted. In helmet-mounted applications, a battery pack may be coupled to the back of the helmet with a releasable connector and electrically coupled to the monocular, bioculars, binoculars, or goggles with a cable having a connector at one or both ends.
For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other objects, features and advantages, reference should be made to the following detailed description which should be read in conjunction with the following figures wherein like numerals represent like parts:
The contacts C1-C8 may be submerged from the lower surface of the upper PWB 108 a distance “d1” to prevent electrical contact from being made with a battery if the battery is installed upside down. Other mechanical features/spacers, for example protrusions, washers, or insulators, may be substituted to prevent electrical contact from being made with a battery if the battery is installed upside down.
The batteries B1-B8 may be inserted in pairs starting from the middle, for example B4 and B5 (e.g. 3vdc batteries) may be inserted to provide 6vdc for a determinable duration. Additional batteries B3 and B6; B2 and B7; and B1, B8 may be inserted for increased duration. When the batteries B4, B5; B3, B6; B2, B7; and B1, B8 are inserted, a potential equivalent to the series voltage across the battery pairs may be provided to the second connector 120. Eight batteries are shown, but other quantities may be used without departing from the invention.
One or more diodes D1-D4 or other electrical components may be electrically coupled to each battery or battery pair to prevent one battery from charging/discharging another battery.
The lower housing 104 of the battery enclosure 100 may have pockets P1-P8 for accepting the batteries B1-B8 and holding them generally upright. The batteries being disposed next to each other, and not arranged end-to-end. The pockets P1-P8 may be sized to allow the batteries B1-B8 to be easily inserted, but not tip away from vertical enough to hinder connection of the upper housing 102 to the lower housing 104. Before connecting the upper housing 102 to the lower housing 104, the batteries B1-B8 may rest on top of the uncompressed spring contacts S1-S8 and after connecting the upper housing 102 to the lower housing 104 the spring contacts S1-S8 may be compressed. The height H1 of the pockets P1-P8 from the top of the uncompressed spring contacts S1-S8 to the top of the lower housing 104 before the upper housing 102 is secured to the lower housing 104 may be designed such that greater than 50% of the battery is within the lower housing 104, more preferably greater than 60%. The pockets may be generally cylindrically shaped and sized to allow the batteries B1-B8 to be installed, but not move significantly from side-to-side. The diameter of the pocket may be within 0.030″ of the maximum specified diameter of the batteries B1-B8.
The first connector 110 may have an upper portion 110U and a lower portion 110L with a plurality of mating contacts 130U and 130L along a mating surface. First connector 110 may form part of an electrical circuit for electrically coupling the batteries B1-B8.
Threaded fasteners 140 may be used to secure the upper housing 102 to the lower housing 104 and a gasket 124 may provide a water-tight seal. A retainer 160 may be used to prevent separation of the upper housing 102 from the lower housing 104.
According to one aspect, there is provided a battery enclosure having a lower housing having two or more pockets for accepting batteries and an upper housing configured to cooperate with the lower housing. The enclosure also having a connector having two or more conductors for coupling to an electronic device and an electrical circuit configured such that when two or more batteries are inserted in the pockets all in the same orientation a potential is provided at the first connector approximately equal to the sum of the voltage of the batteries in series, the electrical circuit having an electrical component in series with the connector and a first battery to prevent the first battery from charging/discharging a second battery.
In another aspect, there is provided a battery enclosure having a lower housing having two or more pockets for holding a battery in a first orientation and a connector having two or more conductors, the connector being coupled to a selected one of the upper housing and the lower housing, the conductors coupling pairs of batteries in series, the connector having a first conductor for coupling only current through a first battery and a second battery and a separate second conductor for coupling only current through a third and fourth battery.
Although several embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein, the invention is not limited hereto. It will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that various modifications can be made without materially departing from the novel and advantageous teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed herein are by way of example. It is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not to be limited thereby.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/660,791, filed Mar. 11, 2006, the entire disclosures of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60660791 | Mar 2005 | US |
