The present invention relates generally to battery contacts and, more particularly, to a battery contact assembly for maintaining circuit continuity.
Electronic portable devices typically use some form of removable battery pack for powering the device. Cantilever spring battery contacts are often used to bring power from the removable battery pack to a printed circuit (PC) board located in the device. Based on a range of design tolerances, these springs have a minimum beam length and height. Due to the nature of the springs these contacts can take up valuable PC board space. An example of this type of electronic device is a two-way radio transceiver.
One problem associated with battery packs of this type occurs when they are subjected to adverse conditions such as a fall or drop onto a hard surface. This subjects the battery pack and its associated electrical contacts to such high “g” loads that the impact often temporarily disconnects the battery from the electronic device. This, inturn, can cause a condition often referred to as “reset” where information stored in static memory may be lost during the time this discontinuity occurs. Moreover, in situations where these types of batteries are used in public safety applications, such as a two-way radio transceiver for police and fire personnel, the transceiver may be in an “off” state where the user is unaware of this situation and important communications could be missed. Although redundant battery contacts have been used in battery packs of the prior art, this solution often requires a great deal of physical space making the battery contact area larger than can be accepted for required design parameters.
Accordingly the need exists for a battery contact assembly having high reliability that requires a limited amount of surface area for preventing reset conditions of an electronic device in adverse conditions.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
Before describing in detail embodiments that are in accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to a battery contact assembly. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
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A grounding contact 207 is a single cantilevered contact used to provide a ground return path. In order to keep the overall size of the contact block 201 as small as possible, the ground contact 207 is made as only a single unitary contact with additional redundancy for the ground return available through the redundancy ground contact 111. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the primary contact 203, sensing contact 205 and grounding contact 207 may each be connected directly to a printed circuit board through connecting points 219, 211, 213 or may be connected using fasteners or direct wire connections.
Finally,
Thus, the present invention is a high reliability battery contact assembly which solves the problem of providing battery power contact redundancy in a substantially small battery contact header. The contact block includes redundant power (B+) contacts, one sense contact and an additional single ground contact connected directly with the printed circuit board. A second or redundant ground contact is used which is integrated into the rear metallic casting of the electronic device. In that redundant ground contact on the casting, electronic parts can be placed directly below the redundant contact on the printed circuit (PC) board. This ultimately saves valuable PC board space while still providing contact redundancy and continuous continuity during a high stress condition such as a drop onto a hard surface.
In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
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