Integrated circuit package with battery housing

Abstract

An integrated circuit, typically a random access memory, is housed in a package (14). In the application associated with the integrated circuit it is desired to maintain the data states stored in the memory even when the normal supply voltage is disconnected from the package (14). Batteries (24, 26) are secured in recesses (20, 22) within a structure (12) which is connected to the integrated circuit package (14). A top spring clip (100) is provided to securely hold the batteries (24, 26) within the recesses (20, 22) and forms a common conductor in contact with the upper terminal of both batteries. A bottom spring clip (74, 76) is provided for each of the recesses (20, 22) to form separate conductors in contact with the lower terminal of each battery. The batteries can be readily inserted and removed over lips (64, 70) in the recess (20, 22).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention pertains to integrated circuits and the packages therefore and more particularly to a package for housing a battery to sustain data states in volatile semiconductor memories.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many applications involving integrated circuits and in particular integrated circuit memories in which it is desirable to maintain power to the circuit at all times to sustain data states which are stored in the circuit. When power is removed from the circuit critical parameters are often lost due to the volatile memory. In many applications it is necessary to reload these parameters before operations can be continued.

It would thus be advantageous to have an integrated circuit package, particularly for a semiconductor memory, which has structure for inclusion of a battery or batteries so that the data states can be maintained in the memory even if the normal source of power is terminated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In its most general form the present invention comprises apparatus for use in conjunction with an integrated circuit. The apparatus includes a package which houses the integrated circuit. A structure is provided for securing at least one battery to the integrated circuit package. Electrical conductors are positioned to extend from the structure securing the batteries to the integrated circuit within the package.

In a more detailed embodiment of the present invention the structure for securing the batteries includes one or more recesses in a surface thereof with each recess adapted for receiving a battery. A member is provided for connection to the structure to extend above the recesses for holding a battery in each of the recesses. A common battery contact is provided on this member for connection to a common terminal of each of the batteries. The common contact extends from the batteries through the lead frame to the integrated circuit. A separate power contact is provided for each of the recesses for connecting the battery therein to the integrated circuit. Therefore, with a plurality of batteries housed in conjunction with the integrated circuit the reliability of the data storage in the circuit is enhanced and the time period for storage of the data is extended. The batteries may be connected in parallel or in series.

The present invention also comprises a method of constructing an apparatus for use in conjunction with an integrated circuit. The method includes the steps of mounting an integrated circuit in a package, securing a battery to the package and electrically interconnecting the integrated circuit and the battery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a structure for housing a plurality of batteries which are connected to an integrated circuit within an adjacent package and the batteries;

FIG. 1A is a detail of-an alternate end for the spring clips used in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-section elevation view of the integrated circuit package and the structure for receiving batteries;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-section plan view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 2 with the batteries and upper clip removed therefrom to better illustrate the underlying structure; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a lead frame for use in the integrated circuit package.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated generally by the reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1. The apparatus 10 includes a rectangular structure 12 which is generally disposed above a dual in-line integrated circuit package 14. The package 14 includes an integrated circuit which communicates with external components through lead frame 16 having leads forming pins and tabs. The lead frame 16 described hereinafter and illustrated in the figures has 24 pins and 3 tabs provided for communication with the integrated circuit. However, the number of leads may vary With the application in which the integrated circuit is to be used.

Recesses 20 and 22 are formed in the upper surface of the structure 12. These recesses are shaped to receive batteries 24 and 26.

Each recess 20 and 22 includes a bottom portion 28 and 30, respectively. The underside of each battery 24 and 26 rests on the bottom portion 28 and 30 as best shown in FIG. 2. Each bottom portion includes an elongate notch 32 or 34 which extends below the plane of the bottom portion. The notch 32 includes arms 36 at the outer portion thereof which include an arcuate portion as best seen in FIG. 3. Notch 34 similarly includes arms 38. Inclined notches 40 and 42 are also formed in the bottom portions. The notches are inclined upwardly towards the center of the bottom portions.

A central dividing member 44 extends upward between the bottom portions. Wall end members 46 and 48 extend upwardly from opposed corners of the structure 12. Lip end members 50 and 52 extend upwardly at the opposite opposed corners of structure 12.

Central dividing member 44 and wall end member 46 define a semi-circular wall 54 surrounding the bottom portion 28. The wall portion is broken by a slot 56 formed between the members 44 and 46. A similar semi-circular wall portion 58 is defined by the members 44 and 48. The portion 48 is broken by slot 60.

The central dividing member 44 includes an extension 62 which defines a semi-circular lip 64 with the lip end member 50. The lip is broken by a slot 66 between the extension 62 and member 50. A similar extension 68 defines lip 70 between the extension and member 52. A slot 72 interrupts the lip between the extension and member.

Bottom spring clips 74 and 76 are positioned within the notches 32 and 34, respectively. Each of the clips 74 and 76 is identical. Therefore, only clip 76 will be described in detail. The clip 76 is formed of a resilient conductor material. The clip includes a battery contact portion 78 having one or more point contacts 80 thereon. The point contacts are designed to provide enhanced ohmic contact with the lower terminal of the battery, i.e. lessen contact resistence.

The clip 76 also includes a fastener portion 82. The fastener portion 82 includes tabs 84, an outwardly extending horizontal piece 86, a downwardly extending vertical piece 88, and an inwardly extending horizontal piece 90. The free end of piece 90 includes an up-turned end 92.

The clips 74 and 76 are mounted in the structure 12 as shown in FIGS. 1-3. The battery contact portion 78 of the clips extend along the notches 32 and 34 with the point contacts 80 centered within the bottom portions. The tabs 84 of clips 74 and 76 extend into the arms 36 and 38, respectively. The pieces 86 extend through slots 94 and 96 in structure 12 and the pieces 88 and 90 extend downwardly and inwardly into contact with individual leads on lead frame 16. The pieces 90 extend inwardly below the package 14 and the ends 92 are preferably received within notches 91 formed in the bottom of the package 14.

It is apparent that the configuration of the clips 74 and 76 will maintain the clips secured to the apparatus 10. The clips are designed so that the point contacts 80 extend above the plane defined by the bottom portions 28 and 30 when nondeformed. A camber 93 in the battery contact portions 78 along the line of contacts 80 insure the contacts project furthest above the bottom portions. In the preferred embodiment, the fastener portions 82 of the clips are also soldered to the lead frame-to prevent removal of the clips and insure. a positive electrical connection.

A top spring clip 100 is provided. The spring clip includes battery contact portions 102 and 104 and fastener portions 106 and 108. The clip 100 is preferably formed from an integral piece of a flexible, conductive material.

The battery contact portions 102 and 104 include a common center 110 and each include a downwardly inclined piece 112 and a horizontal piece 114. The fastener portions 106 and 108 include outwardly extending horizontal pieces 116, vertically downward extending pieces 118 and inwardly extending horizontal pieces 119 terminating in upwardly curved ends 120.

The top spring clip 100 extends over the structure 12 and the pieces 118 and 119 of the fastening portions and ends 120 retain the clip secured to structure 12. Again, recesses 117 may be provided in the package 14 to accept ends 120. An alternate end 120A shown in FIG. 1A may be substituted for pieces 90 and 119 and ends 92 and 120. The end 120A includes a curved portion of constant radius. Portions of pieces 118 and 119 of each fastener portion 106 and 108 are in physical and electrical contact with leads on lead frame 16. In the preferred embodiment, the fastener portions are soldered to the frame to prevent disengagement of the clip and insure electrical contact

In operation, the batteries 24 and 26 may be inserted within the apparatus 10 by sliding the batteries over the extensions 62 and 68 and lip end members 50 and 52 for their respective recesses. The placement of the batteries may be determined by a positive sign or language stamped on apparatus 10 as shown. The batteries are tilted to deflect the battery contact portions of the top spring clip upward and the battery contact portions of the bottom spring clips downwardly into their respective notches to permit the batteries to be seated within the recesses.

Once positioned as shown-in FIGS. 2 and 3, the batteries are confined within the recesses by the lips 64 and 70, wall portions 54 and 58 and the battery contact portions of the bottom and top spring clips. The top spring clip 100 is designed to exert a downward force on the batteries through the battery contact portions 102 and 104 exceeding the upward force of the battery contact portions 78 of the bottom spring clips. The excess force is designed to retain the batteries in contact with the bottom portions during the worst shock loading for which the apparatus 10 is designed.

The force exerted by the battery contact portions 78 of the bottom spring clips is sufficient to insure adequate electrical contact between the point contacts 80 and the lower terminal of the batteries. The force top spring clip also provide electrical contact between the top spring clip and the upper terminal of the batteries. It is clear from FIGS. 1 and 3 that the upper terminals of the batteries are common and maybe connected through the top spring clip 100 to the integrated circuit and one or more pins 18. The lower terminal of each battery may be connected to individual or common leads On lead frame 16 leading to the integrated circuit.

In a typical application, an integrated circuit static memory Will be included in the package 14. The integrated circuit is utilized in such a manner that it is necessary to retain the data states stored in the memory even if power if lost to the memory. The batteries 24 and 26 may be connected in parallel through circuitry (not shown) which automatically connects the integrated circuit within package 14 to either one or both of the batteries upon detection of loss of external power. Two batteries in parallel are utilized to improve reliability and to extend the length of time that the data can be stored. The interfacing circuitry between the batteries and the integrated circuit is designed to switch between the best of the two batteries and thereby provide the maximum possible data retention time. The batteries may be connected in series if a high voltage source is needed for a particular application.

If one of the batteries fails, it may be removed independently of the other battery. A thin non-conductive implement may be guided into contact with the battery to be removed through its associated inclined notch 40 or 42. A non-conductive implement is preferred to eliminate the potential for shorting the other battery or damaging the integrated circuit. Urging the implement into contact With the battery tilts the portion of the battery adjacent to the lip upward to permit its removal. If difficulty is encountered, an implement may be inserted through the slot 56 or 60 adjacent to the battery to push the battery from the recess.

The present invention provides several additional significant advantages. The batteries may be inserted or replaced in the apparatus 10 without removal of the apparatus from a printed circuit board or socket. Each of the batteries may be inserted or removed independently of the other battery so that the integrated circuit may be maintained in an active state continuously. The spring clips are securely, is not permanently, secured to the apparatus 10 which prevents loss of the clips during battery insertion or removal. The top spring clip 100 is the only spring exposed to operator induced stresses. The stress on the bottom spring clips does not exceed the stress necessary to urge the clips downward to permit the insertion of the batteries. Therefore, the provision of the stronger spring in the top spring clip reduces the potential for spring overstress. One or more of the spring clips may be connected to pins leading to externals. The externals may provide a trickle charge to retain the batteries in a charged state.

A suggested battery for use in this application is a Model CR-1220 lithium battery manufactured by Sanyo Electric Trading Co., Ltd. of Osaka, Japan. This battery produces a nominal 3.0 volts, has a capacity of 30 mah, a diameter of 12.5 millimeters, a thickness of 2.0 millimeters, a weight of 0.8 grams and can function over the temperature range of -20.degree. C. to +50.degree. C.

In one apparatus constructed from the teaching of the present invention, the apparatus was adapted to receive batteries having a thickness of approximately 78 millimeters. In the constructed apparatus, lips 64 and 70 were designed to have a vertical height of 40 to 50 millimeters and the wall portions 54 and 58 a vertical height of 90 millimeters. The downward force exerted on the battery by the top spring clip 100 in the constructed apparatus was designed to be 1500 grams and the upward spring force exerted by the bottom spring clip on the batteries was designed to be 250 grams, a ratio of 6 to 1. The clips in this constructed apparatus were constructed of berylium copper. This material is designed to retain resiliency across the full semi-conductor temperature range. Phosphor bronze may also be employed as the spring clip material in lower temperature applications.

The detail of lead frame 16 is illustrated in FIG. 4. The lead frame 16 is formed in several stages. The first stage comprises the stamping of the shape shown in FIG. 4 in a conductive material. The body, comprising structure 12 and package 14 may then be molded about the lead frame 16 and CMOS 132. The outside limit of the body is shown by dotted line 133. The body is commonly formed of a plastic. In subsequent steps, the rail 120 is removed and the tie bars 124 and 126 are separated between each pin 128 and tab 130 to form independent leads to the integrated circuit, in this example a CMOS 132. Portions of the pins 128 and tabs 130 extend exterior of the plastic body forming the structure and package.

Twenty four individual pins 128 are provided on the frame 16 for contact with externals. The pins are numbered by convention from 1 to 24 beginning at the lower left pin in FIG. 4 and proceding counterclockwise about the frame. Four tabs 130 are provided and are identified by letters A-D. Each pin and tab contacts terminals in CMOS 132 through small wires 134 bonded between the pins and tabs and contact pads 136 on CMOS 132.

Pin 12 and tab A form one conductor which acts as a common. One end of top spring clip 100 may be in contact with tab A. The opposite end of clip 100 may be secured to tab C, which has no electrical connection to the integrated circuit but aids in the retention of the clip 100 on the apparatus 10. If the batteries are positioned with their negative terminals in contact with top spring clip 100, the common will be the negative terminal. Two wires 134 are employed for connection to CMOS 132 as the current flow at this location may be large.

Tabs B and D are positioned for contact with bottom spring clips 74 and 76. Power for operating CMOS 132 from an external source will be connected to pin 24. A diode 138 is provided to permit external power to flow to the CMOS 132 while blocking flow to the batteries. If the external power is lost, the diode permits energy to flow from the batteries to power the CMOS 132. With diode 138, the batteries cannot be charged by an external power source. However, the design of a circuit permitting the charging of the batteries would be obvious to one skilled in the art.

While apparatus 10 forms one embodiment of the present invention, it Will be understood that the shape of the apparatus is related closely to the shape and type of battery employed. For example, the Model BR435 battery manufactured and sold by Matsushita Electric Industrial Company, Ltd. of Japan has an overall tubular shape with the negative terminal formed by a pin extending from one end of the tubular portion and the positive terminal formed by an annular ring adjacent the pin. The apparatus 10 would be modified to accept the tubular shape and clips 74, 76 and 100 modified to contact the terminals and secure the batteries in place in the apparatus.

It will also be understood that the clips may extend to any portion of the apparatus desired. For example, the clips may extend on the side of apparatus 10 to contact one or more pins 128 in the lead frame 16. In addition structure 12 may be secured or mounted to package 14 in any suitable manner.

In summary the present invention comprises an apparatus to house one or more batteries in conjunction with a packaged integrated circuit. The batteries in the housing are connected such that data stored in the integrated circuit is retained for an extended period of time without external power or the operation of the integrated circuit can continue for an extended period of time without external power.

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A nonvolatile integrated circuit package, comprising:

a housing;

an integrated circuit retained in said housing;

a plurality of conductors supported by said housing for providing external data communication with said integrated circuit;

a battery removably retained in said housing;

at least one power conductor supported by said housing for supplying power from an external power source;

a switchover circuit positioned within said housing and electrically connected to said integrated circuit, said battery and said power conductor for causing power to be supplied to said integrated circuit from said battery when power is not being supplied to said integrated circuit from the external power source; and

resilient contacts secured in said housing in contact with said battery for electrically connecting said battery to said switchover circuit.

2. A nonvolatile integrated circuit package as recited in claim 1, wherein said power conductor and said plurality of conductors each have first ends defining electrical contacts for making external power and external data connections, respectively.

3. A nonvolatile integrated circuit package as recited in claim 2, wherein said electrical contacts include pins.

4. A nonvolatile integrated circuit package as recited in claim 2, wherein said electrical contacts include tabs.

5. A nonvolatile integrated circuit package as recited in claim 1, wherein said power conductor and said plurality of conductors comprise a lead frame.

6. A nonvolatile integrated circuit package as recited in claim 8, wherein said resilient contacts are spring biased against said battery and assist in retaining said battery in said housing.

7. A nonvolatile integrated circuit package as recited in claim 1, wherein said resilient contacts are spring biased against said battery in opposing directions.

8. A nonvolatile integrated circuit package as recited in claim 1, wherein said integrated circuit is formed on a semiconductor chip, and wherein said chip is encapsulated within said housing.

9. A nonvolatile integrated circuit package as recited in claim 1, wherein said switchover circuit comprises a diode.

10. A nonvolatile integrated circuit package as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing comprises walls defining a first recess for retaining said battery and a second recess for retaining a second battery, and a second resilient contacts secured in said housing in contact with said second battery.

11. A nonvolatile integrated circuit package as recited in claim 10, wherein said first and second batteries are generally disk shaped, and wherein the first and second recesses defined by said walls are generally cylindrical to conform to the shape of said batteries.

12. A nonvolatile integrated circuit package as recited in claim 1, wherein said power conductor and said plurality of conductors comprise a printed circuit board.

13. A nonvolatile integrated circuit package as recited in claim 2, wherein said electrical contacts include sockets.