JP5469880B2 - Batteries and portable electronic devices - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery and a portable electronic device to which the battery is attached.

  The portable electronic device has an advantage that it can be used even in a place where a commercial power source cannot be secured. However, when it is driven by a battery, there is a problem that the usable time is limited by the capacity of the battery.

  For this reason, a method has been adopted in which a spare battery is carried along with the portable electronic device, and when the remaining amount of the battery is low, the usage time of the device is extended by replacing the battery.

  In the conventional portable electronic device, since it is necessary to turn off the power of the device when replacing the battery, the battery cannot be immediately replaced even if the remaining battery level is low during use.

  In order to be able to replace the battery without turning off the power of the device, there are also portable electronic devices that are equipped with other batteries called sub-battery and second battery, etc., and supply power from them when replacing the battery. Yes. However, in such a configuration, there is a problem that the size of the device increases because it is necessary to mount another battery in the casing.

  As a technique for enabling the replacement of a battery without turning off an electronic device, there is a “battery pack device and its mounting method” disclosed in Patent Document 1. In the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, a battery pack is slidably installed on an electronic device main body having two electrodes, and a battery pack already mounted on the electronic device main body is pushed out by another battery pack. The battery pack is in contact with one of the two electrodes to maintain power supply to the electric device body.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-162077

  In general, a portable electronic device and a battery are provided with a lock mechanism for preventing the battery from dropping from the electronic device body, and the battery cannot be removed unless the lock mechanism is released.

  The invention described in Patent Document 1 is also provided with such a lock mechanism, and requires an unlocking operation prior to replacing the battery.

  Therefore, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to perform an unlocking operation while holding the electronic device main body with one hand, and an operation to attach a new battery with the other hand. Such operations are not easy with portable electronic devices that may be used as they are. For this reason, there is a possibility that the electronic device is dropped in an attempt to replace the battery.

  As described above, a battery that does not require the electronic device to be turned off at the time of battery replacement and does not require an unlocking operation has not been provided.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a battery that does not require the power of the electronic device to be turned off at the time of replacement and that does not require an unlocking operation, and a portable electronic device to which the battery is attached. .

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, as a first aspect, the one end and the other end are formed with concavities and convexities that fit into each other. A locking pin that protrudes in a direction that intersects the direction, and a lock release mechanism that accommodates the locking pin in the case when the other end of the other battery is fitted to one end , and a predetermined sliding direction the battery, is to provide a battery which is characterized in, the slidable direction der Rukoto when slidably held by the battery holding portion provided in the electronic device body.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device to which the battery according to the first aspect of the present invention is mounted, wherein the battery can be slid in a predetermined sliding direction. A battery holding portion to be held; and a device-side lock pin biased in a direction crossing a predetermined sliding direction adjacent to the battery holding portion, and a rear surface of the locking pin at a tip end portion in the predetermined sliding direction The present invention provides an electronic device characterized in that a curved surface or a tapered surface is formed so as to approach the front in a predetermined sliding direction as it approaches the tip.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it is not necessary to turn off the power supply of an electronic device at the time of replacement | exchange, and the battery which does not need unlocking operation, and a portable electronic device with which this is mounted can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the front-end | tip part and rear-end part of the battery which concerns on suitable embodiment of this invention. It is a figure in which the external appearance of an electronic device main body and a battery, and a battery holding | maintenance part show schematic shape. It is a figure which shows the structure of the battery holding | maintenance part of an electronic device main body. It is a figure which shows the state which has arrange | positioned the front-end | tip part of another battery facing the rear-end part of the mounted battery. It is a figure which shows the state which fitted the front-end | tip part of another battery to the rear-end part of the mounted battery. It is a figure which shows the state which pushed out the mounted battery with another battery from the battery mounting position. It is a figure which shows the state which the lock pin of the battery before mounting | wearing adjoined to the main body side lock pin. It is a figure which shows the state which the lock pin of the battery before mounting | wearing pushed away the main body side lock pin. It is a figure which shows the state with which the battery was mounted | worn and the slide was controlled. It is a figure which shows the electrode shape of the battery and portable electronic device which concern on suitable embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the conduction | electrical_connection state of each electrode provided in the battery and the electronic device main body in the state in which the battery was installed in the predetermined mounting position. It is a figure which shows the conduction | electrical_connection state of each electrode provided in the battery and the electronic device main body in the state by which the mounted battery was extruded by another battery. It is a figure which shows the conduction | electrical_connection state of each electrode provided in the battery and the electronic device main body in the state which the + terminal of the mounted battery is no longer in contact with the + terminal of the rear end side of the electronic device main body. It is a figure which shows the conduction | electrical_connection state of each electrode provided in the battery and the electronic device main body in the state which each terminal of another battery contacted the same kind of terminal by the side of an electronic device main body. The + terminal and the GND terminal of the mounted battery are diagrams showing the conductive state of each electrode provided in the battery and the electronic device main body in a state of being separated from the + terminal and the GND terminal on the distal end side of the electronic device main body. The + terminal of another battery is a figure which shows the conduction | electrical_connection state of each electrode provided in the battery and the electronic device main body in the state which contacted both of two + terminals of an electronic device.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1A shows the configuration of the battery 1 according to this embodiment. The portion corresponding to the top surface of the battery case is omitted and the internal configuration is visualized.
The battery 1 is formed with concavities and convexities that fit into the other end at each of the front end and the rear end.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (b), covers 9, 10, 11 are attached to the respective concave portions on the front end side of the battery 1, and are normally urged in a protruding direction by springs 6, 7, 8. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 1C, a stopper release pin 17 is installed in one of the recesses on the rear end side of the battery 1 so as to be housed in the battery case. The stopper release pin 17 is in contact with the stopper 19 in the battery case, and slides the stopper 19 to the tip side when pushed into the battery case. The stopper 19 is urged to the rear end side by a spring 18, and the stopper release pin 17 is protruded from the battery case in a normal state.

A storage pin 20 is installed on the other side of the recess on the rear end side of the battery 1 so as to be stored in the battery case. The storage pin 20 is in contact with the arm 21 in the battery case, and rotates the arm 21 when pushed into the battery case.
The arm 21 is provided with a long hole 21a, and a projection 22a provided on the lock pin 22 is slidable therein. When the arm 21 is rotated by the storage pin 20, the lock pin 22 is pulled into the battery case. The storage pin 20 is urged by a spring 23 in a direction protruding from the battery case in a normal state. The arm 21 is urged by a torsion spring in a predetermined rotational direction (clockwise in FIG. 1), or the lock pin is urged by a spring so that the lock pin 22 protrudes from the battery case in a normal state. May be.

  FIG. 2A shows an appearance of a portable electronic device provided with a battery holding unit, and FIG. 2B shows a schematic shape of the battery holding unit. The battery 1 is slidably held by a battery holding unit provided in the electronic device main body 3. FIG. 2B shows a state viewed from the rear end side of the battery 1, and the arrow direction in the figure is the battery mounting direction. The illustrated structure is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to this structure.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the battery holding unit. The battery holding portion is provided with a main body side lock pin 4 that protrudes in a direction crossing the sliding direction of the battery 1. The main body side lock pin 4 is biased toward the battery mounting space side by a spring 5. As shown in FIG. 3A, in a state where the battery 1 is disposed at a predetermined mounting position, the lock pin 22 is disposed in the gap between the electronic device main body 3 and the main body side lock pin 4 so that the battery 1 is slid. Being regulated.
The front end portion of the main body side lock pin 4 has a curved surface on the rear side in the mounting direction of the battery 1 and is pushed away by the lock pin 22 when the battery 1 is mounted, as shown in FIG. As the battery progresses, it protrudes again. The rear side in the battery mounting direction at the tip of the lock pin 22 may be a tapered surface.

An operation when the battery 1 mounted on the electronic device body 3 is replaced with another battery 1 ′ will be described. Since the battery 1 and the battery 1 ′ have the same configuration, in FIGS. 4 to 9, the two batteries and their components are distinguished by adding a symbol to the symbol. For example, the lock pin 22 that is not labeled is a component of the battery 1, and the cover 11 ′ that is labeled is a component of the battery 1 ′.
As shown in FIG. 4, the tip of another battery 1 ′ is disposed opposite to the rear end of the mounted battery 1. After that, as shown in FIG. 5, when the rear end of the mounted battery 1 and the front end of another battery 1 ′ are fitted, the stopper release pin 17 and the housing are accommodated by the convex portion of the front end of the other battery 1 ′. The pin 20 is pushed into the case of the attached battery 1 and the arm 21 rotates to store the lock pin 22 in the case.

  When another battery 1 'is further pushed in the mounting direction, the mounted battery is pushed out by the other battery 1' as shown in FIG.

  When another battery 1 'is further pushed in the mounting direction, the lock pin 22' of the other battery 1 'reaches the portion where the main body side lock pin 4 is installed, as shown in FIG. Since the curved surface is provided at the tip of the main body side lock pin 4, as shown in FIG. 8, the main body side lock pin 4 is pushed away by the lock pin 22 'of another battery 1'. When the lock pin 22 ′ of another battery 1 ′ passes through the main body side lock pin 4, the main body side lock pin 4 returns to its original position by the elastic force of the spring 5 as shown in FIG. 9. When the main body side lock pin 4 returns to the original position, the lock pin 22 'is arranged between the electronic device main body 3 and the main body side lock pin 4, and the sliding in either the front end side or the rear end side is restricted. It will be in the state.

Next, electrode shapes of the battery and the electronic device main body will be described.
FIG. 10A shows the electrode shapes of the battery and the electronic device main body. The battery and the electronic device main body are provided with five types of terminals: a + terminal, a CLK (clock) terminal, an SD (serial data) terminal, a DET (detect) terminal, and a GND (ground) terminal. The + terminal of the electronic device body 3 is divided into two. As shown in FIG. 10B, the two + terminals of the electronic device main body 3 are connected to each other via a diode.

  Among the electrodes provided on the battery and the electronic device main body, the + terminal and the GND terminal forming the power line, and the DET terminal for the electronic device to detect that the battery is mounted are the electronic device main body. In order to maintain the supply of power to the battery, it is necessary to ensure conduction at all times. That is, when replacing the battery, it is necessary to be in contact with at least one of the batteries until the replacement is completed. On the other hand, an SD terminal for the electronic device to acquire information such as the full charge capacity, the current charge capacity, the remaining usable time, the number of charge / discharge cycles from the battery, and an unillustrated for generating such information The CLK terminal for supplying a clock to the fuel gauge IC needs to be temporarily disconnected when the battery is replaced.

  FIG. 11A shows the external appearance of the battery 1 and the electronic device main body 3 in a state where the battery 1 is installed at a predetermined mounting position, and FIG. 11B shows the conductive state of each electrode in that state. In addition, when the same kind of terminal includes an overlapping portion in the horizontal direction in the figure, it indicates that the terminal is conductive. The same applies to FIGS. In FIG. 11B, as a specific example, the CLK terminal shows that there are overlapping portions in the horizontal direction, but in reality, there are overlapping portions in all the terminals and they are conducting. . In addition, since the + terminal of the mounted battery 1 is in contact with both of the two + terminals of the electronic device main body 3, the connection state of the power line is as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 12A, when the mounted battery 1 is pushed out by another battery 1 ', the connection between the CLK terminal and the SD terminal is released as shown in FIG. 12B.

  As shown in FIG. 13A, when the attached battery 1 is further pushed out by another battery 1 ′, the + terminal of the attached battery 1 is placed behind the electronic device body 3 as shown in FIG. No contact with the positive terminal on the end side. The connection state of the power line at this time is as shown in FIG. 13C, and the supply of power from the battery 1 is maintained.

  When the mounted battery 1 is further pushed out by another battery 1 ′ as shown in FIG. 14 (a), the + terminal, the CLK terminal, and the SD terminal of the other battery 1 ′ as shown in FIG. 14 (b). The DET terminal and the GND terminal are in contact with the same type of terminals on the electronic device main body 3 side. The connection state of the power line at this time is the state shown in FIG. 14C, and the electronic device body 3 has different batteries attached to the + terminal on the front end side and the + terminal on the rear end side. It becomes. In such a state, if there is a difference between the electromotive forces of the two batteries 1 and 1 ', a reverse voltage is applied to the battery with a low electromotive force, but this is prevented by the rectifying action of the diode. The

  When the attached battery 1 is further pushed out by another battery 1 ′ as shown in FIG. 15 (a), the + terminal and the GND terminal of the attached battery 1 are electronic as shown in FIG. 15 (b). It leaves | separates from + terminal and GND terminal of the front end side of the apparatus main body 3. FIG. The connection state of the power line at this time is as shown in FIG. 15C, and power is supplied from another battery 1 ′ connected to the + terminal and the GND terminal. Even if the power supply is interrupted, the power source of the electronic device body 3 is not cut off.

  Thereafter, when the mounted battery 1 is further pushed out by another battery 1 ′ as shown in FIG. 16 (a), the + terminal of the other battery 1 ′ becomes the main body of the electronic device as shown in FIG. 16 (b). 3 are in contact with both of the two + terminals. The connection state of the power line at this time is the same as when the battery 1 'is installed at a predetermined mounting position, as shown in FIG. 16 (c).

  Thereafter, the battery replacement is completed by sliding until another battery 1 'reaches a predetermined mounting position. During battery replacement work, power is supplied from any of the batteries before and after replacement, so that the replacement work can be performed with the electronic device powered on.

As described above, the battery according to the present embodiment and the portable electronic device to which the battery is attached do not need to perform an unlocking operation at the time of replacement work. Therefore, the user must hold the electronic device by hand. But you can easily replace the battery.
In addition, there is no need to turn off the electronic device.
Furthermore, since the battery can be replaced without turning off the power without mounting a sub-battery or a second battery, a space for mounting the sub-battery or the like becomes unnecessary, and the apparatus can be downsized.

In addition, the said embodiment is an example of suitable implementation of this invention, and this invention is not limited to this.
For example, the locking mechanism shown in the above embodiment is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the illustrated structure.
As described above, the present invention can be variously modified.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Battery 3 Electronic device main body 4 Main body side lock pin 5, 6, 7, 8, 18 Spring 9, 10, 11 Cover 17 Stopper release pin 19 Stopper 20 Storage pin 21 Arm 21a Long hole 22 Lock pin 22a Protrusion

Claims (8)

Each of the one end and the other end is formed with concavities and convexities that fit into each other,
A lock pin that protrudes in a direction that intersects a predetermined sliding direction in a normal state, and a lock release mechanism that accommodates the lock pin in a case when the other end of the other battery is fitted to the one end. With
The battery is characterized in that the predetermined sliding direction is a slidable direction when the battery is slidably held by a battery holding part provided in the electronic device main body. A stopper member for restricting the lock pin from being housed in the case;
The battery according to claim 1, wherein the restriction by the stopper member is released by fitting the other end of the other battery into the one end. A storage member that is pushed into the case when the other end of the other battery is fitted to the one end, and an arm that rotates when the storage member is pushed into the case. Have
The battery according to claim 1, wherein the lock pin protrudes and appears from the case in conjunction with rotation of the arm.   When the other end of the other battery is fitted to the one end and is slid in the sliding direction in a state of being attached to the device to be attached, the power supply terminal of the other battery is attached to the attachment Until the power receiving terminal of the target device conducts, the power feeding terminal is formed in a band shape along the predetermined slide direction so that the conduction with the power receiving terminal of the target device is maintained. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the battery is a battery. With fuel gauge IC,
The communication terminal of the fuel gauge IC formed in a strip shape along the predetermined sliding direction is shorter than the power feeding terminal and is arranged closer to the front side in the sliding direction. The battery according to claim 4 . An electronic device to which the battery according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is mounted,
A battery holding section for holding the battery so as to be slidable in the predetermined sliding direction;
A device-side lock pin biased in a direction crossing the predetermined sliding direction adjacent to the battery holding portion;
A portable electronic device characterized in that a rear surface of the tip end portion of the lock pin in the predetermined sliding direction is formed with a curved surface or a tapered surface so that the closer to the tip end, the closer to the front in the predetermined sliding direction. machine. An electronic device to which the battery according to claim 5 is attached,
A battery holding section for holding the battery so as to be slidable in the predetermined sliding direction;
A device-side lock pin biased in a direction crossing the predetermined sliding direction adjacent to the battery holding portion;
A curved surface or a tapered surface is formed so that the surface on the rear side of the predetermined sliding direction of the distal end portion of the lock pin is closer to the front of the predetermined sliding direction as it is closer to the distal end.
In the battery holding portion, a positive electrode terminal for receiving power and a GND terminal and a terminal for communication with the fuel gauge IC are formed in a band shape along the predetermined sliding direction,
The positive electrode terminal is divided into two parts and is arranged near the front and rear in the sliding direction,
The terminal for communication with the IC for fuel gauge is shorter than the GND terminal and is arranged closer to the rear end side in the sliding direction,
When the other end of the other battery is fitted to the one end of the attached battery and slid in the sliding direction, the positive terminal of the power supply terminal of the other battery Until the positive terminal arranged near the rear in the sliding direction is electrically connected to the positive terminal located near the front in the sliding direction and the positive terminal of the power feeding terminal of the battery. portable electronic device, characterized in that maintained Ru.   The portable electronic device according to claim 7, wherein each of the positive terminals is connected in parallel via a rectifying element.

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