Patent ID: 6869299
Filing Date: 2005-03-22
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
1. A power supply unit that accommodates a battery pack with a plurality of electrode terminals and supplies power to a driver circuit of an electronic device, the power supply unit comprising: an insulating battery pack holder with a hollow portion to accommodate the battery pack detachably; a plurality of connector contacts formed of conductive metal and disposed inside the battery pack holder, part of each connector contact protruding toward the hollow portion, at least one of the connector contacts being a switch connector contact; and a switch contact which is resilient, formed of conductive metal, and disposed inside the battery pack holder, the switch contact capable of detaching from or attaching to the switch connector contacts; wherein when the battery pack is accommodated in the hollow portion, the plurality of electrode terminals elastically come into contact with corresponding connector contacts to be conductively connected to the driver circuit, and the switch connector contact is elastically deformed by the corresponding electrode terminal to separate from the switch contact; and wherein when the switch connector contact protrudes into the hollow portion by a predetermined distance according to a reduction in urging force of the electrode terminal, the switch connector contact comes into contact with the switch contact to output a detection signal.