Abstract:
Shipment and storage of systems poses integrity and economical issues. Such systems may require substantial packaging to protect components of the system during shipment and storage. Some components, such as a battery, may need to be separated from the system during shipment to prevent either actual or perceived damage by the user of the system. A battery directly connected to a system may discharge so as to be incapable of providing sufficient power to the system. Users may erroneously believe that the system is defective and place unnecessary service calls. Such service calls increase costs and affect future business activity. Configuring the terminals of high current connectors coupled to the battery and the system allow for an isolator to be inserted between the high current connectors to prevent conduction while allowing the connectors to mate which results in feasibly shipping the battery in tact within the system.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present disclosure relates generally to the operation of computer systems and information handling systems, and, more particularly, to providing a removable isolator for high current connections. 
   BACKGROUND 
   As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to these users is an information handling system. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may vary with respect to the type of information handled; the methods for handling the information; the methods for processing, storing or communicating the information; the amount of information processed, stored, or communicated; and the speed and efficiency with which the information is processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include or comprise a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems. 
   An information handling system may include a plurality of subsystems, e.g., processor blades, disk controllers, etc., these subsystems may operate at certain direct current (DC) voltages and currents. Generally, these DC voltages and currents may be supplied through at least one power supply. A common and economical information handling system power supply may comprise a battery. Commonly, a battery of an information handling system may be removable, for instance, the battery in a notebook computer. A removeable battery may be shipped as a separate unit from the information handling system or in tact within the information handling system. 
   SUMMARY 
   The shipment of information handling systems poses not only system integrity issues but economical issues as well. An information handling system may require substantial packaging and insulation to protect the components of the information handling system during shipment and storage. Some of these components may need to be separated from the information handling system during shipment to prevent either actual or perceived damage by the user of the components, e.g. the battery. A battery in tact within the information handling system, so as to conductively mate with the power system of the information handling system, over time may discharge or drain to the point where the battery may not retain a sufficient enough charge to provide an operational power level for the information handling system. Also, if a battery becomes over-drained, the battery may require charging for an extensive period of time in order for the battery to reach a charge that will allow the information handling system to function properly. Users of the information handling system may erroneously believe that the information handling system is defective and place an unwarranted and unnecessary service call. These types of service calls increase costs and may impede future business activity. 
   In accordance with the present disclosure, a system and method for isolating the high current connector of a removable battery and the high current connector of an information handling system. The removable battery is coupled to a first high current connector while the information handling system is coupled to a second high current connector. The two high current connectors are operable to conductively mate with one another to allow current to flow from the battery to the information handling system in a manner that provides adequate power to the information handling system. A pair of conductive prongs is coupled to the first high current connector, where the pair of conductive prongs comprises a first prong having a length and a width and a second prong having a length and a width, wherein the length of the second prong is shorter than the length of the first prong which allows a removable isolator to enclose the pair of conductive prongs without preventing the second high current connector from mating with the first high current connector. When the isolator encloses the pair of conductive prongs, the first high current connector and the second high current connector do not conductively mate. However, when the removable isolator is removed from the pair of conductive prongs, the first high current connector and the second high current connector are operable to conductively mate. 
   The system and method disclosed herein is technically advantageous because the removable battery is shipped in tact within the information handling system. The present invention requires the use of less packaging for the shipment of an information handling system to a desired location and reduces the overall cost of the informational handling system. Also, as the isolator prevents current leakage of the battery when in tact within the information handling system, the information handling system does not require the user to charge the battery for an extended period of time. Providing the user with a information handling system that does not require complex installation of the battery or charging of the battery may prevent unnecessary service calls and confusion to the user. Other technical advantages will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the following specification, claims, and drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a prior art diagram of an isolator for a low current connection. 
       FIG. 2A  is a drawing of a male insert of a high current connector. 
       FIG. 2B  is a drawing of a male high current connector. 
       FIG. 3A  is a drawing of a female insert of a high current connector. 
       FIG. 3B  is a drawing of a female high current connector. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of an isolator for a high current connection according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     FIG.  5 A 1  is a schematic diagram of a prior art isolator for a high current connection with the female high current connection in an open position. 
     FIG.  5 A 2  is a schematic diagram of a prior art isolator for a high current connection with the female high current connection in a closed position. 
     FIG.  5 B 1  is a schematic diagram of an example embodiment of an isolator for a high current connection with the male high current connection in an open position. 
     FIG.  5 B 2  is a schematic diagram of an example embodiment of an isolator for a high current connection with the male high current connection in a closed position. 
       FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of an example method for providing an isolator for a high current connector. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communication with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may include a removable battery for providing power to the components of the information handling system. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components. 
   Shown in  FIG. 1  is a prior art solution for an isolator for a low current connection  100 . The low current connection, shown generally as  106  in  FIG. 1 , typically has only two terminals  108 ,  110 . Many consumer electronic devices, such as small toys, commonly ship and are stocked with one or more batteries in tact within the device. Generally, the devices are designed to require only a small number of terminals. Shown in  FIG. 1  is a device, such as a toy, with only two terminals  108  and  110  that make contact with the batteries  104  aligned in series. In such cases, an isolator  102  may be a thin strip of plastic or other inexpensive non-conductive material that may be easily removed by a user slightly tugging on the isolator  102 . The terminals  108  and  110  may be a simple design that does not require any special shape. For example, on typical lost cost solution provides that one terminal may be a conductive spring to hold the battery in position and an opposing terminal that may be a beveled or raised conductive surface. The low-cost simple isolator  102  is sufficient to prevent the conductive mating of the low current batteries  104  with the terminal  108  such that the device  112  may be shipped with the batteries  104  in tact within the device. The isolator  102  prevents the batteries  104  from discharging during shipment as the isolator  102  prevents the completion of the circuit  106 . A user of the device  112  may simply gently tug the isolator  102  to remove the isolator  102  from the circuit  106  so as to allow a low current to flow to the device  112  and to allow the device  112  to operate as intended. 
   The simple isolator  102  shown in  FIG. 1  provides isolation for a low current solution. The isolator  102  may not be suitable for high current connection systems, for instance, information handling systems. An information handling system may require a power supply that mates to multiple terminals to provide a sufficient connection between a battery with a higher current and voltage rating than the prior art system shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in general, depict high current connectors for an information handling system.  FIG. 2  depicts an example male high current connector while  FIG. 3  depicts an example female high current connector. 
     FIG. 2A  depicts an example of a male terminal  200  of a high current connector. The male terminal  200  may have a pair of conductive prongs  202 , including prong  204  and prong  206 , that allow a female high current connector, such as the female high current connector depicted in  FIG. 3B  as  306 , to conductively mate with a male high current connector, such as the male high current connector depicted in  FIG. 2B  as  220 . The male terminal  200  may be made of copper or any other highly conductive material suitable for conducting high current known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
   The pair of conductive prongs  202  may vary in length and in width according to the amount of current that must be conducted and the mating requirements of the opposing mating male connector. The pair of conductive prongs  202  may have a prong  204  that is longer than opposing prong  206  so as to allow the conductive prongs to collapse into each other. The base  210  of each of the pair of conductive prongs  202  may have a bend that angles the individual prong  204  or  206  inward so as to form a spring prong that allows each prong to press together or compress to a closed position when a force is applied. When the force is removed, the shape of the base  210  allows the pair of conductive prongs  202  to expand or spring back to an open position so as to make a secure and stable conductive mating with a female high current connector. Each of the pair of conductive prongs  202  may have a bend  212  that allows the pair of conductive prongs to press together to a closed position. The bend  212  is operable to function as a guide for the pair of conductive prongs when mating with a female high current connector. The bend  212  may be formed by chamfering or any other method known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     FIG. 2B  depicts one example of a male high current connector  220 . The male high current connector  220  may have an outer casing  222 . Outer casing  222  may be made of plastic such as PBT and nylon or any other suitable durable moldable material that provides for high dielectric strength known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The male terminal  200  fits inside the outer casing  220  so as to allow the base  208 , shown in  FIG. 2A , to make a conductive coupling to a battery or a battery pack. The pair of conductive prongs  202  protrude from one side as shown in  FIG. 2B  to allow the coupled battery to conductively mate with the female high current connector  306  depicted in  FIG. 3B . 
     FIG. 3A  depicts one example of female terminal  300  of a high current connector. The female terminal  300  may be made of copper or any other highly conductive material suitable for conducting high current known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The interior  302  of female terminal  300  allows for the conductive mating of male terminal  200 . The pair of conductive prongs  202  provide a guide for the male terminal  200  to conductively mate with the female terminal  300  as discussed in further detail below with respect to  FIG. 5 . 
     FIG. 3B  depicts one example of a female high current connector  306 . The female high current connector  306  may have an outer casing  308 . Outer casing  308  may be made of plastic such as PBT and nylon or any other suitable durable moldable material that provides for high dielectric strength known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The female terminal  300  fits inside the outer casing  308  so as to allow the base  304 , shown in  FIG. 3A , to make a conductive coupling to the information handling system or any other system or device requiring an interface to a high current battery or other power supply. 
     FIG. 4  depicts an example of an apparatus for isolating high current connectors, generally depicted as  400 . In one example, the female high current connector  306  conductively couples to the battery and the male high current connector  220  conductively couples to a system, such as an information handling system. The high current connectors  306  and  220  may be interchangeable depending on the requirements of the system and the battery such that female high current connector  306  conductively couples to the system and the male high current connector  220  conductively couples to the battery. While high current connectors  306  and  220  shown in  FIG. 4  are configured for a six terminal connection, any number of conductive terminal connections may exist according to the requirements and design of a particular system. 
   In one example, isolator  402  is a single molded isolator such that each of the conductive pair of prongs  202  may be enclosed by the inner casing  404  of the isolator  402  with outer casing  406  joining each inner casing  404  so as to allow for a single isolator  402  to be inserted over and removed from each pair of conductive prongs  202 . In another example, multiple isolators  402  may be used such that the outer casing  406  does not join each and every inner casing. Isolator  402  may be made of any type of durable moldable material that provides for a high dielectric strength such as plastic. As an example, isolator  402  may be made of PBT or nylon or any other suitable material known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
   As depicted in  FIG. 4  by guidelines  408 ,  410 ,  412 , and  414 , the isolator  402  is configured to enclose each pair of conductive prongs  202  of the male high current connector  220  and to mate with the female high current connector  306 . Placing the isolator  402  between the female high current connector  306  and the male high current connector  220  prevents conduction between the battery and the system when the male high current connector  220  and the female high current connector  306  are mated, allowing the battery to be shipped in tact within the system. 
   Such a design as described in  FIG. 4  provides a cost-effective solution for packaging a battery or battery pack in tact within the system. As isolator  402  prevents any current discharge, the battery may have sufficient charge to power the system when the isolator  402  is removed preventing an unwarranted, costly and unnecessary service call. The isolator  402  is easy for a user to remove and allows the user to quickly conductively mate the battery to the system without any further instruction or direction. Such a design allows for smaller packaging as the battery does not need to be packaged separately and provides the additional benefit of preventing the battery from discharging prior to use by a user of the system. 
   FIGS.  5 A 1  and  5 A 2  depict a pair of conductive prongs  502  that do not allow for mating with male high current connector  506  when isolator  504  encloses the pair of conductive prongs  502 . FIG.  5 A 1  depicts the pair of conductive prongs  502  in an open position such that the isolator  504  may not enclose the pair of conductive prongs  502 . FIG.  5 A 2  depicts the pair of conductive prongs  502  in a closed position. Each prong of the pair of conductive prongs  502  has the same length such that when the pair of conductive prongs  502  is in the closed position, the isolator  504  cannot enclose the pair of conductive prongs  502  and mate with the female high current connector  506 . 
   FIGS.  5 B 1  and  5 B 2  depict a pair of conductive prongs  508  that allow for mating with female high current connector  506  when isolator  504  encloses the pair of conductive prongs  502 . FIG.  5 B 1  depicts the pair of conductive prongs  508  in an open position such that the isolator  504  may not enclose the pair of conductive prongs  508 . FIG.  5 B 2  depicts the pair of conductive prongs  508  in a closed position. The pair of conductive prongs are configured as described above with respect to  FIG. 2A . The pair of conductive prongs  508  collapse into a closed position such that isolator  504  may enclose the pair of conductive prongs  508  and still mate with female high current connector  506 . When isolator  504  is removed from the pair of conductive prongs  508 , the pair of conductive prongs  504  spring back to an open position and may conductively mate with the female high current connector  506 . 
     FIG. 6  is diagram of an example method  600  for providing an isolator for a high current connector of a removable battery and an information handling system. In one example, the pair of conductive prongs of a first high current connector coupled to an information handling system are enclosed by a removable isolator (block  602 ) wherein the pair of conductive prongs has a first prong having a length and a width with a first bend and a second prong having a length and a width with a second bend. The first bend and the second bend allow the pair of conductive prongs to press together without causing the first bend and the second bend to align which allows the pair of prongs to press together to a closed position so as to allow for enclosure by the removable isolator. It is also within the scope of the present invention that the width and length of the pair of conductive prongs may be altered or manufactured in such a way so as to allow for the pair of conductive prongs to align in such a manner as to form the closed position for enclosure by the removable isolator while still allowing the pair of conductive prongs to conductively mate with a second high current connector once the isolator is removed. 
   Next, the first high current connector is mated with a second high current connector of a removable battery (block  604 ) such that the isolator prevents the first high current connector and the second high current connector from conductively mating. Finally, the information handling system may be shipped with the removable battery in tact (block  606 ) within the information handling system as the isolator prevents the battery from discharging during shipment. 
   Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.