Substitute battery pack including a case to accommodate a smaller battery type with an induction coil to facilitate charging

A battery pack, instead of size AA batteries, is loaded in a battery storage compartment of an electronic device. The battery pack includes a battery casing, a plurality of size AAA batteries, a battery holder, a circuit board, and an induction coil electromagnetically connected to a primary coil of a battery charger cradle. The size AAA batteries are accommodated in the battery casing in a spaced-apart manner where a distance between longitudinal axes of the size AAA batteries is larger than a distance between longitudinal axes of the size AA batteries loaded in the battery storage compartment, and a storage space is defined between the adjacent size AAA batteries. With an electronic component, mounted on the circuit board, being disposed in the storage space, the battery pack accommodates the size AAA batteries, the battery holder, the circuit board, and the induction coil in a mutually layered state in the battery casing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a battery pack incorporating an induction coil electromagnetically coupled to a primary coil in a battery charger cradle so as to recharge a battery by means of the induction coil, and particularly relates to a battery pack which is placed, instead of a size AA battery, in a battery storage of an electronic device having been designed to load a plurality of size AA batteries in a mutually parallel relationship.

2. Description of the Related Art

There has been developed a structure for a battery to be recharged by electric power being carried from a primary coil to an induction coil (a secondary coil) by the effect of electromagnetic induction. Refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H09-63655 (1997) and Japanese Utility Model Registration No. U-3011829.

Described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H09-63655 (1997) is a structure in which the primary coil excited by a high-frequency power source is incorporated in a battery charger cradle and the induction coil electromagnetically coupled to the primary coil is incorporated in a battery pack. The battery pack also incorporates a circuit in which an alternating current induced in the induction coil is rectified and such rectified current is supplied to a battery to be recharged. In accordance with such structure, the battery pack is placed on the battery charger cradle so that the battery contained in the battery pack can be recharged in a non-contact state.

Also described in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. U-3011829 is a structure in which the battery is contained in the bottom of mobile electronic equipment and a secondary-side charging adaptor is provided subjacently to the battery so that the induction coil and charging circuit are incorporated in the secondary-side charging adaptor. Also described is a structure in which the primary coil electromagnetically coupled to the induction coil is provided to the battery charger cradle. The mobile electronic equipment coupled to the secondary-side charging adaptor is placed on the battery charger cradle, and the electric power is carried from the primary coil to the induction coil to recharge the battery contained in the mobile electronic equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The structures disclosed in the above-described publications are distinctive in that since the battery is recharged by the electric power carried from the primary coil to the induction coil, the battery can be recharged in a non-contact state without an intervening contact point. However, the battery pack described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H09-63655 (1997) is useful only for a purpose-built electronic device which is designed to load the battery pack. In view of this aspect, the battery pack cannot be used instead of the size AA battery so as to be loaded in a battery storage for the electronic device that is designed to use the size AA battery. Regarding Japanese Utility Model Registration No. U-3011829, on the other hand, the battery incorporated in the electronic device is charged by the electric power carried from the primary coil to the induction coil which are electromagnetically coupled to each other, so that when a battery pack is loaded in the electronic device being so structured and designed as to use the size AA battery, the battery pack cannot be used instead of the size AA battery.

The present invention has been made with the object of remedying the above-mentioned drawbacks. It is an object of the present invention to provide a battery pack which, instead of the size AA battery, can be loaded in and used with the battery storage of the electronic device having been designed to load the size AA battery, and can also be used very conveniently by recharging the incorporated battery by means of the battery charger cradle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack, having a compact profile, in which a plurality of size AAA batteries are incorporated and such incorporated size AAA batteries are recharged, while the battery pack can be loaded and used, instead of the size AA battery, in the battery storage having been designed to load the size AA battery.

In order to achieve the above-described objects, the battery pack of the present invention is constructed as follows.

The battery pack instead of the size AA battery54B is loaded in a battery storage61of an electronic device60having a battery storage61for accommodating a plurality of size AA batteries54B in a mutually parallel relationship. The battery pack includes: a battery casing71profiled to be detachably mounted to the battery storage61of the electronic device60; a plurality of size AAA batteries54A, being diametrically narrower than the size AA battery54B, incorporated in the battery casing71; a battery holder72disposing the plurality of size AAA batteries54A in place in a mutually parallel relationship; and a circuit board73disposed in a layered state on the battery holder72and connected to the size AAA batteries54A as well as receiving a supply of electric power from a battery charger cradle10. The plurality of size AAA batteries54A are accommodated in the battery casing71in a spaced-apart manner where a distance (d) between longitudinal axes of the size AAA batteries54A is larger than a distance (D) between longitudinal axes of the size AA batteries54B loaded in the battery storage61of the electronic device60. Defined between the adjacent size AAA batteries54A is a storage space82to allow for disposition of an electronic component84mounted on a circuit board73. With the electronic component84, mounted on the circuit board73, being disposed in the storage space82, the battery pack accommodates in the battery casing71the plurality of size AAA batteries54A, the battery holder72, and the circuit board73which are in a mutually layered state.

Since the above-structured battery pack instead of the size AA battery can be loaded and used in the battery storage having been designed to load the size AA battery for the electronic device, the battery pack is distinctive in that the battery pack can be used more conveniently than the size AA battery by repeated recharging operations in a state of being placed in the electronic device without being removed off the electronic device. Further, the above-described battery pack increases a charging capacity by incorporating the plurality of size AAA batteries, while the size AAA batteries being diametrically narrower than the size AA batteries are disposed at a larger distance between the longitudinal axes than the distance between the longitudinal axes of the size AA batteries. Since such battery pack enables the electronic component mounted on the circuit board to be disposed in the storage space defined between the adjacent size MA batteries, resulting in a compact profile, the battery pack also realizes the advantage that the battery pack instead of the size AA batteries can be mounted and used in the battery storage having been designed to load the size AA.

The battery pack of the present invention has an induction coil51electromagnetically coupled to a primary coil21of the battery charger cradle10to induce electric power for recharging the size AAA battery54A, and the induction coil51is disposed in a layered state on a circuit board73. Since the incorporated size AAA battery can be recharged by electric power induced to the induction coil being electromagnetically coupled to the primary coil, the battery pack can be so structured as to enable a recharging operation in a stable manner by way of non-contact charging operation, while the battery pack instead of the size AA battery can be loaded and used in the battery storage having been designed to load the size AA battery.

The battery pack of the present invention uses a nickel-hydrogen battery as the size AAA battery54A. Since the nickel-hydrogen battery is used which enables a charging capacity with respect to a unit volume to be larger than an alkaline battery, the battery pack is distinctive in that while being used instead of the size AA battery, the battery pack realizes a charging capacity being no smaller than the size AA battery and thus the electronic device powered by the battery pack can be used over a longer period of time.

The battery pack of the present invention is so designed as to be loaded, instead of two pieces of size AA batteries54B, in the electronic device60having the battery storage61accommodating two pieces of size AA batteries54B in a mutually parallel relationship, and two pieces of size AAA batteries54A are accommodated in a mutually parallel relationship in the battery casing71.

Since the two pieces of size AAA batteries are used instead of the two pieces of size AA batteries, the battery pack is distinctive in that while using a size AAA secondary battery such as a nickel-hydrogen battery having a larger charging capacity, the battery pack realizes a charging capacity being no smaller than the size AA battery and thus the electronic device powered by the battery pack can be used over a longer period of time.

The battery pack of the present invention is so designed that a bracket74is disposed between the circuit board73and the induction coil51and that the induction coil51is disposed in place by means of the bracket74. The battery pack is distinctive in that the induction coil can be disposed in place by means of the bracket.

Further, the battery pack of the present invention has a shield layer75disposed between the bracket74and the induction coil51. The battery pack is distinctive in that the shield layer is disposed in place by means of the bracket so that the battery, the circuit board, etc. can be shielded and protected from the primary coil.

The battery pack of the present invention is so designed that the battery holder72has a fitting-in recess72afor disposing the size AAA battery54A in place on a battery-side surface facing the size AAA battery54A. This structure enables the size AAA battery to be guided into the fitting-in recess of the battery holder, disposing the size AAA battery in place.

The battery pack of the present invention is so designed that the battery holder72has a peripheral wall72bfor fitting-in the circuit board73in place on a board-side surface facing the circuit board73and that the circuit board73is disposed inside the peripheral wall72b. In the battery pack, the circuit board can be disposed in a precise position by means of the battery holder disposing the size AAA battery in place.

Further, in addition to the previously described configuration, the battery pack of the present invention has a rear surface plate76for closing an opening of the battery storage61in a state of being mounted to the electronic device60, and incorporates the induction coil51inside the rear surface plate76, with the surface of the rear surface plate76being of a curved surface. The induction coil51is wound in a shape that matches the curved surface of the rear surface plate76and is formed in a loop elongated in a longitudinal direction of the incorporated size AAA battery54A.

The above and further objects of the present invention as well as the features thereof will become more apparent from the following detailed description to be made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1throughFIG. 4show a state where mobile electronic equipment50is placed on a mounting portion12of a battery charger cradle10, the mobile electronic equipment50being equipped with a battery pack70in a battery storage61of an electronic device60.FIG. 1andFIG. 3show a state where the mobile electronic equipment50without being covered with a cover is placed on the battery charger cradle10, whileFIG. 2andFIG. 4show a state where the mobile electronic equipment50being covered with a cover40is placed on the battery charger cradle10. In the mobile electronic equipment50as shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 4, the battery pack70instead of the cylindrical size AA battery54B is placed at the battery storage61of the electronic device60for accommodating the cylindrical size AA battery54B, the battery pack70incorporating an induction coil51and a battery54, the battery54being recharged by electric power being electrically carried to the induction coil51. The battery charger cradle10is designed so as to detachably support the mobile electronic equipment50on the mounting portion12of a casing11and recharge the battery54contained in the mobile electronic equipment50. A useful example of the mobile electronic equipment in the present embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a remote controller for operating an electronic product such as an electronic gaming machine.

The battery charger cradle10shown inFIG. 3throughFIG. 5has the mounting portion12defined by an upper casing11A. The bottom surface of the mounting portion12is a curved bottom surface13that is curved in a U-grooved shape. In the mounting portion12at the upper casing11A in the drawing, the longitudinal direction of the curved bottom surface13being U-grooved is postured so as to be inclined upwardly toward the rear direction, and a stopper wall14is provided at the bottom end. The mounting portion12has the shape of a U-groove in the cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and serves to guide the mobile electronic equipment50to a precise position. The upper casing11A has a pair of side walls15provided on either side of the mounting portion12, and is fabricated of a plastic material formed so that the stopper wall14is located at the bottom end of the mounting portion12.

To further describe the illustrated upper casing11A, a light guide31is exposed on the stopper wall14for irradiating a light of an LED30to the outside. The light guide31is made of a translucent plastic material and is fixed to a lower casing11B as shown inFIG. 6andFIG. 7. The light guide31guides the light of the LED30, disposed on a circuit board20fixed in the casing11, to an exposure portion31A at its tip, and the light is irradiated from the exposure portion31A to the outside. The tip of the exposure portion31A is exposed on an outer surface side of the stopper wall14and on an inner surface side of the stopper wall14(namely, toward the mounting portion12), and the light emitted from the LED30is irradiated to the outer surface of the stopper wall14and to the inner surface of the stopper wall14. The light emitted to the inner surface of the stopper wall14is irradiated onto the cover40of the mobile electronic equipment50to allow for a light emission at the cover40as shown inFIG. 7.

As shown inFIG. 3,FIG. 4andFIG. 6, the battery charger cradle10has a primary coil21disposed inside the curved bottom surface13of the upper casing11A. The primary coil21is a flat coil wound in a planar state and is disposed closer to the inner surface of the curved bottom surface13. The primary coil21is wound in a loop that is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the U-shaped groove so as to enable the electric power to be carried to an area elongated along the longitudinal direction. The illustrated primary coil21is a coil in a planar state, but the primary coil can also be a flat coil where the opposite sides are of a curved surface matching with the curved bottom surface.

The primary coil21has a shield layer23provided at a side opposite to the induction coil51, that is, subjacent to the primary coil21as viewed in the drawing. The shield layer23is a layer composed of metal or ferrite having high magnetic permeability and the layer shields the side of the primary coil21opposite to the induction coil51. The shield layer23and the primary coil21are fixed to a plastic-made support platform16incorporated in the casing11. The support platform16is fixed to the lower casing11B so as to interpose the circuit board20, and the shield layer23and the primary coil21are disposed in place at the casing11. The support platform16has a slanted surface16A matching the curved bottom surface13, and the shield layer23and the primary coil21are fixed to the slanted surface16A in a layered state.

As shown in the circuit diagram inFIG. 8, the primary coil21is connected to a high-frequency power source22mounted on the circuit board20. The high-frequency power source22converts DC power, fed from an AC adaptor25, to high-frequency electric power, which is then supplied to the primary coil21. The high-frequency power source22incorporates a circuit for interrupting an output of the high-frequency electric power when a battery54incorporated in the mobile electronic equipment50has been fully charged. A fully charged state of the battery54contained in the mobile electronic equipment50is detected by means of a charging circuit52incorporated in the mobile electronic equipment50. The high-frequency power source22, communicating with the charging circuit52in the mobile electronic equipment50, can interrupt the output by detecting that the battery54of the mobile electronic equipment50has been fully charged.

FIG. 9shows a state where a plurality of battery charger cradles10are placed side by side to recharge the battery contained respectively in a plurality of mobile electronic devices50. The battery charger cradle10used in such state has a connection portion17at a lateral side. The connection portion17allows the adjacent battery charger cradles10to be detachably interconnected. The connection portion17is connected to the bottom surface of the lower casing11B such that the connection portion17can be retracted inside by pivotal motion of 90 degrees in a horizontal plane. The connection portion17is made of a plastic material and, as can be seen inFIG. 6, the connection portion17has at its first end a pivotal shaft17aprojecting upwardly to be connected pivotably to the lower casing11B, while the connection portion17has at its second end a fitting-on protrusion17bprojecting upwardly to be guided into a fitting-in recess18defined at the lower casing11B of the adjacent battery charger cradle10. The lower casing11B has at its bottom the fitting-in recess18to guide the fitting-on protrusion17bof the connection portion17into the fitting-in recess18. The connection portion17, when not in use, is retracted inside so as not to project toward the adjacent battery charger cradle10. When the battery charger cradles10are used side by side, the connection portion17is pivoted at 90 degrees; is drawn out of the lower casing11B; allows the fitting-on protrusion17binto the fitting-in recess18at the adjacent lower casing11B; and interconnects the adjacent battery charger cradles10.

FIG. 8shows a circuit diagram of the high-frequency power source22incorporated in the battery charger cradle10. The power source22receives a supply of electric power from a power source connector26which is inputted by the AC adaptor25and from an exterior inputting connector27which is inputted by the adjacent battery charger cradle10. As shown inFIG. 9, the power source connector26and the exterior inputting connector27are fixed to the rear surface of the casing11. Further, detachably accommodated in the bottom surface of the casing11is a power source cord28for supplying the electric power to the adjacent battery charger cradle10. In order to accommodate the power source cord28, a storage recess19is defined at the bottom surface of the casing11so as to allow the power source cord28to be fitted in the storage recess19. The power source cord28is connected to the high-frequency power source22.

In order to recharge the battery54contained in the mobile electronic equipment50, the high-frequency power source22switches the electric power inputted from the power source connector26and the electric power inputted from the exterior inputting connector27. That is to say, the primary coil21is thus excited. As shown inFIG. 8andFIG. 9, in interconnecting a first battery charger cradle10A and a second battery charger cradle10B to recharge the battery54in first mobile electronic equipment50A and the battery54in second mobile electronic equipment50B, the following steps are carried out to recharge the batteries54contained in the two units of mobile electronic equipment50.

(1) The first battery charger cradle10A is connected to the AC adaptor25to supply DC power from the AC adaptor25to the power source22of the first battery charger cradle10A. The power source22of the first battery charger cradle10A excites the primary coil21by means of the DC power inputted from the AC adaptor25and recharges the battery54contained in the first mobile electronic equipment50A. In this state, the power source22of the first battery charger cradle10A does not output electric power through the power source cord28.
(2) When the battery54contained in the first mobile electronic equipment50A has been fully charged, the power source22of the first battery charger cradle10A stops exciting the primary coil21, and the DC power is outputted through the power source cord28to the second battery charger cradle10B.
(3) The power source22of the second battery charger cradle10B excites the primary coil21by means of the DC power inputted through the power source cord28(namely, by means of the DC power inputted from the exterior inputting connector27) and recharges the battery54contained in the second mobile electronic equipment50B. When the battery54contained in the second mobile electronic equipment50B has been fully charged, the power source22of the second battery charger cradle10B stops exciting the primary coil21, and then the recharging operation of the battery54is completed.

As described above, the circuit configuration for sequentially recharging the batteries54contained in a plurality of mobile electronic devices50can fully charge the batteries54contained therein, without increasing the electric power which is inputted from the AC adaptor25.

The mobile electronic equipment50is equipped with the battery pack70in the battery storage61of the electronic device60, the battery pack70incorporating a rechargeable secondary battery instead of the size AA battery54B being a primary battery which is not rechargeable. As shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 4, the mobile electronic equipment50equipped with the battery pack70on the rear surface of the electronic device60is so designed that, to be placed on the mounting portion12of the battery charger cradle10, the rear surface is the curved rear surface53which is curved in a shape matching with the curved bottom surface13, which is U-grooved, and the induction coil51, which is wound on a curved surface matching with the curved rear surface53, is incorporated inside the curved rear surface53.FIG. 10is a perspective view showing the mobile electronic equipment50covered with the detachable cover40. A portion exposed in the cover40is an operation portion65such as a switch provided on the casing surface of the electronic device60of the mobile electronic equipment50, and a surface devoid of the operation portion65is covered. Since the illustrated mobile electronic equipment50is provided with the operation portion65such as a switch partially on the frontal and rear surfaces, the mobile electronic equipment50is covered: in a generally overall surface except for the upper switch portion on the rear surface of the mobile electronic equipment50devoid of the operation portion65; in a circumferential surface composed of lateral sides and top and bottom sides; and in the periphery of the frontal surface. The cover40is adapted to cover the mobile electronic equipment50in close contact with its surface by way of elastic contraction. The cover40is also adapted to cover the mobile electronic equipment50in a detachable manner by way of contraction and expansion. The mobile electronic equipment50, in a state of being or not being covered with the cover40, is placed on the mounting portion12of the battery charger cradle10to recharge the incorporated battery54. The cover40is made of a stretchable soft plastic material, natural rubber or synthetic rubber to protect the mobile electronic equipment50from a shock due to a drop or collision. As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the mobile electronic equipment50covered or not covered with the cover40is placed on the mounting portion12of the battery charger cradle10, with the vertical longitudinal direction being postured to be inclined upwardly toward the rear side, in a posture with the equipment's bottom end being engaged on the stopper wall14.

Inside the curved rear surface53of the battery pack70being equipped on the rear surface of the electronic device60, the mobile electronic equipment50incorporates the induction coil51wound on the curved surface matching the curved rear surface53. The mobile electronic equipment50shown inFIG. 3,FIG. 4andFIG. 11includes: the electronic device60having the battery storage61for accommodating a plurality of cylindrical batteries54in a mutually parallel relationship; and a battery pack70detachably placed in the battery storage61of the electronic device60. The electronic device60has the battery storage61with its rear surface being opened, the battery pack70is placed in the battery storage61, and the opening is closed. The illustrated mobile electronic equipment50incorporates the battery54and the induction coil51in the battery pack70, and the induction coil51is accommodated inside the curved rear surface53. As indicated by the dashed lines inFIG. 3,FIG. 4andFIG. 11, the battery storage61of the electronic device60is shaped such that a plurality of size AA batteries54B (two pieces of batteries in the drawing) can be received in a mutually parallel relationship. Instead of the plurality of size AA batteries54B (two pieces of batteries in the drawing), the battery pack70can be detachably received in the battery storage61. As shown inFIG. 11, either of the size AA batteries54B or the battery pack70can be conveniently used with the mobile electronic equipment50thus structured. As indicated by dashed line inFIG. 11, the electronic device60closes the opening by means of a removable lid63in a state where the size AA batteries54B are loaded in the battery storage61. The removable lid63is removably connected to the opening of the battery storage61. In a state where the removable lid63is removed and the size AA batteries54B are loaded in the battery storage61, the removable lid63is connected to the electronic device63and the opening of the battery storage61is closed.

When the removable lid63is removed, the battery pack70is placed in the battery storage61. The battery pack70placed in the battery storage61is provided integrally with the removable lid. Thus, when the battery pack70is placed in the battery storage61, the opening is closed. The battery pack70is shown inFIG. 12andFIG. 13.FIG. 13is an exploded perspective view of the battery pack70shown inFIG. 12. Further,FIG. 3andFIG. 4are sectional views showing a state where the mobile electrical equipment50is placed on the battery charger cradle10. The battery pack70shown in these drawings includes: a battery casing71accommodating the battery54; two pieces of size AAA batteries54A accommodated in a battery casing71; a battery holder72for positioning the size AAA batteries54A in place; a circuit board73disposed in a layered state on the battery holder72to be connected to the battery54; a bracket74disposed in a layered state on the circuit board73; a shield layer75disposed on the bracket74; an induction coil51disposed on the shield layer75; and a rear surface plate76disposed on the induction coil51. The rear surface plate76, the bracket74and the battery holder72are fabricated by forming an (electrically) insulating plastic material.

The rear surface plate76is formed in a curved surface that matches with the curved rear surface53of the electronic device60, with its outer and inner surfaces being of a curved surface. Since the illustrated rear surface plate76is used instead of the removable lid63of the battery storage61, the plate is so profiled that the opening of the battery storage61can be closed, that is to say, the plate is formed in the same shape as the removable lid63. The illustrated battery pack70is connected via the rear surface plate76to the battery storage61of the electronic device60. The rear surface plate76has an engagement hook77integrally formed at the top end (at the lower left portion as viewed inFIG. 12) so as to be attachable to and detachable from the opening of the battery storage61, and the rear surface plate76has an elastic hook78integrally formed at the bottom end (at the upper right portion as viewed inFIG. 12). The elastic hook78is engaged to the opening of the battery storage61. The battery storage61has an engagement recess67,68to be respectively engaged with the engagement hook77and the elastic hook78respectively at the upper and lower ends of the battery storage61. The battery pack70is so designed that the engagement hook77is pushed onto the battery storage61in a manner of being hooked to the engagement recess67, while the elastic hook78is engaged to the engagement recess68to be set with the battery storage61in a manner of not being disengaged. When the elastic hook78is elastically deformed to be removed from the engagement recess68, the battery pack70can be removed from the electronic device60. Further, the rear surface plate76, shown in the sectional views inFIG. 3andFIG. 4has, at the center portion of opposite edges, a ridge79extending in the longitudinal direction. The ridge79is placed in a guide groove69provided at either side of the opening of the battery storage61provided at the electronic device60, and the rear surface plate76is securely connected to the opening.

The induction coil51is disposed on the inner surface of the rear surface plate76. The induction coil51is a flat coil winding a copper wire in a flat state, the copper wire being a metal that is coated on its surface with an insulating film. The coil is deformed into a shape matching the curved surface of the inner surface of the rear surface plate76and is disposed adjacent to the curved surface of the rear surface plate76. The induction coil51is formed in a loop that is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the mobile electronic equipment50(namely, in the longitudinal direction of the size AAA battery54A) such that the induction coil51can be electromagnetically coupled to the primary coil21in an efficient manner.

The shield layer75is layered on the lower surface of the induction coil51to magnetically shield the circuit board73and the battery54from the primary coil21. The shield layer75is a layer such as metal and ferrite with high magnetic permeability, serving to prevent the high frequency generated by the primary coil21from adversely affecting the circuit board73, the battery54, etc. The shield layer75is curved in a shape matching with the induction coil51and is disposed adjacent to the rear surface of the induction coil51.

The bracket74is made of a plastic material, and its surface facing the rear surface plate76is formed in a curved surface matching the rear surface plate76. The bracket74defines a curved gap between its surface and the inner surface of the rear surface plate76, and the induction coil51and the shield layer75are fixed inside the gap in an interposed state. The bracket74is formed with its rear surface being planar, the rear surface facing the circuit board73, or is formed in a shape defining a recess for guiding an electronic component mounted on the circuit board73, and the bracket74is fixed to the circuit board73in a layered state. Further, the bracket74has a positioning protrusion74afor disposing the induction coil51in place, the positioning protrusion74abeing integrally formed on the surface of the bracket74. The positioning protrusion74ais guided into an inner hole of the elongated induction coil51to dispose the induction coil51in place. As can be seen inFIG. 13illustrating the bracket74, two pieces of positioning protrusions74aare spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the inner hole in the elongated induction coil51so as to be positioned at opposite ends of the hole, and thus the induction coil51is positioned in place. Further in the bracket74, the portions where the positioning protrusions74aexist are formed so as to be thicker so that they can be concomitantly used as a screw-fitting boss for fixing the battery casing71. To further describe the bracket74, the battery casing71can be fixed to the bracket74when a set screw81extending through the battery casing71is screw-threaded into each of the positioning protrusions74aof the bracket74.

Mounted on the circuit board73is an electronic component84that realizes a charging circuit (not shown) for recharging the battery54by means of the electric power induced to the induction coil51. The charging circuit recharges the battery54by converting the high-frequency electric power, induced to the induction coil51, to DC with which the battery54can be recharged. In the circuit board73, the mounted electronic component84is fixed on the bottom surface shown inFIG. 13(on a top surface shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 4), namely, on the battery side.

The battery holder72is shaped to support a plurality of size AAA batteries54A (two pieces of batteries in the drawing) in place as well as supporting the circuit board73in place. The battery holder72is made of a plastic material and formed in a shape defining a fitting-in recess72afor the battery54on a surface facing the battery. Since the illustrated battery pack70incorporates two pieces of size AAA batteries54A, the fitting-in recess72ashaped to match with the cylinder of the size AAA batteries54A is defined in two parallel rows. Instead of the size AA battery54B indicated by dashed line inFIG. 3andFIG. 4, the size AAA battery54A in the battery pack70is loaded in the battery storage61. Since the size AAA battery54A is diametrically smaller than the size M battery54B, as can be seen inFIG. 3andFIG. 4, the center positions of the size AAA batteries54A are disposed in a lateral separation toward either side as compared with the size M batteries54B which are loaded in the battery storage61so as to define a wider gap between the batteries, and a storage space82is defined in such gap for disposing the electronic component84mounted on the circuit board73. That is to say, the size AAA batteries54A are accommodated in the battery casing71in a spaced-apart manner where a distance (d) between longitudinal axes of the size AAA batteries54A is larger than a distance (D) between longitudinal axes of the size AA batteries54B. The storage space82is disposed with the electronic component84mounted on the circuit board73and is defined between the adjacent size AAA batteries54A. The electronic component84mounted on the circuit board73is disposed in the storage space82. The size AAA batteries54A are disposed toward the outer sides to the largest possible extent to define the wider storage space82between the batteries.

The battery holder72has a peripheral wall72bintegrally formed on a board-side surface facing the circuit board73, with the peripheral wall72bfitting the circuit board73in place. The circuit board73is fitted inside the peripheral wall72bto be fixed in place. Further, the battery holder72has a recess72cdefined on the board-side surface to guide the electronic component84fixed to the circuit board73. The recess72cis defined between the adjacent batteries54, and the storage space82defined between the batteries54is effectively used for accommodating the electronic component84.

The battery casing71is of a plastic-made box that is able to accommodate a plurality of size AAA batteries54A (two pieces of batteries in the drawing) inside, with the opening of the box being connected to the rear surface plate76. The box-shaped battery casing71is fabricated by connecting the opening edge to the rear surface plate76in a fitting-on engagement structure or by a welded connection, with the opening being closed by the rear surface plate76. The battery casing71shown in the sectional views inFIG. 3andFIG. 4has, at its bottom surface, a guide groove71adefined for guiding a separation wall66provided in the battery storage61. The separation wall66is provided between the batteries54to accommodate the size AA batteries54B in place. Further, the battery casing71has a retention rib71bintegrally formed at opposite sides of the guide groove71a, the retention rib71bfor retaining the size AAA batteries54A in place. The battery casing71contains the size AAA batteries54A between the retention rib71band the opposing side walls to retain the batteries in place. Further, the battery casing71has a terminal window71copened to expose an output terminal83to the outside, so that the output terminal83is exposed through the terminal window71cto the outside. The output terminal83of the battery pack70contacts a power source terminal62provided at the battery storage61and allows the electric power to be supplied to the electronic device60. The power source terminal62is disposed in a position of contacting an electrode of the size AA battery54B accommodated in the battery storage61. Therefore, the battery pack70is accommodated instead of the size AA battery54B, and the electric power is supplied from the battery pack70to the electronic device60.

The above-described battery pack70is assembled in the following steps.

(1) The size AAA battery54A is accommodated in the battery casing71, and the battery holder72is disposed on the size AAA battery54A to hold the size AAA battery54A in place.

(2) The circuit board73and the bracket74are stacked with the battery holder72, and further the induction coil51is layered on the bracket74via the shield layer75to dispose the induction coil51in place on the bracket74. In such state, the circuit board73, the size AAA battery54A and the induction coil51are interconnected, and the output terminal83connected to the circuit board73is disposed inside the terminal window71cof the battery casing71.
(3) The set screw81extending through the battery casing71is screw-threaded into the positioning protrusion74aat the bracket74, and the bracket74is fixed to the battery casing71to thus make up a battery assembly80.
(4) The opening edge of the battery casing71is fixed to the rear surface plate76, and the battery assembly80is fixed to the rear surface plate76.

In the mobile electronic equipment and the battery charger cradle provided with the above-described structure, the mobile electronic equipment50is covered with the detachable cover40, and the mounting portion12of the battery charger cradle10is internally profiled to enable the mobile electronic equipment50covered with the cover40to be placed on the mounting portion12of the battery charger cradle10. The mobile electronic equipment and the battery charger cradle of this structure guide the mobile electronic equipment50, whether or not being covered with the cover40, to a prescribed position of the mounting portion12, and the battery54contained in the mobile electronic equipment50can be efficiently recharged, with the induction coil51being brought closer to the primary coil21.

As shown inFIG. 3, in a state in which the mobile electronic equipment50without being covered with the cover is properly disposed, a bottommost portion of the curved bottom surface13of the battery charger cradle10coincides with and contacts a bottommost portion of the curved rear surface53of the mobile electronic equipment50. The curved bottom surface13of the battery charger cradle10and the curved rear surface53of the mobile electronic equipment50are in a bilaterally symmetrical structure, so that when the mobile electronic equipment50is placed on the mounting portion12of the battery charger cradle10, the mobile electronic equipment50can slide down by the effect of its own weight into an appropriate position. And, when the curved bottom surface13of the battery charger cradle10and the curved rear surface53of the mobile electronic equipment50are made of a plastic material having a lower coefficient of friction, the mobile electronic equipment50can be disposed in an appropriate position in such a manner to permit it to slide down more easily.

Further, as shown inFIG. 4, even in a state where the mobile electronic equipment50is covered with the cover40, when the curved rear surface53of the mobile electronic equipment50is placed on the curved bottom surface13of the battery charger cradle10, alignment can be made easily in the following manner to carry out an efficient recharging operation.

(1) Alignment can be efficiently obtained when the bottommost portion of the curved bottom surface13of the battery charger cradle10and the bottommost portion of the curved rear surface53of the mobile electronic equipment50are disposed in a manner of matching with each other.
(2) Since the curved bottom surface13of the battery charger cradle10and the curved rear surface53of the mobile electronic equipment50are in a bilaterally symmetrical structure, correct alignment can be achieved if longitudinal axes of the cradle and the equipment are disposed in a manner of matching with each other.
(3) Correct alignment can be achieved when the frontal surface of the mobile electronic equipment50is disposed to be horizontal in a left-and-right direction.

The battery pack70according to the above-described embodiment is structured so that the incorporated size AAA battery54A is recharged by the electric power that is carried from the non-contact battery charger cradle10to the mobile electronic equipment50by the effect of electromagnetic induction. However, the battery pack of the present invention is also designed so that the incorporated battery is recharged by the electric power being supplied via a battery charger cradle having a contact point, without necessarily being recharged by the electric power carried by electromagnetic induction using the non-contact battery charger cradle.FIG. 14shows a battery charger cradle90having a charging contact94, andFIG. 15shows the mobile electronic equipment50to be placed on a mounting portion92of the battery charger cradle90. The battery charger cradle90shown inFIG. 14has a contact window93opened at the mounting portion92, with a charging contact94projecting from the contact window93. The charging contact94is disposed at a position facing a power source terminal98provided on a rear surface of a battery pack95to be placed on the rear surface of the mobile electronic equipment50which is placed to the mounting portion92. The mobile electronic equipment50shown inFIG. 15has the battery pack95loaded detachably in the battery storage61disposed on the rear surface. The battery pack95has a terminal hole97opened at a rear surface plate96, and a power source terminal98is exposed from the terminal hole97. The power source terminal98is connected to a circuit board (not shown) incorporated in the battery pack95, and the electric power supplied from the battery charger cradle90is supplied to the circuit board to recharge the incorporated battery. When the mobile electronic equipment50loaded with the battery pack95is placed on the mounting portion92of the battery charger cradle90, the charging contact94projecting from the contact window93of the mounting portion92contacts the power source terminal98exposed on the rear surface of the battery pack95, and thus the electric power is supplied from the charging contact94to the power source terminal98. The battery pack95recharges the incorporated size AAA battery54A by the electric power supplied from the battery charger cradle90via the charging contact94and the power source terminal98.

It should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that while various preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is contemplated that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, which are deemed to be merely illustrative of the inventive concepts and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention, and which are suitable for all modifications and changes falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The present application is based on Application No. 2008-114590 filed in Japan on Apr. 24, 2008, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.