Patent Publication Number: US-2015064531-A1

Title: Electronic device having battery pack receptacle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0102119, filed on Aug. 28, 2013, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and entitled: “Electronic Device Having Battery Pack Receptacle,” is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Embodiments relate to an electronic device having a battery pack receptacle, and more particularly, to an electronic device having a battery pack receptacle which can exchange battery packs. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     As the compactness and lightweight of portable electronic devices are rapidly developed, many studies on secondary batteries used as driving power sources of the portable electronic devices have been recently conducted. Particularly, as portable wireless devices, e.g., a video camera, a cellular phone, a notebook computer, and a portable digital assistant (PDA), become light in weight and highly functionalized, the importance of secondary batteries used as driving power sources of these devices increases. 
     Since the secondary batteries can be repetitively charged and discharged, the secondary batteries are economical, e.g., as compared with primary batteries. In addition, the compactness and large-capacity of the secondary batteries can be implemented. Since the secondary batteries have high operating voltage and high energy density per unit weight, the secondary batteries are widely used in high-tech electronic device fields. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to embodiments, there is provided an electronic device having an electronic device main body, a battery pack receptacle in the electronic device main body, and at least one variable member at an inner side of the battery pack receptacle, the variable member being movable within the space of the battery pack receptacle. 
     The variable member may include a moving portion configured to have one end fixed to an edge of the battery pack receptacle and the other end positioned in the battery pack receptacle, and a projection portion protruded downward from the other end of the moving portion. 
     The one end of the moving portion may be fixed by a fixing member, and the other end of the moving portion may be formed to be movable using the fixing member as an axis according to the degree of tightening of the fixing member. 
     The fixing member may be formed in a bolt shape. 
     A projection accommodating groove for accommodating the projection portion therein may be formed in the inner side of the battery pack receptacle. 
     The variable member may be formed at one side of the battery pack receptacle and another side contacted with the one side. 
     The variable member may be formed at a corner of the battery pack receptacle. 
     The variable member may be formed at another side except the side of the battery pack receptacle, in which a terminal connecting portion is positioned. 
     A groove portion may be formed at a position corresponding to a terminal portion of the battery pack in the battery pack receptacle, and the terminal connecting portion may be formed in the groove portion. 
     The terminal portion of the battery pack may be protruded to be inserted into the groove portion. 
     The variable member may be formed of a material having elasticity. 
     The electronic device may further include a cover portion configured to cover the battery pack receptacle. 
     The electronic device may further include a battery pack inside the battery pack receptacle, the battery pack having a size equal to or smaller than the battery pack receptacle. 
     The battery pack may be smaller than the battery pack receptacle, an empty space being defined between at least one sidewall of the battery back and a corresponding inner sidewall of the battery pack receptacle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Features will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing in detail exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective, exploded view of an electronic device according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a state in which a battery pack is inserted into a battery pack receptacle of the electronic device according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a state in which a battery pack is inserted into a battery pack receptacle of the electronic device according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a perspective view of an electronic device in which a groove portion is formed at one side of the battery pack receptacle of the electronic device according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates a perspective view of a state in which a projection portion of a variable member is accommodated in the groove portion of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a state in which a battery pack is inserted into a battery pack receptacle of the electronic device according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view showing a state in which a battery pack is inserted into a battery pack receptacle according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, they may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the example embodiments to those skilled in the art. 
     In the drawing figures, dimensions may be exaggerated for clarity of illustration. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “between” two elements or “on” an element, it can be the only element between the two elements or on the element, or one or more intervening elements may also be present. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an electronic device according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an electronic device according to this embodiment may include an electronic device main body  10  and a battery pack receptacle  12  provided in one area of the electronic device main body  10 . The electronic device may further include a cover portion  11  configured to cover the battery pack receptacle  12 . In this case, at least one variable member  13  is formed on an inner surface of the battery pack receptacle  12  so that a space of the battery pack receptacle  12  is variable. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the variable member  13  includes a moving portion  13   a  and a projection portion  13   b.  A first end of the moving portion  13   a  is fixed to an edge of the battery pack receptacle  12 , and a second end of the moving portion  13   a  is positioned in, e.g., above, the battery pack receptacle  12 . The projection portion  13   b  protrudes downward from the second end of the moving portion  13   a  into the battery pack receptacle  12 . 
     Here, the first end of the moving portion  13   a  of the variable member  13  is fixed to the edge of the battery pack receptacle  12  by a fixing member  14 . The fixing member  14  is formed in a bolt shape, so that the second end of the moving portion  13   a  can be moved using the fixing member  14  as an axis according to a degree of tightening of the fixing member  14 . 
     The variable member  13  is formed at a side of the battery pack receptacle  12  other than a side including a terminal connecting portion  15 . In other words, the variable member  13  and the terminal connecting portion  15  are at different sides of the battery pack receptacle  12 . For example, the electronic device may include a plurality of variable members  13 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a first variable member  13  may be formed at a first side of the battery pack receptacle  12 , a second variable member  13  may be formed at a second side of the battery pack receptacle  12  adjacent, e.g., perpendicular, to the first side of the battery pack receptacle  12 , and the terminal connecting portion  15  may be formed at a third side of the battery pack receptacle  12  perpendicular to the first side of the battery pack receptacle  12 , i.e., opposite to the second side of the battery pack receptacle  12 . 
     Accordingly, the variable member  13  can fix a battery pack to be stationary, i.e., not to be moved, when the battery pack is mounted in the battery pack receptacle  12 . For example, when the first and second variable members  13  are positioned in the battery pack receptacle  12 , a battery pack smaller than the battery pack receptacle  12  may be positioned in the battery pack receptacle  12  and supported securely by the projection portions  13   b  of the first and second variable members  13  against respective opposite sides of the battery pack receptacle  12 . 
     As such, the space utilization of the battery pack receptacle  12  may be varied by the variable member  13  formed on the battery pack receptacle  12  according to a size of a battery pack mounted in the battery pack receptacle  12 . Accordingly, a battery pack with various sizes may be accommodated in the same battery pack receptacle  12  of the electronic device main body  10 . 
     For example, the electronic device main body  10  may be a cellular phone (hereinafter, the cellular phone is used as the electronic device), and the battery pack may be used as a power source of the cellular phone. For example, when an application, e.g., Internet or a moving picture, with a large power consumption of a battery pack is implemented in the electronic device main body  10 , e.g., in a smart phone, the capacity of the battery pack is decreased, thereby requiring frequent replacement thereof. 
     Accordingly, an existing battery pack having a battery pack receptacle with a space and size different from those of the battery pack receptacle  12  of the cellular phone according to this embodiment may be mounted in the battery pack receptacle  12 , so that the power of the battery pack can be supplied to the cellular phone. That is, as the existing battery pack can be continuously used, it is possible to reduce cost spent in purchasing a new battery pack. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a battery pack inside the battery pack receptacle  12  of the electronic device  10  according to a first embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the battery pack receptacle  12  having a battery pack  20  mounted therein is provided at a rear side of the electronic device  10 , e.g., a cellular phone  10 . The variable member  13  for varying the space of the battery pack receptacle  12  is formed at an inner side of the battery pack receptacle  12 . The variable member  13  includes the moving portion  13   a  and the projection portion  13   b.  The first end of the moving portion  13   a  is fixed at the edge of the battery pack receptacle  12 , and the second end of the moving portion  13   a  is positioned in the battery pack receptacle  12 . The projection portion  13   b  protrudes downward from the second end of the moving portion  13   a.    
     The first end of the moving portion  13   a,  i.e., the end fixed to the edge of the battery pack receptacle  12 , is fixed by the bolt-shaped fixing member  14 , and accordingly, the second end of the moving portion  13   a  can be moved using the fixing member  14  as an axis according to the degree of tightening of the fixing member  14 . In this embodiment, the battery pack  20  is formed to have a size smaller than that of the battery pack receptacle  12 . 
     The battery pack  20  is positioned in the battery pack receptacle  12  so that a terminal portion (not shown) of the battery pack  20  corresponds, e.g., connects, to the terminal connecting portion  15  (see  FIG. 1 ) of the battery pack receptacle  12 . The variable members  13  are formed at the first and second sides of the battery pack receptacle  12 , i.e., sides other than the third side that includes the terminal connecting portion  15 . That is, the variable member  13  is formed at the first side, e.g., a longitudinal side, of the battery pack receptacle  12  and at the second side, e.g., a lateral side, of the battery pack receptacle  12  contacting the first side. As such, the variable member  13  supports and fixes the battery pack  20  within the battery pack receptacle  12  along lateral and longitudinal directions of the battery pack  20  which has a smaller size, e.g., smaller lateral and longitudinal dimensions, than that of the battery pack receptacle  12 . Accordingly, although the battery pack  20  is formed to have a size smaller than that of the battery pack receptacle  12 , the battery pack  20  can be easily fixed within the battery pack receptacle  12 . 
     Here, the battery pack  20  mounted in the battery pack receptacle  12  has the smallest size with which the battery pack  20  can be accommodated in the battery pack receptacle  12 . In this case, the moving portions  13   a  of the first and second variable members  13  are positioned vertically, e.g., perpendicularly, with respect to the respective first and second sides of the battery pack receptacle  12  at which the variable members  13  are formed. The projection portions  13   b  of the variable members  13  fix the battery pack  20  so that the battery pack  20  is stationary, i.e., not moved, while contacting, e.g., being pushed against, inner sidewalls of the battery pack receptacle  12 . In this case, the variable member  13  may be formed of a material exhibiting elasticity, e.g., rubber having elasticity. Accordingly, the variable member  13  can act as a buffering member when an impact is applied to the battery pack  20 . 
     According to embodiments, as the variable member  13  is formed at the inner side of the battery pack receptacle  12  of the cellular phone  10 , e.g., as the projection portion  13   b  extends inside an inner space defined by the battery pack receptacle  12 , the space within the battery pack receptacle  12  can be varied with various sizes, thereby allowing exchanging battery packs with various sizes. In this embodiment, the size of the battery pack  20  which can be accommodated in the battery pack receptacle  12  is not limited, and it will be apparent that the battery pack  20  with a smaller size can be accommodated in the battery pack receptacle  12  as the length of the moving portion  13   a  of the variable member  13  is changed. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a battery pack  2  in the battery pack receptacle  12  of the electronic device  10  according to a second embodiment. In  FIG. 3 , descriptions of components identical to those of  FIG. 2  will be omitted. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a battery pack  20 ′ is inserted into the battery pack receptacle  12  of the cellular phone  10 . The battery pack  20 ′ is larger than the battery pack  20  of  FIG. 2  but smaller than the battery pack receptacle  12 . Therefore, the size of the battery pack  20 ′ leaves a smaller empty space in the battery pack receptacle  12  than the battery pack  20  of  FIG. 2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the variable member  13  is adjacent to the inner side of the battery pack receptacle  12 . That is, the moving portion  13   a  of the variable member  13  is positioned toward the direction maximally parallel to the side of the battery pack  20 ′ adjacent thereto. For example, the moving portion  13   a  of the variable member  13  is inclined toward the first side of the battery pack receptacle  12 , i.e., the moving portion  13   a  is at an oblique angle with respect to the first side of the battery pack receptacle  12 , so the projection portion  13   b  of the variable member  13  directly contacts both the battery pack  20 ′ and the inner side of the battery pack receptacle  12 . 
     The variable member  13  may be formed at two sides of the battery pack receptacle  12 , except the side at which the terminal connecting portion  15  (see  FIG. 1 ) of the battery pack receptacle  12  is positioned. That is, the variable member  13  may be formed at the first side of the battery pack receptacle  12  and at the second side contacting the first side. As such, the variable member  13  supports and fixes the battery pack  20 ′ in lateral and longitudinal directions of the battery pack  20 ′ formed with a size different from that of the battery pack receptacle  12 . 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates a perspective view of an electronic device according to a third embodiment.  FIG. 4B  illustrates a perspective of a battery pack in the electronic device of  FIG. 4A . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , an electronic device  10 ′ may be substantially the same as the electronic device  10  of  FIGS. 1-3 , with the exception of including a projection accommodating groove  16  at one side of the battery pack receptacle  12 . As such, the variable member  13  may bent to be inserted into the projection accommodating groove  16 . 
     In detail, as discussed previously, the variable member  13  according to this embodiment may be formed at one side of the battery pack receptacle  12  and another side contacted with the one side. Accordingly, the variable member  13  supports and fixes the battery pack  20  or battery pack  20 ′ formed with a size different from that of the battery pack receptacle  12  in lateral and longitudinal directions of the battery pack  20 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4A-4B , when a battery pack  20 ″ has a size identical to that of the space of the battery pack receptacle  12 , the projection accommodating groove  16  at the first side of the battery pack receptacle  12 , i.e., at a same side at which the variable member  13  is formed, may accommodate the variable member  13 . That is, the projection accommodating groove  16  is formed in the inner side of the battery pack receptacle  12  to accommodate the projection portion  13   b  of the variable member  13  therein. 
     In detail, if the battery pack  20 ″ with a size identical to that of the battery pack receptacle  12  is mounted in the battery pack receptacle  12 , the moving portion  13   a  of the variable member  13  is moved in the direction parallel to a side of the battery pack  20  adjacent thereto. In this case, the moving portion  13   a  is, e.g., completely, removed from the space of the battery pack receptacle  12  to overlap only an outer edge of the battery pack receptacle  12 , and the projection portion  13   b  of the variable member  13  is accommodated in the projection accommodating groove  16  formed in the inner side of the battery pack receptacle  12  corresponding thereto. Accordingly, the battery pack  20 ″ with a size identical to that of the battery pack receptacle  12  can be accommodated in the battery pack receptacle  12  without any interference with the variable member  13 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a battery pack in the battery pack receptacle  12  of an electronic device  10 ″ according to a fourth embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in this embodiment, the variable member  13  is formed at a corner of the battery pack receptacle  12 . Here, the corner of the battery pack receptacle  12 , at which the variable member  13  is formed, may be an area positioned in an approximately diagonal direction with the battery pack receptacle  12  having the terminal connecting portion  15  formed therein. Accordingly, when the battery pack  20  (or battery pack  20 ′) with a size smaller than that of the battery pack receptacle  12  is accommodated in the battery pack receptacle  12 , the variable member  13  can fix the battery pack  20  while simultaneously supporting lateral and longitudinal directions of the battery pack  20 . That is, as one variable member  13  is formed at the corner of the battery pack receptacle  12 , it is possible to simultaneously support and fix the battery pack  20  in the lateral and longitudinal directions of the battery pack  20  with a simpler structure. 
     Although not shown in  FIG. 5 , like the third embodiment, a projection accommodating groove for accommodating the projection portion  13   b  of the variable member  13  may be formed at an inner side of the battery pack receptacle  12 . Accordingly, the variable member  13  can support and fix a battery pack in the lateral and longitudinal direction of the battery pack whether the battery pack has a same size or a different size than that of the battery pack receptacle  12 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of a battery pack in a battery pack receptacle according to a fifth embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , variable members  13  are respectively formed at one side of the battery pack receptacle  12  and another side contacted with the one side. Accordingly, although the battery pack  20  with a size different from that of the battery pack receptacle  12  is inserted into the battery pack receptacle  12 , the battery pack  20  can be supported by the variable member  13  in lateral and longitudinal directions of the battery pack  20 . 
     A groove portion  17  is formed at a position corresponding to a terminal portion  21  of the battery pack  20  in the battery pack receptacle  12 . The terminal connecting portion  15  is formed inside the groove portion  17 . The terminal portion  21  of the battery pack  20  may protrude to be inserted into the groove portion  17 . Accordingly, when the battery pack  20  is accommodated in the battery pack receptacle  12 , the battery pack  20  can be fixed by the variable member  13 . Simultaneously, the battery pack  20  can be fixed by the coupling between the groove portion  17  of the battery pack receptacle  12  and the protruded terminal portion  21  of the battery pack  20 . 
     That is, the battery pack  20  is fixed by the variable member  13 , and the terminal portion  21  of the battery pack  20  is inserted into the terminal connecting portion  15  formed in the groove portion  17 , thereby exchanging the battery pack  20  with a size different from that of the space of the battery pack receptacle  12 . 
     According to embodiments, at least one variable member is formed in the battery pack receptacle of the electronic device, so that the space of the battery pack receptacle can be varied with various sizes, thereby accommodating battery packs with various sizes. Further, although the electronic device is replaced, the existing battery pack can be exchanged regardless of the design of the battery pack receptacle, so that it is possible to continuously use the battery pack and to reduce cost. 
     Example embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although specific terms are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purpose of limitation. In some instances, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art as of the filing of the present application, features, characteristics, and/or elements described in connection with a particular embodiment may be used singly or in combination with features, characteristics, and/or elements described in connection with other embodiments unless otherwise specifically indicated. Accordingly, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.