Patent ID: 7763992

Claim:
A universal battery interface for a telecommunications and/or data unit such as an optical network terminal (ONT) comprising: a battery pack including a battery and a compatible charger for said battery, wherein said battery pack is contained in a chassis and an electrical pin configuration extends from said battery pack chassis, wherein said pin configuration includes a ground pin, a voltage output pin for providing voltage for powering said ONT and a voltage charging pin for permitting said charger to charge said battery after the voltage of said battery has been completely or partially depleted after serving as a backup source of power for said ONT when utility power to said ONT has failed, wherein said ONT includes a component slot configured to matingly receive said battery pack chassis, said slot including an electrical receptacle having said pin configuration for receiving said ground pin, said voltage output pin and said voltage charging pin upon complete insertion of said battery pack chassis into said slot, and wherein said battery pack can be easily removed and replaced with a different battery pack having a different chassis substantially identical to said chassis and a pin configuration substantially identical to said pin configuration and containing a substitute battery having chemistry different from said battery, without requiring any modifications to said ONT to accommodate insertion and operation of said different battery pack.