PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8506334-B2
Application Number: US-89446010-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Battery connector with lid for easy disconnect

Abstract:
Battery connectors that have a small size, are easily connected and disconnected during manufacturing and repair, are resistant to misconnection, and during connection, form electrical contact for one or both power pins before a signal pin. In one example, size may be reduced by providing a lid having a flat surface. Another example may provide a lid that extends beyond an edge of the socket in one or more directions to allow the lid to be pried with a finger during removal. Another example may provide a socket that is keyed using a negative space, which may mate with an open space in the lid. This mating may prevent the lid from being misconnected with the socket during manufacturing or repair. Another example may provide signal pins having a lower height than power and ground pins, such that power and ground connections are formed first when a battery is connected.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A battery connector to form a plurality of electrical paths between a printed circuit board and a battery, the battery connector comprising:
 a socket comprising a first plurality of contacts; and 
 a lid to mate with the socket, wherein the lid is flexible to facilitate its removal when the force is exerted on the first edge, the lid comprising:
 a substantially flat surface having a first edge extending beyond the socket when the lid is mated to the socket, such that the lid may be removed by a force exerted on the first edge; and 
 a second plurality of contacts to form electrical connections with the first plurality of contacts in the socket. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The battery connector of  claim 1  wherein the surface has a second edge extending beyond the socket when the lid is mated to the socket, the second edge opposite the first edge. 
     
     
       3. The battery connector of  claim 2  wherein the lid is flexible to facilitate its removal when the force is exerted on the first and second edges. 
     
     
       4. The battery connector of  claim 1  wherein the socket comprises a key to mate with an open space in the lid. 
     
     
       5. The battery connector of  claim 4  wherein the key and corresponding open space prevents misconnection of the lid and the socket. 
     
     
       6. The battery connector of  claim 1  wherein the lid further comprises a plurality of conductors to couple to a battery. 
     
     
       7. The battery connector of  claim 6  wherein the plurality of conductors comprises a flexible board. 
     
     
       8. The battery connector of  claim 1  wherein the first plurality of contacts comprises contacts for power, ground, and a signal. 
     
     
       9. The battery connector of  claim 8  wherein the signal contacts are recessed relative to the power and ground contacts, such that when the lid and socket are connected, power and ground connections are formed before a signal connection. 
     
     
       10. A lid for a battery connector, the lid comprising:
 a substantially flat surface having a first edge extending beyond a socket when the lid is mated to the socket, such that the lid may be separated from the socket by a force exerted on the first edge; and 
 a plurality of first contacts to form electrical connections with a plurality of second contacts in the socket, 
 wherein the lid is flexible to facilitate its removal when the force is exerted on the first edge. 
 
     
     
       11. The lid for a battery connector of  claim 10  wherein the surface has a second edge extending beyond the socket when the lid is mated to the socket, the second edge opposite the first edge. 
     
     
       12. The lid for a battery connector of  claim 11  wherein the lid is flexible to facilitate its removal when the force is exerted on the first and second edges. 
     
     
       13. The lid for a battery connector of  claim 10  wherein the lid comprises an open space, the open space to mate with a key on the socket. 
     
     
       14. The lid for a battery connector of  claim 10  wherein the lid further comprises a plurality of conductors to couple to a battery. 
     
     
       15. The lid for a battery connector of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of conductors comprises a flexible board. 
     
     
       16. The lid for a battery connector of  claim 10  wherein the first plurality of contacts comprises contacts for power, ground, and a signal. 
     
     
       17. A battery connector comprising:
 a socket comprising a first plurality of contacts; and 
 a lid to mate with the socket, the lid comprising:
 a second plurality of contacts arranged in a row in a first direction; and 
 a flexible top surface having first and second edges extending beyond the socket in the first direction at each end of the socket, 
 
 wherein the lid is flexible to facilitate its removal. 
 
     
     
       18. The battery connector of  claim 17  wherein the lid is removed by exerting a force at the first and second edges. 
     
     
       19. The battery connector of  claim 17  wherein the lid and socket further comprise a key structure comprising a key and an open space, the key to mate with the open space when the lid is mated with the socket. 
     
     
       20. The battery connector of  claim 19  wherein the key and corresponding open space prevents misconnection of the lid and the socket. 
     
     
       21. The battery connector of  claim 20  wherein the open space is located on the lid and the key is located on the socket. 
     
     
       22. The battery connector of  claim 17  wherein the lid further comprises a plurality of conductors to couple to a battery. 
     
     
       23. The battery connector of  claim 22  wherein the plurality of conductors comprises a flexible board. 
     
     
       24. The battery connector of  claim 17  wherein the first plurality of contacts comprises contacts for power, ground, and a signal. 
     
     
       25. The battery connector of  claim 24  wherein the signal contacts are recessed relative to the power and ground contacts, such that when the lid and socket are connected, power and ground connections are formed before a signal connection.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The numbers and types of portable electronic devices that are available to consumers have proliferated the past several years. Media players, handheld media players, cell phones, smart phones, table computers, and other devices have become ubiquitous. 
     Typically, each of these devices includes a battery. This battery provides power when the portable device is away from an external power source, such as a wall outlet. This battery may be a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. In either event, the battery needs to be connected to circuitry inside the electronic device so that the battery may provide power to the electronic device. Accordingly, a battery connector may be used to connect the battery to circuitry inside the electronic device. 
     But these battery connectors consume space inside the electronic devices. This space consumption means either that the electronic device is larger than it would otherwise be, or that the electronic device includes less functionality than it otherwise might (or a combination of both). Thus, it may be desirable to provide battery connectors having a smaller size. 
     Also, these battery connectors may be connected during device manufacturing. And, on occasion, the battery may need to be replaced. To facilitate manufacturing and repair of these electronic devices, it may be desirable that these battery connectors are easy to connect and disconnect. 
     Moreover, battery packs may include circuitry to allow them to communicate with circuits in the electronic device. To facilitate this communication, the battery packs may include a signal pin. To protect this signal pin from being shorted to a power supply, it may be desirable to provide a battery connector that is less likely to be misconnected. Also, to further protect the signal pins, it may be desirable to ensure that, when the battery connector is connected, one or more power pins are connected before the signal pin is connected. 
     Accordingly, what is needed are circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide battery connectors having a small size, are easily connected and disconnected in a manufacturing environment, are resistant to misconnection, and during connection, form electrical contact for one or both power pins before a signal pin. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide battery connectors that have a small size, are easily connected and disconnected in a manufacturing environment, are resistant to misconnection, and during connection, form electrical contact for one or both power pins before a signal pin. 
     An illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a battery connector having a socket and a lid, where contacts in the socket may mate with contacts in the lid to form electrical paths. The socket contacts may connect to pins, which may in turn connect to traces of a printed circuit board. Contacts in the lid may connect through a flexible cable to a battery pack. This illustrative embodiment of the present invention may have a small size. This diminutive size may be achieved in part by having a low profile due to a flat lid. In other embodiments of the present invention, the lid may have other shapes. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a battery connector that is easily connected and disconnected in a manufacturing environment. This illustrative embodiment may provide a lid that extends beyond one or more edges of the socket in one or more directions. In this embodiment of the present invention, this allows the extended portion or portions of the lid to be pried with a force exerted by one or more fingers to remove the lid and disconnect the battery from internal circuitry. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a socket that is keyed using a negative space. This negative space, or key, may mate with an open space in the lid. This mating may prevent the lid from being misconnected with the socket during manufacturing or repair. 
     Still another illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a socket having signal pins at a lower height than a power and a ground pin. In this way, when a lid is mated to the socket, power and ground connections are formed before the signal line is connected. This protects the signal line from damage and prevents the battery pack from powering up before the power connections in the battery connector are made. 
     Various embodiments of the present invention may incorporate one or more of these and the other features described herein. A better understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be gained by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A-1B  illustrate a battery connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a socket according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom view of a socket according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of a socket according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the socket in  FIG. 4  along lines F-F; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of the socket in  FIG. 4  along lines E-E; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of a socket according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom view of a socket according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a top view of a lid according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a bottom view of a lid according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates another bottom view of a lid according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a top view of a lid according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a bottom view of a lid according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a back side of a lid according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a cutaway view of a lid according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1A-1B  illustrate a battery connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1A  illustrates a battery connector system including battery connector  110 , where battery connector  110  may be disconnected.  FIG. 1B  illustrates battery connector system including battery connector  110 , where battery connector  110  may be connected. These figures, as with the other included figures, are shown for illustrative purposes and do not limit either the possible embodiments of the present invention or the claims. 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates a battery connector system including battery connector  110 , the battery connector  110  including socket  120  and lid  130 , battery pack  140 , and flexible circuit board  150 . In this figure, lid  130  may be separate or disconnected from socket  120 . Lid  130  may be attached to battery pack  140  via flexible circuit board  150 . In various embodiments of the present invention, socket  120  may be attached to a printed circuit board (not shown). Battery pack  140  may also be attached to the printed circuit board. For example, battery pack  140  may be held in place by a clip or other retaining device (not shown) that may be attached to the printed circuit board. Socket  120  may include a number of contacts (not shown) that may connect to traces (not shown) on the printed circuit board. These contacts may form electrical connections to contacts (not shown) in lid  130 . These contacts in lid  130  may connect to conductors (not shown) in flexible circuit board  150 . The conductors in flexible circuit board  150  may in turn connect to terminals (not shown) in battery pack  140 . In this way, terminals in battery pack  140  may be connected to traces on the printed circuit board. 
     Battery pack  140  may include a rechargeable or other type of battery (not shown). The battery in battery pack  140  may be charged via battery connector  110 , or the battery in battery pack  140  may supply power via battery connector  110 . Battery pack  140  may also include circuitry for controlling aspects of the battery. For example, this circuitry may control the charging or discharging of the battery in battery pack  140 . In other embodiments of the present invention, this circuitry may control the voltage or power levels provided to or by the battery in battery pack  140 . This circuitry may also track the charge level, performance, or other aspects of the battery in battery pack  140 . 
     Flexible circuit board  150  may include a number of conductors, for example conductors for a power supply and one or more signals. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, flexible circuit board  150  includes conductors for power, ground, and a signal. In various embodiments of the present invention, battery pack  140  may communicate with circuitry on a printed circuit board using one or more signals to achieve the functionality described above. In other embodiments of the present invention, flexible circuit board  150  may be replaced by wires or other conductors. 
     Again, socket  120  may include a number of contacts for a power supply and one or more signals. Specifically, socket  120  may include a number of contacts for power, ground, and a signal. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a socket according to an embodiment of the present invention. This socket  120  may include a number of contacts  210 ,  220 , and  230 , arranged in an insulative housing  240 . Insulative housing  240  may be at least partially surrounded by shield  260 . Insulative housing  240  may be formed using plastic, ceramic, or other insulative or non-conductive material. Shield  260  may be formed using aluminum, copper, stainless steel, or other conductive materials. 
     In this specific embodiment of the present invention, contacts  210  and  230  may convey power and ground signals. Contacts  220  may convey a signal. In other embodiments of the present invention, other contacts may be included, or these contacts may be used for other purposes. Contacts  210 ,  220 , and  230  may be formed using aluminum, copper, stainless steel, or other conductive materials. 
     In a specific embodiment of the present invention, it may be desirable to ensure that power connections to the battery are formed before the signal path is activated. This may prevent spurious signals from reaching or being provided by battery pack  140 . Accordingly, in this embodiment of the present invention, contacts  220  may have a lower height than do contacts  210  and  230 . In this way, when lid  130  is attached to receptacle  120 , connections may be made at contacts  210  and  230  before they are made at contacts  220 . 
     It may be desirable to avoid a misconnection when lid  130  is attached to socket  120 . For example, to protect battery pack  140 , it may be desirable to not connect a signal contact in lid  130  to a power supply contact in receptacle  120 , or a power supply contact in lid  130  to a signal contact in receptacle  120 . Accordingly, insulative housing  240  may include one or more negative spaces or keys  250 . Keys  250  may mate with an open space in lid  130 . This may ensure that lid  130  mates with socket  120  in only one way, thereby avoiding misconnections between lid  130  and socket  120 . 
     Shield  260  may provide mechanical support and electrical shielding for socket  120 . Tabs  265  may be soldered or otherwise connected to a printed circuit board for mechanical stability. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom view of a socket according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a bottom portion of contacts  210 ,  220 , and  230  may be through-hole contacts that are soldered into holes in a printed circuit board. In other embodiments of the present invention, bottoms of contacts  210 ,  220 , and  230  may be surface-mount contacts or other types of contacts. Shield  260  may include tabs  265  for attachment to a printed circuit board. Shield  260  may also include identifying text  267 . Insulative housing  240  may include one or more tabs  245  for further mechanical support. Tabs  245  may also be used to ensure proper registration to a printed circuit board. That is, tabs  245  may be used to properly position socket  120  relative to a printed circuit board. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of a socket according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, contacts  220  may have a lower height than contacts  210  and  230 . This may ensure that when lid  130  is attached to socket  120 , electrical connections at contacts  210  and  230  are formed before an electrical connection at contacts  220  is formed. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the socket in  FIG. 4  along lines F-F. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of the socket in  FIG. 4  along lines E-E. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of a socket according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom view of a socket according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a top view of a lid according to an embodiment of the present invention. Lid  130  may include top surface  910  having edges  920  and  930 . In this specific embodiment of the present invention, edges  920  and  930  may extend beyond socket  120 . This enables edges  920  and  930  to be grasped by a user in order to remove lid  130  from socket  120 . In other embodiments of the present invention, only one edge may extend beyond socket  120 . In other embodiments, three or more edges may extend beyond socket  120 . While in this example edges on the shorter sides of lid  130  are shown as being extended, in other embodiments of the present invention, other edges may be extended beyond socket  120 . For example, the longer edges of top surface  910  may extend beyond socket  120 . Top surface  910  may be flexible in order to facilitate its removal in this way. Piece  940  may attach to flexible connector  150 . 
     In this example, top surface  910  may be at least substantially flat. This may provide the battery connector  110  with a low profile. This low profile may save space, allowing the electronic device in which it is used to be smaller in size or to include more functionality (or a combination of both). In other embodiments of the present invention, top surface  910  of lid  130  may have other shapes. 
     In this example, lid  130  may be removed by a user applying a force at edges  930  and  930  of top surface  910 . This force may be generally upward, though in other embodiments of the present invention, the force may be applied in other directions. This generally upward force may bend top surface  910 , thereby facilitating its removal. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a bottom view of a lid according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again contacts for power, ground, and a signal are included. Specifically, contacts  1010 ,  1020 , and  1030  are included. Contacts  1010 ,  1020 , and  1030  may include prong portions  1050  for mating with contacts  210 ,  220 , and  230  in socket  120 . Contacts  1010 ,  1020 , and  1030  may be formed using aluminum, copper, stainless steel, or other conductive materials. Prongs  1050  may be isolated by insulative portions  1040 . Insulative portions  1040  may be separate from one another to enhance the flexibility of lid  130 . This enhanced flexibility may facilitate its removal from socket  120  when a force is exerted on edges  920  and  930 . Open space  1060  may mate with negative space or keys  250  on socket  120 . Insulative portions  1040 , as well as top surface  910 , may be formed using plastic, ceramic, or other insulative or non-conductive material. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates another bottom view of a lid according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a top view of a lid according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a bottom view of a lid according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, edges  920  and  930  may extend beyond receptacle  120 . A user may apply a force at edges  920  and  930 , thereby causing lid  130  to bend, thereby facilitating its removal. Insulative portions  1040  may isolate contact prongs  1050  from one another. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a back side of a lid according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates a cutaway view of a lid according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, insulative portions  1040  isolate contact prongs  1050  from one another. 
     The above description of embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form described, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teaching above. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Thus, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20100930
Publication Date: 20130813
Grant Date: 20130813
Priority Date: 20100930
Inventors: ABRAHAM EUAN
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01R24/66", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/20", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/20", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R2107/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R2107/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/66", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 45890207