Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to battery cartridges with exterior shapes adapted for insertion in devices based on the power needs of the device. More particularly, the present disclosure further relates to a charging mechanism that charges battery cells included in the cartridge based on the charge need as indicated by the external shape of the battery cartridge. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Many devices, especially children&#39;s toys, are battery powered. Many of these devices have battery enclosures making it difficult, especially for children, to replace the batteries. These enclosures often require tools, such as a screwdriver, to access batteries within the enclosure. In addition, many of these devices require a large number of batteries, disposal of which can be problematic depending on the disposal laws and regulations pertaining to the consumer based on the consumer&#39;s location. Because batteries have relatively short lives, especially when powering a child&#39;s toy that encounters substantial use, battery changes may need to occur frequently. Due to the above issues, the child may need an adult to replace the batteries. In other cases, handling of batteries by a child may be dangerous as the child may experience an electric shock or may insert the batteries into the device incorrectly which may damage the device or cause a potential fire danger. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    An approach is provided in which a battery cartridge aperture is included in a device. The edges of the battery cartridge aperture form a shape that match a selected battery cartridge and indicate a power configuration. The selected battery cartridge is selected from a variety of different battery cartridges with each of the battery cartridges having a unique external shape with each unique external shape corresponding to a different power configuration. The various battery cartridges each have a different configuration of battery cells within the battery cartridge that provide power to the device through electrical contacts. The contacts are affixed within the device with each of the contacts positioned to correspond with electrical contacts from the battery cartridge. In one embodiment, protective covers are provided that cover the contacts with the covers automatically retracting to expose the contacts when the battery cartridge is inserted in the device. 
         [0004]    The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity, simplifications, generalizations, and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects, inventive features, and advantages of the present invention, as defined solely by the claims, will become apparent in the non-limiting detailed description set forth below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features, and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a data processing system in which the methods described herein can be implemented; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  provides an extension of the information handling system environment shown in  FIG. 1  to illustrate that the methods described herein can be performed on a wide variety of information handling systems which operate in a networked environment; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a diagram showing various views of various battery cartridges; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4A  is a diagram showing alternative battery cell configurations; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4B  is a diagram showing protective covers positioned over electrical contacts; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5A  is a diagram showing a reversible battery cartridge plate; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5B  is a diagram showing the reversible battery cartridge plate installed for rechargeable batteries; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5C  is a diagram showing the reversible battery cartridge plate installed for non-rechargeable batteries; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5D  is a diagram showing a charging pad on a charging device that accommodates the battery cartridge when installed for rechargeable batteries; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing steps taken by the battery cartridge and the recharging board during a recharging operation; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing steps taken by the battery cartridge and a device when the cartridge is inserted in the device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Certain specific details are set forth in the following description and figures to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. Certain well-known details often associated with computing and software technology are not set forth in the following disclosure, however, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the various embodiments of the invention. Further, those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that they can practice other embodiments of the invention without one or more of the details described below. Finally, while various methods are described with reference to steps and sequences in the following disclosure, the description as such is for providing a clear implementation of embodiments of the invention, and the steps and sequences of steps should not be taken as required to practice this invention. Instead, the following is intended to provide a detailed description of an example of the invention and should not be taken to be limiting of the invention itself. Rather, any number of variations may fall within the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims that follow the description. 
         [0018]    The following detailed description will generally follow the summary of the invention, as set forth above, further explaining and expanding the definitions of the various aspects and embodiments of the invention as necessary. To this end, this detailed description first sets forth a computing environment in  FIG. 1  that is suitable to implement the software and/or hardware techniques associated with the invention. A networked environment is illustrated in  FIG. 2  as an extension of the basic computing environment, to emphasize that modern computing techniques can be performed across multiple discrete devices. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates information handling system  100 , which is a simplified example of a computer system capable of performing the computing operations described herein. Information handling system  100  includes one or more processors  110  coupled to processor interface bus  112 . Processor interface bus  112  connects processors  110  to Northbridge  115 , which is also known as the Memory Controller Hub (MCH). Northbridge  115  connects to system memory  120  and provides a means for processor(s)  110  to access the system memory. Graphics controller  125  also connects to Northbridge  115 . In one embodiment, PCI Express bus  118  connects Northbridge  115  to graphics controller  125 . Graphics controller  125  connects to display device  130 , such as a computer monitor. 
         [0020]    Northbridge  115  and Southbridge  135  connect to each other using bus  119 . In one embodiment, the bus is a Direct Media Interface (DMI) bus that transfers data at high speeds in each direction between Northbridge  115  and Southbridge  135 . In another embodiment, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus connects the Northbridge and the Southbridge. Southbridge  135 , also known as the I/O Controller Hub (ICH) is a chip that generally implements capabilities that operate at slower speeds than the capabilities provided by the Northbridge. Southbridge  135  typically provides various busses used to connect various components. These busses include, for example, PCI and PCI Express busses, an ISA bus, a System Management Bus (SMBus or SMB), and/or a Low Pin Count (LPC) bus. The LPC bus often connects low-bandwidth devices, such as boot ROM  196  and “legacy” I/O devices (using a “super I/O” chip). The “legacy” I/O devices ( 198 ) can include, for example, serial and parallel ports, keyboard, mouse, and/or a floppy disk controller. The LPC bus also connects Southbridge  135  to Trusted Platform Module (TPM)  195 . Other components often included in Southbridge  135  include a Direct Memory Access (DMA) controller, a Programmable Interrupt Controller (PIC), and a storage device controller, which connects Southbridge  135  to nonvolatile storage device  185 , such as a hard disk drive, using bus  184 . 
         [0021]    ExpressCard  155  is a slot that connects hot-pluggable devices to the information handling system. ExpressCard  155  supports both PCI Express and USB connectivity as it connects to Southbridge  135  using both the Universal Serial Bus (USB) the PCI Express bus. Southbridge  135  includes USB Controller  140  that provides USB connectivity to devices that connect to the USB. These devices include webcam (camera)  150 , infrared (IR) receiver  148 , keyboard and trackpad  144 , and Bluetooth device  146 , which provides for wireless personal area networks (PANs). USB Controller  140  also provides USB connectivity to other miscellaneous USB connected devices  142 , such as a mouse, removable nonvolatile storage device  145 , modems, network cards, ISDN connectors, fax, printers, USB hubs, and many other types of USB connected devices. While removable nonvolatile storage device  145  is shown as a USB-connected device, removable nonvolatile storage device  145  could be connected using a different interface, such as a Firewire interface, etcetera. 
         [0022]    Wireless Local Area Network (LAN) device  175  connects to Southbridge  135  via the PCI or PCI Express bus  172 . LAN device  175  typically implements one of the IEEE .802.11 standards of over-the-air modulation techniques that all use the same protocol to wireless communicate between information handling system  100  and another computer system or device. Optical storage device  190  connects to Southbridge  135  using Serial ATA (SATA) bus  188 . Serial ATA adapters and devices communicate over a high-speed serial link. The Serial ATA bus also connects Southbridge  135  to other forms of storage devices, such as hard disk drives. Audio circuitry  160 , such as a sound card, connects to Southbridge  135  via bus  158 . Audio circuitry  160  also provides functionality such as audio line-in and optical digital audio in port  162 , optical digital output and headphone jack  164 , internal speakers  166 , and internal microphone  168 . Ethernet controller  170  connects to Southbridge  135  using a bus, such as the PCI or PCI Express bus. Ethernet controller  170  connects information handling system  100  to a computer network, such as a Local Area Network (LAN), the Internet, and other public and private computer networks. 
         [0023]    While  FIG. 1  shows one information handling system, an information handling system may take many forms. For example, an information handling system may take the form of a desktop, server, portable, laptop, notebook, or other form factor computer or data processing system. In addition, an information handling system may take other form factors such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), a gaming device, ATM machine, a portable telephone device, a communication device or other devices that include a processor and memory. 
         [0024]    The Trusted Platform Module (TPM  195 ) shown in  FIG. 1  and described herein to provide security functions is but one example of a hardware security module (HSM). Therefore, the TPM described and claimed herein includes any type of HSM including, but not limited to, hardware security devices that conform to the Trusted Computing Groups (TCG) standard, and entitled “Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Specification Version 1.2.” The TPM is a hardware security subsystem that may be incorporated into any number of information handling systems, such as those outlined in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  provides an extension of the information handling system environment shown in  FIG. 1  to illustrate that the methods described herein can be performed on a wide variety of information handling systems that operate in a networked environment. Types of information handling systems range from small handheld devices, such as handheld computer/mobile telephone  210  to large mainframe systems, such as mainframe computer  270 . Examples of handheld computer  210  include personal digital assistants (PDAs), personal entertainment devices, such as MP3 players, portable televisions, and compact disc players. Other examples of information handling systems include pen, or tablet, computer  220 , laptop, or notebook, computer  230 , workstation  240 , personal computer system  250 , and server  260 . Other types of information handling systems that are not individually shown in  FIG. 2  are represented by information handling system  280 . As shown, the various information handling systems can be networked together using computer network  200 . Types of computer network that can be used to interconnect the various information handling systems include Local Area Networks (LANs), Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), the Internet, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), other wireless networks, and any other network topology that can be used to interconnect the information handling systems. Many of the information handling systems include nonvolatile data stores, such as hard drives and/or nonvolatile memory. Some of the information handling systems shown in  FIG. 2  depicts separate nonvolatile data stores (server  260  utilizes nonvolatile data store  265 , mainframe computer  270  utilizes nonvolatile data store  275 , and information handling system  280  utilizes nonvolatile data store  285 ). The nonvolatile data store can be a component that is external to the various information handling systems or can be internal to one of the information handling systems. In addition, removable nonvolatile storage device  145  can be shared among two or more information handling systems using various techniques, such as connecting the removable nonvolatile storage device  145  to a USB port or other connector of the information handling systems. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a diagram showing various views of various battery cartridges. Top/bottom views  300  show examples of five different battery cartridge shapes. Side views  320  show the side views of each of the five battery cartridge examples. Finally, device view  340  show example devices with apertures that correspond to the various battery cartridges. 
         [0027]    In the examples shown, the leftmost cartridge (top/bottom view  303 ) has a circular base shape and a rectangular side shape  323  forming a cylindrical shaped cartridge that can be inserted into device  343 . This cartridge is shown as accommodating two battery cells (e.g., “AA” size batteries, etc.). As shown, device  343  includes circular aperture  344  into which the cylindrical cartridge can be inserted to power device  343 . The other shaped cartridges would not fit in device  343  preventing an incorrect cartridge from being inserted. 
         [0028]    The next cartridge (top/bottom view  306 ) has a triangular base shape and side shape  323  forming a triangular shaped cartridge that can be inserted into device  346 . This cartridge is shown as accommodating three battery cells (e.g., “AA” size batteries, etc.). As shown, device  346  includes triangular aperture  347  into which the triangular cartridge can be inserted to power device  346 . The other shaped cartridges would not fit in device  346  preventing an incorrect cartridge from being inserted. 
         [0029]    The next cartridge (top/bottom view  309 ) has a square base shape and rectangular side shape  329  forming a box shaped cartridge that can be inserted into device  349 . This cartridge is shown as accommodating four battery cells (e.g., “AA” size batteries, etc.). As shown, device  349  includes square aperture  348  into which the square, box shaped cartridge can be inserted to power device  349 . The other shaped cartridges would not fit in device  349  preventing an incorrect cartridge from being inserted. 
         [0030]    The next cartridge (top/bottom view  312 ) has a pentagon base shape and side shape  332  forming a cartridge that can be inserted into device  352 . This cartridge is shown as accommodating five battery cells (e.g., “AA” size batteries, etc.). As shown, device  352  includes pentagon shaped aperture  353  into which the pentagon shaped cartridge can be inserted to power device  352 . The other shaped cartridges would not fit in device  352  preventing an incorrect cartridge from being inserted. 
         [0031]    The rightmost cartridge (top/bottom view  315 ) has a hexagon base shape and side shape  335  forming a cartridge that can be inserted into device  355 . This cartridge is shown as accommodating six battery cells (e.g., “AA” size batteries, etc.). As shown, device  355  includes hexagon shaped aperture  356  into which the hexagon shaped cartridge can be inserted to power device  355 . The other shaped cartridges would not fit in device  355  preventing an incorrect cartridge from being inserted. 
         [0032]    As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, an almost limitless array of cartridge shapes sizes can be utilized based on the power requirements and form factor of the devices. Alternative battery cell configurations can also be provided so that the battery cells inserted in the cartridge are arranged differently, such as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . 
         [0033]      FIG. 4A  is a diagram showing alternative battery cell configurations. In configuration  400 , a two-cell wide configuration is shown with top view  402  and side view  404 . In configuration  400 , the batteries are arranged beside each other. Alternatively, the same two-cell power supply can be provided by two-cell narrow configuration  410  with top view  412  and side view  414 . In configuration  410 , the batteries are arranged on top of each other. Alternative three-cell configurations are shown in  420  and  430 . In  420 , top view  422  shows a triangular arrangement with a side view as shown in  424 . In contrast, alternative three-cell configuration  430  shows top view  432  which is largely rectangular in shape with corresponding side view  434 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 4B  is a diagram showing protective covers positioned over electrical contacts. Non-engaged view  440  shows device  442  disengaged from battery cartridge  444 . Device  442  includes electrical contact  446  which is protected by flaps  462  and  464 . The flaps move out of the way when the battery is engaged. Left and right stopper components  454  and  456  are spring-loaded by corresponding springs  450  and  452 . When the device is disengaged, the springs operate to move the stopper components past the contact which allows the flaps to cover the contact. In engaged view  470 , battery cartridge  444  is inserted into the device causing springs  450  and  452  to compress and stoppers  454  and  456  to be inserted into the device. Flaps  462  and  464  are attached to stoppers  454  and  456  respectively so, insertion of the stoppers into the device cause the flaps to pull apart from each other exposing contact  446  which makes contact with battery cartridge contact  448 . 
         [0035]    Battery cartridge  444  is also shown with contact  448  and protective covers  458  and  460  which, when inserted into device  442 , causes the covers to slide horizontally out of the way, thus exposing battery cartridge contact  448 . In engaged view  470 , protective covers  458  and  460  are shown pushed out of the way by device contact  446  which allows battery cartridge contact  448  to make electrical contact with device contact  446 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 5A  is a diagram showing a reversible battery cartridge plate. Battery cartridge  500  includes reversible battery cartridge plate  501  with contacts  502 . Plate  501  is attached to the cartridge with screws  504 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 5B  is a diagram showing the reversible battery cartridge plate installed for rechargeable batteries. When removed from cartridge  500 , plate  501  has once side that includes screw holes  514  and contacts  512 . When rechargeable batteries are used, the plate view shown in  FIG. 5B  is attached to cartridge  500  so that no ridges appear surrounding charging contacts  512 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 5C  is a diagram showing the reversible battery cartridge plate installed for non-rechargeable batteries. When non-rechargeable batteries are used, plate  501  (from  FIG. 5A ) is reversed revealing raised ridges  522  surrounding contacts  512 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 5D  is a diagram showing a charging pad on a charging device that accommodates the battery cartridge when installed for rechargeable batteries. When attached to charging board  530 , the plate shown in  FIG. 5B  (used for rechargeable batteries) is able to contact charging board supply contacts  532 . On the other hand, raised ridges  522  in  FIG. 5C  prevent contacts  512  from making contact with charging board contact  532  when non-rechargeable batteries are being used. In addition, the charging board shown in  FIG. 5D  has one or more pad shapes  530  (e.g., formed with ridges, etc.) that correspond to the shape of a particular battery cartridge (e.g., battery cartridge  500  being rectangular), with additional pad shapes provided for additional cartridge types (e.g., triangular, pentagon, hexagon, etc. as shown in  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing steps taken by the battery cartridge and the recharging board during a recharging operation. Processing commences at  600  whereupon, at step  602 , the battery cartridge is inserted into a device (e.g., a charging board, a power-consuming device such as a toy, etc.). In  FIG. 6 , the device being used is a recharging board. Processing performed by the recharging board commences at  610  whereupon, at step  612  the recharging board senses that a battery cartridge has been inserted in one of the battery charger&#39;s recharging pads. At step  614 , in response to sensing the insertion of the battery cartridge, a low power signal is sent to the battery cartridge rather than sending a full power stream to the device. The low power signal is designed to accommodate any of the battery cartridges regardless of the robustness or power configuration of the particular cartridge. 
         [0041]    Returning to battery cartridge processing, at step  616 , the battery senses that it has received a low power signal from the device (indicating that the device is a recharging board rather than a power-consuming device). A decision is made as to whether the battery cartridge is receiving power from the device (decision  618 ). If the device is not receiving power (the device is a power-consuming device that is drawing power from the cartridge), then decision  618  branches to the “no” branch whereupon, at predefined process  620 , the cartridge performs a process to provide power to the device. On the other hand, if the device is receiving power (the low power signal), then decision  618  branches to the “yes” branch whereupon further processing is performed. 
         [0042]    At step  624 , the battery cartridge retrieves its configuration data from memory  622 . At step  626 , the retrieved battery cartridge configuration data is transmitted to the recharging board. 
         [0043]    Returning to steps performed by the recharging board, at step  630  the recharging board retrieves one or more battery cartridge configurations from memory area  628 . The battery cartridge configurations are those configurations that are supported by the recharging board at the pad where the cartridge was inserted. At step  632 , the recharging board receives the cartridge&#39;s configuration data from the battery cartridge (e.g., transmitted over the contacts). At step  634 , the battery cartridge configuration data is compared with the expected (supported) configurations that the charging board retrieved from its memory. A decision is made as to whether the battery cartridges configuration matches one of the supported configurations (decision  636 ). If the configurations do not match, then decision  636  branches to the “no” branch whereupon, at step  638 , the recharging board inhibits the flow of power from the recharging board to the battery cartridge preventing damage to the battery cartridge and minimizing any fire risk. On the other hand, if the configurations match, then decision  636  branches to the “yes” branch whereupon, at step  640 , the charging board supplies power to the inserted battery cartridge through the electrical contacts. On the battery cartridge, at step  642 , the battery cartridge commences charging only if the battery cartridge&#39;s configuration matches one of the configurations supported by the charging board. 
         [0044]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing steps taken by the battery cartridge and a device when the cartridge is inserted in the device. The logic shown in  FIG. 7  is performed in response to the battery cartridge identifying that the device is not a charging board as shown in  FIG. 6  (decision  618  branching to the “no” branch and predefined process  620 ). Returning to  FIG. 7 , battery cartridge processing is shown commencing at  700  whereupon, at step  702 , the battery cartridge provides a low power signal to the device. 
         [0045]    Device processing (a power-consuming device) is shown commencing at  710  whereupon, at step  712 , the device senses that a battery cartridge has been inserted into the device and is providing a low power signal rather than a full power signal. Because the low power signal is being received, rather than fully power-on the device, at step  714 , the device sends expected battery cartridge configuration data back to the battery cartridge. The device sends the expected battery cartridge configuration data back using the low power signal provided by the battery cartridge and the data is transmitted over the contacts that electrically connect the battery cartridge with the device. 
         [0046]    Returning to battery cartridge processing, at step  716 , the battery cartridge receives the expected battery cartridge configuration data from the device. At step  718 , the cartridge&#39;s configuration data is retrieved from memory  622  included in the battery cartridge. At step  720 , the battery cartridge configuration data is compared with the expected configurations that the device retrieved from its memory. A decision is made as to whether the battery cartridge&#39;s configuration matches the configuration expected by the device (decision  722 ). If the configurations do not match, then decision  722  branches to the “no” branch whereupon, at step  724 , the battery cartridge inhibits the flow of power from the battery cartridge to the device preventing damage to the device and minimizing any fire risk. On the other hand, if the configurations match, then decision  722  branches to the “yes” branch whereupon, at step  726 , the battery cartridge supplies a full level of power to the device through the electrical contacts. On the device, at step  728 , the device receives full power and commences operation only if the battery cartridge&#39;s configuration matches the device&#39;s expected power configuration. 
         [0047]    One of the preferred implementations of the invention is a client application, namely, a set of instructions (program code) or other functional descriptive material in a code module that may, for example, be resident in the random access memory of the computer. Until required by the computer, the set of instructions may be stored in another computer memory, for example, in a hard disk drive, or in a removable memory such as an optical disk (for eventual use in a CD ROM) or floppy disk (for eventual use in a floppy disk drive). Thus, the present invention may be implemented as a computer program product for use in a computer. In addition, although the various methods described are conveniently implemented in a general purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by software, one of ordinary skill in the art would also recognize that such methods may be carried out in hardware, in firmware, or in more specialized apparatus constructed to perform the required method steps. Functional descriptive material is information that imparts functionality to a machine. Functional descriptive material includes, but is not limited to, computer programs, instructions, rules, facts, definitions of computable functions, objects, and data structures. 
         [0048]    While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention and its broader aspects. Therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is solely defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those with skill in the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim element is intended, such intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such limitation is present. For non-limiting example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim elements. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim element by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim element to inventions containing only one such element, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an”; the same holds true for the use in the claims of definite articles.

Technology Category: 5