Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging – Cell or battery charger structure – For battery pack
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-30
2001-01-23
Wong, Peter S. (Department: 2838)
Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging
Cell or battery charger structure
For battery pack
Reexamination Certificate
active
06177778
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a battery adapter for charging and discharging batteries. This battery adapter has two different electrical connections, each being capable of receiving power from an external power source.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
A conventional battery adapter is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,818,197. This battery adapter is composed of a battery holder and a base unit. The battery holder is releasably coupled to the base unit which provides power to the battery adapters. When a battery is inserted into the battery holder, this battery is charged using the power received from the base unit. However, if the battery holder is removed from the base unit, the battery holder no longer receives power. Thus, the battery is not charged.
FIG. 1
shows an exemplary illustration of another conventional battery adapter
1
for charging a battery
7
. This battery adapter
1
includes a battery holder
2
, a base unit
3
and a socket
4
. The battery holder
2
is coupled to the base unit
3
. The socket
4
is arranged on the base unit
3
for providing power to the battery adapter
1
. The power is received from an external power source (not shown). The battery holder
2
has a receptacle portion
13
for receiving the battery
7
.
The battery
7
can be inserted into the receptacle portion
13
of the battery holder
2
for charging and/or discharging the battery
7
. The receptacle portion
13
has a first external surface
11
A, and the battery
7
has a second external surface
12
A. The first external surface
11
A is dimensioned so that the battery
7
may be inserted into the receptacle portion
13
of the battery holder
2
via its second external surface
12
A. The battery holder
2
also includes a first holder contact
5
and a second holder contact
6
. The first holder contact
5
is provided for conductively coupling to a first battery contact
11
of battery
7
, and the second holder contact
6
is provided for conductively coupling to a second battery contact
12
of the battery
7
. Contact locations (i.e.,
5
,
6
,
11
A and
12
A) and quantity of contacts may vary. When the battery
7
is lowered into the battery holder
2
in a first direction A, the first and second holder contacts
5
,
6
of the battery holder
2
are electrically connected to the respective first and second battery contacts
11
,
12
of the battery
7
. In this manner, the battery
7
is either charged or discharged by the battery adapter
3
.
The socket
4
can be either permanently coupled to the external power source or detachably connectable to a connection unit
9
by inserting the connection unit
9
into the socket in a second direction B. The connection unit
9
is dimensioned to be inserted into the socket
4
and maintained therein. When the connection unit
9
is inserted into the socket
4
, the battery holder
2
receives power which flows from the external power source and through an electrical cable
10
to reach to the connection unit
9
. Power is then received at the socket
4
of the battery holder
2
. Thus, the battery adapter
1
receives power from the external unit, and utilizes this power to either charge or discharge the battery
7
.
With the conventional battery adapters, it is not possible to charge and/or discharge the battery using two different electrical connectors to allow each of the electrical connectors to provide power to the battery adapter. The conventional battery adapters also lack the reverse battery protection capabilities which prevent destruction or damage of the battery and/or the battery adaptor if the battery is improperly placed into the battery holder.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An exemplary embodiment of a battery adapter according to the present invention includes a base unit, a battery holder coupled to the base unit and receiving a battery therein, a first connection arrangement, and a second connection arrangement. Each of the first and second connection arrangements is capable of receiving power from an external power source. The battery adapter also includes a device which is conductively coupled to each of the first and second connection arrangements. The device receives the power from the first connection arrangement and/or the second connection arrangement for charging and/or discharging the battery.
Another exemplary embodiment of the battery adapter according to the present invention includes a base unit, a battery holder coupled to the base unit and receiving a battery therein, a first connection arrangement, and a second connection arrangement. Each of the first and second connection arrangements are capable of receiving power from an external power source. This exemplary battery adapter also includes a power delivery arrangement, a battery charging/discharging arrangement and a reverse battery protection arrangement. The power delivery arrangement is conductively connected to each of the first and second connection arrangements and receives the power from the first connection arrangement and/or the second connection arrangement. The battery charging/discharging arrangement is conductively connected to the power delivery arrangement and provided for charging and/or discharging the battery. The reverse battery protection arrangement is conductively connected to the battery charging/discharging arrangement. The reverse battery protection arrangement prevents the battery and/or the battery adapter from being damaged or destroyed if the battery is improperly connected to the battery adapter via the battery holder.
There are numerous advantages to enable the battery adapter according to the present invention to receive power from two different power connectors. For example, a user may prefer to power a single adapter without inserting such battery adapter into a docking station using, e.g., a wall receptacle. Alternatively, the user may desire to insert such battery adapter into the docking station (e.g., along with other battery adapters) to enable the battery adapter to receive the necessary power for charging and/or discharging the batteries from the docking station. Such ability to obtain power from different power connectors provides the user with a greater flexibility for powering the battery adapters.
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Alexander Manufacturing Corporation, Diagram of a Proposed Design Transmitted to a Client on Oct. 6, 1997.
Bollman Trent Lee
Frank Michael Scott
Miller Jay Stephen
Alexander Manufacturing Corp.
Kenyon & Kenyon
Tibbits Pia
Wong Peter S.
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