Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus – product – and – Current producing cell – elements – subcombinations and... – Plural cells
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-29
2004-01-13
Ruthkosky, Mark (Department: 1745)
Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and
Current producing cell, elements, subcombinations and...
Plural cells
C429S164000, C429S179000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06677078
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a battery cartridge housing a primary (nonrechargeable) electrochemical cell such as a primary lithium cell, which can be used in place of a rechargeable cartridge.
BACKGROUND
Digital cameras and camcorders and other digital imaging devices are becoming smaller in size. For example, camcorders which are only slightly larger than a person's hand, are now available. Such devices typically are provided with a rechargeable battery cartridge or power pack such as a rechargeable lithium ion cartridge. The rechargeable cartridge has a housing designed to fit and lock in place within a receiving cavity within the imaging device to be powered. The negative and positive terminals on the cartridge housing are oriented to contact negative and positive contacts, respectively, within the device to be powered. The cartridge is normally designed to be removed from the device being powered so that it can be recharged and then reinserted or else it can be recharged while locked in place within the device. In earlier camcorders the rechargeable cartridge was typically of a prismatic or rectangular configuration occupying a significant volume. Such rechargeable packs are commercially available and are fairly large, for example, having a width of about 2 inches or larger and length of about 2 to 3 inches or greater. As the size of camcorders and digital cameras have become smaller, the rechargeable cartridge has also become much smaller, reflecting the need for smaller capacity battery cartridges.
To accommodate the smaller battery cartridge, designers have begun to employ small size rechargeable cylindrical cells, such as small cylindrical lithium ion cells, housed therein. Such small size rechargeable lithium ion cells, for example, could typically have a diameter of between about 15 and 18 mm and larger, for example up to about 32 mm and length between about 25 and 50 mm and greater, for example up to about 58 mm. As the imaging devices become even smaller such rechargeable cells could also become smaller. The lithium ion cell when fully charged has a nominal voltage of about 4.0 volts or somewhat greater and an average voltage during discharge of between about 3.6 volts. Such rechargeable cells are sealed within the cartridge housing and are not intended to be removed therefrom.
It would be a benefit to provide a nonrechargeble primary power source alternative to rechargeable battery cartridges for small size camcorders and digital cameras. The nonrechargeable power source could provide the user with an alternative to the rechargeable cartridge as it can be used as replacement for such rechargeable cartridge. The availability of such nonrechargeable power source could also provide the manufacturer of the small size imaging device the option of providing the nonrechargeable power source included with sale of the device, instead of providing a more expensive rechargeable cartridge therewith.
It is thus desired to provide a primary (nonrechargeable) battery cartridge for small size camcorders, digital cameras and other small size direct current powered electronic devices, wherein the primary cartridge has a voltage preferably about 3.0 volts and can be used interchangeably with a rechargeable cartridge of similar size.
It is desired to provide a primary battery cartridge for small size camcorders, digital cameras and other small size electronic devices, wherein primary cells, preferably primary cylindrical cells, can be inserted easily into the cartridge housing and easily removed therefrom when discharged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A principal aspect of the invention is directed to providing a primary (nonrechargeable) battery cartridge that can be used as a primary power source or as a substitution for a rechargeable cartridge for powering small size digital imaging devices such as handheld camcorders or digital cameras. The term “primary cartridge” or “primary cell” or “primary battery” as used hereinafter shall be understood to mean a battery cartridge or electrochemical cell which is not intended to be rechargeable.
The primary (nonrechargeable) battery cartridge of the invention is characterized by having a housing body with an opening therein, preferably an elongated opening, of sufficient size to allow insertion of one or more cylindrical primary (nonrechargeable) cells into the housing interior. The opening is of sufficient size so that when the cell has been discharged, it can easily be removed from the housing and replaced with a fresh cell. The housing is desirably of a nonconductive material such as plastic which can be readily molded by injection or insert molding. The housing is preferably of a single piece integral construction. The housing has an elongated substantially cylindrical shape so that it can accommodate and hug at least a major portion of the surface one cylindrical primary cell placed therein with little, if any, wasted volume. The housing preferably avoids the need for hinged doors and removable covers and the like in order to gain access to the housing interior.
The cartridge housing preferably has a substantially cylindrical body which terminates in a pair of opposing end surfaces with a substantially cylindrical surface integrally formed therebetween. There is preferably an elongated opening taking the form of a cut out portion within the body of housing to allow easy insertion of one or more primary cells therethrough and into the housing interior. Such design avoids the need to have hinged doors and the like attached to the body or end of the housing which must be opened before the cell can be inserted within the housing. However, as an alternative, the housing could be provided with a hinged door, for example, at an end of the housing or as part of the housing body. Opening of such door could allow access to the housing interior and placement of one or more primary cell therein.
There are a pair of electrical contacts within the housing, formed of a strip of conductive metal such as copper or brass. One of said conductive contact strips is intended to contact the negative terminal and the other intended to contact the positive terminal of a cylindrical primary cell placed within the housing. Each of the conductive contact strips terminates in an exposed conductive portion which extends to the outside surface of the housing. One of the exposed conductive portions provides the negative and the other provides the positive terminal on the cartridge housing exterior (cartridge housing positive and negative terminals).
The battery cartridge preferably further comprises a disk within the cartridge housing interior. The disk is located between the opposing housing end surfaces and preferably oriented perpendicular to the housing central longitudinal axis. The disk has an opening therethrough. A metal contact strip can be held in place within the disk opening. Such metal contact strip contacts the positive terminal of a cell within the housing and is in electrical contact with the cartridge housing positive terminal.
When a primary cell is inserted into the cartridge housing, a primary battery cartridge is formed with the exposed negative contact on the housing exterior (cartridge housing negative terminal) in electrical contact with the cell's negative terminal and the exposed positive contact on the housing exterior (cartridge housing positive terminal) in electrical contact with the cell's positive terminal. The overall shape and size of the primary cartridge of the invention can be modified as needed to conform to the overall shape and size of a rechargeable cartridge intended for insertion into the receiving cavity of any specific small sized camcorder or handheld digital camera or other small direct current powered device.
In a specific aspect the cartridge housing of the invention can be of sufficient size to accommodate a cylindrical primary cell typically having a diameter of between about 15 and 18 mm and larger, for example up to about 32 mm and length between about 25 and 50 mm and greater, for e
Hesse Bryan L.
Reise Terrence
Douglas Paul I.
Joseph Barry D.
Krivulka Thomas G.
Ruthkosky Mark
The Gillette Company
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