Charger capable of automatically adapting to battery size
By using a purely mechanical charger design that automatically adapts to battery size, the problem of poor contact and damage in traditional chargers when adapting to different batteries is solved, achieving low-cost, low-failure-rate, and highly safe charging operation.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-08
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-07
AI Technical Summary
Traditional chargers pose a risk of poor contact or battery damage when adapting to batteries of different sizes, and their reliance on electronic drive components increases cost and complexity, resulting in a high failure rate.
It adopts a purely mechanical structure, and controls the extension and retraction of the charging contacts through the cooperation of the push plate of the charging cover and the elastic element, automatically adapting to the battery size, eliminating electronic drive components such as motors, gears, and sensors.
It reduces production costs and failure rate, provides stable response, is simple and safe to operate, and avoids battery damage and short circuit risks.
Smart Images
Figure CN224097443U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of chargers, and more particularly to a charger that automatically adapts to battery size. Background Technology
[0002] In existing technologies, chargers, as crucial devices for extending battery life, have always had their performance and convenience as a key focus for consumers. However, traditional chargers present numerous inconveniences when adapting to batteries of different sizes. Specifically, existing chargers mainly suffer from the following problems:
[0003] 1. Most chargers on the market use fixed-length spring contacts to contact the positive and negative terminals of the battery to achieve charging. However, AAA and AA batteries have different lengths when manufactured by different manufacturers (AA: 48.5 to 51.5 mm, AAA (42.5-44 cm)). When the purchased battery does not match the fixed-length spring contacts of the charger, either there will be poor contact and the battery will not charge, or it will charge when forcefully inserted, but forcefully removing it can easily damage the surface of the battery or the insulation layer of the positive and negative terminals, causing a short circuit and potentially leading to a fire or explosion.
[0004] 2. High dependence on electronic drive components: Some high-end chargers use electronic drive components (such as motors, gears, and sensors) to achieve automatic battery size adaptation. However, these components not only increase the cost and complexity of the charger but also have problems such as high failure rates and difficult maintenance. Once the electronic components fail, the entire charger may not function properly. Summary of the Invention
[0005] To address the aforementioned issues, this invention provides a charger that automatically adapts to battery size. The automatic extension and retraction of the charging contacts are synchronized with the opening and closing of the charging cover. Users only need to open and close the charging cover to complete battery adaptation, eliminating the need for manual adjustment or reliance on electronic control, resulting in a simpler and safer operating experience.
[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by this utility model is: a charger that automatically adapts to battery size, comprising:
[0007] The charging compartment has a slot for the control panel inside.
[0008] The charging cover is hinged to one side of the charging compartment and opens and closes to cover the surface of the charging compartment.
[0009] The first control board is movably connected to the control board placement slot by an elastic element. The first control board is provided with at least two charging contacts that are adapted to different battery lengths.
[0010] A push plate is located inside the charging cover;
[0011] When the charging cover is closed, the push plate pushes the first control plate to move into the charging compartment, causing the charging contacts to extend into the charging compartment; when the charging cover is opened, the push plate disengages from the first control plate, and the elastic element drives the first control plate to reset.
[0012] Furthermore, the surface of the charging compartment is provided with at least one charging position, each charging position including a first charging slot and a second charging slot distributed longitudinally; the first charging slot is adapted to AA batteries, and the length of the first charging slot is greater than that of the second charging slot adapted to AAA batteries.
[0013] Furthermore, the charging contacts of the first control board include a first elastic contact group located at the top and corresponding to the position of the first charging slot; and a second elastic contact group located at the bottom and corresponding to the position of the second charging slot, wherein the length of the first elastic contact group is greater than that of the second elastic contact group.
[0014] Furthermore, it also includes a support plate, which is fitted into the control plate placement slot; the elastic element is disposed between the support plate and the first control plate; the support plate is provided with a contact through hole for the charging contact to pass through.
[0015] Furthermore, the hinge side of the charging cover is provided with a hinge block, and the push plate is fixed inside the hinge block; the side wall of the control board placement slot is provided with a push notch for the push plate to be inserted; the charging cover is movably connected to the charging compartment through a rotating shaft, and the push plate moves along the push notch when the charging cover is opened and closed.
[0016] Furthermore, it also includes a second control board, which is fixed inside the charging compartment; the second control board is provided with a positioning hole, and the charging compartment is provided with a positioning post that cooperates with the positioning hole; the first control board is electrically connected to the second control board through a flexible circuit or wire.
[0017] Furthermore, the second control board is equipped with a charging indicator light; the charging compartment is equipped with a light-transmitting indicator light mounting cylinder, and the charging indicator light is embedded in the indicator light mounting cylinder.
[0018] Furthermore, the vertical distance between the first charging slot and the second charging slot is less than the diameter of the AA battery but greater than the diameter of the AAA battery; when the AAA battery is placed in the second charging slot, the gap between the upper surface of the AAA battery and the bottom surface of the first charging slot is less than the diameter of the AA battery, so as to prevent the AA battery from being placed in the first charging slot.
[0019] Furthermore, the charging cover is made entirely of a light-transmitting material, or the area of the charging cover corresponding to the charging indicator light is a light-transmitting area.
[0020] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:
[0021] 1. In this utility model, electronic drive components such as motors, gears, and sensors are eliminated. The extension and retraction of the charging contacts are controlled only by the push plate of the charging cover and the elastic element, which greatly reduces the number of parts and assembly complexity, and lowers production costs.
[0022] 2. The purely mechanical structure avoids risks such as motor failure and gear jamming. The extension and retraction of the charging contacts are directly triggered by the opening and closing of the charging cover, resulting in more stable action response and a longer service life.
[0023] 3. The automatic extension and retraction of the charging contacts are synchronized with the opening and closing of the charging cover. Users only need to open and close the charging cover to complete the battery adaptation without manual adjustment or reliance on electronic control, making the operation experience simpler and safer.
[0024] 4. In traditional chargers, when the battery and the fixed-length contact spring are incompatible, users often need to forcefully insert the battery, which may damage the battery surface or the insulation layer of the positive and negative terminals. However, in this charger, the corresponding charging contacts do not contact the battery after the charging case is opened, thus avoiding the need for forceful battery insertion. Furthermore, after the charging cover is closed, the push plate and elastic element work together to control the extension and retraction of the charging contacts, clamping the battery. The corresponding charging contacts are calculated to ensure contact with the battery without excessively compressing it, effectively protecting battery safety and reducing the risk of fire or explosion caused by battery damage. Attached Figure Description
[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the charger structure.
[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the charger.
[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure after the first control plate, compression spring, and support plate are assembled.
[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the charger.
[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the charging case structure.
[0030] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the charging case.
[0031] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached diagram: 1. Charging cover; 11. Push plate; 12. Hinge block; 2. Charging compartment; 21. Charging position; 211. First charging slot; 212. Second charging slot; 22. Push notch; 31. First control board; 32. Compression spring; 33. Support plate; 311. First elastic contact group; 312. Second elastic contact group; 23. Control board placement slot; 24. Indicator light mounting cylinder; 25. Positioning post; 4. Second control board; 41. Positioning hole. Detailed Implementation
[0032] Please see Figure 1-6 As shown, this utility model relates to a charger that automatically adapts to battery size. The charger body consists of a charging compartment 2 and a charging cover 1. The charging compartment 2 has a long, narrow control plate placement slot 23 inside. A first control plate 31 is movably connected to the control plate placement slot 23 via four sets of compression springs 32. Meanwhile, the charging cover 1 is hinged to the right side of the charging compartment 2 via a pivot, and four L-shaped push plates 11 are fixed inside it. When the charging cover 1 is closed, the vertical section of the push plate 11 abuts against the edge of the first control plate 31, and the horizontal section provides a uniform pushing force; when the charging cover 1 is opened, the compression springs 32 release their elasticity, driving the first control plate 31 to reset.
[0033] Its effect lies in the fact that the L-shaped push plate 11 converts the rotational motion of the charging cover 1 into horizontal thrust, resulting in a simple and reliable structure. Compared with the traditional motor-driven solution, it eliminates the need for a motor, gear set, and position sensor, reducing the number of parts by 60% and the failure rate by 90%.
[0034] Furthermore, the surface of the charging compartment 2 is provided with at least one charging position 21, each charging position 21 including a first charging slot 211 and a second charging slot 212 distributed longitudinally; the first charging slot 211 is adapted to AA batteries, and the length of the first charging slot 211 is greater than that of the second charging slot 212 adapted to AAA batteries.
[0035] (Each charging slot 21 includes a first charging slot 211 for AA batteries and a second charging slot 212 for AAA batteries in the longitudinal direction, wherein the second charging slot 212 is below and the first charging slot 211 is above the second charging slot 212. Each first charging slot 211 is provided with a charging interface, and both ends of the second charging slot 212 are provided with charging interfaces. The structure allows only one battery to be placed in each compartment at a time. For example, if an AAA battery is placed below, an AA battery cannot be placed above.)
[0036] The first slot is approximately 50.5mm long and accommodates AA batteries, while the second slot is approximately 44.5mm long and accommodates AAA batteries, ensuring precise contact between the batteries and the contacts after insertion. The distance between the bottom surface of the first slot and the top surface of the second slot is designed to be smaller than the diameter of an AA battery (approximately 14.5mm) but larger than the diameter of an AAA battery (approximately 10.5mm). When an AAA battery is placed in the second slot, the remaining gap between its top and the bottom surface of the first slot is smaller than the diameter of an AA battery, forming a physical barrier to prevent the user from accidentally inserting an AA battery into the upper layer that is already occupied by charging slot 21.
[0037] Furthermore, the charging contacts of the first control board 31 include a first elastic contact group 311 located above and corresponding to the position of the first charging slot 211; and a second elastic contact group 312 located below and corresponding to the second charging slot 212, wherein the length of the first elastic contact group 311 is greater than that of the second elastic contact group 312.
[0038] When an AA battery is placed in the upper first charging slot 211, the position of the first elastic contact group 311 (the longer contact) corresponds precisely to the distance between the positive and negative terminals of the AA battery (approximately 50.5 mm). When an AAA battery is placed in the lower second charging slot 212, the second elastic contact group 312 (the shorter contact) adapts to the distance between the positive and negative terminals of the AAA battery (approximately 44.5 mm). Furthermore, the contacts employ a spring-loaded pin or spring-loaded tab structure; when the battery is inserted, the contacts are compressed and contract, generating a rebound force to ensure tight contact with the battery electrodes. This elastic design can adapt to battery size tolerances (such as slight length deviations or diameter differences), preventing charging interruptions due to poor contact.
[0039] When the charging cover 1 is closed, the push plate 11 pushes the first control plate 31 to move into the charging compartment 2, and the contact group extends into the slot; when the cover is opened, the elastic element (such as a spring) resets the control plate, and the contacts retract for protection. By the difference in contact length, a single charging position 21 can automatically identify the AA / AAA battery type without the need for the user to manually switch modes or adjust the contact position.
[0040] Furthermore, it also includes a support plate 33, which is fitted into the control plate placement slot 23; the elastic element is disposed between the support plate 33 and the first control plate 31; the support plate 33 is provided with a contact through hole for the charging contact to pass through.
[0041] When the charging cover 1 is closed, the push plate 11 on the hinge side inserts into the push notch 22 on the side wall of the charging compartment 2, pushing the first control plate 31 to move towards the support plate 33 (i.e., compressing it into the charging compartment 2). During this process, the elastic element is compressed and stores energy, while the charging contacts of the first control plate 31 extend through the contact holes of the support plate 33 into the charging slot, contacting the battery electrodes and realizing charging.
[0042] When the charging cover 1 is opened, the push plate 11 disengages from the first control plate 31, and the elastic element releases its compressive energy, driving the first control plate 31 to move in the opposite direction and reset. The charging contacts retract with the first control plate 31 to the rear of the support plate 33, thus ending the battery charging process and preventing short circuits or the risk of damage or accidental contact due to exposed charging contacts.
[0043] The guiding function of the contact via: The diameter of the contact via is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the contact, allowing the contact to extend and retract freely while limiting its lateral offset, ensuring that the contact is always aligned with the electrode contact area of the charging slot. The stiffness of the elastic element matches the thrust of the push plate 11, maintaining a stable contact pressure (e.g., 0.5-1N) when the contact extends, avoiding damage to the battery due to overpressure or poor contact due to insufficient pressure. The support plate 33 constrains the movement of the first control plate 31 to a purely linear motion, avoiding jamming caused by the tilt of the push plate 11 (a common problem in traditional cantilever structures).
[0044] The elastic elements are evenly distributed between the support plate 33 and the first control plate 31 (e.g., arranged in a horizontal line) to ensure force balance and synchronized contact extension and retraction. When the contacts retract, they are hidden within the contact through-holes of the support plate 33 to prevent impact from external foreign objects. In addition, the first control plate 31 is "floating" on the support plate 33 via the elastic elements, eliminating the need for precision screws to fix the two, reducing assembly time. The assembly consisting of the two is then compressed and installed in the charging compartment 2. This assembly method is easy and simple because if they were installed separately, it would be too difficult to first install the support plate 33 and then install the elastic elements.
[0045] Furthermore, the hinge side of the charging cover 1 is provided with a hinge block 12, and the push plate 11 is fixed inside the hinge block 12; the side wall of the control board placement slot 23 is provided with a push notch 22 for the push plate 11 to be inserted; the charging cover 1 is movably connected to the charging chamber 2 through a rotating shaft, and the push plate 11 moves along the push notch 22 when the charging cover 1 is opened and closed.
[0046] When the user closes the charging cover 1, the hinge block 12 rotates around the pivot, causing the push plate 11 to swing into the charging compartment 2. The push plate 11 inserts along the push notch 22, and its front end, either inclined or flat, contacts the edge of the first control plate 31, converting the rotational motion into a horizontal thrust, pushing the first control plate 31 into the charging compartment 2 to compress the elastic element. The charging contacts of the first control plate 31 then extend out of the contact through-hole of the support plate 33 and enter the charging slot to contact the battery electrodes. When the user opens the charging cover 1, the hinge block 12 rotates in the opposite direction, and the push plate 11 retracts along the push notch 22. The elastic element releases its compressive energy, driving the first control plate 31 to reset, and the charging contacts retract behind the support plate 33.
[0047] The push notch 22 constrains the push plate 11 to move only in a single direction, eliminating radial wobble during rotation, and controlling the contact extension stroke error within ±0.2mm; a metal bushing can be added to the inner wall of the push notch 22 to further reduce friction loss.
[0048] Furthermore, it also includes a second control board 4, which is fixed inside the charging compartment 2; the second control board 4 is provided with a positioning hole 41, and the charging compartment 2 is provided with a positioning post 25 that cooperates with the positioning hole 41; the first control board 31 is electrically connected to the second control board 4 through a flexible circuit or wire.
[0049] The positioning holes 41 (e.g., four circular holes) of the second control board 4 are inserted into the positioning posts 25 on the inner wall of the charging compartment 2, and fixed by interference fit to ensure that the PCB board level error is <0.1mm, avoiding stress cracking of the solder joints. If the diameter of the positioning hole 41 is 3.0mm and the diameter of the positioning post 25 is 3.05mm, the interference fit of 0.05mm ensures a tight fixation. The first control board 31 needs to reciprocate when the charging cover 1 is opened and closed (travel of about 5-8mm). Due to its bendable characteristics, the flexible circuit (FPC) or silicone wire can deform freely with the displacement of the first control board 31, avoiding the pulling and breaking of rigid cables.
[0050] Furthermore, the second control board 4 is provided with a charging indicator light; the charging compartment 2 is provided with a light-transmitting indicator light mounting cylinder 24, and the charging indicator light is embedded in the indicator light mounting cylinder 24.
[0051] The charging management chip (such as TP4056) on the second control board 4 controls the LED indicator to turn on or off or change color (e.g., red light for charging, green light for fully charged) based on the battery voltage / current signal. For example, when the battery voltage is detected to be less than the preset voltage value, the red LED is driven to stay on; when the voltage is greater than or equal to the preset voltage value, it switches to green to indicate that charging is complete.
[0052] The charging indicator light (such as a surface-mount LED) is embedded in a light-transmitting mounting tube (made of PC or acrylic). The light is diffused evenly through the inner wall of the tube, avoiding direct glare. A light guide or frosted surface (with a matte finish) is provided at the end of the mounting tube to transform the point light source into a surface light source, improving the viewing angle (e.g., 160° wide visibility). The height of the mounting tube is greater than or equal to the LED thickness (e.g., 3mm tube depth, 1.6mm LED height), forming a sealed cavity to prevent dust / liquid from damaging the LED solder joints. The tube body is ultrasonically welded to the charging chamber housing 2 to prevent vibration from causing LED displacement.
[0053] Furthermore, the distance between the first charging slot 211 and the second charging slot 212 in the vertical direction is less than the diameter of an AA battery and greater than the diameter of an AAA battery; when an AAA battery is placed in the second charging slot 212, the gap between the upper surface of the AAA battery and the bottom surface of the first charging slot 211 is less than the diameter of an AA battery, so as to prevent an AA battery from being placed in the first charging slot 211. If a user attempts to insert an AA battery into the upper layer of the charging slot 21 where an AAA battery has been placed, the AA battery will be stuck by the side wall because its diameter is greater than the remaining horizontal space, and the insertion depth < 5 mm (the electrodes are not in contact), and the charger cannot be started. An AAA battery cannot be inserted into an AA slot because its length is insufficient (44.5 mm < the length of the AA slot 50.5 mm), and the contacts cannot contact the positive and negative electrodes simultaneously. The upper and lower slots of the same charging slot 21 form physical mutual exclusion, and automatically lock the other slot after one type of battery is placed, to prevent the user from inserting AA and AAA batteries simultaneously, which may cause a short circuit (such as reverse connection of the positive and negative electrodes).
[0054] The above embodiments are only descriptions of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and do not limit the scope of the present invention. Without departing from the design spirit of the present invention, various deformations and improvements made by those of ordinary skill in the art to the technical solutions of the present invention shall fall within the protection scope determined by the claims of the present invention.
Claims
1. A charger that automatically adapts to battery size, characterized in that, include: The charging compartment has a slot for the control panel inside. The charging cover is hinged to one side of the charging compartment and opens and closes to cover the surface of the charging compartment. The first control board is movably connected to the control board placement slot by an elastic element. The first control board is provided with at least two charging contacts that are adapted to different battery lengths. A push plate is located inside the charging cover; When the charging cover is closed, the push plate pushes the first control plate to move into the charging compartment, causing the charging contacts to extend into the charging compartment; when the charging cover is opened, the push plate disengages from the first control plate, and the elastic element drives the first control plate to reset.
2. The charger with automatic battery size adaptation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The surface of the charging compartment is provided with at least one charging position, each charging position including a first charging slot and a second charging slot distributed longitudinally; the first charging slot is adapted to AA batteries, and the length of the first charging slot is greater than that of the second charging slot adapted to AAA batteries.
3. A charger that automatically adapts to battery size according to claim 2, characterized in that: The charging contacts of the first control board include a first elastic contact group located at the top and corresponding to the position of the first charging slot; The second elastic contact group is located below and corresponds to the second charging slot, and the length of the first elastic contact group is greater than that of the second elastic contact group.
4. A charger that automatically adapts to battery size according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: It also includes a support plate, which is fitted into the control plate placement slot; the elastic element is disposed between the support plate and the first control plate; the support plate is provided with a contact through hole for the charging contact to pass through.
5. A charger that automatically adapts to battery size according to claim 1, characterized in that: The charging cover has a hinge block on its hinge side, and a push plate is fixed inside the hinge block; the control board placement slot side wall has a push notch for the push plate to be inserted; the charging cover is movably connected to the charging compartment through a rotating shaft, and the push plate moves along the push notch when the charging cover is opened and closed.
6. A charger that automatically adapts to battery size according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a second control board, which is fixed inside the charging compartment; the second control board has a positioning hole, and the charging compartment has a positioning post that mates with the positioning hole; the first control board is electrically connected to the second control board through a flexible circuit or wire.
7. A charger that automatically adapts to battery size according to claim 6, characterized in that: The second control board is equipped with a charging indicator light; the charging compartment is equipped with a light-transmitting indicator light mounting cylinder, and the charging indicator light is embedded in the indicator light mounting cylinder.
8. A charger that automatically adapts to battery size according to claim 2, characterized in that: The vertical distance between the first charging slot and the second charging slot is less than the diameter of the AA battery but greater than the diameter of the AAA battery. When the AAA battery is placed in the second charging slot, the gap between the upper surface of the AAA battery and the bottom surface of the first charging slot is less than the diameter of the AA battery, so as to prevent the AA battery from being placed in the first charging slot.
9. A charger that automatically adapts to battery size according to claim 1, characterized in that: The charging cover is made entirely of a light-transmitting material, or the area of the charging cover corresponding to the charging indicator light is a light-transmitting area.