Female connector

Abstract

To provide a female connector for a battery pack that can accommodate the specifications of different male terminals for multiple different electrical devices.SOLUTION: A female connector 15 for a battery pack is provided with a first guiding opening E1 and a second guiding opening between a left terminal 15b and a right terminal 15d, which are opposing female terminal pairs. The first guiding opening E1 has a specification for mating with the female connector 15 for a battery pack from a first direction A, in which the female connector 15 for a battery pack protrudes and guides a male terminal protruding by opposing the first direction A to a mating position. The second guiding opening has a specification for mating with the female connector 15 for a battery pack from a second direction orthogonal to the first direction A and guides the male terminal protruding by opposing the first direction A to the mating position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a female connector, and more particularly to a female connector such as a female connector for a battery pack that is individually attached to and detached from a male terminal of a first electrical device and a male terminal of a second electrical device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as this type of female connector, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a female connector of a battery pack that is detachably attached to an electric power tool main body. As shown in FIG. 41(1) of the same document, when a battery pack 1100 is attached to an electric power tool main body 1030 with a 36V output, a positive input terminal 1052 and a terminal portion 1059b are fitted to an upper positive terminal 1162 and a lower positive terminal 1172 of the battery pack 1100, respectively. At this time, the positive input terminal 1052 is pressed into between the arm portions 1162a and 1162b of the upper positive terminal 1162 so as to push the fitting portion of the upper positive terminal 1162 apart. Furthermore, the terminal portion 1059b of the short bar 1059 is pressed into between the arm portions 1172a and 1172b of the lower positive terminal 1172 so as to push the space between the arm portions 1172a and 1172b apart.

[0003] Also, as shown in Figure 41 (2) of the same document, when the battery pack 1100 is attached to an 18V output electric tool main body 1001, the positive input terminal 1022 is pressed into the battery pack 1100 so as to push apart both the open ends of the upper positive terminal 1162 and the lower positive terminal 1172, so that a portion of the upper area of ​​the positive input terminal 1022 contacts the upper positive terminal 1162 and a portion of the lower area contacts the lower positive terminal 1172.

[0004] With such a battery pack 1100 having female upper positive terminal 1162 and lower positive terminal 1172, and similar female upper negative terminal 1167 and lower negative terminal 1177, the same battery pack 1100 can be attached to both the 36V output power tool body 1030 and the 18V output power tool body 1001. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-101431 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the above-mentioned conventional female connector for battery packs cannot be attached to or detached from each of the first and second electrical devices if the specifications for the receiving direction of the female terminal in relation to the male terminal of the electrical device to which it is to be attached differ between the first and second electrical devices.

[0007] In view of this, an object of the present invention is to provide a female connector, such as a female connector for a battery pack, that is compatible with the specifications of the different male terminals of a plurality of different electrical devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To this end, the present invention comprises: A female connector for a battery pack, which is electrically connected to a secondary battery module formed by connecting secondary batteries in series and / or parallel, and which is individually attachable to and detachable from a male terminal of a first electric device and a male terminal of a second electric device, a first induction port that opens and widens toward a receiving side of at least one of the male terminals of a first electric device and a male terminal of a second electric device, the male terminal protruding in a direction opposite to the first direction, to a fitting position with the female connector for the battery pack when the female connector for the battery pack moves in a first direction in which the female connector for the battery pack protrudes; a second guide port that guides at least the other male terminal, which protrudes opposite to the first direction, of the male terminal of the first electric device and the male terminal of the second electric device to a mating position when moving in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and that opens and widens toward a receiving side of the other male terminal in the second direction; The female connector for a battery pack is configured such that a female terminal is formed between a pair of opposing female terminals.

[0009] According to this configuration, the female connector for the battery pack is provided between opposing pairs of female terminals with a first induction port that guides a male terminal that protrudes opposite the first direction to a mating position and is designed to mate with the female connector for the battery pack from a first direction from which the female connector for the battery pack protrudes, and a second induction port that guides a male terminal that protrudes opposite the first direction to a mating position and is designed to mate with the female connector for the battery pack from a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0010] Therefore, regardless of whether the male terminals of the first electric device and the second electric device protruding in the first direction are specified to be fitted into the female connector for the battery pack from the direction in which the female connector for the battery pack protrudes, or to be fitted into the female connector for the battery pack from a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the female connector for the battery pack protrudes, the female connector for the battery pack can be individually fitted into either the male terminal of the first electric device or the male terminal of the second electric device by the first or second induction port that matches the specification. Therefore, the female connector for the battery pack can be individually attached and detached from male terminals of a plurality of different electric devices each having a different fitting specification, and can also accommodate changes in the fitting specifications of the male terminals of each electric device.

[0011] The present invention also provides a method for producing a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising the steps of: Each of the terminals constituting the female terminal pair has a protrusion extending in each of the first direction and the second direction and having a top close to each other between the terminals, The protruding portion is formed in a shape having a first inclined surface at a portion extending in a first direction, the first inclined surface decreasing in height toward the receiving side of one male terminal, and a second inclined surface at a portion extending in a second direction, the second inclined surface decreasing in height toward the receiving side of the other male terminal, The first induction port is formed in a portion of the protrusion between first inclined surfaces whose height decreases toward the receiving side of one of the male terminals, The second induction port is formed in a portion of the protruding portion that is sandwiched between the second inclined surfaces that decrease in height toward the receiving side of the other male terminal. It is characterized by the above.

[0012] According to this configuration, by providing each terminal constituting the female terminal pair with a protrusion having peaks that are close to each other, a first inclined surface that decreases in height toward the receiving side of one of the male terminals, and a second inclined surface that decreases in height toward the receiving side of the other male terminal, the first induction port and the second induction port can be easily formed by simply processing the female terminal pair without adding any additional components to the female connector for the battery pack.

[0013] The present invention also provides a method for producing a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising the steps of: The terminals constituting the female terminal pair extend in the same direction between the first direction and the second direction, approach each other toward their extending ends, and from the closest point, the periphery of the extending ends is warped away from each other toward the receiving side of one male terminal in the first direction, and away from each other toward the receiving side of the other male terminal in the second direction; The first induction port is formed in a curved portion where the periphery of the end portion is bent toward the receiving side of one of the male terminals, The second induction port is formed in a curved portion where the periphery of the end portion is bent away from the receiving side of the other male terminal. It is characterized by:

[0014] According to this configuration, the terminals constituting the female terminal pair, which extend in the same direction midway between the first and second directions, are brought closer to each other toward their extending ends, and from the closest point, the edges of the extending ends are curved away from each other in the first direction toward the receiving side of one male terminal, and away from each other in the second direction toward the receiving side of the other male terminal.This makes it possible to easily form the first induction port and the second induction port by simply adding processing to the female connector for the battery pack without adding any additional components.

[0015] The present invention is also characterized in that the female terminal pair, in the mating position, mates with the male terminals of the first electrical device and the male terminals of the second electrical device on a mating surface.

[0016] According to this configuration, the female terminal pair mates with the male terminal of the first electrical device and the male terminal of the second electrical device at a surface rather than a point, thereby making it possible to ensure the current capacity that can flow between the female terminal pair and these male terminals.

[0017] The present invention also provides a method for producing a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising the steps of: The female terminal pair is arranged symmetrically with respect to a plane including the first direction and the second direction between the terminals constituting the female terminal pair, A mating surface that mates with a male terminal of a first electrical device and a male terminal of a second electrical device is disposed symmetrically with respect to the surface. It is characterized by the above.

[0018] According to this configuration, the female terminal pair and the mating surface mating with the male terminal of the first electric device and the male terminal of the second electric device are arranged symmetrically with respect to a plane including the first direction and the second direction, so that the area in which the mating surface can be arranged in the female connector for a battery pack can be maximized. Therefore, the position of the mating surface can be selected in this area in such a way that factors that cause deformation of the female terminal pair and factors that cause the durability of the female terminal pair to decrease when the female terminal pair is attached to and detached from each male terminal are minimized. In this arrangement position of the mating surface, the stress applied from the male terminal to the female terminal pair through the mating surface is applied evenly to each terminal constituting the female terminal pair, and excessive stress is not biased to a specific point of one terminal. Therefore, even if the female terminal pair is repeatedly mated and disengaged with each male terminal, the deformation of the female terminal pair and the decrease in durability of the female connector for a battery pack can be reduced.

[0019] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that in a female connector for a battery pack, in which each terminal constituting a female terminal pair extends in each of a first direction and a second direction, each terminal constituting the female terminal pair has a mating surface in the center, in which the tops of the protrusions are close to each other at the center of the opposing surfaces, and the first and second inclined surfaces of the protrusions are formed in a shape such that the distance between them gradually increases away from the center, and the terminals have a mating surface in the center.

[0020] According to this configuration, the tops of the protrusions that form the mating surfaces that mate with the male terminals are precisely positioned at the desired positions in the center of the opposing surfaces by gradually pushing out the terminal surfaces and gradually inclining the inclined surfaces. Therefore, by setting the distance between the tops of the protrusions provided on each terminal to the desired distance, it is possible to precisely set the mating strength with the male terminals inserted between the terminals to the desired strength.

[0021] The present invention also provides the above-mentioned female connector for a battery pack, The connector is characterized in that the second direction length of the outer periphery of the mating surface that contacts the end of one male terminal when mated with one male terminal in the first direction is substantially equal to the first direction length of the outer periphery that contacts the end of the other male terminal when mated with the other male terminal in the second direction.

[0022] According to this configuration, the force applied from one male terminal when the female terminal pair is mated with the male terminal in the first direction is substantially equal to the force applied from the male terminal when the female terminal pair is mated with the other male terminal in the second direction. Therefore, the forces applied to each terminal constituting the female terminal pair from the first direction and the second direction are substantially equal in each direction. Therefore, excessive force is not biasedly applied to the mating surface from one direction. Therefore, even if the female terminal pair and each male terminal are repeatedly mated and disengaged, it is possible to reduce the deterioration of durability related to deformation of the female connector for battery packs.

[0023] The present invention also provides a female connector for battery packs in which the terminals of a female terminal pair extend in the same direction midway between a first direction and a second direction, the terminals of the female terminal pair are gradually closer to each other toward the closest point, the peripheries of the terminals in the first direction gradually increase in distance away from each other toward the receiving side of one of the male terminals, and the peripheries of the terminals in the second direction gradually increase in distance away from each other toward the receiving side of the other male terminal, and the mating surfaces are located at the closest points.

[0024] According to this configuration, by processing each terminal through a process of gradually bending the terminals, the mating surface that mates with the male terminal is accurately positioned at the desired position where the terminals are closest to each other. Therefore, it is possible to set the distance between the terminals at the closest point to a desired distance, and accurately set the mating strength with the male terminal inserted between the terminals to a desired strength.

[0025] The present invention also provides a method for producing a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising the steps of: the first electric device is a load device to which power is supplied from the secondary battery module via the female connector for battery pack; The second electric device is a charger that charges the secondary battery module via the female connector for the battery pack. It is characterized by:

[0026] According to this configuration, for example, when a load device in which the specifications of a male terminal are adapted to mate with a female terminal from a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in which the female connector for the battery pack protrudes is changed to a load device in which the male terminal is adapted to mate with a female terminal from the first direction in which the female connector for the battery pack protrudes, a female connector for a battery pack that can accommodate this specification change can be provided.

[0027] The present invention is also characterized in that the first induction port guides the male terminals of the load device and the charger to the mating position.

[0028] According to this configuration, the male terminals of both the load device and the charger are guided by the first induction port to a mating position with the female connector for the battery pack, and are individually mated with the female connector for the battery pack.

[0029] The present invention also provides a method for producing a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising the steps of: a first induction port for guiding a male terminal of a load device to a mating position; A second induction port guides the male terminal of the charger into the mating position It is characterized by:

[0030] According to this configuration, the male terminal of the load device is guided to the mating position of the female connector for the battery pack by the first induction port, and the male terminal of the charger is guided to the mating position of the female connector for the battery pack by the second induction port, and each individually fits with the female connector for the battery pack.

[0031] The present invention also provides a method for producing a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising the steps of: A female connector that is individually attached to and detached from a male terminal of a first electrical device and a male terminal of a second electrical device, a first guide port that opens and widens toward a receiving side of at least one of the male terminals of the first electric device and the male terminal of the second electric device, the male terminal protruding in a direction opposite to the first direction, to a mating position with the female connector when the female connector moves in a first direction in which the female connector protrudes; a second guide port that guides at least the other male terminal, which protrudes opposite to the first direction, of the male terminal of the first electric device and the male terminal of the second electric device to a mating position when moving in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and that opens and widens toward a receiving side of the other male terminal in the second direction; The present invention provides a female connector in which a female terminal pair is formed between the female terminal pair.

[0032] With this configuration, the female connector can be individually attached and detached to male terminals of multiple different electrical devices, each with different mating specifications, and it is also possible to accommodate changes in the mating specifications of the male terminals of each electrical device. Effect of the Invention

[0033] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a female connector, such as a female connector for a battery pack, that is compatible with the specifications of the different male terminals of a plurality of different electrical devices. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] 1 is an external perspective view illustrating a battery pack in which a female connector for a battery pack according to a first embodiment and a second embodiment of the present invention is used. [Diagram 2] 2 is an external perspective view illustrating a state in which a front cover is removed from the battery pack according to the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1A is an oblique view illustrating the state when a female connector for a battery pack according to the first embodiment is mated with a male terminal of a load device, and FIG. 1B is a side view illustrating the state when a female connector for a battery pack according to the first embodiment is mated with a male terminal of a charger. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the structure of a female connector for a battery pack according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 5] 5A is a top view of the female connector for a battery pack illustrated in FIG. 4, and FIG. 5B is a bottom view. [Figure 6] FIG. 5(a) is a front view of the female connector for a battery pack illustrated in FIG. 4, and FIG. [Figure 7] 5 is a left side view of the female connector for the battery pack illustrated in FIG. 4. [Figure 8] 5 is a right side view of the female connector for the battery pack illustrated in FIG. 4. [Figure 9] 13 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a female connector for a battery pack according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10] 10(a) is a top view of the female connector for a battery pack illustrated in FIG. 9, and (b) is a bottom view. [Figure 11] 10(a) is a front view of the female connector for a battery pack illustrated in FIG. 9, and (b) is a rear view. [Figure 12] 10 is a left side view of the female connector for the battery pack illustrated in FIG. 9. [Figure 13] 10 is a right side view of the female connector for the battery pack illustrated in FIG. 9. [Figure 14] 1A, 1B, and 1C are front views sequentially illustrating the process of charging a battery pack employing a conventional female connector for a battery pack with a charger. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a left side view of the battery pack and the charger shown in FIG. 14(b). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] A female connector for a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same or corresponding parts in each drawing are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0036] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view illustrating a battery pack 1 in which a female connector for a battery pack according to a first and second embodiment of the present invention is employed.

[0037] The housing of the battery pack 1 is composed of an upper cover 3, a lower cover 5, and a front cover 7, and the upper cover 3, the lower cover 5, and the front cover 7 are all made of a plastic material such as polycarbonate. The upper cover 3 and the lower cover 5 extend in the Y-axis direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the battery pack 1, and are engaged with each other in the Z-axis direction at engagement parts 9 provided at six locations by snap-fitting, for example, using the elasticity of the plastic material. The front cover 7 extends in the X-axis direction, which is the lateral direction of the battery pack 1, and is engaged with the upper cover 3 and the lower cover 5 in the Y-axis direction by fastening, for example, using bolts and screws. In addition, a handle 11 is provided on the rear surface of the upper cover 3, which extends in the X-axis direction, which is the lateral direction of the battery pack 1, and is disposed in the positive direction of the Y-axis.

[0038] FIG. 2 is an external perspective view illustrating a state in which the front cover 7 is removed from the battery pack 1 according to the first embodiment illustrated in FIG.

[0039] Inside the housing formed by the top cover 3 and the bottom cover 5, a board 14 on which a control circuit is mounted is housed in a board case 13 and arranged on the XZ plane. On this board 14, female connectors 15 for battery packs according to the present embodiment are arranged at equal intervals in the X-axis direction.

[0040] The board case 13 is attached to the housing by, for example, fitting a rib 13a protruding from a side surface of the board case 13 with a rib 5a protruding in the opposite direction from the bottom cover 5. The battery pack female connector 15 is disposed so as to protrude from the board 14 in the negative direction of the Y axis, from the inside to the outside of the housing of the battery pack 1.

[0041] The front cover 7 is provided with a protrusion 7a that protrudes in the negative direction of the Y axis and covers the female connectors 15 for the battery pack. In this embodiment, the surface of the protrusion 7a that is disposed on the XZ plane has openings 7b at positions facing the individual female connectors 15 for the battery pack. These openings 7b open on the negative side of the Y axis on the front surface of the protrusion 7a, and also open on the negative side of the Z axis on the bottom surface of the protrusion 7a.

[0042] The control circuit and the individual battery pack female connectors 15 formed on the substrate 14 are electrically connected to a secondary battery module (not shown) housed inside the housing of the battery pack 1. In this embodiment, the secondary battery module is a LIB module configured by connecting lithium ion secondary batteries (LIBs: Lithium Ion Batteries, hereinafter referred to as LIBs) in series and / or parallel. For a LIB module with a capacity of, for example, 9.65 [Ah], six battery pack female connectors 15 are arranged on the substrate 14 in the X-axis direction.

[0043] LIBs used in power storage devices and the like are known for their high energy density, small size, and light weight compared to other secondary batteries such as nickel-cadmium batteries and nickel-metal hydride batteries. The LIB module is housed inside the housing of the battery pack 1 and is connected to a control circuit formed on a substrate 14, which includes a module monitoring unit (MMU) that monitors the voltage and temperature of each LIB.

[0044] The female connector 15 for the battery pack is individually attached to and detached from the male terminal of the first electric device and the male terminal of the second electric device. For example, it is fitted to the male terminal of a load device, which is the first electric device, to which power discharged from the LIB module is supplied, and is also fitted to the male terminal of a charger, which is the second electric device, to which power is supplied to charge the LIB module. For example, a battery pack mounted on a load device such as a drone is assumed to be operated in such a manner that it is alternately attached and detached to and from the load device and the charger, in that it is detached from the load device and attached to the charger after discharging to the load device, and then detached from the charger and attached to the load device again after charging by the charger.

[0045] Fig. 3(a) is a perspective view illustrating a state when the female connector 15 for the battery pack is mated with the male terminal 21 arranged on the terminal board 23 of the load device. Fig. 3(b) is a side view of a state when the female connector 15 for the battery pack is mated with the male terminal 25 arranged on the terminal board 24 of the charger, as viewed from the YZ plane.

[0046] In this embodiment, a female connector 15 for a battery pack that can handle the following changes in specifications is illustrated.

[0047] [Before change] (See Figure 14 and Figure 15) 14 and 15 are diagrams illustrating the conventional technology, specifically illustrating how the battery pack 100 is attached to the charger 200. In this example, the same applies when the battery pack 100 is attached to a load device (not shown).

[0048] The lower right portion of the battery pack 100 is brought into contact with a recess (not shown) in the upper right portion of the charger 200 from the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 14(a). Next, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 14(b), the lower left portion of the battery pack 100 is rotated toward the recess (not shown) in the upper left portion of the charger 200. Thereafter, the attachment of the battery pack 100 to the charger 200 is completed as shown in Fig. 14(c).

[0049] 15 is a left side view corresponding to FIG. 14(b), in which the female terminals 101 of the battery pack 100 and the male terminals 201 of the charger 200 correspond to each other in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction shown in FIG. 14(c)). Here, the female terminals 101 of the battery pack 100 are attached to a board (not shown) similar to the board 14, protruding horizontally (Y-axis negative direction shown in FIG. 14(c)) from the inside of the housing toward the outside, similar to the female connector 15 for the battery pack shown in FIG. 3(a). Also, the opening 102 of the front cover surrounding each female terminal 101 is also open vertically downward (Z-axis negative direction shown in FIG. 14(c)) similar to the opening 7b of the front cover 7 shown in FIG. 2.

[0050] As the battery pack 100 rotates as shown in Figure 14(b), each female terminal 101 exposed vertically downward from the opening 102 engages substantially vertically from above with each male terminal 201 of the charger 200 which is attached protruding horizontally (positive direction of the Y axis shown in Figure 14(c)) from the inside of the housing toward the outside.

[0051] In this example, the direction in which male terminal 201 of charger 200 protrudes is horizontal (positive Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 14(c)), and the direction in which opening 102 moves when female terminal 101 of battery pack 100 engages with and disengages from male terminal 201 is vertical (Z-axis direction shown in FIG. 14(c)). Similarly, the direction in which male terminal of a load device (not shown) protrudes from the inside to the outside of the housing is horizontal (positive Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 14(c)), and the direction in which opening moves when female terminal 101 of battery pack 100 engages with and disengages from male terminal is vertical (Z-axis direction shown in FIG. 14(c)).

[0052] The specifications of load devices and chargers for drones and other devices are frequently changed to achieve optimal placement of the components that make up the load device and charger. As a result, the specifications of the battery packs that are alternately attached and detached to the load device and charger also require changes.

[0053] In the case of the attachment / detachment structure of battery pack 100 shown in Figures 14 and 15 above, for example, the direction in which male terminal 201 of charger 200 protrudes remains horizontal, and the direction in which opening 102 moves when female terminal 101 of battery pack 100 engages with and disengages from male terminal 201 remains vertical, but it is expected that the specifications will be changed so that the direction in which male terminal 201 of the load device protrudes is horizontal, and the direction in which opening 102 moves when female terminal 101 of battery pack 100 engages with and disengages from the male terminal is horizontal (the Y-axis direction shown in Figure 14(c)).

[0054] Due to this change in specifications, the female terminal 101 of the battery pack 100, which is designed to move its opening in the vertical direction (the Z-axis direction shown in FIG. 14(c)) to mate with the male terminal of the load device that protrudes in the horizontal direction (the positive direction of the Y-axis shown in FIG. 14(c)) when mating and disengaging, cannot be mated by moving it horizontally (the negative direction of the Y-axis shown in FIG. 14(c)). Also, considering that the battery pack 100 is assumed to be operated in such a way that it is frequently and alternately attached to and detached from the load device and the charger 200, it is necessary to reduce the deterioration in durability associated with alternate attachment and detachment due to the change in specifications.

[0055] That is, the specifications of the battery pack 100, the charger 200, and the load device before the specification change are as follows.

[0056] The direction in which male terminal 201 of charger 200 protrudes is the horizontal direction (positive Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 14(c)), the direction in which female terminal 101 of battery pack 100 protrudes is the horizontal direction (negative Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 14(c)), the direction in which opening 102 opens is the vertical direction (negative Z-axis direction shown in FIG. 14(c)), and the direction in which the opening of opening 102 moves when engaging with male terminal 201 is the vertical direction (negative Z-axis direction shown in FIG. 14(c)).

[0057] The direction in which the male terminal of the load device protrudes is the horizontal direction (the positive Y-axis direction shown in Figure 14(c)), the direction in which the female terminal 101 of the battery pack 100 protrudes is the horizontal direction (the negative Y-axis direction shown in Figure 14(c)), the direction in which the opening 102 opens is the vertical direction (the negative Z-axis direction shown in Figure 14(c)), and the direction in which the opening of the opening 102 moves when engaging with the male terminal is the vertical direction (the negative Z-axis direction shown in Figure 14(c)).

[0058] [After change] (See Figure 3) Here, the horizontal direction in the negative Y-axis direction from which the female connector 15 for the battery pack protrudes is the first direction A shown in Figure 3(a), the vertical direction in the negative Z-axis direction perpendicular to the first direction A is the second direction B shown in Figure 3(b), and the horizontal direction in the positive Y-axis direction opposite the first direction A is the third direction C shown in Figure 3(a).

[0059] After the change in the specifications, the specifications of the battery pack 1, the charger, and the load device are as follows:

[0060] 3(b), as before, the direction in which male terminals 25 arranged on terminal board 24 of the charger protrude is third direction C, and the direction in which battery pack female connector 15 constituting the female terminal pair of battery pack 1 protrudes is first direction A. Opening 7b of battery pack 1 that opens in second direction B moves in second direction B, as before, and battery pack female connector 15 fits with male terminal 25.

[0061] 3(a), as in the past, the direction in which the male terminal 21 arranged on the terminal board 23 of the load device protrudes is the third direction C, and the direction in which the battery pack female connector 15 of the battery pack 1 protrudes is the first direction A. However, unlike in the past, the opening 7b that opens horizontally in the Y-axis direction of the battery pack 1 moves in the first direction A, and the battery pack female connector 15 fits into the male terminal 21.

[0062] 3, the male terminals 21 arranged on the terminal board 23 of the load device are plate-shaped terminals protruding in a third direction C from the terminal board 23 arranged on the XZ plane. Each male terminal 21 is arranged on the XZ plane of the terminal board 23 facing a corresponding female connector 15 for the battery pack, and extends in the YZ plane. The third direction C in which the male terminals 21 of the load device protrude from the terminal board 23 faces the first direction A in which the female connector 15 for the battery pack protrudes from the board 14. In this embodiment, the female connector 15 for the battery pack moves in the first direction A facing the third direction C in which the male terminals 21 of the load device protrude, thereby fitting with the male terminals 21 of the load device in the Y-axis direction.

[0063] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of the female connector 15 for a battery pack according to the first embodiment.

[0064] The female connector for battery pack 15 is made of a conductive material such as beryllium copper and is integrally molded, for example, by progressive press working. This female connector for battery pack 15 has a top 15a, a left terminal 15b and a left leg 15c formed on the X-axis negative side of top 15a and facing the Z-axis negative direction, and a right terminal 15d and a right leg 15e formed on the X-axis positive side of top 15a and facing the Z-axis negative direction.

[0065] Left terminal 15b and right terminal 15d constitute a female terminal pair of battery pack female connector 15. Left terminal 15b and right terminal 15d extend in a first direction A and a second direction B, respectively, and a left protruding portion 15i and a right protruding portion 15j whose tops are close to each other are formed between left terminal 15b and right terminal 15d.

[0066] Top 15a extends in the Y-axis direction which is the longitudinal direction of battery pack female connector 15. Left terminal 15b and right terminal 15d are disposed on the Y-axis negative side of top 15a, and left leg 15c and right leg 15e are disposed on the Y-axis positive side, symmetrically with respect to YZ plane D (see FIG. 5(b)) which is a plane passing through top 15a and includes first direction A and second direction B.

[0067] In addition, the end 15f of the top 15a facing the positive direction of the Y axis, the end 15g of the left leg 15c facing the positive direction of the Y axis, and the end 15h of the right leg 15e facing the positive direction of the Y axis are each attached to the board 14, thereby fixing the female connector 15 for the battery pack to the board 14.

[0068] Figure 5(a) is a top view of the female connector for battery pack 15 illustrated in Figure 4 when viewed from the XY plane on the positive side of the Z axis, and Figure 5(b) is a bottom view of the female connector for battery pack 15 illustrated in Figure 4 when viewed from the XY plane on the negative side of the Z axis.

[0069] As described above, the left terminal 15b and the right terminal 15d constituting the female terminal pair are disposed symmetrically with respect to the YZ plane D between the left terminal 15b and the right terminal 15d. The left protrusion 15i and the right protrusion 15j have first inclined surfaces 15i1 and 15j1 in the portions extending in the first direction A. The first inclined surfaces 15i1 and 15j1 are formed in a shape that decreases in height toward the first direction A, which is the receiving side of at least one of the male terminals 21 and 25.

[0070] A first induction port E1 is formed in a portion sandwiched between the first inclined surfaces 15i1 and 15j1 of the left protruding portion 15i and the right protruding portion 15j. This first induction port E1 widens and opens toward the receiving side of one of the male terminals 21 or 25 in the first direction A, and guides at least one of the male terminals 21 or 25 protruding in the third direction C to a fitting position with the female connector 15 for the battery pack when the female connector 15 for the battery pack moves in the first direction A as shown in FIG.

[0071] In this embodiment, the length of the top 15a in the Y-axis direction is set to 14 [mm], and the width of the female connector 15 for battery packs in the X-axis direction is set to 5 [mm]. The distance between the tops of the left protruding portion 15i and the right protruding portion 15j is set to a predetermined distance for fitting in the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction. In order to obtain a desired fitting strength of 12 [N] per battery pack 1 having six female connectors for battery packs 15, the distance between the tops of the left protruding portion 15i and the right protruding portion 15j is set to, for example, 0.3 [mm]. By setting the distance between the tops to 0.3 [mm], a fitting strength of 2 [N] per female connector for battery packs 15 is obtained, and therefore a desired fitting strength of 12 [N] (= 2 [N] × 6) per battery pack 1 is obtained.

[0072] Fig. 6(a) is a front view of the female connector 15 for battery packs shown in Fig. 4 as viewed from the XZ plane on the negative side of the Y axis, and Fig. 6(b) is a rear view of the female connector 15 for battery packs shown in Fig. 4 as viewed from the XZ plane on the positive side of the Y axis. In this embodiment, the height of the female connector 15 for battery packs is set to 12 mm.

[0073] As described above, left terminal 15b and right terminal 15d are disposed symmetrically with respect to YZ plane D between left terminal 15b and right terminal 15d. Left protrusion 15i and right protrusion 15j have second inclined surfaces 15i2 and 15j2 in portions extending in second direction B. Second inclined surfaces 15i2 and 15j2 are formed in a shape that decreases in height toward second direction B, which is the receiving side of at least the other of male terminals 21 and 25, male terminal 25 or 21.

[0074] A second induction port E2 is formed in a portion sandwiched between the second inclined surfaces 15i2 and 15j2 of the left protruding portion 15i and the right protruding portion 15j. This second induction port E2 widens and opens toward the receiving side of the other male terminal 25 or 21 in the second direction B, and guides at least the other male terminal 25 or 21 protruding in the third direction C to a mating position with the battery pack female connector 15 when the battery pack female connector 15 moves in the second direction B as shown in FIG.

[0075] The first induction port E1 and the second induction port E2 are formed between the opposing female terminal pair of the left terminal 15b and the right terminal 15d.

[0076] FIG. 7 is a left side view of the female connector for battery pack 15 illustrated in FIG. 4 as viewed from the YZ plane on the negative side of the X-axis, and FIG. 8 is a right side view of the female connector for battery pack 15 illustrated in FIG. 4 as viewed from the YZ plane on the positive side of the X-axis.

[0077] The left terminal 15b and the right terminal 15d constituting the female terminal pair are each pressed through a three-stage extrusion process until the distance between the tops of the left protrusion 15i and the right protrusion 15j approaches a predetermined distance (0.3 [mm]). Therefore, the left terminal 15b and the right terminal 15d have first inclined surfaces 15i1, 15j1 and second inclined surfaces 15i2, 15j2 formed such that the tops of the left protrusion 15i and the right protrusion 15j approach each other across the YZ plane D (see FIG. 5(b)) at the center of the opposing surfaces, and the distance between them gradually increases as they move away from the center.

[0078] Furthermore, the left terminal 15b and the right terminal 15d each have a mating surface F1, F2 at the center located at the intersection of the diagonals of the opposing surfaces in the central region of each opposing surface closest to the YZ plane D. The mating surfaces F1, F2 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the YZ plane D, and the female connector 15 for the battery pack moves in the negative Y-axis direction (first direction A) to sandwich the male terminal 21 of the load device, and the female connector 15 moves in the negative Z-axis direction (second direction B) to sandwich the male terminal 25 of the charger. That is, in this embodiment, the left terminal 15b and the right terminal 15d mate with the male terminal 21 of the load device and the male terminal 25 of the charger at each mating position by a surface rather than a point.

[0079] The mating faces F1, F2 formed when the left terminal 15b and the right terminal 15d are mated with the male terminal 21 of the load device substantially coincide with the mating faces F1, F2 formed when the left terminal 15b and the right terminal 15d are mated with the male terminal 25 of the charger. In this embodiment, the area of ​​each of the mating faces F1, F2 is about 7.6 mm 2 Considering the maximum current of 20 [A] when the battery pack 1 is discharged to a load device and the maximum current of 9 [A] when the battery pack 1 is charged from a charger, the area of ​​each of the mating faces F1 and F2 must be at least 3.6 [mm 2 It is preferable to ensure that

[0080] Furthermore, in consideration of the durability of the battery pack female connector 15 due to the battery pack 1 being alternately attached to and detached from a load device and a charger, it is preferable that the force applied from the male terminal 21 to the battery pack female connector 15 when the battery pack female connector 15 is mated with the male terminal 21 of the load device in the first direction A is substantially the same as the force applied from the male terminal 25 to the battery pack female connector 15 when the battery pack female connector 15 is mated with the male terminal 25 of the charger in the second direction B. For this reason, it is preferable that the mating faces F1, F2 are square, circular, or the like.

[0081] For this reason, in this embodiment, although each mating surface F1, F2 has a rectangular shape, it is desirable that the length a in the second direction B of the outer periphery of the mating surfaces F1, F2 that contacts the left end of one male terminal 21 when mated in the first direction A with the left end of the one male terminal 21, and the length b in the first direction A of the outer periphery that contacts the upper end of the other male terminal 25 when mated in the second direction B with the upper end of the other male terminal 25, are at least substantially equal.

[0082] According to this configuration, the force applied from the male terminal 21 when the left terminal 15b and the right terminal 15d are mated with one male terminal 21 in the first direction A is substantially equal to the force applied from the male terminal 25 when the left terminal 15b and the right terminal 15d are mated with the other male terminal 25 in the second direction B. Therefore, the forces applied from the first direction A and the second direction B to the left terminal 15b and the right terminal 15d constituting the female terminal pair are substantially equal in each direction. Therefore, excessive force is not biasedly applied to the mating surfaces F1 and F2 from one direction. Therefore, even if the female terminal pair and the male terminals 21 and 25 are repeatedly mated and disengaged, it is possible to reduce the deterioration of durability related to deformation of the battery pack female connector 15.

[0083] In this manner, in the female connector 15 for a battery pack according to this embodiment, a first induction port E1 that guides a male terminal protruding opposite the first direction A to a mating position and that is designed to mate with the female connector 15 for a battery pack from the first direction A along which the female connector 15 for a battery pack protrudes, and a second induction port E2 that guides a male terminal protruding opposite the first direction A to a mating position and that is designed to mate with the female connector 15 for a battery pack from a second direction B perpendicular to the first direction A, are provided between the opposing female terminal pair, the left terminal 15b and the right terminal 15d.

[0084] Therefore, regardless of whether the male terminals 21, 25 of the load device and the charger protruding opposite the first direction A are specified to be fitted into the female connector 15 for the battery pack from the first direction A in which the female connector 15 for the battery pack protrudes, or the specification is to be fitted into the female connector 15 for the battery pack from the second direction B perpendicular to the first direction A in which the female connector 15 for the battery pack protrudes, the female connector 15 for the battery pack can be individually fitted into either the male terminal 21 of the load device or the male terminal 25 of the charger by the first or second induction port E1 or E2 that matches the specification. Therefore, the female connector 15 for the battery pack can be individually attached to and detached from the male terminals 21, 25 of a plurality of different electric devices each having a different fitting specification, and can also accommodate changes in the fitting specifications of the male terminals 21, 25 of each electric device.

[0085] In addition, according to the female connector 15 for a battery pack of this embodiment, by providing the left side protrusion 15i and the right side protrusion 15j having peaks close to each other, the first inclined surfaces 15i1, 15j1 that decrease in height toward the receiving side of the one male terminal 21, and the second inclined surfaces 15i2, 15j2 that decrease in height toward the receiving side of the other male terminal 25 on the left side terminal 15b and the right side terminal 15d that constitute the female terminal pair, respectively, the first induction port E1 and the second induction port E2 can be easily formed by simply processing the female terminal pair without adding any additional components to the female connector 15 for a battery pack.

[0086] Furthermore, according to the female connector 15 for a battery pack of this embodiment, the left terminal 15b and the right terminal 15d mate with the male terminal 21 of the load device and the male terminal 25 of the charger by surfaces rather than by points, so that it is possible to ensure the current capacity that can flow between the female terminal pair and these male terminals 21, 25.

[0087] Furthermore, according to the female connector 15 for a battery pack of this embodiment, the left terminal 15b and the right terminal 15d constituting the female terminal pair, as well as the mating faces F1, F2 that mate with the male terminal 21 of the load device and the male terminal 25 of the charger, are arranged symmetrically with respect to the YZ plane D including the first direction A and the second direction B, thereby maximizing the area in which the mating faces F1, F2 can be arranged within the female connector 15 for a battery pack.

[0088] Therefore, the positions of the mating faces F1, F2 can be selected within this possible area to minimize factors that cause deformation of the female terminal pair and factors that cause a decrease in durability of the female terminal pair when the female terminal pair is attached to or detached from each male terminal 21, 25. In this position of the mating faces F1, F2, the stress applied to the female terminal pair from the male terminals 21, 25 through the mating faces F1, F2 is applied evenly to the left terminal 15b and the right terminal 15d that constitute the female terminal pair, and excessive stress is not biased to a specific location of one terminal. Therefore, even if the female terminal pair is repeatedly mated and disengaged from each male terminal 21, 25, deformation of the female terminal pair and a decrease in durability of the battery pack female connector 15 can be reduced.

[0089] Furthermore, according to the female connector 15 for battery packs of this embodiment, the tops of the left protrusion 15i and the right protrusion 15j on which the mating faces F1 and F2 for mating with the male terminals 21 and 25 are formed are accurately positioned at the desired position in the center of the opposing faces by gradually pushing out the faces of the left terminal 15b and the right terminal 15d to sequentially incline the inclined faces 15i1, 15j1, 15i2, and 15j2. Therefore, by setting the distance between the tops of the left protrusion 15i and the right protrusion 15j provided on the left terminal 15b and the right terminal 15d to a desired distance, it becomes possible to accurately set the mating strength with the male terminals 21 and 25 inserted between the left terminal 15b and the right terminal 15d to a desired strength.

[0090] Although the first embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto and includes other aspects described below. That is, the present invention only requires a configuration including a first induction port that contributes to fitting in the Y-axis direction and a second induction port that contributes to fitting in the Z-axis direction, which will be described below as a second embodiment.

[0091] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a female connector 35 for a battery pack according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0092] The female connector 35 for the battery pack is integrally molded, for example, by progressive press processing, from a conductive material such as beryllium copper, and has a top 35a, a left terminal 35b and a left leg 35c formed in the negative Z-axis direction on the negative X-axis side of the top 35a, and a right terminal 35d and a right leg 35e formed in the negative Z-axis direction on the positive X-axis side of the top 35a.

[0093] In this embodiment, the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d constituting the female terminal pair each extend in the same direction between the first direction A and the second direction B, and approach each other toward their extending ends. In addition, peripheral edges 35b1, 35d1 of the extending ends from the closest points of the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d are formed in a shape that moves away from each other in the first direction A toward the receiving side of at least one of the male terminal 21 of the load device and the male terminal 25 of the charger, and warps away from each other in the second direction B toward the receiving side of the other male terminal 25 or 21.

[0094] Top 35a extends in the Y-axis direction, which is the longitudinal direction of female connector 35 for battery pack, and left side terminal 35b and right side terminal 35d are arranged on the Y-axis negative side of top 35a, and left side leg 35c and right side leg 35e are arranged on the Y-axis positive side, symmetrically with respect to YZ plane D (see Figure 10(b)) which is a plane passing through top 35a and includes the first direction A and second direction B.

[0095] In addition, end 35f on the positive side of the Y axis of top 35a, end 35g on the positive side of the Y axis of left leg 35c (see Figure 10), and end 35h on the positive side of the Y axis of right leg 35e are each attached to board 14 housed in battery pack 1, thereby fixing female connector 35 for the battery pack to board 14.

[0096] Figure 10(a) is a top view of the female connector for battery pack 35 illustrated in Figure 9 when viewed from the XY plane on the positive side of the Z axis, and Figure 10(b) is a bottom view of the female connector for battery pack 35 illustrated in Figure 9 when viewed from the XY plane on the negative side of the Z axis.

[0097] The left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d constituting the female terminal pair are disposed symmetrically with respect to the YZ plane D between the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d as described above. In addition, a first induction port G1 is formed at a location sandwiched between first inclined portions 35b2, 35d2 in which the peripheral edges 35b1, 35d1 of the ends are curved away from each other toward the first direction A, which is the receiving side of one of the male terminals 21. This first induction port G1 opens wide toward the receiving side of one of the male terminals 21 or 25 in the first direction A, and guides at least one of the male terminals 21 or 25 protruding in the third direction C to a fitting position with the female connector 35 for the battery pack when the female connector 35 for the battery pack moves in the first direction A as shown in FIG. 3(a).

[0098] In this embodiment, the length of the top 35a in the Y-axis direction is set to 14 [mm], and the width of the female connector 35 for battery packs in the X-axis direction is set to 5 [mm]. The distance between the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d at the closest point is set to a predetermined distance for fitting in the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction. In order to obtain a desired fitting strength of 12 [N] per battery pack 1 having six female connectors for battery packs 35, the distance between the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d at the closest point is set to, for example, 0.3 [mm]. By setting the distance between the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d to 0.3 [mm], a fitting strength of 2 [N] per female connector for battery packs 35 is obtained, and therefore a desired fitting strength of 12 [N] (= 2 [N] × 6) per battery pack 1 is obtained.

[0099] Fig. 11(a) is a front view of the female connector 35 for battery packs shown in Fig. 9 as viewed from the XZ plane on the negative side of the Y axis, and Fig. 11(b) is a rear view of the female connector 35 for battery packs shown in Fig. 9 as viewed from the XZ plane on the positive side of the Y axis. In this embodiment as well, the height of the female connector 35 for battery packs is set to 12 mm.

[0100] As described above, the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d are disposed symmetrically with respect to the YZ plane D between the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d. In addition, a second induction port G2 is formed at a location sandwiched between the second inclined portions 35b3, 35d3 where the peripheral edges 35b1, 35d1 of the ends are curved away from each other toward the second direction B, which is the receiving side of the other male terminal 25 or 21. This second induction port G2 opens wide toward the receiving side of the other male terminal 25 or 21 in the second direction B, and guides at least the other male terminal 25 or 21 protruding in the third direction C to a fitting position with the battery pack female connector 35 when the battery pack female connector 35 moves in the second direction B as shown in FIG. 3(b).

[0101] The first induction port G1 and the second induction port G2 are formed between the opposing female terminal pair of the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d.

[0102] FIG. 12 is a left side view of the female connector 35 for a battery pack illustrated in FIG. 9 as viewed from the YZ plane on the negative side of the X-axis, and FIG. 13 is a right side view of the female connector 35 for a battery pack illustrated in FIG. 9 as viewed from the YZ plane on the positive side of the X-axis.

[0103] The left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d constituting the female terminal pair are each press-formed through four bending steps until the distance between the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d at the closest point approaches a predetermined distance (0.3 [mm]). Therefore, the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d gradually become closer to each other toward the closest point. In addition, the first inclined parts 35b2, 35d2 of the peripheries 35b1, 35d1 in the first direction A at the end are gradually separated from each other toward the receiving side of one male terminal 21 or 25, and the second inclined parts 35b3, 35d3 of the peripheries 35b1, 35d1 in the second direction B at the end are gradually formed into a shape in which the distance between them gradually increases toward the receiving side of the other male terminal 25 or 21.

[0104] The left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d are closest to each other with the YZ plane D (see FIG. 10(b)) in between, and have mating surfaces H1, H2 at the closest points. The mating surfaces H1, H2 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the YZ plane D, and when the female connector 35 for the battery pack moves in the negative Y-axis direction (first direction A), the male terminal 21 of the load device is sandwiched therebetween, and when the female connector 35 for the battery pack moves in the negative Z-axis direction (second direction B), the male terminal 25 of the charger is sandwiched therebetween. That is, in this embodiment, the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d are mated with the male terminal 21 of the load device and the male terminal 25 of the charger at each mating position by a surface rather than a point.

[0105] The mating surfaces H1, H2 formed when the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d are mated with the male terminal 21 of the load device substantially coincide with the mating surfaces H1, H2 formed when the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d are mated with the male terminal 25 of the charger.

[0106] In addition, in consideration of the durability of the female connector 35 for the battery pack caused by alternately connecting and disconnecting the battery pack 1 to the load device and the charger, it is preferable that the force applied from the male terminal 21 to the female connector 35 for the battery pack when the female connector 35 for the battery pack is connected to the male terminal 21 of the load device in the first direction A is substantially the same as the force applied from the male terminal 25 to the female connector 35 for the battery pack when the female connector 35 is connected to the male terminal 25 of the charger in the second direction B. If the forces are substantially the same, excessive force is not biasedly applied to the connecting surfaces H1 and H2 from one direction. Therefore, even if the female terminal pair and the male terminals 21 and 25 are repeatedly connected and disconnected, the deterioration of durability due to deformation of the female connector 35 for the battery pack can be reduced.

[0107] In this manner, in the female connector 35 for a battery pack according to this embodiment, a first induction port G1 that guides the male terminal 21 protruding opposite the first direction A to a mating position and that is designed to mate with the female connector 35 for a battery pack from the first direction A along which the female connector 35 for a battery pack protrudes, and a second induction port G2 that guides the male terminal 25 protruding opposite the first direction A to a mating position and that is designed to mate with the female connector 35 for a battery pack from the second direction B perpendicular to the first direction A, are provided between the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d, which are opposing female terminal pairs.

[0108] Therefore, regardless of whether the male terminals 21, 25 of the load device and the charger protruding opposite the first direction A are specified to be fitted into the female connector 35 for the battery pack from the first direction A in which the female connector 35 for the battery pack protrudes, or the second direction B perpendicular to the first direction A in which the female connector 35 for the battery pack protrudes, the female connector 35 for the battery pack can be individually fitted into either the male terminal 21 of the load device or the male terminal 25 of the charger by the first or second induction port G1 or G2 that matches the specification. Therefore, the female connector 35 for the battery pack can be individually attached to and detached from the male terminals 21, 25 of a plurality of different electric devices each having a different fitting specification, and can also accommodate changes in the fitting specifications of the male terminals 21, 25 of each electric device.

[0109] In addition, according to the female connector 35 for a battery pack of this embodiment, the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d which constitute the female terminal pair and extend in the same direction between the first direction A and the second direction B are brought closer to each other toward their extending ends, and from the closest point, the peripheral edges 35b1, 35d1 of the extending ends are curved away from each other in the first direction A toward the receiving side of one male terminal 21, and away from each other in the second direction B toward the receiving side of the other male terminal 25, thereby making it possible to easily form the first induction port G1 and the second induction port G2 by simply adding processing to the female connector 35 for a battery pack without adding any additional components.

[0110] Furthermore, with the female connector 35 for a battery pack according to this embodiment, the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d mate with the male terminal 21 of the load device and the male terminal 25 of the charger by surfaces rather than by points, so that it is possible to ensure the current capacity that can flow between the female terminal pair and these male terminals 21, 25.

[0111] In addition, with the female connector 35 for a battery pack according to this embodiment, the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d constituting the female terminal pair, as well as the mating surfaces H1, H2 that mate with the male terminal 21 of the load device and the male terminal 25 of the charger, are arranged symmetrically with respect to the YZ plane D including the first direction A and the second direction B, thereby maximizing the area in which the mating surfaces H1, H2 can be arranged within the female connector 35 for a battery pack.

[0112] Therefore, the positions of the mating faces H1, H2 can be selected within this possible area to minimize factors that cause deformation of the female terminal pair and factors that cause a decrease in durability of the female terminal pair when the female terminal pair is attached to or detached from each male terminal 21, 25. In this position of the mating faces H1, H2, the stress applied to the female terminal pair from the male terminals 21, 25 through the mating faces H1, H2 is applied evenly to the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d that constitute the female terminal pair, and excessive stress is not biased to a specific location of one terminal. Therefore, even if the female terminal pair is repeatedly mated and disengaged from each male terminal 21, 25, deformation of the female terminal pair and a decrease in durability of the battery pack female connector 35 can be reduced.

[0113] Furthermore, with the female connector 35 for a battery pack according to this embodiment, the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d are processed through a process of gradually bending them, so that the mating surfaces H1, H2 mating with the male terminals 21 and 25 are accurately positioned at the desired positions where the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d are closest to each other. Therefore, it is possible to set the distance between the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d at the position where the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d are closest to each other to a desired distance, and accurately set the mating strength between the male terminals 21 and 25 inserted between the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d to a desired strength.

[0114] In addition, in each of the above first and second embodiments, a case has been described in which the first electrical device is a load device to which power is supplied from the secondary battery module via the female connector 15, 35 for the battery pack, and the second electrical device is a charger that charges the secondary battery module via the female connector 15, 35 for the battery pack.

[0115] According to this configuration, for example, when a load device in which the specifications of male terminal 21 are adapted to mate with a female terminal from a second direction B perpendicular to the first direction A in which female connector 15, 35 for a battery pack protrudes is changed to a load device in which male terminal 21 is adapted to mate with a female terminal from the first direction A in which female connector 15, 35 for a battery pack protrudes, female connector 15, 35 for a battery pack that can accommodate the change in specifications can be provided.

[0116] In addition, in the above first and second embodiments, a case has been described in which the first induction port E1, G1 moves in the first direction A to guide the male terminal 21 of the load device protruding in the third direction C to the mating position, and the second induction port E2, G2 moves in the second direction B to guide the male terminal 25 of the charger protruding in the third direction C to the mating position.

[0117] According to this configuration, the male terminal 21 of the load device is guided to the fitting position of the female connector 15, 35 for the battery pack by the first induction port E1, G1, and the male terminal 25 of the charger is guided to the fitting position of the female connector 15, 35 for the battery pack by the second induction port E2, G2, and each is individually fitted with the female connector 15, 35 for the battery pack. Therefore, when the direction in which the female connector 15, 35 for the battery pack 1 protrudes from the board 14 is the first direction A and the direction in which the male terminals 21, 25 of the charger and the load device protrude is the third direction C, it is possible to deal with a case in which the movement direction of the female connector 15, 35 for the battery pack for fitting with the male terminal 21 of the load device is changed from the second direction B to the first direction A.

[0118] However, the first induction port E1, G1 may guide the male terminals 21, 25 of the load device and the charger to the fitting position. According to this configuration, the male terminals 21, 25 of both the load device and the charger are guided to the fitting position with the female connector 15, 35 for the battery pack by the first induction port E1, G1, and are individually fitted with the female connector 15, 35 for the battery pack. Therefore, it is possible to deal with a case where the specification of the movement direction of the female connector 15, 35 for the battery pack is changed from the second direction B to the first direction A with respect to the fitting with the male terminal 25 of the charger. Furthermore, it is possible to deal with a case where the third direction C in which the male terminals 21, 25 of the charger and / or the load device protrude and the first direction A in which the female connector 15, 35 for the battery pack protrude are opposed to each other, and a specification change occurs in the movement direction of the female connector 15, 35 for the battery pack from the second direction B to the first direction A. [Industrial Applicability]

[0119] In each of the above embodiments, a LIB module formed by connecting lithium ion secondary batteries (LIBs) in series and / or parallel is exemplified as a secondary battery module, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a secondary battery module employing other secondary batteries such as nickel-metal hydride batteries.

[0120] In addition, in each of the above embodiments, the first electric device is a load device and the second electric device is a charger, but the first electric device and the second electric device are not limited to a load device and a charger, and may be other electric devices. That is, in each of the above embodiments, the female connectors 15 and 35 for the battery pack that are fitted with the male terminal 21 of the load device and the male terminal 25 of the charger are illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a female terminal (female connector for the battery pack) that is fitted with the male terminals of a plurality of different types of electric devices.

[0121] For example, the present invention also includes an embodiment in which the female connector for a battery pack is mated and disengaged with a male terminal of a load device, which is a first electric device, in horizontal direction A, then is mated and disengaged with a male terminal of a load device, which is a second electric device of the same or different type, in horizontal direction A or vertical direction B, and then is mated and disengaged with a male terminal of a charger, which is a third electric device, in horizontal direction A or vertical direction B. In this case, the present invention is not limited to an operation form in which the battery pack 1 is alternately attached to and detached from one specific load device and one specific charger.

[0122] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, a female connector for a battery pack that mates with male terminals of a plurality of different types of electrical devices has been exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may also be a female connector provided in, for example, an adapter, in which configurations corresponding to the first induction port E1, G1 shown in Figures 5 and 10 and the second induction port E2, G2 shown in Figures 6 and 11, respectively, are formed between a pair of female terminals.

[0123] The female terminal for a battery pack according to the present invention provides a female connector for a battery pack that can accommodate changes in the specifications of a load device from which the battery pack discharges and a charger that charges the battery pack, and therefore has high industrial applicability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0124] 1: Battery pack 15,35: Female connector for battery pack 15a, 35a: Top 15b, 35b: Left terminal 15c, 35c: Left leg 15d, 35d: Right terminal 15e, 35e: Right leg 15i: Left protrusion 15j: Right protrusion 15i1, 15j1: First inclined surface 15i2, 15j2: Second inclined surface 35b1, 35d1: Periphery of the ends of the left terminal 35b and the right terminal 35d 35b2, 35d2: First inclined portion 35b3, 35d3: Second inclined portion 21: Male terminal of the load device 25: Male terminal on the charger side A: First direction B: Second direction E1, G1: First induction port E2, G2: Second induction port F1, F2, H1, H2: Fitting surface

Claims

1. A female connector for a battery pack, which is electrically connected to a secondary battery module formed by connecting secondary batteries in series and / or parallel, and which is individually attachable to and detachable from a male terminal of a first electric device and a male terminal of a second electric device, a first induction port that opens and widens toward a receiving side of at least one of the male terminals of the first electric device and the male terminal of the second electric device, the male terminal protruding in a direction opposite to the first direction, to a fitting position with the female connector for the battery pack when the female connector for the battery pack moves in a first direction in which the female connector for the battery pack protrudes; a second guide port that guides at least the other male terminal of the male terminals of the first and second electric devices, which protrudes opposite to the first direction, to the mating position when the male terminal moves in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and that opens and widens toward a receiving side of the other male terminal in the second direction; A female connector for a battery pack, characterized in that a female terminal is formed between a pair of opposing female terminals.

2. each of the terminals constituting the female terminal pair has a protrusion extending in each of the first direction and the second direction and having a top close to each other between the terminals; the protruding portion is formed in a shape having a first inclined surface at a portion extending in the first direction, the first inclined surface decreasing in height toward the receiving side of the one male terminal, and a second inclined surface at a portion extending in the second direction, the second inclined surface decreasing in height toward the receiving side of the other male terminal; the first induction port is formed in a portion of the protrusion between the first inclined surfaces, the height of which decreases toward the receiving side of the one male terminal, The second induction port is formed in a portion of the protruding portion that is sandwiched between the second inclined surfaces that decrease in height toward the receiving side of the other male terminal.

2. The female connector for a battery pack according to claim 1.

3. The terminals constituting the female terminal pair extend in the same direction between the first direction and the second direction, approach each other toward their extending ends, and are formed such that, from the closest point, the periphery of the extending ends moves away from each other toward the receiving side of the one male terminal in the first direction, and moves away from each other toward the receiving side of the other male terminal in the second direction, The first induction port is formed in a curved portion of the periphery of the end portion which is curved away from the receiving side of the one male terminal, The second induction port is formed in a curved portion where the periphery of the end portion is bent away from the receiving side of the other male terminal.

2. The female connector for a battery pack according to claim 1.

4. 4. A female connector for a battery pack as described in claim 1, wherein the female terminal pair is fitted on a surface with a male terminal of the first electrical device and a male terminal of the second electrical device in the mating position.

5. the female terminal pair is disposed symmetrically with respect to a plane including the first direction and the second direction between the terminals constituting the female terminal pair, The mating surfaces that mate with the male terminal of the first electrical device and the male terminal of the second electrical device are arranged symmetrically with respect to the plane.

4. The female connector for a battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the female connector is a connector for a battery pack.

6. The female connector for a battery pack according to claim 5, which cites claim 2, characterized in that the terminals constituting the female terminal pair have the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface of the protrusion formed in such a shape that the tops of the protrusions are close to each other at the center of the opposing surfaces and the distance between them gradually increases as they move away from the center, and the mating surface is at the center.

7. 7. The female connector for a battery pack as described in claim 6, characterized in that the second direction length of the outer periphery of the mating surface that contacts the end of the one male terminal when mated with the one male terminal in the first direction is substantially equal to the first direction length of the outer periphery of the mating surface that contacts the end of the other male terminal when mated with the other male terminal in the second direction.

8. The female connector for a battery pack according to claim 5, which cites claim 3, characterized in that the terminals constituting the female terminal pair are formed in a shape such that the distance between them gradually decreases toward the closest point, the edges of the end portions in the first direction gradually increase in distance away from each other toward the receiving side of the one male terminal, and the edges of the end portions in the second direction gradually increase in distance away from each other toward the receiving side of the other male terminal, and the mating surface is located at the closest point.

9. the first electric device is a load device to which power is supplied from the secondary battery module via the female connector for battery pack; The second electric device is a charger that charges the secondary battery module via the female connector for the battery pack.

4. The female connector for a battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the female connector is a connector for a battery pack.

10. 10. The female connector for a battery pack according to claim 9, wherein the first induction port guides the male terminals of the load device and the charger to the mating position.

11. the first induction port guides a male terminal of the load device to the mating position; The second induction port guides the male terminal of the charger to the mating position.

10. The female connector for a battery pack according to claim 9.

12. A female connector that is individually attached to and detached from a male terminal of a first electrical device and a male terminal of a second electrical device, a first guide port that opens and widens toward a receiving side of at least one of the male terminals of the first electric device and the male terminal of the second electric device, the male terminal protruding in a direction opposite to the first direction, to a mating position with the female connector when the female connector moves in a first direction in which the female connector protrudes; a second guide port that guides at least the other male terminal of the male terminals of the first and second electric devices, which protrudes opposite to the first direction, to the mating position when the male terminal moves in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and that opens and widens toward a receiving side of the other male terminal in the second direction; A female connector, characterized in that a female terminal pair is formed between the female terminal pair.

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