Battery latch mechanism

Abstract

Example embodiments relate to a battery latch mechanism. An example embodiment includes a latch to engage a notch of a battery when the latch is in a first position and to be moved away from the battery when the latch is in an second position. The mechanism also includes a spring configured to bias the latch in the first position. An axis piece is rotationally-mounted to the housing, and the axis piece is received in both the latch and in a wedge. The wedge has a. sloped edge to interact with a chamfered edge of the battery to raise a portion of the battery above the housing when the latch is in the second position.

Description

BATTERY LATCH MECHANISM CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 679,862, filed August 6, 2024, entitled “Battery Latch Mechanism.” The entire disclosure contents of this application is herewith incorporated by reference into the present application. BACKGROUND

[0002] Electronic devices that include a battery might need to have the battery removed from the remaining portions of the device in order to replace or recharge the battery. However, two hands are currently needed in order to remove the battery. For instance, one hand is needed to release the battery from the remaining portions of the device and the other hand is needed to retrieve the battery for removal. These steps often need to occur at least partially simultaneously, which can be difficult when trying to quickly accomplish this task. In addition, this process can be difficult for non-agile users.

[0003] Accordingly, there is a need for a battery latch mechanism that is quicker and requires less user involvement. For instance, it would be convenient for a user to only require one hand to remove a battery from the remaining portions of the device. It would also be convenient for a user without nimble mobility to be able to remove the battery from the device with two hands if the user did not need to dig the battery out of the remaining portions of the device. SUMMARY

[0004] The present disclosure relates to a battery latch design with a battery push out mechanism for removable batteries. A battery latch mechanism may use both horizontal translation and internal rotation of coupled pieces in order to accomplish vertical translation of at least a portion of the removable battery for ease of extraction from the remaining portions of the device.

[0005] In some embodiments, a device includes a housing that has a first portion and a second portion. The device also includes a battery configured to be received within the first portion of the housing such that the battery includes a notch and a chamfered edge. The device further includes a latch movably-coupled to the second portion of the housing such that a retaining portion of the latch is configured to engage the notch of the battery when the latch is in a first position and such that the latch is configured to be moved away from thebattery when the latch is in an second position. The device also includes a spring coupled to a mount in the second portion of the housing such that a portion of the spring is received in the latch and such that the spring is configured to bias the latch in the first position. The device further includes an axis piece rotationally-mounted in the second portion of the housing. The axis piece includes a body having a curved shape, a central rod extending through an intermediary portion of the body such that respective ends of the central rod are received in opposing oblong slots in the second portion of the housing, a proximal rod extending through a proximal portion of the body such that the proximal rod is received in an underside of the latch, and a distal rod extending through a distal portion of the body. The device also includes a wedge having a sloped edge such that an upper side of the wedge receives the distal rod. The sloped edge of the wedge is configured to interact with the chamfered edge of the battery when the latch is in the second position in order to raise a portion of the battery from the first portion of the housing.

[0006] In some embodiments, a device includes a housing having a first portion and a second portion. The device also includes a battery configured to be received at least partially within the first portion of the housing. The battery includes a notch, an indentation in an interfacing edge of the battery, and a mating surface on an underside of the battery. The device also includes a latch movably-coupled to the second portion of the housing. A retaining portion of the latch is configured to engage the notch of the battery when the latch is in a first position, and the latch is configured to be moved away from the battery when the latch is in a second position. The device also includes a spring positioned in the second portion of the housing. At least a portion of the spring interacts with the latch, and the spring is configured to bias the latch to the first position. The device further includes a biasing component configured to provide an electrical connection to the battery through the mating surface. As the latch moves from the first position to the second position, the biasing component extends against the mating surface on the underside of the battery to thereby cause at least a portion of the battery to be raised above a top surface of the housing. The latch is configured to extend into the indentation in the interfacing edge of the battery when at least a portion of the battery is raised above the top surface the housing due to the extension of the biasing component.

[0007] In some embodiments, a battery latch mechanism includes a latch movably- coupled to a housing. A retaining portion of the latch is configured to engage a notch of a battery when the latch is in a first position, and the latch is configured to be moved away from the battery when the latch is in a second position. The battery latch mechanism also includes aspring positioned in the housing. At least a portion of the spring interacts with the latch, and the spring is configured to bias the latch to the first position. The battery latch mechanism also includes a biasing component configured to provide an electrical connection to the battery through a mating surface of the battery. As the latch moves from the first position to the second position, the biasing component extends against the mating surface on an underside of the battery to thereby cause at least a portion of the battery to be raised above a top surface of the housing. The latch is configured to extend into an indentation in an interfacing edge of the battery when at least a portion of the battery is raised above the top surface of the housing due to the extension of the biasing component.

[0008] In some embodiments, a method of assembling a device includes providing a device. The device includes a housing having a first portion and a second portion. The device also includes a battery. The battery includes a notch, an indentation in an interfacing edge of the battery, and a mating surface on an underside of the battery. The device also includes a latch. A retaining portion of the latch is configured to engage the notch of the battery when the latch is in a first position, and the latch is configured to be moved away from the battery when the latch is in a second position. The device further includes a spring and a biasing component. The biasing component is configured to provide an electrical connection to the battery through the mating surface. As the latch moves from the first position to the second position, the biasing component extends against the mating surface on the underside of the battery to thereby cause at least a portion of the battery to be partially raised from a top surface of the housing. The method also includes inserting a latch into the second portion of the housing such that latch is movably-coupled to the first portion of the housing and inserting the spring into the second portion of the housing. At least a portion of the spring interacts with the latch, and the spring is configured to bias the latch to the first position. The method further includes retracting the latch from the first position to the second position, inserting the battery at least partially into the second portion of the housing, and releasing the latch from the second position such that the retaining portion of the latch is extended into the indentation in the interfacing edge of the battery to thereby cause at least a portion of the battery to be partially raised from the top surface of the housing.

[0009] In some embodiments, a battery includes a notch, an indentation in an interfacing edge of the battery, and a mating surface on an underside of the battery. The battery is configured to be received at least partially within a first portion of a housing of a device. The device includes the housing having the first portion and a second portion. The device alsoincludes a latch movably-coupled to the second portion of the housing. A retaining portion of the latch is configured to engage the notch of the battery when the latch is in a first position, and the latch is configured to be moved away from the battery when the latch is in a second position. The device also includes a spring positioned in the second portion of the housing. At least a portion of the spring interacts with the latch, and the spring is configured to bias the latch to the first position. The device further includes a biasing component configured to provide an electrical connection to the battery through the mating surface. As the latch moves from the first position to the second position, the biasing component extends against the mating surface on the underside of the battery such that at least a portion of the battery is raised from a top surface the housing. The latch is configured to extend into the indentation in the interfacing edge of the battery when at least a portion of the battery is raised from the top surface of the housing due to the extension of the biasing component.

[0010] These as well as other aspects, advantages, and alternatives will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detailed description, with reference, where appropriate, to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Figures 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D illustrate a device having a battery latch mechanism, in accordance with example embodiments.

[0012] Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E illustrate an assembly of a device having a battery latch mechanism, in accordance with example embodiments.

[0013] Figures 3A, 3B, and 3C illustrate using a battery latch mechanism, in accordance with example embodiments.

[0014] Figure 4 illustrates a block diagram of a method of using a battery latch mechanism, in accordance with example embodiments.

[0015] Figures 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F, 5G, and 5H illustrate a device having a battery latch mechanism, in accordance with example embodiments.

[0016] Figure 6 illustrates a battery for a battery latch mechanism, in accordance with example embodiments.

[0017] Figure 7 illustrates a pogo pin array for a battery latch mechanism, in accordance with example embodiments.

[0018] Figures 8A, 8B, and 8C illustrate using a battery latch mechanism, in accordance with example embodiments.

[0019] Figure 9 illustrates a block diagram of a method of using a battery latch mechanism, in accordance with example embodiments.

[0020] Figure 10 illustrates a block diagram of assembling a device, in accordance with example embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Example methods and systems are described herein. It should be understood that the words “example,” “exemplary,” and “illustrative” are used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any embodiment or feature described herein as being an “example,” being “exemplary,” or being “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or features. The exemplary embodiments described herein are not meant to be limiting. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.

[0022] Furthermore, the particular arrangements shown in the Figures should not be viewed as limiting. It should be understood that other embodiments may include more or less of each element shown in a given Figure. Further, some of the illustrated elements may be combined or omitted. Yet further, an exemplary embodiment may include elements that are not illustrated in the Figures. For example, the terms “vertical” or “horizontal” as used in connection with the particular arrangements are descriptors with respect to orientation of the component as shown in the relevant Figure and therefore should not be viewed as limiting.

[0023] In Figures 1A-1D, a device 100 is shown. The device 100 may be any electronic device that requires a removable battery. Figures 1A and 1B illustrate the device 100 in a first position, with Figure 1B being a section view A-A of Figure 1A, and Figures 1C and 1D illustrate the device 100 in a second position, with Figure 1D being a section view A- A of Figure 1C. In some embodiments, the first position may be a holding position in which the removeable battery is secured to the rest of the device 100 and the second position may be an unrestricting position in which the removeable battery is free to be moved from the rest of the device 100.

[0024] The device 100 includes a housing 102 that can take any shape suitable for a variety of electronic devices suitable to retain a removable battery. In some embodiments, the housing 102 includes a first portion 104 and a second portion 106 configured to receive an assortment of components. In some embodiments, the first portion 104 may be a batteryextrusion and the second portion 106 may be a mechanism extrusion. The first portion 104 and the second portion 106 may be formed into the housing 102 of the device 100 by extrusion, injection molding, or the like. The housing 102 of the device 100 may be made out of a plastic, a synthetic elastomer, a metal, or any other material suitable for housing a mobile electronic communication device in a medical, educational, retail, or industrial setting. Other portions and shapes of the housing 102 are possible.

[0025] The device 100 also includes a battery 108. The battery 108 may be a replaceable or a rechargeable battery of any kind. In some embodiments, the battery 108 is configured to be received within the first portion 104 of the housing 102 of the device 100. Further, in some embodiments, the battery 108 also includes a notch 110 and a chamfered edge 112. In such embodiments, the notch 110 of the battery 108 may be on a particular edge of the battery 108 such that insertion of the battery 108 into the first portion 104 comprises positioning the notch 110 nearest the second portion 106 of the housing 102. The notch 110 may have any suitable shape. As shown in the section views of Figures 1B and 1D, the notch 110 has a substantially “C” shape. As such, the notch 110 of the battery 108 could create an indent into the battery 108 with an open end nearest the second portion 106 of the housing 102. Further, in such embodiments, the lower edge of the side of the battery 108 that includes the notch 110 may be chamfered edge 112.

[0026] In some embodiments, the device 100 also includes a latch 114. In such embodiments, the latch 114 may be configured to be received in the second portion 106 and to interact with the notch 110 of the battery 108. The latch 114 may comprise any shape or size able to be received in the housing 102. In some embodiments, the latch 114 includes an tactile side such that a user is able to interact with the tactile side of the latch 114. In such embodiments, the latch 114 may be movably coupled to the housing 102 such that a user is able to use one or more fingers to contact the tactile side of the latch 114 and to move the latch 114 from a first position in which a retaining portion of the latch 114 is configured to engage the notch 110 of the battery 108 to an second position in which the latch 114 is moved away from the battery 108 such that no portion of the latch 114 is in contact with the battery 108.

[0027] In some embodiments, a spring 116 is coupled to a mount 118 in the second portion 106 of the housing 102. In such embodiments, at least a portion of the spring 116 interacts with the latch 114 such that the spring 116 is configured to bias the latch 114 to the first position. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the spring 116 is received in thelatch 114. Further, in some embodiments, the spring 116 could be spaced from the battery 108 such that the spring 116 never directly contacts the battery 108 and instead biases the retaining portion of the latch 114 into contact with the notch 110 of the battery 108 when not acted on by outside forces. In such a state, the spring 116 may be under a somewhat light level of compression, such as a sufficient level of compression to secure via the latch 114 the battery 108 in the first portion 104 of the housing 102 of the device 100 such that the battery 108 is secured when the latch 114 is in the first position. However, when a user moves the latch 114 from the first position to the second position by pushing the tactile side of the latch 114 away from the battery 108 against the spring 116, the battery 108 is free to be removed from the remaining portions of the device 100. In such a position, the spring is in a deeper compressed position that has a higher level of compression than when the latch is in the first position. In some embodiments, moving the latch 114 from the first position to the second position comprises moving the latch 114 horizontally away from the battery 108.

[0028] In some embodiments, the device 100 further includes an axis piece 120. The axis piece 120 could have a body 122, a central rod 124, a proximal rod 126, and a distal rod 128. In such embodiments, the central rod 124 extends through an intermediary portion of the body 122 such that respective ends of the central rod 124 are received in opposing oblong slots 130 (better shown as 230 in later embodiments) in the second portion 106 of the housing 102. Further, the proximal rod 126 extends through a proximal portion of the body 122 and the distal rod 128 extends through a distal portion of the body 122. The proximal portion of the body 122 may be adjacent an underside of the latch 114 when assembled.

[0029] In some embodiments, the device 100 further includes a wedge 132 with a sloped edge 134. In such embodiments, the sloped edge 134 of the wedge 132 is configured to interact with the chamfered edge 112 of the battery 108 when the latch 114 is in the second position in order to raise a portion of the battery 108 from the first portion 104 of the housing 102 of the device 100.

[0030] For instance, in some embodiments, the proximal rod 126 could be received in a latch groove on the underside of the latch 114, wherein the latch groove is a long, narrow, rounded depression into the underside of the latch 114. In such embodiments, the proximal rod 126 is able to be moved up and down within the latch groove of the latch 114 such that, when the latch 114 is in the first position, the proximal rod 126 is inserted to a deepest point in the latch groove of the latch 114. However, when the latch 114 is moved to the second position, the proximal rod 126 moves to a more shallow insertion in the latch groove of thelatch 114 as the central rod 124 is held between the oblong slots 130 of the second portion 106 of the housing 102 of the device 100. Such horizontal translational movement of the latch 114 from the first position to the second position therefore results in rotational movement of the axis piece 120 via the proximal rod 126.

[0031] Further, in some embodiments, the distal rod 128 could be received in a wedge groove on the upper side of the wedge 132, wherein the wedge groove is a long, narrow, rounded depression into the upper side of the wedge 132. In such embodiments, the distal rod 128 is able to be moved up and down within the wedge groove of the wedge 132 such that, when the latch 114 is in the first position, the distal rod 128 is inserted at a shallowest point in the wedge groove of the wedge 132. However, when the latch 114 is moved to the second position, the distal rod 128 is forced deeper into the wedge groove of the wedge 132 as the proximal rod 126 in the latch groove of the latch 114 moves to a more shallow insertion in the latch groove of the latch 114, the central rod 124 is held between the oblong slots 130 of the second portion 106 of the housing 102 of the device 100, and the horizontal translational movement of the latch 114 from the first position to the second position results in rotational movement of the axis piece 120 via the proximal rod 126. Consequently, the rotation of the axis piece 120 further causes horizontal translational movement of the wedge 132 via the distal rod 128 in a direction opposite that of the latch 114. Therefore, as the latch 114 is moved away from the battery 108, the wedge 132 is forced towards the battery 108 via the rotation of the axis piece 120.

[0032] In such embodiments, when the latch 114 is moved to the second position, the sloped edge 134 of the wedge 132 contacts the chamfered edge 112 of the battery 108. As the chamfered edge 112 of the battery 108 is continuing to contact the sloped edge 134 of the wedge 132, the further that the latch 114 is retracted towards the spring 116, the more the wedge 132 forces against the chamfered edge 112 of the battery 108, and the higher up the corresponding portion of the battery 108 climbs. This occurs until the latch 114 is fully retracted, during which time a portion of the battery 108, including a portion of the notch 110 is cleared from the first portion 104 of the housing 102 of the device 100. In such a position, in some embodiments, the device 100 could be flipped upside down and the battery 108 would fall freely from the first portion 104 of the housing 102 of the device 100. In other embodiments, a user could easily engage the raised portion of the battery 108 and subsequently remove the battery 108 from the remaining portions of the device 100.

[0033] In some embodiments of the device 100, the first portion 104 and the second portion 106 of the housing 102 may be connected. In other embodiments, the first portion 104 and the second portion 106 of the housing 102 may be separate, while still allowing components house in each to interact with each other.

[0034] In some embodiments of the device 100, the spring 116 may be selected such that a force between 3 Newtons (N) – 12N, including 6N, is needed to move the latch 114 from the first position to the fully retracted portion of the second position.

[0035] In some embodiments of the device 100, the body 122 of the axis piece 120 may have a uniform thickness across its length. In other embodiments of the device 100, the body 122 of the axis piece 120 could taper from a thicker portion nearest the center of the body 122 to a less thick portion at an outward region of the body 122.

[0036] In some embodiments, the total travel of the latch 114 from the first position to the second position is between 1mm and 5mm, such as 2mm. In such embodiments, the notch 110 of the battery 108 may be selected to be less than the total travel of the latch 114 such that when the latch 114 is in the second position, the latch 114 is cleared from the notch 110 and the battery 108 is free to be moved from the device 100. For instance, in the embodiment where the total travel of the latch 114 is 2mm, the notch 110 may have a depth, for example, between 0.8mm and 1.8mm, including 1.2mm. As such, the notch 110 may effectively retain the battery 108 when the latch 114 is in the first position but provide sufficient clearance for removal of the battery 108 when the latch 114 is in the second position.

[0037] Further, in such embodiments, the location of the wedge 132 and the angle of both the chamfered edge 112 of the battery 108 and the sloped edge 134 of the wedge 132 may be selected such that the clearance between the sloped edge 134 of the wedge 132 from the chamfered edge 112 of the battery 108 in the first position is greater than depth of the notch 110 of the battery 108 but less than the total travel of the latch 114. For instance, in the embodiment described above, the sloped edge 134 of the wedge 132 could have an angle between 45 degrees and 75 degrees, including 60 degrees. Correspondingly, the chamfered edge 112 of the battery 108 could have an angle between 15 degrees and 45 degrees, including 30 degrees. Further, in the embodiment described above, the clearance between the sloped edge 134 of the wedge 132 and the chamfered edge 112 of the battery 108 would be greater than 1.2mm but less than 2mm.

[0038] As such, in the above embodiment, when the latch 114 is moved from the first position (shown in Figures 1A and 1B) to the second position, the retaining portion of the latch 114 is cleared from the notch 110 of the battery 108 before the sloped edge 134 of the wedge 132 contacts the chamfered edge 112 of the battery 108. However, the sloped edge 134 of the wedge 132 contacts the chamfered edge 112 of the battery 108 before the latch 114 reaches its total distance of travel. Therefore, from the point at which the sloped edge 134 of the wedge 132 contacts the chamfered edge 112 of the battery 108 to when the latch 114 reaches its greatest level of retraction, sloped edge 134 of the wedge 132 pushes the chamfered edge 112 of the battery 108 upwards, thereby raising a portion of the battery 108 from the remaining portions of the device 100, until the raised portion of the battery 108 reaches its maximum height from the housing 102 of the device 100 when the latch 114 has been totally retracted, such as is shown in Figures 1C and 1D. In such embodiments, the second position of the latch 114 is anywhere from when the retaining portion of the latch 114 clears the notch 110 of the battery 108 until the latch 114 reaches its total level of retraction.

[0039] Figures 2A-2E illustrate an assembly of a device 200 having a battery latch mechanism. The device 200 could have any component of the device 100 as described above.

[0040] The device 200 includes a housing 202, including a first portion 204 for receiving a battery and a second portion 206 configured to receive an assortment of components. In some embodiments, the device 200 also includes a latch 214. In such embodiments, the latch 214 may be configured to be received in the second portion 206 and to interact with a notch of the battery received in the first portion 204.

[0041] In some embodiments, a spring 216 is coupled to a mount 218 in the second portion 206 of the housing 202.

[0042] In some embodiments, the device 200 further includes an axis piece 220. The axis piece 220 could have a body 222, a central rod 224, a proximal rod 226, and a distal rod 228. In such embodiments, the central rod 224 extends through an intermediary portion of the body 222 such that respective ends of the central rod 224 are received in opposing oblong slots 230 in the second portion 206 of the housing 202. Further, the proximal rod 226 extends through a proximal portion of the body 222 and the distal rod 228 extends through a distal portion of the body 222. The proximal portion of the body 222 may be adjacent an underside of the latch 214 when assembled.

[0043] In some embodiments, the device 200 further includes a wedge 232 with a sloped edge 234. In such embodiments, the sloped edge 234 of the wedge 232 is configuredto interact with a chamfered edge of the battery inserted into the first portion 204 in order to raise a portion of the battery from the first portion 204 of the housing 202 of the device 200. For instance, an example device 200 is described below.

[0044] Figure 2A illustrates an exploded view of the device 200, including the housing 202 having both the first portion 204 and the second portion 206. Figures 2B-2E then show the steps of assembling the device 200.

[0045] Figure 2B shows an underside of the housing 202 of device 200 with an empty second portion 206. The portions of the housing 202 may be formed integral to each other, or one or all components of the housing 202 may be formed separately. In Figure 2B, the mount 218 and the opposing oblong slots 230 are also depicted.

[0046] Figure 2C depicts the underside of the housing 202 of the device 200 with the latch 214 inserted into the second portion 206. In some embodiments, the spring 216 may be coupled to the mount 218 after insertion of the latch 214, as shown in Figure 2C. However, in other embodiments, the spring 216 may be coupled to the mount 218 prior to the insertion of the latch 214.

[0047] Figure 2D depicts the underside of the housing 202 of the device 200 with the spring 216 coupled with the mount 218 and at least partially received in the latch 214. In addition, the axis piece 220 is inserted such that the proximal rod 226 is inserted into the underside of the latch 214 and such that the respective ends of the central rod 224 are received in opposing oblong slots 230 in the second portion 206 of the housing 202.

[0048] Figure 2E depicts the underside of the housing 202 of the device 200 with the wedge 232 inserted into the second portion 206 such that the distal rod 228 is received in an upper side of the wedge 232. Other components and configurations may also be possible.

[0049] Figures 3A-3C illustrate a battery latch mechanism 300. The battery latch mechanism 300 could be received in either device 100 or device 200, and could include any component of the devices 100 or 200 as described above. For instance, the battery latch mechanism 300 could be received in a device that includes a housing 302 having a first portion 304 for receiving a battery 308 and a second portion 306 configured to receive an assortment of components of the battery latch mechanism 300.

[0050] In some embodiments, the battery latch mechanism 300 includes a latch 314. In such embodiments, the latch 314 may be configured to be received in the second portion 306 and to interact with a notch 310 of the battery 308 received in the first portion 304 of thedevice. In some embodiments, a spring 316 is coupled to a mount 318 in the second portion 306 of the housing 302 of the device.

[0051] In some embodiments, the battery latch mechanism 300 further includes an axis piece 320 that may have a proximal portion configured to interact with an underside of the latch 314 and a distal portion configured to interact with an upper side of a wedge 332.

[0052] In some embodiments, the battery latch mechanism 300 further includes the wedge 332 with a sloped edge 234. In such embodiments, the sloped edge 334 of the wedge 332 is configured to interact with a chamfered edge 312 of the battery 308 inserted into the first portion 304 of the housing 302 of the device in order to raise a portion of the battery 308 from the first portion 304 of the housing 302 of the device, such as is shown in Figure 3C. For instance, an example battery latch mechanism 300 is described below.

[0053] Figure 3A shows the battery latch mechanism 300 with the latch 314 in a first position. In some embodiments, the latch 314 includes an tactile side such that a user is able to interact with the tactile side of the latch 314. In such embodiments, the latch 314 may be movably coupled to the housing 302 of a device such that a user is able to use one or more fingers to contact the tactile side of the latch 314 and to move the latch 314 from the first position (as shown in Figure 3A) in which a retaining portion of the latch 314 is configured to engage the notch 310 of the battery 308 to an second position (as shown in both Figures 3B and 3C), that includes an intermediary second position (Figure 3B) and a fully extended second position (Figure 3C) in which the latch 314 is moved away from the battery 308 such that no portion of the latch 314 is in contact with the battery 308.

[0054] When the latch 314 is in the first position, the axis piece 320 is inserted to a deepest point in the latch groove in the underside of the latch 114, as is shown in Figure 3A. In addition, the axis piece 320 is inserted at its shallowest insertion into the wedge groove on the upper side of the wedge 332 when the latch 314 is in the first position, as is shown in Figure 3A.

[0055] However, as the latch 314 moves from the first position to the second position, the axis piece 320 begins to rotate. As shown in Figure 3B, when the latch 314 is in the intermediary second position, the axis piece 320 is inserted to an intermediary point in both the latch groove in the underside of the latch 114 and the wedge groove on the upper side of the wedge 332. As such, the horizontal translation of the latch 314 away from the battery 308 causes rotation of the axis piece 320, which in turn causes horizontal translation of the wedge 332. When the latch 314 is horizontally displaced between the first position (as shown inFigure 3A) and the fully extended second position (as shown in Figure 3C), the sloped edge 334 of the wedge 332 begins to contact the chamfered edge 312 of the battery 308, as is shown in Figure 3B.

[0056] As the latch 314 is moved further from the intermediary second position (as is shown in Figure 3B) to the fully extended second position (as is shown in Figure 3C), the latch 314 is translated horizontally further from the battery 308, the axis piece 320 is rotated further, the wedge 332 is horizontally translated further towards the battery 308, and the sloped edge 334 of the wedge 332 continues to interact with the chamfered edge 312 of the battery 308 such that the sloped edge 334 of the wedge 332 pushes a portion of the battery 308 upwards by a height h, as is shown in Figure 3C. The battery 308 can then be removed from the device.

[0057] Figure 4 illustrates a block diagram of a method of using a battery latch mechanism. As shown in Figure 4, the method 400 includes one or more operations, functions, or actions as illustrated by blocks 402-404. Any additional blocks can be performed in parallel, and / or in a different order than those described herein. Also, the various blocks can be combined into fewer blocks, divided into additional blocks, and / or removed based upon the desired implementation.

[0058] At block 402, the method 400 includes retracting a latch of a battery latch mechanism from a first position to an second position. In some embodiments, the battery latch mechanism comprises a latch movably-coupled to a housing such that a retaining portion of the latch is configured to engage a notch of a battery when the latch is in a first position and such that the latch is configured to be moved away from the battery when the latch is in an second position. The battery latch mechanism also includes a spring coupled to a mount in the housing such that at least a portion of the spring is received in the latch and such that the spring is configured to bias the latch in the first position. The battery latch mechanism further includes an axis piece rotationally-mounted in the housing. The axis piece includes a body having a curved shape, a central rod extending through an intermediary portion of the body such that respective ends of the central rod are received in opposing oblong slots in the housing, a proximal rod extending through a proximal portion of the body such that the proximal rod is received in an underside of the latch, and a distal rod extending through a distal portion of the body. The battery latch mechanism also includes a wedge having a sloped edge such that an upper side of the wedge receives the distal rod and such that the sloped edge of the wedge is configured to interact with a chamfered edge of thebattery when the latch is in the second position in order to raise a portion of the battery above the housing.

[0059] At block 404, the method 400 includes removing the battery from the housing via the raised portion of the battery.

[0060] In some embodiments, removing the battery from the housing via the raised portion of the battery includes turning the device housing upside down and allowing the battery to fall out. In other embodiments, removing the battery from the housing via the raised portion of the battery includes grabbing the raised portion of the battery above the housing and leveraging that portion to remove the remaining portions of the battery from the housing.

[0061] In Figures 5A-5H, a device 500 is shown. The device 500 may be any electronic device that requires a removable battery. Figures 5A and 5B illustrate the device 500 in a first position, with Figure 5B being a section view A-A of Figure 5A, Figures 5C and 5D illustrate the device 500 in an second position, with Figure 5D being a section view A-A of Figure 5C, Figures 5E and 5F illustrate the device 500 in a position in which the battery has been partially raised from the device 500, with Figure 5F being a section view A-A of Figure 5E, and Figures 5G and 5H illustrate the device 500 in a position in which the battery is ready to be released from the device 500, with Figure 5H being a section view A-A of Figure 5G.. In some embodiments, the first position may be a holding position in which the removeable battery is secured to the rest of the device 500 and the second position may be an unrestricting position in which the removeable battery is free to be moved from the rest of the device 500.

[0062] The device 500 includes a housing 502 that can take any shape suitable for a variety of electronic devices to retain a removable battery. In some embodiments, the housing 502 includes a first portion 504 and a second portion 506 configured to receive an assortment of components. In some embodiments, the first portion 504 may be a battery extrusion and the second portion 506 may be a mechanism extrusion. The first portion 504 and the second portion 506 may be formed into the housing 502 of the device 500 by extrusion, injection molding, or the like. The housing 502 of the device 500 may be made out of a plastic, a synthetic elastomer, a metal, or any other material suitable for housing a mobile electronic communication device in a medical, educational, retail, or industrial setting. Other portions and shapes of the housing 502 are possible.

[0063] The device 500 also includes a battery 508. The battery 508 may be a replaceable or a rechargeable battery of any kind. In some embodiments, the battery 508 is configured to be received within the first portion 504 of the housing 502 of the device 500. Further, in some embodiments, the battery 508 also includes a notch 510, an indentation 512 in an interfacing edge of the battery 508, and a mating surface 513 on an underside of the battery 508. In such embodiments, the notch 510 of the battery 508 may be on a particular edge, or an interfacing edge, of the battery 508 such that insertion of the battery 508 into the first portion 504 comprises positioning the notch 510 nearest the second portion 506 of the housing 502. The notch 510 may have any suitable shape. As shown in the section views of Figures 5B, 5D, 5F, and 5H, the notch 510 has a substantially “C” shape. As such, the notch 510 of the battery 508 could create an indent into the battery 508 with an open end nearest the second portion 506 of the housing 502. Further, in some embodiments, spanning from the lower edge to the interfacing edge of the side of the battery 508, the battery 508 is the indentation 512. Additionally, in some embodiments, the mating surface 513 of the battery 508 is on an underside of the battery 508 near to the interfacing edge of the battery 508.

[0064] In some embodiments, the device 500 also includes a latch 514. In such embodiments, the latch 514 may be configured to be received in the second portion 506 and to interact with the notch 510 of the battery 508. The latch 514 may comprise any shape or size able to be received in the housing 502. In some embodiments, the latch 514 includes a tactile side such that a user is able to interact with the tactile side of the latch 514. In such embodiments, the latch 514 may be movably coupled to the housing 502 such that a user is able to use one or more fingers to contact the tactile side of the latch 514 and to move the latch 514 from a first position in which a retaining portion of the latch 514 is configured to engage the notch 510 of the battery 508 to an second position in which the latch 514 is moved away from the battery 508 such that no portion of the latch 514 is in contact with the battery 508.

[0065] In some embodiments, a spring 516 is positioned in the second portion 506 of the housing 502. In some embodiments, the spring 516 is further coupled to a mount 518 in the second portion 506 of the housing 502. In such embodiments, at least a portion of the spring 516 interacts with the latch 514 such that the spring 516 is configured to bias the latch 514 in the first position. In such embodiments, at least a portion of the spring 516 is received in the latch 514 such that the spring 516 is configured to bias the latch 514 in the first position. Further, in some embodiments, the spring 516 could be spaced from the battery 508such that the spring 516 never directly contacts the battery 508 and instead biases the retaining portion of the latch 514 into contact with the notch 510 of the battery 508 when not acted on by outside forces. In such a state, the spring 516 may be under a somewhat light level of compression, such as a sufficient level of compression to secure via the latch 514 the battery 508 in the first portion 504 of the housing 502 of the device 500 such that the battery 508 is secured when the latch 514 is in the first position. However, when a user moves the latch 514 from the first position to the second position by pushing the tactile side of the latch 514 away from the battery 508 against the spring 516, the battery 508 is free to be removed from the remaining portions of the device 500. In such a position, the spring is in a deeper compressed position that has a higher level of compression than when the latch is in the first position. In some embodiments, moving the latch 514 from the first position to the second position comprises moving the latch 514 horizontally away from the battery 508.

[0066] In some embodiments of the device 500, the device 500 may be waterproof to ensure proper functionality and to avoid damage to the device 500 that could ensue if the device 500 is in contact with water or a similar fluid substance. Waterproofing of the device 500 may be accomplished by adding a hydrophobic coating to the device 500, by including sealants or other rubber gaskets into the device 500, or by constructing appropriate enclosures to ensure water be directed away from select components of the device 500.

[0067] In some embodiments of the device 500, the first portion 504 and the second portion 506 of the housing 502 may be connected. In other embodiments, the first portion 504 and the second portion 506 of the housing 502 may be separate, while still allowing components housed in each to interact with each other.

[0068] In some embodiments of the device 500, the spring 516 may be selected such that a force between 3N – 12N, including 6N, is needed to move the latch 514 from the first position to the fully retracted portion of the second position.

[0069] In some embodiments, the total travel of the latch 514 from the first position to the second position is between 1mm and 5mm, such as 2mm. In such embodiments, the notch 510 of the battery 508 may be selected to be less than the total travel of the latch 514 such that when the latch 514 is in the second position, the latch 514 is cleared from the notch 510. For instance, in the embodiment where the total travel of the latch 514 is 2mm, the notch 510 may have a depth, for example, between 0.8mm and 1.8mm, including 1.2mm. As such, the notch 510 may effectively retain the battery 508 when the latch 514 is in the first positionbut provide sufficient clearance from the notch 510 of the battery 508 when the latch 514 is in the second position.

[0070] In some embodiments, the device 500 further includes a biasing component 520. The biasing component 520 may be configured to provide an electrical connection to the battery 508 through the mating surface 513 of the battery 508. As the latch 514 is moved from the first position to the second position, the biasing component 520 extends against the mating surface 513 on the underside of the battery 508 such that the extension causes the battery 508 to be partially raised from the housing 502, In some embodiments, the mating surface 513 may consist of a flat or concave metal surface that has no moving parts.

[0071] Further, in some embodiments, as is shown in Figures 5A and 5B, when the battery 508 is inserted into the first portion 504 of the housing 502 of the device 500, the mating surface 513 of the battery 508 pushes against the biasing component 520 to establish an electrical connection by contacting the mating surface 513. The latch 514, when in the first position, retains the connection between the battery 508 and the biasing component 520 in this arrangement.

[0072] However, as the latch is moved from the first position to the second position, as is shown in Figures 5C and 5D, the battery 508 is free to move in a vertical direction, and biasing component 520 is free to return to its original position, extending against the mating surface 513 on the underside of the battery 508 such that the extension causes the battery 508 to be in a partially raised orientation from the housing 502.

[0073] Once the battery 508 is partially raised from the housing 502 of the device 100, the latch 514 may be released from its pulled-back, second position, as is shown in Figures 5E and 5F, such that the spring 516 pushes the latch 514 as the retaining portion of the latch 514 contacts an initiation point on the indentation 512 in the battery 508.

[0074] From this position, as the spring 516 continues to bias the latch 514 towards the battery 508, the retaining portion of the latch 514 glides along a slanted, upper surface of the indentation 512, as is shown in Figures 5G and 5H, such that the battery 508 is further removed from the housing 502 of the device 500. In some embodiments, once the spring 516 is fully outstretched against the latch 514, the retaining portion of the latch 514 may only contact the slanted, upper surface of the indentation, raising the battery 508 to its maximized height from the housing 502 before removal of the battery 508 from the housing altogether. Full removal of the battery 508 may then be completed either by engaging the battery 508 via the notch 510 that has been raised out of the housing 502 completely or by flipping the entiredevice 500 upside down and allowing the battery 508 to fall from contact with the housing 502 in this position.

[0075] In some embodiments, the biasing component 520 comprises a spring-loaded cantilevered biasing component, where the spring-loaded cantilevered biasing component is configured to provide the electrical connection to the battery 508 through the mating surface 513. As the latch moves from the first position to the second position, the spring-loaded cantilevered biasing component extends against the mating surface 513 on the underside of the battery 508 such that the extension causes the battery to be partially raised from the top surface of the housing 502.

[0076] In some embodiments, such as is shown in Figures 5A-5H, the biasing component 520 comprises a pogo-pin array, where the pogo pin array is configured to provide the electrical connection to the battery 508 through the mating surface 513. As the latch moves from the first position to the second position, each pogo pin in the pogo pin array extends against the mating surface 513 on the underside of the battery 508 such that the extension of each pogo pin causes the battery to be partially raised from the top surface of the housing 502.

[0077] In such embodiments, each pogo pin of the pogo pin array, in some embodiments, is a spring-loaded pin made of a conductive material that can carry electrical signals or power to the battery 508 through the mating surface 513. In such embodiments, a complete connection path requires the mating surface 513 for the pogo pins of the pogo pin array to engage. The mating surface 513 may consist of a flat or concave metal surface, such as a circuit board or the like, which unlike the pogo pins in the pogo pin array, has no moving parts.

[0078] In such embodiments, each pogo pin in the pogo pin array consists of a plunger, a barrel, and a spring such that, when force is applied to the pogo pins in the pogo pin array, each spring in the respective pogo pins is compressed, and each plunger in the respective pogo pins moves inside the barrel in the respective pogo pins. As such, in such embodiments, the shape of the barrel in the respective pogo pins of the pogo pin array is selected to retain each respective plunger when in this position.

[0079] Further, in such embodiments, as is shown in Figures 5A and 5B, when the battery 508 is inserted into the first portion 504 of the housing 502 of the device 500, the mating surface 513 of the battery 508 pushes against each pogo pin in the pogo pin array, and each respective spring compresses and each respective plunger moves forward such that eachrespective plunger of the pogo pins in the pogo pin array establishes an electrical connection by contacting the mating surface 513. The latch 514, when in the first position, retains the connection between the battery 508 and the pogo pin array in this arrangement.

[0080] However, as the latch is moved from the first position to the second position, as is shown in Figures 5C and 5D, the battery 508 is free to move in a vertical direction, and each respective spring in the pogo pins in the pogo pin array is free to return to its original position, extending against the mating surface 513 on the underside of the battery 508 such that the extension of each pogo pin in the pogo pin array causes the battery 508 to be in a partially raised orientation from the housing 502.

[0081] Figure 6 depicts an example underside of a battery 600 that may be used in any of the above embodiments. The battery 600, in some embodiments, includes a housing 602, a notch 604, an indentation 606, and a mating surface 608. The indentation 606, in some embodiments, includes an initiation point 610 closest to the notch 604, an elevation surface 612 at a first angle from the interfacing edge of the battery 600, and a clearance wall 614 at a second angle from the elevation surface 612. In some embodiments, as is shown in Figure 6, the elevation surface 612 may comprise a plurality of disjointed or semi-jointed surfaces. In other embodiments, the elevation surface 612 may be a single surface. In some embodiments, as is shown in Figure 6, the mating surface 608 may comprise a plurality of cells. In other embodiments, the mating surface 608 may be a single surface.

[0082] In such embodiments, the initiation point 610 of the indentation 606 can be separated from the closest portion of the notch 604 by a particular height h. The particular height h may be selected to be greater than the minimum material thickness of the housing 602 of the battery 600 (such as 0.5 mm) and such that an extended portion of a biasing component is longer than the particular height h. Further, in embodiments of the battery 600 in which a latch of a battery latch mechanism is configured to interact with the notch 604 and the indentation 606, the latch may have a length l from its lowest point on an underside of the latch to a retaining portion of the latch, and the particular height h can be selected to be smaller than the length l, which in turn is smaller than the extended portion of the biasing component. Further still, in some embodiments, the mating surface 608 may be separated from an interfacing edge of the battery 600 by a particular distance d. In such embodiments, the distance d can be minimized such that a biasing component acting on the mating surface 608 can raise the battery 600 from its housing the maximum amount. In some embodiments of a battery as described herein, such as battery 600, a backside of the battery 600 oppositethe side of the battery 600 that includes the notch 604 includes a retention protrusion configured to fit in a recess in a housing of a device in which the battery 600 is to be inserted. The retention protrusion may be arranged such that the battery 600 is more secure within the device in which it is inserted. In such embodiments, when placing or removing the battery 600 from the housing in which it is inserted, the battery 600 may be configured to rotate about the retention protrusion within the recess in the housing.

[0083] Figure 7 depicts an example pogo pin array 700. The pogo pin array 700, in some embodiments, includes a plurality of pogo pins, such as the 5 pogo pins depicted in a line in Figure 7. Other amounts and configurations of the pogo pins in the pogo pin array 700 are possible. Each pogo pin of the pogo pin array 700 can be inserted into the housing 702 of the pogo pin array 700. Further, each pogo pin of the pogo pin array 700 may include a barrel 704, an internal spring 706 (not pictured), and a plunger 708. The internal spring 706 of each pogo pin, in some embodiments, is a helical spring that is configured to bias the plunger 708 of each pogo pin such that contact is constant against a mating surface of a battery. In such embodiments, each barrel 704 may hold the plunger 708 in place against the mating surface of the battery and ensuring its alignment, each internal spring 706 provides the biasing force to push the plunger 708 against the mating surface of the battery, and each plunger 708 makes the electrical and physical contact with the mating surface of the battery.

[0084] Figures 8A-8C illustrate a battery latch mechanism 800. The battery latch mechanism 800 could be received in either device 500, and could include any component of the device 500 as described above. For instance, the battery latch mechanism 800 could be received in a device that includes a housing 802 having a first portion 804 for receiving a battery 808 and a second portion 806 configured to receive an assortment of components of the battery latch mechanism 800.

[0085] In some embodiments, the battery latch mechanism 800 includes a latch 814. In such embodiments, the latch 814 may be configured to be received in the second portion 806 and to interact with a notch 810 of the battery 808 received in the first portion 804 of the device. In such embodiments, the battery 808 also includes an indentation 812 and a mating surface 813. In some embodiments, a spring 816 is coupled to a mount 818 in the second portion 806 of the housing 802 of the device.

[0086] In some embodiments, the battery latch mechanism 800 further includes a pogo pin array 820. In some embodiments, the pogo pin array 820 may be replaced by another biasing component. The pogo pin array 820 may be configured to provide anelectrical connection to the battery 808 through the mating surface 813 of the battery 808. In some embodiments, the pogo pin array 820 includes two pogo pins. In other embodiments, the pogo pin array 820 includes more than two pogo pins, such as five pogo pins. Each pogo pin of the pogo pin array 820 can be arranged in any configuration.

[0087] Figure 8A shows the battery latch mechanism 800 with the latch 814 in a first position. In some embodiments, the latch 814 includes a tactile side such that a user is able to interact with the tactile side of the latch 814. In such embodiments, the latch 814 may be movably coupled to the housing 802 of a device such that a user is able to use one or more fingers to contact the tactile side of the latch 814 and to move the latch 814 from the first position (as shown in Figure 8A) in which a retaining portion of the latch 814 is configured to engage the notch 810 of the battery 808 to an second position (as shown in Figure 8B) in which the latch 814 is moved away from the battery 808 such that no portion of the latch 814 is in contact with the battery 808. At this stage, the pogo pins in the pogo pin array 820 push against the mating surface of the battery 808 and the battery 808 is partially raised from the housing 802 of the device. As shown in Figure 8C, an extended portion of each pogo pin in the pogo pin array has an extended height, H, that is longer than the particular height, h, that the initiation point of the indentation of the battery 808 is separated from a closest portion of the notch 810 of the battery 808. In addition, a length, L, from a lowest point on an underside of the latch 814 to a retaining portion of the latch 814 is longer than the particular height h, that the initiation point of the indentation of the battery 808 is separated from a closest portion of the notch 810 of the battery 808. In one such example, the particular height h is greater than a minimum material thickness of the housing 802 of the battery 808.

[0088] Once the battery 808 is partially raised from the housing 802 of the battery latch mechanism 800, the latch 814 may be released from its pulled-back, second position (as is shown in Figure 8C) such that the spring 816 pushes the latch 814 as the retaining portion of the latch 814 contacts an initiation point on the indentation 812 in the battery 808 and continues to bias the latch 814 towards the battery 808 such that the battery 808 is further removed from the housing 802 of the battery latch mechanism 800. Full removal of the battery 808 may then be completed either by engaging the battery 808 via the notch 810 that has been raised out of the housing 802 completely or by flipping the entire battery latch mechanism 800 upside down and allowing the battery 808 to fall from contact with the housing 802 in this position.

[0089] Figure 9 illustrates a block diagram of a method of using a battery latchmechanism. As shown in Figure 9, the method 900 includes one or more operations, functions, or actions as illustrated by blocks 902-906. Any additional blocks can be performed in parallel, and / or in a different order than those described herein. Also, the various blocks can be combined into fewer blocks, divided into additional blocks, and / or removed based upon the desired implementation.

[0090] At block 902, the method 900 includes retracting a latch of a battery latch mechanism from a first position to an second position. In some embodiments, the battery latch mechanism includes a latch movably-coupled to a housing such that a retaining portion of the latch is configured to engage a notch of a battery when the latch is in a first position, the latch is configured to be moved away from the battery when the latch is in an second position, and the latch is configured to extend into an indentation in an interfacing edge of the battery when the battery is partially raised from the housing. The battery latch mechanism also includes a spring positioned in the second portion of the housing such that at least a portion of the spring interacts with the latch and such that the spring is configured to bias the latch to the first position. The battery latch mechanism further includes a biasing component. The biasing component is configured to provide an electrical connection to the battery through the mating surface, and, as the latch moves from the first position to the second position, the biasing component extends against the mating surface on the underside of the battery such that the extension causes the battery to be partially raised from the housing.

[0091] At block 904, the method 900 includes releasing the latch of the battery latch mechanism from the second position such that the retaining portion of the latch is extended into the indentation in the interfacing edge of the battery creating a raised portion of the battery.

[0092] At block 906, the method 900 includes removing the battery from the housing via the raised portion of the battery.

[0093] In some embodiments, removing the battery from the housing via the raised portion of the battery includes turning the device housing upside down and allowing the battery to fall out. In other embodiments, removing the battery from the housing via the raised portion of the battery includes grabbing the raised portion of the battery above the housing and leveraging that portion to remove the remaining portions of the battery from the housing.

[0094] Figure 10 illustrates a block diagram of a method of assembling a device. As shown in Figure 10, the method 1000 includes one or more operations, functions, or actionsas illustrated by blocks 1002-1012. Any additional blocks can be performed in parallel, and / or in a different order than those described herein. Also, the various blocks can be combined into fewer blocks, divided into additional blocks, and / or removed based upon the desired implementation.

[0095] At block 1002, the method 1000 includes providing a device including a housing having a first portion and a second portion. The device also includes a battery having a notch, an indentation in an interfacing edge of the battery, and a mating surface on an underside of the battery. The device also includes a latch, such that a retaining portion of the latch is configured to engage the notch of the battery when the latch is in a first position, and the latch is configured to be moved away from the battery when the latch is in a second position. The device further includes a spring and a biasing component. The biasing component is configured to provide an electrical connection to the battery through the mating surface. As the latch moves from the first position to the second position, the biasing component extends against the mating surface on the underside of the battery to thereby cause at least a portion of the battery to be partially raised from a top surface of the housing.

[0096] At block 1004, the method 1000 includes inserting a latch into the second portion of the housing such that latch is movably-coupled to the first portion of the housing.

[0097] At block 1006, the method 1000 includes inserting the spring into the second portion of the housing such that at least a portion of the spring interacts with the latch, and wherein the spring is configured to bias the latch to the first position.

[0098] At block 1008, the method 1000 includes retracting the latch from the first position to the second position.

[0099] At block 1010, the method 1000 includes inserting the battery at least partially into the second portion of the housing.

[0100] At block 1012, the method 1000 includes releasing the latch from the second position such that the retaining portion of the latch is extended into the indentation in the interfacing edge of the battery to thereby cause at least a portion of the battery to be partially raised from the top surface of the housing.

[0101] In some embodiments, the biasing component comprises a pogo pin array, the pogo pin array is configured to provide the electrical connection to the battery through the mating surface of the battery, and each pogo pin in the pogo pin array comprises a plunger, a barrel, and a spring. Inserting the battery at least partially into the first portion of the housing further includes exerting a force, through the battery, to each pogo pin in the pogo pin array.When force is applied to each pogo pin in the pogo pin array, each respective spring in each respective pogo pin is compressed and each respective plunger moves inside each respective barrel in each respective pogo pin.

[0102] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed concepts, which may be practiced without some or all of these particulars. In other instances, details of known devices and / or processes have been omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure. While some concepts will be described in conjunction with specific examples, it will be understood that these examples are not intended to be limiting.

[0103] As used herein, “coupled” means associated directly as well as indirectly. For example, a member A may be directly associated with a member B, or may be indirectly associated therewith, e.g., via another member C. It will be understood that not all relationships among the various disclosed elements are necessarily represented.

[0104] Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “first,” “second,” etc. are used herein merely as labels, and are not intended to impose ordinal, positional, or hierarchical requirements on the items to which these terms refer. Moreover, reference to, e.g., a “second” item does not require or preclude the existence of, e.g., a “first” or lower-numbered item, and / or, e.g., a “third” or higher-numbered item.

[0105] Reference herein to “one embodiment” or “one example” means that one or more feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one implementation. The phrases “one embodiment” or “one example” in various places in the specification may or may not be referring to the same example.

[0106] As used herein, a system, apparatus, structure, article, element, component, or hardware “configured to” perform a specified function is indeed capable of performing the specified function without any alteration, rather than merely having potential to perform the specified function after further modification. In other words, the system, apparatus, structure, article, element, component, or hardware “configured to” perform a specified function is specifically selected, created, implemented, utilized, programmed, and / or designed for the purpose of performing the specified function. As used herein, “configured to” denotes existing characteristics of a system, apparatus, structure, article, element, component, or hardware which enable the system, apparatus, structure, article, element, component, or hardware to perform the specified function without further modification. For purposes of this disclosure, a system, apparatus, structure, article, element, component, or hardware describedas being “configured to” perform a particular function may additionally or alternatively be described as being “adapted to” and / or as being “operative to” perform that function.

[0107] The limitations of the following claims are not written in means-plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. § 112(f), unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure.

[0108] By the term “about,” “approximately,” or “substantially” with reference to amounts or measurement values described herein, it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide. For example, in one embodiment, the term “about” can refer to ± 5% of a given value.

[0109] Illustrative, non-exhaustive examples, which may or may not be claimed, of the subject matter according the present disclosure are provided below.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A device comprising: a housing, wherein the housing comprises a first portion and a second portion; a battery configured to be received at least partially within the first portion of the housing, wherein the battery comprises a notch, an indentation in an interfacing edge of the battery, and a mating surface on an underside of the battery; a latch movably-coupled to the second portion of the housing, wherein a retaining portion of the latch is configured to engage the notch of the battery when the latch is in a first position, and wherein the latch is configured to be moved away from the battery when the latch is in a second position; a spring positioned in the second portion of the housing, wherein at least a portion of the spring interacts with the latch, and wherein the spring is configured to bias the latch to the first position; and a biasing component, wherein the biasing component is configured to provide an electrical connection to the battery through the mating surface, and wherein, as the latch moves from the first position to the second position, the biasing component extends against the mating surface on the underside of the battery to thereby cause at least a portion of the battery to be raised above a top surface of the housing, wherein the latch is configured to extend into the indentation in the interfacing edge of the battery when at least a portion of the battery is raised above the top surface the housing due to the extension of the biasing component.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the notch of the battery comprises a substantially “C” shape, and wherein the notch is indented into the battery with an open end nearest the second portion of the housing.

3. The device of any one of claims 1-2, wherein the indentation of the battery comprises an initiation point closest to the notch of the battery, an elevation surface at a first angle from the interfacing edge of the battery, and a clearance wall at a second angle from the elevation surface.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the initiation point is separated from a closest portion of the notch by a particular height that is greater than a minimum material thickness of a battery housing of the battery.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the biasing component comprises a spring-loaded cantilevered biasing component, wherein the spring-loaded cantilevered biasing component is configured to provide the electrical connection to the battery through the mating surface, wherein, as the latch moves from the first position to the second position, the spring-loaded cantilevered biasing component extends against the mating surface on the underside of the battery such that the extension causes the battery to be partially raised from the top surface of the housing, and wherein an extended portion of the spring-loaded cantilevered biasing component is longer than the particular height.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the biasing component comprises a pogo pin array, wherein the pogo pin array is configured to provide the electrical connection to the battery through the mating surface, wherein, as the latch moves from the first position to the second position, each pogo pin in the pogo pin array extends against the mating surface on the underside of the battery such that the extension of each pogo pin causes the battery to be partially raised from the top surface of the housing, and wherein an extended portion of each pogo pin in the pogo pin array is longer than the particular height.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein a length from a lowest point on an underside of the latch to a retaining portion of the latch is longer than the particular height.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the mating surface comprises a flat or concave metal surface configured to interact with each pogo pin in the pogo pin array.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the mating surface comprises a plurality of cells, and wherein each cell of the plurality of cells is configured to interact with a respective pogo pin in the pogo pin array.

10. The device of any one of claims 3-9, wherein the elevation surface comprises a plurality of disjointed or semi-jointed surfaces.

11. The device of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the mating surface is spaced from the interfacing edge of the battery by a particular distance.

12. A battery latch mechanism comprising: a latch movably-coupled to a housing, wherein a retaining portion of the latch is configured to engage a notch of a battery when the latch is in a first position, and wherein the latch is configured to be moved away from the battery when the latch is in a second position; a spring positioned in the housing, wherein at least a portion of the spring interacts with the latch, and wherein the spring is configured to bias the latch to the first position; and a biasing component, wherein the biasing component is configured to provide an electrical connection to the battery through a mating surface of the battery, and wherein, as the latch moves from the first position to the second position, the biasing component extends against the mating surface on an underside of the battery to thereby cause at least a portion of the battery to be raised above a top surface of the housing, wherein the latch is configured to extend into an indentation in an interfacing edge of the battery when at least a portion of the battery is raised above the top surface of the housing due to the extension of the biasing component.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the latch further comprises a tactile side for interaction with a user of the device.

14. The device of any one of claims 12-13, wherein the spring requires between 3 Newtons (N) and 12 N of force to move the latch from the first position to a fully retracted portion of the second position.

15. The device of any one of claims 12-14, wherein the biasing component comprises a pogo pin array, wherein the pogo pin array is configured to provide the electrical connection to the battery through the mating surface of the battery, wherein, as the latch moves from the first position to the second position, each pogo pin in the pogo pin array extends against the mating surface on the underside of the battery such that the extension of each pogo pin causesthe battery to be partially raised from the top surface of the housing, and wherein each pogo pin in the pogo pin array comprises a plunger, a barrel, and a spring.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein when force is applied to each pogo pin in the pogo pin array, each respective spring in each respective pogo pin is compressed and each respective plunger moves inside each respective barrel in each respective pogo pin.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein when the battery is in the first position, the mating surface of the battery pushes against each pogo pin in the pogo pin array, and each respective spring compresses and each respective plunger moves forward such that each respective plunger of each pogo pin in the pogo pin array establishes the electrical connection by contacting the mating surface of the battery.

18. A method of assembling a device comprising: providing a device comprising: a housing having a first portion and a second portion; a battery, wherein the battery comprises a notch, an indentation in an interfacing edge of the battery, and a mating surface on an underside of the battery; a latch, wherein a retaining portion of the latch is configured to engage the notch of the battery when the latch is in a first position, and wherein the latch is configured to be moved away from the battery when the latch is in a second position; a spring; and a biasing component, wherein the biasing component is configured to provide an electrical connection to the battery through the mating surface, and wherein, as the latch moves from the first position to the second position, the biasing component extends against the mating surface on the underside of the battery to thereby cause at least a portion of the battery to be partially raised from a top surface of the housing; inserting a latch into the second portion of the housing such that latch is movably- coupled to the first portion of the housing;inserting the spring into the second portion of the housing, wherein at least a portion of the spring interacts with the latch, and wherein the spring is configured to bias the latch to the first position; retracting the latch from the first position to the second position; inserting the battery at least partially into the second portion of the housing; and releasing the latch from the second position such that the retaining portion of the latch is extended into the indentation in the interfacing edge of the battery to thereby cause at least a portion of the battery to be partially raised from the top surface of the housing.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the biasing component comprises a pogo pin array, wherein the pogo pin array is configured to provide the electrical connection to the battery through the mating surface of the battery, wherein each pogo pin in the pogo pin array comprises a plunger, a barrel, and a spring, and wherein inserting the battery at least partially into the first portion of the housing further comprising: exerting a force, through the battery, to each pogo pin in the pogo pin array, wherein when force is applied to each pogo pin in the pogo pin array, each respective spring in each respective pogo pin is compressed and each respective plunger moves inside each respective barrel in each respective pogo pin.

20. A battery comprising: a notch; an indentation in an interfacing edge of the battery; and a mating surface on an underside of the battery, wherein the battery is configured to be received at least partially within a first portion of a housing of a device, the device comprising: the housing, wherein the housing comprises the first portion and a second portion; a latch movably-coupled to the second portion of the housing, wherein a retaining portion of the latch is configured to engage the notch of the battery when the latch is in a first position, and wherein the latch is configured to be moved away from the battery when the latch is in a second position;a spring positioned in the second portion of the housing, wherein at least a portion of the spring interacts with the latch, and wherein the spring is configured to bias the latch to the first position; and a biasing component, wherein the biasing component is configured to provide an electrical connection to the battery through the mating surface, and wherein, as the latch moves from the first position to the second position, the biasing component extends against the mating surface on the underside of the battery such that at least a portion of the battery is raised from a top surface the housing, wherein the latch is configured to extend into the indentation in the interfacing edge of the battery when at least a portion of the battery is raised from the top surface of the housing due to the extension of the biasing component.

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