Battery Connector Disconnection Sequence for Data Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional portable data terminals face challenges in efficiently managing power loss during battery removal, often requiring large capacitors or additional mechanical components that increase device thickness and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design with a male connector featuring a shorter blade contact that disconnects first upon battery removal, initiating a shutdown process while the remaining contacts continue to power the device, allowing for orderly data saving without the need for a large shutdown capacitor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a large capacitor is used to maintain power during battery removal, then data saving time is extended, but device volume and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is segmented into multiple contacts with different lengths. The shorter contact disconnects first to trigger shutdown, while longer contacts maintain power supply during the transition period, eliminating the need for a large capacitor.
Solution Approach 2:
The shorter contact is designed to disconnect before the main power contacts, performing the shutdown initiation action in advance. This preliminary disconnection triggers the shutdown sequence while power is still available from the remaining connected contacts.
2Loss of time
If a battery door with actuation switch is added, then shutdown time is sufficient for data saving, but device thickness and mechanical complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the shutdown trigger function from a separate mechanical switch and integrates it into the electrical connector itself. The shorter contact serves dual purposes: electrical connection and shutdown triggering, eliminating the need for a separate battery door mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutdown trigger function is merged with the power connection function. The same connector that supplies power also triggers shutdown through its shorter contact, combining multiple functions into a single component and reducing mechanical complexity.
3Reliability
If additional mechanical components are added for power loss management, then data protection is improved, but device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is designed with multi-functionality, where the shorter contact serves both as an electrical connection element and a shutdown trigger. This universal design eliminates the need for separate mechanical components, maintaining data protection while reducing device thickness.
Data Source
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Figure 1c
AI summary
A portable data terminal includes a housing; a controller operating software and supported by the housing; a battery well formed in the housing; a male connector disposed in the battery well comprised of a plurality of male contacts; a battery pack for seating in the battery well having a female connector comprised of a plurality of female contacts for electrically mating with corresponding male contacts to electrically connect the battery pack with the male connector when the battery pack is seated in the battery well, such that when the battery pack is unseated from the battery well and disconnected from the male connector, a signal male contact is electrically unmated from it's corresponding signal female contact to initiate a shut down procedure before other male contacts are electrically unmated from their corresponding female contacts, such that the other male/female contact pairs continue to provide power to the portable data terminal until shut down of the portable data terminal.