Elastomeric Battery Retention Device with Leaf Spring Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional battery contacts in electronic devices require soldering, which limits design flexibility and can cause battery rattling and noise due to improper contact, and may result in damage from incorrect polarity installation.
Innovation Solution
Solderless battery contacts with leaf springs and a battery retention structure using elastomeric material to maintain contact and prevent buckling, along with a gasket for mechanical support, allowing for assembly without soldering and preventing incorrect polarity connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If soldering is used to connect battery contacts, then electrical connection reliability is improved, but design flexibility is reduced and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the soldering process (thermal/mechanical joining) with a mechanical retention system using a retention structure and spring mechanism. The spring applies continuous contact force to maintain electrical connection without requiring solder joints, thereby eliminating the complexity of soldering while maintaining connection reliability through mechanical means.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a retention structure as an intermediary component between the battery contact and the battery terminal. This retention structure includes a spring mechanism that mediates the connection, providing both mechanical retention and electrical contact while simplifying the overall assembly process by eliminating direct soldering requirements.
2Device complexity
If traditional battery contacts are used without retention structures, then device simplicity is maintained, but battery stability deteriorates causing rattling and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a spring mechanism within the retention structure that provides dynamic adaptation to battery dimensions and assembly variations. The spring can compress and expand to maintain optimal contact force, ensuring battery stability and preventing rattling while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple through this self-regulating mechanical element.
3Ease of manufacture
If solderless battery contacts are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but contact reliability may worsen due to improper contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the spring mechanism to dynamically adjust the contact force parameter, ensuring optimal electrical contact pressure without requiring precision soldering. This allows for easier manufacturing and assembly while maintaining reliable electrical contact through the spring's ability to compensate for variations in battery dimensions and assembly tolerances.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables robust, low-profile electronic devices with improved user experience by preventing battery shifting and damage from incorrect installation, while maintaining reliable electrical connections.
Implementation Method 1
a battery retention structure having a resilient material formed therefrom. The retention features are configured to deform upon installation of one or more batteries
Implementation Method 2
A spring element is configured to apply a compression force to a battery terminal
Data Source
AI summary
Described in this disclosure is a battery retention device which may include an integral gasket configured to provide an interface between a portion of a battery compartment and a circuit board. The battery retention device may comprise an elastomeric material and one or more retention features configured to prevent Euler buckling in batteries positioned in tandem with one another.