Battery Pack Terminal Layout to Prevent Misconnection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In compact electronic devices, incorrect mounting of battery packs or defective contact shapes can lead to improper operation due to potential misconnection between terminals, particularly between the negative terminal and temperature detection terminal.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design with terminals arranged such that the negative terminal is closer to the control terminal than the temperature detection terminal, along with specific terminal window gaps and concave portions to prevent erroneous connections and ensure proper alignment, enhancing electrical insulation and freedom in contact arrangement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If terminals are arranged in conventional order (control, negative, temperature detection, positive), then manufacturing is simple, but misconnection risk increases when battery pack is incorrectly mounted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by arranging the negative terminal closer to the control terminal than to the temperature detection terminal, creating an asymmetric pattern that prevents erroneous connections. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that even if the battery pack is incorrectly mounted, the contact cannot simultaneously bridge the negative terminal with both control and temperature detection terminals, thereby preventing misconnection while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary anti-action by designing the terminal arrangement to preemptively counteract potential misconnection errors. The specific spacing and positioning of terminals are configured in advance to prevent the harmful effect of incorrect mounting, ensuring that the contact geometry cannot facilitate erroneous connections regardless of mounting orientation.
2Volume of moving object
If terminal spacing is reduced to compact the battery pack, then device size decreases, but risk of erroneous connection between negative terminal and temperature detection terminal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating non-uniform spacing between terminals. Specifically, the gap between the negative terminal and control terminal is made smaller than the gap between the negative terminal and temperature detection terminal. This localized differentiation in spacing allows compact overall design while maintaining sufficient insulation distance at critical locations where misconnection risk exists.
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric spacing pattern ensures that the critical insulation distance between negative and temperature detection terminals is maintained even when overall battery pack size is reduced. The unequal gaps create a geometric constraint that prevents erroneous connections while enabling compact form factor.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standard terminal arrangement is used, then ease of manufacture is high, but freedom in contact arrangement of electronic apparatus is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by creating a terminal arrangement pattern that serves multiple functions: it prevents misconnection, allows compact design, and provides flexibility for various electronic apparatus contact configurations. The asymmetric spacing pattern can accommodate different contact geometries and mounting orientations, making the battery pack compatible with diverse electronic devices while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention provide a battery pack including a pack body and a plurality of terminals. The pack body has first and second main surfaces that are opposed to each other in a first axis direction, first and second end surfaces that are opposed to each other in a second axis direction orthogonal to the first axis direction, and first and second side surfaces that are opposed to each other in a third axis direction orthogonal to the first axis direction and the second axis direction. The plurality of terminals includes a positive terminal, a negative terminal, a temperature detection terminal, and a control terminal that are arranged on the first end surface along the third axis direction. The negative terminal is arranged between the temperature detection terminal and the control terminal and closer to the control terminal than the temperature detection terminal.