Separable Endpoint Housing for Battery Recycling Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endpoints with resin-potted batteries and electronics pose difficulties in recycling and disposal, as the batteries are often soldered directly to the printed circuit board, making separation challenging for compliance with recycling initiatives like the European WEEE and battery directives.
Innovation Solution
Designing endpoints with distinct compartments for batteries and other electrical components, where the separation is facilitated by a line of weakness or demarcation, allowing for easy manual or mechanical separation and subsequent recycling of each compartment into appropriate networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If batteries are soldered directly to the printed circuit board and resin-potted, then the endpoint structure is simplified and manufacturing is easier, but separation of batteries from electronics becomes difficult for recycling compliance
Solution Approach 1:
The endpoint housing is divided into two separate compartments: a first compartment containing the battery and a second compartment containing the electronics. This segmentation allows the battery to be easily removed from the electronics during recycling without requiring desoldering or breaking resin bonds, thus resolving the contradiction between simplified manufacturing and ease of separation for recycling compliance
2Volume of moving object
If batteries are integrated into the endpoint housing, then the endpoint is more compact, but compliance with recycling initiatives like WEEE and battery directives becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into distinct compartments for batteries and electronics, allowing the device to maintain a compact integrated form during use while enabling easy separation for recycling compliance with WEEE and battery directives
Solution Approach 2:
The battery compartment is designed with predetermined separation features (such as removable sections or access points) that are prepared in advance, allowing for easy battery extraction during recycling without requiring complex disassembly procedures
Data Source
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AI summary
Separable endpoints and methods of using the same are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a housing having a first compartment and a second compartment, a demarcation of the housing separates the first and second compartments. The example apparatus also includes a battery disposed in the first compartment and electronic components disposed in the second compartment, the electronic components are coupled to the battery through the demarcation, the housing is configured to be separated along or adjacent to the demarcation to enable at least one of the battery or the electronic components to enter an electronic end-of-life management network.