Spring Connector Interposer for Battery Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for power in portable electronic devices due to advanced functionality and circuit density is not met by the current rate of battery energy density growth, and size and weight constraints limit the capacity of battery cells, making existing battery organizations inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An interposer with spring connectors on a substrate that electrically couples a battery-management circuit board to a motherboard, allowing for separate power and monitoring signals, and mechanical features for alignment, enabling efficient power distribution and monitoring while optimizing space usage by eliminating the battery-pack housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If battery cells are enclosed in a common battery-pack housing for ease of handling and damage prevention, then handling convenience and protection are improved, but valuable space is consumed and total battery capacity is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery system into individual battery cells without a common enclosing housing. Each battery cell is independently managed and connected to the device structure, eliminating the need for a separate battery-pack housing while maintaining protection through individual cell design and integration into the device chassis.
2Power
If the number and size of battery cells are increased to meet growing power demand, then power capacity is improved, but size and weight constraints are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the available three-dimensional space within the device by integrating battery cells directly into the device structure along multiple dimensions. The battery cells are positioned to conform to the device's internal volume, maximizing space utilization without increasing external dimensions or weight.
3Reliability
If monitoring signals are established before power signals during battery integration, then safety monitoring is improved, but power delivery is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary mechanical alignment features including alignment pins, guide slots, and interlocking structures that automatically position the battery cells and management circuit board in their correct locations during assembly. This preliminary mechanical positioning ensures that both power and monitoring connections are established simultaneously and correctly without sequential delays.
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
This configuration allows for increased battery cell capacity and efficient power management, ensuring reliable operation and safety by establishing power paths before monitoring signals, thus addressing the limitations of existing battery organizations.
Implementation Method 1
first spring connectors, disposed on the top surface, which electrically couple to a battery-management circuit board... second spring connectors, disposed on the bottom surface and electrically coupled to the first spring connectors... the first vertical height is larger than the second vertical height so that the first subset is activated before the second subset
Data Source
AI summary
An interposer for electrically coupling a battery-management circuit board in a power supply and a motherboard is described. The interposer includes: a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; first spring connectors, disposed on the top surface, which electrically couple to the battery-management circuit board; and second spring connectors, disposed on the bottom surface and electrically coupled to the first spring connectors, which electrically couple to the motherboard. Spring connectors in a first subset of the first and second spring connectors that convey power signals have a first vertical height, and spring connectors in a second subset of the first and second spring connectors that convey monitoring signals for the power supply have a second, smaller vertical height. In this way, the first subset is activated before the second subset is activated, thereby ensuring that an electrical path for the power signals is established first.