Electronic device with a switch to prevent over-discharging of device battery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11337326-B2
Application number	US-201816488838-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2018
Priority date	Mar 2, 2017
Publication date	May 17, 2022
Grant date	May 17, 2022

Abstract

An apparatus for preventing over-discharging according to various embodiments of the present invention may comprise: a housing including a first opening; a first electronic component disposed inside the housing; a second electronic component electrically connected to the first electronic component; and a switch for electrically connecting or disconnecting the first electronic component and the second electronic component through an external force by a pin inserted through the first opening. In addition, various embodiments may be possible.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising an over-discharge preventing apparatus, the electronic device comprising:
a housing comprising a first opening and a second opening;
a first electronic component arranged inside the housing;
a second electronic component electrically connected with the first electronic component;
a switch configured to electrically connect the first electronic component with the second electronic component or block an electrical connection between the first electronic component and the second electronic component, by an external force exerted by a pin inserted through the first opening;
a tray inserted into or drawn out of the housing through the second opening; and
a push bar configured to receive the external force from the pin inserted into the first opening and deliver a force to press the switch,
wherein the switch comprises:
a first terminal electrically connected with the first electronic component,
a second terminal electrically connected with the second electronic component, and
a movable member blocking an electrical connection between the first electronic component and the second electronic component by being inserted between the first terminal and the second terminal, or electrically connecting the first electronic component with the second electronic component by moving away from between the first terminal and the second terminal.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first electronic component comprises a battery, and the second electronic component comprises a circuit board.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the switch further comprises:
a case arranged inside the housing;
a locking portion configured to cause the first terminal to contact the second terminal or release the contact, by limiting movement of the movable member; and
an elastic member configured to provide an elastic force to the movable member,
wherein the locking portion comprises:
a first locking portion formed in the case; and
a second locking portion formed on the movable member and locked in the first locking portion to limit movement of the movable member.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the movable member comprises a body having a longitudinal direction, and the second locking portion protrudes from an outer surface of the body.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein as the elastic member is pressed by the body receiving the external force of the pin, the second locking portion is configured to leave the first locking portion such that a portion of the body is moved to an outside of the case in a direction that is opposite the external force of the pin.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the housing further comprises a first face facing a first direction and a second face facing a second direction that is opposite the first direction, the housing further comprising the first opening formed between the first face and the second face,
wherein the first electronic component is a battery arranged inside the housing,
wherein the second electronic component is a circuit board configured to receive power from the battery, and
wherein the switch is further configured to electrically connect the battery with the circuit board or to block an electrical connection between the battery and the circuit board, by the external force exerted by the pin inserted through the first opening.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , further comprising the tray capable of accommodating a subscriber identification module (SIM) card or a memory card and configured to be inserted into or drawn out of the housing,
wherein the first opening is configured to provide a path for manipulating the tray to be ejected.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , further comprising a socket arranged inside the housing and removably coupling the tray,
wherein the switch is arranged in the socket.

9. The electronic device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a lever configured to receive a force from the push bar and drawing the tray out of the housing,
wherein the push bar comprises:
a push bar head comprising a first push bar hole connected with the first opening, and
a push bar body comprising a second push bar hole connecting the first push bar hole with the switch,

wherein the switch is further configured to be pressed by the pin via the first push bar hole and the second push bar hole, and
wherein the lever comprises a lever hole connected with the first push bar hole and the second push bar hole and into which the pin is inserted.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the push bar further comprises the first push bar hole, and the second push bar hole into which the pin is inserted in such a way that the first opening and the switch are connected with each other, and
wherein a length of the pin is greater than a length of the push bar.

11. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the switch further comprises:
the first terminal electrically connected with the battery;
the second terminal electrically connected with the circuit board; and
the movable member electrically connecting the battery with the circuit board by causing the first terminal to contact the second terminal as the first terminal is pressed by the external force of the pin inserted into the first opening, or blocking an electrical connection between the battery and the circuit board by releasing the contact between the first terminal and the second terminal as pressing of the first terminal is released.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the switch further comprises:
a case arranged inside the housing;
a locking portion configured to cause the first terminal to contact the second terminal or release the contact, by limiting movement of the movable member; and
an elastic member arranged between the first terminal and the movable member,
wherein the first terminal or the second terminal is configured to be bent by pressing that is caused by an elastic force of the elastic member.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the locking portion comprises:
a first locking groove formed in the movable member and comprising a first protruding portion;
a second locking groove formed in the case and comprising a second protruding portion;
a rod connecting the first locking groove with the second locking groove;
a first roller rotatably connected with a first end of the rod and being movement-limited by the first protruding portion as moving along the first locking groove; and
a second roller rotatably connected with a second end of the rod and being movement-limited by the second protruding portion as moving along the second locking groove.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Jung-Woo
• Moon Sung-Hoon

Classifications

• H01H27/04

  Insulating plug or plate inserted between normally closed contacts · CPC title

• H01H1/50 Primary

  Means for increasing contact pressure, preventing vibration of contacts, holding contacts together after engagement, or biasing contacts to the open position · CPC title

• H04M2201/80

  line protection circuits such as current or overvoltage protection circuits · CPC title

• H05K5/0291

  for multiple cards · CPC title

• H04M1/02

  Constructional features of telephone sets · CPC title