Dual board-to-board connector battery management circuit module utilizing a switch-back service loop

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12055973-B2
Application number	US-202017018130-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 11, 2020
Priority date	Sep 13, 2019
Publication date	Aug 6, 2024
Grant date	Aug 6, 2024

Abstract

The disclosed technology relates to a dual board-to-board connector battery management circuit module utilizing a switch-back service loop for a battery pack. The management circuit module is coupled to a first and second terminal of a battery pack and includes a first board-to-board connector disposed proximal to a first end of the management circuit module; and a second board-to-board connector disposed proximal to a second end of the management circuit module. The second board-to-board connector is positioned opposite the first board-to-board connector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A battery pack, comprising:
a set of layers comprising a cathode layer, an anode layer, and a separator layer disposed between the cathode layer and the anode layer;
an enclosure enclosing the set of layers;
a first and second terminal extending from the enclosure, the first and second terminal electrically coupled to the cathode layer and the anode layer, respectively;
a management circuit module coupled to the first and second terminal, the management circuit module comprising:
a first board-to-board connector disposed proximal to a first end of the management circuit module and on an elongated portion of the management circuit module, wherein the first board-to-board connector utilizes a first switch back service loop, the first switch back service loop extending in a longitudinal direction with respect to the elongated portion to enable the first board-to-board connector to move longitudinally along the elongated portion; and
a second board-to-board connector disposed proximal to a second end of the management circuit module and positioned opposite the first board-to-board connector.

2. The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the second board-to-board connector utilizes a second switch back service loop.

3. The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the management circuit module comprises a flexible circuit board.

4. The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the management circuit module comprises a rigid-flexible circuit board.

5. The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the first board-to-board connector is configured to connect to a first printed circuit board.

6. The battery pack of claim 5 , wherein the second board-to-board connector is configured to connect to a second printed circuit board that is separate from the first printed circuit board.

7. A portable electronic device, comprising:
a first printed circuit board;
a second printed circuit board;
a battery pack comprising:
a set of layers comprising a cathode layer, an anode layer, and a separator layer disposed between the cathode layer and the anode layer;
an enclosure enclosing the set of layers;
a first and second terminal extending from the enclosure, the first and second terminal electrically coupled to the cathode layer and the anode layer, respectively;
a management circuit module coupled to the first and second terminal, the management circuit module comprising:
a first board-to-board connector disposed proximal to a first end of the management circuit module and on an elongated portion of the management circuit module, wherein the first board-to-board connector utilizes a first switch back service loop, the first switch back service loop extending in a longitudinal direction with respect to the elongated portion to enable the first board-to-board connector to move longitudinally along the elongated portion; and
a second board-to-board connector disposed proximal to a second end of the management circuit module and positioned opposite the first board-to-board connector.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the first printed circuit board comprises a main logic board comprising a memory and a processor.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the second printed circuit board comprises a charging board comprising an inductor.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the charging board is disposed proximate to a port of the portable electronic device, the port configured to receive an external connector.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the charging board draws more power from the battery pack than the main logic board.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the second board-to-board connector utilizes a second switch back service loop.

13. A method for connecting a battery pack to components of a portable electronic device, the method comprising:
disposing the battery pack, a main logic board, and a charging board within the portable electronic device, the battery pack comprising:
a set of layers comprising a cathode layer, an anode layer, and a separator layer disposed between the cathode layer and the anode layer;
an enclosure enclosing the set of layers;
a first and second terminal extending from the enclosure, the first and second terminal electrically coupled to the cathode layer and the anode layer, respectively;
a management circuit module coupled to the first and second terminal, the management circuit module comprising:
a first board-to-board connector disposed proximal to a first end of the management circuit module and on an elongated portion of the management circuit module, wherein the first board-to-board connector utilizes a first switch back service loop, the first switch back service loop extending in a longitudinal direction with respect to the elongated portion to enable the first board-to-board connector to move longitudinally along the elongated portion; and
a second board-to-board connector disposed proximal to a second end of the management circuit module and positioned opposite the first board-to-board connector;

connecting the first board-to-board connector to the main logic board; and
connecting the second board-to-board connector to the charging board.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising arranging the charging board to be proximate to a charging port of the portable electronic device.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the main logic board comprises a cutout at a corner of the main logic board to accommodate the first switch back service loop of the first board-to-board connector.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second board-to-board connector utilizes a second switch back service loop.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the charging board comprises a cutout at a corner of the charging board to accommodate the second switch back service loop of the second board-to-board connector.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Wang Depeng
• Leopold Andrew U
• Stevens Gregory N
• Wilson Jonathan C
• Smith James B

Classifications

• H05K2201/055

  Folded back on itself · CPC title

• H01M50/247

  specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers · CPC title

• H01M50/296

  characterised by terminals of battery packs (terminals of batteries H01M50/543) · CPC title

• H01M50/531

  Electrode connections inside a battery casing · CPC title

• H01M2220/30

  Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop · CPC title