JP2004047195A - Battery contact structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A battery contact structure that completely removes a battery contact terminal and an oxide film formed on the surface of the battery that contacts the battery contact terminal to prevent a battery contact failure is obtained.
Leaf springs 56 and 60 that are elastically deformed in accordance with the pressing force of the battery lid 54 are provided in the battery housing portion 28 and the battery lid 54, respectively. The leaf springs 56 and 60 are provided with contact portions 58 and 62, respectively. The contact portion 58 abuts on the positive electrode 26A of the battery 26, and the contact portion 62 of the leaf spring 60 abuts on the negative electrode 26B of the battery 26. . In order to elastically deform the leaf springs 56, 60 in accordance with the pressing force from the battery lid 54, the surfaces of the positive pole 26 A and the negative pole 26 B of the battery 26 are affected by the restoring force of the leaf springs 56, 60. While being pressed by the front end portions 56B and 60B, they are rubbed. For this reason, the oxide film etc. which were formed on the surface of + electrode 26A and -pole 26B of battery 26 can be scraped off reliably, and the poor contact of battery 26 by an oxide film etc. is prevented.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a battery contact structure of an electric device using a battery such as a dry battery.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in electrical equipment using batteries such as dry batteries, when the frequency of battery replacement is low, or when using a battery that can be used repeatedly for a long time, such as a secondary battery, the surface of the electrode of the battery or battery contact An oxide film or the like that is a non-conductive substance is likely to be generated on the surface of the terminal, and a contact failure may occur between the battery and the battery contact terminal.
[0003]
For this reason, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-45263 discloses a battery contact that rotates the battery stored in the battery storage unit in conjunction with the on / off slide operation of the power switch, thereby contacting the battery electrode. A technique is disclosed in which the surface of the electrode is wiped off at the edge portion of the terminal to remove the oxide film and the like, thereby eliminating the contact failure of the battery.
[0004]
Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 09-130460, a battery contact terminal is provided on a battery lid that closes a battery storage chamber in which a battery is stored, and the battery contact terminal is rubbed on the surface of a battery electrode by opening and closing the battery lid. To remove the oxide film and the like.
[0005]
Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-146568, a charger for a mobile phone is provided with a charging terminal that can contact a contact plate provided from the bottom to the back of the battery pack. This charging terminal is provided so as to be able to appear and retract by a spring, and is given elasticity to push back the battery pack of the mobile phone.
[0006]
Further, the charger is provided with a protrusion on a side wall orthogonal to the contact wall provided with the charging terminal, and can engage with a groove provided on the side wall of the battery pack. Due to the shape of this groove, when the battery pack is attached to the charger, the contact position of the contact plate is moved while the contact plate is in contact with the charging terminal after being moved parallel to the contact wall of the charger. While the battery pack is tilted toward the contact wall, the surface of the contact plate is rubbed with the tip of the charging terminal to remove the oxide film or the like formed on the surface of the contact plate.
[0007]
Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-185827, a charging terminal portion of a charger provided with a contact terminal that comes into contact with a contact plate provided on the battery pack in a state where the battery pack of the mobile phone is mounted is connected to the contact terminal. First, the contact plate is rubbed and a cleaning projection that is not in contact with the battery pack when the battery pack is mounted is provided to remove an oxide film or the like formed on the surface of the contact plate.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-45263, the battery is rotated in conjunction with the on / off slide operation of the power switch. Restrictions are placed on the arrangement of the switch and the battery housing.
[0009]
Further, in the case of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 09-130460, if a contact point is a position where the battery contact terminal contacts the battery when the battery lid is closed, the battery contact terminal rubs until the battery contact terminal reaches the contact point. However, since the battery is not rubbed through the contact point, it is difficult to completely remove the oxide film formed on the surface of the contact point.
[0010]
In addition, the battery contact terminal rotates and moves integrally with the battery lid, and there is no elastic member or the like in the battery storage chamber that can absorb the dimensional error in the longitudinal direction of the battery. Due to variations, the battery contact terminals may not be able to remove the oxide film formed on the surface of the battery.
[0011]
Further, in the case of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-146568, as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-130460, the contact point between the charge terminal and the contact plate (the position where the charge terminal and the contact plate come into contact with the battery box stopped moving). It is difficult to completely remove the oxide film formed on the surface of the contact point.
[0012]
In the case of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-185827, since the inclination of the battery pack with respect to the charger when the battery pack is mounted on the charger is not constant, the rubbing force with which the contact plate rubs the cleaning protrusion is uniform. In addition, there is a variation in the ability to remove the oxide film formed on the contact plate.
[0013]
In consideration of the above-mentioned fact, the present invention can completely remove the battery contact terminal and the oxide film formed on the surface of the battery with which the battery contact terminal contacts to obtain a battery contact structure that prevents a battery contact failure. Is the purpose.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a conductive elastic member capable of contacting the battery is provided in the battery storage part that can store the battery and the battery lid that opens and closes the battery storage part. This elastic member is elastically deformed according to the pressing force from the battery lid and rubs the surface of the battery electrode.
[0015]
Since the elastic member is elastically deformed according to the pressing force from the battery lid, the battery electrode surface is pressed at the tip of the elastic member by restoring the elastic force absorbed by the elastic member as the battery lid is closed. However, it will be rubbed (self-cleaning function).
[0016]
For this reason, the self-cleaning function that accompanies the storage of the battery can reliably scrape off the oxide film formed on the surface of the battery electrode. A stable and long life can be realized.
[0017]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the contact portion that contacts the electrode of the battery in a state where the elastic member is elastically deformed is provided at a position separated from the tip of the elastic member. By elastically deforming the elastic member, the contact portion arranged at a position separated from the tip portion of the elastic member can be brought into contact with the electrode of the battery.
[0018]
In this manner, by providing the contact portion at a position separated from the tip portion of the elastic member, the contact portion comes into contact with the region already rubbed by the tip portion of the elastic member. In other words, the area where the contact portion comes into contact is an area where the oxide film or the like has been reliably removed, and poor battery contact due to the oxide film or the like is almost completely prevented.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the battery contact structure according to the present embodiment will be described.
[0020]
FIG. 1 shows a digital camera 10 to which the battery contact structure according to this embodiment is applied. FIG. 1 (A) shows a front view and FIG. 1 (B) shows a rear view. As shown in FIG. 1A, a lens 14 for transmitting light, a finder 15 for visually confirming a photographing range, etc. and a low illuminance are provided on the front upper side of the main body 11 having a substantially box shape. A strobe 16 for emitting auxiliary light in the case of shooting is provided.
[0021]
Further, a slot 23 into which a memory card 18 as an information recording medium such as smart media can be loaded is provided on the right side of the main body 11, and various modes such as a shooting mode and a playback mode are provided on the upper left side of the main body 11. A mode dial 47 and a power switch 21 for selecting a mode are provided, and the central portion of the mode dial 47 is a shutter button 12. Further, a battery accommodating portion 28 that accommodates four batteries 26 is provided on the left side of the lower surface of the main body 11 (described later).
[0022]
Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, a color display 46 made of a reflective LCD or a transmissive front LCD is disposed on the lower side of the back surface of the main body 11, and when there is an image display instruction. Based on the image file stored in the memory 42 (see FIG. 2), which will be described later, and the image file read from the memory card 18, an image is displayed on the entire screen, a plurality of reduced images are displayed side by side, and various functions are selected. Display the screen. The display 46 is composed of a liquid crystal display panel having a screen size of, for example, 640 × 480 pixels.
[0023]
A monochrome liquid crystal display panel 13 is provided on the upper side of the display 46, and displays current settings of the digital camera such as an operation mode, image quality, battery amount, strobe light emission / non-light emission, and the number of shootable images.
[0024]
Further, on the right side of the display 46, various selection buttons such as a strobe button 17, a cross button 19, and a menu execution button 25 are provided. The strobe button 17 is a button for issuing a forced flash instruction when the flash is forced to emit light, or a flash prohibition instruction when prohibiting the flash, and the cross button 19 is displayed when the display 46 is the various item selection screen. This is a button for selecting a button displayed on 46 or moving the cursor. The menu execution button 25 is a button for issuing an execution instruction for an item displayed on the display 46 and selected by the cross button 19.
[0025]
Next, the configuration of the electrical system of the digital camera 10 will be described.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 2, the lens 14 disposed in the main body 11 is specifically a zoom lens having a mechanism (autofocus (AF) mechanism) capable of changing a focal position by a driving force of a driving source such as a stepping motor. The AF mechanism and zoom mechanism of the lens 14 are driven by a drive circuit 24a.
[0027]
Here, the drive circuit 24a also performs drive control of various components such as driving of the strobe 16 and an imaging device (imaging device) 30 described later. Instead of the lens 14, a fixed focal length lens having only an AF mechanism may be used.
[0028]
At a position corresponding to the focal position of the lens 14, an imaging device 30 composed of an area CCD and provided with an electronic shutter mechanism is disposed, and the light reflected from the subject and incident on the lens 14 is received by the imaging device 30. An image is formed on the surface. Note that the imaging device 30 may use a CMOS sensor instead of the CCD.
[0029]
The timing signal generation circuit 27 is controlled by the control unit 22 configured by a microcomputer, and generates various timing signals (clock signals) for operating the imaging device 30, the A / D conversion unit 38, and the like.
[0030]
Further, the imaging device 30 outputs the image signal to the analog signal processing unit 36 via an amplifier (not shown). The analog signal processing unit 36 is connected to an A / D conversion unit 38, and a signal output from the imaging device 30 is amplified by an amplifier and converted into digital data by the A / D conversion unit 38.
[0031]
The output terminal of the A / D conversion unit 38 is connected to the digital signal processing unit 40 through a correlated double sampling circuit (CDS circuit) (not shown) and an internal interface (I / F) circuit (not shown) in this order. The CDS circuit samples feedthrough data representing the level of the feedthrough signal and pixel data representing the level of the pixel signal, and subtracts the feedthrough data from the pixel data for each pixel. Then, the calculation result (pixel data corresponding to the amount of accumulated charges in each CCD cell) is sequentially output to the digital signal processing unit 40 as a scan image file via the I / F circuit.
[0032]
The digital signal processing unit 40 performs predetermined digital signal processing (for example, shading correction processing) on the input digital signal and outputs it as an original image file to the memory 42 via the data bus 88.
[0033]
Further, when a thumbnail display instruction is issued from the control unit 22, the digital signal processing unit 40 displays a plurality of thumbnail images stored in association with each of the plurality of image files stored in the memory 42 on the display 46. Let
[0034]
Further, when an external device (not shown) is connected to the video output terminal, the digital signal processing unit 40 outputs a video signal, and externally reads an image file stored in the memory 42 and a plurality of images read from the memory card 18. Display on the device.
[0035]
Here, the memory 42 temporarily stores an image file read for search during reproduction, or stores an image file output from the digital signal processing unit 40 via the data bus 88. At this time, if there is a write instruction to the memory card 18 such as a smart media or a floppy disk, the stored image file is subjected to predetermined image compression processing (for example, JPEG processing) by the compression / decompression unit 44, and then the memory card drive 20 And is written to the memory card via the external interface (external I / F) 43. It can be set so that the compression / decompression unit 44 writes without compression.
[0036]
The external I / F 43 is provided with a digital IO port 31 so that the image file can be output to other devices connected to the digital IO port 31.
[0037]
When an instruction to reproduce (display) an image using an image file stored in the memory card 18 loaded in the slot 23 (see FIG. 1) is given, the image file is read from the memory card 18. When the read image file is compressed and stored, the compressed image file is decompressed (decompressed) by the compression / decompression unit 44 and then stored in the memory 42. Then, the digital signal processing unit 40 transfers the image file stored in the memory 42 to the liquid crystal driving circuit 24b and causes the display 46 to display (reproduce) the image.
[0038]
The control unit 22 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The shutter button 12, the memory card drive 20, the drive circuit 24a, the memory 42, the compression / decompression unit 44, the display 46, and the menu execution button 25 are directly or via the data bus 88. A power supply 34 is connected.
[0039]
The ROM stores a program for controlling the above-described various components connected to the control unit 22, a compression method switching program, and the like. The RAM stores various data necessary for each program input via the data bus 88.
[0040]
The CPU reads various programs from the ROM to control each component, and in the recording mode at the time of shooting, reads the compression mode switching program from the ROM and stores the image data representing the shot image. To compress and save the image data with the selected compression method.
[0041]
Next, the battery contact structure according to this embodiment will be described.
[0042]
As shown in FIG. 1, four AA batteries 26 can be accommodated in parallel in the battery accommodating portion 28, so that the + electrode 26 </ b> A side of the battery 26 is behind the battery accommodating portion 28. Be contained.
[0043]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, a terminal plate 55 that is electrically connected to the positive electrode 26 </ b> A of each battery 26 extends along the back wall 28 </ b> A of the battery housing portion 28 at the back of the battery housing portion 28. Is provided. The terminal plate 55 is provided with a pair of thin plate springs 56 made of metal such as SUS steel so as to face each other, and the positive electrode 26 </ b> A of each battery 26 is brought into contact with the plate springs 56.
[0044]
As shown in FIG. 4, the pair of leaf springs 56 is erected vertically from the terminal plate 55, and a bent portion 56 </ b> A is provided in about ½ of the longitudinal direction of the leaf spring 56, and the bent portion 56 </ b> A is a fulcrum. As described above, the front end portion 56B is pushed and spread so that the front end portion 56B can swing around the bent portion 56A.
[0045]
In addition, an electrically conductive contact portion 58 protrudes from the distal end portion 56B of the leaf spring 56 at a predetermined distance from the center portion of the inner surface of the leaf spring 56, and when the distal end portion 56B of the leaf spring 56 is pushed wide, As shown in FIG. 3C, the contact portion 58 and the positive electrode 26A of the battery 26 can come into contact with each other.
[0046]
Here, the length of the leaf spring 56 is such that the tip portion 56B of the leaf spring 56 is pushed and expanded so that the contact portion 58 is in contact with the + pole 26A of the battery 26 and is within the plane of the + pole 26A of the battery 26. It is trying to become.
[0047]
On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D, a shaft portion 52 is provided at the entrance of the battery housing portion 28, and a battery lid 54 is rotatably attached to the shaft portion 52. Yes. A claw portion (not shown) protrudes from the free end portion of the battery lid 54. When the battery lid 54 is closed, the battery lid 54 is engaged with a hook (not shown) provided at the inlet of the battery housing portion 28. 54 is closed.
[0048]
The battery cover 54 is provided with a terminal plate 57 that is electrically connected to the negative electrode 26 </ b> B of each battery 26. The terminal plate 57 corresponds to the plate spring 56 and is substantially the same as the plate spring 56. A leaf spring 60 is provided. The leaf spring 60 pushes and spreads the distal end portion 60B with the bent portion 60A as a fulcrum, and an electrically conductive contact portion 62 projecting at a predetermined distance from the distal end portion of the leaf spring 60 and the negative electrode 26B of the battery 26. Contact is possible.
[0049]
Here, for the leaf spring 60, for example, when a pair of leaf springs 60 are arranged along the direction from the rotation fulcrum of the battery lid 54 to the free end, the leaf spring 60 on the rotation fulcrum side of the battery lid 54 is The leaf spring 60 on the free end side of the battery lid 54 does not come into contact with the minus pole 26B of the battery even if it comes into contact with the pole 26B, so that the leaf spring 60 is connected to the rotation fulcrum side and the free end side of the battery lid 54. The elastic force absorbed is different.
[0050]
For this reason, a pair of leaf springs 60 are arranged along the direction substantially orthogonal to the direction from the rotation fulcrum of the battery lid 54 to the free end, and when the battery lid 54 is rotated, The leaf springs 60 are simultaneously brought into contact with the negative electrode 26B of the battery 26 so that the elastic forces absorbed by the pair of leaf springs 60 are the same.
[0051]
Next, the operation of the battery contact structure according to this embodiment will be described.
[0052]
As shown in FIG. 5 (A), when the battery 26 is inserted into the battery housing portion 28 with the positive electrode 26A of the battery 26 facing the back of the battery housing portion 28, the battery 26 as shown in FIG. 5 (B). The + pole 26 </ b> A contacts the tip end portion 56 </ b> B of the leaf spring 56.
[0053]
In this state, when the battery cover 54 is rotated in the closing direction (arrow direction), the tip 60B of the leaf spring 60 provided on the battery cover 54 is-of the battery 26 as shown in FIG. It contacts the pole 26B.
[0054]
When the battery lid 54 is further rotated from this state, the battery 26 moves to the back of the battery accommodating portion 28 according to the pressing force of the battery lid 54, and the tip portions 56B and 60B of the leaf springs 56 and 60 are moved. The battery 26 is gradually spread around the bent portions 56A and 60A while being in contact with the positive electrode 26A and the negative electrode 26B of the battery 26, respectively.
[0055]
As a result, as shown in FIG. 5D, the claw portion (not shown) provided at the free end of the battery lid 54 engages with the hook (not shown) at the inlet of the battery housing portion 28, so that the battery While the lid 54 is closed, the contact portion 58 of the leaf spring 56 is in contact with the positive electrode 26A of the battery 26, and the contact portion 62 of the leaf spring 60 is in contact with the negative electrode 26B of the battery 26.
[0056]
Here, since the leaf springs 56 and 60 elastically deform the leaf springs 56 and 60 in accordance with the pressing force from the battery lid 54, the surfaces of the positive electrode 26 </ b> A and the negative electrode 26 </ b> B of the battery 26 are the leaf springs 56 and 60. While being pressed by the tip portions 56B and 60B of the leaf springs 56 and 60 due to the restoration (restoring force) of the elastic force absorbed by the springs, they are rubbed (self-cleaning function).
[0057]
For this reason, the self-cleaning function that accompanies the storage of the battery can reliably scrape off the oxide film formed on the surface of the battery electrode. A stable and long life can be realized.
[0058]
Therefore, the self-cleaning function that accompanies the storage of the battery 26 can surely scrape off the oxide film or the like formed on the surfaces of the positive electrode 26A and the negative electrode 26B of the battery 26. Contact failure is prevented, and a stable and long life of the product power supply can be realized.
[0059]
Further, by providing the contact portions 58 and 62 at positions separated from the front end portions 56B and 60B of the leaf springs 56 and 60, the contact portion is provided in the region already rubbed by the front end portions 56B and 60B of the leaf springs 56 and 60. 58 and 62 come into contact with each other. In other words, the region where the contact portions 58 and 62 are in contact with each other is a region where the oxide film or the like has been reliably removed, and contact failure of the battery 26 due to the oxide film or the like is almost completely prevented.
[0060]
Here, contact portions 58 and 62 are provided on the inner surfaces of the leaf springs 56 and 60, respectively, and the leaf springs 56 and 60 are elastically deformed in a direction to expand according to the pressing force from the battery lid 54. The contact portions 58 and 62 only need to come into contact with the region where the oxide film or the like has been reliably removed, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, although not shown, contact portions may be provided on the outer surface side of the leaf springs, the leaf springs may be crossed, and the leaf springs may be elastically deformed in a direction to be compressed according to the pressing force from the battery lid.
[0061]
In the present embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a digital camera has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and needless to say, a product using a battery may be used.
[0062]
【The invention's effect】
Since the present invention has the above-described configuration, the invention according to claim 1 can reliably scrape the oxide film or the like formed on the surface of the battery electrode, thereby preventing battery contact failure due to the oxide film or the like. Is done.
[0063]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the region where the contact portion comes into contact is a region where the oxide film or the like has been reliably removed, and the poor contact of the battery due to the oxide film or the like is almost completely prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1A and 1B show a digital camera to which a battery contact structure according to the present embodiment is applied, in which FIG. 1A is a front view of the digital camera and FIG. 1B is a rear view of the digital camera.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electric system of a digital camera to which the battery contact structure according to the present embodiment is applied.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are side views for explaining a battery contact structure according to the present embodiment, in which FIG. 3A shows a state in which the battery is in contact with a leaf spring, and FIG. FIG. 4C shows a state where the battery is moved, the leaf spring is elastically deformed, and the contact portion is in contact with the battery.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a battery contact structure according to the present embodiment.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are side views for explaining a battery contact structure according to the present embodiment, in which FIG. 5A shows a state in which the battery is inserted into the battery housing portion, and FIG. 5B shows a state in which the battery is in contact with the leaf spring. (C) shows a state where the battery is moved by the battery lid and the leaf spring is elastically deformed, and (D) shows a state where the battery lid is closed and the contact portion is brought into contact with the battery. .
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital camera 28 Battery accommodating part 54 Battery cover 56 Leaf spring (elastic member)
58 Contact 60 Leaf spring (elastic member)
62 Contact part

Claims (2)

A battery compartment that can accommodate a battery;
A battery lid for opening and closing the battery housing;
A conductive elastic member provided in the battery housing and the battery lid so as to be in contact with the battery, elastically deforming according to a pressing force from the battery lid, and slidably rubbing the surface of the battery electrode;
A battery contact structure comprising: 2. The battery contact structure according to claim 1, further comprising a contact portion that is provided at a position separated from a tip portion of the elastic member and that contacts the electrode of the battery in a state where the elastic member is elastically deformed.

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