GB2183936A

GB2183936A - Power supply adaptor

Info

Publication number: GB2183936A
Application number: GB08530167A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edgar John Ebden
Original assignee: Plessey Co Ltd
Current assignee: Plessey Co Ltd
Priority date: 1985-12-06
Filing date: 1985-12-06
Publication date: 1987-06-10
Also published as: GB8530167D0

Abstract

In a portable radio communication apparatus of the kind employing a separate battery that may be clamped in mechanical contact with an apparatus housing so that battery simultaneously makes electrical contact with the apparatus, an adaptor (7) is provided that may be secured between the apparatus (1) and the battery (2). The adaptor (7) has an additional connector (12) to which a solar panel or battery charger can be coupled for providing an alternative power supply to the apparatus. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Power supply adaptor This invention relates to a power supply adaptor. It relates particularly to an adaptor which can be fitted to a battery supplying power to an electronic apparatus in order to enable an alternative power supply to be used.

When manufacturing radio communications apparatus which is intended particularly for outside use, it is convenient if a battery power supply for the apparatus is provided outside the housing accommodating the electronic equipment so that the whole unit can if necessary be separated into two parts to facilitate storage and carrying by hand to the required site of operation. At the site, it is then a simple operation to connect the two units together mechanically and electrically to provide a robust working communications cabinet.

In time, after much use, the battery will have become exhausted and it will be necessary to remove the battery part to enable a fresh battery part to be fitted. This task will of course interrupt the normal operation of the apparatus and in some circumstances such interruption even for only a few minutes may not be convenient. A better solution might be to have a battery charger nearby so that when required this could be connected to the battery whilst still linked to the apparatus part so no interruption of operation need occur.

Where different types of communications apparatus were intended to be used in a location near to one another, it might be preferable to have one common battery charger that could be used to charge a number of different types of battery each battery bein associated with its own working unit of the apparatus.

To avoid any need to handle separate charging leads and battery terminal clips, it would be helpful to use a connector positioned by each battery into which a suitable connector from the common charger could be inserted when necessary.

The present invention was devised to facilitate mounting an electrical connector relative to a battery whilst providing a robust mechanical construction to the combination.

According to the invention, there is provided a power supply adaptor for a battery, the adaptor comprising a plate shaped body having on one major surface first connection terminals positioned so as to be capable of making contact with the electrical contacts of a battery, a second major surface of the body having second connection terminals positioned so as to be capable of making contact with power input terminals of apparatus to which the battery is required to supply electrical energy when in service, respective terminals of said first and second groups being connected together so that such energy supply may be effected, the body further supporting a separate electrical connector with connections to the terminals of one of said groups such that a parallel electrical connection to said group is provided.

Preferably, the adaptor is shaped such that it may be sandwiched between the battery and the apparatus to which the battery is required to supply said electrical energy. The adaptor may include securing means such that it may be fixed relative to the battery. The securing means may be so arranged that it is capable of securing the battery, the adaptor and the energy consuming apparatus to form a rigid package.

By way of example a particular embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which shows in exploded diagram form, a power supply adaptor connected between a radio receiver and a battery.

The item of communications equipment in this instance was a radio transmitter/receiver 1 which in the drawing is shown as a standard model PTR 349 radio. This radio was designed to be used with a separate battery power supply and a battery 2 was therefore provided which was capable of being directly secured to a base of the radio 1 by a connecting screw 3. When the battery 2 had been secured to the radio in this manner, electric power terminals 4 on the battery 3 were brought into contact with spring-loaded input terminals 6 of the radio. The mechanical coupling of the battery 2 to the radio 1 therefore served simultaneously to electrically connect the battery to the radio so that it was not necessary to make any separate provision to ensure good electrical continuity.This also ensured that if the radio and battery had been carried separately to the required site for operation the radio may be brought quickly into condition for operation. In addition, when it was necessary to replace the battery 2 with a fresh battery, this task could be done with only a minimum duration of any interruption in the operation of the radio.

Whilst the radio 1 and battery 2 formed a robust and compact unit of communications equipment on their own, further benefits could be obtained by locating a power supply adaptor 7 according to the present invention between the radio 1 and battery 2.

The power supply adaptor 7 comprised a body 8 of electrically insulating material which on one major surface formed by the lower side of the body carried spring-loaded input terminals 9 positioned so as to be capable of being brought into contact with the power terminals 4 of the battery 2. On a second major surface formed by the upper side of the body, the adaptor 7 carried output terminals 11 which were positioned so as to be capable of being brought into contact with the input terminals 6 of the radio. Within the adaptor, one of the input terminals 9 was electrically connected with a respective output terminal 11 and a corresponding connection was also made between the second input and output terminals.In addition, further electrical connections were also made within the body 8 of the adaptor to bring these connections out to an electrical socket 12 located on a side wall of the adaptor 7. The socket 12 was a standard socket into which a mating plug 13 could be inserted when required. The plug 13 was connected through a flexible lead 14 to alternative power supply means (not shown) such as a battery charger or a solar panel.

The power supply adaptor 7 further included a wall defining a hole 15 which was able to be used in conjunction with the connecting screw 3 of the battery to secure the adaptor 7 between the radio 1 and the battery 2 to form a robust communications unit.

In operation, when the radio 1, battery 2 and power supply adaptor 7 has been delivered separately to a site where the communications facility was required to be used, the adaptor 7 was assembled between the radio 1 and battery 2. To do this, the connecting screw 3 of the battery was passed through the hole 15 of the adaptor and secured in a corresponding socket on the base of the radio 1. Where the adaptor was intended to be used with a particular model of battery 2, it might be necessary for the connecting screw 3 to be slightly longer in length than would be required if the battery was to be used without the adaptor.

Upon tightening the screw 3 in the base of the radio, the power terminals 4 of the battery were brought into contact with the terminals on the lower side of the adaptor and the terminals 6 of the radio were brought into contact with those on the upper side of the adaptor. Therefore electrical continuity between the battery and radio was ensured without any need to make any manual adjustment of these contacts.

The radio 1 was then able to be put into use for transmitting and receiving signals as required. After considerable use, it would eventually become necessary to disconnect the radio from the battery to enable a replacement battery to be fitted. This would imply that the radio would be out of service for at least a few minutes and in some situations this might not be convenient. The presence of the power supply adaptor 7 with the socket 12 allowed a battery charger to be connected through the plug 13 when this had been inserted in the socket so that the battery could be charged continuously whilst the radio was in operation.

In an alternative arrangement, a solar panel (not shown) was attached to the plug 13 and this also served to keep the battery 2 charged whilst the radio was in use. The solar panel was able to be hung alongside the radio so that the panel acted as a partial shield for the radio whilst it was providing electrical energy for the battery.

Use of the power supply adaptor 7 further allowed the radio 1 to be powered directly from either a battery charger or solar panel even after the original battery 2 of the radio had been removed. In these circumstances, it might be desirable to fasten the adaptor 7 directly to the bottom surface of the radio 1 by means of a connecting screw 3 of a suitable length.

In the absence of the radio 1, the power supply adaptor 7 when fitted on top of a battery 2, allowed the battery to be electrically charged as necessary through either a battery charger plugged into the socket 12 or by means of a solar panel. The adaptor 7 could be secured to the upper surface of the battery by means of a suitable nut used with the connecting screw 3.

Use of the power supply adaptor of the invention has been found to allow a more flexible arrangement for powering a radio since a standard battery charger fitted with the plug 13 can be used to maintain radios of different sizes and types using batteries of different capacities. A special charger intended for use with a particular radio and battery combination is thus no longer required so that a faster deployment and greater reliability of operation of the radio facility is achieved.

The foregoing description of an embodiment of the invention has been given by way of example only and a number of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims. For instance, it is not essential that the power supply adaptor should be capable of being secured to the radio or battery by use of the hole 15 in the adaptor and a connecting screw. In a different arrangement, mounting of the adaptor might be effected by a clamping strap fitting round the external surfaces of the separate components to hold them together.

Claims

1. A power supply adaptor for a battery.

the adaptor comprising a plate shaped body having on one major surface first connection terminals positioned so as to be capable of making contact with the electrical contacts of a battery, a second major surface of the body having second connection terminals positioned so as to be capable of making contact with power input terminals of apparatus to which the battery is required to supply electrical energy when in service, respective terminals of said first and second groups being connected together so that such energy supply may be effected, the body further supporting a separate electrical connector with connections to the terminals of one of said groups such that a parallel electrical connection to said group is provided.

2. A power supply adaptor as claimed in Claim 1, in which the shape is such that the adaptor may be sandwiched between the battery and the apparatus to which the battery is required to supply said energy.

3. A power supply adaptor as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the adaptor includes securing means enabling it to be fixed relative to the battery.

4. A power supply adaptor as claimed in Claim 5, in which the securing means is a wall defining a hole in the adaptor body, through which hole a screw may be fixed.

5. A power supply adaptor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.