JP2016213032A - Electric connector, battery pack using the same, and power supply device using the battery pack - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a power be outputted from a secondary battery of a battery pack only by connecting one connector with the battery pack, and to perform charging and discharge control and the like of the secondary battery.SOLUTION: An electric connector comprises a connector main body part, a main terminal, and a sub terminal. The connector main body part is inserted into a connector insertion port provided on an outer surface of electrical equipment as a substantially columnar recessed part, and has a substantially columnar shape. The main terminal is held by the connector main body part so as to be projected from a front end surface central part of the connector main body part. The sub terminal is held by the connector main body part so as to be projected from the front end surface, at a position on a circumference using the main terminal on the front end surface of the connector main body part as a center.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connector for connecting to, for example, a battery pack provided with a secondary battery, a battery pack using the electrical connector, and a power supply device using the battery pack.

  For example, in a portable battery pack for charging a battery of a mobile phone, a secondary battery and a control circuit for controlling charging / discharging of the secondary battery are accommodated inside the case. Charging that connects the connector of an external device such as a mobile phone to the outer surface of the case and outputs a secondary battery power to the external device and a connector for charging the secondary battery Connector connection part is provided (for example, refer patent document 1).

  In addition, in order to prevent the power consumption of the secondary battery when not in use, the battery pack is generally provided with an output switch on the outer surface of the case for switching on / off the discharge from the secondary battery. is there. Such a battery pack is configured such that the secondary battery is discharged only when the user presses the output switch. In such a battery pack, since the secondary battery is not discharged simply by connecting the connector of the external device to the discharge connector connecting portion of the battery pack, the user presses the output switch after connecting the connector to the battery pack. There is a need.

JP 2012-205371 A

  If only one connector is connected to the battery pack and the secondary battery charging and secondary battery discharging on / off can be controlled in addition to the power output from the secondary battery, for example, a plurality of Conveniently, battery packs can be accommodated in a single box, and a large amount of power can be output collectively from the battery packs, or the battery packs can be charged together.

  However, the conventional battery pack does not allow the secondary battery to be charged through the connector for discharging, and a separate connector is required for charging the secondary battery. In addition, no battery is configured to be able to control on / off of the discharge of the secondary battery from an external device.

  Therefore, the present invention enables a secondary battery to be charged, discharged and controlled in addition to outputting power from the secondary battery of the battery pack by simply connecting one connector to the battery pack. It is for the purpose.

  An electrical connector according to the present invention protrudes from a substantially cylindrical connector main body portion that is inserted into a connector insertion port provided as a substantially cylindrical concave portion on the outer surface of an electrical device, and a front end surface central portion of the connector main body portion. A main terminal held by the connector main body, and a sub terminal held by the connector main body so as to protrude from the front end surface at a circumferential position around the main terminal of the front end surface of the connector main body. , With.

  The battery pack according to the present invention includes a case, a secondary battery housed in the case, and a connector insertion that is provided as a substantially cylindrical recess on the outer surface of the case and into which the connector main body of the electrical connector of the present invention is inserted. A main electrode that is provided at the center of the innermost part of the connector insertion port, contacts the main terminal of the connector main body to the connector insertion port, and transmits power from the secondary battery to the main terminal; and A sub-electrode that is electrically separated from the main electrode at the innermost part, has a substantially annular shape centered on the main electrode, and is in contact with a sub-terminal of the connector main body inserted into the connector insertion slot; , With.

  A power supply apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of electrical connectors of the present invention, a battery pack installation unit for installing a plurality of battery packs of the present invention, and an output of a secondary battery of the battery pack connected to the electrical connector And an output unit for outputting to the external device.

  In the electrical connector according to the present invention, the main terminal held by the connector main body so as to protrude from the central portion of the front end surface of the connector main body, and the circumferential position around the main terminal of the front end surface of the connector main body In the battery pack, in addition to outputting power from the battery pack simply by connecting the electrical connector to a battery pack described later, the sub-terminal held in the connector main body so as to protrude from the front end surface The secondary battery can be charged or the secondary battery can be discharged from an external device.

  In the battery pack according to the present invention, the battery pack includes a connector insertion port for inserting the connector main body portion of the electrical connector, in the center of the innermost part in the connector insertion port, from the secondary battery in contact with the main terminal of the electrical connector. A main electrode that transmits power to the main terminal, and a substantially annular shape centering on the main electrode, and a sub electrode that contacts the sub terminal of the electrical connector are provided. In addition to outputting electric power from the pack, it is possible to charge the secondary battery in the battery pack, control on / off of the output of the secondary battery, and the like. Furthermore, since the sub-electrode of the battery pack has a substantially annular shape centered on the main electrode, when the electric connector is connected to the battery pack, positioning for making the sub terminal contact the sub-electrode is easy. The connector can be connected quickly and easily.

  The power supply device according to the present invention includes a plurality of the electrical connectors and an output unit that outputs the output of the secondary battery of the battery pack connected to the electrical connector to an external device. It can be easily installed, not only to output power from those battery packs, but also to charge the secondary batteries in the installed battery packs and control the discharge from the battery packs without connecting a separate connector to each battery pack. It can also be done together.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the battery pack and electrical connector of one Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the electrode pattern board | substrate in the connector insertion port in the Example, (A) is a top view, (B) is sectional drawing in the XX position of (A). It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the electrical connector of the Example. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the internal structure of the same electrical connector. It is sectional drawing which shows the state by which the electrical connector was connected to the connector insertion slot of the battery pack of the Example. It is a top view which shows the other example of the electrode pattern board | substrate in a connector insertion port. It is a block diagram which shows roughly the structure of the battery pack of the Example. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the power supply device of one Example.

  In the electrical connector according to the present invention, the connector main body is elastically deformed in a direction parallel to the central axis of the connector main body, and supports the main terminal and the sub terminal while urging each of the main terminal and the sub terminal toward the distal end side of the connector main body. It is preferable that an elastic member is provided, and the distal ends of the main terminal and the sub terminal are displaceable in a direction parallel to the central axis of the connector main body. Then, when the tip of the connector main body is inserted into the connector insertion slot and the main terminal and the sub terminal are pressed against the mating electrode, the main terminal and the sub terminal are mated with the mating electrode by the elastic force of the elastic member. It is in a state of being constantly biased to the side, and reliable contact between the terminal and the electrode is maintained.

  Furthermore, the connector main body portion is inserted into the connector insertion port until the main terminal and the sub terminal are pressed against the innermost surface of the connector insertion port. It is preferable that it is configured to be fixed in the connector insertion port when it is rotated. As a result, the connector main body can be fixed in a state where it is inserted to the innermost part of the connector insertion opening, by simply rotating the connector main body relative to the connector insertion opening. Becomes easier.

  As described above, in the method of fixing the electrical connector to the battery pack by rotating the connector main body relative to the connector insertion slot, the sub terminal draws an arc when the connector main body is rotated. Moving. Since the sub-electrode of the battery pack according to the present invention has a substantially annular shape centered on the main electrode, the user can insert the connector main body and the connector without particularly worrying about the alignment of the sub-terminal and the sub-electrode. The electrical connector and the battery pack can be fixed by relatively rotating the mouth. Therefore, it is easy to attach the electrical connector to the battery pack.

  As one of the preferable embodiments of the battery pack according to the present invention, an example in which the sub electrode includes a charging electrode for receiving charging power for charging the secondary battery from the sub electrode of the connector main body portion is given. It is done. When the sub electrode includes the charging electrode, it is possible to output power from the secondary battery and charge the secondary battery only by connecting the electrical connector of the present invention.

  Further, when the battery pack according to the present invention includes a discharge control unit that is electrically interposed between the secondary battery and the main electrode and switches on / off of discharge from the secondary battery, It is preferable that the electrode includes an output control electrode that transmits a signal for turning on the discharge from the secondary battery to the discharge control unit from the sub electrode of the connector main body. Then, when an external device is connected using the electrical connector of the present invention, a signal for turning on the discharge is transmitted from the external device to the discharge control unit, thereby turning on / off the discharge from the battery pack through the external device. Off can be controlled.

  The connector insertion port in the battery pack according to the present invention is such that the connector main body portion of the electrical connector is inserted until the main terminal and the sub terminal are pressed against the innermost surface of the connector insertion port. It is preferable that the connector main body is configured to be fixed in the connector insertion port when rotated relative to the connector insertion port about the central axis. Then, the electric connector and the battery pack can be easily fixed by simply inserting the connector main body portion of the electric connector to the innermost part of the connector insertion port and then relatively rotating both of them.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a battery pack and a connector connected to the battery pack will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the battery pack 2 includes a cylindrical case 3 whose outer diameter on one end side (lower end side in the drawing) is narrowed. The case 3 accommodates a secondary battery 50 and a circuit that forms a control unit 52 (see FIG. 7) that controls charging and discharging of the secondary battery 50. On one end face side of the case 3, a connector insertion port 4 made up of a cylindrical recess is provided.

  A discharge electrode 6 as a main electrode is provided at the center of the innermost part of the connector insertion opening 4, and a disk-shaped electrode substrate 8 is provided so as to surround the periphery of the tip of the discharge electrode 6. . The discharge electrode 6 is an electrode for outputting the power of the secondary battery 50 (see FIG. 7) in the battery pack 2 to an external device. Two electrodes different from the discharge electrode 6 are provided on the electrode substrate 8. The connector main body 22 of the electrical connector 14 can be inserted into the connector insertion port 4, and the discharge electrode 6 and the other two electrodes are provided with three terminals 26 provided on the front end surface of the connector main body 22, Contact can be made with each of 28 and 30.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the electrode substrate 8 has a hole 16 through which the discharge electrode 6 penetrates at the center of the insulating substrate, and the hole 16 is centered on one surface of the electrode substrate 8. An annular electrode 18 and an electrode 20 concentric with the electrode 18 and having an inner diameter larger than that of the electrode 18 are provided as sub-electrodes. These sub-electrodes 18 and 20 are arranged in an insulated state apart from each other, and each is electrically connected to terminals 19 and 21 provided on the opposite surface of the electrode substrate 8, and a predetermined circuit provided in the case 3. Connected with. The circuit configuration in the battery pack 2 will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the electrical connector 14 includes a disk-shaped flange portion 24 and a substantially cylindrical connector main body portion 22 having an outer shape smaller than the flange portion. The outer diameter of the connector main body portion 22 is designed to be slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the connector insertion port 4 of the battery pack 2, and when the connector main body portion 22 is inserted into the connector insertion port 4, the connector main body. The central axis of the portion 22 is substantially coincident with the central axis of the connector insertion opening 4.

  At the center of the front end surface of the connector main body 22, the front end of a power receiving terminal 26 as a main terminal that receives power from the discharge electrode 6 of the battery pack 2 protrudes. The tip of the terminal 28 protrudes at a circumferential position around the power receiving terminal 26 on the tip surface of the connector main body 22, and the terminal 30 is located at a position on the circumference outside the terminal 28. The tip is protruding. Terminals 28 and 30 are provided as sub-terminals.

  In this embodiment, the electrode 18 of the electrode substrate 8 is a charging electrode that receives power for charging the secondary battery 50 (see FIG. 7), and the electrode 20 controls on / off of discharge from the secondary battery 50. An output control electrode for receiving a signal for The terminal 28 of the electrical connector 14 is a charging terminal that contacts the charging electrode 18 and supplies charging power to the charging electrode 18. The terminal 30 of the electrical connector 14 is an output control terminal that contacts the output control electrode 20 and transmits an output control signal to the output switch circuit 56 (see FIG. 7) of the battery pack 2 through the output control electrode 20.

  An opening 23 is provided on the side surface of the connector main body 22, and a leaf spring-shaped minus side electrode 32 projects from the opening 23 on a substantially arc. One end (the lower end side in the figure) of the minus side electrode 32 is a free end, and when the connector main body 22 is inserted into the connector insertion port 4, an inner peripheral surface of the connector insertion port 4 is formed. In contact with the negative electrode 46 (see FIG. 5) to be elastically deformed, contact with the negative electrode 46 is always maintained by the elastic force.

  In this embodiment, the terminals 26, 28 and 30 of the electrical connector 14 are arranged in a straight line. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the terminals 28 and 30 It suffices if they are arranged at positions on the circumference corresponding to the eight substantially annular electrodes 18 and 20.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a holding portion 36 and coil springs 38, 40, and 42 that hold the terminals 26, 28, and 30 slidably in the axial direction are provided inside the electrical connector 4. . The coil spring 38 is inserted in a natural length or a compressed state between the ring 27 fixed to the tip end side of the terminal 26 and the holding portion 36. The coil spring 40 is inserted in a natural length or in a compressed state between the ring 29 fixed to the distal end side of the terminal 28 and the holding portion 36. The coil spring 42 is inserted in a natural length or in a compressed state between the ring 31 fixed to the distal end side of the terminal 30 and the holding portion 36. Accordingly, the terminals 26, 28 and 30 are always urged toward the distal end side of the connector main body 22 by the elastic force of the coil springs 38, 40 and 42.

  On the proximal end side of the connector main body 22, projections 34 protruding in the circumferential direction of the connector main body 22 are provided at three equal positions in the circumferential direction. The protrusion 34 passes through the three grooves 4a (see FIG. 1) provided in the opening of the battery pack 2, and the connector main body 22 is inserted into the connector until the protrusion 34 passes through the groove 4a. After being inserted into the opening 4, the battery pack 2 and the electrical connector 14 are shifted relative to each other in the rotational direction so that the edge 4 b of the opening of the battery pack 2 and the protrusion 34 are engaged, and the connector main body portion of the electrical connector 14. 22 is fixed in a state of being inserted into the connector insertion port 4.

  FIG. 5 shows a state where the electrical connector 14 is connected to the connector insertion port 4 of the battery pack 2.

  A fixing plate 44 is provided in the case 3 of the battery pack 2, and the electrode substrate 8 and a cylindrical negative electrode 46 are attached to the fixing plate 44. The electrode substrate 8 is attached so that the surface on which the electrodes 18 and 20 are provided faces the opening side, and the tip of the discharge electrode 6 is disposed at the center thereof. The minus side electrode 46 constitutes the inner wall surface of the connector insertion port 4.

  When connecting the electrical connector 14 to the connector insertion slot 4, the connector body 22 is inserted into the connector insertion slot 4, and the protrusion 34 is in the back of the groove 4 a at the edge of the connector insertion slot 4. Then, the electrical connector 14 and the battery pack 2 are relatively rotated, and the edge 4b of the opening of the connector insertion port 4 and the protrusion 34 are engaged. When the battery pack 2 and the electrical connector 14 are fixed, the tip of the terminal 26 is pressed against the discharge electrode 6 by the coil spring 38 in a compressed state, and the tip of the terminal 28 is pressed by the coil spring 40 in a compressed state. The tip of the terminal 30 is pressed against the electrode 20 by the coil spring 42 in a compressed state. Since the electrodes 18 and 20 of the electrode substrate 8 have an annular shape, contact with the terminals 28 and 30 is maintained even when the electrical connector 14 is rotated relative to the battery pack 2.

  The electrode 18 and the terminal 28, and the electrode 20 and the terminal 30 do not need to be in contact immediately after the electrical connector 14 is inserted into the connector insertion port 4, and the battery pack 2 and the electrical connector 14 are relatively rotated. Therefore, the electrodes having deformed substantially annular electrodes 18a and 20a as shown in FIG. 6 instead of the electrode substrate 8 of the battery pack 2 need only be in contact with each other when they are fixed. The substrate 8a may be used. The surface of the electrode substrate 8a is flattened by applying an insulating resist between the charging electrode 18a and the output control electrode 20a. When the electrical connector 14 is inserted into the connector insertion port 4 in accordance with the position of the protrusion 34 and the position of the groove 4a in the opening of the connector insertion port 4, the charging terminal 28 is connected to the charging electrode 18a. Is formed in such a pattern that the charging terminal 28 comes into contact with the charging electrode 18a when the electrical connector 14 is rotated and fixed relative to the battery pack 2 without contacting. This prevents the charging terminal 28 and the charging electrode 18a from contacting each other when the electrical connector 14 is not completely connected to the battery pack 2, and sparks when the electrical connector 14 is inserted into the connector insertion port 4. Is prevented from occurring.

  Returning to FIG. 1 and continuing the description, an output switch 10 and a charging connector connecting portion 12 are provided on the outer surface of the case 3 of the battery pack 2. The output switch 10 is used to switch the discharge from the secondary battery 50 (see FIG. 7) from the off state to the on state when the user presses the output switch 10. The charging connector connection unit 12 is for connecting a connector that supplies power for charging the secondary battery 50.

  The battery pack 2 uses the electrical connector 14 to output power from the secondary battery 50 (see FIG. 7) to the external device, charge the secondary battery 50, and pass through the external device via the electrical connector 14. On / off control of discharge of the secondary battery 50 can be performed. Further, the connector insertion port 4 can be connected to a general-purpose electrical connector having a terminal only at the center of the tip, such as a cigar plug, and the user can connect a general-purpose electrical connector to the connector insertion port 4. By pressing the output switch 10, the power of the secondary battery 50 can be output to an external device.

  An example of a circuit configuration in the battery pack 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The discharge electrode 6 and the charge electrode 18 of the connector insertion port 4 are connected to the secondary battery 50 via the charge / discharge switch unit 54. The secondary battery 50 is, for example, a lithium ion battery or a nickel metal hydride battery. The charging electrode 62 of the charging connector connecting portion 12 is also connected to the secondary battery 50 via the charging / discharging switch portion 54. The output control electrode 20 of the connector insertion port 4 is connected to the output switch circuit 56. The minus side electrode 46 of the connector insertion port 4 and the minus side electrode 64 of the charging connector connecting portion 12 are connected to the secondary battery 50 via the current detecting portion 60.

  The charge / discharge switch unit 54 is a circuit that switches on / off of charge / discharge from the secondary battery 50. The current detection unit 60 detects a discharge current or a charging current of the secondary battery 50, and the detected current value is taken into the control unit 52. The control unit 52 controls switching of the charge / discharge switch unit 54 based on the current detection value detected by the current detection unit 60 and a signal from the output switch circuit 56.

  The output switch circuit 56 discharges the secondary battery 50 to the control unit 52 when the output switch 10 on the outer surface of the case 3 is pressed or when a signal for turning on the output is input through the output control electrode 20. It is configured to send a signal to turn on. When the control unit 52 receives a signal for turning on the discharge of the secondary battery 50 from the output switch circuit 56, the control unit 52 switches the discharge from the secondary battery 50 from the off state to the on state via the charge / discharge switch unit 54. .

  The control unit 52 performs a predetermined display on the display unit 58 provided on the outer surface of the case 3 based on the voltage state and charge / discharge state information of the secondary battery 50. Examples of the display unit 58 include a light emitting diode provided around the output switch 10 and the like. The control unit 52 calculates the remaining amount of the secondary battery 50 based on the current information from the current detection unit 60 and displays the remaining amount calculation result on the display unit 58.

  Next, a power supply device using the battery pack 2 and the electrical connector 14 described in the above embodiment will be described.

  The power supply device 66 includes an installation unit that installs the plurality of battery packs 2, and includes a plurality of electrical connectors 14 in the installation unit. Each electrical connector 14 is connected to the input / output unit 70 via a common control unit 68. The control unit 68 is connected to an operation unit 72 for a user to operate from the outside.

  The input / output unit 70 includes, for example, an output unit capable of connecting a general-purpose connection terminal such as a universal serial bus (USB) terminal or a cigar plug, and an input unit capable of inputting charging power via an electrical outlet or the like. I have.

  Since the control unit 68 and each battery pack 2 are connected via the electrical connector 14, not only the output control from each battery pack 2 but also the charging control of the secondary battery 50 of each battery pack 2 and the secondary battery. The on / off switching control of the discharge from 50 can also be performed. For example, when the user wants to output a large amount of power by connecting an external device to the input / output unit 70, the user can output the power via the operation unit 72 without pressing the output switch 10 of each battery pack 2. Only by inputting a signal to instruct, a signal for turning on the discharge of the secondary battery 50 of each battery pack 2 is transmitted from the control unit 68, and power can be output from each battery pack 2.

2 Battery Pack 3 Case 4 Connector Insertion Port 4a Slot of Connector Insertion Port Opening 4b Edge of Connector Insertion Port Opening 6 Discharge Electrode (Main Electrode)
8, 8a Electrode board 10 Output switch 12 Connector connector for charging 14 Electrical connector 16 hole 18, 18a, 62 Charging electrode (sub electrode)
19, 21 Terminal 20, 20a Output control electrode (sub electrode)
22 Connector Body 24 Flange 26 Power Receiving Terminal (Main Terminal)
28 Charging terminal (sub terminal)
30 Output control terminal (sub terminal)
32 Negative terminal 34 Projection 38, 40, 42 Coil spring (elastic member)
46, 64 Negative side electrode 50 Secondary battery 52 Control unit 54 Charge / discharge switch unit 56 Output switch circuit 58 Display unit 60 Current detection unit 66 Power supply device 68 Control unit (power supply device)
70 Input / output unit 72 Operation unit

Claims (8)

A substantially cylindrical connector main body inserted into a connector insertion port provided as a substantially cylindrical recess on the outer surface of the electrical device;
A main terminal held by the connector main body so as to protrude from the center of the front end surface of the connector main body;
An electrical connector comprising: a sub-terminal held by the connector main body so as to protrude from the front end surface at a position on a circumference of the main surface of the front end surface of the connector main body.   The connector main body includes an elastic member that elastically deforms in a direction parallel to the central axis of the connector main body, and supports the main terminal and the sub-terminal while urging the main terminal and the sub terminal toward the distal end side of the connector main body, The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein tips of the main terminal and the sub terminal can be displaced in a direction parallel to a central axis of the connector main body.   The connector main body is inserted into the connector insertion port until the main terminal and the sub terminal are pressed against the innermost surface of the connector insertion port, and the connector insertion portion is centered on the central axis. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is configured to be fixed in the connector insertion port when rotated relative to the port. Case and
A secondary battery housed in the case;
A connector insertion port that is provided as a substantially cylindrical recess on the outer surface of the case, and into which the connector main body of the electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is inserted.
A main electrode provided at the center of the innermost part in the connector insertion port, and in contact with the main terminal of the connector main body to the connector insertion port, and transmitting power from the secondary battery to the main terminal;
The connector inserted into the connector insertion port, provided in the innermost part of the connector insertion port, being electrically separated from the main electrode, having a substantially annular shape centering on the main electrode A battery pack comprising: a sub electrode in contact with the sub terminal of the main body.   The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein the sub electrode includes a charging electrode for receiving charging power for charging the secondary battery from the sub electrode of the connector main body. Electrically interposed between the secondary battery and the main electrode, comprising a discharge controller that switches on and off the discharge from the secondary battery,
5. The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein the sub electrode includes an output control electrode that transmits a signal for turning on discharge from the secondary battery to the discharge control unit from the sub electrode of the connector main body.   The connector insertion port is in a state where the connector body of the electrical connector is inserted until the main terminal and the sub terminal are pressed against the innermost surface of the connector insertion port. 7. The device according to claim 4, wherein the connector main body is configured to be fixed in the connector insertion port when the connector insertion port rotates relative to the connector about the central axis. 8. The battery pack described. A plurality of electrical connectors according to any one of claims 1 to 3 are provided, and a battery pack installation section for installing a plurality of battery packs according to any one of claims 4 to 7,
An output unit configured to output an output of the secondary battery of the battery pack connected to the electrical connector to an external device.

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