JP5124948B2 - Battery adapter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention generates a voltage corresponding to an electromotive force generated by a battery of a specified number of batteries that are held in the battery holder in the same manner as the battery and are used in series with the battery holder based on the power supplied from the battery. It relates to the battery adapter.

Many portable electronic devices and the like are configured to operate using a battery as a power source.
In such an electronic device, once a battery is loaded, there is a strong demand to be able to operate for a long time without replacing or charging the battery. In order to meet such a general demand, it is conceivable to use a battery having a small size and a large capacity. Therefore, a battery having a very large capacity has been realized recently.

  However, in a lithium ion battery or the like of a new material that can improve the energy density of the battery, the average battery voltage is lowered and the battery voltage change rate is large. For this reason, there is a phenomenon that the electromotive force of the battery falls below the required voltage required by the electronic device rather than the conventional battery, and despite the fact that the capacity is increased, There was a problem that the remaining energy could not be fully utilized.

In recent years, techniques for solving such problems have been proposed. In this proposal, a buck-boost converter that operates using a battery as a power source is mounted on an electronic device, and the buck-boost converter is operated in a step-down mode while the battery voltage is higher than the power supply voltage required on the electronic device side. When the battery voltage drops below the required power supply voltage, this buck-boost converter is operated in the boost mode, and even if the battery voltage drops, the power supply voltage necessary for the electronic equipment to operate is maintained by the buck-boost converter. This can be done (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-47238 A (paragraphs 0074 to 0077, FIG. 8)

Patent Document 1 described above discloses a technique for efficiently using a new material such as a lithium ion battery. The same kind of technical problem can be applied to other batteries.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating discharge characteristics according to the type of battery. In FIG. 9, the characteristics of the alkaline battery (alkaline manganese battery) are expressed as “alkali (manganese)”, the characteristics of the nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery are expressed as “NiMH”, and the characteristics of the high capacity nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery are “NiMH high”. “Capacity”.

A large number of electronic devices designed for alkaline batteries (alkali manganese batteries) are provided in the market such as portable devices.
In general, such an electronic device is designed in accordance with the discharge characteristics of an alkaline battery (alkaline manganese battery). The characteristics of this battery are such that the starting voltage per battery cell is 1 as shown in FIG. Designed to start at .7V and end voltage α is around 1.2V.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the batteries are mounted in series so as to be juxtaposed to the battery holder, and FIG. 11 is a state in which the batteries are mounted in series in the battery holder and used in series. FIG. As understood from FIGS. 10 and 11, an electronic device using two alkaline batteries (alkali manganese batteries) in series has a final voltage of approximately 2.4V.

On the other hand, the use of secondary batteries such as nickel metal hydride rechargeable batteries is expanding from the viewpoint of global environmental conservation, and the performance is also very good.
In general, alkaline batteries (alkaline manganese batteries) have a risk of leakage and cause battery-driven portable devices to fail. However, conventional electronic devices do not take any measures to prevent leakage. There are numerous electronic devices that have been destroyed (unusable).

On the other hand, since the nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery is less likely to leak, effective utilization is desired from this viewpoint.
However, the discharge characteristics of the nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery are such that the starting voltage per battery cell starts from 1.4V and the end voltage is around 1.1V.
In addition, the nickel-metal hydride rechargeable batteries that have recently increased in capacity have a final voltage β of 1.0 V as shown in FIG. For this reason, if a nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery is used in an electronic device that is designed to use the above alkaline battery (alkaline manganese battery), the electronic device stops operating without fully utilizing its capacity. Resulting in.

Furthermore, the nickel-metal hydride rechargeable battery is charged without being sufficiently discharged, and the environment for using the nickel-metal hydride rechargeable battery is not good.
Even in such a situation, if an electronic device is designed by applying the technology described in the above-mentioned patent document, it can be expected to see a temporary solution to the problem.
However, other problems as described below remain in place. That is, since the technology described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a step-up / down converter in the main body of the device to which the battery is applied, the advantage of this technology is already applied to battery-operated devices that are already used in large quantities all over the world. It is a problem that it cannot be a target to make the best use of.

On the other hand, providing a buck-boost converter also leads to a uniform increase in the cost of the electronic device body.
The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and even if the voltage of the battery decreases without requiring any difficult measures such as remodeling the main body of an existing electronic device. An object of the present invention is to provide a battery adapter that can maintain a power supply voltage necessary for the electronic device to operate.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present application proposes the following techniques.
(1) A battery holder configured to hold a plurality of batteries having a rated number and obtain an electromotive force as a rated value by using the plurality of batteries in series is held in the battery holder. It has an outer shell with a shape and size suitable for holding the battery in place of one battery, and when the battery is held in the battery holder instead of the battery held in the battery holder, A converter for generating a voltage corresponding to the electromotive force as the rated value by receiving a voltage corresponding to the total value of the electromotive forces of the batteries smaller than the rated number held therein is provided in the outer shell portion. A battery adapter characterized by

In the battery adapter of the above (1), a battery holder configured to obtain an electromotive force as a rated value by using a plurality of rated batteries in series, for example, held or stored in the battery holder. This battery adapter is applied to one of the batteries instead.
Since the battery adapter has an outer shell having a shape and size suitable for holding itself in place of the one battery held in the battery holder in this way, the battery holder is like the battery in this way. I get used to it.

When the battery adapter is held in the battery holder, the converter provided in the outer shell of the battery adapter is an actual battery held in the battery holder (referred to as “real battery” in this specification as appropriate) or a series connection thereof. (The number of connections is one less than the rated number.) When a voltage corresponding to the total value of the electromotive force is supplied and all batteries are loaded in the battery holder, all batteries are connected in series. A voltage corresponding to the electromotive force is generated.
Therefore, even if the actual electromotive force of each single battery held in the battery holder decreases to a value that interrupts the required voltage value from the load side characteristics, the converter action causes a relatively long period of time. In the meantime, the output voltage value of the battery holder can maintain the rated value necessary for the load.

(2) The outer shell portion has a battery suitable for the battery holder and a positive electrode side contact portion and a negative electrode side contact portion that equalize the distance between the positive and negative electrodes, and further, from the outer shell portion to the converter. (1) The battery adapter according to (1), wherein a lead wire for power supply on the positive electrode side (or the negative electrode side) is provided so as to be led out from a predetermined portion of the outer shell portion.

In the battery adapter of (2) above, the battery adapter of (1) is particularly similar to the shape and dimensions of the actual battery in the outer shell, and it is good for loading into the battery holder instead of the actual battery. Get used to it.
A power supply lead for supplying power on the positive side (or negative side) of the internal converter is led out from the outer shell of the battery adapter. Therefore, when the battery adapter is mounted on the battery holder and the battery terminal portion to be powered for the internal converter is located away from itself, power is supplied through this power supply lead. Can be done without any problems.

(3) The outer shell portion has positive and negative bipolar end portions and a peripheral surface portion that are generally similar to the outer shape of a substantially cylindrical battery that fits the battery holder, and a part of the peripheral surface portion is adjacent to the adjacent portion. (2) The battery adapter according to (2), wherein a recess having a relatively small diameter is formed, and the power supply conductor is wound around the recess.

  In the battery adapter of the above (3), in particular, in the battery adapter of (2), the outer shell part is a positive and negative electrode that is generally similar to the outer shape of, for example, an AA or AAA battery that fits the battery holder. And a recess having a small diameter relative to the adjacent portion is formed in a part of the periphery, and the power supply conductor is wound around the recess. Therefore, even when the power supply lead is sufficiently long to reach the battery terminal part that is located far away, when not in use, or when it is not required to be used with a relatively long extension Since the power supply lead can be wound around the recess, the power supply lead is unnecessarily extended to prevent the battery adapter or the actual battery from being finely loaded in the battery holder. There is no fear, Is also effectively avoided that such an obstacle in handling such as attachment and detachment manipulation of the pond holder.

(4) The power supply lead wire includes a contact conductor portion for obtaining electrical contact with a predetermined contact of the battery holder at an end portion led out from the outer shell portion to the outside. The battery adapter of (2) characterized.
In the battery adapter of (4) above, particularly in the battery adapter of (2), a contact conductor portion for obtaining electrical contact with a predetermined contact of the battery holder is provided at the end of the power supply lead. ing. The predetermined contact is a contact that contacts the positive electrode (or negative electrode) terminal of the battery to be supplied with power to the battery adapter (the converter inside the battery adapter). Obtaining contact means that power is supplied from the terminal on the positive electrode side (or negative electrode side) of the battery.

(5) The battery adapter according to (1), wherein the converter includes an operation mode switching means for switching and using the rated values of the input voltage and the output voltage.
In the battery adapter of the above (5), in particular, in the battery adapter of (1), the internal converter is provided with operation mode switching means for switching the rated values of the input voltage and the output voltage. The operation mode can be switched to meet various conditions such as how many batteries are loaded (rated number) and what is the rated voltage value supplied to the load side.

(6) The battery adapter according to (3), wherein the outer shell portion includes a concavo-convex portion for facilitating an attachment / detachment operation to / from the battery holder on the peripheral surface portion.
In the battery adapter of the above (6), in particular, the battery adapter of (3) is provided with an uneven portion for facilitating the attachment / detachment operation to the battery holder on the peripheral surface portion of the outer shell portion. Even when the holding force is large, the uneven portion becomes a so-called finger hook, and the battery adapter can be easily attached and detached.

(7) The power supply conductor has a total length that can be extended and used according to a relative position between the battery holder-side contact with which the contact conductor portion contacts and the battery adapter. (2) Battery adapter.
In the battery adapter of the above (7), in particular, in the battery adapter of (2), the relative contact between the battery holder side contact with which the contact conductor part contacts (that is, the battery terminal to be powered from) and the battery adapter. Even if the position is separated, the power supply lead can be extended to reach the separated position.

(8) When the battery adapter is used, the contact conductor portion is inserted between the electrode portion of the corresponding battery and the contact of the battery holder corresponding to the electrode portion. The battery adapter according to (4), wherein the battery adapter is formed so as to have a plate-like portion formed so as to obtain electrical contact with the battery adapter.
In the battery adapter of (8), in particular, in the battery adapter of (4), for example, the plate-like portion is provided between the contact electrode portion of the corresponding battery and the contact of the battery holder corresponding to the electrode portion. It is possible to obtain electrical contact with both the electrode part and the contactor by interposing it in a sandwiched manner.

(9) The battery according to (4), wherein the contact conductor portion is formed to have a mounting portion that can be detachably mounted at one end portion of the battery adapter when the battery adapter is not used. adapter.
In the battery adapter of (9) above, the contact conductor portion can be detachably attached to one end of the battery adapter at the attachment portion particularly when the battery adapter is not used in the battery adapter of (4). The contact conductor portion is avoided from being suspended in the state of being suspended from the end of the power supply lead wire, and is easy to handle with little trouble when stored.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings to be referred to below, for the sake of convenience, the main part that is the subject of the description is exaggerated as appropriate, and other than the main part is appropriately simplified or omitted.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which the battery adapter of the present invention is applied to a battery holder having specifications for mounting two batteries side by side.

  In FIG. 1, the battery holder is the same as a known one, and the structure portion is not shown and only the contact is shown. This battery holder is of a type that uses batteries connected in series as usual, and the first contactor 11 serving as the output terminal on the positive electrode side is connected to connect the negative and positive electrodes of the two batteries. The negative electrode-side second contact 12, the positive electrode-side third contact 13, and the negative electrode-side output terminal 14 are provided.

In this example, an ordinary nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery (denoted as “NiMH”) 110 is provided between the first contact 11 and the second contact 12 between the third contact 13 and the fourth contact 14. A battery adapter 120 as an embodiment of the present invention is attached.
In the outer shell 121 of the battery adapter 120, a circuit of the converter 122 is provided symbolically as “circuit”.

In FIG. 1 and the drawings referred to below, the notations “A”, “B”, and “G” are added for the sake of convenience in order to facilitate comparison with the input / output equivalent circuit.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the battery adapter of the present invention is applied to a battery holder having a specification in which two batteries are mounted in tandem. In FIG. 2, an ordinary nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery (noted as “NiMH”) 110 is provided between the positive electrode side contactor 21 and the negative electrode side contactor 22 on the negative electrode side contactor 22 side, and a main battery on the positive electrode side contactor 21 side. A battery adapter 120 as an embodiment of the invention is attached. In FIG. 2, other parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an input / output equivalent circuit for the battery adapter of FIGS. 1 and 2. As can be understood with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, when the output end (positive electrode side) of the battery adapter 120 (the converter 122 in the battery adapter 120) is A and the negative electrode side is B, this negative electrode side B is at the same potential as the positive electrode side of the nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery 110.
Regarding the power source for operation of the converter 122 in the battery adapter 120, the positive electrode side of the converter 122 (that is, the negative electrode side B of the battery adapter 120) contacts the positive electrode side of the nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery 110. The electromotive force is applied from the negative electrode side of the converter 122 through the power supply lead 123 (ie, the fourth contact 14 of the battery holder in FIG. 1, the negative electrode in FIG. 2). Side contact 22). As will be described in detail later, the connection of the power supply lead 123 to the negative electrode side of the rechargeable battery 110 is performed at a predetermined portion of the battery holder at the end portion led out from the outer shell 120 of the power supply lead 123. This is ensured by the contact conductor 130 provided to obtain electrical contact with the contact.

When the operation power supply is connected as described above, the converter 122 is supplied with the same type of nickel metal hydride charge when 1.1 V, which is a substantially end voltage of the nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery 110, is supplied as the lower limit input voltage. It is configured to generate an output voltage of approximately 3.0 V, which is a rated electromotive force when two batteries are used in series.
In view of the embodiment of the present invention described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the technical idea is summarized and summarized as follows.

  That is, the battery adapter 110 holds a plurality (two in the illustrated example) of batteries (in this case, nickel-metal hydride rechargeable batteries 110) which are rated numbers, and uses these batteries in series to provide a rated value. As a battery holder configured to obtain an electromotive force (3.0 V) as one battery held in the battery holder (in the case of FIG. 2. In the case of FIG. 2, it is suitable to hold itself in place of the ones in the column in the right side, that is, the battery holder that is held on the output side of the positive electrode. The outer shell 121 is shaped and dimensioned.

  Further, when the battery adapter 110 is held in the battery holder in place of the battery held in the battery holder, the battery adapter 110 is smaller in number than the rated number (two pieces) held in the battery holder (illustrated). In this case, a voltage corresponding to the total value of the electromotive forces of the batteries (in the case of the figure, the corresponding one electromotive force itself) (for example, the approximate end voltage of the nickel-metal hydride rechargeable battery 110 as the lower limit input voltage). And a converter that generates a voltage (3.0 V) corresponding to the electromotive force as the rated value.

Since the battery adapter 110 as described above has the outer shell portion 121 having a shape and size suitable for holding itself in place of one battery held in the battery holder, the battery adapter 110 is thus attached to the battery holder. Is as familiar as a real battery.
In addition, the actual electromotive force of each single battery held in the battery holder is reduced to a value that cuts a required voltage value (for example, 1.2V which is the end voltage of the alkaline battery) from the characteristics on the load side. (For example, even if the voltage drops to about 1.1 V, which is the end voltage of the nickel-metal hydride rechargeable battery), the output voltage value of the battery holder is applied to the load over a relatively long period of time by the action of the converter 120. Necessary rated value (3.0V) can be maintained.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the battery adapter in FIGS. 1 to 3. The outer shell 121 of the battery adapter 120 includes a battery (for example, AA type or AAA type nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery) suitable for the battery holder described above and a positive electrode side contact part 125 that equalizes the distance between the positive and negative electrodes. Further, a power supply lead wire 123 from the outer shell 121 to the positive electrode side of the converter (or the negative electrode side: the negative electrode side in the examples of FIGS. 1 to 3) from the outer shell 121 is a predetermined part of the outer shell 121. It is provided so as to be led out from the part.

  In the battery adapter 120 of FIG. 4, the outer shell 121 has an outer shape that is generally similar to the outer shape of, for example, an AA or AAA battery that fits the battery holder, that is, the ends of the positive and negative electrodes. A portion 121a, 121b and a peripheral surface portion 121c are formed, and a concave portion 121d having a small diameter relative to an adjacent portion is formed in a part of the peripheral surface portion 121c, and a power supply lead wire 123 is wound around the concave portion 121d. It is configured as follows.

For this reason, even when the power supply lead 123 is long enough to reach the terminal portion of the battery, the usage is not required when it is not in use or extended relatively long. In this case, the power supply conductor 123 can be appropriately wound around the recess 121d.
Accordingly, there is no possibility that the power supply lead wire 123 is unnecessarily extended to prevent the battery adapter 120 or the actual battery from being finely loaded into the battery holder, and handling such as an operation of attaching / detaching the battery holder is performed. The possibility of causing trouble is effectively avoided.

  On the other hand, the power supply lead wire 123 includes a battery holder side contact with which the contact conductor portion 130 contacts (that is, the fourth contact 14 of the battery holder in FIG. 1, the negative contact 22 in FIG. 2) and the battery adapter. It has a total length that can be extended according to the relative position with respect to 120. For this reason, the battery holder side contactor to which the contact conductor portion 130 should be in contact (that is, the terminal of the battery from which power is to be taken, in the illustrated example, the negative electrode side of the nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery 110) and the battery adapter 120. Even if the relative position of the converter 122 is distant, it can be extended until it reaches the distant position, and the operation power supply of the converter 122 can be secured by using the power supply lead 123.

On the other hand, in one embodiment of the battery adapter 120, the outer shell portion 121 includes an uneven portion 121e on the peripheral surface portion 121c for facilitating the attachment / detachment operation to the battery holder. In the case of the embodiment of FIG. 4, the uneven portion 121 e is formed by two grooves 121 f and 121 g provided in the peripheral surface portion 121 c of the outer shell portion 121.
In such an embodiment, in particular, the peripheral surface portion 121c of the outer shell portion 121 is provided with such uneven portions 121f and 121g for facilitating the attachment / detachment operation to the battery holder. Even when the holding force is large, the uneven portions 121f and 121g become so-called finger hooks, and the battery adapter 120 can be easily attached and detached.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating one form of the contact conductor 130 at the tip of the power supply conductor 123 of the battery adapter 120 of FIG. When the battery adapter 120 is used, the contact conductor portion 130 of FIG. 5 is a contact portion of the battery holder 120 corresponding to the electrode portion (the negative electrode side end portion 121b of the nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery 110) and the corresponding electrode portion. In FIG. 1, it is inserted between the fourth contact 14 of the battery holder and the negative contact 22) in FIG. 2 so as to obtain electrical contact with both the electrode part and the contact. It is shaped so as to have a plate-like portion 130a.

For this reason, the contact conductor part 130 is inserted between the electrode part of the corresponding battery and the contactor of the battery holder corresponding to the electrode part, for example, so as to sandwich the plate-like part 130p. Electrical contact with both can be obtained reliably.
Further, when the battery adapter 120 is not used, the contact conductor portion 130 of FIG. 5 is detachably attachable to one end portion of the battery adapter 120 (the negative electrode side of the outer shell portion 121 of the battery adapter 120). In the example shown in the figure, it is formed so as to have three pieces of mounting portions 130a, 130a, 130a.

  In this embodiment, when the battery adapter 120 is not used, the contact conductor portion 130 can be detachably attached to one end portion of the battery adapter 120 by the attachment portions 130a, 130a, 130a. It is avoided that 130 is suspended in the state of being suspended from the end of the power supply lead wire 123, and it is easy to handle with little trouble when stored.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the portion of the outer shell 121 located closer to the positive electrode side contact portion 125 than the concave portion 121d is around the central axis with respect to the other portion (portion on the negative electrode side contact portion 126 side). It is possible to obtain a click feeling at every predetermined rotation angle, and the converter input corresponding to each click position by such a swinging rotation. You may make it add the operation mode switching means comprised so that the operation mode for switching and using the rated value of a voltage and an output voltage may be switched.

In the configuration with the operation mode switching means as described above, the number of battery holders (rated number) for the specifications of the battery holder, the rated voltage value supplied to the load side, etc. The operation mode can be switched and used to meet various conditions, and versatility is improved.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another form of the contact conductor 130 at the tip of the power supply conductor 123 of the battery adapter 120 of FIG. As is apparent from the figure, the contact conductor portion 130 is configured as a very small so-called wormworm clip 130b. It can be used by being fastened to an appropriate part as required.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the battery adapter of the present invention is applied to a battery holder having specifications for mounting four batteries side by side.
FIG. 8 is a diagram of an input / output equivalent circuit for the battery adapter of FIG.
7 and FIG. 8, the same reference numerals are given to the corresponding parts in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 described above, and their respective descriptions are omitted, but the battery adapter of the present invention is thus The battery can be used by being applied to this battery holder instead of one of the batteries mounted on the battery holder of a specification that uses four batteries in series.

As can be easily understood from the above, the battery adapter of the present invention is attached to a battery holder of a type that uses two, three, four, five, or six batteries in series. Instead of at least one of the batteries, a battery holder can be used.
The case where the battery is applied to a battery holder of a type using two batteries in series is as described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, but the battery holder of a type using three batteries in series is used. In the case of application, even if the electromotive force of each battery is lowered to around 1.0 V as the minimum value, it receives two series electromotive forces of 2.0 V and obtains an output of 4.5 V, and so on. In the type using four batteries in series, the output of 6.0V is obtained by receiving three series electromotive forces of 3.0V, and in the type using five batteries in series, four series electromotive forces of 4.0V are used. In order to obtain an output of 7.5V, the converter is configured to receive an output of 9.0V by receiving 5 series electromotive forces of 5.0V in a type using six batteries in series.

  In the embodiment of the present invention described above, when used in combination with a nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery as an actual battery, there are various advantages as described below. That is, the nickel metal hydride battery can be adapted to an electronic device having a specification that operates with the current alkaline manganese battery. In this case, there is no risk of leakage, and it can be used repeatedly by charging, so it is recommended from the viewpoint of nature protection.

  In addition, the capacity of the high capacity (low voltage) nickel metal hydride battery can be fully utilized. That is, when the end voltage is set to 1.1 V as in the case of using the current alkaline manganese battery for the nickel metal hydride battery, only two thirds of the new high capacity nickel metal hydride battery capacity can be used. By applying the battery adapter of the present invention as described above, it becomes possible to effectively use the end voltage of the new high capacity nickel metal hydride battery capacity 1.0 V, which is the end voltage of the new high capacity nickel metal hydride battery capacity. Can be fully used.

  At the time of filing the present application, the performance of nickel-metal hydride batteries is extremely rapid, and the battery capacity was 1600 mAH five years ago, but is now 2700 mAH (almost 800 mAH for alkaline manganese batteries). ) Even in an electronic device having specifications of two alkaline manganese batteries in series, a combination of one nickel metal hydride battery and the battery adapter of the present invention can be used for a long time without charging (replacing) the battery.

Overall, high-performance nickel metal hydride rechargeable batteries can be used for many electronic devices designed with specifications using alkaline manganese batteries. Therefore, it is very effective for global environmental conservation because it is repeatedly used by charging without being discarded.
Further, in the equipment design, assuming the use of the battery adapter of the present invention, the high-performance nickel-metal hydride rechargeable battery can be used as it is for the alkaline manganese battery design, and the equipment cost is reduced.

  In addition, it is configured to output a 3V constant voltage by inserting one nickel metal hydride battery and one battery adapter of the present invention into a battery holder of two AA (or AAA) batteries, When the input to the converter of the battery adapter becomes 0.9 V or less, which is the end voltage of the nickel metal hydride battery, the converter operation may be stopped to prevent over discharge of the nickel metal hydride battery.

Furthermore, when such a battery adapter is planned to be used and the operation of the battery adapter (the converter) is stopped, the operation of the battery-operated device itself may be stopped.
Alternatively, when the supply current from the battery to the load is very small (when the power supply is turned off on the battery-operated device side), the battery adapter (its converter) is automatically put into a standby mode so as to suppress unnecessary current consumption. You may comprise.

  On the other hand, the circuit of the converter is described with reference to FIG. 4 by adopting a configuration that fits about half of the outer shell of the battery adapter (and thus, for example, the outer shape of the AA or AAA type actual battery). The degree of freedom of design such as the position and size of the recess 121d around which the power supply lead wire 123 is wound is ensured. Alternatively, the shape of the outer shell 120 can be variously modified.

It is a figure showing a mode that the battery adapter of this invention was applied to the battery holder of the specification which mounts | wears with two batteries. It is a figure showing a mode that the battery adapter of this invention was applied to the battery holder of the specification which mounts | wears so that two batteries may be cascaded. It is a figure of the equivalent circuit of the input-output regarding the battery adapter of FIG. 1 and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the battery adapter in FIGS. 1 to 3. It is a figure showing one form of the contact conductor part of the lead wire for power supply of the battery adapter of FIG. It is a figure showing the other form of the contact conductor part of the lead wire for power supply of the battery adapter of FIG. It is a figure showing a mode that the battery adapter of this invention was applied to the battery holder of the specification which mounts 4 batteries side by side. It is a figure of the equivalent circuit of the input / output regarding the battery adapter of FIG. It is a figure showing the discharge characteristic according to the classification of a battery. It is a figure showing the state in the case of mounting | wearing so that a battery may be juxtaposed to a battery holder, and using it in series. It is a figure showing the state in the case of mounting | wearing with a battery holder so that it may cascade and using it in series.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... 1st contactor 12 ... 2nd contactor 13 ... 3rd contactor 14 ... 4th contactor 21 ... Positive electrode side contactor 22 ... Negative electrode side contactor 110 ... Nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery 120 ... Battery adapter 121 ... Outer shell portion 121a ... Positive electrode end portion 121b ... Negative electrode end portion 121c ... Peripheral surface portion 121d ... Recessed portion 121e ... Uneven portion 121f ... Groove (uneven portion) 121g ... Groove (uneven portion) 122 ... Converter 123 ... For power supply Conductive wire 130 ... Contact conductor portion 130a ... Mounting portion 130b ... Morworm clip 130p ... Plate-like portion

Claims (8)

One battery held in the battery holder with respect to a battery holder configured to hold a plurality of batteries of a rated number and use the plurality of batteries in series to obtain an electromotive force as a rated value It has an outer shell with a shape and size that fits to be held by itself and is held by the battery holder when it is held by this battery holder instead of the battery held by the battery holder. A converter for generating a voltage corresponding to the electromotive force as the rated value in response to the supply of a voltage corresponding to the sum of the electromotive forces of the batteries less than the rated number is provided in the outer shell portion,
The outer shell portion has a battery suitable for the battery holder and a positive electrode side contact portion and a negative electrode side contact portion that equalize the distance between the positive and negative electrodes, and further, from the outer shell portion to the positive electrode side of the converter ( The battery adapter is characterized in that a power supply lead wire on the negative electrode side is provided so as to be led out from a predetermined portion of the outer shell portion.   The outer shell portion has positive and negative bipolar end portions and a peripheral surface portion that are generally similar to the outer shape of a substantially cylindrical battery that fits the battery holder, and has a small diameter relative to an adjacent portion at a part of the peripheral surface portion. The battery adapter according to claim 1, wherein a concave portion is formed, and the power supply lead is wound around the concave portion.   The power supply conducting wire includes a contact conductor portion for obtaining electrical contact with a predetermined contact of the battery holder at an end portion led out to the outside from the outer shell portion. The battery adapter according to claim 1.   The battery adapter according to claim 1, wherein the converter includes an operation mode switching means for switching and using a rated value of an input voltage and an output voltage.   3. The battery adapter according to claim 2, wherein the outer shell portion includes a concavo-convex portion for facilitating an attachment / detachment operation to / from the battery holder on the peripheral surface portion. The power supply conductors, claim 3, characterized in that it has a full length of the contact conductor portion may use extends in accordance with the relative positions of the battery holder side contact and the battery adapter to take contact The battery adapter described in 1.   When the battery adapter is used, the contact conductor portion is inserted between the electrode portion of the corresponding battery and the contact of the battery holder corresponding to the electrode portion, so that the electrical contact between both the electrode portion and the contact portion is achieved. The battery adapter according to claim 3, wherein the battery adapter is shaped to have a plate-like portion formed so as to obtain a mechanical contact.   The battery adapter according to claim 3, wherein the contact conductor portion is formed to have a mounting portion that can be detachably mounted at one end portion of the battery adapter when the battery adapter is not used. .

Images