JP7263687B2 - Battery and connection equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present technology relates to a technical field of a battery in which a guided groove is formed in a housing in which cells are accommodated, and a connection device to which this battery is connected.

Some electronic devices, including various imaging devices such as still cameras and video cameras, are operable on battery power. The battery is, for example, charged by being attached to a charger, and in the charged state is attached to the battery attachment portion of the electronic device. Since these chargers and electronic devices are connected to the battery, they function as connecting devices.

The battery as described above is provided with a connector having a connection terminal, and the electrode terminal of the charger or the electrode terminal provided on the battery mounting part is connected to the connection terminal to charge the battery or to connect the battery to the electronic device. is supplied (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The battery described in Patent Document 1 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing, a cell housed inside the housing, and a connector electrically connected to the cell. are formed with grooves to be guided.

The battery is slid with respect to the connecting device such as a charger, and the guided groove is guided by the guide protrusions and guide rails of the connecting device, whereby the battery is attached to the connecting device and the connector is connected to the electrode terminal.

JP 2015-92511 A

By the way, since the battery is used by being attached to the charger or the battery attachment portion, if the size of the battery is large, the charger and the connecting device such as the electronic device also become large correspondingly. In addition, batteries are often carried around, and if the size is large, there is a risk that the portability will be reduced and handling will be inconvenient.

Therefore, an object of the present technology is to overcome the above-described problems and achieve miniaturization.

First, the battery according to the present technology is positioned on the opposite side in the height direction from the terminal portion having the plurality of terminal arrangement grooves and the positioning grooves in which the connection terminals to be connected to the electrode terminals of the connection device are arranged. a top surface and a bottom surface; a front surface and a rear surface located between the top surface and the bottom surface on the opposite side in the length direction; a side surface; two stepped surfaces continuous with the two side surfaces; and two grooved surfaces continuous with the two stepped surfaces and the bottom surface, wherein each of the two grooved surfaces and the entire guided groove is positioned closer to the bottom surface than the stepped surface, the groove forming surface is continuous with the rear surface, and the guided groove and the stepped surface are arranged in the height direction. and a part of the groove forming surface is positioned between the terminal arrangement groove and the positioning groove, the terminal arrangement groove and the positioning groove are opened at least to the front surface side, and an arrangement recess opening at least to the front surface is formed, and the arrangement recess is provided with the A terminal portion is arranged, and in the terminal portion, the surface located closest to the front side among the opening surfaces of the terminal placement groove and the positioning groove is the rear surface from the edge located closest to the front side of the placement recess. It is positioned on the side.

Secondly, in the battery according to the present technology described above, it is desirable that the rear surface is positioned outermost in the length direction.

Thirdly, in the battery according to the present technology described above, it is desirable that a part of the groove forming surface is positioned between the guided groove and the stepped surface in the height direction.

Fourthly, the battery according to the present technology described above preferably includes a plurality of guided grooves separated in the length direction .

Fifthly, in the battery according to the present technology described above, it is desirable that the grooved surface is continuous from the front surface to the rear surface .

Sixthly, in the battery according to the present technology described above, it is desirable that the step surface is continuous from the front surface to the rear surface .

Seventh, in the battery according to the present technology described above, the two groove forming surfaces each include an insertion groove that is opened, and the insertion groove is positioned between the bottom surface and the guided groove in the height direction. It is desirable that

Eighth, in the battery according to the present technology described above, it is desirable that the insertion groove communicates with the guided groove, and that at least one surface forming the insertion groove is continuous with the bottom surface.

Ninth, in the battery according to the present technology described above, it is desirable that the rear ends in the length direction of the two grooved surfaces are formed so as to approach each other in the width direction as they approach the rear surface.

Tenthly, in the battery according to the present technology described above, it is desirable that the front ends in the length direction of the two grooved surfaces are formed so as to approach each other in the width direction as they approach the front surface.

Eleventhly, in the battery according to the present technology described above, it is desirable that the distance between the two side surfaces in the width direction is greater than the distance between the two grooved surfaces in the width direction .

Twelfth, in the battery according to the present technology described above, it is desirable that the terminal portion is positioned closer to the front surface than to the rear surface in the length direction .

Thirteenthly, the battery according to the present technology described above preferably includes a plurality of guided grooves separated in the connection direction between the connection terminal and the electrode terminal .

Fourteenth, in the battery according to the present technology described above, the terminal arrangement groove in which the connection terminal is arranged is provided, and among the surfaces forming the terminal arrangement groove, the surface closest to the top surface is the step surface. It is desirable to be located closer to the bottom surface side .

Fifteenth, in the battery according to the present technology described above, the terminal arrangement groove in which the connection terminal is arranged is provided, and the surface closest to the top surface among the surfaces forming the terminal arrangement groove is the guided It is desirable that the groove is located closer to the top surface than the edge of the groove that is closest to the bottom surface .

Sixteenthly, in the battery according to the present technology described above, it is desirable that the terminal arrangement groove is opened toward the front surface .

Seventeenth, in the battery according to the present technology described above, the two side surfaces include a first side surface and a second side surface opposite to the first side surface in the width direction, and the two grooves The groove forming surface includes a first groove forming surface continuous with the bottom surface and a second groove forming surface continuous with the bottom surface, and the two step surfaces are separated from each other by the first groove forming surface and the first groove forming surface. a first step surface continuous with a side surface; a second step surface continuous with the second groove forming surface; and a second step surface continuous with the second side surface; a first guided groove opened in the surface and a second guided groove opened in the second groove-forming surface, wherein the first groove-forming surface and the second groove-forming surface It is desirable to be continuous with the back surface .

Eighteenthly, in the battery according to the present technology described above, at least the functional groove opened in the front surface is provided, and among the surfaces forming the functional groove, the surface located closest to the top surface side is the stepped surface. It is desirable to be positioned on the bottom side .

Nineteenth, in the battery according to the present technology described above, at least the functional groove opened in the front surface is provided, and the surface closest to the top surface of the surfaces forming the functional groove is the guided groove. Among them, it is desirable that the surface located closest to the top surface side is located closer to the bottom surface side .

Twentiethly, in the connection device according to the present technology described above, a terminal portion having a plurality of terminal arrangement grooves and positioning grooves in which connection terminals to be connected to electrode terminals of the connection device are arranged, a top surface and a bottom surface located on the opposite side in the length direction, a front surface and a rear surface located between the top surface and the bottom surface on the opposite side in the length direction, and a top surface and the bottom surface located on the opposite side in the width direction between the top surface and the bottom surface two side surfaces, two stepped surfaces connected to the two side surfaces, and two grooved surfaces connected to the two stepped surfaces and the bottom surface. In the battery, a guided groove is opened in each of the two groove-forming surfaces, the entire guided groove is located closer to the bottom surface than the stepped surface, and the groove-forming surface is continuous with the rear surface. , a part of the groove forming surface is positioned between the guided groove and the stepped surface in the height direction, the terminal arrangement groove and the positioning groove are opened at least on the front surface side, and An open arrangement recess is formed, the terminal portion is arranged in the arrangement recess, and the surface of the terminal portion that is located closest to the front side of the opening surfaces of the terminal arrangement groove and the positioning groove is the arrangement recess. , which is positioned closer to the rear surface than the edge positioned closest to the front surface.

According to the present technology, since the groove to be guided and the stepped surface are not positioned continuously and part of the groove forming surface is positioned between the groove to be guided and the stepped surface, the groove to be guided and the stepped surface are positioned continuously. Compared to the case of being positioned, the grooved surface and the stepped surface are closer to the cell, and miniaturization can be achieved.

It should be noted that the effects described in this specification are merely examples and are not limited, and other effects may be provided.

FIG. 2 to FIG. 61 show an embodiment of the battery and connecting device of the present technology, and this figure is an exploded perspective view showing the battery. It is a perspective view of a battery. It is a bottom view of a battery. It is a front view of a battery. It is a rear view of a battery. Fig. 2 is a side view of the battery; FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a storage case and connectors in the battery; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a battery with a different configuration of guide grooves; FIG. 4 is a side view of a battery with a different configuration of guide grooves; FIG. 10 is a side view of another battery with a different configuration of guide grooves; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a battery with a different configuration of guide grooves; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another battery with a different configuration of guide grooves; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of still another battery with a different configuration of guide grooves; FIG. 10 is a front view of a battery with a different configuration of an arrangement recess; FIG. 10 is a bottom view of another battery with a different arrangement recess configuration; FIG. 10 is a front view of another battery with a different arrangement recess configuration; FIG. 10 is a bottom view of still another battery with a different arrangement recess configuration; FIG. 10 is a front view of still another battery with a different arrangement recess configuration; 1 is a perspective view of an imaging device; FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a mounting space is opened in the imaging device; It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of a battery mounting part. FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing a state in which the battery is inserted into the mounting space of the battery mounting portion; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the battery is attached to the battery attachment portion; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a pressed recess is formed in the rear end portion of the battery and the battery is pressed by a pressing lever; It is a perspective view of a charger. It is a top view of a charger. Fig. 3 is a side view of the charger; Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a guide engaging portion and the like of the charger; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the battery is inserted into the mounting recess of the charger; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a battery is attached to the battery attachment portion of the charger; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a battery is attached to the battery attachment portion of the charger; FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which the battery is guided to the terminal connection portion when it is attached to the charger; FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which the battery is attached to the charger and the terminal connection portion and the connector are connected; FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example in which the connector is positioned above the bottom surface; FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example in which the connector is positioned rearward from the front surface and above the bottom surface; FIG. 10 is a bottom view showing an example in which one of the walls of the concave portion forming surface is inclined; FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example in which a pair of wall portions and an intermediate portion on the recess forming surface are inclined; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another example of a charger together with a battery; FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing yet another example of a charger together with a battery; FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which a battery is held by the charger in yet another example of the charger; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a battery in which three engaging recesses are formed; FIG. 11 is a side view showing an example of a battery in which an engagement recess is formed by opening in a guided groove on the frontmost side; FIG. 10 is a side view showing an example of a battery in which an engagement recess is formed to open in a guided groove on the rearmost side; FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of a battery in which an engaging recess is formed at the lower end of the rear end; Fig. 3 is an enlarged bottom view showing the front end of the battery; FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing dimensions of an identification groove; FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing another example of the shape of the identification groove; FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing an identification groove and the like in a large-capacity battery; FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing an identification groove and the like in a small-capacity battery; FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a battery mounting portion in a low power camera; FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a battery mounting portion in a medium-power camera; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a battery mounting portion in the high-power camera; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a battery mounting portion in the charger; FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining identifiability of an identification groove; FIG. 11 is an enlarged front view showing an example in which the second portion of the identification groove is formed in another shape; FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing an example of an identification groove in which a first portion and a second portion are continuously formed in the vertical direction; FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another shape of the wall portion on the recessed portion forming surface; It is a bottom view which shows another shape of the wall part in a recessed part formation surface. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a battery in which positioning grooves are formed in a housing; FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of a battery in which terminal arrangement grooves and positioning grooves are formed in a housing; FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another example of a battery in which terminal arrangement grooves and positioning grooves are formed in a housing;

Embodiments for implementing the battery and the connecting device of the present technology will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The battery is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and in the following description, the outer surfaces are the top surface (upper surface), the bottom surface (lower surface), the side surfaces (left and right sides), the front surface, and the rear surface, respectively, and the front, back, up, down, left, and right directions are indicated. shall be The vertical direction connecting the top side (top side) and the bottom side (bottom side) where the top (top) and bottom (bottom) are located is the height direction, and the left and right sides connecting the left and right sides where the left and right sides are located. The direction is the width direction, and the front-rear direction connecting the front side and the rear side where the front and back sides are located is also the length direction. In addition, the upper end portion including the top surface is the top side portion, the lower end portion including the bottom surface is the bottom side portion, and the left and right end portions including the side surfaces are the side portions (left side, right side). A portion on the front end side including the front surface is referred to as a front side portion, and a portion on the rear end side including the rear surface is referred to as a rear side portion. Further, the outer surfaces of the top side portion, the bottom side portion, the side portions, the front side portion, and the rear side portion are not limited to flat surfaces, and at least a portion thereof may be curved.

A still camera, which is an imaging device, is shown below as an example of a connected device to which a battery is connected. shall indicate direction. Therefore, the object side is the front, and the image plane side is the rear.

Furthermore, the charger is also shown below as another example of the connected device to which the battery is connected. The left and right directions shall be indicated. The charger has an insertion recess into which the battery is inserted. In the charger, the direction in which the battery is inserted is the bottom, and the direction in which the battery is slid and installed is the front. shall be

Note that the front, rear, up, down, left, and right directions shown below are for convenience of explanation, and implementation of the present technology is not limited to these directions.

<Battery configuration>
First, the configuration of the battery 1 will be described (see FIGS. 1 to 7).

The battery 1 is configured by arranging required parts inside and outside a housing 2 .

The housing 2 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and consists of a case cover (upper case) 3 and a storage case (lower case) 4 which are joined together at the top and bottom. The case cover 3 is formed in a box shape with an opening downward (see FIGS. 1 to 6). The housing case 4 is formed in a box-like shape with an upward opening. In a state in which the case cover 3 and the housing case 4 are joined together vertically to form the housing 2, the internal space of the housing 2 is formed as a housing space.

A separator 5, cells 6, 6, connection metal plates 7, 8, 8, and a circuit board 9 are arranged in the housing space of the housing 2 (see FIG. 1). A separator 5 is attached to the housing case 4 . The cells 6, 6 are arranged in a state of being partitioned left and right by a separator 5. - 特許庁The connection sheet metal 7 is connected to one terminal of the cells 6 , 6 , and the lower end is connected to an electrode terminal (not shown) formed on the lower surface of the circuit board 9 . The connection sheet metals 8, 8 are connected to the other terminals of the cells 6, 6, respectively, and their lower ends are connected to electrode terminals (not shown) formed on the lower surface of the circuit board 9, respectively. The circuit board 9 is attached to the housing case 4 and covered with the separator 5 from above except for a part.

The housing 2 has an outer surface 10 having a top surface 11, a bottom surface 12, side surfaces 13, 13, a front surface 14, and a rear surface 15, and the size in the front-rear direction (length direction) is larger than the size in the left-right direction (width direction). , the size in the horizontal direction (width direction) is larger than the size in the vertical direction (height direction) (see FIGS. 1 to 6). Slopes 16, 16 are formed on the housing 2 between the top surface 11 and the side surfaces 13, 13, respectively. The slopes 16 , 16 are displaced downward from the top surface 11 toward the side surfaces 13 , 13 .

The top surface 11, the bottom surface 12, the side surfaces 13, 13, the front surface 14, the rear surface 15, and the slopes 16, 16 are all formed as exterior surfaces 17, 17, .

Notches 2a, 2a are formed on both left and right sides of the lower end of the housing 2, respectively. The notch 2a is opened laterally (leftward or rightward), downward, forward and rearward, and is formed by a stepped surface 18 facing downward and extending longitudinally and a groove forming surface 19 facing laterally and longitudinally extending. The outer edge of the step surface 18 is continuous with the lower edge of the side surface 13 . The grooved surface 19 has an upper edge continuous with the inner edge of the stepped surface 18 and a lower edge continuous with the side edge of the bottom surface 12 . The stepped surface 18 and the grooved surface 19 are formed continuously from the front surface 14 to the rear surface 15, respectively.

The step surface 18 and the bottom surface 12 are formed as planes substantially parallel to each other, and the intermediate portion in the front-rear direction excluding both front and rear end portions of the grooved surface 19 and the side surfaces 13 are formed as planes substantially parallel to each other. The front ends of the groove forming surfaces 19, 19 are formed as outwardly convex curved surfaces 19a, 19a that are displaced toward each other as they approach the front surface 14, and the rear ends of the groove forming surfaces 19, 19 approach the rear surface 15. They are formed as outwardly convex curved surfaces 19b, 19b that are displaced toward each other. It can be said that the housing 2 is composed of a body portion 20 that is a portion above the imaginary plane including the stepped surfaces 18 and a bottom portion 21 that is a portion below the imaginary plane. . Note that the step surfaces 18 , 18 are included in the body portion 20 .

As described above, the grooved surfaces 19, 19 of the battery 1 are formed with the curved surfaces 19a, 19a, 19b, 19b at the front and rear end portions thereof, respectively. Therefore, it is possible to mitigate the impact and reduce the occurrence of breakage.

As described above, the housing 2 is provided with the upper portion including the stepped surfaces 18, 18 as the main body portion 20 with reference to the virtual plane including the stepped surfaces 18, 18, and the portion below the main body portion 20. is provided as the bottom portion 21 . The bottom portion 21 has a lateral width smaller than that of the main body portion 20, the distance between the side surfaces 13, 13 in the lateral direction is larger than the distance between the groove forming surfaces 19, 19, and the bottom portion 21 has grooves having respective functions. formed.

First guided grooves 22 , 22 , second guided grooves 23 , 23 , and third guided grooves 24 , 24 are spaced apart from each other in the right and left side portions of the bottom portion 21 in this order from the front side. The first guided groove 22 , the second guided groove 23 and the third guided groove 24 are all opened in the groove forming surface 19 .

The first guided groove 22 is formed in the front end portion of the bottom portion 21 and is opened laterally and forwardly. The second guided groove 23 extends forward and backward and is open laterally. Note that the second guided groove 23 may not be formed in the housing 2 . In this case, the portion where the second guided groove 23 was formed is formed by part of the groove forming surface 19 and part of the bottom surface 12 . The third guided groove 24 extends forward and backward and is open laterally. The third guided groove 24 may also have a shape that is open rearward (see FIG. 8).

Insertion grooves 25, 25 and insertion grooves 26, 26 are formed separately from each other in order from the front side on the left and right side portions of the bottom portion 21, respectively. Both the insertion groove 25 and the insertion groove 26 are opened in the groove forming surface 19 . The insertion groove 25 is opened laterally, upwardly, and downwardly, and the upper opening communicates with substantially the front half of the second guided groove 23 . The insertion groove 26 is opened laterally, upwardly, and downwardly, and the upper opening communicates with substantially the front half of the third guided groove 24 .

The portions between the lower edges 22b, 22b of the first guided grooves 22, 22 in the housing 2 and the bottom surface 12 are provided as first engaging claw portions 2p, 2p, respectively. The portions between the lower edges 23b, 23b of the guide grooves 23, 23 and the bottom surface 12 are provided as second engaging claw portions 2q, 2q, respectively, and the lower edges of the third guided grooves 24, 24 in the housing 2. The portions between 24b, 24b and the bottom surface 12 are provided as third engaging claw portions 2r, 2r, respectively. Both the first engaging claw portion 2p and the second engaging claw portion 2q are positioned closer to the front surface 14 than the center of the housing 2 in the front-rear direction, and the third engaging claw portion 2r is located in the front-rear direction of the housing 2. It is positioned on the rear surface 15 side of the center in the direction or in the rearmost region obtained by dividing the housing 2 into three equal parts in the front-rear direction.

In the above description, an example in which the first guided groove 22, the second guided groove 23, and the third guided groove 24 are separated from each other in the front-to-rear direction has been shown. 22, the second guided groove 23 and the third guided groove 24 may be formed as one guide groove 45 (see FIG. 9). The guide groove 45 is formed on the groove forming surface 19 from the front end to the rear end. Further, the first guided groove 22, the second guided groove 23, and the third guided groove 24 may be formed as one guide groove 46 (see FIG. 10). The guide groove 46 is formed on the groove forming surface 19 from the front end to the rear end.

In the above, an example in which the first guided groove 22, the second guided groove 23, and the third guided groove 24 are formed on the left and right sides of the housing 2 is shown. At least one of the first guided groove 22, the second guided groove 23, and the third guided groove 24 may be formed on each of the left and right sides of the .

For example, only the first guided groove 22 and the third guided groove 24 may be formed on one of the left and right, and only the second guided groove 23 may be formed on the other of the left and right (see FIG. 11). . Further, for example, only the first guided groove 22 and the second guided groove 23 are formed on one of the left and right sides, and only the second guided groove 23 and the third guided groove 24 are formed on the other of the left and right sides. (See FIG. 12). Furthermore, for example, only the first guided groove 22 and the second guided groove 23 may be formed on one of the left and right sides, and only the third guided groove 24 may be formed on the other of the left and right sides (FIG. 13). reference).

Examples of such a configuration include the above-described examples (see FIGS. 11 to 13), and the first guided groove 22, the second guided groove 23, or the third guided groove 23 on one of the right and left sides. Only one of the guide grooves 24 is formed, and one or two of the first guided groove 22, the second guided groove 23, and the third guided groove 24 are formed on the other left and right sides. Or there is an example in which three guide grooves are formed. Only two of the first guided groove 22, the second guided groove 23, and the third guided groove 24 are formed on one of the left and right sides, and the first guide groove is formed on the other of the left and right sides. There is an example in which two or three of the guide groove 22, the second guide groove 23, and the third guide groove 24 are formed.

A placement recess 27 is formed in the front end portion of the bottom portion 21 (see FIG. 7). The placement recess 27 is formed substantially in the center in the left-right direction and is open forward and downward. A placement hole 28 is formed in the housing 2 so as to communicate with the portion of the placement recess 27 excluding the front end portion and penetrate vertically.

The upper edge 22a of the first guided groove 22, the upper edge 23a of the second guided groove 23, and the upper edge 24a of the third guided groove 24 are all positioned below the step surface 18, Between the first guided groove 22 and the stepped surface 18, between the second guided groove 23 and the stepped surface 18, and between the third guided groove 24 and the stepped surface 18, one part of the groove forming surface 19 is provided. There is a part (see FIGS. 2-7). Therefore, the distance from the lower end of the groove forming surface 19 to the upper edge 22a of the first guided groove 22, the distance from the lower end of the groove forming surface 19 to the upper edge 23a of the second guided groove 23, and the groove forming surface 19 The distance from the lower end to the upper edge 24a of the third guided groove 24 is set smaller than the distance from the upper end to the lower end of the groove forming surface 19. As shown in FIG. The vertical distance (groove width) of the first guided groove 22, the second guided groove 23, and the third guided groove 24 is from the upper end of the groove forming surface 19 to the upper edges 22a, 23a, and 24a. The vertical distance between the first guided groove 22, the second guided groove 23, and the third guided groove 24 is the distance from the upper end of the groove forming surface 19 to the upper edge 22a. , 23a, 24a.

The corner 2f where the step surface 18 and the side surface 13 intersect may be chamfered. Alternatively, the length may be about 1/3. Also, one corner 2f may be chamfered, or both corners 2f, 2f may be chamfered. The chamfered width of the corner 2f may be the same as the width of the stepped surface 18 or may be smaller than the width of the stepped surface 18 .

Further, the corner 2g where the groove forming surface 19 and the bottom surface 12 intersect may be chamfered, and the corners 2h, 2h between the first guided groove 22 and the second guide groove 23 and the second guide groove 23 may be chamfered. Any or all of the corners 2i, 2i between the groove 23 and the third guide groove 24 and the corner 2j between the third guide groove 24 and the rear surface 15 may be chamfered. In this case, the corners 2g, 2h, 2i, and 2j on one of the left and right sides of the housing 2 or on both the left and right sides may be chamfered.

The placement recess 27 is formed by a recess forming surface 29 . The concave portion forming surface 29 is composed of a base portion 29a, wall portions 29b, 29b, and an intermediate portion 29c. The bottom edges of the recessed surfaces 29, 29 are continuous with the left and right side edges of the bottom surface 12, respectively. is greater than the distance of The upper edges of the recessed surfaces 29, 29 are continuous with the inner edges of the stepped surfaces 18, 18, respectively. is the same as the distance to The lower edge 22b of the first guided groove 22, the lower edge 23b of the second guided groove 23, and the lower edge 24b of the third guided groove 24 are all positioned above the lower edge of the groove forming surface 19. and the positions in the vertical direction are the same.

The base portion 29a is formed in a U-shape that is open forward and faces the horizontal direction. The wall portions 29b, 29b are continuous with the front end of the base portion 29a, and are formed as inclined surfaces separated from each other in the left-right direction toward the front. That is, the left wall portion 29b is formed into an inclined surface that approaches the left side surface 13 as it goes forward, and the right wall portion 29b is formed into an inclined surface that approaches the right side surface 13 as it goes forward. In addition, in the wall portions 29b, 29b, one wall portion 29b may be formed as an inclined surface, and the other wall portion 29b may be formed as a surface facing left or right without being inclined. The intermediate portion 29c faces downward and is formed between the lower edges of the wall portions 29b, 29b. The walls 29b, 29b are inclined at, for example, 45 degrees with respect to the plane facing the horizontal direction. The intermediate portion 29c is positioned below the stepped surface 18 and is at substantially the same height as the upper edges 22a, 23a, and 24a of the first guided groove 22, the second guided groove 23, and the third guided groove 24. or slightly below the upper edges 22a, 23a, 24a. Note that the intermediate portion 29c may be positioned above the upper edges 22a, 23a, 24a.

Identification grooves 30, 30 are formed in the front end portion of the bottom portion 21 so as to be separated from each other in the left and right directions. The identification groove 30 has a role as a function groove having a predetermined function, and identifies, for example, the type of a later-described charger functioning as a connected device. The functional groove is not limited to the identification groove 30, and instead of the identification groove 30, for example, a positioning groove for positioning a charger or the like, a detection groove for detecting the connection state of the charger or the like, or the like. A groove having a function other than the identification of is formed.

However, since the predetermined function is an identification function that identifies the type of connected device, the type of connected device is identified by the functional groove, and the battery is attached to the connected device, and the battery is attached to the connected device. By being in a state in which the battery is not connected, the type of connected device connected to the battery can be easily identified.

Note that the predetermined function may be a function of identifying the type of the battery itself.

The identification grooves 30, 30 are formed on opposite sides of the arrangement recess 27, respectively. The identification groove 30 is formed by continuously forming a first identification portion 31 and a second identification portion 32 having different front and rear lengths in the left-right direction.

The first identifying section 31 and the second identifying section 32 serve as a first functional section and a second functional section, respectively.

Of the surfaces forming the identification groove 30, the upper surface facing downward is formed as an inner bottom surface 30a. The inner bottom surface 30a is positioned below an intermediate portion 29c, which is a downward facing surface located on the upper side of the recess forming surface 29. As shown in FIG. Therefore, the depth of the identification groove 30 in the vertical direction is shallower than the depth of the placement recess 27 in the vertical direction. The inner bottom surface 30 a is located below the upper edges 22 a , 23 a and 24 a of the first guided groove 22 , the second guided groove 23 and the third guided groove 24 and the step surface 18 . Furthermore, the inner bottom surface 30a is located above the lower edges 22b, 23b, 24b of the first guided groove 22, the second guided groove 23, and the third guided groove 24. As shown in FIG. However, the inner bottom surface 30a may be positioned below the lower edges 22b, 23b, 24b, or may be positioned at the same height as the lower edges 22b, 23b, 24b.

Of the surfaces forming the identification groove 30, the front-facing surface located on the rear side of the first identification portion 31 is formed as a deep bottom surface 31a, and the surface of the second identification portion 32 located on the rear side and facing the front is formed. is formed as the inner bottom surface 32a. The inner bottom surfaces 31 a and 32 a are positioned forward of the rearmost front facing surface of the base portion 29 a among the recessed surfaces 29 and are positioned rearward of the front surface of the connector 33 . Further, the deep bottom surfaces 31 a and 32 a are located forward of the deep bottom surface 36 a of the terminal arrangement groove 36 and the deep bottom surface 37 a of the positioning groove 37 . Furthermore, the deep bottom surfaces 31 a and 32 a are located forward of the rear edge of the first guided groove 22 . However, the deep bottom surfaces 31a and 32a may be positioned rearward of the rear edge of the first guided groove 22, and may be positioned at the same position as the rear edge of the first guided groove 22 in the front-rear direction. good too.

The first identification portion 31 has a longer front-rear length than the second identification portion 32, and the inner bottom surface 31a is positioned slightly behind the inner bottom surface 32a. It is located closer to the placement recess 27 side. It can also be said that the second identification portion 32 is located closer to the side surface 13 than the first identification portion 31 is. The width of the second identifying portion 32 in the horizontal direction is smaller than the width of the first identifying portion 31 in the horizontal direction.

A connector 33 is arranged in the arrangement recess 27 of the housing 2 . The connector 33 is a portion that is connected to electrode terminals of a charger or the like that functions as a connecting device and functions as a terminal section, and has at least a positive terminal and a negative terminal.

The connector 33 has a housing 34 made of a non-conductive material and connection terminals 35, 35, 35 made of a conductive material, the connection terminals 35, 35, 35 being at least partially formed in the housing 34, respectively. are held in the housing 34 while being arranged in the terminal arrangement grooves 36 , 36 , 36 . The connection terminal 35 has a pair of contact portions in which one end portion of a metal piece is branched to the left and right from a predetermined portion. are arranged in the terminal arrangement grooves 36 in the state shown in FIG.

The connection terminals 35, 35, and 35 function as a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and an information terminal, respectively. has been

The information terminal is used not only for the connected equipment (to be described later) to recognize the internal temperature of the battery 1, but also for the connected equipment to recognize various types of information about the battery 1 such as remaining charge and deterioration information of the battery 1. .

The connector 33 may be provided with two terminal arrangement grooves 36 and 36 and two connection terminals 35 and 35 . When two connection terminals 35, 35 are provided, the two connection terminals 35, 35 function as a positive terminal and a negative terminal, respectively, and the positive terminal and the negative terminal are arranged in order from the left side, or the positive terminal and the positive terminal are arranged in order from the right side. The negative terminals are arranged side by side. Also, the connector 33 may be provided with four terminal arrangement grooves 36, 36, . . . and four connection terminals 35, 35, . When four connection terminals 35, 35 are provided, the four connection terminals 35, 35, . . . function as a positive electrode terminal, a negative electrode terminal, an information terminal, and a communication terminal, respectively. and communication terminals and negative terminals are arranged side by side, the positive terminal, information terminal, communication terminal, and negative terminal are arranged in order from the right side, the positive terminal, communication terminal, information terminal, and negative terminal are arranged in order from the left side, or the positive electrode is arranged in order from the right side. A terminal, a communication terminal, an information terminal, and a negative terminal are arranged side by side. The communication terminal is used by the connected device to recognize various types of information about the battery 1, such as the remaining charge and deterioration information of the battery 1. In this case, the information terminal is used exclusively to notify the connected device of temperature information.

The terminal arrangement grooves 36, 36, 36 are opened forwardly and downwardly and are separated from each other to the left and right. Positioning grooves 37, 37 are formed in the housing 34 outside the terminal arrangement grooves 36, 36, 36 in the left-right direction and open forwardly and downwardly.

Portions between the terminal arrangement grooves 36, 36, 36 in the housing 34 of the connector 33 are provided as terminal isolation ribs 34a, 34a. It is provided as ribs 34b, 34b. The width of the terminal isolation rib 34a in the left-right direction is made larger than the width of the inter-groove rib 34b in the left-right direction so that contact between the connection terminals 35, 35, 35 can be prevented.

The surface of the terminal arrangement groove 36 closest to the top surface 11 and the surface of the positioning groove 37 closest to the top surface 11 are formed as inner bottom surfaces 36a and 37a, respectively. are approximately the same. The inner bottom surfaces 36 a and 37 a are positioned below the step surface 19 . The inner bottom surfaces 36a and 37a are located below the upper edge 22a of the first guided groove 22, the upper edge 23a of the second guided groove 23, and the upper edge 24a of the third guided groove 24, It is located above the lower edge 22b of the first guided groove 22, the lower edge 23b of the second guided groove 23, and the lower edge 24b of the third guided groove 24. As shown in FIG.

The connection terminal 35 is elastically deformable in a substantially horizontal direction, and is held by the housing 34 while being inserted into the terminal arrangement groove 36 .

In the above example, the upper ends of the walls 29b, 29b and the intermediate portion 29c of the concave portion forming surface 29 are positioned at the same height as the upper end of the housing 34 of the connector 33. The upper ends of 29b, 29b and intermediate portion 29c may be positioned above the upper end of housing 34 (see FIG. 14). In this case, the upper ends of the wall portions 29b, 29b and the intermediate portion 29c may be positioned at arbitrary positions on the lower side near the upper end of the housing 2. FIG.

Further, on the concave portion forming surface 29, for example, the intermediate portion 29c may not be present and the wall portions 29b, 29b may be formed at positions extending from the upper end to the lower end of the housing 2 (see FIGS. 15 and 16).

Furthermore, the wall portions 29b, 29b inclined with respect to the front, rear, left, and right may not be formed, and instead of the wall portions 29b, 29b, the first wall portions 29x, 29x and the first wall portions facing forward, respectively. Second wall surface portions 29y, 29y may be formed so as to be continuous with the outer edges of 29x, 29x in the left-right direction and face each other in the left-right direction (see FIGS. 17 and 18). Incidentally, the first wall portions 29x, 29x and the second wall portions 29y, 29y may be inclined at any angle with respect to the horizontal direction, the front-rear direction, or the vertical direction.

One ends of the connection terminals 35 , 35 , 35 of the connector 33 are connected to the circuit board 9 arranged inside the housing 2 through the arrangement holes 28 .

The front surface 33 a of the connector 33 is positioned behind the front surface 14 of the housing 2 when the connector 33 is arranged in the arrangement recess 27 . The connector 33 is positioned in the area surrounded by the base portion 29a of the recess forming surface 29 in the placement recess 27, and the wall portions 29b, 29b and the intermediate portion 29c of the recess forming surface 29 are positioned on the front side of the connector 33.

The lower surface 33 b of the connector 33 is located on the same plane as the bottom surface 12 of the housing 2 when the connector 33 is arranged in the arrangement recess 27 .

<Configuration example of connection device>
Next, an imaging device (still camera) 50 will be described as an example of connected equipment to which the battery 1 is connected (see FIGS. 19 to 21).

The imaging device 50 is configured by, for example, arranging necessary parts inside and outside a horizontally long flat outer casing 51 (see FIG. 19). An interchangeable lens 70 and accessories such as an adapter (not shown) can be attached to and detached from the imaging device 50 . The interchangeable lens 70 is provided with operation rings 71, 72, and 73 that are rotatably operated. The operation rings 71, 72, and 73 respectively function as a focus ring for focusing, a zoom ring for adjusting the angle of view, and an iris ring for adjusting the amount of light.

Various operation units 52, 52, . . . As the operation units 52, 52, . A removable flash 53 is provided at the upper end of the outer casing 51 .

A viewfinder 54 is provided behind the flash 53 at the upper end of the outer casing 51 . A display 55 and various operation units 52, 52, . . . are provided on the rear surface of the outer casing 51 (see FIG. 20).

An imaging device (not shown) is arranged inside the outer casing 51 . For example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor), or the like is used as an imaging device.

A mount (not shown) to which an interchangeable lens is connected is provided at one end of the imaging device 50 in the horizontal direction, and a battery mounting section 56 is provided behind the imaging element (see FIGS. 20 and 21).

The battery mounting portion 56 has a portion of the outer housing 51 and a lid 57 rotatable at the lower end portion of the outer housing 51 . The internal space of the battery mounting portion 56 is formed as a mounting space 56a, and the mounting space 56a opens downward.

A biasing spring 58 and a terminal connecting portion 59 are arranged at the inner portion (upper end portion) of the battery mounting portion 56 . The terminal connecting portion 59 has a holding portion 60 made of a non-conductive material and electrode terminals 61, 61 and 61 made of a conductive material. It is held by the holding portion 60 .

The holding portion 60 is provided with positioning protrusions 60a, 60a outside the electrode terminals 61, 61, 61 in the left-right direction.

One ends of the electrode terminals 61 , 61 , 61 of the terminal connection portion 59 are connected to a control board (not shown) arranged inside the outer casing 51 .

A holding lever 62 is rotatably supported at the lower end of the battery mounting portion 56 at the opening edge of the mounting space 56a. The pressing lever 62 is rotatable between a pressing position and a non-pressing position, and is biased by a spring (not shown) in a direction from the non-pressing position to the pressing position.

Incorrect insertion prevention projections 56b, 56b are provided inside the battery mounting portion 56. As shown in FIG. The battery mounting portion 56 is provided with a locking mechanism that locks the lid body 57 in the closed state of the mounting space 56a.

<Attaching the battery to the connected device (imaging device)>
The mounting of the battery 1 to the battery mounting portion 56 in the imaging device 50 will be described below (see FIGS. 22 to 24).

The user can mount the battery 1 on the battery mounting portion 56 by inserting the battery 1 into the mounting space 56a in a state where the lid 57 is opened as follows.

The battery 1 is inserted into the mounting space 56a from the front face 14 side (see FIG. 22). At this time, the battery 1 is inserted into the mounting space 56a in such a direction that the notches 2a, 2a are aligned with the erroneous insertion prevention protrusions 56b, 56b. Therefore, when the battery 1 is inserted into the mounting space 56a in a direction in which the notches 2a, 2a do not match the misinsertion prevention protrusions 56b, 56b, a part of the housing 2, for example, the top surface 11 and the side surface 13, will The slope 16, which is the formed corner, is brought into contact with the erroneous insertion prevention protrusions 56b, 56b to prevent erroneous insertion of the battery 1 into the mounting space 56a.

The insertion of the battery 1 into the mounting space 56a is performed in a state in which the pressing lever 62 is rotated to the non-pressing position. When the battery 1 is inserted into the mounting space 56a, the pressing lever 62 is slid against one side surface 13 of the battery 1, and the rotation of the pressing lever 62 to the pressing position is restricted.

In the battery 1 inserted into the mounting space 56a, the connection terminals 35, 35, 35 of the connector 33 are connected to the electrode terminals 61, 61, 61 of the terminal connection portion 59, respectively. At this time, the electrode terminal 61 is inserted between a pair of contact portions of the connection terminal 35 that are branched to the left and right and have elasticity in the direction of contact with each other. It is connected to the electrode terminal 61 in this state. At this time, the positioning protrusions 60a, 60a of the terminal connection portion 59 are inserted into the positioning grooves 37, 37 of the connector 33, respectively, so that the connector 33 is positioned with respect to the terminal connection portion 59. As shown in FIG.

When the connection terminals 35, 35, 35 are connected to the electrode terminals 61, 61, 61, respectively, the rear surface 15 is positioned deeper than the pressing lever 62 in the mounting space 56a, and the pressing lever 62 is biased by the spring. , and the front surface 14 is pressed against the biasing spring 58 to bias the battery 1 rearward (see FIG. 23). Accordingly, the pressed portion 15a (see FIG. 22) provided on the rear surface 15 of the battery 1 is pressed against the pressing lever 62, thereby preventing the battery 1 from falling out of the mounting space 56a. The pressed portion 15a is located closer to the top surface 11 than the notch 2a.

As described above, in a state in which the battery 1 is prevented from falling out of the mounting space 56a by the pressing lever 62, the battery 1 is mounted in the battery mounting portion 56 by closing the mounting space 56a with the lid 57. be. At this time, the lid body 57 is locked to the outer housing 51 by the locking mechanism.

On the other hand, the lid 57 is unlocked from the outer housing 51, and the lid 57 is rotated to open the mounting space 56a. can be pulled out from the battery mounting portion 56.

In the above example, the pressed portion 15a of the rear surface 15 is pressed against the pressing lever 62 to prevent the battery 1 from falling out of the mounting space 56a. It is also possible to adopt a structure in which a pressed recess 38 that opens at least rearward is formed, and a part of the pressing lever 62 is inserted into the pressed recess 38 so that the battery 1 is prevented from falling out of the mounting space 56a. There is (see FIG. 24).

Forming the pressed recess 38 into which a part of the pressing lever 62 is inserted in the battery 1 in this manner allows the pressing lever 62 to be positioned on the far side of the mounting space 56a. , the size of the imaging device 50 can be reduced.

<Another configuration example of the connected device>
Next, a charger 80 will be described as another example of a device to which the battery 1 is connected (see FIGS. 25 to 29). Although the charger 80 is a device separate from the imaging device 50 and the like, the following connection structure of the charger 80 may be provided integrally with various devices such as the imaging device. Therefore, it is possible to connect the battery 1 to an image pickup device or the like provided with the following connection structure of the charger 80 .

The charger 80 is constructed by arranging required parts inside and outside a case body 81 . The charger 81 is provided with the following connection structure.

The case body 81 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and one substantially half portion in the left-right direction is provided as a mechanism placement portion 82 , and the other substantially half portion in the left-right direction is provided as a battery mounting portion 83 .

Inside the mechanism arrangement portion 82, a substrate, a light emitter such as a light emitting diode, and the like (not shown) are arranged. Window portions 82 a and 82 b are provided on the upper surface portion of the mechanism placement portion 82 . Light emitted from the light emitting diodes is emitted through the windows 82a and 82b toward the outside, and the state of the charging operation, the state of the amount of charge, etc. can be recognized from the irradiation state through the windows 82a and 82b. is enabled.

The battery mounting portion 83 is formed with mounting recesses 83a that are open upward and rearward. Stepped portions 84, 84 are provided on both left and right side portions of the mounting recess portion 83a, and the stepped portions 84, 84 are formed in a shape that protrudes upward and extends in the front-rear direction. The stepped portions 84, 84 have upwardly directed flat surfaces 84a, 84a and opposing surfaces 84b, 84b that are continuous with the inner edges of the flat surfaces 84a, 84a and face each other. Some batteries have a structure in which only one notch 2a is formed in the housing. It is good if there is

In addition to the stepped portions 84, 84, the mounting recessed portion 83a is formed by face portions including an upward facing bottom plate face portion 85 positioned between the stepped portions 84, 84 and a rear face plate face portion 86. 86 is continuous with the front edges of the stepped portions 84 , 84 and the front edge of the bottom plate surface portion 85 . First guide engaging portions 87 , 87 , second guide engaging portions 88 , 88 , and third guide engaging portions 89 , 89 are separated in the front-rear direction from the front side of the stepped portions 84 , 84 . is provided. The first guide engaging portions 87, 87, the second guide engaging portions 88, 88, and the third guide engaging portions 89, 89 all protrude from the facing surfaces 84b, 84b in directions approaching each other.

The first guide engaging portion 87 is formed in a projecting shape extending in the front-rear direction, the front end of which is continuous with the front plate surface portion 86, and protrudes from the middle portion in the vertical direction of the opposing surface 84b. The second guide engaging portion 88 is formed in a projection extending forward and backward and is positioned at the same height as the first guide engaging portion 87 . The third guide engaging portion 89 comprises an engaging portion 89a extending in the front-rear direction and an upright wall portion 89b projecting downward from the front end portion of the engaging portion 89a. there is

Only the first guided groove 22 and the third guided groove 24 are formed on one of the left and right sides, and only the second guided groove 23 is formed on the other of the left and right sides. When a battery of the formed type is mounted, only guide engaging portions corresponding to the guided grooves need to be provided. For example, when a battery in which only the first guided groove 22 and the third guided groove 24 are formed on one of the left and right sides and only the second guided groove 23 is formed on the other of the left and right sides is mounted, It is sufficient that only the first guide engaging portion 87 and the third guide engaging portion 89 are provided on one of the left and right, and only the second guide engaging portion 88 is provided on the other of the left and right.

The battery mounting portion 83 is provided with an identification protrusion 90 that protrudes upward from the front end portion of the bottom plate surface portion 85 . The identification protrusion 90 has a longitudinal portion 90a and a short portion 90b which are different in length in the front-rear direction and are continuously provided in the left and right direction. ing. The lateral width of the longitudinal portion 90a is smaller than the lateral width of the short portion 90b.

The identification projection 90 has a front end that is continuous with the front plate surface portion 86 and is provided at a position closer to one of the first guide engaging portions 87 in the left-right direction. Specifically, the identifying protrusion 90 is positioned closer to the one first guide engaging portion 87 than the center of the gap between the center of the bottom plate surface portion 85 and the one first guide engaging portion 87 in the left-right direction. It is located closer to the one first guide engaging portion 87 than the center of the interval between the terminal connecting portion 93 and the one first guide engaging portion 87 . The identifying projection 90 has a short side portion 90b positioned closer to one of the first guide engaging portions 87 than a long side portion 90a.

A front end portion of the battery mounting portion 83 is provided with a detection protrusion 91 that is movable in the front-rear direction. The detection protrusion 91 is biased rearward by a spring member (not shown) and provided at a position closer to the other first guide engaging portion 87 in the left-right direction.

Note that the detection protrusions 91 may be provided at symmetrical positions closer to one of the first guide engaging portions 87 with the center of the bottom plate surface portion 85 in the left-right direction as a reference. In the above, an example is shown in which the identification projection 90 and the detection projection 91 are positioned on opposite sides in the left-right direction with the terminal connection portion 93 interposed therebetween. Both of 91 may be positioned to the left or right of the terminal connection portion 93 . In this case, the terminal connection portion 93 and the detection protrusion 91 are positioned on opposite sides in the left-right direction with the identification protrusion 90 interposed therebetween.

A portion of the bottom plate surface portion 85 is provided as an engagement holding portion 92 . The engagement holding portion 92 is an inner portion of a U-shaped slit formed in a portion of the bottom plate surface portion 85, and is elastically deformable approximately up and down with the front end portion as a fulcrum. The engagement holding portion 92 is provided with a locking protrusion 92a that protrudes upward at the rear end portion.

A terminal connection portion 93 is arranged at the front end portion of the battery mounting portion 83 . The terminal connecting portion 93 has a holding portion 94 made of a non-conductive material and electrode terminals 95, 95 and 95 made of a conductive material. It is held by the holding portion 94 .

The holding portion 94 is provided with positioning protrusions 94a, 94a on the outer sides of the electrode terminals 95, 95, 95 in the left-right direction, respectively. The width of the positioning protrusions 94a, 94a in the left-right direction is larger than the width of the electrode terminals 95, 95, 95 in the left-right direction.

One ends of the electrode terminals 95 , 95 , 95 of the terminal connection portion 93 are connected to a substrate arranged inside the case body 81 .

<Attaching the battery to the connected device (charger)>
The attachment of the battery 1 to the battery attachment portion 83 of the charger 80 will be described below (see FIGS. 29 to 31).

The user can attach the battery 1 to the battery attachment portion 83 by inserting a portion of the battery 1 into the attachment recess 83a as described below.

The battery 1 is inserted into the mounting recess 83a from above (see FIG. 29). At this time, the second guide engaging portions 88, 88 are inserted into the second guided grooves 23, 23 via the insertion grooves 25, 25, respectively, and the third guided groove 24 is inserted via the insertion grooves 26, 26. , 24 are inserted into the engaging portions 89a, 89a of the third guide engaging portions 89, 89, respectively. Therefore, the stepped portions 84, 84 of the charger 80 are inserted into the notches 2a, 2a of the battery 1, respectively, and the stepped surfaces 18, 18 are positioned to face the flat surfaces 84a, 84a in the vertical direction, respectively, and the grooved surface 19 , 19 are positioned to face the opposing surfaces 84b, 84b in the left-right direction.

At this time, since the battery 1 is placed on the bottom plate portion 85 from above, the engaging projection 92a of the engagement holding portion 92 is pressed downward and is elastically deformed.

When the battery 1 is inserted into the mounting recess 83a in such a direction that the stepped portions 84, 84 are not inserted into the cutouts 2a, 2a, part of the housing 2 comes into contact with the stepped portions 84, 84, and the battery 1 is removed. Erroneous insertion into the mounting recess 83a is prevented.

Next, the battery 1 is slid forward with respect to the charger 80 (see FIG. 30). When the battery 1 is slid forward, the first guided grooves 22, 22 are guided by the first guide engaging portions 87, 87, respectively, and the second guided grooves 23, 23 are respectively engaged with the second guides. Guided by the joining portions 88, 88, the third guided grooves 24, 24 are guided to the engaging portions 89a, 89a of the third guide engaging portions 89, 89, respectively. The battery 1 is slid forward to the movement end where the rear opening edges of the third guided grooves 24, 24 are in contact with the restricting portions 89b, 89b of the third guide engaging portions 89, 89, respectively.

When the battery 1 is slid forward to the moving end, the opening edges of the first guided grooves 22, 22 are engaged with the first guide engaging portions 87, 87, respectively, and the second guided grooves are closed. The opening edges of 23, 23 are engaged with second guide engaging portions 88, 88, respectively, and the opening edges of third guided grooves 24, 24 are engaged with third guide engaging portions 89, 89, respectively. It is engaged with the portions 89a, 89a. Therefore, the upper edge of the first engaging claw portion 2p is engaged with at least a part of the lower edge of the first guide engaging portion 87, and the upper edge of the second engaging claw portion 2q is the second guide. At least part of the lower edge of the engaging portion 88 is engaged, and the upper edge of the third engaging claw portion 2 r is engaged with at least part of the lower edge of the third guide engaging portion 89 .

At this time, the rear edge of the battery 1 is positioned in front of the locking protrusion 92 a of the engagement holding portion 92 , and the engagement holding portion 92 is elastically restored so that the locking protrusion 92 a reaches the lower end of the rear edge of the battery 1 . , and the battery 1 is attached to the battery attachment portion 83 .

When the battery 1 is attached to the battery attachment portion 83 , the detection protrusion 91 of the charger 80 is pressed by the detection pressed portion 14 a provided on the front surface 14 of the battery 1 and operated. The detection projection 91 is moved forward, and the mounting of the battery 1 in the battery mounting portion 83 is detected by a detection section (not shown) by moving the detection projection 91 forward.

When it is detected that the battery 1 is attached to the battery attachment portion 83, light is emitted from the light emitting diodes and directed upward through the windows 82a and 82b while the charger 80 is connected to the power source. is irradiated. Accordingly, the user can recognize whether the battery 1 is in a chargeable state and the amount of charge in the battery 1 by visually recognizing the state of the light emitted through the windows 82a and 82b.

Further, when the battery 1 is mounted in the battery mounting portion 83, the identification protrusion 90 of the charger 80 is inserted into one of the identification grooves 30 of the battery 1 (see FIG. 31). The identification protrusion 90 has a longitudinal portion 90 a inserted into the first identification portion 31 and a short portion 90 b inserted into the second identification portion 32 .

By inserting the identification protrusion 90 into the identification groove 30 , it is identified that the battery 1 mounted in the battery mounting portion 83 is of a type that can be charged by the charger 80 . The battery 1 is, for example, a type with a medium chargeable power capacity.

Furthermore, when the battery 1 is attached to the battery attachment portion 83 , the terminal connection portion 93 of the charger 80 is inserted between the wall portions 29 b, 29 b of the battery 1 . At this time, between the battery 1 and the charger 80, there is a gap and dimensional tolerance for ensuring smooth insertion of the battery 1 into the battery mounting portion 83. It may be inserted into the battery mounting portion 83 in an inclined or displaced state (see FIG. 32).

Even if the battery 1 is inserted in an inclined or displaced state with respect to the charger 80, the wall portions 29b, 29b are formed as inclined surfaces that are separated from each other in the horizontal direction as they go forward, so that the terminal The connecting portion 93 is guided by the walls 29b, 29b and approaches the connector 33. As shown in FIG. Accordingly, in the battery 1, the connection terminals 35, 35, 35 of the connector 33 are reliably connected to the electrode terminals 95, 95, 95 of the terminal connection portion 93, respectively (see FIG. 33). At this time, the positioning protrusions 94a, 94a of the terminal connection portion 93 are inserted into the positioning grooves 37, 37 of the connector 33, respectively, so that the connector 33 is positioned with respect to the terminal connection portion 93. As shown in FIG.

On the other hand, the battery 1 is slid rearward to release the engagement with the rear edge of the locking projection 92a, and the first guide engagement portions 87, 87, the second guide engagement portions 88, 88 and the third guide engagement portions 88, 88 It is possible to remove the battery 1 from the battery mounting portion 83 by releasing the engagement of the guide engaging portions 89, 89 and pulling the battery 1 upward from the mounting concave portion 83a.

<Summary>
As described above, in the battery 1, the surface forming the placement recess 27 of the housing 2 is formed as the recess forming surface 29, and a portion of the recess forming surface 29 is provided between the front surface 14 of the outer surface 10 and the connector 33. There is an intermediate portion 29c.

Therefore, since the front surface 33a of the connector 33 is located inside the housing 2 relative to the front surface 14 of the housing 2, the connector 33 is less likely to be damaged or scratched when dropped. 95 can be ensured.

In particular, since impact force is less likely to be transmitted to the connector 33 due to a drop impact, solder cracks for connecting the connection terminals 35 to the circuit board 9 are less likely to occur, and electrical connection failures can be reduced.

Moreover, since the connector 33 is less likely to be damaged or scratched, the connection terminals 35 are less likely to be exposed from the housing 34, and high quality of the connector 33 can be ensured.

In the above example, the front surface 33a of the connector 33 is located inside the housing 2 from the front surface 14 of the housing 2. It may be located inside the body 2 (see Figure 34).

Even when the lower surface 33b of the connector 33 is located inside the housing 2 relative to the bottom surface 12 of the housing 2 in this way, the connector 33 is less likely to be damaged or scratched when it is dropped. A good connection state to the electrode terminals 61 and 95 can be ensured.

Further, for example, the front surface 33a of the connector 33 is positioned inside the housing 2 from the front surface 14 of the housing 2, and the bottom surface 33b of the connector 33 is positioned inside the housing 2 from the bottom surface 12 of the housing 2. (See FIG. 35).

In this way, when the front surface 33a is positioned inside the housing 2 from the front surface 14 and the bottom surface 33b is positioned inside the housing 2 from the bottom surface 12, the entire connector 33 is positioned inside the housing 2. be located. Therefore, the connector 33 is less likely to be damaged or scratched when dropped or the like, and a better connection state between the connection terminals 35 and the electrode terminals 61 and 95 can be ensured.

In the battery 1, the arrangement recess 27 is opened in the connection direction of the connection terminal 35 with respect to the electrode terminals 61 and 95, and the intermediate portion 29c, which is the recess formation surface 29, is between the outer surface 10 and the connector 33 in the connection direction. exist.

Therefore, since the connector 33 is positioned inside the housing 2 from the outer surface 10 in the connection direction, the electrode terminals 61 and 95 are inserted to the far side of the arrangement recess 27 at the time of connection, and the connected devices (image pickup device 50, It is possible to reduce the size of the charger 80).

Furthermore, a part of the recess forming surface 29 is formed as an inclined surface in which the opening area of the placement recess 27 increases as the distance from the connector 33 increases in the opening direction (connection direction) of the placement recess 27 .

Therefore, since a part of the concave portion forming surface 29 functions as a guide surface when the electrode terminals 61 and 95 are inserted into the arrangement concave portion 27, it is possible to ensure a good connection state between the connection terminal 35 and the electrode terminals 61 and 95. can.

Furthermore, the recess forming surface 29 has a pair of wall portions 29b, 29b that are spaced apart in the direction orthogonal to the connection direction, and the wall portions 29b, 29b are formed as inclined surfaces that are spaced apart from each other as they go in the connection direction. It is

Therefore, since the wall portions 29b, 29b function as guide surfaces when the electrode terminals 61, 95 are inserted into the placement recesses 27, a better connection state between the connection terminal 35 and the electrode terminals 61, 95 can be ensured. .

In the above example, the pair of wall portions 29b, 29b are formed as inclined surfaces that are separated from each other in the connection direction. may be formed on an inclined surface with a large opening area (see FIG. 36).

Further, in the battery 1, the intermediate portion 29c of the concave portion forming surface 29 may be formed on an inclined surface in which the opening area of the arrangement concave portion 27 increases as the distance from the connector 33 in the connection direction increases (see FIG. 37).

Since the intermediate portion 29c is formed as an inclined surface in this way, the intermediate portion 29c functions as a guide surface when the electrode terminals 61 and 95 are inserted into the placement recess 27. A better connection state can be ensured.

In this case, in addition to the intermediate portion 29c, the wall portions 29b, 29b may also be formed on an inclined surface, and in addition to the intermediate portion 29c, one wall portion 29b may also be formed on an inclined surface. Only 29c may be formed on an inclined surface.

Moreover, the inclination angle of the wall portion 29b or the intermediate portion 29c with respect to the connection direction is arbitrary, but it is desirable that the inclination angle is greater than 0 degrees and less than or equal to 45 degrees, for example.

By setting the inclination angle of the wall portion 29b or the intermediate portion 29c to be greater than 0 degree and equal to or less than 45 degrees, the inclination angle of the concave portion forming surface 29 functioning as a guide surface becomes an acute angle. 61 and 95 can be smoothly inserted into the placement recess 27 .

In the above description, the charger 80 is of a type in which the battery 1 is inserted into the mounting recess 83a from above and then slid forward to be mounted. There is a charger 80A that is attached by being inserted (see FIG. 38).

The charger 80A is, for example, entirely provided as a battery mounting portion 83A, and the battery mounting portion 83A is formed with a mounting concave portion 83b that opens upward. A terminal connecting portion 96 having an electrode terminal is arranged in the battery mounting portion 83A. The battery 1 is inserted into the mounting recess 83b of the charger 80A with the front surface 14 facing downward.

In such a case, by forming at least one of the wall portions 29b, 29b and the intermediate portion 29c of the battery 1 as an inclined surface (guide surface), the dead weight of the battery 1 is reduced when the battery 1 is inserted into the mounting recess 83b. , the terminal connection portion 96 is guided to the inclined surface.

Therefore, it is possible to ensure easy and good connection of the battery 1 to the charger 80A.

In the battery 1, the notch 2a is formed in the housing 2 by the stepped surface 18 continuous to the side surface 13 and the grooved surface 19 continuous to the bottom surface 12, and the grooved surface 19 is opened to the grooved surface 19. One guided groove 22, a second guided groove 23 and a third guided groove 24 are formed, and the first guided groove 22, the second guided groove 23 and the third guided groove 24 are formed. It is positioned closer to the bottom surface 12 than the stepped surface 18 .

Therefore, the first guided groove 22, the second guided groove 23 and the third guided groove 24 are not continuously positioned with the step surface 18, and the first guided groove 22 and the second guided groove 23 and the third guided groove 24 and the stepped surface 18, the first guided groove 22, the second guided groove 23 and the third guided groove 23 are partially positioned. Compared to the case where the groove 24 and the stepped surface 18 are continuously positioned, the grooved surface 19 and the stepped surface 18 are closer to the cell 6, and the size of the battery 1 can be reduced.

Further, since the cutouts 2a, 2a are formed at positions continuous with the two side surfaces 13, 13, respectively, the cutouts 2a, 2a are present on both sides of the two side surfaces 13, 13, and the outer surface 10 of the housing 2 is formed. are positioned close to the cells 6, 6 at two locations, so that the battery 1 can be further miniaturized.

Further, the first guided grooves 22, 22, the second guided grooves 23, 23, and the third guided grooves 24, 24 are formed apart from each other in the connecting direction of the connecting terminal 35 to the electrode terminals 61, 95. ing. Therefore, the portion between the first guided groove 22, the second guided groove 23 and the third guided groove 24 in the housing 2 is the first guided groove 22 and the second guided groove 23. Since it is formed as a projection with respect to the third guided groove 24, the projection functions as a reinforcing rib, and the strength of the housing 2 can be improved.

<Another configuration example of the battery>
Other configuration examples of the battery 1 will be described below (see FIGS. 39 to 44).

Engagement recesses 39, 39 may be formed at least on the left and right sides of the battery 1 (see FIG. 39). The engaging recesses 39, 39 are, for example, opened to the second guided grooves 23, 23, respectively.

The battery 1 formed with such engaging recesses 39, 39 is connected to, for example, the charger 80B while being held. The charger 80B has a main body 97, holding arms 98, 98 projecting rearward from the main body 97, and a terminal connecting portion 99 arranged in a state projecting rearward from the main body 97 and having an electrode terminal.

An operation button 97a is arranged on the main body 97, and when the operation button 97a is operated, the holding arms 98, 98 are moved in a direction separating from each other.

The holding arms 98, 98 are provided as engaging protrusions 98a, 98a bent in a direction in which the distal ends approach each other. Sliding surfaces 98b, 98b are formed at the distal end portions of the holding arms 98, 98, which are inclined in the direction of approaching each other as the main body 97 is approached. The holding arms 98 , 98 are urged toward each other by a spring (not shown) arranged inside the body 97 .

As the battery 1 is moved forward with respect to the charger 80B, the front edges of the battery 1 are slid on the sliding surfaces 98b, 98b, respectively, and the holding arms 98, 98 are separated from each other against the biasing force of the spring. , and the holding arms 98, 98 are inserted into the first guided grooves 22, 22, respectively. The holding arms 98 , 98 are relatively moved from the first guided grooves 22 , 22 toward the second guided grooves 23 , 23 , respectively, and are temporarily moved from the first guided grooves 22 , 22 to the groove forming surface 19 . , 19 and are moved toward each other again and inserted into the second guided grooves 23, 23, and the engaging protrusions 98a, 98a are engaged with the engaging recesses 39, 39, respectively (see FIG. 40). ).

In the charger 80B, the engaging protrusions 98a, 98a are engaged with the engaging recesses 39, 39, respectively, so that the battery 1 is sandwiched from both left and right sides, and the battery 1 is held in the charger 80B. When the engaging protrusions 98a, 98a are engaged with the engaging recesses 39, 39, respectively, the connector 33 is connected to the terminal connecting portion 99 at the same time.

When the battery 1 is released from the battery charger 80B, the operation button 97a is operated to move the holding arms 98, 98 away from each other, so that the engaging projections 98a, 98a engage with the engaging recesses 39, 39. This can be done by releasing the engagement state and separating the battery 1 and the charger 80B.

In the above example, the engaging recesses 39, 39 are opened to the second guided grooves 23, 23, respectively, but the engaging recesses 39, 39 are opened to the insertion grooves 24, 24, respectively. may be However, when the engaging recesses 39, 39 are opened to the guided grooves 23, 23, the engaging projections 98a, 98a of the charger 80B are inserted into the guided grooves 23, 23 and guided. , the engaging projections 98a, 98a can be reliably engaged with the engaging recesses 39, 39.

As described above, the engagement recesses 39, 39 are formed in the opposite surfaces of the housing 2 so that the engagement protrusions 98a, 98a are engaged with the engagement recesses 39, 39. The battery 1 can be held by engaging the engaging protrusions 98a, 98a from the opposite sides, respectively, and the battery 1 can be easily held in a stable state.

In addition, although an example in which the engaging recesses 39, 39 are formed on both the left and right sides of the battery 1 has been described above, for example, in addition to the engaging recesses 39, 39 on both the left and right sides, at least the top surface 11 or the bottom surface 12 may be formed. An engaging recess 39 that is open to one side may be formed (see FIG. 41).

By forming the engagement recesses 39 opened in the top surface 11 or the bottom surface 12 orthogonal to the left and right surfaces facing in opposite directions in this manner, the engagement recesses 39, 39, 39 are formed from the opposite sides and the opposite sides. It becomes possible to hold the battery 1 by engaging the engaging protrusions 98a, 98a, 98a from the side perpendicular to the side, and hold the battery 1 in a more stable state.

Further, since the engaging recess 39 is formed in the region where the second guided groove 23 exists, the engaging projection 98a is guided by the second guided groove 23 and engaged with the engaging recess 39. Therefore, the engagement of the engaging protrusion 98a with the engaging recess 39 can be easily and reliably performed.

The engaging recess 39 may be formed in the region where the first guided groove 22 exists instead of the region where the second guided groove 23 exists (see FIG. 42). It may be formed in a region where three guided grooves 24 exist (see FIG. 43).

In particular, when the engaging recess 39 is formed in the region where the first guided groove 22 exists, the first guided groove 22 in which the engaging recess 39 is located on the most distal side in the connection direction Exists in an existing area.

Therefore, when the battery 1 is attached to the charger 80B, the engagement protrusion 98a does not need to climb over the groove forming surface 19, and the engagement of the engagement protrusion 98a with the engagement recess 39 can be easily and quickly performed. It can be carried out.

Further, when the engaging projection 98 a is engaged with the engaging recess 39 , the electrode terminal of the terminal connecting portion 99 is connected to the connecting terminal 35 of the connector 33 .

Therefore, since the engagement of the engaging protrusion 98a with the engaging recess 39 and the connection of the electrode terminal to the connecting terminal 35 are performed simultaneously, the engagement of the engaging protrusion 98a with the engaging recess 39 and the electrode contact are performed simultaneously. Since it is not necessary to separately connect the terminals to the connection terminals 35, workability can be improved.

The engaging recess 39 may be formed in a region other than the region where the first guided groove 22, the second guided groove 23, or the third guided groove 24 exists. It may be formed in an open state. For example, engaging recesses 39, 39 that are open at least downward and rearward may be formed at the lower end portions of the rear end portions of the groove forming surfaces 19, 19 (see FIG. 44).

By forming the engaging recesses 39, 39 at the lower ends of the rear ends of the grooved surfaces 19, 19, for example, two engaging holding portions 92, 92 are provided in the charger 80 or the like, The battery 1 can be held by the charger 80 or the like by engaging the engagement protrusions 92a, 92a of the engagement holding portions 92, 92 with the opening edges of the engagement recesses 39, 39, respectively. is.

In this case, since the engaging recesses 39, 39 are positioned forward of the rear surface 15 of the battery 1, the locking projections 92a, 92a are also positioned forward, thereby reducing the length of the charger 80 and the like in the front-rear direction. By shortening, the size of the charger 80 and the like can be reduced.

<Structure of identification groove, etc.>
Next, the configuration and the like of the identification groove 30 will be described (see FIGS. 45 to 56).

As described above, the identification groove 30 is composed of the first identification portion 31 and the second identification portion 32 having different lengths in the front-rear direction. (see the upper part of FIGS. 45 and 46). Each of the first identification section 31 and the second identification section 32 has identification power.

On the other hand, in the conventional battery, the first identification groove A corresponding to the first identification portion 31 and the second identification groove B corresponding to the second identification portion 32 are separated in the left-right direction at a constant interval. (See the lower part of FIG. 46).

In general, the width of the identification groove in the left-right direction is determined by the fluidity of the resin when molding the housing, the grade of flame retardancy, and the like.

Also, the width of the identification groove is formed to a size that ensures the strength of the identification protrusion inserted into the identification groove. Specifically, if the width of the identification groove is small, the width of the identification projection to be inserted must also be small. and cracks are more likely to occur. Therefore, it is necessary to set the width of the identification protrusion to a certain level or more in order to ensure a certain level of strength, and accordingly, it is necessary to set the width of the identification groove to a certain level or more.

On the other hand, for example, the lateral width of the mounting recess 83a in the charger 80 is made larger than the lateral width of the battery 1 by a margin (a rattle) for ensuring smooth insertion of the battery 1 into the mounting recess 83a. Therefore, the width of the identification groove must be large enough to ensure the insertion of the identification projection. In addition, the width of the identification groove is formed in a size that takes into consideration the dimensional tolerance and assembly tolerance of each part, and the width of the identification groove is determined including these margins.

Furthermore, in the conventional battery, a certain gap H is formed between the first identification groove A and the second identification groove B, and the gap H is required to have a certain level or more of strength due to the need to secure a certain level or more of strength. width is required.

Therefore, assuming that the widths of the identification protrusions inserted into the first identification groove A and the second identification groove B in the conventional battery are respectively W1, the width of the first identification groove A and the second identification groove B is W1. Each width is "W1+C", where C is the margin (backlash + tolerance). In addition, since a gap H is required between the first identification groove A and the second identification groove B, it is necessary for the housing to form the first identification groove A and the second identification groove B. The dimension Wp in the left-right direction is "2W1+2C+H".

On the other hand, in the battery 1, the first identification portion 31 corresponding to the first identification groove A and the second identification portion 32 corresponding to the second identification groove B are formed continuously in the horizontal direction. (See upper part of FIG. 46). Therefore, the dimension W in the lateral direction required for the housing 2 to form the identification groove 30 constituted by the first identification portion 31 and the second identification portion 32 is " 2W1+2C" or less.

In addition, since the identification groove 30 has the first identification portion 31 and the second identification portion 32 formed continuously in the left-right direction, the dimension W does not require one of the allowances 2C. , the dimension W is less than or equal to "2W1+C".

Furthermore, since a part of the identification protrusion inserted into the second identification portion 32 on the short side may be inserted into the first identification portion 31, the width of the second identification portion 32 is W1 Assuming that the dimension that can be made smaller is α, the dimension W is "2W1-α+C".

Therefore, the dimension W in the lateral direction required for the housing 2 to form the identification groove 30 is smaller than the dimension Wp in the lateral direction required for the housing in the conventional battery by "C+H+α". Therefore, the size of the battery 1 can be reduced accordingly.

In the above, the identification groove 30 configured by the rectangular first identification portion 31 and the second identification portion 32 is shown as an example, but the identification groove 30 has inclined inner bottom surfaces 31a and 32a, for example. It may be formed in a rounded shape (see FIG. 47). In the identification groove 30 having inclined inner bottom surfaces 31 a and 32 a , one portion in the horizontal direction is a first identification portion 31 and the other portion is a second identification portion 32 .

Since there is no step in the identification groove 30 in which the deep bottom surfaces 31a and 32a are inclined, the identification groove 30 can be easily formed in the housing 2 .

Next, examples of batteries 1A and 1B having identification grooves different from those of the battery 1 will be described (see FIGS. 48 and 49).

As described above, the two identification grooves 30, 30 are formed in the battery 1 so as to be separated from each other. The battery 1 is, for example, a medium-capacity type with a standard maximum charge capacity.

The battery 1A is, for example, a high-capacity type with a larger maximum charge capacity than the battery 1 . One identification groove 30 and one identification groove 30A are formed in the battery 1A (see FIG. 48). The identification groove 30A is composed of a first identification portion 31A having a longer length in the front-rear direction than the first identification portion 31 and a second identification portion 32. As shown in FIG.

The battery 1B is, for example, a low-capacity type with a smaller maximum charge capacity than the battery 1 . One identification groove 30 is formed in the battery 1B (see FIG. 49).

Next, configuration examples of the battery mounting portion of the connected device to which the battery 1, the battery 1A, or the battery 1B is mounted will be described (see FIGS. 50 to 53).

Examples of connected devices include low-power cameras that can be driven with low power, medium-power cameras that can be driven with higher power than low-power cameras, and high-power cameras that can be driven with higher power than medium-power cameras. and a charger 80 are present.

A terminal connection portion 59 is arranged in the battery mounting portion of the low-power camera, and an identification protrusion to be inserted into the identification groove 30 or the like is not provided (see FIG. 50).

A terminal connection portion 59 is arranged in the battery mounting portion of the medium-power camera, and an identification protrusion 90B is provided on the side of the terminal connection portion 59 (see FIG. 51). The identification protrusion 90B has a length that allows the entirety to be inserted into both the first identification portion 31 and the first identification portion 31A.

A terminal connection portion 59 is arranged in the battery mounting portion of the high-power camera, and an identification protrusion 90C is provided on the side of the terminal connection portion 59 (see FIG. 52). The identification protrusion 90C is longer than the identification protrusion 90B, and has a length that allows the entirety to be inserted into the first identification portion 31A without being inserted into the first identification portion 31 as a whole.

As described above, the terminal connection portion 93 is arranged in the battery mounting portion 83 of the charger 80, and the identification protrusion 90 is provided on the side of the terminal connection portion 93 (see FIG. 53). The identifying protrusion 90 is composed of a longitudinal portion 90a and a lateral portion 90b.

Next, an example of identification of the identification grooves 30 and 30A will be described (see FIG. 54).

As an example, the identifiability of battery 1, battery 1A, and battery 1B with respect to the low power camera, medium power camera, high power camera, and charger 80 will be described below. In FIG. 54, "Y" indicates that the battery can be attached to the camera or charger, and "N" indicates that the battery cannot be attached to the camera or charger.

The large-capacity battery 1A has an identification groove 30 located on the left side and an identification groove 30A located on the right side. , and the small-capacity type battery 1B has an identification groove 30 located on the left side.

Since the low-power camera does not have an identification protrusion on the battery mounting portion, there is no portion to be inserted into the identification grooves 30 and 30A. Therefore, any of the battery 1, the battery 1A, and the battery 1B can be mounted on the battery mounting portion of the low-power camera, and any of the batteries 1, 1A, and 1B can be used in the low-power camera. is identified as a battery.

The medium-power camera has an identification protrusion 90C located on the right side of the battery mounting portion, and the identification protrusion 90C is the first identification portion 31 of the identification groove 30 and the first identification portion 30A of the identification groove 30A. It can be inserted into any of the portions 31A. The identification protrusion 90C is inserted into the first identification portion 31 of the identification groove 30 positioned on the right side of the battery 1 and the first identification portion 31A of the identification groove 30A positioned on the right side of the battery 1A. On the other hand, the identification protrusion 90C interferes with the battery 1B because no identification groove is formed on the right side of the battery 1B.

Therefore, both the battery 1A and the battery 1 can be attached to the battery attachment portion of the medium-power camera, but the battery 1B cannot be attached. Battery 1B is identified as a battery that cannot be used in a medium power camera.

The high-power camera has an identification protrusion 90B located on the right side of the battery mounting portion, and the identification protrusion 90B can be inserted into the first identification portion 31A of the identification groove 30A. The identification protrusion 90B is inserted into the first identification portion 31A of the identification groove 30A located on the right side of the battery 1A. On the other hand, the identification protrusion 90B can be inserted into the first identification portion 31 of the identification groove 30 located on the right side of the battery 1, but is inserted only halfway, and the connection terminal 35 of the connector 33 of the battery 1 is inserted. is not connected to the electrode terminal 95. Further, the identification protrusion 90B interferes with the battery 1B because no identification groove is formed on the right side of the battery 1B.

Therefore, the battery 1A can be mounted in the battery mounting portion of the high-power camera, but the battery 1 and the battery 1B cannot be mounted, and the battery 1A is a battery that can be used in the high-power camera. is identified, and battery 1 and battery 1B are identified as batteries that cannot be used in high power cameras.

The battery charger 80 has an identification protrusion 90 positioned on the left side of the battery mounting portion 83 , and the identification protrusion 90 can be inserted into the identification groove 30 . The identification protrusion 90 is inserted into the identification groove 30 located on the left side of each of the battery 1, the battery 1A, and the battery 1B.

Therefore, any of the battery 1, the battery 1A, and the battery 1B can be attached to the battery attachment portion 83 of the charger 80, and any of the batteries 1, 1A, and 1B can be used in the charger 80. A viable battery is identified.

In the above, an example relating to identification of batteries based on the difference in charge capacity is shown, but the identification by the identification groove 30 or the like is not limited to identification based on the difference in charge capacity. It can also be applied to identify other differences, such as differences in charge rates and differences in charging speed.

In the above, an example of the identification groove 30 composed of two parts, the first identification portion 31 and the second identification portion 32, having different lengths is shown. It may be composed of one or more identifying units.

As described above, the battery 1 (batteries 1A and 1B) has an identification groove 30 formed in the housing 2 for identifying the connected device. formed.

Therefore, since there is no portion separating the identification portions between the plurality of identification portions having different lengths, the size of the identification groove 30 in the direction in which the identification portions are continuous is the total size of the plurality of identification portions, which is high. It is possible to reduce the size of the battery 1 while ensuring identifiability.

Further, since the first identification portion 31 and the second identification portion 32 are formed as identification portions, the size in the direction in which the identification portions of the identification groove 30 continue is the same as the first identification portion 31 and the second identification portion. The total size of the portion 32 is obtained, and the size of the battery 1 can be reduced while improving the distinguishability.

Furthermore, since the identification groove 30 has a plurality of identification portions continuously formed in the width direction, the size of the identification groove 30 in the width direction is the total size of the plurality of identification portions. Compared to the case where the battery 1 is formed separately in the width direction, it is possible to improve the distinguishability and reduce the size of the battery 1 in the width direction.

Furthermore, the widths of the plurality of identification portions are made smaller in ascending order of length. For example, in the first identification portion 31 and the second identification portion 32, the width of the short second identification portion 32 is smaller than the width of the long first identification portion 31. As shown in FIG.

Therefore, the size of the identification groove 30 in the width direction becomes smaller than the total width of the identification portions having the same width, and the battery 1 can be further miniaturized in the width direction while improving identification. can be improved.

In addition, since the two identification grooves 30, 30 are formed apart in the width direction, it is possible to identify the connected device using the two identification grooves 30, 30, and the connected device can be identified. types can be increased.

In this case, it is also possible to form the two identification grooves 30, 30 with different shapes and sizes.

Further, the identification groove 30 may be formed so that the first identification portion 31 and the second identification portion 32 have different shapes (see FIG. 55). In the identification groove 30, for example, the second identification portion 32 may be formed in a substantially triangular prism-shaped space. A portion of the area of the second identification portion 32 is formed as an inclined surface 32c. The inclined surface 32c is inclined so as to be displaced toward the bottom surface 12 as it approaches the side surface 13 located on the opposite side of the continuous first identifying portion 31 in the left-right direction.

The identification groove 30 is a portion formed in the vicinity of the first guided groove 22. By forming the identification groove 30 in such a shape, the first guided groove 22 and the identification groove in the housing 2 are formed. The thickness (width) of the portion between 30 is increased, and the portion around the first guided groove 22 can be reinforced.

Furthermore, the identification groove 30 in which the first identification portion 31 and the second identification portion 32 having different lengths are continuous in the width direction is shown as an example above, but the identification groove 30X is used instead of the identification groove 30. It may be formed (see FIG. 56). The identification groove 30X is formed by connecting a first identification portion 31X and a second identification portion 32X having different sizes in the vertical direction (depth direction). The first identification portion 31 is longer than the identification portion 32X and is formed continuously below the second identification portion 32 .

Note that the identification groove 30X may also be composed of three or more identification portions having different lengths, similarly to the identification groove 30 .

By forming the plurality of identification portions continuously in the depth direction in this way, the size of the identification groove 30X in the depth direction becomes the total size of the plurality of identification portions, and the plurality of identification grooves is deep. Compared to the case where the battery 1 is formed separately in the depth direction, it is possible to improve the distinguishability and reduce the size of the battery 1 in the depth direction (vertical direction).

Further, the depth of the plurality of identification portions of the identification groove 30X may be decreased in ascending order of length.

By configuring the identification groove 30X in such a manner, the size of the identification groove 30X in the depth direction becomes smaller than the total depth when the identification portions having the same depth are formed, thereby improving identification. Further miniaturization of the battery 1 in the depth direction can be achieved.

<Modification>
Modified examples of each part of the battery 1 will be described below (see FIGS. 57 to 59).

A first modified example is a modified example of the concave portion forming surface (see FIGS. 57 and 58). The concave portion forming surface 29A according to the first modification has wall portions 29d, 29d. The wall portions 29d, 29d have first inclined surfaces 40, 40 continuous with the base portion 29a, intermediate surfaces 41, 41 continuous with the first inclined surfaces 40, 40, and second intermediate surfaces 41, 41 continuous with the intermediate surfaces 41, 41, respectively. inclined surfaces 42 , 42 .

The first slanted surfaces 40, 40 are continuous with the front end of the base portion 29a and are slanted so as to separate from each other in the left-right direction as they go forward. The intermediate surfaces 41, 41 are continuous with the front ends of the first inclined surfaces 40, 40 and are formed as surfaces facing forward. The second inclined surfaces 42, 42 are continuous with the outer ends of the intermediate surfaces 41, 41 in the left-right direction, and are inclined to separate from each other in the left-right direction as they go forward.

The inclination angle of the first inclined surface 40 with respect to the intermediate surface 41 is larger than the inclination angle of the second inclined surface 42 with respect to the intermediate surface 41 . However, the inclination angle of the first inclined surface 40 with respect to the intermediate surface 41 may be smaller than the inclination angle of the second inclined surface 42 with respect to the intermediate surface 41. It may be the same as the angle.

Also, the width of the first inclined surface 40 in the inclined direction is larger than the width of the second inclined surface 42 in the inclined direction. However, the width in the direction in which the first inclined surface 40 is inclined may be smaller than the width in the direction in which the second inclined surface 42 is inclined. It may be the same as the width.

By forming the concave portion forming surface 29A having the wall portions 29d and 29d as described above, the front and rear thicknesses of the rear portions of the wall portions 29d and 29d in the housing 2 are increased, and the strength of the housing 2 is increased. can be improved.

A second modification is a modification of the connector (see FIG. 59). A connector 33A according to the second modification has a housing 34 made of a non-conductive material and connecting terminals 35, 35, 35 made of a conductive material. Terminal arrangement grooves 36, 36, 36 in which connection terminals 35, 35, 35 are arranged are formed in the housing 34, but positioning grooves 37, 37 are not formed.

Connection terminals 35, 35, 35 functioning as a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and an information terminal are arranged in the terminal arrangement grooves 36, 36, 36, respectively. The connector 33A may have two terminal arrangement grooves 36, 36 or four terminal arrangement grooves 36, 36, . . . When the two terminal arrangement grooves 36, 36 are formed in the connector 33A, the positive terminal and the negative terminal are respectively arranged in the two terminal arrangement grooves 36, 36, and the connector 33A has four terminal arrangement grooves 36, 36, are formed, the positive terminal, the negative terminal, the information terminal, and the communication terminal are arranged in the four terminal arrangement grooves 36, 36, .

When the connector 33A is used, positioning grooves 37, 37 are formed on both left and right sides of the connector 33A in the housing 2, respectively.

By using the connector 33A as described above, the width in the left-right direction of the portions on both sides of the placement recess 27 in the housing 2 is increased, and the strength of the housing 2 can be improved.

<Another battery configuration>
Next, the configuration of a battery 1C different from the battery 1 will be described (see FIGS. 60 and 61).

The battery 1C shown below is different from the battery 1 described above only in that there is no connector, and the configuration of each part, the positional relationship between each part, and the size are the same as those of the battery 1. . Therefore, only the parts that are different from the battery 1 will be described in detail below, and the other parts will be given the same reference numerals as the same parts in the battery 1, and the explanation will be omitted.

A recess 27C is formed in the front end portion of the bottom portion 21 (see FIG. 60). It is formed substantially in the center of the recess 27C in the left-right direction and is open forward and downward.

The recess 27C is formed by a recess forming surface 29C. The recess forming surface 29C is composed of a base portion 29e, wall portions 29b, 29b, and an intermediate portion 29c.

The base portion 29e faces forward. The wall portions 29b, 29b are continuous with both left and right ends of the base portion 29e, respectively, and are formed as inclined surfaces separated from each other in the left-right direction toward the front. The intermediate portion 29c faces downward and is formed between the lower edges of the wall portions 29b, 29b.

Terminal arrangement grooves 36C, 36C, and 36C are formed so as to be separated from each other to the left and right in a portion of the housing 2C that continues to the rear side of the recess 27C. The terminal arrangement groove 36C is opened downward and forward, and the front opening is formed in the base portion 29e. The connection terminals 35, 35, 35 are held by the housing 2C with at least a portion thereof being arranged in the terminal arrangement grooves 36C, 36C, 36C, respectively. In the battery 1C, no connector is provided, and connection terminals 35, 35, 35 are configured as terminal portions.

In the housing 2C, positioning grooves 37C and 37C are formed outside the terminal arrangement grooves 36C, 36C and 36C in the left-right direction and open forward and downward, respectively.

The portions between the terminal arrangement grooves 36C, 36C, 36C in the housing 2C are provided as terminal isolation ribs 2b, 2b, and the portions between the terminal arrangement grooves 36C, 36C and the positioning grooves 37C, 37C in the housing 2C are inter-groove ribs. 2c, 2c. The lateral width of the terminal isolation rib 2b is made larger than the lateral width of the inter-groove rib 2c so that contact between the connection terminals 35, 35, 35 can be prevented.

In the above example, the positioning grooves 37C and 37C are formed at positions continuous with the recess 27C. Good (see Figure 61).

Further, in the battery 1C, like the battery 1, two terminal arrangement grooves 36C, 36C or four terminal arrangement grooves 36C, 36C, . . . may be formed.

As described above, in the battery 1C, no connector is provided, and the terminal arrangement groove 36C and the positioning groove 37C are formed in the housing 2C. Cost can be reduced.

<This technology>
The present technology can be configured as follows.

(1)
a housing in which cells are housed;
a terminal portion having a connection terminal connected to the electrode terminal of the connection device,
The housing has a top surface and a bottom surface located on opposite sides in the height direction, and two side surfaces located on opposite sides in the width direction between the top surface and the bottom surface,
In the housing, a notch is formed by a stepped surface continuous with the side surface and a groove-forming surface continuous with the bottom surface, and a guided groove opened in the groove-forming surface is formed,
The battery, wherein the guided groove is positioned closer to the bottom surface than the stepped surface.

(2)
The battery according to (1), wherein the cutouts are formed at positions that are continuous with the two side surfaces.

(3)
The battery according to (1) or (2), wherein a plurality of guided grooves are formed to be separated from each other in a direction in which the connection terminal and the electrode terminal are connected.

(4)
The battery according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the grooved surface is formed continuously from the front surface located on the opposite side in the length direction of the housing to the rear surface.

(5)
The battery according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the step surface is formed continuously from the front surface located on the opposite side in the length direction of the housing to the rear surface.

(6)
a body portion including the step surface, the top surface, and the two side surfaces;
A bottom portion including the grooved surface and the bottom surface,
The battery according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the distance between the two side surfaces in the width direction is greater than the distance between the two grooved surfaces in the width direction.

(7)
The housing has an upper case that includes the top surface and parts of the two side surfaces, and a lower case that includes the bottom surface, other parts of the two side surfaces, and the grooved surface. The battery according to any one of (1) to (6).

(8)
A terminal arrangement groove in which the connection terminal is arranged is formed in the housing,
The battery according to any one of the above (1) to (7), wherein a surface located closest to the top surface among surfaces forming the terminal arrangement groove is located closer to the bottom surface than the step surface.

(9)
the housing has a front surface and a rear surface that are longitudinally opposed;
The housing is formed with terminal arrangement grooves that are open at least on the front surface and in which the connection terminals are arranged,
The surface closest to the top surface among the surfaces forming the terminal arrangement groove is located closer to the bottom surface than the edge of the guided groove closest to the top surface. The battery according to any one of (8).

(10)
the housing has a front surface and a rear surface that are longitudinally opposed;
The housing is formed with terminal arrangement grooves that are open at least on the front surface and in which the connection terminals are arranged,
The surface closest to the top surface among the surfaces forming the terminal arrangement groove is located closer to the top surface than the edge closest to the bottom surface of the guided groove. The battery according to any one of (9).

(11)
the housing has a front surface and a rear surface that are longitudinally opposed;
A functional groove having a predetermined function is formed in the housing at least on the front surface,
The battery according to any one of (1) to (10) above, wherein the surface closest to the top surface among the surfaces forming the functional groove is located closer to the bottom surface than the step surface.

(12)
the housing has a front surface and a rear surface that are longitudinally opposed;
A functional groove having a predetermined function is formed in the housing at least on the front surface,
(1) to (11), wherein the surface closest to the top surface among the surfaces forming the functional groove is located closer to the bottom surface than the surface of the guided groove closest to the top surface. ).

(13)
the housing has a front surface and a rear surface that are longitudinally opposed;
A functional groove having a predetermined function is formed in the housing at least on the front surface,
(1) to (12), wherein the surface of the grooves forming the functional groove that is closest to the top surface is positioned closer to the top surface than the surface of the guided groove that is closest to the bottom surface. ).

(14)
The battery according to any one of the above (1) to (13), wherein the housing is formed with engaging recesses that are opened at least on surfaces facing opposite directions and engage with the engaging projections.

(15)
The battery according to (14), wherein the engaging recess is opened in a plane orthogonal to the plane facing the opposite direction.

(16)
The battery according to (14) or (15), wherein the engaging recess is formed in a region where the guided groove exists.

(17)
A plurality of guided grooves are formed in a direction in which the connection terminal and the electrode terminal are connected, and
The battery according to (16) above, wherein the engagement recess is formed in a region where the guided groove formed at the end on the side where the connector is positioned in the connecting direction exists.

(18)
The battery according to (14), wherein the electrode terminal and the connection terminal are connected when the engagement protrusion is engaged with the engagement recess.

(19)
A detachable battery having a housing containing cells therein and a terminal portion having a connection terminal connected to the electrode terminal,
In the battery, the housing has a top surface and a bottom surface located on opposite sides in the height direction, and two side surfaces located on opposite sides in the width direction between the top surface and the bottom surface, In the housing, a notch is formed by a stepped surface continuous with the side surface and a groove-forming surface continuous with the bottom surface, and a guided groove opened in the groove-forming surface is formed, and the guided groove is positioned closer to the bottom surface than the stepped surface.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Battery, 2... Housing, 2a... Notch, 3... Case cover (upper case), 4... Storage case (lower case), 6... Cell, 11... Top surface, 12... Bottom surface, 13... Side surface, 14... Front surface 15 Rear surface 18 Step surface 19 Groove forming surface 20 Main body 21 Bottom 22 First groove to be guided 23 Second groove to be guided 24 Third groove Guide groove 30 Identification groove (function groove) 33 Connector (terminal portion) 35 Connection terminal 36 Terminal arrangement groove 39 Engagement recess 50 Imaging device (connection device) 61 Electrode terminal , 80... Charger (connected device) 95... Electrode terminal 80A... Charger (connected device) 80B... Charger (connected device) 98a... Engagement protrusion 1A... Battery 1B... Battery 29X... Concave-forming surface 33A Connector 1C Battery 2C Housing 29C Concave-forming surface

Claims (18)

a terminal portion having a plurality of terminal arrangement grooves in which connection terminals to be connected to electrode terminals of a connection device are arranged and positioning grooves ;
a top surface and a bottom surface located on opposite sides in the height direction;
a front surface and a rear surface located between the top surface and the bottom surface on opposite sides in the length direction;
two side surfaces located between the top surface and the bottom surface on opposite sides in the width direction;
two step surfaces continuous with the two side surfaces;
two groove forming surfaces continuous with each of the two stepped surfaces and the bottom surface,
A guided groove is opened in each of the two groove forming surfaces,
the entire guided groove is positioned closer to the bottom surface than the stepped surface;
the grooved surface is continuous with the rear surface;
a portion of the groove forming surface is positioned between the guided groove and the stepped surface in the height direction;
The terminal arrangement groove and the positioning groove are opened at least on the front side,
An arrangement recess opening at least to the front surface is formed,
The terminal portion is arranged in the arrangement recess,
In the terminal portion, the surface located closest to the front surface of the opening surfaces of the terminal arrangement groove and the positioning groove is positioned closer to the rear surface than the edge located closest to the front surface of the arrangement recess. . The battery according to claim 1, wherein the rear surface is positioned outermost in the length direction. 3. The battery according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of said guided grooves separated in said length direction. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the grooved surface is continuous from the front surface to the rear surface. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the step surface is continuous from the front surface to the rear surface. Equipped with an insertion groove opened in each of the two groove forming surfaces,
The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the insertion groove is positioned between the bottom surface and the guided groove in the height direction. The battery according to claim 6, wherein the insertion groove communicates with the guided groove, and at least one surface forming the insertion groove is continuous with the bottom surface. 8. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the rear ends of the two grooved surfaces in the length direction are formed to approach each other in the width direction as they approach the rear surface. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the front ends in the length direction of the two grooved surfaces are formed to approach each other in the width direction as they approach the front surface. 10. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the distance between the two side surfaces in the width direction is greater than the distance between the two grooved surfaces in the width direction. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the terminal portion is positioned closer to the front surface than to the rear surface in the length direction. 12. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising a plurality of said guided grooves spaced apart in a direction in which said connection terminal and said electrode terminal are connected. A terminal arrangement groove in which the connection terminal is arranged,
13. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, of the surfaces forming the terminal arrangement groove, the surface closest to the top surface is located closer to the bottom surface than the step surface. A terminal arrangement groove in which the connection terminal is arranged,
1. A surface closest to the top surface of surfaces forming the terminal arranging groove is positioned closer to the top surface than an edge of the guided groove closest to the bottom surface. 13. The battery according to any one of 13. The two side surfaces include a first side surface and a second side surface opposite to the first side surface in the width direction,
The two groove-forming surfaces include a first groove-forming surface continuous with the bottom surface and a second groove-forming surface continuous with the bottom surface,
The two stepped surfaces are connected to the first grooved surface and the first side surface, and the second stepped surface is connected to the second grooved surface and the second side surface. and a stepped surface of
said guided groove includes a first guided groove opened in said first groove-forming surface and a second guided groove opened in said second groove-forming surface;
The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the first grooved surface and the second grooved surface are continuous with the rear surface. At least a functional groove opened on the front surface,
16. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein, of the surfaces forming the functional groove, the surface closest to the top surface is positioned closer to the bottom surface than the step surface. At least a functional groove opened on the front surface,
17. The surface forming the functional groove that is closest to the top surface is located closer to the bottom surface than the surface of the guided groove that is closest to the top surface. Battery as described in any one. a terminal portion having a plurality of terminal arrangement grooves in which connection terminals to be connected to electrode terminals of a connection device are arranged and positioning grooves ;
a top surface and a bottom surface located on opposite sides in the height direction;
a front surface and a rear surface located between the top surface and the bottom surface on opposite sides in the length direction;
two side surfaces located between the top surface and the bottom surface on opposite sides in the width direction;
two step surfaces continuous with the two side surfaces;
a detachable battery having two grooved surfaces continuous with the two stepped surfaces and the bottom surface;
In the battery,
A guided groove is opened in each of the two groove forming surfaces,
the entire guided groove is positioned closer to the bottom surface than the stepped surface;
the grooved surface is continuous with the rear surface;
a portion of the groove forming surface is positioned between the guided groove and the stepped surface in the height direction;
The terminal arrangement groove and the positioning groove are opened at least on the front side,
An arrangement recess opening at least to the front surface is formed,
The terminal portion is arranged in the arrangement recess,
In the terminal portion, a surface located closest to the front surface of opening surfaces of the terminal arrangement groove and the positioning groove is located closer to the rear surface than an edge located closest to the front surface of the arrangement recess. device.

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