The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 26, 1997
Filed:
Sep. 26, 1995
Kazuyoshi Imazeki, Tokyo, JP;
General Research of Electronics, Inc., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A device, which is adapted to be connected to an electronic apparatus, is capable of having a non-rechargeable battery pack or a rechargeable battery pack connected thereto. The battery packs supply a driving voltage to the electronic apparatus when connected to the device. The device can have an external power source attached thereto for energizing the electronic apparatus by a DC voltage, for disabling the driving voltage supplied by the battery packs and for supplying a charging voltage to the device and to the rechargeable battery pack. The device automatically discriminates between the rechargeable battery pack and the non-rechargeable battery pack so that the charging voltage from the external power source is only applied to the rechargeable battery pack and not to the non-rechargeable battery pack. The rechargeable battery pack includes a casing having a positive electrode and a negative electrode mounted thereon and a non-conductive insulating member which is connected to the casing. The insulating member extends outwardly from the casing a predetermined distance such that when the rechargeable battery pack is placed on a surface, the insulating member contacts the surface and prevents the electrodes from contacting the surface. A gap is provided between the electrodes on the rechargeable battery pack in which the non-conductive insulating member is provided.