US 5,402,008 AGranted

Automatic backup battery connection

AssigneeMaytag Corporation

InventorPamela M. St. John

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A method and apparatus are described for selectively activating a secondary power source, such as a backup battery, for an electronic device, such as dynamic RAM. A connector is described in conjunction with a circuit board including a first contact coupled to the backup battery, and a second contact coupled to the corresponding input for backup power associated with an electronic device. In this state, an open circuit is presented such that the battery is isolated from the electronic device. A socket is described for cooperating with the connector, which includes mating contacts corresponding to the first and second contacts previously described, and a shunt for establishing electrical continuity between these mating contacts. In this manner, a completed circuit is established between the battery and the electronic device when the socket is attached. A bypass connection is also described for maintaining connection between the battery and the electronic device independent of the socket, so that the circuit board may later be removed without threatening loss of accumulated memory contents.

Claims9

Dependent claims

In combination with an electronic unit including one or more electronic devices, a secondary power source for powering at least some of the electronics devices when a primary power supply is nonfunctional, and a first connector for permitting electrical coupling to an external device, the improvement comprising:

said first connector located on said electronic unit comprising a plurality of contacts including a first pair of contacts and a second pair of contacts, said first pair of contacts including a first and second contact,
said first contact functionally coupled to a first pole of said secondary power source,
said secondary power source having a second pole coupled to the at least one electronic device,
said second contact functionally coupled to the corresponding input for secondary power associated with at least one of said electronic device, but isolated from said first contact such that an open circuit is presented between said secondary power source and said at least one electronic device when said first connector is in an unmated condition;
a second connector not located an said electronic unit adapted to matingly cooperate with said first connector, said second connector comprising a plurality of mating contacts including a first pair of mating contacts and a second pair of mating contacts, said first pair of mating contacts including a first mating contact and a second mating contact
wherein said first and second mating contacts of said second connector are functionally coupled together and said second pair of mating contacts are coupled with at least said primary power source, so that when said second connector is mated with said first connector, said first and second mating contacts of said second connector electrically engage said first and second contacts of said first connector respectively to provide a current path between said first and second contacts, and said second pair of mating contacts of said second connector electrically engage said second pair of contacts of said first connector thereby simultaneously connecting said secondary power source to said at least one electronic device and said primary power source to said electronic unit.

3 more elements

A method of simultaneously coupling a primary power source to an electronic unit and a secondary power source to one or more electronic devices of an electronic unit comprising the steps of:

providing a first connector located on said electronic unit having a plurality of contacts including a first pair of contacts and a second pair of contacts, said first pair of contacts including a first and second contact, wherein said secondary power source has a first pole coupled to said first contact and a second pole coupled to at least one electronic device and said second contact is coupled to a corresponding input for secondary power associated with the at least one electronic device and an open circuit exists between said first and second contacts of said first connector when said first connector is in an unmated condition;
providing a second connector not located on said electronic unit having a plurality of mating contacts including a first pair of mating contacts and a second pair of mating contacts, said first pair of mating contacts including a first mating contact and a second mating contact, wherein said first mating contact is coupled to said second mating contact and said second pair of mating contacts is coupled to at least said primary power source;
and
mating said second connector to said first connecter so that said first and second mating contacts of said second connector electrically engage said first and second contacts of said first connector and said second pair of mating contacts engage said second pair of contacts thereby simultaneously connecting said secondary power source to the at least one electronic device and said primary power source to said electronic unit.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/198,674Filed 18 Feb 1994 · continuation
Priority: 17 Apr 1992
Granted: 28 Mar 1995
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

H05K 1/029
Programmable, customizable or modifiable circuits: having a programmable lay-out, i.e. adapted for choosing between a few possibilities
G11C 5/141
Power supply arrangements , e.g. power down, chip selection or deselection, layout of wirings or power grids, or multiple supply levels: battery…
H02J 9/061
With automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems: for DC powered loads
H05K 1/117
Printed elements for providing electric connections to or between printed circuits: pads along the edge of rigid circuit boards, e.g. for…