Abstract: Included is an adjustable, auxiliary battery pack suitable for digital cameras. The pack includes a rotary wheel having finger grips that protrude through slots in a rotary wheel guide. The finger grips, in conjunction with the large diameter of the rotary wheel, allow a user to couple a threaded screw disposed in the rotary wheel to a tripod mount in a camera. The rotary wheel guide includes an aperture that allows the rotary wheel to move both side to side and forward and back, thereby accommodating a wide array of digital camera form factors. A protrusion on the rotary wheel ensures that the moveable rotary wheel stays within the confines of the rotary wheel guide. The battery pack includes a female tripod mount on the bottom of the pack that allows the camera/battery pack assembly to be coupled to a tripod.

Abstract: This invention includes a battery pack capable of attaching to an ordinary belt. The battery pack includes springy, U-shaped clips that are capable of coupling to objects such as belts. The clips are coupled to the battery pack by way of ball and socket joints, thereby allowing the battery pack to be mounted at any of a number of angles, including horizontal and vertical configurations. The battery pack optionally includes a torso accommodation curve to make the battery pack more comfortable for the user.

Abstract: A latch assembly for coupling a rechargeable battery to an electronic device is provided. The latch assembly includes an insertable latch having barbed wing members extending distally from a planar member. The planar member includes several features, including an insertion snap, a spring retention post and a mechanical stop. The latch is inserted into a latch aperture in a battery pack housing. The latch aperture includes a plurality of slots for receiving the various features of the latch. A spring, like a butterfly spring for example, provides an outward force between the latch and the housing. The latch assembly is designed for ease of manufacture, in that assembly is simply inserting the spring in the latch aperture and then snapping in the latch.

Abstract: This invention includes a charger that may be mounted either in a horizontal configuration, e.g. on a desktop, or in a vertical configuration, e.g. on a wall. The charger has pockets geometrically oriented so as to support batteries in either configuration. Each pocket includes a corresponding display. As changing from a desktop configuration to a wall mount configuration requires the user to rotate the charger by 180 degrees, a switch is provided to rotate the information shown on the display by 180 degrees. The switch is preferably recessed below the surface of the charger so as to prevent nuisance actuation. The resulting orientation of the display is stored in a non-volatile memory to prevent resets when power is removed. By holding the switch down for a predetermined amount of time, a user can send the display into a test mode so as to run diagnostics and verify proper display operation.

Abstract: This invention includes a battery pack capable of attaching to an ordinary belt. The battery pack includes springy, U-shaped clips that are capable of coupling to objects such as belts. The clips are coupled to the battery pack by way of ball and socket joints, thereby allowing the battery pack to be mounted at any of a number of angles, including horizontal and vertical configurations. The battery pack optionally includes a torso accommodation curve to make the battery pack more comfortable for the user.

Abstract: This invention includes a charger that may be mounted either in a horizontal configuration, e.g. on a desktop, or in a vertical configuration, e.g. on a wall. The charger has pockets geometrically oriented so as to support batteries in either configuration. Each pocket includes a corresponding display. As changing from a desktop configuration to a wall mount configuration requires the user to rotate the charger by 180 degrees, a switch is provided to rotate the information shown on the display by 180 degrees. The switch is preferably recessed below the surface of the charger so as to prevent nuisance actuation. The resulting orientation of the display is stored in a non-volatile memory to prevent resets when power is removed. By holding the switch down for a predetermined amount of time, a user can send the display into a test mode so as to run diagnostics and verify proper display operation.

Abstract: Included is an adjustable, auxiliary battery pack suitable for digital cameras. The pack includes a rotary wheel having finger grips that protrude through slots in a rotary wheel guide. The finger grips, in conjunction with the large diameter of the rotary wheel, allow a user to couple a threaded screw disposed in the rotary wheel to a tripod mount in a camera. The rotary wheel guide includes an aperture that allows the rotary wheel to move both side to side and forward and back, thereby accommodating a wide array of digital camera form factors. A protrusion on the rotary wheel ensures that the moveable rotary wheel stays within the confines of the rotary wheel guide. The battery pack includes a female tripod mount on the bottom of the pack that allows the camera/battery pack assembly to be coupled to a tripod.

Abstract: This invention includes an improved interconnect assembly for use in rechargeable battery packs for laptop computers. The invention eliminates manufacturing defects resulting from the hand soldering processes of the prior art. The assembly provides interconnection for rechargeable cells oriented end to end, in parallel rows. Insulated runners provide interconnection to a bus located along the center of the end to end cells. The bus is a flexible circuit that couples to a printed circuit board. In one preferred embodiment, the bus is less than two inches in diameter and less than the diameters of the parallel rows of end to end cells in length. The assembly eliminates the need for hand soldering, eliminates cumbersome wire routing, and offers multiple insulation features that prevent electrical shorts.

Abstract: A foil battery packaging containing a battery cell is described wherein the tab comprises a strong metal tab secured to the packaging, and wherein the strong metal tab is electrically connected to a weak metal tab of the battery cell. The packaging may also comprise a metal reinforcing strip secured to the strong metal tab, the weak metal tab, and the battery packaging.