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: An improved electrical interconnect member for rechargeable battery packs is provided. The interconnect member includes a metal tab and a plastic housing. The metal tab preferably includes side bends projecting below the tab in a non-perpendicular geometric orientation with the top of the tab. The tab includes at least one lance for preventing post-assembly, lateral movement between the tab and housing. The housing is preferably Y-shaped, with the outer surfaces of the Y having concave curvatures. The concave curvatures allow the housing to seat between adjoining, cylindrical cells. The housing includes a rail with a cross section that corresponds to the area between the side bends and the top of the tab. The housing also includes a post for coupling to the lances.

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: An improved electrical interconnect member for rechargeable battery packs is provided. The interconnect member includes a metal tab and a plastic housing. The metal tab preferably includes side bends projecting below the tab in a non-perpendicular geometric orientation with the top of the tab. The tab includes at least one lance for preventing post-assembly, lateral movement between the tab and housing. The housing is preferably Y-shaped, with the outer surfaces of the Y having concave curvatures. The concave curvatures allow the housing to seat between adjoining, cylindrical cells. The housing includes a rail with a cross section that corresponds to the area between the side bends and the top of the tab. The housing also includes a post for coupling to the lances.

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.