Abstract: A battery arrangement that minimize battery-to-battery and battery-to-device contact resistance by rupturing or removing an insulating contaminant layer on portions of battery terminals that contact each other or that contact contacts in a battery compartment. Generally, standard dry cell and miniature batteries are arranged such that the surface area of the terminals that contact other terminals or device contacts is reduced. A given compression force applied to the serially-aligned batteries in the battery compartment results in a contact pressure sufficient to rupture the insulating contaminant layer at the terminal region that contacts the adjacent terminal or device contact. A relative lateral motion can be imparted between adjacent batteries and/or a battery and device contact to facilitate the removal of the insulating contaminant layer.

Abstract: A conical coiled spring battery contact for use in a battery compartment that ruptures an insulating contaminant layer on a terminal of a battery installed in the battery compartment. The coiled spring contact is constructed and arranged such that only a battery terminal contact point contacts an abutting a terminal of a battery installed in the battery compartment. The contact point is defined by a minimal surface area of an upper end turn of the coiled spring contact. Such a conical coiled spring contact minimizes the contact resistance between the conical coiled spring contact and the battery terminal due to the presence of such an insulating contaminant layer. This in turn increases the amount of battery power and current available for the implementing device. The battery compartment can include a housing configured to receive one or more batteries and a conical coiled spring contact of the invention.

Abstract: A conical coiled spring battery contact for use in a battery compartment that ruptures an insulating contaminant layer on a terminal of a battery installed in the battery compartment. The coiled spring contact is constructed and arranged such that only a battery terminal contact point contacts an abutting a terminal of a battery installed in the battery compartment. The contact point is defined by a minimal surface area of an upper end turn of the coiled spring contact. Such a conical coiled spring contact minimizes the contact resistance between the conical coiled spring contact and the battery terminal due to the presence of such an insulating contaminant layer. This in turn increases the amount of battery power and current available for the implementing device. The battery compartment can include a housing configured to receive one or more batteries and a conical coiled spring contact of the invention.

Abstract: A battery arrangement that minimize battery-to-battery and battery-to-device contact resistance by rupturing or removing an insulating contaminant layer on portions of battery terminals that contact each other or that contact contacts in a battery compartment. Generally, standard dry cell and miniature batteries are arranged such that the surface area of the terminals that contact other terminals or device contacts is reduced. A given compression force applied to the serially-aligned batteries in the battery compartment results in a contact pressure sufficient to rupture the insulating contaminant layer at the terminal region that contacts the adjacent terminal or device contact. A relative lateral motion can be imparted between adjacent batteries and/or a battery and device contact to facilitate the removal of the insulating contaminant layer.

Abstract: A key panel comprises a key pad having a number of key sites provided thereon that define an aspect ratio for the key pad. A strip of printed wiring material is positioned adjacent the key pad. A number of switch contact sites provided on the strip of printed wiring material define an aspect ratio for the strip of printed wiring material that is greater than the aspect ratio of the key pad. The strip of printed wiring material is provided with at least one fold therein so that each of the number of switch contact sites provided on the strip of printed wiring material is generally aligned with a corresponding one of the number of key sites provided on the key pad.

Abstract: An optical scanner having enhanced depth of illumination may comprise an elongate light source positioned along a longitudinal axis for illuminating points contained within a scan plane bounded at an upper edge by a far limit focal plane and at a lower edge by a near limit focal plane. A first light shade and a second light shade are positioned in spaced apart relation to one another and to the elongate light source. The first and second light shades define a lamp aperture that subtends a first angle with respect to a first line defined by the intersection of the scan plane with the near limit focal plane and that subtends a second angle with respect to a second line defined by the intersection of the scan plane with the far limit focal plane.