Abstract: This invention provides a graphical tool by which a person may quickly and efficiently check the relational information between elements of a computer model. The invention may be used to quickly validate the design rules, like minimum spacing requirements between the connections (or nets) in a schematic that exists in a computer aided design package. Since a designer must enter such design rules for each net, the invention first imports these design rules from the computer model and then imports a standard set of design rules. After comparing both the sets of design rules, the invention presents a graphical display (a matrix) to a user indicating where the model rules matched the standard set and, correspondingly, where they did not match.

Abstract: A battery charger system (100) is provided which includes a charger (110) for supplying charge current and voltage and a battery (120) having a memory (122) for storing charge parameters. The charge parameters comprise battery related information instructing for battery charging. The battery related information stored in the memory (122) may include charge instructions instructing the charger of procedure for charging the battery (122).

Abstract: A battery assembly (200) includes first and second battery housings (202 and 204), a plurality of battery cells (204), and a flexible circuit having a thermal sensing surface (206) which is located in thermal proximity to battery cells (204). The thermal sensing surface (206) is in thermal proximity to the plurality of battery cells (204) providing for improved thermal sensing of battery assembly (200).

Abstract: A device (100) having an external contact electrical connection (155) for providing an electrical interface to the device includes a housing member (222) having apertures (235, 335), and a flexible film substrate (270) having an electrically conductive pattern (275). Portions of the electrically conductive pattern defines contact areas (255, 355) for presenting the electrical interface of the device (100). These contact areas (255, 355) are rigidly positioned adjacent to the interior surface (324) of the housing (222) about the apertures (235, 335) such that the contact areas (255) are externally exposed through the aperture (235, 335).

Abstract: An electrical energy source (5), comprises a power supply (14) located in a housing (16). The power supply has positive (22) and negative (24) terminals attached to it and to the exterior of the housing. Conductors (12) connect the power supply to the positive and negative terminals. The housing has one or more apertures (20) in it that correspond to the location of the power supply. A non-conductive film (36) having an adhesive portion (24) is adhesively bonded to both the power supply and the cover. The power supply can be one or more battery cells (10), and the housing typically consists of a top (18) and a bottom (20), each of which have openings that correspond to the battery cells. The cells are co-located with the openings so that the cylindrical wall (32) of the battery cell is tangent to the exterior (33) of the housing.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a battery package. The battery package (5) is made using a two-piece plastic housing (16, 18, 20), with one or both of the pieces having one or more apertures (30). Cylindrical-shaped batteries (10) are electrically connected to each other and situated in the housing so that the cylinder wall (32) of each battery is co-located with an aperture, and so that the cylinder wall is substantially tangent to the exterior surface (33) of the housing. The battery package has positive and negative terminals (22, 24) on the housing that are connected to the batteries. A cover, comprising a film (34) and an adhesive material (36), is placed on the exterior surface of the housing. The assembly is ultrasonically welded so that the two pieces of the housing are joined. The ultrasonic energy also forms an adhesive bond between the co-located battery cylinder walls, the cover, and the housing by heating the adhesive material to form a unitized battery package.

Abstract: An electrical contact assembly (10) for insertion into an aperture (14) in a housing (12) having an exterior and an interior surface comprises a flexible circuit (20) having a tongue portion (23) and a conductor (25) on at least the tongue portion, a member (26) having an external contact (28) which is coupled to the conductor (25), wherein the member is inserted through the aperture (14) through the interior surface and covers portions of the aperture and the exterior surface.