Battery device and electronic apparatus

Abstract

A battery apparatus including a case, a battery cell, a battery-side terminal, and an engaging piece. The case has a width, a thickness, and a length. The battery cell is housed in an inside of the case. The battery-side terminal is disposed on a side surface at one end of the case in a length direction and electrically connected to the battery cell. The engaging piece is disposed at the one end of the case at which the battery-side terminal is positioned such that the engaging piece extends in a length direction a same distance as the case at the one end portion. The engaging piece is at an edge of the case in a width direction.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 : A rechargeable battery having a height, a width, a length, top and bottom sides substantially perpendicular to the height direction, first and second sides between the top and bottom sides, and front and rear sides between the top and bottom sides and also between the first and second sides, the battery comprising:
 a plurality of electrical terminals provided in a plurality of first grooves arranged in the width direction, the plurality of first grooves opened toward the bottom side and the front side, and closed toward the top side, the rear side and the first and second sides;   two second grooves respectively provided at opposite ends of the first grooves in the width direction, the second grooves opened toward the bottom side and the front side, and closed toward the top side, the rear side and the first and second sides, the second grooves each having a width in the width direction that is larger than a width of the first grooves in the width direction;   a recess portion provided adjacent to one of the second grooves in the width direction, the recess portion opened toward the bottom side and the front side, and closed toward the top side, the rear side and the first and second sides, and the recess portion is provided at a junction of the front side and the bottom side, wherein   entrance portions of the first grooves and second grooves at the front side recessed in the length direction with respect to an outermost part of the front side, and   the width of the rechargeable battery is larger than the height of the rechargeable battery, and the length of the rechargeable battery is larger than the height and the width of the rechargeable battery.   
     
     
         3 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 another recess portion that is opened toward the bottom surface and the front end surface, and closed toward the top surface, the rear end surface and the first and second side surfaces, wherein   the recess portions are respectively provided at opposite ends of the first and second grooves, as a set, in the width direction.   
     
     
         4 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 engaging pieces extending in the length direction and provided on both sides of the battery in the width direction, wherein   a length of one of the engaging pieces in the length direction is smaller than a distance in the length direction between a base surface of the first groove and a rear surface at the rear side,   the base surface is substantially perpendicular to the length direction, and   the rear surface extends in the width direction and is substantially perpendicular to the length direction.   
     
     
         5 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 engaging pieces extending in said length direction and provided on both sides of said battery in the width direction, wherein   a length of one of the engaging pieces in the length direction is smaller than half of a distance in the length direction between a base surface of the first groove and a rear surface at the rear side,   the base surface is substantially perpendicular to the length direction, and   the rear surface extends in the width direction and is substantially perpendicular to the length direction.   
     
     
         6 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 each of the engaging pieces has a tip in the width direction, and   a distance in the width direction between a tip of an engaging piece positioned toward the first side and a tip of an engaging piece positioned toward the second side is smaller than a distance in the width direction between a first surface at the first side and a second surface at the second side.   
     
     
         7 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the engaging piece hang over a guide groove, and   the guide groove is opened toward both the length direction and one of the first and second sides.   
     
     
         8 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the engaging piece hang over a guide groove, and   the guide groove is opened toward both the length direction and one of the first and second sides.   
     
     
         9 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the engaging pieces are to be engaged with engaging claws of a battery mounting section of an apparatus when the battery is mounted on the battery mounting section of the apparatus, and   a length of the engaging piece in the length direction is similar to a length of the engaging claw in the length direction.   
     
     
         10 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 a bottom surface at the bottom side is to abut a mounting surface of a battery mounting section of an apparatus, when the battery is slid in the length direction, which is in a direction in which the first grooves approach a plurality of mounting section terminals provided on the battery mounting section when the battery is mounted on the battery mounting section of the apparatus, and   a distance the battery is slid in the length direction is similar to a length of the engaging piece in the length direction.   
     
     
         11 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 engaging pieces provided on both sides of the battery in the width direction, the engaging pieces extending in the length direction, wherein   the engaging pieces are provided parallel to and arranged flush with a bottom surface at the bottom side, and   the engaging pieces are provided at opposite ends of the second grooves in the width direction and extend from a front end surface at the front side in the length direction.   
     
     
         12 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 11 , wherein a width of the engaging piece in the width direction is similar to a width of the recess at the bottom side in the width direction. 
     
     
         13 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 11 , wherein a thickness of the engaging piece in the height direction is similar to a depth of the recess portion in the height direction. 
     
     
         14 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a main body section that includes a top surface at the top side, a plane at an opposite end from the top surface in the height direction, a part of a front surface at the front side and a part of the rear surface at the rear side;   a bottom section, disposed at a midpoint of the main body section in the width direction, that includes a bottom surface at bottom side and a part of the front surface at the front side, wherein   the engaging pieces are provided parallel to and arranged flush with the bottom surface of the bottom section.   
     
     
         15 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the engaging pieces and side surfaces of the bottom section in the width direction form a guide groove,   the guide groove is to receive an engaging claw of a battery mounting section of an apparatus when the battery is mounted on the battery mounting section of the apparatus, and   said guide groove is opened to the front side in the length direction.   
     
     
         16 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 14 , wherein a width of the bottom section in the width direction is smaller than a width of the main body section in the width direction. 
     
     
         17 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 14 , wherein the plane extends from the front side to the rear side in the length direction with uniformity in a dimension in the height direction. 
     
     
         18 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a battery side terminal portion including the first grooves and the second grooves, wherein a length of the battery side terminal portion in the length direction is approximately twice a depth of the first groove in the length direction.   
     
     
         19 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a battery side terminal portion including the first grooves and the second grooves, wherein   a length of the battery side terminal portion in the length direction is similar to a length of the engaging piece in the length direction.   
     
     
         20 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 2 , wherein the first grooves and the second grooves are located at a middle of the battery in the width direction. 
     
     
         21 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 2 , wherein the electrical terminals are provided inside of both ends of the first grooves. 
     
     
         22 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 4 , wherein a number of the engaging pieces is three on each of the sides of the battery in the width direction. 
     
     
         23 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 4 , wherein a number of the engaging pieces is two on each of the sides of the battery in the width direction. 
     
     
         24 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 2 , wherein a depth of the second groove in the height direction is larger than a depth of the first groove in the height direction, and the depth of said first groove in the height direction is larger than a depth of the recess portion in the height direction. 
     
     
         25 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 2 , wherein the recess portion corresponds to an identification portion disposed at a battery mounting section of an apparatus, when the battery is mounted on a battery mounting section of an apparatus. 
     
     
         26 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a main body portion including all of a top surface at the top side, part of front and rear surfaces at the front and rear sides and part of first and second surfaces at the first and second sides; and   a bottom portion including all of a bottom surface at the bottom side, part of the front surface, wherein   the main body portion and the bottom portion are mated with a mating surface that is parallel to the top surface and the bottom surface.   
     
     
         27 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 2 , wherein the battery is configured to supply power to an imaging apparatus. 
     
     
         28 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 2 , wherein the battery is configured to be received in a battery loading portion of an imaging apparatus. 
     
     
         29 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 2 , wherein the second grooves each have the depth in the height direction that is larger than a depth of the first grooves in the height direction. 
     
     
         30 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 2 , wherein the recess portion and the one of the second grooves are separated in the width direction by a wall. 
     
     
         31 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 3 , wherein the recess portions and the second grooves are respectively separated in the width direction by walls. 
     
     
         32 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 2 , wherein the outermost part is a convex portion provided on the front side. 
     
     
         33 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 2 , wherein the outermost part extends in the width direction. 
     
     
         34 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 33 , wherein a first length of the outermost part in the width direction is greater than a second length of a portion at which the plurality of electrical terminals are disposed in the width direction. 
     
     
         35 : A rechargeable battery having a height, a width, a length, top and bottom sides substantially perpendicular to the height direction, first and second sides between the top and bottom sides, and front and rear sides between the top and bottom sides and also between the first and second sides, the battery comprising:
 a plurality of electrical terminals provided in a plurality of first grooves arranged in the width direction, the plurality of first grooves opened toward the bottom side and the front side, and closed toward the top side, the rear side and the first and second sides;   two second grooves respectively provided at opposite ends of the first grooves in the width direction, the second grooves opened toward the bottom side and the front side, and closed toward the top side, the rear side and the first and second sides, the second grooves each having a width in the width direction that is larger than a width of the first grooves in the width direction;   a recess portion provided adjacent to one of the second grooves in the width direction, the recess portion opened toward the bottom side and the front side, and closed toward the top side, the rear side and the first and second sides, and the recess portion is provided at a junction of the front side and the bottom side, wherein   a step is disposed between entrance portions of the first grooves and second grooves at the front side and an outermost part of the front side, and   the width of the rechargeable battery is larger than the height of the rechargeable battery, and the length of the rechargeable battery is larger than the height and the width of the rechargeable battery.   
     
     
         36 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 32 , further comprising:
 engaging pieces extending in the length direction and provided on both sides of the battery in the width direction, wherein   a length of one of the engaging pieces in the length direction is smaller than a distance in the length direction between a base surface of the first groove and a rear surface at the rear side,   the base surface is substantially perpendicular to the length direction, and   the rear surface extends in the width direction and is substantially perpendicular to the length direction.   
     
     
         37 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 33 , further comprising:
 a main body section that includes a top surface at the top side, a plane at an opposite end from the top surface in the height direction, a part of a front surface at the front side and a part of the rear surface at the rear side;   a bottom section, disposed at a midpoint of the main body section in the width direction, that includes a bottom surface at bottom side and a part of the front surface at the front side, wherein   the engaging pieces are provided parallel to and arranged flush with the bottom surface of the bottom section.   
     
     
         38 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 34 , wherein:
 the engaging pieces and side surfaces of the bottom section in the width direction form a guide groove,   the guide groove is to receive an engaging claw of a battery mounting section of an apparatus when the battery is mounted on the battery mounting section of the apparatus, and   said guide groove is opened to the front side in the length direction.   
     
     
         39 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 34 , wherein a width of the bottom section in the width direction is smaller than a width of the main body section in the width direction. 
     
     
         40 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 32 , wherein the battery is configured to supply power to an imaging apparatus. 
     
     
         41 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 32 , wherein the battery is configured to be received in a battery loading portion of an imaging apparatus. 
     
     
         42 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 35 , wherein the outermost part is a convex portion provided on the front side. 
     
     
         43 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 35 , wherein the outermost part extends in the width direction. 
     
     
         44 : The rechargeable battery according to  claim 43 , wherein a first length of the outermost part in the width direction is greater than a second length of a portion at which the plurality of electrical terminals are disposed in the width direction.