Modular battery

Abstract

A modular electric storage battery is adaptable to a variety of applications, and for example, as a starting, lighting and ignition (SLI) battery of a car, truck, motorcycle, lawn and garden equipment or other internal combustion engine powered product. The modular battery is constructed from a plurality of battery cells assembled into a battery housing. The cells are sealed, maintenance-free, rechargeable cells. The housing includes quick connect termination, and the starting application is adapted with a base unit having complementary termination. The modular battery and base unit also include aligning features to ensure proper interconnection of the battery terminals. The base unit may be adapted to receive several sizes of modular battery. In addition, a second modular battery, that may be configured as a flashlight or other device, is provided and can inter-connected with the base unit to provide a jump starting capability.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A modular battery system for internal combustion engine starting comprising: 
 a base member, the base member having first and second terminal receptors electrically coupled with first and second connectors, the base member being adapted to receive a battery module and the connectors being electrically coupled to a starting and charging circuit of an internal combustion engine powered application; and    a battery module including at least one electrochemical cell coupled to first and second terminals and contained within a housing, wherein the battery module includes an aligning formation formed in the housing, the aligning formation adapted to engage a complementary formation formed in the base member such that the first terminal is aligned and electrically coupled with the first receptor and the second terminal is aligned and electrically coupled with the second connector.    
     
     
         2 . The modular battery system of  claim 1  wherein the electrochemical cell comprises a spiral wound thin metal film cell.  
     
     
         3 . The modular battery system of  claim 1  wherein the battery module comprises a plurality of electrochemical cells, the cells being coupled to each other and to the terminals.  
     
     
         4 . The modular battery system of  claim 1  wherein the first and second connectors comprise first and second battery cables adapted for connection to the starting circuit.  
     
     
         5 . The modular battery system of  claim 1  wherein the aligning formation comprises at least one ridge member formed in the housing and a complementary channel member formed in the base member for each ridge member.  
     
     
         6 . The modular battery system of  claim 1  wherein the battery module is adapted to one of a plurality of capacities.  
     
     
         7 . The modular battery system of  claim 6  wherein the aligning formation retains substantially identical physical attributes for each of the plurality of capacities.  
     
     
         8 . The modular battery system of  claim 7  wherein the base member is adapted to accept battery modules of each of the plurality of capacities.  
     
     
         9 . The modular battery system of  claim 7  wherein the first and second terminals are in spaced relationship to the aligning formation for each of the plurality of capacities.  
     
     
         10 . The modular battery system of  claim 9  wherein the terminals are aligned with the aligning formation for each of the plurality of capacities.  
     
     
         11 . The modular battery system of claim I wherein the terminals are recessed within the housing.  
     
     
         12 . The modular battery system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a second base member, the second base member having first and second terminal receptors electrically coupled with first and second connectors, the base member being adapted to receive a battery module and the connectors being electrically coupled to the starting circuit of the internal combustion engine powered application; and  
 a second battery module including at least one electrochemical cell coupled to first and second terminals and contained within a housing, wherein the second battery module includes an aligning formation formed in the housing, the aligning formation adapted to engage a complementary formation formed in the second base member such that the first terminal is aligned and electrically coupled with the first receptor and the second terminal is aligned and electrically coupled with the second connector.  
 
     
     
         13 . The modular battery system of  claim 12  wherein the second battery module is interchangeable with the battery module.  
     
     
         14 . The modular battery system of  claim 12  wherein base member is adapted to receive the second battery module.  
     
     
         15 . The modular battery system of  claim 12  wherein the second battery module is adapted for use as a flashlight.  
     
     
         16 . The modular battery system of  claim 15  wherein the second battery module is adapted with a removable flashlight attachment.  
     
     
         17 . In a device requiring a source of electrical power, a system for providing electrical power comprising: 
 a base member, the base member having first and second terminal receptors electrically coupled with first and second connectors, the base member being adapted to receive a battery module and the connectors being electrically coupled to the device; and    a battery module including at least one electrochemical cell coupled to first and second terminals and contained within a housing, wherein the battery module includes an aligning formation formed in the housing, the aligning formation adapted to engage a complementary formation formed in the base member such that the first terminal is aligned and electrically coupled with the first receptor and the second terminal is aligned and electrically coupled with the second connector.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the device comprises a starting circuit for an internal combustion engine of an internal combustion engine powered device.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the internal combustion engine powered device comprises one of: a motor vehicle, a tractor, a motorcycle, an all-terrain vehicle, a snowmobile, a marine craft, a lawn and garden power tool, and an aircraft.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the base portion is adapted to be coupled to either of a top terminal type connector and a side terminal type connector of the starting circuit.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the base portion includes an adapter, the adapter being configured to couple to one of a top terminal and a side terminal type connector of the starting circuit.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the device comprises an uninterrupted power supply system.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the application comprises a power system of a hybrid electric vehicle.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the base member is formed integral with the device.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the electrochemical cell comprises a spiral wound thin metal film cell.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the battery module comprises a plurality of electro-chemical cells, the cells being coupled to each other and to the terminals.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the aligning formation comprises at least one ridge member formed in the housing and a complementary channel member formed in the base member for each ridge member.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the battery module is adapted to one of a plurality of capacities.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the aligning formation retains substantially identical physical attributes for each of the plurality of capacities.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the first and second terminals are in spaced relationship to the aligning formation for each of the plurality of capacities.  
     
     
         31 . The modular battery system of  claim 30  wherein the terminals are aligned with the aligning formation for each of the plurality of capacities.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the base member is adapted to accept battery modules of each of the plurality of capacities.  
     
     
         33 . The modular battery system of  claim 17  wherein the terminals are recessed within the housing.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 a second base member, the second base member having first and second terminal receptors electrically coupled with first and second connectors, the base member being adapted to receive a battery module and the connectors being electrically coupled to the device; and  
 a second battery module including at least one electrochemical cell coupled to first and second terminals and contained within a housing, wherein the second battery module includes an aligning formation formed in the housing, the aligning formation adapted to engage a complementary formation formed in the second base member such that the first terminal is aligned and electrically coupled with the first receptor and the second terminal is aligned and electrically coupled with the second connector.  
 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the second battery module is interchangeable with the battery module.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 34  wherein base member is adapted to receive the second battery module.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the second battery module is adapted for use as a flashlight.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37  wherein the second battery module is adapted with one of a removable flashlight attachment, a removable power tool and a removable electronic device.