Information handling system including battery assembly having multiple separable subassemblies

Abstract

An information handling system includes a battery assembly that is separable into two or more battery subassemblies to facilitate shipping. The battery subassemblies mechanically and electrically connect together to provide a completed battery assembly that exhibits increased power capacity as compared with an individual battery subassembly alone. In one embodiment, the individual battery subassemblies are sufficiently small in power capacity or other characteristic to avoid the increased shipping expense incurred when batteries exceed a certain threshold in power capacity, chemistry or other threshold characteristic.

1 . A method of manufacturing a battery powered device comprising: 
 providing first and second battery subassemblies, the first battery subassembly being connectable to the second battery subassembly to form a battery assembly having more electrical capacity than the first and second battery subassemblies individually;    connecting the first battery subassembly to the second battery subassembly to form the battery assembly; and    connecting the battery assembly to the battery powered device to supply power thereto.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  including mechanically connecting the first battery subassembly to the second battery subassembly.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  including electrically connecting the first battery subassembly to the second battery subassembly.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first battery subassembly exhibits a first cell chemistry  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the second battery subassembly exhibits a second cell chemistry.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the first cell chemistry is different from the second cell chemistry.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the first cell chemistry is lithium ion chemistry.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the second cell chemistry is nickel metal hydride chemistry.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first battery subassembly and second battery subassembly are in paralles when connected together.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first battery subassembly and second battery subassembly are in series when connected together.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first and second battery subassemblies are shipped separated from one another prior to connecting the first battery subassembly to the second battery subassembly to form the completed battery assembly.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the connecting is performed by an IHS configuration facility.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the connecting is performed by a customer.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the battery powered device is an information handling system.  
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing a battery for use in a battery powered device, the method comprising: 
 providing a first battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly electrical connector and a device power connector for supplying power to the battery powered device, the first battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector; and    providing a second battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly electrical connector for electrically connecting to the subassembly to subassembly electrical connector of the first battery subassembly, the second battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector for mechanically connecting to the subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector of the first battery subassembly.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  including electrically and mechanically connecting the first battery subassembly to the second battery subassembly to form a completed battery assembly.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  including positioning the completed battery assembly in a bay of the battery powered device.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  including electrically connecting the device power connector to a corresponding electrical connector of the battery powered device.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the first battery subassembly exhibits an energy capacity less than the threshold for triggering higher shipping costs due to regulations.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the first and second battery subassemblies are shipped separated from one another prior to connecting the first battery subassembly to the second battery subassembly to form the completed battery.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the second battery subassembly exhibits a energy capacity less than the threshold for triggering higher shipping costs due to regulations.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the first battery subassembly exhibits a first cell chemistry  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the second battery subassembly exhibits a second cell chemistry.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the first cell chemistry is different from the second cell chemistry.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the first cell chemistry is lithium ion chemistry.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the second cell chemistry is nickel metal hydride chemistry.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the first battery subassembly and second battery subassembly are in parallel when connected to form the completed battery.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the first battery subassembly and the second battery subassembly are in series when connected to form the completed battery.  
     
     
         29 . An information handling system (IHS) comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory coupled to the processor; and    a battery bay for receiving a battery assembly therein, the battery assembly providing power to the processor and the memory, the battery assembly including: 
 a first battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly electrical connector and a device power connector for supplying power to the battery powered device, the first battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector; and  
 a second battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly electrical connector for electrically connecting to the subassembly to subassembly electrical connector of the first battery subassembly, the second battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector for mechanically connecting to the subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector of the first battery subassembly.  
   
     
     
         30 . The IHS of  claim 29  wherein the first battery subassembly and the second battery subassembly are electrically and mechanically connecting together to form a completed battery assembly.  
     
     
         31 . The IHS of  claim 29  wherein the first battery subassembly exhibits a energy capacity less than the threshold for triggering higher shipping costs due to regulations.  
     
     
         32 . The IHS of  claim 29  wherein the second battery subassembly exhibits a energy capacity less than the threshold for triggering higher shipping costs due to regulations.  
     
     
         33 . The IHS of  claim 29  wherein the first battery subassembly exhibits a first cell chemistry  
     
     
         34 . The IHS of  claim 33  wherein the second battery subassembly exhibits a second cell chemistry.  
     
     
         35 . The IHS of  claim 34  wherein the first cell chemistry is different from the second cell chemistry.  
     
     
         36 . The IHS of  claim 34  wherein the first cell chemistry is lithium ion chemistry.  
     
     
         37 . The IHS of  claim 34  wherein the second cell chemistry is nickel metal hydride chemistry.  
     
     
         38 . A battery powered device comprising: 
 electrical circuitry which requires power to operate; and    a housing in which the electrical circuitry is situated, the housing including a battery bay for receiving a battery assembly therein, the battery assembly including: 
 a first battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly electrical connector and a device power connector for supplying power to the battery powered device, the first battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector; and  
 a second battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly electrical connector for electrically connecting to the subassembly to subassembly electrical connector of the first battery subassembly, the second battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector for mechanically connecting to the subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector of the first battery subassembly.