Battery Unit Having Case to Contain Cells

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus comprises a housing, a holding part and a battery unit. Placed in the battery receptacle of the housing, the battery unit comprises a plurality of cells and a case accommodating the plurality of cells. The case comprises (i) a first part configured to contain at least one cell, (ii) a second part configured to contain at least one cell different from the at least one cell contained in the first part, and (iii) a third part located between the first part and the second part. The third part of the case includes a thin wall portion having a thickness less than a thickness of each of the plurality of cells. The thin wall portion includes a bottom on which the holding part is stacked in a thickness direction of the housing when the battery unit is placed in the battery receptacle.

1 . An electronic apparatus comprising:
 a housing which includes a bottom wall, an upper wall and a battery receptacle which is located below the upper wall;   a holding part which is provided in the housing, supports an electronic component, and extends from the upper wall into the battery receptacle; and   a battery unit which is placed in the battery receptacle of the housing and includes a plurality of cells and a case which accommodates the plurality of cells, the case including (i) a first part which contains at least one cell, (ii) a second part which contains at least one cell different from the at least one cell contained in the first part, and (iii) a third part which is located between the first part and the second part, the third part of the case includes a thin wall portion having a thickness less than a thickness of each of the plurality of cells, the thin wall portion includes a bottom on which the holding part is stacked in a thickness direction of the housing when the battery unit is placed in the battery receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the third part includes a recess located in a position corresponding to that of the holding part. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the third part has a thickness less than a thickness of the first part and a thickness of the second part. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the third part isolates the first part and the second part from each other. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein in the case, the at least one cell contained in the first part is electrically connected to the at least one cell contained in the second part. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the case of the battery unit includes a lower surface which is flatly formed and located opposite to the bottom of the thin wall portion, and which is exposed to the outside of the housing and located at substantially the same level as an outside surface of the bottom wall of the housing when the battery unit is placed in the battery receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . An electronic apparatus comprising:
 a housing including (1) a bottom wall, (2) an upper wall, (3) a battery receptacle, and (4) a holding part, the battery receptacle being located between the upper wall and the bottom wall, the holding part extending from the upper wall into the battery receptacle; and   a battery unit to be placed in the battery receptacle, the battery unit including (1) a plurality of cells including at least a first cell and a second cell, and (2) a case to accommodate the plurality of cells, the case including
 (i) a first part containing at least the first cell, 
 (ii) a second part containing at least the second cell, and 
 (iii) a third part containing none of the plurality of cells, the third part being located between the first part and the second part and connecting the first part and the second part, the third part includes an escape section having a recess into which the holding part is fitted when the battery unit is placed in the battery receptacle. 
   
     
     
         8 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the third part includes a thin wall portion having a thickness being less than a thickness of either the first cell or the second cell. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first part and the second part are spaced apart from each other, and the third part is interposed between the first part and the second part. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein in the case, the first cell is electrically connected to the second cell. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the case having a substantially flat form and including a lower surface located opposite to the escape section, the lower surface being exposed to the outside of the housing when the battery unit is placed in the battery receptacle. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein when the battery unit is coupled to the battery receptacle, the escape section and the holding part of the case are stacked together in a thickness direction of the housing, and the lower surface of the case is located at substantially the same level as an outside surface of the bottom wall of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the third part being located between the first part and the second part, the third part including a thin wall portion having a thickness less than a thickness of each of the plurality of cells, the thin wall portion includes a bottom on which the holding part is stacked in a thickness direction of the housing when the battery unit is coupled to the battery receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the third part isolates the first part and the second part from each other. 
     
     
         15 . An electronic apparatus comprising:
 a housing including a bottom wall, an upper wall and a battery receptacle located below the upper wall;   a holding part extending from the upper wall into the battery receptacle and being configured to support an electronic component; and   a battery unit to be placed in the battery receptacle of the housing, the battery unit comprises a plurality of cells and a case accommodating the plurality of cells, the case including (i) a first part configured to contain at least one cell, (ii) a second part configured to contain at least one cell different from the at least one cell contained in the first part, and (iii) a third part located between the first part and the second part, the third part of the case includes a thin wall portion having a thickness less than a thickness of each of the plurality of cells, the thin wall portion includes a bottom on which the holding part is stacked in a thickness direction of the housing when the battery unit is placed in the battery receptacle.   
     
     
         16 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the third part includes a recess located in a position corresponding to that of the holding part. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the third part has a thickness less than a thickness of the first part and a thickness of the second part. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the third part isolates the first part and the second part from each other. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein in the case, the at least one cell contained in the first part is electrically connected to the at least one cell contained in the second part. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the case of the battery unit includes a lower surface formed and located opposite to the bottom of the thin wall portion, and which is exposed to the outside of the housing and located at substantially the same level as an outside surface of the bottom wall of the housing when the battery unit is placed in the battery receptacle.