Battery alignment system for a camera
A battery alignment system includes a housing having a groove along a side of the housing, a first set of surfaces that define a recess, and first electrical contacts positioned at least partially within the recess. The battery alignment system also includes a battery having a tab to slide within the groove of the housing to facilitate a first alignment, a second set of surfaces that protrude from an end of the battery to slide into the recess of the housing to facilitate a second alignment, and a third surface that extends from one of the second set of surfaces. The third surface engages one of the first set of surfaces to facilitate a third alignment. The battery also includes second electrical contacts that engage the first electrical contacts.
1 . A battery alignment system comprising:
a housing having
a groove along a side of the housing,
a first set of surfaces that define a recess within the housing, and
a plurality of first electrical contacts positioned at least partially within the recess; and
a battery having
a tab sized and shaped to slide within the groove of the housing to facilitate a first alignment and coupling of the battery to the housing,
a second set of surfaces that protrude from an end of the battery and are sized and shaped to slide into the recess of the housing to facilitate a second alignment and coupling of the battery to the housing, wherein the second set of surfaces define a first outer surface and a second outer surface,
a plurality of second electrical contacts sized and shaped to engage the plurality of first electrical contacts, and
a wedge protruding laterally away from the first outer surface, wherein the wedge includes a third surface that is angled relative to the first outer surface, wherein the wedge is sized and shaped such that when the battery is coupled to the housing and the second set of surfaces extend into the recess on the housing, the third surface on the wedge engages and presses against one of the first set of surfaces that define the recess, to facilitate alignment of the plurality of second electrical contacts on the battery with the plurality of first electrical contacts on the housing.
2 . The battery alignment system of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a first guide element protruding laterally along the side of the housing and a second guide element protruding laterally along the side of the housing, wherein the groove is defined by a space formed between the first guide element and the second guide element.
3 . The battery alignment system of claim 1 , wherein the groove is a first side groove and the tab is a first tab, wherein the housing includes a second side groove along an opposite side of the housing, wherein the first side groove faces laterally outwardly in a first direction along the side of the housing, and the second side groove faces laterally outwardly in a second direction along the opposite side of the housing, wherein the first direction is opposite to the first direction, and wherein the battery includes a second tab that is sized and shaped to slide within the second side groove to facilitate the first alignment and coupling of the battery to the housing.
4 . The battery alignment system of claim 1 , wherein the recess has an oval shape.
5 . The battery alignment system of claim 1 , wherein the groove is an elongate groove extending along a longitudinal direction along the side of the housing, and wherein the first set of surfaces extend along the longitudinal direction.
6 . The battery alignment system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of surfaces includes a first concave surface along an exterior of the housing, and a second concave surface along an exterior of the housing.
7 . The battery alignment system of claim 6 , wherein the first concave surface is spaced from the second concave surface.
8 . The battery alignment system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of first electrical contacts are positioned between the first concave surface and the second concave surface.
9 . The battery alignment system of claim 1 , wherein the tab has an L-shape when viewed from a side of the battery.
10 . The battery alignment system of claim 1 , wherein the tab is a first tab, wherein the battery includes a second tab having a shape different than the first tab.
11 . The battery alignment system of claim 1 , wherein the first outer surface is a first convex surface and the second outer surface is a second convex surface.
12 . The battery alignment system of claim 11 , wherein the first convex surface is spaced from the second convex surface.
13 . The battery alignment system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of second electrical contacts are positioned between the first convex surface and the second convex surface.
14 . The battery alignment system of claim 11 , wherein the first convex surface defines a first conical ear extending from the end of the battery, wherein the second convex surface defines a second conical ear extending from the end of the battery.
15 . The battery alignment system of claim 1 , wherein the tab extends along a longitudinal direction along a side of the battery, and wherein the second set of surfaces extend along the longitudinal direction.
16 . The battery alignment system of claim 1 , wherein the first outer surface forms part of a first alignment post and the second outer surface forms part of a second alignment post, wherein the first alignment post and the second alignment post each extend axially past the plurality of second electrical contacts.
17 . The battery alignment system of claim 1 , wherein the recess has an oval shape, and wherein the second set of surfaces define first and second conical ears sized and shaped to fit within the oval shaped recess.