New Microsoft Tech Makes Battery Changes a Breeze

[Don McKenzie]

New Microsoft Tech Makes Battery Changes a Breeze

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2365995,00.asp

On Thursday, Microsoft announced a technology called InstaLoad, which
will allow you to insert a battery into electronic devices any way you
please.

The InstaLoad technology will be licensed on a royalty-free basis,
Microsoft said. Duracell was named as a partner for the technology, as
well as several manaufacturers of electronic devices, including
ClearSound's hearing aids, NovaTac's LED flashlights, and Black
Diamond's headlamps for mountaineering.

Cheers Don...



--
Don McKenzie

Site Map: http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap
E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.dontronics.com/email
Web Camera Page: http://www.dontronics.com/webcam
No More Damn Spam: http://www.dontronics.com/spam

These products will reduce in price by 5% every month:
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/minus-5-every-month.html

 

[Don McKenzie]

larwe wrote:

On Jul 2, 5:55 pm, Don McKenzie <5...@2.5A> wrote:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2365995,00.asp

On Thursday, Microsoft announced a technology called InstaLoad, which
will allow you to insert a battery into electronic devices any way you
please.

People where I work are kicking themselves that we did not think of
this. It's such an obvious idea.

After sending this info onto to a few private associates, some didn't
understand how it worked, I found this page to be a much better explanation:
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/licensing/instaloadoverview.mspx

this is brilliant, takes a bit of reading to understand how it works,
but it allows batteries to be inserted into any gear either way around.

all done in the connection contacts, no circuitry involved.

Cheers Don...





--
Don McKenzie

Site Map: http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap
E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.dontronics.com/email
Web Camera Page: http://www.dontronics.com/webcam
No More Damn Spam: http://www.dontronics.com/spam

These products will reduce in price by 5% every month:
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/minus-5-every-month.html

 

[Tim Wescott]

On 07/02/2010 02:55 PM, Don McKenzie wrote:

New Microsoft Tech Makes Battery Changes a Breeze

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2365995,00.asp

On Thursday, Microsoft announced a technology called InstaLoad, which
will allow you to insert a battery into electronic devices any way you
please.

The InstaLoad technology will be licensed on a royalty-free basis,
Microsoft said. Duracell was named as a partner for the technology, as
well as several manaufacturers of electronic devices, including
ClearSound's hearing aids, NovaTac's LED flashlights, and Black
Diamond's headlamps for mountaineering.

It doesn't quite meet the "not obvious" criteria -- it makes you wonder
why Microsoft is even bothering with a patent.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Do you need to implement control loops in software?
"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" was written for you.
See details at http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html

 

[Don McKenzie]

Tim Wescott wrote:

On 07/02/2010 02:55 PM, Don McKenzie wrote:
New Microsoft Tech Makes Battery Changes a Breeze

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2365995,00.asp

On Thursday, Microsoft announced a technology called InstaLoad, which
will allow you to insert a battery into electronic devices any way you
please.

The InstaLoad technology will be licensed on a royalty-free basis,
Microsoft said. Duracell was named as a partner for the technology, as
well as several manaufacturers of electronic devices, including
ClearSound's hearing aids, NovaTac's LED flashlights, and Black
Diamond's headlamps for mountaineering.

It doesn't quite meet the "not obvious" criteria -- it makes you wonder
why Microsoft is even bothering with a patent.

Just wonder how tested against little children and preying fingers they are.

Did Micro$oft test them to the nth degree like they did with Vista?

Cheers Don...






--
Don McKenzie

Site Map: http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap
E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.dontronics.com/email
Web Camera Page: http://www.dontronics.com/webcam
No More Damn Spam: http://www.dontronics.com/spam

These products will reduce in price by 5% every month:
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/minus-5-every-month.html

 

[larwe]

On Jul 2, 5:55 pm, Don McKenzie <5...@2.5A> wrote:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2365995,00.asp

On Thursday, Microsoft announced a technology called InstaLoad, which
will allow you to insert a battery into electronic devices any way you
please.

People where I work are kicking themselves that we did not think of
this. It's such an obvious idea.

 

[larwe]

On Jul 2, 6:36 pm, Don McKenzie <5...@2.5A> wrote:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2365995,00.asp

People where I work are kicking themselves that we did not think of
this. It's such an obvious idea.

all done in the connection contacts, no circuitry involved.

Exactly... we use the same general 3D shape to provide battery reverse
polarity protection all the time, it's silly we never thought to do
this. So obvious once you see it!

 

[John Tserkezis]

Paul Gotch wrote:

In comp.arch.embedded Tim Wescott <tim@seemywebsite.com> wrote:
It doesn't quite meet the "not obvious" criteria -- it makes you wonder
why Microsoft is even bothering with a patent.

Because they can and because they appear to be only licensing it
royalty free for certain classes of devices. That is to say certain
ones that don't compete with the thing they developed it for which
appears to be wireless keyboards and mice.

Why am I expecting cheap Chinese gear to start appearing with this idea
soon?


On a technically related subject, one problem that comes to mind, is
I've seen suitable-for-tagging rechargeable batteries, untagged, but
with rather flat "nipple" ends as you would normally expect.

However, I've seen them being sold every so often as-is (untagged).

This idea would preclude this type of battery from being used, because
the nipple end would short across both the contacts.
However, if the primary market is wireless keyboards and mice, I'm
guessing most are going to use normally structured alkalines rather than
rechargeables.

 

[Chris Burrows]

"Don McKenzie" <5V@2.5A> wrote in message
news:8977vaFsn5U1@mid.individual.net...

this is brilliant, takes a bit of reading to understand how it works, but
it allows batteries to be inserted into any gear either way around.

I have an alternative idea. Redesign batteries so that they have a positive
terminal at each end and the body is negative. Bring in O.H & S legislation
to ban the old batteries and the electronics industry will make millions
selling new equipment with the new batter holders to replace what everybody
already has.

I thought this was such a good idea I couldn't wait until April 1st to share
it ;-)

Cheers,
Chris Burrows
CFB Software
http://www.cfbsoftware.com

 

[Paul Gotch]

In comp.arch.embedded Tim Wescott <tim@seemywebsite.com> wrote:

It doesn't quite meet the "not obvious" criteria -- it makes you wonder
why Microsoft is even bothering with a patent.

Because they can and because they appear to be only licensing it
royalty free for certain classes of devices. That is to say certain
ones that don't compete with the thing they developed it for which
appears to be wireless keyboards and mice.

-p
--
Paul Gotch
--------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[langwadt@fonz.dk]

On 3 Jul., 02:59, John Tserkezis <j...@techniciansyndrome.org.invalid>
wrote:

Paul Gotch wrote:
In comp.arch.embedded Tim Wescott <t...@seemywebsite.com> wrote:
It doesn't quite meet the "not obvious" criteria -- it makes you wonder
why Microsoft is even bothering with a patent.
Because they can and because they appear to be only licensing it
royalty free for certain classes of devices. That is to say certain
ones that don't compete with the thing they developed it for which
appears to be wireless keyboards and mice.

 Why am I expecting cheap Chinese gear to start appearing with this idea
soon?

 On a technically related subject, one problem that comes to mind, is
I've seen suitable-for-tagging rechargeable batteries, untagged, but
with rather flat "nipple" ends as you would normally expect.

 However, I've seen them being sold every so often as-is (untagged).

 This idea would preclude this type of battery from being used, because
the nipple end would short across both the contacts.
 However, if the primary market is wireless keyboards and mice, I'm
guessing most are going to use normally structured alkalines rather than
rechargeables.

yeh, someday the tolerances won't be quite right the battery will
short and set
something on fire,
a clever idea but I'm not sure it will work

-Lasse

 

[Phil Allison]

"John Tserkezis"

On a technically related subject, one problem that comes to mind, is
I've seen suitable-for-tagging rechargeable batteries, untagged, but
with rather flat "nipple" ends as you would normally expect.

However, I've seen them being sold every so often as-is (untagged).

** Sanyo " N600AA " Ni-Cd cells are made like this - the plus button is 7
mm in diameter instead of the usual 5.5mm.

This idea would preclude this type of battery from being used, because
the nipple end would short across both the contacts.

** I doubt it would do that as the button contact is recessed behind the end
contact.

What WOULD likely happen is worse, soon as the cell is installed it will
be SHORTED end to end - cos the "InstaLoad" scheme requires the two
button and two end contacts for EACH cell to be linked together.

However, if the primary market is wireless keyboards and mice, I'm
guessing most are going to use normally structured alkalines rather than
rechargeables.

** Irrelevant to the serious hazard of placing a dead short on a AA Ni-Cd
cell.

Expect 50 amps or more current resulting in burnt PCB tracks, smoke and
flames from any PVC coated wires and a possible explosion or fire in the
battery compartment in a few seconds.

Another and far more insidious outcome is that folk will get the idea that
cell polarity is a thing of the past and FAIL to pay attention to it when
loading cells into devices made the normal way.

THAT alone is enough reason to ban the silly idea.



.... Phil

 

[John Tserkezis]

langwadt@fonz.dk wrote:

yeh, someday the tolerances won't be quite right the battery will
short and set something on fire, a clever idea but I'm not sure
it will work

You could always state no NiCads or NiMhs, and once the market sees
that, sales will bottom out. Believe it or not, there ARE people out
there who use rechargeable cells you know.

I've always seen that as a cheap cop-out. It's a cheap design that
can't deal with the lower nominal voltages of rechargeable cells, and an
even cheaper cop-out when you're precluding those types because your
brilliant idea could cause a fire.

Don't get me wrong, it's an apparently simple idea that would well most
of the time.

It's just unfortunate that "most of the time" doesn't translate to
always. Kinda like designers who use the "typical" spec, rather than
the actual tolerance - and get an odd batch of components that are still
within spec, just not so close enough to make the thing work.

I can hear the complaints - "I bought batteries from XYZ and they've
worked for me for all my devices. With InstaLoad, all they did was get
hot and melt the plastic. Why is Microsoft not replacing my fried device?"

If "you're holding it wrong" works for Apple, then I suppose "you've
inserted them wrong" will also work for MS.

He with the highest paid lawyers, wins. Indeed.

 

[John Tserkezis]

Phil Allison wrote:

** Irrelevant to the serious hazard of placing a dead short on a AA Ni-Cd
cell.

I brought this up in another message in this thread. Relying on a
"typcial" rather than a larger scope of what you get out there in Real
Life isn't a good idea.

Another and far more insidious outcome is that folk will get the idea that
cell polarity is a thing of the past and FAIL to pay attention to it when
loading cells into devices made the normal way.
THAT alone is enough reason to ban the silly idea.

More so, the selling point that the user doesn't *have* to pay
attention to polarity wouldn't work.

We've become so accustomed to polarity sensitive devices, that we
*actively* look out for the little symbols, be they icons, or +- characters.
If you come across this and are not aware of "instaload", you'll spend
MORE time than need be looking for symbols that are not there.

 

[son of a bitch]

Don McKenzie wrote:

Tim Wescott wrote:
On 07/02/2010 02:55 PM, Don McKenzie wrote:
New Microsoft Tech Makes Battery Changes a Breeze

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2365995,00.asp

On Thursday, Microsoft announced a technology called InstaLoad, which
will allow you to insert a battery into electronic devices any way you
please.

The InstaLoad technology will be licensed on a royalty-free basis,
Microsoft said. Duracell was named as a partner for the technology, as
well as several manaufacturers of electronic devices, including
ClearSound's hearing aids, NovaTac's LED flashlights, and Black
Diamond's headlamps for mountaineering.

It doesn't quite meet the "not obvious" criteria -- it makes you
wonder why Microsoft is even bothering with a patent.

Just wonder how tested against little children and preying fingers they
are.

Did Micro$oft test them to the nth degree like they did with Vista?

Cheers Don...

Is this really Technology?
All you need is 4 Diodes and put them on 20 year old Battery Radio and
it will work. The only reason they weren't was the cost of the 4 diodes.

 

[Joe Pfeiffer]

son of a bitch <bitchin_2008@yahoo.com> writes:

2> Don McKenzie wrote:

Tim Wescott wrote:
On 07/02/2010 02:55 PM, Don McKenzie wrote:
New Microsoft Tech Makes Battery Changes a Breeze

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2365995,00.asp

On Thursday, Microsoft announced a technology called InstaLoad, which
will allow you to insert a battery into electronic devices any way you
please.

The InstaLoad technology will be licensed on a royalty-free basis,
Microsoft said. Duracell was named as a partner for the technology, as
well as several manaufacturers of electronic devices, including
ClearSound's hearing aids, NovaTac's LED flashlights, and Black
Diamond's headlamps for mountaineering.

It doesn't quite meet the "not obvious" criteria -- it makes you
wonder why Microsoft is even bothering with a patent.

Just wonder how tested against little children and preying fingers
they are.

Did Micro$oft test them to the nth degree like they did with Vista?

Is this really Technology?
All you need is 4 Diodes and put them on 20 year old Battery Radio and
it will work. The only reason they weren't was the cost of the 4 diodes.

And the voltage drop across the diodes. If they've come up with battery
holders that will, with existing batteries, only contact the "right"
parts to have proper polarity, it is (I hate to admit it) pretty cool.
--
As we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should
be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours;
and this we should do freely and generously. (Benjamin Franklin)

 

[Phil Allison]

"John Jerkezis"

On a technically related subject, one problem that comes to mind, is
I've seen suitable-for-tagging rechargeable batteries, untagged, but
with rather flat "nipple" ends as you would normally expect.

However, I've seen them being sold every so often as-is (untagged).

** Sanyo " N600AA " Ni-Cd cells are made like this - the plus button is 7
mm in diameter instead of the usual 5.5mm.

This idea would preclude this type of battery from being used, because
the nipple end would short across both the contacts.

** I doubt it would do that as the button contact is recessed behind the end
contact.

What WOULD likely happen is worse, soon as the cell is installed it will
be SHORTED end to end - cos the "InstaLoad" scheme requires the two
button and two end contacts for EACH cell to be linked together.

Expect 50 amps or more current resulting in burnt PCB tracks, smoke and
flames from any PVC coated wires and a possible explosion or fire in the
battery compartment in a few seconds.

Another and far more insidious outcome is that folk will get the idea that
cell polarity is a thing of the past and FAIL to pay attention to it when
loading cells into devices made the normal way.

THAT alone is enough reason to ban the silly idea.



.... Phil

 

[son of a bitch]

Joe Pfeiffer wrote:

son of a bitch <bitchin_2008@yahoo.com> writes:

2> Don McKenzie wrote:
Tim Wescott wrote:
On 07/02/2010 02:55 PM, Don McKenzie wrote:
New Microsoft Tech Makes Battery Changes a Breeze

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2365995,00.asp

On Thursday, Microsoft announced a technology called InstaLoad, which
will allow you to insert a battery into electronic devices any way you
please.

The InstaLoad technology will be licensed on a royalty-free basis,
Microsoft said. Duracell was named as a partner for the technology, as
well as several manaufacturers of electronic devices, including
ClearSound's hearing aids, NovaTac's LED flashlights, and Black
Diamond's headlamps for mountaineering.
It doesn't quite meet the "not obvious" criteria -- it makes you
wonder why Microsoft is even bothering with a patent.
Just wonder how tested against little children and preying fingers
they are.

Did Micro$oft test them to the nth degree like they did with Vista?
Is this really Technology?
All you need is 4 Diodes and put them on 20 year old Battery Radio and
it will work. The only reason they weren't was the cost of the 4 diodes.

And the voltage drop across the diodes. If they've come up with battery
holders that will, with existing batteries, only contact the "right"
parts to have proper polarity, it is (I hate to admit it) pretty cool.

Most Equip, works well below the Battery Volts.
Depending on the Power Req. can be .2 to .6 voltage drop X 2

But the amount of Mice I find with batteries inserted the wrong way,
It can only be a good thing.

 

[terryc]

On Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:37:32 -0700, Tim Wescott wrote:

It doesn't quite meet the "not obvious" criteria -- it makes you wonder
why Microsoft is even bothering with a patent.

Leverage. Royalty free, aka you can just have it, but we get a dodgy
patent that it is not in the financial interest of anyone to challenge.
From this we can build other dodgy patents that will earn them real
money.

 

[John Tserkezis]

son of a bitch wrote:

Is this really Technology?
All you need is 4 Diodes and put them on 20 year old Battery Radio and
it will work. The only reason they weren't was the cost of the 4 diodes.

As already mentioned, the voltage drop across the diodes will cause
some fairly significant trouble. With one bridge rectifier, you'll
typically lose 1.4v, and when you're talking 3v native at the battery
source, that's just too much.
You can use schottky diodes, but they cost more, and there's better
ways of doing it in any case.

It's actually a big of a challenge to provide polarity protection AND
not have the circuitry be a power hog in the process, AND still be cheap
enough that the project manager isn't going to have kittens.

InstaLoad does all of that and more, providing you use a battery of the
correct specific dimensions of course.
If not, things get really bad. (this was outlined in another cross thread).

 

[tim....]

"Paul Gotch" <paulg@at-cantab-dot.net> wrote in message
news:yrt*H85ct@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk...

In comp.arch.embedded Tim Wescott <tim@seemywebsite.com> wrote:
It doesn't quite meet the "not obvious" criteria -- it makes you wonder
why Microsoft is even bothering with a patent.

Because they can and because they appear to be only licensing it
royalty free for certain classes of devices. That is to say certain
ones that don't compete with the thing they developed it for which
appears to be wireless keyboards and mice.

Can you see anybody buying a product because of this USP?

I can't.

It's a nice gimmick, but not one that translates into money IMHO.

tim