New Microsoft Tech Makes Battery Changes a Breeze

[robertwessel2@yahoo.com]

On Jul 2, 6:55 pm, Paul Gotch <pa...@at-cantab-dot.net> 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.

At least MS appear to be willing to license it. Unlike Apple's
MagSafe*, for example.

*Apple's magnetically attached laptop power cords, which are a great
idea - who hasn't accidentally yanked on the power cord of their
laptop?

 

[David L. Jones]

tim.... wrote:

"Meindert Sprang" <ms@NOJUNKcustomORSPAMware.nl> wrote in message
news:4c318b3e$0$22937$e4fe514c@news.xs4all.nl...
"bigbrownbeastie" <bigbrownbeastiebigbrownface@googlemail.com> wrote
in message
news:8e23fff9-b39f-4ed4-bd01-5765a0f4db8d@j4g2000yqh.googlegroups.com...
isn't this a solution to a non-problem. How many people see the
embossed image and still get it wrong?

Well, if I have to replace the four batteries in my digital camera
in a dim
environment, I really need my reading glasses to see where the + and
- markings are. Being able to just "throw" the batteries in the hole
would be
a great thing.

If you are "replacing" batteries isn't it just simpler to remember
how the ones you have just taken out were positioned?

Not in an emergency situation for instance where you just need to replace
the batteries as fast as possible and you might be under some stress in a
less than ideal environment.
Not everyone replaces batteries whilst sitting at their desk sipping a caffe
latte :->

Dave.

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[Joe Pfeiffer]

"David L. Jones" <altzone@gmail.com> writes:

tim.... wrote:
"Meindert Sprang" <ms@NOJUNKcustomORSPAMware.nl> wrote in message
news:4c318b3e$0$22937$e4fe514c@news.xs4all.nl...
"bigbrownbeastie" <bigbrownbeastiebigbrownface@googlemail.com> wrote
in message
news:8e23fff9-b39f-4ed4-bd01-5765a0f4db8d@j4g2000yqh.googlegroups.com...
isn't this a solution to a non-problem. How many people see the
embossed image and still get it wrong?

Well, if I have to replace the four batteries in my digital camera
in a dim
environment, I really need my reading glasses to see where the + and
- markings are. Being able to just "throw" the batteries in the hole
would be
a great thing.

If you are "replacing" batteries isn't it just simpler to remember
how the ones you have just taken out were positioned?

Not in an emergency situation for instance where you just need to replace
the batteries as fast as possible and you might be under some stress in a
less than ideal environment.
Not everyone replaces batteries whilst sitting at their desk sipping a caffe
latte :-

And thinking, "oh, crap. Which way was it? Need the reading
glasses..."

There's a convenience factor there, regardless of other practical
considerations.
--
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)

 

[Brett Davis]

In article <4c318d12$0$22943$e4fe514c@news.xs4all.nl>,
"Meindert Sprang" <ms@NOJUNKcustomORSPAMware.nl> wrote:

"son of a bitch" <bitchin_2008@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:4c2ec084$1@dnews.tpgi.com.au...
Most Equip, works well below the Battery Volts.
Depending on the Power Req. can be .2 to .6 voltage drop X 2

Ehhhmm... a total drop of 1.2 - 1.4V on *each* battery voltage of 1.5V seems
quite a show stopper to me....

Meindert

Is that the AC to DC voltage drop?
One would think that with no switching going DC to DC
that it would not be that bad.
Also do you need to worry about bleed when the device is off?

Brett

 

[Mark Harriss]

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.

Cheers Don...



Sheesh!, why not just make conical cells 5mm wider at the base so they

only go in one way.

 

[Boudewijn Dijkstra]

Op Sat, 03 Jul 2010 02:59:00 +0200 schreef Chris Burrows
<cfbsoftware@hotmail.com>:

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

I have an alternative idea. Redesign batteries so that they have a
positive terminal at each end and the body is negative.

How would that work in flash-lights that take three batteries in line?

Bring in O.H & S legislation

Uhm, what?




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http://www.opera.com/mail/
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[atec77]

On 7/07/2010 9:54 PM, Boudewijn Dijkstra wrote:

Op Sat, 03 Jul 2010 02:59:00 +0200 schreef Chris Burrows
cfbsoftware@hotmail.com>:
"Don McKenzie" <5V@2.5A> wrote in message
news:8977vaFsn5U1@mid.individual.net...

I have an alternative idea. Redesign batteries so that they have a
positive terminal at each end and the body is negative.

How would that work in flash-lights that take three batteries in line?
ferpectly well

Bring in O.H & S legislation

Uhm, what?
Occupational health an safety legislation

www.jfgit.com



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X-No-Archive: Yes

 

[who where]

On Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:09:27 +1000, Mark Harriss <billy@blartco.co.uk>
wrote:

Sheesh!, why not just make conical cells 5mm wider at the base so they
only go in one way.

they'd be a c#$t of a shape to feed into series "tube" installations,
losing any real self-aligning potential.

 

[Mark Harriss]

who where wrote:

On Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:09:27 +1000, Mark Harriss <billy@blartco.co.uk
wrote:

Sheesh!, why not just make conical cells 5mm wider at the base so they
only go in one way.

they'd be a c#$t of a shape to feed into series "tube" installations,
losing any real self-aligning potential.

So the ends self align and interlock, it's not that hard to do.

 

[Ben Bradley]

No wonder this is by far the most popular thread on c.r.m - it's
crossposted to a still-active group!

On Sat, 03 Jul 2010 08:36:24 +1000, Don McKenzie <5V@2.5A> wrote:

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.

Yeah, I'm looking at that, and not only do I have questions about
tolerances causing some batteries to not make contact, I'd also worry
about those two terminals on one end shorting out.

The battery holders I've used have always had a big-ass spring on
the negative end.

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...