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Apple's non-user-replaceable batteries

By Lawrence B. Ebert, Esq.

As most iPhone users know, the battery within the iPhone is non-user-replaceable. When the battery goes, your iPhone is gone. Separately, currently, battery problems are causing discoloration on the white model iPhone 3GS.

A recently published patent application [SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING AND RESPONDING TO FORCES INFLUENCING A BATTERY, 20090169977 based on 12/242898]suggests Apple is aware of some of the difficulties. The background section states:

Pressure can build up within a battery as the battery operates, for example, due to heat. Pressure can also be applied to an external portion of a battery, such as by a physically adjacent object. These pressures generate forces that influence effects of the battery, such as the size and shape of the battery. Although some magnitudes of such forces can be normal, more intense forces may be indicative of an impending battery failure. Accordingly, what is needed are systems and methods for monitoring and responding to forces influencing a battery.

The final paragraph of the application is of interest:

While there have been described systems and methods for monitoring and responding to forces influencing a battery, it is to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is also to be understood that various directional and orientational terms such as "up" and "down," "left" and "right," "top" and "bottom," and the like are used herein only for convenience, and that no fixed or absolute directional or orientational limitations are intended by the use of these words. For example, the components of this invention can have any desired orientation. If reoriented, different directional or orientational terms may need to be used in their description, but that will not alter their fundamental nature as within the scope and spirit of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration rather than of limitation, and the invention is limited only by the claims which follow.

**In passing, note http://news.priorsmart.com/ which contains information on

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Full post as published by IPBiz on July 05, 2009 (boomark / email).