Battery with communication interface

• US 10,110,019 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2016
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Curtis, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kebede, Tessema
• Application Number:
  US15/002,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20160218523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 320112
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/38 Information transfer, e.g. on bus G06F13/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/81 by operating on the power supply, e.g. enabling or disabling power-on, sleep or resume operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/85 interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4278 Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/52 Hybrid arrangements, i.e. arrangements for transition from single-path two-direction transmission to single-direction transmission on each of two paths or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A standard two terminal battery package is configured to communicate with an external charger or load, without requiring modification to the battery mechanics and/or high current circuit components integral with the battery. A transmitter and receiver (transceiver) are incorporated into the battery housing. An associated battery charger and/or load, e.g., tool, appliance, vacuum, etc., has a corresponding transceiver configured to communicate with the battery transceiver. A microcontroller may be coupled to the transceiver. Serial number verification between the battery and tool load can be verified. Sensors for temperature, voltage, pressure and pH may be coupled between the battery and microcontroller for monitoring battery temperature, voltage charge and condition during operation or charging thereof. Information from these sensors and more may be communicated from the battery to the load or battery charger. Furthermore, the battery charger may communicate over the Internet for battery operational history collection and theft identification.

Claims

1. A battery, comprising:

a battery housing with an electrical connection consisting of a first positive direct current (DC) terminal and a first negative DC terminal, and further comprising therein;

at least one battery cell coupled through respective connections with the first positive and negative DC terminals, respectively;

a first receiver having an input and an output;

a first transmitter having an input and an output;

a first digital processor and memory, the first digital processor is coupled to the output of the first receiver and to the input of the first transmitter,

a first RF coupler coupled with the input of the first receiver and the output of the first transmitter, wherein the first receiver is an RF receiver and the first transmitter is an RF transmitter, and wherein the first RF coupler is arranged adjacent to the electrical connection between the first positive DC terminal and the at least one battery cell such that RF signals are transmitted via the electrical connection.

2. Apparatus having data communications between a battery and a device, comprising:

a battery according to claim 1,

wherein the first receiver is adapted to receive data signals at a first frequency and the first transmitter is a first digital signal modulator (DSM) adapted to transmit data signals at a second frequency; and

a battery operated device having second positive and negative DC terminals adapted for coupling to the first positive and negative DC terminals and further comprising therein;

a DC load coupled between the second positive and negative DC terminals;

a second RF receiver coupled with a second RF coupler which is arranged adjacent an electrical connection between the DC load and the second positive DC terminal such that RF signals are received via the electrical connection and adapted to receive data signals at the second frequency;

a second digital signal modulator (DSM) coupled to the second RF coupler and adapted to transmit data signals at the first frequency; and

a second digital processor and memory, the second digital processor is coupled to the second receiver and the second DSM;

wherein the battery housing and the battery operated device have data communications therebetween.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first and second frequencies are the same and the data communications is simplex.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a first bandpass filter coupled between the first positive DC terminal and the first receiver, wherein the first bandpass filter is tuned to the first frequency; and

a second bandpass filter coupled between the second positive DC terminal and the second receiver, wherein the second bandpass filter is tuned to the second frequency;

wherein the first and second frequencies are different and the data communications is duplex.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first RF coupler is an inductive coupler.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first and second RF couplers are inductive couplers.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first and second RF couplers are capacitive couplers.

8. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a first RF switch coupled with the first RF coupler, wherein the first receiver and the first DSM are coupled to the first RF switch; and

a second RF switch coupled with the second RF coupler, wherein the second receiver and the second DSM are coupled to the second RF switch.

9. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a first DC power switch coupled between the at least one battery cell and the first positive DC terminal, wherein the first DC power switch is coupled to and controlled by the first digital processor.

10. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a second DC power switch coupled between the DC load and the second positive DC terminal, wherein the second DC power switch is coupled to and controlled by the second digital processor.

11. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising at least one sensor coupled to the at least one battery cell and the first digital processor.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of a voltage sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, and a pH sensor.

13. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a data port coupled to the second digital processor.

14. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first digital processor and memory stores identification and operating/charging parameters for the at least one battery cell.

15. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the battery operated device is a battery charger.

16. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the battery operated device is a battery powered tool.

17. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the battery operated device is a battery powered appliance.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the identification of the at least one battery cell has to match identification of the battery operated device or else the battery operated device will not work.

19. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the identification and operating/charging parameters for the at least one battery cell has to match identification of the battery operated device or else the at least one battery cell will not charge.

20. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the operating/charging parameters for the at least one battery cell are communicated to the second digital processor and the DC load is a battery charger coupled to the second digital processor and second positive terminal, whereby the second digital processor controls charging parameters of the battery charger while charging the at least one battery cell.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the second digital processor provides estimated charging time determined from the communicated digital data from the first digital processor.

22. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

a first microcontroller comprises the first receiver, the first DSM, and the first digital processor and memory; and

a second microcontroller comprises the second receiver, the second DSM, and the second digital processor and memory.

23. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the battery is a plurality of batteries.

24. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of batteries are connected in series, parallel, and/or series parallel.

25. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first RF coupler is a capacitive coupler.

26. A battery operated device, comprising:

a positive DC terminal and a negative DC terminal;

a DC load coupled between the second positive and negative DC terminals;

an RF receiver coupled with an RF coupler which is arranged adjacent an electrical connection between the DC load and the positive DC terminal such that RF signals are received via the electrical connection and adapted to receive data signals at a first frequency;

a digital signal modulator (DSM) coupled to the RF coupler and adapted to transmit data signals at a second frequency; and

a digital processor and memory, the digital processor is coupled to the receiver and the DSM;

wherein the battery operated device is configured to have data communications through the positive and negative DC terminals.

27. The battery operated device according to claim 26, wherein the first and second frequencies are the same and the data communications is simplex.

28. The battery operated device according to claim 26, further comprising:

a bandpass filter coupled between the positive DC terminal and the RF receiver, wherein the bandpass filter is tuned to the first frequency;

wherein the first and second frequencies are different and the data communications is duplex.

29. The battery operated device according to claim 26, wherein the RF coupler is an inductive coupler.

30. The battery operated device according to claim 26, wherein the RF coupler is a capacitive coupler.

31. The battery operated device according to claim 26, further comprising:

an RF switch coupled with the RF coupler, wherein the receiver and the DSM are coupled to the RF switch.

32. The battery operated device according to claim 26, further comprising a DC power switch coupled between the DC load and the positive DC terminal, wherein the DC power switch is coupled to and controlled by the digital processor.

33. The battery operated device according to claim 26, further comprising a data port coupled to the digital processor.

34. The battery operated device according to claim 26, wherein the battery operated device is a battery charger.

35. The battery operated device according to claim 26, wherein the battery operated device is a battery powered tool or a battery powered appliance.