Method and apparatus for obtaining product use information

• US 20010010455A1
• Filed: 02/13/2001
• Published: 08/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Trinh, Danh, Brotto, Daniele, Smith, Darnell
• Granted Patent: US 7,138,785 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/106
• 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

Abstract

A charging apparatus for charging a battery comprising a current source for providing current to the battery, a controller connected to the battery and to the current source for controlling charging of the battery, and a memory connected to the controller for storing information about the battery. The memory may also store information about the charging apparatus. Preferably, the memory is a nonvolatile memory, such as E²PROM. Also disclosed are a battery having a memory for storing information, a power tool having a memory for storing information about the tool, and a reading apparatus for reading the information stored in the memory of the charger, battery and/or power tool.

Claims

1. A charging apparatus for charging a battery comprising:

a current source for providing current to the battery;

a controller connected to the battery and to the current source for controlling charging of the battery; and

a memory connected to the controller for storing use profile information.

2. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the memory stores use profile information about operation of the charging apparatus.

3. The apparatus of

claim 2

, wherein the stored information comprises at least one of the group consisting of number of batteries charged, number of batteries of a first type charged, number of batteries of a second type charged, number of times specific charging processes were selected, number of times specific charging termination processes were used, number of times charging process was delayed to allow cooling of the battery, and main voltage.

4. The apparatus of

claim 2

, wherein the stored information is downloadable.

5. The apparatus of

claim 2

, wherein the stored information is downloadable into a computer.

6. The apparatus of

claim 2

, wherein the stored information is downloadable into a reader apparatus.

7. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the memory stores use profile information about the battery.

8. The apparatus of

claim 7

, wherein the stored information comprises at least one of the group consisting of battery type, battery capacity, charging process, initial temperature and connection time.

9. The apparatus of

claim 7

, wherein the stored information is downloadable.

10. The apparatus of

claim 7

, wherein the stored information is downloadable into a computer.

11. The apparatus of

claim 7

, wherein the stored information is downloadable into a reader apparatus.

12. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the memory stores use profile information about battery type.

13. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the information is downloadable into a computer.

14. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the information is downloadable into a reader apparatus.

15. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the memory is non-volatile.

16. The apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein the memory comprises an E²PROM memory.

17. A battery comprising:

a memory for storing use profile information about the battery.

18. The battery of

claim 17

, wherein the stored information comprises at least one of the group consisting of battery type, battery capacity, charging process, initial temperature and connection time.

19. The battery of

claim 17

, wherein the information is downloadable.

20. The battery of

claim 17

, wherein the information is downloadable into a computer.

21. The battery of

claim 17

, wherein the information is downloadable into a reader apparatus.

22. The battery of

claim 17

, wherein the memory store s use profile information a bout initial temperature.

23. The battery of

claim 17

, wherein the memory is non-volatile.

24. The battery of

claim 17

, wherein the memory comprises an E²PROM memory.

25. A power tool comprising a memory for storing use profile information about the tool.

26. The power tool of

claim 25

, wherein the stored information comprises at least one of the group consisting of tool temperature, length of use, and number of times tool has been turned on.

27. The power tool of

claim 25

, wherein the stored information is downloadable.

28. The power tool of

claim 25

, wherein the stored information is downloadable into a computer.

29. The power tool of

claim 25

, wherein the stored information is downloadable into a reader apparatus.

30. The power tool of

claim 25

, wherein the stored information comprises length of use.

31. The power tool of

claim 25

, wherein the memory i s non-volatile.

32. The power tool of

claim 25

, wherein the memory comprises an E²PROM memory.

33. A reader for uploading information from at least one of a charger, a battery and a power tool having a memory for storing use profile information, the reader comprising:

terminals for contacting the at least one of the charger, the battery and the power tool; and

a processor connected to the terminals for controlling uploading of information.

34. The reader of

claim 33

, further comprising a memory connected to the processor for storing the information.

35. The reader of

claim 33

, wherein the information is downloadable into a computer.

36. The reader of

claim 33

, wherein the processor analyzes the information.