Methods and apparatus for managing a plurality of charging devices via a network

• US 20020156537A1
• Filed: 04/17/2002
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Original Assignee: Makita Corporation
• Inventors: Sakakibara, Kazuyuki, Tanaka, Katsutoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,045,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]

Abstract

A plurality of charging devices 30 may be connected to a computer 10, 110 via a network 60. When computer 10 receives chewing information from a charging device 30 before performing a charging operation, computer 10 may compute the optimal charging period based upon the charging information. Parameters defining the optimal charging period may be transmitted to the respective charging devices 30. Each charging device 30 may perform the battery charging operation based upon the transmitted parameters. Thus, a network system can manage and control the charging operations for the plurality of charging devices in order to optimize charging period, optimize the number of charging devices 30 and battery packs 50 in use and maximize battery life.

Claims

1. A method for managing a plurality of charging devices that are connected to a computer via a network, comprising:

mounting a battery pack on one of the plurality of charging devices connected to the computer via the network, whereby the charging device having the mounted battery pack generates charging information based upon the mounted battery pack,

transmitting the charging information from the charging device to the computer via the network, whereby the computer generated charging control instructions based upon the charging information.

transmitting the charging control instructions from the computer to the at least one charging device via the network and

charging the mounted battery pack based upon the received charging control instructions.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the charging control instruction comprises information that indicates the result of the selection made by the computer from the available option for optimal charging based upon the charging information.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the charging control instructions comprise parameters for selecting an optimal charging-current value.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the charge control instructions comprise a charge control map that includes optimal charging-current values.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the computer directly controls the charging operation performed by the charging devices using the charge control instructions.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of charging devices are classified into at least two different groups according to the usage environment for the respective charging devices, and the charge control instructions differ for each group.

7. A method for managing a plurality of charging devices that are connected to a computer via a network comprising:

mounting a battery pack on one of the plurality of charging devices connected to the computer via the network, whereby the charging device having the mounted battery pack generates battery identification information based upon the mounted battery pack,

transmitting the battery identification information from the charging device to the computer via the network, whereby the computer determines whether the mounted battery pack requires a refresh operation based upon the transmitted battery identification information, and

transmitting via the network a refresh instruction to the charging device having the mounted battery pack, when the computer determines that the mounted battery pack requires a refresh operation.

8. A method for managing a plurality of charging devices that are connected to a computer via a network, comprising:

transmitting charging information from each charging device to the computer via the network whereby the computer determines the total number of charging device and battery packs currently in operation,

calculating an optimal number of charging devices to be utilized based upon the charging information, and

notifying an operator of the optimal number of charging devices.

9. A method for managing a plurality of charging devices that are connected to a computer via a network, comprising;

transmitting charging information from each charging device to the computer via the network, whereby the computer determines the total number of charging devices and battery packs currently in operation,

calculating an optimal number of battery packs to be utilized based upon the charging information, and

notifying an operator of the optimal number of battery packs.

10. A charging device comprising:

a battery pack mount having terminals for connecting to a battery pack,

means for supplying charging current to the battery pack via the terminals, and

a communication port arranged and constructed to communication information to a computer via a network.

11. A charging device as in claim 10, further comprising a processor communicating with the currentupplying means and the communication port, the processor being arranged and constructed to begin a battery charging operation upon receiving a charging start signal from the computer via the network.

12. A charging device as in claim 11, wherein the processor is further arranged and constructed to read identification information and battery voltage from a battery pack mounted in the battery pack mount and to transmit said identification information and battery voltage to the computer via the network.

13. A charging device as in claim 12, further comprising a memory adapted to store at least one charge control map, wherein the processor controls the currentupplying means based upon the at least one charge control map.

14. A charging device as in claim 13, wherein the processor is arranged and constructed to receive at least one charge control map from the computer via the network and store the received charge control map in the memory.

16. An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein the computer comprise means for selecting an optimal charging control program based upon the charging information.

17. An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein the computer comprises means for generating parameters for selecting an optimal charging-current value.

18. An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein the computer comprises means for generating a charge control map that includes optimal charging-current values.

19. An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein the computer is arranged and constructed to directly control the charging operation performed by the charging devices using the charge control instructions.

20. An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein the plurality of charging devices are classified into at least two different groups according to the usage environment for the respective charging devices and the charge control instructions differ for each group.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of charging devices, wherein each charging device comprises a battery pack mount arranged and constructed to receive a battery pack, wherein each charging device is arranged and constructed to generate charging information based upon a mounted battery pack, and

a computer communicating with the plurality of charging devices via a network, wherein the computer is arranged and constructed to receive the charging information from the charging device and generate charging control instructions based upon the charging information, the computer is further arranged and constructed to transmit the charging control instructions to the charging devices via the network, whereby the charging device will charge the mounted battery pack based upon the received charging control instructions.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of charging devices, wherein each charging device comprises a battery pack mount arranged and constructed to receive a battery pack, wherein each charging device is arranged and constructed to generate battery identification information based upon a mounted battery pack, and

a computer communicating with the plurality of charging devices via a network, wherein the computer is arranged and constructed to receive the battery identification information from the charging device and determine whether a refresh operation is required based upon the battery identification information, the computer is further arranged and constructed to transmit a refresh instruction to the charging devices via the network, and

means for informing an operator to remove the mounted battery pack from the charging device and perform the refresh operation on the removed battery pack upon receipt of the refreshing instruction.

22. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of charging devices, wherein each charging device comprises a battery pack mount arranged and constructed to receive a battery pack, wherein each charging device is arranged and constructed to generate battery identification information based upon a mounted battery pack, and

computer communicating with the plurality of charging devices via a network, wherein the computer is arranged and constructed to (a) determine the total number of charging devices and battery packs currently in operation, (b) calculate an optimal number of charging devices to be utilized based upon the charging information and (c) notify an operator of the optimal number of charging devices.

23. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of charging devices, wherein each charging device comprises a battery pack mount arranged and constructed to receive a battery pack, wherein each charging device is arranged and constructed to generate battery identification information based upon a mounted battery pack, and

a computer communicating with the plurality of charging devices via a network, wherein the computer is arranged and constructed to (a) determine the total number of charging devices and battery packs currently in operation, (b) calculate an optimal number of battery packs to be utilized based upon the charging information and (c) notify an operator of the optimal number of battery pack.