BATTERY PACK AND METHOD OF DETECTING BATTERY PACK ABNORMALITIES
First Claim
1. A battery pack comprising:
- a rechargeable battery having a first electrode and a second electrode; and
a protection device to protect the rechargeable battery when a rechargeable battery abnormality is detected, wherein the protection device has output terminals including an externally exposed first output terminal connected to the first electrode of the rechargeable battery, an externally exposed second output terminal connected to the second electrode of the rechargeable battery, an externally exposed third output terminal for signal detection, and a contact switching section allowing contact to be switched to protect the rechargeable battery when a rechargeable battery abnormality is detected, and wherein the protection device is the output terminals and contact switching section formed as a single piece, the contact switching section has one end connected to the second electrode of the rechargeable battery, the other end is connected to allow switching between a contact connected to the second output terminal and a contact connected to the third output terminal, when no abnormality is detected the other end is connected to the contact connected to the second output terminal, and when an abnormality is detected the other end switches to the contact connected to the third output terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The battery pack is provided with a rechargeable battery that can be charged, and a protection device to protect the rechargeable battery when an abnormality occurs. The protection device is provided with an externally exposed first output terminal connected to the first electrode of the rechargeable battery, an externally exposed second output terminal connected to the second electrode of the rechargeable battery, and an externally exposed third output terminal for signal detection as output terminals, and a contact switching section that can switch contact when a rechargeable battery abnormality is detected. The protection device is formed as a single piece with the output terminals and contact switching section. The contact switching section has one end connected to the second electrode of the rechargeable battery, the other end is connected to allow switching between a contact connected to the second output terminal and a contact connected to the third output terminal. When no abnormality is detected the other end is connected to the contact connected to the second output terminal, and when an abnormality is detected the other end switches to the contact connected to the third output terminal.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A battery pack comprising:
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a rechargeable battery having a first electrode and a second electrode; and
a protection device to protect the rechargeable battery when a rechargeable battery abnormality is detected, wherein the protection device has output terminals including an externally exposed first output terminal connected to the first electrode of the rechargeable battery, an externally exposed second output terminal connected to the second electrode of the rechargeable battery, an externally exposed third output terminal for signal detection, and a contact switching section allowing contact to be switched to protect the rechargeable battery when a rechargeable battery abnormality is detected, and wherein the protection device is the output terminals and contact switching section formed as a single piece, the contact switching section has one end connected to the second electrode of the rechargeable battery, the other end is connected to allow switching between a contact connected to the second output terminal and a contact connected to the third output terminal, when no abnormality is detected the other end is connected to the contact connected to the second output terminal, and when an abnormality is detected the other end switches to the contact connected to the third output terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of detecting battery pack abnormalities, wherein the battery pack is provided with a rechargeable battery that can be charged and a protection device to protect the rechargeable battery when an abnormality is detected, comprising:
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A step, when the protection device detects no rechargeable battery abnormality, for the electrical equipment connected with the battery pack to detect a detection device signal from the third output terminal connected to the detection device, which distinguishes the type of the rechargeable battery;
A step, when the protection device detects a rechargeable battery abnormality, to bypass the detection device and connect the second electrode of the rechargeable battery to the third output terminal; and
A step for the electrical equipment to detect abnormality via the third output terminal, and transition to a specified abnormal mode of operation, which can operate at a lower voltage than the specified voltage of the rechargeable battery. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification