Method and system for battery protection

• US 20060091858A1
• Filed: 05/24/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Scheucher, Karl F., Johnson, Todd W., Glasgow, Kevin L., Rosenbecker, Jay J., Zeiler, Jeffrey M., Meyer, Gary D., Brozek, Jeffrey M., Zick, Jonathan Z.
• Granted Patent: US 7,589,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/128
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/008 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• 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: H01M 2200/00 Safety devices for primary or secondary batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/505 of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing manganese for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiMn2O4 or LiMn2OxFy
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/227 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 : Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0014 : Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0016 : using shunting, discharge or bypass circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 : Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 : Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 : Overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 : Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 : using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0034 : using reverse polarity correcting or protecting circuits mechanical means of polarity protection H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 : concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 : with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 : with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 : Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method of conducting an operation including a battery. The battery includes a cell having a voltage. Power is transferable between the cell and the electrical device. A controller is operable to control a function of the battery pack. The controller is also operable with a voltage at least one of equal to and greater than an operating voltage threshold. The cell is operable to selectively supply voltage to the controller. The method includes the act of enabling the controller to operate when the voltage supplied by the cell is below the operating voltage threshold.

Claims

1. A method of conducting an operation including a battery, the battery including a cell having a voltage, power being transferable between the cell and the electrical device, a controller operable to control a function of the battery pack, the controller being operable with a voltage at least one of equal to and greater than an operating voltage threshold, the cell being operable to selectively supply voltage to the controller, said method comprising the act of enabling the controller to operate when the voltage supplied by the cell is below the operating voltage threshold.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the battery includes a circuit operable to supply voltage to the controller, and wherein the enabling act includes the act of, with the circuit, supplying a voltage to the controller such that the voltage supplied to the controller is at least one of equal to and greater than an operating voltage threshold.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the circuit includes a boost circuit operable to boost the voltage supplied by the cell, and wherein the supplying act includes boosting the voltage supplied to the controller by the cell to at least one of equal to and greater than an operating voltage threshold.

4. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the circuit includes a power source operable to supply voltage to the controller, the power source not being operable to supply power to the electrical device, and wherein the supplying act includes the act of supplying voltage from the power source to the controller such that the voltage supplied to the controller is at least one of equal to and greater than an operating voltage threshold.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the power source, includes a power component operable to supply voltage to the controller, and wherein the supplying act includes the act of supplying voltage from the power component, tog the controller such that the voltage supplied to the controller is at least one of equal to and greater than an operating voltage threshold.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the power component includes a capacitor operable to supply voltage to the controller, and wherein the supplying act includes the act of supplying voltage from the capacitor to the controller such that the voltage supplied to the controller is at least one of equal to and greater than an operating voltage threshold.

7. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the power component includes a battery cell operable to supply voltage to the controller, and wherein the supplying act includes the act of supplying voltage from the battery cell to the controller such that the voltage supplied to the controller is at least one of equal to and greater than an operating voltage threshold.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the circuit includes a switch operable to selectively interrupt the transfer of power between the cell and the electrical device, and wherein the enabling act includes the act of controlling the switch such that the voltage supplied by the cell to the controller is at least one of equal to and greater than an operating voltage threshold.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the switch includes a FET, and wherein the enabling act includes the act of controlling the FET such that the voltage supplied by the cell to the controller is at least one of equal to and greater than an operating voltage threshold.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising the act of supplying power from the cell to the electrical device to operate the electrical device.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said battery pack is a power tool battery pack, wherein the electrical device is a power tool, and wherein the supplying act includes the act of supplying power from the cell to the power tool to operate the power tool.

12. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising the act of, with the controller, interrupting the transfer of power between the cell and the electrical device.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein the cell is operable to supply power to the electrical device to operate the electrical device, and wherein interrupting act includes the act of interrupting the supply of power from the cell to the electrical device.

14. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the electrical device is a power tool, and wherein the interrupting act includes the act of interrupting the supply of power from the cell to the power tool.