Method and system for battery charging

• US 20060108983A1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• 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., Meyer, Gary D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,321,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/128
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00038 using passive battery identification means, e.g. resistors or capacitors identification by mechanical connections H02J7/0045
• 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: H02J 7/0014 Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0019 using switched or multiplexed charge circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge 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 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• 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 and system for battery charging. In some aspects, an electrical combination including a battery charger operable to supply a charging current to a battery to charge the battery and a battery including a switch having an interrupt condition, in which the switch is operable to interrupt a discharge current from the battery. The battery is electrically connectable to the battery charger and the supply of the charging current from the battery charger to the battery is enabled when the switch is in the interrupt condition.

Claims

1. An electrical combination comprising:

a battery charger operable to supply a charging current to a battery to charge the battery; and

a battery including a switch having an interrupt condition, in which the switch is operable to interrupt a discharge current from the battery, the battery being electrically connectable to the battery charger, the supply of the charging current from the battery charger to the battery being enabled when the switch is in the interrupt condition.

2. The electrical combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the switch includes a FET, the FET having an interrupt condition, in which the FET is operable to interrupt a discharge current from the battery, the FET including a body diode, the supply of the charging current from the battery charger to the battery being enabled through the body diode when the FET is in the interrupt condition.

3. The electrical combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein the battery includes a controller operable to control the switch.

4. The electrical combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein the controller is operable to control the switch between the interrupt condition and a second condition, in which a current is suppliable through the switch.

5. The electrical combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein the battery includes a cell operable to supply a voltage to the controller, and wherein the controller has an operating voltage threshold, the controller being operable when the cell supplies a voltage to the controller one of equal to and greater than the operating voltage threshold.

6. The electrical combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein the controller is operable to change the switch from the interrupt condition to the second condition when the battery is electrically connected to the battery charger and when a voltage one of equal to and greater than the operating voltage threshold is supplied to the controller.

7. The electrical combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein, in the second condition, charging current is suppliable through the switch to the cell to charge the cell.

8. The electrical combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein, when the battery is electrically connected to the battery charger and when a voltage less than the operating voltage threshold is supplied to the controller, the controller is not operable to change the switch from the interrupt condition to the second condition.

9. The electrical combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein the supply of the charging current from the battery charger to the battery when the switch is in the interrupt condition increases the voltage supplied to the controller to one of equal to and greater than the operating voltage threshold.

10. The electrical combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein, thereafter, the controller is operable to change the switch from the interrupt condition to the second condition.

11. The electrical combination as set forth in claim 10 wherein, thereafter, in the second condition, charging current is suppliable through the switch to the cell to charge the cell.

12. A method of operating an electrical combination, the electrical combination including a battery charger operable to supply a charging current to a battery, and a battery including a switch having an interrupt condition, in which the switch is operable to interrupt a discharge current from the battery, the battery being electrically connectable to the battery charger, said method comprising the act of enabling the supply of the charging current from the battery charger to the battery when the switch is in the interrupt condition.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the switch includes a FET, the FET having an interrupt condition, in which the FET is operable to interrupt a discharge current from the battery, the FET including a body diode, and wherein said method further comprises the act of enabling the supply of the charging current from the battery charger to the battery through the body diode when the FET is in the interrupt condition.

14. The method as set forth in claim 12 and further comprising the act of controlling the switch between the interrupt condition and a second condition, in which a current is suppliable through the switch.

15. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the battery includes a cell operable to supply a voltage to the controller and a controller having an operating voltage threshold, and wherein said method further comprises the act of operating the controller when a voltage one of equal to and greater than the operating voltage threshold is supplied to the controller.

16. The method as set forth in claim 15 and further comprising the act of, with the controller, changing the switch from the interrupt condition to a second condition, in which a current is suppliable through the switch, when the battery is electrically connected to the battery charger and when a voltage one of equal to and greater than the operating voltage threshold is supplied to the controller.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16 and further comprising, when the switch is in the second condition, the act of supplying charging current through the switch to the cell to charge the cell.

18. The method as set forth in claim 15 wherein, when the battery is electrically connected to the battery charger and when a voltage less than the operating voltage threshold is supplied to the controller, the controller is not operable to change the switch from the interrupt condition to the second condition, and wherein said method further comprises the act of increasing the voltage supplied by the cell to the controller to one of equal to and greater than the operating voltage threshold.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18 and further comprising, after the increasing act, the act of, with the controller, changing the switch from the interrupt condition to the second condition.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19 and further comprising, after the changing act, the act of supplying charging current through the switch to the cell to charge the cell.

21. A battery comprising:

a cell operable to supply a discharge current; and

a switch having an interrupt condition, in which the switch is operable to interrupt the discharge current from the cell, and a second condition, in which the current is suppliable through the switch;

wherein the battery is electrically connectable to a battery charger, the supply of the charging current from the battery charger to the cell being enabled when the switch is in the interrupt condition, charging current being suppliable through the switch when the switch is in the second condition.

22. The battery as set forth in claim 21 wherein the switch includes a FET, the FET having an interrupt condition, in which the FET is operable to interrupt a discharge current from the battery, and a second condition, in which current is suppliable through the FET, the FET including a body diode, the supply of the charging current from the battery charger to the cell being enabled through the body diode when the FET is in the interrupt condition, charging current being suppliable through the FET when the FET is in the second condition.

23. An electrical combination comprising:

a battery charger operable to supply a first charging current to a battery and operable to supply a second charging current to the battery to charge the battery, the second charging current being less than the first charging current; and

a battery being electrically connectable to the battery charger, the battery including a switch having an interrupt condition, in which the switch is operable to interrupt a supply of discharge current from the battery and operable to prevent a supply of the first charging current from the battery charger, the switch being operable to enable a supply of the second charging current from the battery charger to the battery when the switch is in the interrupt condition.

24. The electrical combination as set forth in claim 23 wherein the switch includes a FET, the FET having an interrupt condition, in which the FET is operable to interrupt a discharge current from the battery, the FET including a body diode, the supply of the second charging current from the battery charger to the battery being enabled through the body diode when the FET is in the interrupt condition.

25. The electrical combination as set forth in claim 23 wherein the battery includes a controller operable to control the switch.

26. The electrical combination as set forth in claim 25 wherein the controller is operable to control the switch between the interrupt condition and a second condition, in which a current is suppliable through the switch.

27. The electrical combination as set forth in claim 26 wherein the battery includes a cell operable to supply a voltage to the controller, and wherein the controller has an operating voltage threshold, the controller being operable when the cell supplies a voltage to the controller one of equal to and greater than the operating voltage threshold.

28. The electrical combination as set forth in claim 27 wherein the controller is operable to change the switch from the interrupt condition to the second condition when the battery is electrically connected to the battery charger and when a voltage one of equal to and greater than the operating voltage threshold is supplied to the controller.

29. The electrical combination as set forth in claim 28 wherein, in the second condition, the first charging current is suppliable through the switch to the cell to charge the cell.

30. The electrical combination as set forth in claim 28 wherein, when the battery is electrically connected to the battery charger and when a voltage less than the operating voltage threshold is supplied to the controller, the controller is not operable to change the switch from the interrupt condition to the second condition.

31. A method of charging a battery pack, the battery pack including a switch, the method comprising the acts of:

preventing a supply of a first charging current from a battery charger to the battery pack when the switch is in an interrupt condition; and

enabling a supply of a second charging current from a battery charger to the battery pack when the switch is in the interrupt condition, the second charging current being less than the first charging current.

32. The method of charging a battery pack as set forth in claim 31 and further comprising the act of enabling a supply of the first charging current from a battery charger to the battery pack when the switch is in a second condition.

33. The method of charging a battery pack as set forth in claim 31 and wherein the battery pack includes at least one battery cell, and wherein the method further comprises charging the at least one battery cell with the second charging current.

34. The method of charging a battery pack as set forth in claim 33 wherein the battery pack includes a controller, the controller having an operating voltage threshold, and wherein the act of charging the at least one battery cell with the second charging current includes charging the at least one battery cell with the second charging current to a state of charge at least one of equal to and greater than the operating voltage threshold of the controller.

35. The method of charging a battery pack as set forth in claim 34 and further comprising the act of controlling the switch from the interrupt condition to the second condition when the state of charge of the at least one battery cell is at least one of equal to and greater than the operating state of charge threshold.

36. The method of charging a battery pack as set forth in claim 35 wherein the act of controlling the switch is performed by the controller.

37. The method of charging a battery pack as set forth in claim 35 and further comprising the act of enabling the supply of the first charging current from a battery charger to the battery pack when the switch is in the second condition.

38. The method of charging a battery pack as set forth in claim 37 and further comprising the act of charging the at least one battery cell with the first charging current to a state of charge equaling a full state of charge threshold.

39. The method of charging a battery pack as set forth in claim 34 and further comprising the act of enabling the supply of the first charging current from a battery charger to the battery pack when the state of charge of the at least one battery cell is at least one of equal to and greater than the operating state of charge threshold of the controller.

40. The method of charging a battery pack as set forth in claim 31 wherein the switch includes a FET, the FET having an interrupt condition, in which the FET is operable to interrupt a discharge current from the battery, the FET including a body diode, and wherein the method further comprises the act of enabling the supply of the second charging current from the battery charger to the battery pack through the body diode when the FET is in the interrupt condition.