Battery pack identification system

• US 20080309285A1
• Filed: 06/13/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carrier, David A., Gorti, Bhanuprasad V., Qin, Fugen, Trinh, Danh, Brotto, Daniele, Cunanan, Regina Gracia C., Cruise, Nathan, Choksi, Snehal, Bailey, Rouse Roby JR., Seman, Andrew JR., Harrison, Edward Allen, Howard, Geoffrey Stephen, Bowers, Michelle Lynn, White, Daniel Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,319,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/106
• 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: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00043 using switches, contacts or markings, e.g. optical, magnetic or barcode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries

Abstract

A control module is included in a battery charger that is adapted to charge a plurality of battery packs of different types or a power tool that is adapted to be powered by at least one of the battery packs. The control module includes a remote sensing module that communicates remotely with one of the battery packs. The control module also includes a battery pack connection module that determines that the one of the battery packs is in electrical communication with at least one of the battery charger and the power tool. The control module also includes a battery pack identification (ID) module that determines a first type of the battery pack based on remote sensing module signals. The control module also includes a charge control module that determines at least one of a charge setting and a discharge setting for the battery pack based on the first type.

Claims

1. A battery charger adapted to charge a plurality of battery packs of different types, comprising:

a plurality of terminals, wherein the battery charger electrically communicates with one of the battery packs through said plurality of terminals;

a remote communication device that generates signals in response to remote detection of said one of the battery packs; and

a control module comprising a remote sensing module that receives signals from said remote communication device,

said control module further comprising a battery pack connection module that determines that said one of the battery packs is in electrical communication with the battery charger based on communications with said one of the battery packs through said plurality of terminals,

said control module further comprising a battery pack identification (ID) module that determines a first type of said one of the battery packs based on remote sensing module signals, and

said control module further comprising a charge control module that determines a charge setting for said one of the battery packs based on said first type.

2. The battery charger of claim 5 wherein said remote communication device comprises at least one of a magnet sensing device, a radio frequency (RF) receiver, a RF transceiver, an infrared transmitter, and infrared receiver, an optical communication device that comprises at least one of a light emitting device, a light receiving device, and a photosensor, and a proximity switch that detects at least one of sonar, photoelectric, inductive and capacitive characteristics.

3. The battery charger of claim 6 wherein said magnet sensing device comprises a Hall effect sensor.

4. The battery charger of claim 6 wherein said first type includes Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery cells.

5. The battery charger of claim 8 wherein said remote sensing module only communicates remotely with battery packs of said first type.

6. The battery charger of claim 1 further comprising a fault warning module that determines that there is a fault in at least one of the battery charger and said one of the battery packs based on battery pack connection module signals that indicate electrical communication and battery pack ID module signals that indicate said one of the battery packs is of said first type.

8. The battery charger of claim 6 further comprising a housing comprising a first side and a second side, wherein said one of the battery packs couples to said second end.

11. A power tool system, comprising:

a first battery pack having first terminals and comprising at least one of a magnet or a first radio frequency (RF) transmitter; and

a battery charger having second terminals that communicate with said first terminals and comprising a battery charger remote communication device that generates signals in response to remote detection of said at least one of said magnet and said first RF transmitter,

said battery charger further comprising a battery charger control module that receives signals from said remote communication device, that determines that said first battery pack is in electrical communication with said battery charger based on communications with said first battery pack through said second terminals, that determines that said first battery pack is of said first type based on said remote detection, and that determines a charge setting for said first battery pack based on said first type.

7. The battery charger of claim 10 wherein said fault warning module determines that one of said plurality of terminals is at least one of inoperable and not present.

9. The battery charger of claim 12 wherein said remote communication device is positioned within said housing a first distance from said second side optimal for said remote detection.

10. The battery charger of claim 13 further comprising an arm coupled to said first side and extending toward said second side within said housing and a platform mounted on said arm, wherein said remote communication device is mounted on said platform.

12. The power tool system of claim 11 wherein said first battery pack comprises a housing that comprises a first side and a second side, wherein said at least one of said magnet and said first RF transmitter is positioned a first predetermined distance from said first side.

13. The power tool system of claim 11 wherein said battery charger remote communication device comprises at least one of a magnet sensing device, a second RF transmitter, an RF receiver, or an RF transceiver.

14. The power tool system of claim 13 wherein said magnet sensing device comprises a Hall effect sensor.

15. The power tool system of claim 13 wherein said first type includes lithium based battery cells.

16. The power tool system of claim 15 wherein said battery charger remote sensing module only communicates remotely with first battery packs of said first type.

17. The power tool system of claim 12 wherein said battery charger control module further determines that there is a fault in at least one of said battery charger and said first battery pack based on signals indicating said electrical communication and signals indicating said first battery pack is of said first type.

18. The power tool system of claim 17 wherein said battery charger control module determines that one of said second terminals is at least one of inoperable and not present.

19. The power tool system of claim 12 wherein said battery charger further comprises a housing comprising a first side and a second side, wherein said first battery pack couples to said second side.

20. The power tool system of claim 19 wherein said battery charger remote communication device is positioned within said housing an optimized distance from said second side for said remote detection.

21. The power tool system claim 20 further comprising an arm coupled to said first side and extending toward said second side within said housing and a platform mounted on said arm, wherein said battery charger remote communication device is mounted on said platform.

22. The power tool system claim 11 further comprising a second battery pack of a second type that communicates with said charger and that does not include a remote communication element.

23. The power tool system of claim 22 wherein said second type comprises at least one of nickel cadmium (NiCd), nickel metal hydride (NiMH), and lead-acid.

24. The power tool system claim 11 further comprising a power tool comprising third terminals that communicate with said first terminals and further comprising a power tool remote communication device that generates signals in response to remote detection of said at least one of said magnet, said first RF transmitter, and said optical communication device,

said power tool further comprising a power tool control module that receives signals from said remote communication device, that determines that said first battery pack is in electrical communication with said power tool based on communications with said first battery pack through said third terminals, and that determines that said first battery pack is of said first type based on said remote detection.

25. A power tool system, comprising:

first battery means for holding battery cells of a first type comprising at least one of a magnet, radio frequency (RF) means for transmitting, and optical means for transmitting comprising first terminal means for communicating; and

battery charger means for charging comprising second terminal means for communicating with said first terminal means and further comprising remote communication means for generating signals in response to remote detection of said at least one of said magnet, said RF means, and said optical means,

said battery charger means further comprising control means for receiving signals from said remote communication device, for determining that said first battery means is in electrical communication with said battery charger means based on communications with said first battery means through said second terminal means, for determining that said first battery means is of said first type said remote detection, and for determining a charge setting for said first battery means based on said first type.

26. The power tool system of claim 25 wherein said first battery means comprises a housing that comprises a first side and a second side, wherein said at least one of said magnet, said RF means, and said optical means is positioned a first predetermined distance from said first side.

27. The power tool system of claim 26 wherein said remote communication means comprises at least one of magnet sensing means for sensing said magnet, RF receiver means for receiving an RF signal, RF transceiver means for communicating, and optical means for communicating.

28. The power tool system of claim 27 wherein said magnet sensing means comprises a Hall effect sensor.

29. The power tool system of claim 27 wherein said first type includes lithium based battery cells.

30. The power tool system of claim 25 wherein said control means further determines that there is a fault in at least one of said battery charger means and said first battery means based on signals indicating electrical communication and signals indicating said first battery means is of said first type.

31. The power tool system of claim 30 wherein said control means determines that one of said second terminal means is at least one of inoperable and not present.

32. The power tool system claim 25 further comprising second battery means of a second type that communicates with said charger means and that does not include remote communication means.

33. The power tool system of claim 32 wherein said second type comprises at least one of nickel cadmium (NiCd), nickel metal hydride (NiMH), and lead-acid.

34. A power tool system, comprising:

a battery pack of a first type having a magnet embedded in the battery pack;

a battery pack of a second type without a magnet embedded in the battery pack; and

a battery charger that operably couples to the first type of battery pack and to the second type of battery pack and configured with a magnetic sensor that is operable to detect presence of the magnet when operably coupled to the first type of battery pack and operable;

the battery charger having a charge control module that implements different charging procedures based on the type of battery pack coupled thereto.

35. The power tool system of claim 34 wherein the first type of battery pack having a different battery cell chemistry than the second type of battery pack.

36. The power tool system of claim 34 wherein the magnetic sensor is further defined as a Hall effect sensor.

37. The power tool system of claim 34 wherein the charge control module implements a first type of charging procedure upon detecting the first type of battery pack and implements a second type of charging procedure that is different from the first type of charging procedure when the first type of battery pack is not detected by the charge control module.