BATTERY PACK

• US 20100181966A1
• Filed: 03/11/2010
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kazuyuki Sakakibara
• Original Assignee: Kazuyuki Sakakibara
• Inventors: Sakakibara, Kazuyuki
• Application Number:
  US12/722,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20100181966A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/136
• 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: 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 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/443 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 Detection of state of health [SOH]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A cordless power tool system is provided which is driven by using a battery pack as a power source, and which has work performance equivalent to an AC power tool is driven by using a commercial power source as a power source. The cordless power tool system is configured to include: a battery pack in which DC voltage of battery modules is converted into AC voltage, to thereby output the AC voltage having a level which is comparable to that of the commercial power source; a cordless power tool which is driven by using the battery pack as a power source; an electrical cord adapter which allows power supply from the commercial power source to the battery pack for charging the battery pack; and an electrical cord adapter which allows power supply from the commercial power source to the cordless power tool for driving the cordless power tool.

Claims

1. A battery pack usable as a power source for an electric device, comprising:

a battery cell group in which a plurality of battery cells are electrically interconnected in series;

discharge control circuitry configured to control discharging of the battery cell group;

discharge output terminals through which electric output of the discharge control circuitry is supplied to the electric device; and

a case that houses the battery cell group, the discharge control circuitry and the discharge output terminals,

wherein the battery cell group constitutes a battery module, in combination with input/output terminals electrically connected with the battery cell group,

the battery module is electrically connected with at least one other battery module in series, to thereby constitute a battery module group,

the battery module group is electrically connected with the discharge control circuitry, and

the battery cell modules contain module control circuitry,

the module control circuitry comprising;

a first detector configured to detect at least one of a voltage level, a current level and a temperature level, for at least one of the battery cells within the battery cell group; and

a first selector configured to select one of a state for allowing outputting of a direct current voltage to the input/output terminals, and a state for interrupting the outputting, based on a detection result from the first detector,

wherein the discharge control circuitry is further configured to transmit a first signal to the module control circuitry, when the discharge control circuitry interrupts outputting of a selected one of direct current voltage and alternating current voltage to the discharge output terminals, the first signal being indicative of interruption of the outputting,

the module control circuitry is configured to transmit a second signal to the discharge control circuitry, when the module control circuitry interrupts the outputting of the direct current voltage to the input/output terminals, the second signal being indicative of interruption of the outputting,

the discharge control circuitry is still further configured to interrupt the outputting of the selected one of direct current voltage and alternating current voltage to the discharge output terminals, in response to reception of the second signal from the module control circuitry which is provided to at least one of a plurality of battery modules within the battery module group, and

the module control circuitry is still further configured to interrupt the outputting of the direct current voltage to the input/output terminals, in response to reception of the first signal from the discharge control circuitry.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the discharge control circuitry comprises:

a second detector configured to detect at least one of a voltage level, a current level and a temperature level, for at least one of the battery modules within the battery module group; and

a second selector configured to select one of a state for allowing outputting of the selected one of direct current voltage and alternating current voltage to the discharge output terminals, and a state for terminating the outputting, based on a detection result from the second detector.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the discharge control circuitry outputs alternating current voltage having an effective value which includes an effective value of a commercial power source, and

the discharge control circuitry outputs the alternating current voltage having a frequency which includes a frequency of the commercial power source,

6. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein the discharge output terminals are configured to allow an outlet plug for power input into the electric device which is powered by the commercial power source, to be inserted into the discharge output terminals.

9. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the battery cell group outputs a voltage of above 36 V.

10. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the battery pack outputs a voltage of 100 V or higher through the discharge output terminals.

11. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein each battery cell is generally cylindrical, with a diameter in a range of approximately 16 mm and approximately 18 mm, and a height in a range of approximately 20 mm to approximately 30 mm.

3. A battery pack usable as a power source for an electric device, comprising:

a battery cell group in which a plurality of battery cells are electrically interconnected in series;

conversion circuitry configured to convert alternating current voltage of a common power source to direct current voltage;

charge control circuitry configured to control the direct current voltage;

charging terminals through which electricity is supplied from the common power source to the battery cell group; and

a case that houses the battery cell group, the conversion circuitry, the charge control circuitry and the charging terminals,

wherein the battery cell group constitutes a battery module, in combination with input/output terminals electrically connected with the battery cell group,

the battery module is electrically connected with at least one other battery module in series, to thereby constitute a battery module group,

the battery module group is electrically connected with the charge control circuitry, and

the battery cell modules contain module control circuitry,

the module control circuitry comprising;

a third detector configured to detect at least one of a voltage level, a current level and a temperature level, for at least one of the battery cells within the battery cell group; and

a third selector configured to select one of a state for allowing inputting of the direct current voltage to the battery cell group, and a state for interrupting the inputting, based on a detection result from the third detector,

wherein the charge control circuitry is further configured to transmit a third signal to the module control circuitry, when the charge control circuitry interrupts inputting of the direct current voltage to the battery module group, the third signal being indicative of interruption of the inputting,

the module control circuitry is configured to transmit a fourth signal to the charge control circuitry, when the module control circuitry interrupts the inputting of the direct current voltage to the battery cell group, the fourth signal being indicative of interruption of the inputting,

the charge control circuitry is still further configured to interrupt the inputting of the direct current voltage to the battery module group, in response to reception of the fourth signal from the module control circuitry which is provided to at least one of a plurality of battery modules within the battery module group, and

the module control circuitry is still further configured to interrupt the inputting of the direct current voltage to the battery cell group, in response to reception of the third signal from the charge control circuitry.

4. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein the charge control circuitry comprises:

a fourth detector configured to detect at least one of a voltage level, a current level and a temperature level, for at least one of the battery modules within the battery module group; and

a fourth selector configured to select one of a state for allowing inputting of the direct current voltage to the battery module group, and a state for interrupting the inputting, based on a detection result from the fourth detector.

7. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein the discharge control circuitry outputs alternating current voltage having an effective value which includes an effective value of a commercial power source, and

the discharge control circuitry outputs the alternating current voltage having a frequency which includes a frequency of the commercial power source,

8. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein the discharge output terminals are configured to allow an outlet plug for power input into the electric device which is powered by the commercial power source, to be inserted into the discharge output terminals.

12. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein the battery cell group outputs a voltage of above 36 V.

13. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein the battery pack outputs a voltage of 100 V or higher through the discharge output terminals.

14. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein each battery cell is generally cylindrical, with a diameter in a range of approximately 16 mm and approximately 18 mm, and a height in a range of approximately 20 mm to approximately 30 mM.