BATTERY CHARGER
First Claim
1. A battery charger comprising:
- a housing including a charging port configured to receive a battery pack;
a power supply module electrically connected to a power source and configured to supply power to the battery charger,wherein the battery charger is configured to operate in a normal operational power mode and a low operational power mode;
a controller configured todetermine whether the charging port is to receive a first charging current,determine whether the charging port is to receive a second charging current, wherein the first charging current is greater than the second charging current,operate the battery charger in the normal operational power mode when the charging port is to receive the first charging current or the second charging current, anddetect the presence of the battery pack in the charging port; and
a protection circuit including a semiconductor switch configured to allow the first charging current or the second charging current to be supplied to the charging port when the protection circuit is receiving a charging signal from the controller.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An energy-efficient and compact battery charger. The battery charger includes, among other things, a charging port, a power supply module, a battery charger control module or controller, a power control safety module, a battery charger switch, and an indicator. The controller, the power control safety module, and the battery charger switch work in conjunction with each other to control the operation of the battery charger. The controller is configured to execute a charging control process which detects the insertion of a battery pack into the charging port, controls the charging of the battery pack, and controls the illumination or display of the indicator. The power control safety module includes a power control safety circuit that is configured to prevent the charging current and/or the charging voltage from damaging the battery charger or battery pack during a malfunction.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A battery charger comprising:
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a housing including a charging port configured to receive a battery pack; a power supply module electrically connected to a power source and configured to supply power to the battery charger, wherein the battery charger is configured to operate in a normal operational power mode and a low operational power mode; a controller configured to determine whether the charging port is to receive a first charging current, determine whether the charging port is to receive a second charging current, wherein the first charging current is greater than the second charging current, operate the battery charger in the normal operational power mode when the charging port is to receive the first charging current or the second charging current, and detect the presence of the battery pack in the charging port; and a protection circuit including a semiconductor switch configured to allow the first charging current or the second charging current to be supplied to the charging port when the protection circuit is receiving a charging signal from the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A battery charger comprising:
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a housing including a charging port configured to receive a battery pack; a power supply module electrically connected to a power source and configured to supply power to the battery charger; a controller configured to generate a charging signal to enable the charging port to receive a charging current; and a protection circuit configured to receive the charging signal from the controller when the protection circuit is in a normal operational mode, the protection circuit including a first semiconductor switch and a second semiconductor switch, wherein the first semiconductor switch allows the charging current to be supplied to the charging port when the protection circuit is receiving the charging signal from the controller, and wherein the second semiconductor switch prevents the charging current from being supplied to the charging port when the protection circuit is not receiving the charging signal from the controller. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A battery charger comprising:
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a housing including a charging port configured to receive a battery pack; a power supply module electrically connected to a power source and configured to supply power to the battery charger; a controller configured to receive an indication of a presence of the battery pack in the charging port and generate a charging signal to enable the charging port to receive a charging current; and a battery pack detection device positioned within the charging port and electrically connected to the controller, the battery pack detection device including a a first conductive part coupled to a negative terminal of the power supply module, and a second conductive part coupled to the controller, wherein the first conductive part and the second conductive part are separated from one another by a distance, and wherein the distance between the first conductive part and the second conductive part is spanned when the battery pack is inserted into the charging port. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification