BATTERY PACK IDENTIFICATION SCHEME FOR POWER TOOL SYSTEMS

• US 20110248669A1
• Filed: 04/06/2011
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gorti, Bhanuprasad V., Velderman, Matt J., Iqbal, Aziz, Cunanan, Regina G.C., Delose, Frank J., White, Daniel J., Howard, Geoffrey S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,653,787 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: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/021 with guiding devices guiding devices for hand tools on stands or supports B25H1/0078
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3646 for indicating electrical conditions or variables, e.g. visual or audible indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/374 with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/065 Battery operated hand tools in which the battery and the switch are directly connected
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/061 enclosing a continuously variable impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/448 End of discharge regulating measures
• 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 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• 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: H01R 12/7005 Guiding, mounting, polarizing or locking means; Extractors for printed circuit boards H05K
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/112 forked sockets having two legs
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0019 : using switched or multiplexed charge circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0025 : Sequential battery discharge in systems with a plurality of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 : with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 : Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 : using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• 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 7/0063 : with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00714 : in response to battery charging or discharging current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 : in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 3/08 : for stopping or slowing a dc motor
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 31/00 : Arrangements for regulating or controlling electric motors not provided for in groups H02P1/00 - H02P5/00, H02P7/00 or H02P21/00 - H02P29/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/285 : controlling armature supply only
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/29 : using pulse modulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 : Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A method is provided for identifying a battery pack that is operably coupled to a battery charger. The method comprises: measuring voltage at a plurality of designated terminals of a first battery pack while the battery pack is coupled to the battery charger; determining how many of the designated terminals are connected to a reference voltage, such as battery positive; and identifying an attribute of the battery pack based on how many of the designated terminals are connected to the reference voltage.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a battery pack operably coupled via a plurality of electrical terminals to a battery charger, the battery pack having a positive voltage terminal and a negative voltage terminal, comprising:

measuring voltage at a plurality of designated terminals of the battery pack while the battery pack is coupled to the battery charger, such that the plurality of designated terminals exclude the positive voltage terminal and the negative voltage terminal;

determining a number of the designated terminals that are connected to a reference voltage; and

identifying an attribute of the battery pack based on the number of designated terminals that are connected to the reference voltage.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells connected in series between the positive and negative voltage terminals such that at least one of the designated terminals is connected to a node disposed between two of the battery cells in the battery pack.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprises determining a number of designated terminals that are connected to the positive voltage terminal of the battery pack.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprises determining location of a given terminal amongst the plurality of designated terminals;

and identifying an attribute of the battery pack based on the location of the given terminal and the number of designated terminals that are connected to the reference voltage.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprises determining the location of a given terminal that is connected to a node disposed between a first battery cell and the remainder of the battery cells in the battery pack, where the first battery cell is coupled between the node and the negative battery terminal.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprises identifying a nominal voltage of the battery pack based on the number of designated terminals that are connected to the reference voltage and charging the battery pack in accordance with the identified nominal voltage of the battery pack.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprises identifying a configuration of the battery cells in the battery pack based on the number of designated terminals that are connected to the reference voltage and charging the battery pack in accordance with the identified configuration of the battery cells of the battery pack.

8. A method for identifying a first battery pack operably coupled to a battery charger, the first battery pack having a positive voltage terminal and a negative voltage terminal, comprising:

measuring voltage at a plurality of designated terminals of the battery pack while the battery pack is coupled to the battery charger, such that the plurality of designated terminals exclude the positive voltage terminal and the negative voltage terminal;

determining location of a given terminal amongst the designated terminals; and

identifying an attribute of the battery pack based on the location of the given terminal amongst the designated terminals.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprises determining the location of a given terminal that is connected to a node disposed between a first battery cell and the remainder of the battery cells in the battery pack, where the first battery cell is coupled between the node and the negative battery terminal.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprises determining a number of the designated terminals that are connected to a reference voltage;

and identifying an attribute of the battery pack based on the number of designated terminals that are connected to the reference voltage

11. The method of claim 10 further comprises determining a number of designated terminals that are connected to the positive voltage terminal of the battery pack.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprises identifying a nominal voltage of the battery pack based on the number of designated terminals that are connected to the reference voltage and charging the battery pack in accordance with the identified nominal voltage of the battery pack.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprises identifying a configuration of the battery cells in the battery pack based on the number of designated terminals that are connected to the reference voltage and charging the battery pack in accordance with the identified configuration of the battery cells of the battery pack.

14. A battery charger that charges a plurality of different types of battery packs coupled thereto, comprising:

a positive electrical contact that engages a positive voltage terminal of an attached battery pack;

a negative electrical contact that engages a negative voltage terminal of the attached battery pack;

a plurality of inter-cell electrical contacts that selectively engage inter-cell terminals of the attached battery pack, such that each inter-cell terminal is connected to a node between battery cells residing in the attached battery pack;

a voltage measurement circuit that selectively measures voltage at the inter-cell terminals of the attached battery pack; and

a charger control module in data communication with the voltage measurement circuit to receive voltage measures, the charger control module operable to determine a number of the inter-cell terminals that are connected to a reference voltage and identify an attribute of the battery pack based on the number of designated terminals that are connected to the reference voltage.

15. The battery charger of claim 14 wherein at least one of the inter-cell terminals is connected to the positive voltage terminal of the battery pack.

16. The battery charger of claim 14 wherein the charger control module determines location of a given terminal amongst the inter-cell terminals;

and identifies an attribute of the battery pack based on the location of the given terminal and the number of inter-cell terminals that are connected to the reference voltage.

17. The battery charger of claim 16 wherein the charger control module determines the location of a given terminal that is connected to a node disposed between a first battery cell and the remainder of the battery cells in the battery pack, where the first battery cell is coupled between the node and the negative battery terminal.

18. The battery charger of claim 14 wherein the charger control module identifies a nominal voltage of the battery pack based on the number of inter-cell terminals that are connected to the reference voltage and charge the battery pack in accordance with the identified nominal voltage of the battery pack.

19. The battery charger of claim 14 wherein the charger control module identifies a configuration of the battery cells in the battery pack based on the number of designated terminals that are connected to the reference voltage and charges the battery pack in accordance with the identified configuration of the battery cells of the battery pack.