System And Method For Re-Initiating Charge Cycle For Battery Pack Left In A Charger

• US 20130106363A1
• Filed: 12/17/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Seman, Andrew E. Jr., White, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US13/716,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20130106363A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/137
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• 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 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A system and method is provided for initiating a charge cycle for a battery pack left in a battery charger. The battery pack includes a battery control unit which is operable to place the battery pack in a sleep mode after a predefined period of inactivity. The battery charger in turn is operable to deliver a charging signal to the battery pack in response to the battery pack entering a sleep mode.

Claims

1. A method of initiating a charge cycle for a battery pack operably coupled to a battery charger, comprising:

placing a battery pack into sleep mode when the battery pack has been inactive for a period of time, wherein the battery pack is operable to reduce discharge of battery cells residing therein during the sleep mode;

awakening the battery pack in response to the battery pack entering the sleep mode; and

delivering a charge to the battery pack when the battery pack is awoken from the sleep mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the awakening step comprises sending a ready-to-charge signal to the battery pack from the battery charger.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising initiating a timer upon entering the sleep mode and awakening the battery pack from the sleep mode when the timer expires.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising maintaining an indicator for when to charge the battery pack and setting the indicator to charge the battery pack when the battery pack enters the sleep mode.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein maintaining the indicator comprises setting the indicator to a fully charged state after the battery pack has been charged.

6. A method for charging a battery pack, comprising:

operably coupling a battery pack to a battery charger;

placing the battery pack into a sleep mode after the battery pack has been inactive for a predetermined period of time;

delivering an awaken signal from the battery charger to the battery pack in response to the battery pack entering the sleep mode.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising monitoring a voltage across a set of battery pack charging terminals to determine if the battery pack is in the sleep mode.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the awaken signal is delivered via a battery pack non-charging terminal.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising maintaining a battery pack status indicator.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein if the battery pack status indicator is set to a first state and the monitored voltage across the set of battery pack charging terminals is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold then initiate a charge on the battery pack charging terminals and upon charge completion set the battery pack status indicator to a second state and if the battery pack status indicator is set to the second state and the monitored voltage across the set of battery pack charging terminals is equal to or near zero then set the battery pack status indicator to the first state and if the battery pack status indicator is set to the first state and the monitored voltage across the set of battery pack charging terminals is equal to near zero then deliver the awaken signal over the battery pack non-charging terminal.

11. A method for charging a battery pack, comprising:

setting an indicator to a first state;

monitoring a voltage across a set of charger charging terminals and if the monitored voltage is at or near zero then sending a ready-to-charge signal from a charger and if in response to sending the ready-to-charge signal the monitored voltage is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold then applying a charge on the set of charger charging terminals.

12. A method of charging a battery pack, comprising:

monitoring a voltage across a set of charger charging terminals;

if the monitored voltage transitions from a voltage equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold to a voltage equal to or near zero then sending a ready-to-charge signal from the charger; and

if in response to sending the ready-to-charge signal the monitored voltage transitions from a voltage equal to or near zero to a voltage equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold then applying a charge on the set of charger charging terminals.

13. A method of charging a battery pack, comprising:

if a battery pack is inactive for a predetermined period of time then placing the battery pack into a sleep mode and ceasing output of a voltage across a set of battery charging terminals;

receiving a ready-to-charge signal on a data terminal in response to ceasing output of voltage across the set of battery charging terminals;

returning the battery to an operational state; and

receiving a charge at the battery charging terminals upon the battery returning to the operational state.