Device for charging batteries

• US 7,847,515 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: W&H Dentalwerk Burmoos GmbH (PM Privatstiftung)
• Inventors: Stuerzer, Christian, Schroeck, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US11/904,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20080079391A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/02 Details of electrodes H01M4/00; of non-active parts H01M50/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4221 with battery type recognition
• 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 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/284 with incorporated circuit boards, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

In a second preferred variant of the second exemplary embodiment, the magnetic sensor detects the presence of a magnetic field of the magnetic element as long as no battery is connected to the charger. The battery comprises a shielding device which deflects or shields the magnetic field from the magnetic sensor, so that after connecting the battery to the charger, the magnetic sensor detects that no magnetic field is present and emits an identification signal. This variant is advantageous, in particular in stepped contact devices, whereby one of the two elements is a sensor or magnet at the bottom of the step and the other of the two elements is arranged on the leg at an angle thereto. This makes it possible to achieve a particularly good shielding effect. In this variant, several magnetic elements and magnetic sensors may also be provided.

Claims

1. A device for charging batteries of medical instruments comprising:

at least one electric contact device for connecting a battery, the at least one contact device being connectable through a charging circuit to an electric power source, and whereby batteries having different charge requirements can be connected to the at least one contact device;

an identification device for recognizing the different batteries and coupled to the charging circuit for charging the batteries according to their respective charging requirements, wherein the identification device comprises at least one magnetic sensor for detection of at least one magnetic parameter of a magnetic element connected to the connectable batteries, the at least one magnetic sensor being coupled to the charging circuit for relaying an identification signal, and wherein the charging circuit is operable to recognize a connected battery based on the identification signal and to select a charging requirement assigned to the connected battery from among the charging requirements; and

a first connecting device for supplying electrical power to the contact device through the charging circuit and a second connecting device electrically connected to the first connecting device and configured for electrically connecting and supplying electrical power to a second device for charging batteries so that the second device for charging batteries can receive electric power via the second connecting device.

3. The device for charging batteries according to claim 1,

wherein the at least one magnetic sensor is operable to at least one of emit an identification signal in the presence of a magnetic field, emit an identification signal as a function of the magnetic polarity detected, emit an identification signal as a function of the detected magnetic field strength, and emit an identification signal as a function of the field direction detected.

5. The device for charging batteries according to claim 1, wherein the at least one magnetic sensor is a first magnetic sensor, further comprising at least a second magnetic sensor, wherein the first and second magnetic sensors are of one or different types, and wherein the magnetic sensors are arranged at different locations in the area of the contact device.

7. The device for charging batteries according to claim 1,

wherein the at least one magnetic sensor and the charging circuit are arranged on a common carrier device.

9. The device for charging batteries according to claim 7,

wherein the common carrier device comprises a circuit board.

2. A device for charging batteries comprising:

at least one electric contact device for connecting a battery, the at least one contact device being connectable through a charging circuit to an electric power source, and whereby batteries having different charging requirements can be connected to the at least one contact device; and

an identification device for recognizing the different batteries and coupled to the charging circuit for charging the batteries according to their respective charging requirements, wherein the identification device is a contactless identification device without a direct electric contact between the battery and the identification device and the identification device comprises at least one magnetic element and at least one magnetic sensor for detection of at least one magnetic parameter of the at least one magnetic element, wherein the at least one magnetic sensor for relaying an identification signal is coupled to the charging circuit, wherein the at least one magnetic element and the at least one magnetic sensor are configured so that variation in at least one magnetic parameter of the magnetic element by a magnetic parameter varying device connected to a connectable battery is detectable by the at least one magnetic sensor, and wherein the charging circuit is operable to recognize a connected battery based on the identification signal and to select a charging requirement assigned to the connected battery from among the charging requirements.

4. The device for charging batteries according to claim 2,

wherein the at least one magnetic sensor is operable to at least one of emit an identification signal in the presence of a magnetic field, emit an identification signal as a function of the magnetic polarity detected, emit an identification signal as a function of the detected magnetic field strength, and emit an identification signal as a function of the field direction detected.

6. The device for charging batteries according to claim 2, wherein the at least one magnetic sensor is a first magnetic sensor, further comprising at least a second magnetic sensor, wherein the first and second magnetic sensors are of one or different types, and wherein the magnetic sensors are arranged at different locations in the area of the contact device.

8. The device for charging batteries according to claim 2,

wherein the at least one magnetic sensor and the charging circuit are arranged on a common carrier device.

10. The device for charging batteries according to claim 8,

wherein the common carrier device comprises a circuit board.

12. The device for charging batteries according to claim 2,

comprising a first connecting device electrically connected to the contact device through the charging circuit, further comprising a second connecting device electrically connected to the first connecting device and configured for electrically connecting and supplying electrical power to a second device for charging batteries so that the second device for charging batteries can receive electric power via the second connecting device.

11. A device for charging batteries of medical instruments comprising:

at least one electric contact device for connecting a battery, the at least one contact device being connectable through a charging circuit to an electric power source, and whereby batteries having different charge requirements can be connected to the at least one contact device;

an identification device for recognizing the different batteries and coupled to the charging circuit for charging the batteries according to their respective charging requirements, wherein the identification device comprises at least one magnetic sensor for detection of at least one magnetic parameter of a magnetic element connected to the connectable batteries, the at least one magnetic sensor being coupled to the charging circuit for relaying an identification signal, and wherein the charging circuit is operable to recognize a connected battery based on the identification signal and to select a charging requirement assigned to the connected battery from among the charging requirements; and

wherein the contact device comprises a housing having a housing wall, wherein the housing wall has at least one area of a first wall thickness and an area of a second smaller wall thickness, and wherein the at least one magnetic sensor is arranged in the area of the second smaller wall thickness.

13. A battery comprising at least one repeatedly electrically rechargeable battery cell and having electric contacts connected to the at least one battery cell and connectable to a device for charging batteries, the battery further comprising at least one shielding and/or amplifying device formed of a magnetically conductive material through which a magnetic parameter of a magnetic element of an identification device of a device for charging batteries is variable so that a charging circuit of the device for charging batteries can determine the charging requirement of the battery so the battery can be charged according to the charging requirement.

14. The battery according to claim 13, wherein the at least one shielding and/or amplifying device comprises an element of soft iron.

15. The battery according to claim 13, wherein the at least one shielding and/or amplifying device comprises paramagnetic or preferably ferromagnetic material.

16. The battery according to claim 13, wherein the at least one shielding and/or amplifying device comprises diamagnetic material.

17. The battery according to claim 13, wherein the at least one shielding and/or amplifying device is nonmagnetic.

18. The battery according to claim 13, wherein the at least one shielding and/or amplifying device is configured to concentrate magnetic field lines in its surroundings.

19. The battery according to claim 13, wherein the at least one shielding and/or amplifying device is configured to reduce or divert magnetic field lines in its surroundings.

20. The battery according to claim 13, wherein the magnetic conductivity of the at least one shielding and/or amplifying device is higher than the magnetic conductivity of its surroundings.

21. A set of multiple batteries, wherein each battery comprises at least one repeatedly electrically rechargeable battery cell, electric contacts connected to the at least one battery cell, and at least one magnetic element, and wherein each battery is connectable to a device for charging batteries, wherein the magnetic elements of the set of batteries have different magnetic field strengths, so that each battery of the set of batteries is distinguishable by a magnetic sensor from each other battery due to the battery'"'"'s respective magnetic field strength.

22. A set of multiple batteries, wherein each battery comprises at least one repeatedly electrically rechargeable battery cell, electric contacts connected to the at least one battery cell, and at least one magnetic element, and wherein each battery is connectable to a device for charging batteries, wherein the magnetic elements on the batteries are disposed such that their magnetic field directions are oriented differently from each other so that each battery of the set is distinguishable by a magnetic sensor from each other battery due to the orientation of the magnetic field direction for the respective battery.