Charging device for battery

• US 7,956,575 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2007
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi KOKI Company Limited (Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi KOKI Company Limited (Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Shinji, Kawano, Yoshikazu, Hanawa, Hiroyuki, Takano, Nobuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOATENG, ALEXIS ASIEDUA
• Application Number:
  US11/740,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20070252558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,503 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/106, 320/112, 320/113, 320/114, 320/115, 320/132, 320/134, 320/135, 320/136, 320/123
• US Class Current: 320/113
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence

Abstract

Abnormal detecting means 112 for detecting that an electrically conductive foreign substance has migrated into a charging device 1 is provided, and whether or the foreign substance has migrated is judged from the detection result of the abnormal detecting means 112.

Claims

1. A charging device for charging different kinds of battery packs, each battery pack having one or more cells, the charging device comprising:

abnormal detecting means for detecting that an electrically conductive foreign substance has either migrated into the charging device or contacted with the connection terminals of the charging device and the battery pack; and

control means responding to a detection signal of said abnormal detecting means for controlling the charge of said battery pack,

wherein the abnormal detecting means comprises;

first battery temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of a first kind of battery pack; and

second battery temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of a second kind of battery pack, and

wherein the control means judges the abnormal state based on signals respectively coming from said first and second battery temperature detecting means and controls the charge of said battery pack based on said signals.

2. A charging device as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

connection detecting means for detecting the connection of the battery pack, wherein said control means leaves the charge unstarted, when said control means judges the antecedence to the connection of the battery pack on the basis of output of said connection detecting means and when said control means judges the migration of foreign substance on the basis of said abnormal detecting means.

3. A charging device as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

connection detecting means for detecting the connection of the battery pack, wherein said control means stops the charge, when said control means judges that migration of a foreign substance on the basis of the output of said connection detecting means, after said control means judges the connection of the battery pack on the basis of the output of said connection detecting means and starts the charge.

4. A charging device as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

informing means for informing an abnormal state in case said control means judges the migration of the foreign substance on the basis of said abnormal detecting means.

5. A charging device as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

a battery pack connecting portion having a terminal group to be connected with a battery pack terminal group,

wherein said abnormal detecting means is disposed in proximity of said battery pack connecting portion.

6. A charging device as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

an intake port for taking the air; and

a vent port for feeding said air to the battery pack,

wherein said abnormal detecting means is disposed in proximity of at least one of said intake port and said vent port.

7. A charging device as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said control means judges the abnormal state, when the signals from said first and second battery temperature detecting means vary.

8. A charging device as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the charging device is configured as power source for a portable device.

9. A charging device as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the charging device is configured as power source for a cordless electric tool.