System and method for re-initiating charge cycle for battery pack left in a charger

• US 8,358,108 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): TORRES RUIZ, JOHALI ALEJANDRA
• Application Number:
  US12/195,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20090058368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,615 Days
• Field of Search: 320/128, 320/134
• US Class Current: 320/134
• 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: 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 charging system for a battery pack, comprising

a battery pack having one or more battery cells and a battery control unit therein, the battery control unit operable to place the battery pack in a sleep mode after a predefined period of inactivity;

and

a battery charger adapted to receive the battery pack and operable to deliver a charging signal to the battery pack in response to the battery pack entering a sleep mode.

2. The charging system of claim 1 wherein the battery pack having two charging terminals such that the battery control unit removes a voltage present at the charging terminal when the battery pack enters a sleep mode.

3. The charging system of claim 1 wherein the battery pack having a switch in series with the battery cells such that the battery control unit opens the switch upon entering a sleep mode.

4. The charging system of claim 1 wherein the battery charger having a charge control unit which maintains an indicator for when to charge the battery pack, wherein the charge control unit sets the indicator to charge the battery pack when the battery pack enters a sleep mode.

5. The charging system of claim 4 wherein the battery charger sends a signal to awaken the battery pack when the battery pack enters a sleep mode.

6. The charging system of claim 5 wherein the battery charger delays sending the signal to awaken the battery pack until expiration of a timer maintained in the battery charger.

7. The charging system of claim 5 wherein the battery pack having a switch in series with the battery cells such that the battery control unit opens the switch upon entering a sleep mode and closes the switch when awoken from a sleep mode.

8. The charging system of claim 5 wherein the charge control unit is operable to deliver a charging signal to the battery pack when the indicator is set to charge the battery pack and the charge control unit detects the battery pack operably coupled to the battery charger.