Method and system for charging multi-cell lithium-based batteries
First Claim
1. A battery charger operable to charge a power tool battery having a plurality of Lithium-based battery cells, the battery charger comprising:
- a charging circuit operable to provide a pulsed charging current to the power tool battery for at least a portion of a charging operation of the power tool battery; and
a controller operable to control the pulsed charging current provided to the power tool battery based at least in part on a comparison of an individual state of charge of at least one of the plurality of battery cells to at least one state of charge threshold value,wherein controlling the pulsed charging current includes entering one of a defective power tool battery mode in which the pulsed charging current is interrupted and an indicator is correspondingly controlled to indicate the defective power tool battery mode, and entering a normal charge mode in which the pulsed charging current is provided to the power tool battery and the indicator is correspondingly controlled to indicate the normal charge mode, andwherein the defective power tool battery mode and the normal charge mode are each entered based at least on part on the comparison of the individual state of charge of the at least one of the plurality of battery cells to the at least one state of charge threshold value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for charging multi-cell lithium-based batteries. In some aspects, a battery charger includes a housing, at least one terminal to electrically connect to a battery pack supported by the housing, and a controller operable to provide a charging current to the battery pack through the at least one terminal. The battery pack includes a plurality of lithium-based battery cells, with each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells having an individual state of charge. The controller is operable to control the charging current being supplied to the battery pack at least in part based on the individual state of charge of at least one battery cell.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A battery charger operable to charge a power tool battery having a plurality of Lithium-based battery cells, the battery charger comprising:
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a charging circuit operable to provide a pulsed charging current to the power tool battery for at least a portion of a charging operation of the power tool battery; and a controller operable to control the pulsed charging current provided to the power tool battery based at least in part on a comparison of an individual state of charge of at least one of the plurality of battery cells to at least one state of charge threshold value, wherein controlling the pulsed charging current includes entering one of a defective power tool battery mode in which the pulsed charging current is interrupted and an indicator is correspondingly controlled to indicate the defective power tool battery mode, and entering a normal charge mode in which the pulsed charging current is provided to the power tool battery and the indicator is correspondingly controlled to indicate the normal charge mode, and wherein the defective power tool battery mode and the normal charge mode are each entered based at least on part on the comparison of the individual state of charge of the at least one of the plurality of battery cells to the at least one state of charge threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification