Battery pack for powering miner's cap lamp

• US 8,922,159 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2013
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koehler-Bright Star Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Koehler-Bright Star Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bobbin, Joseph, Dirsa, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Muralidar, Richard V
• Application Number:
  US13/779,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20130241487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/128, 320134-136, 362/105, 362/106, 362/164
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/084 Head fittings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/227 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/242 adapted for protecting batteries against vibrations, collision impact or swelling
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• 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: H01M 50/574 Devices or arrangements for the interruption of current
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/588 outside the batteries, e.g. incorrect connections of terminals or busbars
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/591 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 Overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery pack features a housing with a battery cell positioned within the housing. A pair of terminals attached to the battery cell and are adapted to provide power to a cap lamp and/or other device(s). Charging circuitry is positioned within the housing and attached to the battery cell. The charging circuitry provides a charging current to the battery cell when the battery pack is connected to a charger. A microprocessor is positioned within the housing and operatively connected to the charging circuitry.

Claims

1. A battery pack for powering a cap lamp comprising:

a. a housing;

b. a battery cell positioned within said housing;

c. a pair of terminals attached to the battery cell and adapted to provide power to a cap lamp;

d. charging circuitry positioned within said housing and attached to said battery cell, said charging circuitry providing a charging current to the battery cell when the battery pack is connected to a charger; and

e. a microprocessor positioned within said housing and operatively connected to the charging circuitry.

2. The battery pack of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor maintains a constant charging current.

3. The battery pack of claim 2 wherein the charging circuitry includes a transistor that is in communication with the microprocessor to maintain the constant charging current.

4. The battery pack of claim 3 wherein the microprocessor uses pulse width modulation of the transistor to maintain the constant charging current.

5. The battery pack of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is adapted to configure the battery pack to provide low power to the cap lamp, so as to dim the cap lamp, and to configure the system to provide full power to the cap lamp.

6. A cap lamp system comprising:

a. a housing;

b. a battery cell positioned within said housing;

c. a pair of terminals attached to the battery cell;

d. a cap lamp attached to the pair of terminals so as to receive power from the battery cell;

e. charging circuitry positioned within said housing and attached to said battery cell, said charging circuitry providing a charging current to the battery cell when the charging circuitry is connected to a charger; and

f. a microprocessor positioned within said housing and operatively connected to the charging circuitry.

7. The cap lamp system of claim 6 wherein the microprocessor maintains a constant charging current.

8. The cap lamp system of claim 7 wherein the charging circuitry includes a transistor that is in communication with the microprocessor to maintain the constant charging current.

9. The cap lamp system of claim 8 wherein the microprocessor uses pulse width modulation of the transistor to maintain the constant charging current.

10. The cap lamp system of claim 6 wherein the microprocessor is adapted to configure the cap lamp system to provide low power to the cap lamp, so as to dim the cap lamp, and to configure the cap lamp system to provide full power to the cap lamp.