Battery pack identification scheme for power tool systems

• US 9,209,642 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2014
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Delose, Frank J., Gorti, Bhanuprasad V., Howard, Geoffrey S., Iqbal, Aziz, Velderman, Matt J., White, Daniel J., Cunanan, Regina G. C.
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US14/181,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20140159642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/021 with guiding devices guiding devices for hand tools on stands or supports B25H1/0078
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3646 for indicating electrical conditions or variables, e.g. visual or audible indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/374 with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/065 Battery operated hand tools in which the battery and the switch are directly connected
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/061 enclosing a continuously variable impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/448 End of discharge regulating measures
• 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: H01M 2010/4278 Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7005 Guiding, mounting, polarizing or locking means; Extractors for printed circuit boards H05K
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/112 forked sockets having two legs
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0019 : using switched or multiplexed charge circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0025 : Sequential battery discharge in systems with a plurality of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 : with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 : Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 : using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 : concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 : Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 : with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00714 : in response to battery charging or discharging current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 : in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 3/08 : for stopping or slowing a dc motor
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 31/00 : Arrangements for regulating or controlling electric motors not provided for in groups H02P1/00 - H02P5/00, H02P7/00 or H02P21/00 - H02P29/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/285 : controlling armature supply only
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/29 : using pulse modulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 : Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A method is provided for identifying a battery pack that is operably coupled to a battery charger. The method comprises: measuring voltage at a plurality of designated terminals of a first battery pack while the battery pack is coupled to the battery charger; determining how many of the designated terminals are connected to a reference voltage, such as battery positive; and identifying an attribute of the battery pack based on how many of the designated terminals are connected to the reference voltage.

Claims

1. A battery pack system, comprising:

a set of battery packs, the set of battery packs including L battery packs, each battery pack of the set of battery packs including a different number M of battery cells, where 2≦

M≦

N and where L≧

2 and N>

L, where N is a whole number;

each battery pack of the set of battery packs including a set of battery terminals, each set of battery terminals including O battery terminals, where O<

N;

each set of battery terminals including a first subset of battery terminals, wherein each first subset of battery terminals has a different number P of battery terminals, where 0≦

P<

O, and each battery terminal of the first subset of battery terminals is coupled to a first battery reference node, and

each set of battery terminals including a second subset of battery terminals, each second subset of battery terminals including Q battery terminals, where Q=O−

P, and each battery terminal of the second subset of battery terminals is coupled to a battery measurement node.

2. The battery pack system of claim 1, wherein the first battery reference node is a battery positive voltage node.

3. The battery pack system of claim 1, wherein the battery measurement node is a node between battery cells.

4. The battery pack system of claim 1, wherein L=3 and N=5 and O=4.

5. A battery pack comprising:

a set of battery terminals, the set of battery terminals including O battery terminals,

a first subset of the set of battery terminals, the first subset of battery terminals including P battery terminals, where 0≦

P<

O, and each battery terminal of the first subset of battery terminals is coupled to a first battery reference node, and

a second subset of the set of battery terminals, the second subset of battery terminals including Q battery terminals, where Q=O−

P, and each battery terminal of the second subset of battery terminals is coupled to a battery measurement node.

6. The battery pack of claim 5, further comprising a set of battery cells, the set of battery cells including M battery cells and where 2≦

M≦

N and where N>

O, where N is a whole number.

7. The battery pack of claim 6, wherein N=5 and O=4.

8. The battery pack of claim 5, wherein the first battery reference node is a battery positive voltage node.

9. The battery pack of claim 5, wherein the battery measurement node is a node between battery cells.

10. A battery pack and battery charger platform, comprising:

a set of battery packs, the set of battery packs including L elements, each battery pack of the set of battery packs including a different number M of battery cells, where 2≦

M≦

N and where L≧

2 and N>

L, where N is a whole number;

each battery pack of the set of battery packs including a set of battery terminals, the set of battery terminals including O battery terminals, where O<

N;

each set of battery terminals including a first subset of battery terminals, wherein each first subset of battery has a different number of P battery terminals, where 0≦

P<

O, and each battery terminal of the first subset of battery terminals is coupled to a first battery reference node; and

each set of battery terminals including a second subset of battery terminals, each second subset of battery terminals including Q battery terminals, where Q=O−

P, and each battery terminal of the second subset of battery terminals is coupled to a battery measurement node; and

a battery charger including a set of charger terminals, the set of charger terminals including O charger terminals, the battery charger configured to mechanically couple to each battery pack in the set of battery packs such that each charger terminal mechanically and electrically couples to a corresponding battery terminal, wherein the battery charger is configured to determine the number of battery cells in the battery pack coupled to the battery charger based on P.