Batteries for electric tools
First Claim
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1. A battery for an electric tool, the battery comprising:
- at least one battery cell;
a microcomputer configured to perform (i) a control according to a first routine during use of the battery and (ii) a control according to a second routine during non-use of the battery; and
a peripheral circuit configured to detect a battery condition of the at least one battery cell and communicating with the microcomputer, whereinthe first routine provides an active mode that activates the peripheral circuit, so that a charge control or a discharge control of the at least one battery cell can be performed,the second routine (a) provides a sleep mode that inactivates the peripheral circuit and (b) causes a change from the sleep mode to the active mode after a predetermined period of time, so that the microcomputer can obtain data of the battery condition from the peripheral circuit when in the active mode of the second routine, andwhen the microcomputer is performing the second routine, the microcomputer counts up a first counter each time that the sleep mode is changed to the active mode after the predetermined period of time.
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Abstract
A battery for an electric tool includes at least one battery cell, a peripheral device operable to detect a battery condition of the at least one battery cell, and a microcomputer communicating with the peripheral device. The microcomputer periodically operates the peripheral device for detecting the battery condition during the time when the battery is not electrically connected to the electric tool.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A battery for an electric tool, the battery comprising:
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at least one battery cell; a microcomputer configured to perform (i) a control according to a first routine during use of the battery and (ii) a control according to a second routine during non-use of the battery; and a peripheral circuit configured to detect a battery condition of the at least one battery cell and communicating with the microcomputer, wherein the first routine provides an active mode that activates the peripheral circuit, so that a charge control or a discharge control of the at least one battery cell can be performed, the second routine (a) provides a sleep mode that inactivates the peripheral circuit and (b) causes a change from the sleep mode to the active mode after a predetermined period of time, so that the microcomputer can obtain data of the battery condition from the peripheral circuit when in the active mode of the second routine, and when the microcomputer is performing the second routine, the microcomputer counts up a first counter each time that the sleep mode is changed to the active mode after the predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A battery for an electric tool, the battery comprising:
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at least one battery cell; a peripheral device operable to detect a battery condition of the at least one battery cell; and a microcomputer communicating with the peripheral device, so that the peripheral device periodically detects the battery condition under the control of the microcomputer during the time when the battery is in a non-use state, wherein the microcomputer performs (i) a control according to a first routine during use of the battery and (ii) a control according to a second routine during non-use of the battery, the peripheral device comprises a peripheral circuit, the first routine provides an active mode that activates the peripheral circuit, so that a charge control or a discharge control of the at least one battery cell can be performed, the second routine (a) provides a sleep mode that inactivates the peripheral circuit and (b) causes periodical change from the sleep mode to the active mode, so that the microcomputer can obtain data of the battery condition from the peripheral circuit when in the active mode of the second routine, the non-use state is a state where an electric power of the at least one battery cell is not supplied to the electric tool and the at least one battery cell is not electrically connected to a battery charger, and when the microcomputer is performing the second routine, the microcomputer counts up the first counter each time when the sleep mode is changed to the active mode.
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14. A battery for an electric tool, the battery comprising:
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at least one battery cell; a peripheral device operable to detect a battery condition of the at least one battery cell; and a microcomputer communicating with the peripheral device, so that the peripheral device periodically detects the battery condition under the control of the microcomputer during the time when the battery is in a non-use state, wherein the peripheral device comprises a detection device, the microcomputer is configured to supply the electric power to the detection device when the battery is electrically connected to the electric tool or a battery charger, the microcomputer is configured to periodically supply the electric power of the at least one battery cell to the detection device when the battery is not connected to either the electric tool or the battery charger, the non-use state is a state where an electric power of the at least one battery cell is not supplied to the electric tool and the at least one battery cell is not electrically connected to a battery charger, and the microcomputer is configured to count up a counter to count a time (i) during connection of the battery to the electric tool or the battery charger and (ii) during non-connection of the battery to either the electric tool or the battery charger. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification