Battery pack and charger platform for power tool systems including battery pack identification scheme

• US 9,966,774 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2016
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• 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: Wohltmann, Brian K., Cunanan, Regina G. C., Cruz, Michael, Howard, Geoffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US15/262,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20160380456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 320107, 257E21705, 361761, 361764
• 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: G01R 31/3646 for indicating electrical conditions or variables, e.g. visual or audible indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0655 the devices being arranged next to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• 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 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00032 characterised by data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00038 using passive battery identification means, e.g. resistors or capacitors identification by mechanical connections H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• 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 7/00306 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 7/0044 : specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• 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: H02J 7/04 : Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/29 : using pulse modulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery pack and charger platform including a voltage coupling circuit comprising an input that receives an input voltage and an output that sends an output voltage, a voltage monitoring circuit having an input coupled to the voltage coupling circuit output and an output, and a power source having an input coupled to the voltage monitoring circuit output, the power source input receives an input voltage representative of a charge instruction.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a battery charger, comprising:

providing a printed circuit board comprising a first section and a second section, the first section and the second section coupled by a plurality of reduced material sections;

attaching a plurality of metal wires to the printed circuit board extending from the first section to the second section; and

separating the first section from the second section by breaking the reduced material sections.

2. The method of manufacturing a battery charger, as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

providing a first plurality of through holes in the first section;

providing a second plurality of through holes in the second section;

wherein the plurality of metal wires extend from the first plurality of through holes to the second plurality of through holes.

3. The method of manufacturing a battery charger, as recited in claim 2, wherein the metal wires are attached to the printed circuit board by soldering the metal wires to the first plurality of through holes and the second plurality of through holes.

4. The method of manufacturing a battery charger, as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

providing a terminal block, wherein the terminal block comprises a housing and a plurality of contacts;

providing a third plurality of through holes in the second section, wherein each through hole of the third plurality of through holes is electrically coupled to the a corresponding through hole of the second plurality of through holes; and

attaching the terminal block to the second section such that a portion of each of the plurality of contacts is inserted into a through hole of the third plurality of through holes.

5. The method of manufacturing a battery charger, as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

soldering (1) the metal wires to the first plurality of through holes, (2) the metal wires to the second plurality of through holes and (3) the plurality of contacts to the third plurality of through holes.

6. A method of manufacturing a battery charger, comprising:

providing a printed circuit board comprising a first section and a second section;

attaching a plurality of metal wires to the printed circuit board extending from the first section to the second section; and

separating the first section from the second section by breaking a reduced materials section between the first section and the second section.

7. The method of manufacturing a battery charger, as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

providing a first plurality of through holes in the first section;

providing a second plurality of through holes in the second section;

wherein the plurality of metal wires extend from the first plurality of through holes to the second plurality of through holes.

8. The method of manufacturing a battery charger, as recited in claim 7, wherein the metal wires are attached to the printed circuit board by soldering the metal wires to the first plurality of through holes and the second plurality of through holes.

9. The method of manufacturing a battery charger, as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

providing a terminal block, wherein the terminal block comprises a housing and a plurality of contacts;

providing a third plurality of through holes in the second section, wherein each through hole of the third plurality of through holes is electrically coupled to the a corresponding through hole of the second plurality of through holes; and

attaching the terminal block to the second section such that a portion of each of the plurality of contacts is inserted into a through hole of the third plurality of through holes.

10. The method of manufacturing a battery charger, as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

soldering (1) the metal wires to the first plurality of through holes, (2) the metal wires to the second plurality of through holes and (3) the plurality of contacts to the third plurality of through holes.