Battery connection method and apparatus

• US 10,027,146 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2015
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Traxxas LP (Traxxas)
• Original Assignee: Traxxas LP (Traxxas)
• Inventors: Christensen, Casey Christen Jens, Schmitz, Scott Rollin Michael, Allmendinger, Otto Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): PACHECO, ALEXIS BOATENG
• Application Number:
  US14/730,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20150349569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 320106, 320108, 320109, 320110, 320134, 320120, 320136, 320135, 320107
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• 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: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An improved electrical connector for electrically connecting a rechargeable battery with an electrically powered device as well as methods of operation for use of an electrically powered device comprising the improved connector are provided. The connector may comprise one or more features including: integration of both first terminals for transmitting charging or discharging signals to and from the battery as well as one or more signal terminals for transmitting one or more balancing signals to and from the battery; implementation of communication means allowing for one or more signals comprising battery specific information to be received by the electrically powered device upon making an electrical connection with the battery; and, one or more safety features for preventing unsupported electrical connections between incompatible connector configurations. An electrically powered implemented with the improved electrical connector may detect one or more characteristics of a battery upon electrically connecting with the battery and may reconfigure one or more operational settings of the electrically powered device in response to the detected characteristics to safely charge or discharge the battery.

Claims

1. A battery electrical connector of a battery, comprising:

two battery terminals electrically coupled to the battery via battery power wires;

a radio frequency tag containing a parameter value of the battery and configured to communicate with a radio frequency reader having a limited read range defined within a device connector port;

a battery connector housing insertable into the device connector port and located remote from the battery via the battery power wires, comprising;

a first receptacle configured to secure the battery terminals, and further comprising;

a first receptacle opening for receiving corresponding device terminals of the device connector port; and

a second receptacle separate from the first receptacle and configured for securing the radio frequency tag;

wherein the radio frequency tag is configured to communicate with the radio frequency reader when the radio frequency tag is inserted into the device connector port enabling the battery terminals to electrically couple with the corresponding device terminals.

2. The battery electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency tag comprises:

a memory for storing the parameter value of the battery; and

an antenna for transmitting a signal containing the parameter value of the battery between the radio frequency reader and the radio frequency tag.

3. The battery electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency tag transmits a signal containing the parameter value of the battery in response to receiving an interrogator signal transmitted by the radio frequency reader.

4. The battery electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency tag is configured for passive operation.

5. A battery assembly, comprising:

a battery cell provided in a battery;

a battery connector provided remote from the battery and comprising;

a battery connector housing comprising;

a plug portion insertable within a connector port of an electrically powered device and comprising;

a housing receptacle having a housing receptacle opening for receiving corresponding device terminals secured within the connector port;

two battery terminals secured within the housing receptacle and configured to electrically connect with the corresponding device terminals when the corresponding device terminals are received within the housing receptacle when the plug portion is inserted into the connector port;

an ID tag for storing a parameter value of the battery, the ID tag disposed within the plug portion of the battery connector housing;

wherein the ID tag is readable by an ID tag reader of the electrically powered device only within a limited range established within the connector port.

6. The battery of claim 5, wherein the plug portion further comprises a separate enclosing the ID tag.

7. The battery of claim 5, herein the read range of the ID tag reader contains the ID tag when the device terminal is electrically coupled to the battery terminal.

22. The battery assembly of claim 5, wherein the battery connector is electrically coupled to the battery via a battery wire.

8. A device electrical connector of an electrically powered device, comprising:

a device connector housing comprising a socket configured to receive a battery electrical connector, wherein the socket comprises;

two device terminals provided in the socket and configured to electrically connect to corresponding battery terminals provided in the battery electrical connector;

an ID tag reader configured to read stored information from an ID tag disposed within the battery electrical connector when the ID tag is within a limited read range of the ID tag reader;

wherein the limited read range of the ID tag reader comprises an area defined within the socket and the ID tag is in this limited range when the battery electrical connector is inserted into the socket, electrically coupling the corresponding device terminals and the battery terminals.

9. The device electrical connector of claim 8, wherein the ID tag reader is disposed within the device connector housing proximal to the socket.

10. The device electrical connector of claim 8, wherein the ID tag reader reads response signal from the ID tag indicating a parameter value of the battery stored within the ID.

11. The device electrical connector of claim 10, wherein the parameter value indicates a chemistry of the battery.

12. The device electrical connector of claim 10, wherein the parameter value indicates a capacity of the battery.

13. The device electrical connector of claim 8, wherein the ID tag reader is configured to transmit an interrogator signal prompting transmission of a response signal of the ID tag indicating a parameter value of a battery upon establishing the electrical coupling between the device terminal and the battery terminal.

14. An electrically powered device, comprising:

a device electrical connector, comprising;

a connector port configured to receive a plug portion of a battery connector, the connector port comprising;

two device terminals, the device terminals configured to electrically couple with corresponding battery terminals of the plug portion when the plug portion is inserted into the connector port; and

an ID tag reader configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal within a limited read range to read stored information from an ID tag of the battery connector;

wherein the read range of the ID tag reader comprises an area defined by the connector port; and

wherein the ID tag is within the read range of the ID tag reader when the plug portion is inserted into the connector port.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the connector port is contained within a connector port housing provided remotely from a remaining portion of the electrically powered device.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the device electrical connector is electrically coupled to an electronic speed controller (ESC).

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the device electrical connector is a component of a battery charger.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the stored information is a parameter value of a battery coupled with the battery connector.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the parameter value indicates a chemistry of the battery.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the parameter value indicates a capacity of the battery.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the ID tag reader reads the parameter value by transmitting an interrogator signal to prompt transmission of the parameter values when the plug portion is inserted into the connector port.