Battery charger
First Claim
1. A battery charger comprising:
- a housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet;
a charging circuit positioned within the housing and operable to output a charging current to charge a battery couplable to the battery charger, the charging circuit including a charger terminal electrically connectable to a battery terminal of the battery, the charging circuit further including a microcontroller;
a tubular heat sink operable to dissipate heat in the housing, the heat sink defining a flow path; and
a fan operable to cause air flow from the air inlet to the air outlet, along the heat sink and through the flow path,wherein the charging circuit is electrically connectable to a power source,wherein the battery charger further includes a first switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to the power source when the battery engages the battery charger, and a second switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to the battery terminal after the charger terminal is electrically connected to the battery terminal,wherein the first switch is engageable with the battery to operate the first switch, and the second switch is engageable with the battery to operate the second switch,wherein the battery charger further includes a third switch controlled by the microcontroller to control initiation of charging, andwherein the third switch is activated by the microcontroller after the first switch and the second switch are operated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery charger and a method of operating a battery charger. The charger may include a housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet; a charging circuit operable to output a charging current to charge a battery couplable to the battery charger; a tubular heat sink; and a fan operable to cause air flow from the air inlet to the air outlet and along the heat sink. The charger may include a first switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to a power source when the battery engages the charger; and a second switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to a battery terminal after the charger terminal is electrically connected to the battery terminal. The charging current or a fan speed may be adjusted based on at least one of the temperature of the charger or a temperature of the battery.
127 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A battery charger comprising:
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a housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet; a charging circuit positioned within the housing and operable to output a charging current to charge a battery couplable to the battery charger, the charging circuit including a charger terminal electrically connectable to a battery terminal of the battery, the charging circuit further including a microcontroller; a tubular heat sink operable to dissipate heat in the housing, the heat sink defining a flow path; and a fan operable to cause air flow from the air inlet to the air outlet, along the heat sink and through the flow path, wherein the charging circuit is electrically connectable to a power source, wherein the battery charger further includes a first switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to the power source when the battery engages the battery charger, and a second switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to the battery terminal after the charger terminal is electrically connected to the battery terminal, wherein the first switch is engageable with the battery to operate the first switch, and the second switch is engageable with the battery to operate the second switch, wherein the battery charger further includes a third switch controlled by the microcontroller to control initiation of charging, and wherein the third switch is activated by the microcontroller after the first switch and the second switch are operated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of operating a battery charger, the battery charger including a housing, and a charging circuit positioned within the housing, the charging circuit electrically connectable to a power source and operable to output a charging current to charge a battery couplable to the battery charger, the circuit including a charger terminal electrically connectable to a battery terminal, the method comprising:
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operating a first switch to electrically connect the charging circuit to the power source, wherein operating the first switch includes engaging the battery with the first switch to operate the first switch; after the charger terminal is electrically connected to the battery terminal, operating a second switch to electrically connect the charging circuit to the battery terminal, wherein operating the second switch includes engaging the battery with the second switch to operate the second switch; and after the first switch and the second switch are operated, activating a third switch controlled by a microcontroller of the charging circuit to initiate charging. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification