CHARGING DEVICE FOR BATTERY

• US 20070252558A1
• Filed: 04/26/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi KOKI Company Limited (Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi KOKI Company Limited (Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Shinji, Kawano, Yoshikazu, Hanawa, Hiroyuki, Takano, Nobuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,956,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/132
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence

Abstract

Abnormal detecting means 112 for detecting that an electrically conductive foreign substance has migrated into a charging device 1 is provided, and whether or the foreign substance has migrated is judged from the detection result of the abnormal detecting means 112.

Claims

1. A charging device for charging a battery pack having one or more cells, comprising:

abnormal detecting means for detecting that an electrically conductive foreign substance has either migrated into the charging device or contacted with the connection terminals of the charging device and the battery pack; and

control means responding to a detection signal of said abnormal detecting means for controlling the charge of said battery pack.

2. A charging device as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

connection detecting means for detecting the connection of the battery pack, wherein said control means leaves the charge unstarted, when said control means judges the antecedence to the connection of the battery pack on the basis of output of said connection detecting means and when said control means judges the migration of foreign substance on the basis of said abnormal detecting means.

3. A charging device as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

connection detecting means for detecting the connection of the battery pack, wherein said control means stops the charge, when said control means judges that migration of a foreign substance on the basis of the output of said connection detecting means, after said control means judges the connection of the battery pack on the basis of the output of said connection detecting means and starts the charge.

4. A charging device as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

informing means for informing an abnormal state in case said control means judges the migration of the foreign substance on the basis of said abnormal detecting means.

5. A charging device as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

a battery pack connecting portion having a terminal group to be connected with a battery pack terminal group, wherein said abnormal detecting means is disposed in proximity of said battery pack connecting portion.

6. A charging device as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

an intake port for taking the air; and

a vent port for feeding said air to the battery pack, wherein said abnormal detecting means is disposed in proximity of at least one of said intake port and said vent port.

7. A charging device for charging battery packs of different kinds, comprising:

first battery temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the first battery pack, and second battery temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the second battery pack, characterized by comprising control means for judging an abnormal state on the basis of the signals coming from said first and second battery temperature detecting means and for controlling the charge on the basis of said signals.

8. A charging device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said control means judges, on the basis of the signal from said first battery temperature detecting means, that said first battery pack is connected, and

wherein said control means judges on the basis of the signal from said second battery temperature detecting means that the second battery pack is connected, and

wherein said control means judges the abnormal state on the basis of the signals of said first and second battery temperature detecting means.

9. A charging device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said first and second battery temperature detecting means functions to detect the connection of the battery pack, and wherein

said control means leaves the charge unstarted, if said control means judges the antecedence to the connection of the battery pack on the basis of the outputs of said first and second battery temperature detecting means, and if the abnormal detecting means judges the abnormal state.

10. A charging device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said control means stops the charge, in case said control means judges the abnormal state on the basis of said abnormal detecting means, after said control means judges the connection of the battery pack on the basis of the output of said battery temperature detecting means and starts the charge.

11. A charging device as set forth in claim 7, comprising:

informing means for informing the abnormal state when said control means judges the abnormal state on the basis of said abnormal detecting means.

12. A charging device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said control means judges the abnormal state, when the signals from said first and second battery temperature detecting means vary.