Power tool battery pack wireless charger

• US 9,136,729 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2013
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ashinghurst, Jeremy D., Bailey, Rouse Roby Jr., Busschaert, Jason F., Eshleman, Scott J., Murthy, Sankarshan, Potter, Christine H., Puzio, Daniel, Schell, Craig A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Mohammed
• Application Number:
  US13/769,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20130335014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/111, 320/113, 320/115
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A power tool system includes a power tool, a power tool battery pack and a battery pack charger. The power tool battery pack is separable from and attachable to the power tool, and electrically connectable to the power tool electrical terminals when attached to the power tool. The power tool battery pack has at least one battery cell, a receiver coil, and a control circuit for controlling the amount of power that is provided to the at least one battery cell. The battery pack charger has at least one transmitter coil for generating a magnetic field which induces a voltage in the receiver coil, and a control circuit for controlling the amount of power that is provided to the transmitter coil.

Claims

1. A wireless charger for charging multiple power tool battery packs, comprising:

a housing with a deck for supporting a first power tool battery pack, and a wall for directing movement of the first power tool battery pack in a sliding motion relative to the deck;

a first wireless charging circuit disposed within the housing, the first wireless charging circuit having a first transmitter coil disposed below the deck, a first control circuit for controlling the amount of power that is provided to the first transmitter coil, and a first communication circuit connected to the first control circuit, the first communication circuit that receives information from the first power tool battery pack; and

a second wireless charging circuit disposed within the housing, the second wireless charging circuit having a second transmitter coil disposed below the deck;

a second control circuit for controlling the amount of power that is provided to the second transmitter coil, and a second communication circuit connected to the second control circuit, the second communication circuit that receives information from a second power tool battery pack disposed on the deck.

2. The wireless charger of claim 1, wherein the first power tool can be moved along the deck to couple with the second wireless charging circuit for charging thereof.

3. The wireless charger of claim 1, further comprising a non-wireless charger circuit electrically connectable to a power tool battery pack.

4. The wireless charger of claim 1, further comprising an audio circuit for amplifying an audio signal generated by a radio circuit.

5. The wireless charger of claim 1, further comprising at least one indicator light disposed on the deck for indicating the charging status of at least one of the first and second power tool battery packs.