Battery pack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10027140-B2
Application number	US-201715424941-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2017
Priority date	Apr 7, 2010
Publication date	Jul 17, 2018
Grant date	Jul 17, 2018

Abstract

A method is provided for identifying a battery pack that is operably coupled to a battery charger. The method comprises: measuring voltage at a plurality of designated terminals of a first battery pack while the battery pack is coupled to the battery charger; determining how many of the designated terminals are connected to a reference voltage, such as battery positive; and identifying an attribute of the battery pack based on how many of the designated terminals are connected to the reference voltage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A battery pack configured to operably couple via a plurality of electrical terminals to a battery charger, the plurality of electrical terminals including a positive voltage terminal and a negative voltage terminal, the battery pack comprising:
a plurality of designated terminals configured to operably couple to the battery charger, such that the plurality of designated terminals exclude the positive voltage terminal and the negative voltage terminal and wherein a number of the designated terminals are connected to a reference voltage and the number of designated terminals connected to the reference voltage determines an attribute of the battery pack.

2. The battery pack, as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of battery cells connected in series between the positive voltage terminal and the negative voltage terminal such that at least one of the designated terminals is connected to a node disposed between two of the plurality of battery cells.

3. The battery pack, as recited in claim 1 , wherein a given terminal of the designated terminals has a specific location and wherein the specific location of the given terminal amongst the designated terminals determines an attribute of the battery pack.

4. The battery pack, as recited in claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of battery cells connected in series between the positive voltage terminal and the negative voltage terminal and wherein the given terminal is coupled to a node disposed between a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells and a remainder of the battery cells of the plurality of battery cells and wherein the first battery cell is coupled between the node and the negative battery terminal.

5. The battery pack, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the positive voltage terminal provides the reference voltage.

6. The battery pack, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the attribute is a nominal voltage rating of the battery pack.

7. The battery pack, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the attribute is a configuration of a plurality of battery cells in the battery pack.

8. A battery pack configured to operably couple to a battery charger, the battery pack having a positive voltage terminal and a negative voltage terminal, the battery pack comprising:
a plurality of designated terminals configured to operably couple to the battery charger, such that the plurality of designated terminals exclude the positive voltage terminal and the negative voltage terminal and wherein a given terminal of the designated terminals has a specific location and wherein the specific location of the given terminal amongst the designated terminals determines an attribute of the battery pack.

9. The battery pack, as recited in claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of battery cells and wherein the given terminal is coupled to a node disposed between a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells and a remainder of the battery cells of the plurality of battery cells and wherein the first battery cell is coupled between the node and the negative battery terminal.

10. The battery pack, as recited in claim 8 , wherein a number of the designated terminals are connected to a reference voltage and the number of designated terminals connected to the reference voltage determines an attribute of the battery pack.

11. The battery pack, as recited in claim 10 , wherein the positive voltage terminal provides the reference voltage.

12. The battery pack, as recited in claim 8 , wherein the attribute is a nominal voltage rating of the battery pack.

13. The battery pack, as recited in claim 8 , wherein the attribute is a configuration of a plurality of battery cells in the battery pack.

14. The battery pack, as recited in claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of battery cells and wherein the given terminal is coupled to a positive node of a most negative battery cell of the plurality of battery cells.

Assignees

• Black & Decker Inc

Inventors

• Cunanan Regina G C
• Delose Frank J
• Gorti Bhanuprasad V
• Howard Geoffrey S
• Iqbal Aziz
• Velderman Matthew J
• White Daniel J

Classifications

• H02J7/585

  Sequential battery discharge in systems with a plurality of batteries · CPC title

• H02J7/63

  against overdischarge · CPC title

• H02J7/60

  including safety or protection arrangements · CPC title

• H02J7/855

  with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery · CPC title

• H02J7/751

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title