Charging apparatus

Abstract

A charging apparatus includes: a connecting unit; a charging unit; a temperature detecting unit; and an operation inhibiting unit. The connecting unit is electrically connected to a power supply portion installed inside a vehicle. The charging unit supplies at least a part of electric power supplied from the power supply portion via the connecting unit to a battery thereby to charge the battery. The operation inhibiting unit inhibits operation of a battery circuit provided in the battery when an ambient temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit has reached a preassigned designated temperature.

1 . A charging apparatus, comprising:
 a connecting unit that is electrically connected to a power supply portion;   a charging unit that supplies at least a part of electric power supplied from   the power supply portion via the connecting unit to a battery thereby to charge the battery;   a temperature detecting unit that detects an ambient temperature; and   an operation inhibiting unit that inhibits operation of a battery circuit as an electronic circuit provided in the battery when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit has reached a preassigned designated temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The charging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the designated temperature is set as a maximum temperature which is allowable for the battery circuit to operate.   
     
     
         3 . The charging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the designated temperature is set as a temperature lower than a maximum temperature which is allowable for the battery circuit to operate.   
     
     
         4 . The charging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the connecting unit is configured to be electrically connected to a cigarette lighter socket which is provided inside a vehicle in order to supply electric power to a cigarette lighter for lighting a cigarette.   
     
     
         5 . The charging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a power supply unit that supplies electric power to the battery circuit, wherein   the operation inhibiting unit inhibits the operation of the battery circuit by interrupting power supply from the power supply unit to the battery circuit.   
     
     
         6 . The charging apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the battery is provided with at least one power supply terminal for electrically connecting the battery to the power supply unit and supplying electric power supplied from the power supply unit to the battery circuit, and   the operation inhibiting unit inhibits the operation of the battery circuit by interrupting electrical connection between the power supply unit and the at least one power supply terminal.   
     
     
         7 . The charging apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising
 an electric signal communicating unit that communicates electric signals with the battery circuit, wherein   the battery is provided with at least one connecting terminal for electrically connecting the electric signal communicating unit and the battery circuit, and   the operation inhibiting unit sets a potential of the at least one connecting terminal to a protective potential by which the battery circuit can be electrically protected, when inhibiting the operation of the battery circuit.   
     
     
         8 . The charging apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the operation inhibiting unit includes
 an inhibition signal outputting unit that outputs an inhibition signal that inhibits the operation of the battery circuit when inhibiting the operation of the battery circuit; 
 an interrupting unit that, when the inhibition signal is outputted from the inhibition signal outputting unit, interrupts electrical connection between the power supply unit and the at least one power supply terminal; and 
 a protective potential setting unit that, when the electrical connection between the power supply unit and the at least one power supply terminal is interrupted by the interrupting unit, sets a potential of the at least one connecting terminal to the protective potential. 
   
     
     
         9 . The charging apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the protective potential is a reference potential of the battery circuit.   
     
     
         10 . The charging apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the protective potential is a reference potential of the battery circuit.   
     
     
         11 . The charging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a battery attaching portion that detachably attaches the battery to the charging apparatus.   
     
     
         12 . The charging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the battery is used in an electric power tool.   
     
     
         13 . The charging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a charging stopping unit that stops charging the battery by the charging unit when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit has reached the designated temperature; and   a charging restarting unit that restarts charging the battery by the charging unit when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit has reached a threshold temperature lower than the designated temperature by a predetermined preset hysteresis temperature after the charging stopping unit stops charging the battery.   
     
     
         14 . The charging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the charging unit supplies the at least a part of electric power to the battery via a first connecting terminal;   the charging apparatus further comprising a power supply unit that supplies electric power to the battery circuit via a second connecting terminal that is distinct from the first connecting terminal.