US2016141902A1PendingUtilityA1

Battery Pack Chargers and Charging Methods

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Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INCPriority: Jun 20, 2007Filed: Jan 22, 2016Published: May 19, 2016
Est. expiryJun 20, 2027(~1 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Nathan J. CruiseRouse R. Bailey, Jr.Snehal S. ChoksiRegina C. CunananGeoffrey S. HowardAlexis W. JohnsonAndrew E. Seman, Jr.Danh T. TrinhDaniel J. WhiteMichelle L. Miller
H02J 7/751H02J 7/445H02J 7/443H02J 7/485H01M 2220/30H01M 10/46H02J 7/00H01M 10/0525H01M 10/30H01M 10/441H02J 7/007H02J 7/0052H02J 7/0045H02J 7/0021Y02E60/10
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Claims

Abstract

A method of charging a battery pack is provided. The method includes: providing a charger comprising a battery interface, a set of terminals, and a power supply circuit for providing a charging current scheme; providing a set of battery packs, each battery of the set of battery packs comprising a charger interface having a physical configuration to mate with the battery interface and a set of terminals having a physical configuration to mate with the set of charger terminals; and providing a charging scheme defined by a relationship between the set of battery terminals and the set of charger terminals.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combination of a battery charger and a set of battery packs, comprising:
 a charger comprising a battery interface, a set of terminals, and a power supply circuit for providing a charging current scheme;   a set of battery packs, each battery of the set of battery packs comprising a charger interface having a physical configuration to mate with the battery interface and a set of terminals having a physical configuration to mate with the set of charger terminals;   wherein the power supply circuit provided charging scheme is defined by a relationship between the set of battery terminals and the set of charger terminals.   
     
     
         2 . The combination, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the charging scheme is defined by which of the battery terminals electrically mate with which of the charger terminals when the battery pack is physically mated with the charger. 
     
     
         3 . The combination, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the set of charger terminals has a predefined configuration and each set of battery terminals has a predetermined configuration and the charging scheme is defined by a number of battery terminals that electrically mate with the charger terminals. 
     
     
         4 . The combination, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the power supply circuit provides a first charging scheme when a first charging path is established between the battery charger and a first battery pack of the set of battery packs and a second charging scheme when a second charging path is established between the battery charger and a second battery pack of the set of battery packs. 
     
     
         5 . The combination, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the power supply circuit provides a first charging scheme for a first configuration of the set of battery terminals and a second charging scheme for a second configuration of the set of battery terminals. 
     
     
         6 . The combination, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the set of charger terminals comprises a first subset of charger terminals and a second subset of charger terminals and wherein the power supply circuit provides a first charging scheme when a first set of battery terminals electrically mates with the first subset of charger terminals and a second charging scheme when a second set of battery terminals electrically mates with the second subset of charger terminals. 
     
     
         7 . The combination, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a first battery pack has a first chemistry and a first set of battery terminals having a first configuration and a second battery pack has a second chemistry and a second set of battery terminals having a second configuration and wherein the first set of battery terminals electrically mates with a first subset of charger terminals when the first battery pack is physically mated to the charger and the second set of battery terminals electrically mates with a second subset of charger terminals when the second battery pack is physically mated to the charger. 
     
     
         8 . The combination, as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the power supply circuit provides a charging scheme defined by which subset of charger terminals electrically mates with the set of battery terminals. 
     
     
         9 . A method of charging a battery pack, comprising the steps of:
 providing a charger comprising a battery interface, a set of terminals, and a power supply circuit for providing a charging current scheme;   providing a set of battery packs, each battery of the set of battery packs comprising a charger interface having a physical configuration to mate with the battery interface and a set of terminals having a physical configuration to mate with the set of charger terminals; and   providing a charging scheme defined by a relationship between the set of battery terminals and the set of charger terminals.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the charging scheme is defined by which of the battery terminals electrically mate with which of the charger terminals when the battery pack is physically mated with the charger. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the set of charger terminals has a predefined configuration and each set of battery terminals has a predetermined configuration and the charging scheme is defined by a number of battery terminals that electrically mate with the charger terminals. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the power supply circuit provides a first charging scheme when a first charging path is established between the battery charger and a first battery pack of the set of battery packs and a second charging scheme when a second charging path is established between the battery charger and a second battery pack of the set of battery packs. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the power supply circuit provides a first charging scheme for a first configuration of the set of battery terminals and a second charging scheme for a second configuration of the set of battery terminals. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the set of charger terminals comprises a first subset of charger terminals and a second subset of charger terminals and wherein the power supply circuit provides a first charging scheme when a first set of battery terminals electrically mates with the first subset of charger terminals and a second charging scheme when a second set of battery terminals electrically mates with the second subset of charger terminals. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a first battery pack has a first chemistry and a first set of battery terminals having a first configuration and a second battery pack has a second chemistry and a second set of battery terminals having a second configuration and wherein the first set of battery terminals electrically mates with a first subset of charger terminals when the first battery pack is physically mated to the charger and the second set of battery terminals electrically mates with a second subset of charger terminals when the second battery pack is physically mated to the charger. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the power supply circuit provides a charging scheme defined by which subset of charger terminals electrically mates with the set of battery terminals.

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