Battery pack and battery charger system

A combination comprising:

• a multi-voltage battery pack for use with tools of different operating voltages;
• a low voltage power tool comprising a first battery back interface and configured to operate at a first operating voltage;
• a high voltage power tool comprising a second battery pack interface and configured to operate at a second operating voltage, wherein the second operating voltage is higher than the first operating voltage;
• a battery pack charger comprising a third battery pack interface that is shaped and configured to mechanically and electrically couple with the electrical device interface of the multi-voltage battery pack for charging the multi-voltage battery pack,
• wherein the multi-voltage battery pack comprises:
• a housing comprising a plurality of slots therein,
• a first string of battery cells arranged in electrical series and disposed inside the housing, the first string having a first positive voltage terminal and a first negative voltage terminal,
• a second string of battery cells arranged in electrical series and disposed inside the housing, the second string having a second positive voltage terminal and a second negative voltage terminal, and
• an electrical device interface shaped and configured to interchangeably (1) mechanically and electrically couple with the first battery pack interface of the low voltage power tool that is configured to operate at the first operating voltage, and (2) mechanically and electrically couple with the second battery pack interface of the high voltage power tool that is configured to operate at the second operating voltage,
• wherein, when the electrical device interface of the multi-voltage battery pack is coupled with the first battery pack interface of the low voltage power tool, the first and second positive voltage terminals are electrically connected to each other and the first and second negative voltage terminals are electrically connected to each other such that the first and second strings are electrically connected to each other in a parallel configuration so as to provide the first operating voltage to the low voltage power tool,
• wherein, when the electrical device interface of the multi-voltage battery pack is coupled with the second battery pack interface of the high voltage power tool, the first positive voltage terminal is electrically connected to the second negative voltage terminal such that the first and second strings are electrically connected to each other in a series configuration so as to provide the second operating voltage to the high voltage power tool,
• wherein the electrical device interface of the multi-voltage battery pack comprises a plurality of electrical terminals that are shaped and configured to physically and electrically contact corresponding electrical terminals of the first battery pack interface of the low voltage power tool or the second battery pack interface of the high voltage power tool,
• wherein the plurality of electrical terminals of the electrical device interface of the multi-voltage battery pack comprise a first pair of battery power terminals, a second pair of battery power terminals, a signal terminal, and an additional terminal, the first pair of battery power terminals comprising a first positive power terminal electrically connected with the positive voltage terminal of the first string of battery cells and a first negative power terminal electrically connected with the negative voltage terminal of the first string of battery cells, the second pair of battery power terminals comprise a second positive power terminal electrically connected with the positive voltage terminals of the second string of battery cells and a second negative power terminal electrically connected with the negative voltage terminal of the second string of battery cells, the second pair of battery power terminals being accessible via a respective pair of the slots in the housing, and the additional terminal being electrically coupled with a monitor circuit in the housing,
• wherein the housing has first and second opposing lateral sides, the first positive power terminal of the first pair of battery power terminals located closer to the first lateral side than the second lateral side, and the first negative terminal of the first pair of battery power terminals located closer to the second lateral side than the first lateral side;
• wherein the additional terminal and the signal terminal are located further away from the first lateral side than the first positive power terminal, and further away from the second lateral side than the first negative power terminal, and
• wherein the additional terminal, the signal terminal and the first pair of battery power terminals are accessible via the slots in the housing, and
• wherein the second battery pack interface of the high voltage tool comprises a plurality of tool terminals that are shaped and configured to physically and electrically couple with corresponding ones of the electrical terminals of the electrical device interface of the battery pack, wherein the plurality of tool terminals of the high voltage tool comprises:
• a first tool power terminal, a second tool power terminal, a third tool power terminal, a fourth tool power terminal, and a tool signal terminal,
• wherein the first tool power terminal is configured to electrically couple with a first positive power terminal of the first pair of battery power terminals,
• wherein the second tool power terminal is configured to electrically couple with the first negative power terminal of the first pair of battery power terminals,
• wherein the third tool power terminal is configured to electrically couple with the second positive power terminal of the second pair of battery power terminals;
• wherein the fourth tool power terminal is configured to electrically couple with a second negative power terminal of the second pair of battery power terminals,
• wherein the second tool power terminal and the third tool power terminal are electrically coupled in order to create the series configuration,
• wherein the tool signal terminal is configured to receive battery information when electrically coupled with the signal terminal of the battery pack, the tool signal terminal being located between the first tool power terminal and the fourth tool power terminal, and
• wherein the additional terminal is configured to mechanically and electrically couple with a charger terminal when the battery pack is coupled to the charger, but devoid of a connection with either of the high voltage power tool or the low voltage power tool when the battery pack is coupled thereto.

A combination comprising:

• a multi-voltage battery pack for use with tools of different operating voltages, and
• a battery pack charger for charging the multi-voltage battery pack, such that the combination includes the multi-voltage battery pack and the charger;
• the multi-voltage battery pack comprising:
• a housing,
• a first string of battery cells arranged in electrical series and disposed inside the housing, the first string having a first positive voltage terminal and a first negative voltage terminal,
• a second string of battery cells arranged in electrical series and disposed inside the housing, the second string having a second positive voltage terminal and a second negative voltage terminal, and
• an electrical device interface shaped and configured to interchangeably (1) mechanically and electrically couple with a first battery pack interface of a first power tool that is configured to operate at a first operating voltage, and (2) mechanically and electrically couple with a second battery pack interface of a second power tool that is configured to operate at a second operating voltage,
• wherein the second operating voltage is higher than the first operating voltage,
• wherein, when the electrical device interface of the multi-voltage battery pack is coupled with the first battery pack interface of the first power tool, the first and second positive voltage terminals are electrically connected to each other and the first and second negative voltage terminals are electrically connected to each other such that the first and second strings are electrically connected to each other in a parallel configuration so as to provide the first operating voltage to the first power tool,
• wherein, when the electrical device interface of the multi-voltage battery pack is coupled with the second battery pack interface of the second power tool, the first positive voltage terminal is electrically connected to the second negative voltage terminal such that the first and second strings are electrically connected to each other in a series configuration so as to provide the second operating voltage to the second power tool, and
• wherein:
• the battery cells of the first string comprises at least five battery cells connected in series and grouped together at a first portion within the housing such that at least two cells of the first string are arranged in a first row and at least two cells of the first string are arranged in a second row vertically below the first row;
• the battery cells of the second string comprise at least five battery cells connected in series and grouped together at a second portion within the housing which is adjacent to the first portion, wherein at least two cells of the second string are arranged in a first row and at least two cells of the second string are arranged in a second row vertically below the first row;
• the battery cells of the first string and battery cells of the second string each define respective longitudinal axes that are parallel to each other;
• the multi-voltage battery pack has first and second opposing lateral sides;
• each of the battery cells of the first and second strings has positive and negative voltage terminals;
• the positive voltage terminals of at least two of the at least five battery cells of the first string are disposed on the first lateral side of the battery pack;
• the positive voltage terminals of at least two of the at least five battery cells of the second string are disposed on the first lateral side of the battery pack;
• the negative voltage terminals of at least two of the at least five battery cells of the first string are disposed on the first lateral side of the battery pack;
• and
• the negative voltage terminals of at least two of the at least five battery cells of the second string are disposed on the first lateral side of the battery pack;
• wherein the electrical device interface of the multi-voltage battery pack comprises a plurality of electrical terminals that are shaped and configured to physically and electrically contact corresponding electrical terminals of the first battery pack interface of the first power tool or corresponding electrical terminals of the second battery pack interface of the second power tool;
• and
• wherein the plurality of electrical terminals of the electrical device interface of the multi-voltage battery pack comprise a first pair of battery power terminals, a second pair of battery power terminals, a signal terminal, and an additional terminal, the additional terminal being electrically coupled with a monitor circuit in the housing;
• and
• the battery pack charger comprising a third battery pack interface that is shaped and configured to mechanically and electrically couple with the electrical device interface of the multi-voltage battery pack for charging the multi-voltage battery pack,
• wherein the multi-voltage battery pack and battery pack charger are shaped and configured such that when the electrical device interface of the multi-voltage battery pack is mechanically and electrically coupled with the third battery pack interface of the battery pack charger, the first and second strings are electrically connected to each other in the parallel configuration for simultaneous charging by the battery pack charger while in the parallel configuration,
• wherein the third battery pack interface of the battery pack charger comprises a plurality of charger terminals that are shaped and configured to physically and electrically couple with corresponding electrical terminals of the electrical device interface of the multi-voltage battery pack, and
• wherein the plurality of charger terminals comprises:
• a first charger terminal and a second charger terminal configured to charge the first string and the second string of the battery pack in parallel, and
• a third charger terminal configured to receive battery information when electrically coupled with the signal terminal of the battery pack.

A combination comprising:

• a multi-voltage battery pack for use with tools of different operating voltages, and a battery pack charger for charging the multi-voltage battery pack, such that the combination includes the multi-voltage battery pack and the charger;
• the multi-voltage battery pack comprising:
• a housing comprising a plurality of slots therein,
• a first string of battery cells arranged in electrical series and disposed inside the housing, the first string having a first positive voltage terminal and a first negative voltage terminal,
• a second string of battery cells arranged in electrical series and disposed inside the housing, the second string having a second positive voltage terminal and a second negative voltage terminal, and
• an electrical device interface shaped and configured to interchangeably (1) mechanically and electrically couple with a first battery pack interface of a first power tool that is configured to operate at a first operating voltage, and (2) mechanically and electrically couple with a second battery pack interface of a second power tool that is configured to operate at a second operating voltage,
• wherein the second operating voltage is higher than the first operating voltage,
• wherein, when the electrical device interface of the multi-voltage battery pack is coupled with the first battery pack interface of the first power tool, the first and second positive voltage terminals are electrically connected to each other and the first and second negative voltage terminals are electrically connected to each other such that the first and second strings are electrically connected to each other in a parallel configuration so as to provide the first operating voltage to the first power tool,
• wherein, when the electrical device interface of the multi-voltage batter pack is coupled with the second battery pack interface of the second power tool, the first positive voltage terminal is electrically connected to the second negative voltage terminal such that the first and second strings are electrically connected to each other in a series configuration so as to provide the second operating voltage to the second power tool,
• wherein the electrical device interface of the multi-voltage battery pack comprises a plurality of electrical terminals that are shaped and configured to physically and electrically contact corresponding electrical terminals of the first battery pack interface of the first power tool or corresponding electrical terminals of the second battery pack interface of the second power tool,
• wherein the plurality of electrical terminals of the electrical device interface of the multi-voltage battery pack comprise a first pair of battery power terminals, a signal terminal, and an additional terminal, the additional terminal being electrically coupled with a monitor circuit in the housing, and
• wherein the first pair of batter power terminals, the signal terminal, and the additional terminal are accessible via the plurality of slots in the housing, the additional terminal and the signal terminal being vertically spaced, one above the other, and the battery pack charger comprising a third battery pack interface that is shaped and configured to mechanically and electrically couple with the electrical device interface of the multi-voltage battery pack for charging the multi-voltage battery pack,
• wherein the third battery pack interface of the battery pack charger comprises a plurality of charger terminals that are shaped and configured to physically and electrically couple with corresponding ones of the electrical terminals of the electrical device interface of the multi-voltage battery pack,
• wherein the plurality of charger terminals comprises:
• a first charger terminal and a second charger terminal configured to charge the battery pack when electrically coupled with at least two terminals of the four terminals comprising the first pair of battery power terminals and the second pair of battery power terminals;
• and
• a third charger terminal configured to receive battery information when electrically coupled with the signal terminal of the multi-voltage battery pack, the third charger terminal disposed between the first charger terminal and the second charger terminal, wherein battery information is being transferred through the signal terminal of the multi-voltage battery pack during charging.