# US 12,003,125 B2 · Tool circuitry for series-type connected battery packs > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,003,125 B2 - Document ID: US12003125B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/568,285 - Filed: 2022-01-04 - Published: 2022-04-28 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-18 - Assignees: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation - Applicants: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation - Inventors: Alex Huber; Timothy R. Obermann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003125B2 ## CPC - H02J 7/585: {Sequential battery discharge in systems with a plurality of batteries} - H01M 10/425: {Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00)} - H02J 7/855: {with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery} - H01M 2010/4271: {Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing} - H01M 2220/30: Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop - H02J 7/50: acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract An electrical device including a first battery pack receptacle, a second battery pack receptacle, and circuitry including an electronic processor. The first battery pack receptacle is configured to receive a first battery pack. The second battery pack receptacle is configured to receive a second battery pack. The second battery pack is electrically connected in a series-type configuration with the first battery pack. The circuitry is configured to alter a first signal output from the electronic processor to at least one selected from a group consisting of the first battery pack and the second battery pack, and alter a second signal received by the electronic processor from at least one selected from the group consisting of the first battery pack and the second battery pack. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrical device comprising: a first battery pack receptacle configured to receive a first battery pack; a second battery pack receptacle configured to receive a second battery pack, the second battery pack electrically connected in a series-type configuration with the first battery pack; and bypass circuitry, the bypass circuitry configured to bypass the second battery pack receptacle when the second battery pack is not present in the second battery pack receptacle, wherein the electrical device is configured to be received by a third battery pack receptacle included in a housing of a power tool, and wherein the electrical device is configured to remain operable to allow use of the power tool while bypassing the second battery pack receptacle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the bypass circuitry includes a transistor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the bypass circuitry includes a diode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrical device of claim 1, further comprising a motor included in the housing of the power tool. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electrical device of claim 4, wherein the motor is configured to receive power from at least one selected from the group consisting of the first battery pack and the second battery pack. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the first battery pack and the second battery pack each have a nominal voltage in the range of 15V to 21V. ### Claim 7 An electrical device system comprising: a housing of a power tool including: a first battery pack receptacle, and an electronic processor; and an adapter configured to be received by the first battery pack receptacle, the adapter including: a second battery pack receptacle configured to receive a first battery pack, a third battery pack receptacle configured to receive a second battery pack, and bypass circuitry configured to bypass the second battery pack receptacle when the second battery pack is not present in the second battery pack receptacle, wherein the adapter is configured to remain operable to allow use of the power tool while bypassing the second battery pack receptacle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the bypass circuitry includes a transistor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the bypass circuitry includes a diode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the housing of the power tool further includes a motor configured to receive power from at least one selected from the group consisting of the first battery pack and the second battery pack. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the adapter is positioned between the housing of the power tool and the first and second battery packs. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The electrical device of claim 7, wherein the first battery pack and the second battery pack each have a nominal voltage in the range of 15V to 21V. ### Claim 13 A power tool comprising: a housing of the power tool; a first battery pack receptacle configured to receive a first battery pack; a second battery pack receptacle configured to receive a second battery pack, the second battery pack electrically connected in a series-type configuration with the first battery pack; and bypass circuitry, the bypass circuitry included within the housing of the power tool and configured to: bypass the second battery pack receptacle when the second battery pack is not present in the second battery pack receptacle, wherein the power tool is configured to remain operable while bypassing the second battery pack receptacle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The tool device of claim 13, wherein the bypass circuitry includes a transistor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The tool device of claim 13, wherein the bypass circuitry includes a diode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The tool device of claim 13, further comprising a third battery pack receptacle configured to receive a third battery pack. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The tool device of claim 13, further comprising a motor included in the housing of the power tool. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The tool device of claim 17, wherein the motor is configured to receive power from at least one selected from the group consisting of the first battery pack and the second battery pack. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The tool device of claim 13, wherein the first battery pack and the second battery pack each have a nominal voltage in the range of 15V to 21V.