# US 12,009,493 B2 · Inductive heating of batteries for charging > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,009,493 B2 - Document ID: US12009493B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/492,999 - Filed: 2021-10-04 - Published: 2022-01-27 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-18 - Assignees: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation - Applicants: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation - Inventors: Randolph H. McHugh; Gareth Mueckl; Tauhira Hoossainy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12009493B2 ## CPC - H01M 10/615: Heating or keeping warm - H05B 6/14: Tools, e.g. nozzles, rollers, calenders - H01M 10/486: {for measuring temperature} - H01M 10/6235: Power tools - H01M 10/657: by electric or electromagnetic means - H02J 7/70: characterised by the mechanical construction - H02J 7/731: {specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence)} - H02J 7/977: {of the battery} - H05B 6/04: Sources of current - H05B 6/06: Control, e.g. of temperature, of power - H05B 6/44: having more than one coil or coil segment - H01M 10/643: Cylindrical cells - H01M 50/213: adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic (H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence) - H01M 2220/30: Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A battery pack charger configured to heat a power tool battery pack, the battery pack charger comprising a housing, an adapter portion integrated with the housing of the battery pack charger, the adapter portion configured to mechanically and electrically connect to the power tool battery pack, and an inductive heater including a coil portion, the coil portion including a coil housing and one or more inductive coil windings, the inductive heater configured to generate an electromagnetic field to heat the power tool battery pack. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A battery pack charger configured to heat a power tool battery pack, the battery pack charger comprising: a housing; an adapter portion integrated with the housing of the battery pack charger, the adapter portion configured to mechanically and electrically connect to the power tool battery pack; and an inductive heater including a coil portion, the coil portion including a coil housing and one or more inductive coil windings, the inductive heater configured to generate an electromagnetic field to heat the power tool battery pack. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The battery pack charger of claim 1, wherein the adapter portion includes a battery pack interface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The battery pack charger of claim 1, wherein the adapter portion is a battery pack interface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The battery pack charger of claim 1, wherein the adapter portion is pivotable relative to the coil portion between an open position and a closed position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The battery pack charger of claim 4, wherein, when the coil portion is in the open position, the adapter portion is exposed, and a battery pack can engage the adapter portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The battery pack charger of claim 5, wherein, when the coil portion is in the closed position, the battery pack is prevented from engaging and disengaging the adapter portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The battery pack charger of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature related to the power tool battery pack. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The battery pack charger of claim 1, wherein the battery pack charger includes an alternating current power input terminal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The battery pack charger of claim 1, wherein the battery pack charger includes at least a second inductive heater. ### Claim 10 A power tool battery pack charging system, the system comprising: a battery pack charger including a housing; an adapter portion integrated with the housing of the battery pack charger, the adapter portion including a battery pack interface, the adapter portion configured to mechanically and electrically connect to the power tool battery pack; and an inductive heater including a coil portion, the coil portion including a coil housing and one or more inductive coil windings, the inductive heater configured to generate an electromagnetic field to heat the power tool battery pack. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The power tool battery pack charging system of claim 10, wherein, the adapter portion is pivotable relative to the coil portion between an open position and a closed position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The power tool battery pack charging system of claim 11, wherein, when the coil portion is in the open position the adapter portion is exposed, and a battery pack can engage the adapter portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The power tool battery pack charging system of claim 12, wherein, when the coil portion is in the closed position, the battery pack is prevented from engaging and disengaging the adapter portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The power tool battery pack charging system of claim 10, further comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature related to the power tool battery pack. ### Claim 15 A method of inductively heating a power tool battery pack, the method comprising: integrating an adapter portion into a battery pack charger; coupling an inductive heating assembly to the battery pack charger; connecting, mechanically and electrically, the power tool battery pack to the adapter portion; and generating an electromagnetic field with a coil winding included within a coil portion of the inductive heating assembly to heat the power tool battery pack. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the adapter portion is a battery pack interface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the adapter portion is pivotable relative to the coil portion between an open position and closed position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: generating, using a resonator circuit, a high frequency alternating current signal, the high frequency alternating current signal operable for generating the electromagnetic field with the coil winding. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the high frequency alternating current signal has a frequency of at least 45 kilohertz. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: sensing a temperature related to the power tool battery pack; and generating the electromagnetic field with the coil winding when the temperature related to the power tool battery pack is less than a charging temperature threshold.