# US 2018/0323625 A1 · Battery Pack > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0323625 A1 - Document ID: US20180323625A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/036,158 - Filed: 2018-07-16 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2010-04-07 - Assignees: Black & Decker Inc. - Applicants: Black & Decker Inc. - Inventors: Regina G.C. Cunanan; Frank J. Delose; Bhanuprasad V. Gorti; Geoffrey S. Howard; Aziz Iqbal; Matthew J. Velderman; Daniel J. White - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180323625A1 ## CPC - H02P 7/29: using pulse modulation - B25F 5/00: Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for - B25F 5/02: Construction of casings, bodies or handles {(B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence)} - B25F 5/021: {with guiding devices (guiding devices for hand tools on stands or supports B25H1/0078)} - G01R 31/374: with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing - G01R 31/3835: involving only voltage measurements - G01R 31/385: Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables (for monitoring G01R31/382) - H01H 9/061: {enclosing a continuously variable impedance} - H01M 10/441: {for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially} - H01R 12/7005: {Guiding, mounting, polarizing or locking means; Extractors (for printed circuit boards H05K)} - H01R 13/112: {forked sockets having two legs} - H02J 7/42: with electronic devices having internal batteries, e.g. mobile phones - H02J 7/445: {in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile} - H02J 7/50: acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially - H02J 7/56: Active balancing, e.g. using capacitor-based, inductor-based or DC-DC converters - H02J 7/663: {using battery or load disconnect circuits (H02J9/002 takes precedence)} - H02J 7/751: {concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries} - H02J 7/82: Control of state of charge [SOC] - H02J 7/855: {with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery} - H02J 7/94: in response to battery current - H02J 7/96: in response to battery voltage - H02P 3/08: for stopping or slowing a DC motor - H02P 7/285: controlling armature supply only - G01R 31/3646: {for indicating electrical conditions or variables, e.g. visual or audible indicators} - H01H 2009/065: {Battery operated hand tools in which the battery and the switch are directly connected} - H01M 10/448: {End of discharge regulating measures} - H01M 50/569: Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals (battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364) - 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 2010/4278: {Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller} - H01M 2220/30: Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop - H02J 7/585: {Sequential battery discharge in systems with a plurality of batteries} - H02J 7/60: including safety or protection arrangements - H02J 7/63: against overdischarge - H02P 31/00: Arrangements for regulating or controlling electric motors not provided for in groups H02P1/00 - H02P5/00, H02P7/00 or H02P21/00 - H02P29/00 - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS - B25F: COMBINATION OR MULTI-PURPOSE TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DETAILS OR COMPONENTS OF PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS NOT PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THE OPERATIONS PERFORMED AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR {(machines or arrangements of machines for performing specified combinations of different metal-working operations not covered by a single other subclass B23P23/00 and subgroups)} - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - 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 - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A method is provided for identifying a battery pack that is operably coupled to a battery charger. The method comprises: measuring voltage at a plurality of designated terminals of a first battery pack while the battery pack is coupled to the battery charger; determining how many of the designated terminals are connected to a reference voltage, such as battery positive; and identifying an attribute of the battery pack based on how many of the designated terminals are connected to the reference voltage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of charging a battery pack configured to operably couple via a plurality of electrical terminals to a battery charger, the plurality of electrical terminals including a positive voltage terminal and a negative voltage terminal, the battery pack comprising: providing a plurality of designated terminals configured to operably couple to the battery charger, such that the plurality of designated terminals excludes the positive voltage terminal and the negative voltage terminal; determining a number of the plurality of designated terminals that are connected to a reference voltage; and determining an attribute of the battery pack based on the determined number of designated terminals that are connected to the reference voltage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method, as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing a plurality of battery cells connected in series between the positive voltage terminal and the negative voltage terminal such that at least one of the designated terminals is connected to a node disposed between two of the plurality of battery cells. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a step of determining a specific location of a given terminal of the designated terminals and determining an attribute of the battery pack based on the determined specific location of the given terminal amongst the designated terminals. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method, as recited in claim 3, further comprising a step of providing a plurality of battery cells connected in series between the positive voltage terminal and the negative voltage terminal and wherein the given terminal is coupled to a node disposed between a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells and a remainder of the battery cells of the plurality of battery cells and wherein the first battery cell is coupled between the node and the negative battery terminal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the positive voltage terminal provides the reference voltage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the attribute is a nominal voltage rating of the battery pack. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the attribute is a configuration of a plurality of battery cells in the battery pack. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a step of selecting a charging algorithm based on the attribute of the battery pack. ### Claim 9 A method of charging a battery pack configured to operably couple to a battery charger, the battery pack having a positive voltage terminal and a negative voltage terminal, the battery pack comprising: providing a plurality of designated terminals configured to operably couple to the battery charger, such that the plurality of designated terminals excludes the positive voltage terminal and the negative voltage terminal; determining a specific location of a given terminal of the designated terminals; and determining an attribute of the battery pack based on the determined specific location of the given terminal amongst the designated terminals. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method, as recited in claim 9, further comprising a step of providing a plurality of battery cells and wherein the given terminal is coupled to a node disposed between a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells and a remainder of the battery cells of the plurality of battery cells and wherein the first battery cell is coupled between the node and the negative battery terminal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method, as recited in claim 9, further comprising a step of determining a number of the designated terminals that are connected to a reference voltage and a step of determining an attribute of the battery pack based on the number of designated terminals connected to the reference voltage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method, as recited in claim 11, wherein the positive voltage terminal provides the reference voltage. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method, as recited in claim 9, wherein the attribute is a nominal voltage rating of the battery pack. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method, as recited in claim 9, wherein the attribute is a configuration of a plurality of battery cells in the battery pack. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method, as recited in claim 9, further comprising a step of providing a plurality of battery cells and wherein the given terminal is coupled to a positive node of a most negative battery cell of the plurality of battery cells. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method, as recited in claim 9, further comprising a step of selecting a charging algorithm based on the attribute of the battery pack. ### Claim 17 A method of charging a battery pack configured to operably couple via a plurality of electrical terminals to a battery charger, the plurality of electrical terminals including a positive voltage terminal and a negative voltage terminal, the battery pack comprising: providing a plurality of designated terminals configured to operably couple to the battery charger, such that the plurality of designated terminals excludes the positive voltage terminal and the negative voltage terminal; determining a number of the plurality of designated terminals that are connected to a reference voltage; and selecting a charging algorithm based on the determined number of the plurality of designated terminals that are connected to the reference voltage.