Fast-charging battery pack

A battery pack, comprising:

• a housing;
• a plurality of battery cells supported by the housing, the plurality of battery cells and the battery pack having a nominal capacity of up to about 15 Amp-hours (Ah);
• a terminal block configured to be coupled to a power tool to provide operating power from the plurality of battery cells to the power tool, the terminal block having a positive power terminal, a charging terminal, and a ground terminal;
• and
• a charging circuit provided between the charging terminal and the plurality of battery cells, the charging circuit configured to receive and transfer charging current above 12 Amperes to the plurality of battery cells during charging, wherein the charging circuit includes:
• a charging switch;
• and
• a gate driver coupled to the charging switch to control the charging switch.

A battery pack charging system comprising:

• a charger configured to provide a charging current between about 6 Amperes and about 20 Amperes;
• a battery pack detachably connectable to the charger and configured to be charged by the charger, the battery pack having a nominal capacity of up to about 6 Amp-hours (Ah) and including:
• a plurality of battery cells;
• a terminal block configured to be coupled to a power tool to provide operating power from the plurality of battery cells to the power tool, the terminal block having a positive power terminal, a charging terminal, and a ground terminal;
• and
• a charging circuit provided between the charging terminal and the plurality of battery cells, the charging circuit configured to receive and transfer charging current above 12 Amperes to the plurality of battery cells during charging, wherein the charging circuit includes:
• a charging switch;
• and
• a gate driver coupled to the charging switch to control the charging switch.

A battery pack, comprising:

• a housing;
• a plurality of battery cells supported by the housing, the plurality of battery cells and the battery pack having a nominal capacity of up to about 15 Amp-hours (Ah);
• a terminal block configured to be coupled to a power tool to provide operating power from the plurality of battery cells to the power tool, the terminal block having a positive power terminal, a charging terminal, and a ground terminal;
• and
• a charging circuit provided between the charging terminal and the plurality of battery cells, the charging circuit configured to receive and transfer charging current above 12 Amperes to the plurality of battery cells during charging, wherein the charging circuit includes:
• a battery controller coupled to the charging circuit,
• a charging switch,
• a gate driver coupled to the charging switch to control the charging switch,
• a first switch coupled between the plurality of battery cells and the gate driver;
• and
• a second switch configured to control the first switch, wherein the battery controller controls the second switch to open the first switch to transfer the charging current above 12 Amperes to the plurality of battery cells during charging.