Battery pack-detecting charger
AssigneeBlack & Decker Inc.
InventorFred S. Watts
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A charger having a controller with an input and an output, a first terminal for connecting a battery pack to the controller, a connecting line disposed between the first terminal and the input of the controller, a current source connected to the controller for providing power to the battery pack. The current source provides power to the battery pack via the connecting line. The controller sends a pulse signal unto the connecting line via the output, so that the controller can determine whether the battery pack is connected to the charger by the presence of the pulse signal in the input of the controller.
Claims13
A charger comprising:
- a controller having an input and an output;
- a first terminal for connecting a battery pack to the controller;
- a connecting line disposed between the first terminal and the input of the controller;
- a current source connected to the controller for providing power to the battery pack, the current source providing the power to the battery pack via the connecting line;
- wherein the controller sends a pulse signal unto the connecting line to the battery pack via the output, whereby the controller determines whether the battery pack is connected to the charger by the presence of the pulse signal in the input of the controller.
A charger/battery pack combination comprising:
- a battery pack;
- a charger for charging the battery pack comprising:
- a controller having an input and an output;
- a first terminal for connecting the battery pack to the controller;
- a connecting line disposed between the first terminal and the input of the controller;
- a current source connected to the controller for providing power to the battery pack, the current source providing the power to the battery pack via the connecting line;
- wherein the controller sends a pulse signal unto the connecting line to the battery pack via the output, whereby the controller determines whether the battery pack is connected to the charger by the presence of the pulse signal in the input of the controller.
A method for detecting whether a battery pack is connected to a charger, the method comprising:
- providing the charger a controller having an input and an output, a first terminal for connecting the battery pack to the controller, a connecting line disposed between the first terminal and the input of the controller, a current source connected to the controller for providing power to the battery pack, the current source providing the power to the battery pack via the connecting line;
- turning off the current source;
- after turning off the current source, sending a pulse signal unto the connecting line to the battery pack via the output;
- and
- detecting a presence of the pulse signal in the input of the controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.