Method and system for charging multi-cell lithium-based battery packs
A method and system for charging multi-cell lithium-based batteries. In some aspects, a battery charger includes a housing, at least one terminal to electrically connect to a battery pack supported by the housing, and a controller operable to provide a charging current to the battery pack through the at least one terminal. The battery pack includes a plurality of lithium-based battery cells, with each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells having an individual state of charge. The controller is operable to control the charging current being supplied to the battery pack at least in part based on the individual state of charge of at least one battery cell.
1. An electrical combination comprising:
a first battery pack having a first plurality of battery cells, each cell in the first plurality of battery cells having a Lithium-based chemistry, the first battery pack having a first nominal voltage in a first nominal voltage range;
a first power tool operable to be powered by the first battery pack, the first battery pack being connectable to and supportable by the first power tool;
a second battery pack having a second plurality of battery cells, each cell in the second plurality of battery cells having a Lithium-based chemistry, the second battery pack having a second nominal voltage in a second nominal voltage range, the number of battery cells in the first plurality of battery cells being different than the number of battery cells in the second plurality of battery cells;
a second power tool operable to be powered by the second battery pack, the second battery pack being connectable to and supportable by the second power tool; and
a battery charger configured to connect to and charge each of the first battery pack and the second battery pack, the battery charger including a controller and being configured to,
when the first battery pack is connected to the battery charger,
charge the first battery pack,
communicate with the first battery pack,
determine a characteristic of the first plurality of battery cells, and
generate a first signal to enable the charging of the first battery pack, the first signal being generated based on the characteristic of the first plurality of battery cells when the first battery pack is connected to the battery charger, and when the second battery pack is connected to the battery charger,
charge the second battery pack,
communicate with the second battery pack,
determine a characteristic of the second plurality of battery cells, and
generate a second signal to enable the charging of the second battery pack, the second signal being generated based on the characteristic of the second plurality of battery cells when the second battery pack is connected to the battery charger.
2. The electrical combination of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the first plurality of battery cells is the number of battery cells in the first plurality of battery cells.
3. The electrical combination of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the first plurality of battery cells is a voltage of at least one of the battery cells in the first plurality of battery cells.
4. The electrical combination of claim 3 , wherein the characteristic of the first plurality of battery cells is the voltage of each of the battery cells in the first plurality of battery cells.
5. The electrical combination of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the first plurality of battery cells is a voltage associated with fewer battery cells than the number of battery cells in the first plurality of battery cells.
6. The electrical combination of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of battery cells is connected in one of series and a series-parallel configuration.
7. The electrical combination of claim 6 , wherein the first plurality of battery cells is connected in series.
8. The electrical combination of claim 1 , wherein the first nominal voltage is different than the second nominal voltage.
9. The electrical combination of claim 1 , wherein the first signal is a charging current.
10. The electrical combination of claim 1 , wherein the first signal is configured to activate a first switch to enable charging of the first battery pack.
11. The electrical combination of claim 10 , wherein the first switch is located in the first battery pack.
12. An electrical combination comprising:
a first battery pack having a first plurality of battery cells, each cell in the first plurality of battery cells having a Lithium-based chemistry, the first battery pack having a first nominal voltage in a first nominal voltage range;
a first power tool operable to be powered by the first battery pack, the first battery pack being connectable to and supportable by the first power tool;
a second battery pack having a second plurality of battery cells, the second battery pack having a second nominal voltage in a second nominal voltage range, the number of battery cells in the first plurality of battery cells being different than the number of battery cells in the second plurality of battery cells;
a second power tool operable to be powered by the second battery pack, the second battery pack being connectable to and supportable by the second power tool;
a battery charger configured to connect to and charge each of the first battery pack and the second battery pack; and
a controller including a processor and configured to
communicate between the battery charger and one of the first battery pack and the second battery pack when the one of the first battery pack and the second battery pack is connected to the battery charger,
determine a characteristic of the plurality of battery cells of the one of the first battery pack and the second battery pack connected to the battery charger, and
generate a signal to enable the charging of the one of the first battery pack and the second battery pack connected to the battery charger, the signal being generated based on the characteristic of the plurality of battery cells of the one of the first battery pack and the second battery pack connected to the battery charger.
13. The electrical combination of claim 12 , wherein the characteristic of the first plurality of battery cells is the number of battery cells in the first plurality of battery cells.
14. The electrical combination of claim 12 , wherein the characteristic of the first plurality of battery cells is a voltage of at least one of the battery cells in the first plurality of battery cells.
15. The electrical combination of claim 14 , wherein the characteristic of the first plurality of battery cells is the voltage of each of the battery cells in the first plurality of battery cells.
16. The electrical combination of claim 12 , wherein the characteristic of the first plurality of battery cells is a voltage associated with fewer battery cells than the number of battery cells in the first plurality of battery cells.
17. The electrical combination of claim 12 , wherein the first plurality of battery cells is connected in one of series or a series-parallel configuration.
18. The electrical combination of claim 17 , wherein the first plurality of battery cells is connected in series.
19. The electrical combination of claim 12 , wherein the first nominal voltage is different than the second nominal voltage.
20. The electrical combination of claim 12 , wherein the first signal is a charging current.
21. The electrical combination of claim 12 , wherein the first signal is configured to activate a first switch to enable charging of the first battery pack.
22. The electrical combination of claim 21 , wherein the first switch is located in the first battery pack.
23. The electrical combination of claim 12 , wherein each cell in the second plurality of battery cells has a Lithium-based chemistry.