IP Library Granted Patent US 8,547,066
Granted Patent B2
US 8,547,066 · App. 13/829,486 · Granted Oct 1, 2013

Method and apparatus for powering an electric hand-held power tool device

Inventors: Thierry Bieler (Echichens, CH); Laurent Cardoletti (Villeneuve, CH); Simon Tinguely (Chesopelloz, CH); Christian Koechli (Yvonnand, CH); Christian Fleury (Bellerive, CH)
Assignee: Felco Motion SA
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,547,066
App. No.
13/829,486
Granted
Oct 1, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for powering an electric hand-held power tool device by an output voltage includes at least two connectors for connecting the apparatus to at least two batteries. At least two switches, and a command circuit of the switches, are provided. The command circuit is arranged for commanding the powering of the electric hand-held power tool device by using the battery which presents the highest open circuit voltage if the output voltage is higher than the open circuit voltage of each of the other batteries. And, by using the battery which presents the highest open circuit voltage and at least one other battery if the output voltage is lower than the open circuit voltage of the other battery, the battery which presents the highest open circuit voltage and the at least one other battery being connected in parallel.

Claims (31)

1. An apparatus for powering an electric hand-held power tool device with an output voltage comprising

at least two connectors for connecting said apparatus to at least two batteries

at least two switches

a command circuit of said switches, said command circuit being arranged for commanding said switches so as to power said electric hand-held power tool device by using

the battery which presents the highest open circuit voltage if said output voltage is higher than the open circuit voltage of each of the other battery (ies);

the battery which presents the highest open circuit voltage and at least one other battery if said output voltage is lower than the open circuit voltage of said other battery, said battery which presents the highest open circuit voltage and said at least one other battery being connected in parallel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least two connecting switches arranged for allowing a unidirectional and/or bidirectional flow of current between said at least two switches and said at least two batteries.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a main switch for activating/deactivating said apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a passive hot plug circuit for pre-charging said device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , said command circuit further comprising a DSP circuit.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one power bridge capacitor.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising

at least two measurement points for measuring the voltage of each of said at least two batteries

a measurement point for measuring the voltage of said main switch

a measurement point for measuring the voltage across said power bridge capacitor.

8. A method for powering an electric hand-held power tool device by an output voltage of an apparatus, comprising

connecting said apparatus to at least two batteries by using at least two connectors

commanding at least two switches so as to power said electric hand-held power tool device by using

the battery which presents the highest open circuit voltage if said output voltage is higher than the open circuit voltage of each of the other battery (ies);

the battery which presents the highest open circuit voltage and at least one other battery if said output voltage is lower than the open circuit voltage of said other battery, said battery which presents the highest open circuit voltage and said at least one other battery being connected in parallel.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising allowing a unidirectional and/or bidirectional flow of current between said at least two switches and said at least two batteries by using at least two connecting switches.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising activating/deactivating said apparatus by using a main switch.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising a passive hot plug procedure for pre-charging said device.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising checking

at least two measurement points for measuring the voltage of each of said at least two batteries

a measurement point for measuring the voltage of said main switch

a measurement point for measuring the voltage of a power bridge capacitor.

13. A computer-program product for causing an apparatus to power an electric hand-held power tool device by an output voltage comprising instructions executable to

command at least two switches for powering said electric hand-held power tool device by using

a battery which presents the highest open circuit voltage if said output voltage is higher than the open circuit voltage of each of the other batteries

the battery which presents the highest open circuit voltage and at least one other battery if the said output voltage is lower than the open circuit voltage of said other battery, said battery which presents the highest open circuit voltage and said at least one other battery being connected in parallel.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Apr 14, 2021
From: FELCO MOTION SA
To: FELCO SA
Reel/Frame 055939/0269 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2013
From: BIELER, THIERRY; CARDOLETTI, LAURENT; TINGUELY, SIMON; KOECHLI, CHRISTIAN; FLEURY, CHRISTIAN
To: FELCO MOTION SA
Reel/Frame 030238/0243 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 10189856 · Nov 3, 2010 · regional
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2011069136 · Oct 31, 2011
Related Publication 20130200851A1 · Aug 8, 2013