US 7,321,219 B2 | ||
Method and system for battery charging employing a semiconductor switch | ||
Gary D. Meyer, Waukesha, Wis. (US); Jay J. Rosenbecker, Menomonee Falls, Wis. (US); Kevin L. Glasgow, Lomira, Wis. (US); Todd W. Johnson, Wauwatosa, Wis. (US); and Karl F. Scheucher, Waite Hill, Ohio (US) | ||
Assigned to Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, Brookfield, Wis. (US) | ||
Filed on Dec. 30, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/322,534. | ||
Application 11/322534 is a division of application No. 10/719680, filed on Nov. 20, 2003, granted, now 7,176,654. | ||
Claims priority of provisional application 60/440692, filed on Jan. 17, 2003. | ||
Claims priority of provisional application 60/440693, filed on Jan. 17, 2003. | ||
Claims priority of provisional application 60/523716, filed on Nov. 19, 2003. | ||
Claims priority of provisional application 60/523712, filed on Nov. 19, 2003. | ||
Claims priority of provisional application 60/428358, filed on Nov. 22, 2002. | ||
Claims priority of provisional application 60/428452, filed on Nov. 22, 2002. | ||
Claims priority of provisional application 60/428450, filed on Nov. 22, 2002. | ||
Prior Publication US 2006/0108983 A1, May 25, 2006 | ||
Int. Cl. H01M 10/46 (2006.01) |
U.S. Cl. 320—125 | 37 Claims |
1. An electrical combination comprising:
a battery charger operable to supply a charging current to a battery pack to charge the battery pack; and
a battery pack including a switch having an interrupt condition, in which the switch is operable to interrupt a discharge
current from the battery pack and enable the supply of the charging current to the battery pack from the battery charger,
the battery pack being electrically connectable to the battery charger,
the battery pack further including a battery cell and a microcontroller operable to control the switch, the microcontroller
having an operating voltage threshold and configured to receive an input voltage, the microcontroller being operable when
the received input voltage is one of equal to and greater than the operating voltage threshold, and wherein, when the received
input voltage is below the operating voltage threshold, the switch is configured to enable a supply of charging current from
the battery charger to the battery cell.
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