WO2019112578A1

WO2019112578A1 - Modular battery charger and associated systems

Info

Publication number: WO2019112578A1
Application number: PCT/US2017/064911
Authority: WO
Inventors: Garrett SHERMAN; Robert SCHRIEVER; E. Arnold FIE
Original assignee: Husqvarna Ab; Husqvarna Consumer Outdoor Products N.A., Inc.
Priority date: 2017-12-06
Filing date: 2017-12-06
Publication date: 2019-06-13

Abstract

A battery charger (100) and associated systems (105) are provided. The battery charger (100) may include a charging stand (110), a power assembly (130), and a charging cord (120) and a heat removal assembly (111). The charging stand (110) may be configured to electrically couple to power contacts (214a, 214d) of a battery (200) to charge the battery (200). The heat removal assembly (111) may include a fan (115) configured to generate an air flow to cool the battery (200) when the battery (200) is installed in the battery charger (100). The power assembly (130) may be coupled to the charging stand (110) by the charging cord (120).

Description

MODULAR BATTERY CHARGER AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The example embodiments described herein relate generally to energy storage technologies. More particularly, the example embodiments relate to battery charging.

BACKGROUND

As battery technology continues to evolve more and more devices are being redesigned to run on electricity provided by batteries. Machines, such as tools, that were most commonly driven by, for example, petroleum engines are now being powered by batteries and electric motors. Many batteries are now rechargeable thereby avoiding the cost associated with more frequency battery replacement and disposal. Recharging a battery requires an in-flow of energy back into the cells of the battery, which can create heat due to the reactions that take place to recharge the battery. Heat, generally speaking, diminishes rechargeable battery life-spans and leads to premature battery failure. As such, reducing a battery’s exposure to heat is desirable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLES

According to some example embodiments, a system is provided. The system may comprise a battery and a battery charger. The battery may comprise a connection interface, where the connection interface comprises power contacts. The battery charger may include a charging stand, a power assembly, and a charging cord. The charging stand may comprise a charging assembly and a heat removal assembly. The charging assembly may comprise charging contacts configured to electrically couple to power contacts of the battery to charge the battery. The heat removal assembly may comprise a fan configured to generate an air flow to cool the battery when the battery is installed in the battery charger. The power assembly may comprise a power assembly housing and charge control circuitry disposed within the power assembly housing. The charging cord may be configured to couple the power assembly and the power assembly housing to the charging stand. The charging cord may also electrically couple the charging contacts to the power assembly. The charge control circuitry may be configured to control charging of the battery via the charging cord. According to some other example embodiments, a battery charger is provided.

The battery charger may comprise a charging stand, a power assembly, and a charging cord. The charging stand may comprise a charging assembly and a heat removal assembly. The charging assembly may comprise charging contacts configured to electrically couple to power contacts of a battery to charge the battery. The heat removal assembly may comprise a fan. The fan may be configured to generate an air flow to cool the battery when the battery is installed in the battery charger. The power assembly may comprise a power assembly housing and charge control circuitry disposed within the power assembly housing. The charging cord may be configured to couple the power assembly and the power assembly housing to the charging assembly. The charging cord may also electrically couple the charging contacts to the power assembly. The charge control circuitry may be configured to control charging of the battery via the charging cord.

According to some example embodiments, another system is provided. The system may comprise a battery and a battery charger. The battery may comprise a connection interface comprising power contacts, and a forward charger engaging surface. The battery charger may comprise a charging stand. The charging stand may comprise a charging assembly comprising charging contacts configured to electrically couple to power contacts of the battery to charge the battery. The charging stand may also include a heat removal assembly comprising a fan and a battery engaging surface comprising an opening. The fan may be configured to generate an air flow through the opening to cool the battery when the battery is installed in the battery charger and when the forward charger engaging surface of the battery is in contact with the battery engaging surface. Further, a side of the heat removal assembly opposite the charging assembly does not extend through a plane defined by the battery engaging surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

Having thus described some example embodiments in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of a system comprising a battery charger and a battery in accordance with an example embodiment; FIG. 2 shows a battery charger having a separate power assembly housing for charging circuitry and electronics coupled to a charging stand via a charging cord in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows the battery charger of FIG. 2 with a battery installed into the battery charger in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows bottom perspective view of a charging stand in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows front perspective view of a charging stand in accordance with an example embodiment; and

FIG. 6 shows a perspective front view of a battery in accordance with an example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some example embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all example embodiments are shown. Indeed, the examples described and pictured herein should not be construed as being limiting as to the scope, applicability or configuration of the present disclosure. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Furthermore, as used herein, the term“or” is to be interpreted as a logical operator that results in true whenever one or more of its operands are true. As used herein, operable coupling should be understood to relate to direct or indirect connection that, in either case, enables functional interconnection of components that are operably coupled to each other.

According to some example embodiments, systems comprising batteries and battery chargers are provided herein. In this regard, an example battery charger may include a charging stand comprising a charging assembly for coupling to a battery to charge the battery. The charging stand may also include a heat removal assembly, affixed to the charging assembly. The heat removal assembly may comprise a fan that is configured to generate air flow to cool the battery during charging. The battery may rest on a battery engaging surface of the heat removal assembly while a connection interface of the battery is coupled to the charging assembly. In this regard, the battery engaging surface may include an opening through which air flow, generated by the fan, passes to cool the battery. According to some embodiments, when the battery is coupled to the charging stand, the battery may be exposed on all sides with the exception of the battery’s connection interface portion, which is coupled to the charging assembly. Since the battery is generally exposed and, for example, according to some example embodiments, the battery is not received into a cavity of the charging stand, battery cooling is improved.

The battery charger may also include a charging cord that electrically couples the charging stand to a power assembly. According to some example embodiments, the power assembly is separately housed from the charging stand and coupled to the charging stand only via the charging cord. The power assembly may be coupled to a power source (e.g., mains power) via a power cord. The power assembly may include charge control circuitry configured to control a charging operation being performed on the battery installed in the charging stand. According to some example embodiments, the charging stand may include no charging control circuitry. As such, the power assembly may be unplugged from the charging cord, which may or may not remain connected to the charging stand, and be replaced with another power assembly or a device that may be configured to operate as a power assembly (e.g., a computer). Therefore, the battery charger, according to some example embodiments, may have interchangeable/replaceable parts due to the inclusion of the charging cord. By virtue of the power assembly being separate from the charging stand, and being the connected via the charging cord, the battery charger may be modular (i.e., comprised of modules) with separated components that may be removable and replaceable.

FIG. 1 provides a functional block diagram of an example system 105 comprising an example battery charger 100 and an example battery 200. FIGs. 2-6 provide a more specific example physical implementation and design of an example system 105, example battery charger 100, and an example battery 200. The following provides a description of the functional block diagram of FIG. 1 with references to the more specific example implementations of FIGs. 2-6 provided throughout. With reference to FIG. 1, the example battery charger 100 may comprise a charging stand 110, a charging cord 120, a power assembly 130, a power cord 140, and a plug 141.

The charging stand 110 may be generally configured to physically couple with a battery to deliver power to the battery for charging the battery. In this regard, the charging stand 110 may comprise a heat removal assembly 111 and a charging assembly 112.

The charging assembly 112, of the charging stand 110, may include contacts 114 and other components to physically couple to a connection interface 201 of the battery 200, and electrically couple to the contacts 214 of the battery’s connection interface 201. The contacts 114 of the charging assembly 112 may include, more specifically, charging contacts, e.g., charging contacts 1 l4a and 1 l4b, and status contacts, e.g., status contacts 1 l4b and 1 l4c. The charging contacts 1 l4a, 1 l4b may be positioned to align with power contacts 214a, 214b of the battery 200. The charging contacts 1 l4a, 1 l4b may be electrically polarized positive or negative and be part of the connections that deliver power to the battery 200 for the purpose of charging the battery 200. The status contacts H4b, H4c may be employed to make connections to transmit information about the status or other attributes of the battery 200, as further described below with respect to the functionality of the battery health and ID circuitry 132.

The heat removal assembly 111 of the charging stand 110 may be configured to cool the battery 200, for example, during charging and may include a fan 115. The fan 115 may be electrically powered and configured to generate an air flow that cools the battery 200 when the battery 200 is installed in the charging stand 110. The fan 115 may be direct current powered fan 115 that is powered from, for example, the charging cord 120. The fan 115 may be configured to operate when the battery 200 is installed in the battery charger 100 and closed circuit is formed via the charging contacts 1 l4a, 1 l4d. The fan 115 may be a single speed fan.

According to some example embodiments, the heat removal assembly 1 11 may also operate to cool the battery in a passive manner. In this regard, the heat removal assembly 111 may physically support the battery 200 when the battery 200 is in the installed position, via abattery engaging surface (e.g., battery engaging surface 121) of the heat removal assembly 111. According to some example embodiments, the battery engaging surface may be the only surface that the battery 200 physically contacts the heat removal assembly 111. Accordingly, the battery 200, when installed, may sit atop the heat removal assembly 111 on the battery engaging surface. Further, with the exception of the portion of the battery 200 engaged with the charging assembly 1 12, the sides and top of the battery 200 may be exposed and not received into cavity of the battery charger 100. Because the battery 200 is exposed in such a manner, cooling of the battery is improved because no walls of the battery charger 100 are operating to hold heat around or in the battery 200.

Now with reference to the example embodiments of the FIGs. 2-6, it can be seen that, according to some example embodiments, the heat removal assembly 111 of the charging stand 110 may have sides 116. In this regard, the heat removal assembly 111 may have a front side 1 l6a, a left side 1 l6b, a back side 1 l6c, and a right side 1 l6d. As such, the heat removal assembly 111 may have four sides about its circumference when viewed from above or below. According to some example embodiments, the charging assembly 112 may be affixed to the heat removal assembly 1 11 along the back side 1 l6c. The front side 1 l6a, the left side 1 l6b, and the right side 1 l6d may include panels that extend downwards from the battery engagement surface 121 (i.e., a top surface of the battery engaging surface 121). In this regard, the charging assembly 112 may be disposed in an upright position relative to the heat removal assembly 111 on the back side 116c of the heat removal assembly 111. The upright position of the charging assembly 112 permits the connection interface 201 of the battery 200 to engage and slide downwards and into the charging assembly 112 into an installed position as shown in FIG. 3 where the contacts 114 physically and electrically couple to the contacts 214 of the battery 200. According to some example embodiments, the charging assembly 112 may be the only portion of the charging stand 110 that extends above a plane defined by the battery engaging surface 121. In this regard, according to some example embodiments, no portion of the sides H6a, H6b, H6d extend above the plane defined by the battery engaging surface 121. As such, according to some example embodiments, no portion of the side H6a (i.e., opposite the charging assembly 112) extends through the plane defined by the battery engaging surface 121.

As shown in FIG. 5, the charging assembly 112 may include side walls 117 and rear wall 118 that form a space within which the connection interface 201 of the battery 200 may be received, when the battery 200 is in the installed position. The contacts 114 (which include contacts 1 l4a, 1 l4b, 1 l4c, 1 l4d) may be disposed within the space formed by the side walls 117 and the rear wall 118. Further, rails 122 may be disposed on both internal sides of the charging assembly 112. The rails 122 may have a U-shaped cross-section that is configured to receive a complementary rails 222 (FIG. 6) of the battery 200. The configuration of the rails 122 may guide the connection interface 201 and the contacts 214 of the battery 200 into alignment and proper coupling with the contacts 114 of the charging assembly 112.

As mentioned above, the charging assembly 112 may be affixed to the heat removal assembly 111, which may operate as a base or platform for the battery charger 100. In this regard, the heat removal assembly 111 may be formed as a platform upon which the battery 200 may rest while the connection interface 201 of the battery 200 is engaged with the charging assembly 112. The charging assembly 112 may extend upwards and, according to some example embodiments, substantially perpendicular or perpendicular to the plane defined by the top surface of the heat removal assembly 111, which is also the battery engaging surface 121. When the battery 200 is installed in the battery charger 100, a forward charger engaging surface 220 of the battery 200 may rest on, and be in contact with, the battery engaging surface 121 of the heat removal assembly 111. In this regard, the battery engaging surface 121 may include an opening 119. According to some example embodiments, the opening 119 may be circular. The fan 115 of the heat removal assembly 1 11 may be affixed underneath the battery engaging surface 121 such that the air flow generated by the fan 115 passes through the opening 119. According to some example embodiments, the battery 200 may be designed to include a cooling vent 226 that may align with the opening 119 of the heat removal assembly 111. The cooling vent 226 may permit air to pass into an internal cavity of the battery 200’s housing to cool, for example, the cells of the battery 200 and other internal electronics. As such, the air flow generated by the fan 115 may force air through the opening 119 and into the internal cavity of the battery 200 via the cooling vent 226. To further facilitate the flow of air into the internal cavity of the battery 200, the forward charger engaging surface 220 of the battery 200 may include a seal 225 (e.g., a rubber or other elastic substance seal) that engages the battery engaging surface 121 around the opening 119 to increase or maximize air flow to the cooling vent 226 by preventing or limiting outflows between the engaging surfaces.

Additionally, to facilitate efficient air flow to the battery 200, the heat removal assembly 111 may include posts 113 that permit air flow into a lower cavity of the heat removal assembly 111 where the fan 115 is disposed. In this regard, extending downward from the battery engaging surface 121, the heat removal assembly 111 may include panels on the sides 116. Posts 113 may be disposed below that lower edge of the panels to create a gap between the lower edge of the panels and a surface upon which the battery charger 100 is placed. This gap permits air to flow into the lower cavity and up through the opening 119 due to the air flow created by the fan 115. According to some example embodiments, the posts 113 may be hollow with a screw hole opening at the base such that a screw may be received into the hollow to affix the battery charger 100 to a surface.

Referring back to FIG. 1 and also FIG. 6, the battery 200 may include a connection interface 201, status circuitry 205, charging circuitry 210, and cells 215. The battery 200 may also include a housing. According to some example embodiments, the housing may be formed of, for example, molded plastic, and may enclose the battery cells 215 and battery circuitry (e.g., status circuitry 205 and charging circuitry 210) configured to monitor and report the status of the battery 200. As mentioned above, the rails 222 of the connection interface 201 may run along the side walls of the connection interface 201. According to some example embodiments, the rails 222 may be formed having an L-shaped cross-section to facilitate engagement with complementary rails on the charging assembly 112. As such, the rails 222 may operate to guide the battery 600 into an installed position with the charging stand 110.

As indicated above, according to some example embodiments, the connection interface 201 may include contacts 214. The contacts 214 may include power contacts 2l4a, 2l4d and status contacts 2l4b, 2l4c. The power contacts 2l4a, 2l4d may be configured to receive power when the battery 200 is being charged and output power when the battery 200 is installed in an operating power tool. As described above, the power contacts 2l4a, 2l4d may be configured to physically and electrically couple with the charging contacts 1 l4a, 1 l4d of the charging stand 110, when the battery 200 is installed in the charging stand 110. Likewise, the status contacts 214b, 214c may be configured to physically and electrically couple with the status contacts 1 l4b, 1 l4c of the charging stand 1 10, when the battery 200 is installed in the charging stand 110.

The contacts 214 may be formed as blade receptacles that receive a contact in the form of a blade on the charging assembly 112 to electrically couple to the blade contact on at least two sides. The contacts 214 may be elongated and form a blade receptacle that includes side plates that are configured to slidably engage a blade-type contact (e.g., contacts 114) of the charging assembly 112. As such, the side plates of the contacts 214 may electrically and physically couple to the sides of a blade-type contacts 114 of the charging assembly 112.

The charging circuitry 210 may be configured to manage the operation of charging the battery 200 and, more specifically, the cells 215 in coordination with the charge control circuitry 131 of the power assembly 130 as further described herein. Similarly, the status circuitry 205 may be configured to provide status information to the power assembly 130 to facilitate charging the battery 200. Additionally, the status circuitry 205 may also provide status information to the charging circuitry 210 of the battery 200 to facilitate charging the battery 200. In this regard, the status circuitry 205 may include, for example, a temperature sensor configured to monitor and report the internal temperature of the battery 200 and the cells 215. Additionally, for example, the status circuitry 205 may provide signals to the power assembly 130, via the status contacts 2l4b, 214c, indicating attributes of the battery 200. In this regard, via the signals provided by the status circuitry 205, the power assembly 130, and more specifically the battery health and ID circuitry 132, may be able to determine, for example, a charge capacity of the battery 200 and an operating voltage of the battery 200. According to some example embodiments, the status circuitry 205 may provide attribute information by having a defined resistance that the power assembly 130 can detect to determine the attributes of the battery 200.

According to some example embodiments, the battery cells 215 of the battery 200 may be any type of rechargeable battery chemistry. In this regard, the cells 215 may be lithium ion, lithium ion polymer, nickel -metal hydride, lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, or the like. Further, the battery 200 may include a plurality of cells, which may take a variety of configurations with, for example, series and parallel connections between various ones of the cells 215.

To deliver power to and the control the charging operation at the charging stand 110, the charging stand 110 may be connected to a power assembly 130 via a charging cord 120. As such, the charging stand 110 and the power assembly 130 may be separately housed, and may, according to some example embodiments, only be coupled via the charging cord 120. The charging cord 120 may be configured to deliver power to the charging stand 110 for charging the battery 200. Further, the charging cord 120 may send and receive signals regarding the status, health, and identification (ID) of the battery 200. In this regard, according to some example embodiments, the charging cord 120 may include four internal wires with two wires dedicated to power transfer for charging and two wires for status information signaling including temperature and battery attributes. In this regard, the wires of the charging cord 120 may be electrically coupled to respective contacts 114 of the charging stand 110. The charging cord 120 may therefore electrically couple, for example, the charging contacts H4a, H4d to the power assembly 130. Further, the charging cord 120 may electrically couple the power assembly 130 and the battery health and ID circuitry 132 to the status contacts H4b, H4c of the charging assembly 112. According to some example embodiments, the charging cord 120 may include a plug at one or both ends. As such, the charging cord 120 may be removably coupled, physically and electrically, to either or both of the charging stand 110 or the power assembly 130. This removable feature of the charging cord 120 permits any of the charging stand 110, the charging cord 120, or the power assembly 130 to be replaced in the event of, for example, a failure of one of these components. Further, according to some example embodiments, the charging cord 120 may be coupled to device that operates in the same manner as the power assembly 130, but is a different device, such as, for example, a computer or other device with a power output port such as a universal serial bus (USB) port.

The power assembly 130 may include various electronic components to support battery charging. The power assembly 130 may include a housing 133 that is, according to some example embodiments, coupled to the charging assembly 112 only via the charging cord 120. The power assembly 130 may include charge control circuitry 131 and battery health and ID circuitry 132. The charge control circuitry 131 may be configured to manage the delivery of power to the battery 200 to perform a charging operation. Further, the charge control circuitry 131 may be configured to control charging of the battery 200 via the charging cord 120. Charging may be performed based on a variety of information that may be provided to the charge control circuitry 131 by, for example, the battery health and ID circuitry 132. In this regard, the battery health and ID circuitry 132 may determine various attributes about the battery 200, such as, for example, the charge capacity and operating voltage of the battery 200. Further, the battery health and ID circuitry 132 may also obtain information regarding the temperature of the battery 200, for example, during charging. In this regard, the status circuitry 205 of the battery 200 may be configured to monitor and report an internal temperature of the battery 200 to the power assembly 130 via the charging cord 120. The temperature information may be provided to the charge control circuitry 131, which may be configured to discontinue charging of the battery 200 if the temperature exceeds a set threshold. In this regard, the charge control circuitry and/or the battery health and ID circuitry 132 may include a processor and/or memory device that individually or together are configured to perform the operations of the charge control circuitry 131 and/or the battery health and ID circuitry 132 described herein.

The battery charger 100 may also include a main power cord 140. The main power cord 140 may be configured to deliver power to the power assembly 130 for both powering the power assembly 130 and for use in charging the battery 200. The main power cord 140 may be removable from the power assembly 130 and replaceable. Further, the main power cord 140 may have a plug 141 on the end opposite the power assembly 130. The plug 141 may be a plug for use with a standard wall outlet or the plug 141 may be a USB plug that may be plugged into, for example, a computer or other device with a power output.

As such, according to some example embodiments described herein, a system is provided. The system may a battery and a battery charger. The battery may comprise a connection interface, where the connection interface comprises power contacts. The battery charger may include a charging stand, a power assembly, and a charging cord. The charging stand may comprise a charging assembly and a heat removal assembly. The charging assembly may comprise charging contacts configured to electrically couple to power contacts of the battery to charge the battery. The heat removal assembly may comprise a fan configured to generate an air flow to cool the battery when the battery is installed in the battery charger. The power assembly may comprise a power assembly housing and charge control circuitry disposed within the power assembly housing. The charging cord may be configured to couple the power assembly and the power assembly housing to the charging stand. The charging cord may also electrically couple the charging contacts to the power assembly. The charge control circuitry may be configured to control charging of the battery via the charging cord.

According to some example embodiments, (1) the charging assembly of the charging stand further includes a battery engaging surface, wherein the battery engaging surface includes an opening and wherein the fan is aligned with the opening to generate the air flow through the opening. According to some example embodiments, (2) the battery includes a forward charger engaging surface that rests on the battery engaging surface when the battery is installed in the battery charger. According to some example embodiments, (3) the battery further comprises a cooling vent that aligns with the opening of the battery engaging surface, when the battery is installed in the battery charger. According to some example embodiments, (4) the battery further comprises a seal disposed on the forward charger engaging surface. According to some example embodiments, (5) the charging assembly of the charging stand further comprises status contacts that are electrically coupled to the power assembly via the charging cord. According to some example embodiments, (6) the battery further includes status contacts that physically and electrically couple to the status contacts of the charging assembly when the battery is installed in the battery charger. According to some example embodiments, (7) the battery further comprises status circuitry configured to monitor and report an internal temperature of the battery to the power assembly via the charging cord. According to some example embodiments, (8) a side of the heat removal assembly opposite the charging assembly does not extend through a plane defined by the battery engaging surface. According to some example embodiments, (9) the charging cord is removable from the charging stand or the power assembly. According to some example embodiments, (10) the battery charger may further comprising a main power cord affixed to the power assembly to provide electric power to the battery charger. In addition, one or more of (1) to (10) above may be combined to form additional example embodiments.

According to some other example embodiments, an example battery charger is provided. The battery charger may comprise a charging stand, a power assembly, and a charging cord. The charging stand may comprise a charging assembly and a heat removal assembly. The charging assembly may comprise charging contacts configured to electrically couple to power contacts of a battery to charge the battery. The heat removal assembly may comprise a fan. The fan may be configured to generate an air flow to cool the battery when the battery is installed in the battery charger. The power assembly may comprise a power assembly housing and charge control circuitry disposed within the power assembly housing. The charging cord may be configured to couple the power assembly and the power assembly housing to the charging assembly. The charging cord may also electrically couple the charging contacts to the power assembly. The charge control circuitry may be configured to control charging of the battery via the charging cord. According to some example embodiments, (1) the charging assembly of the charging stand further includes a battery engaging surface, wherein the battery engaging surface includes an opening and wherein the fan is aligned with the opening to generate the air flow through the opening. According to some example embodiments, (2) the charging assembly of the charging stand further comprises status contacts that are electrically coupled to the power assembly via the charging cord. According to some example embodiments, (3) a side of the heat removal assembly opposite the charging assembly does not extend through a plane defined by the battery engaging surface. According to some example embodiments, (4) the charging cord is removable from the charging stand or the power assembly. According to some example embodiments, (5) battery charger further comprises a main power cord affixed to the power assembly to provide electric power to the battery charger. In addition, one or more of (1) to (5) above may be combined to form additional example embodiments.

According to some example embodiments, another example system is provided. The example system may comprise a battery and a battery charger. The battery may comprise a connection interface comprising power contacts. The battery may also comprise a forward charger engaging surface. The battery charger may comprise a charging stand. The charging stand may comprise a charging assembly comprising charging contacts configured to electrically couple to power contacts of the battery to charge the battery. The charging stand may also include a heat removal assembly comprising a fan and a battery engaging surface comprising an opening. The fan may be configured to generate an air flow through the opening to cool the battery when the battery is installed in the battery charger and the forward charger engaging surface of the battery is in contact with the battery engaging surface. Further, a side of the heat removal assembly opposite the charging assembly does not extend through a plane defined by the battery engaging surface. According to some example embodiments, (1) the battery charger comprises a power assembly comprising a power assembly housing and charge control circuitry disposed within the power assembly housing. According to some example embodiments, (2) the battery charger further comprises a charging cord configured to couple the power assembly and the power assembly housing to the charging stand, the charging cord electrically coupling the charging contacts to the power assembly. According to some example embodiments, (3) the charge control circuitry is configured to control charging of the battery via the charging cord. According to some example embodiments, (4) the charging cord is removable from the charging stand or the power assembly. In addition, one or more of (1) to (4) above may be combined to form additional example embodiments.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe exemplary embodiments in the context of certain exemplary combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elements and/or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims. In cases where advantages, benefits or solutions to problems are described herein, it should be appreciated that such advantages, benefits and/or solutions may be applicable to some example embodiments, but not necessarily all example embodiments. Thus, any advantages, benefits or solutions described herein should not be thought of as being critical, required or essential to all embodiments or to that which is claimed herein. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

THAT WHICH IS CLAIMED:

1. A system (105) comprising:

a battery (200) comprising:

a connection interface (201), the connection interface (201) comprising power contacts (214a, 2l4d);

a battery charger (100) comprising:

a charging stand 110, the charging stand (110) comprising:

a charging assembly (112) comprising charging contacts (1 l4a, 1 l4d) configured to electrically couple to power contacts (214a, 2l4d) of the battery (200) to charge the battery (200); and

a heat removal assembly (111) comprising a fan (115), wherein the fan (115) is configured to generate an air flow to cool the battery (200) when the battery (200) is installed in the battery charger (100);

a power assembly (130) comprising:

a power assembly housing (133); and

charge control circuitry (131) disposed within the power assembly housing (133); and

a charging cord (120) configured to couple the power assembly (130) and the power assembly housing (133) to the charging stand (112), the charging cord (12) electrically coupling the charging contacts (1 l4a, 1 l4d) to the power assembly (130); wherein the charge control circuitry (131) is configured to control charging of the battery (200) via the charging cord (120).

2. The system (105) of claim 1, wherein the charging assembly (112) of the charging stand (110) further includes a battery engaging surface (121), wherein the battery engaging surface (121) includes an opening (119) and wherein the fan (115) is aligned with the opening (119) to generate the air flow through the opening (119).

3. The system (105) of claim 2, wherein the battery (200) includes a forward charger engaging surface (220) that rests on the battery engaging surface (121) when the battery (200) is installed in the battery charger (100).

4. The system (105) of claim 3, wherein the battery (200) further comprises a cooling vent (226) that aligns with the opening (119) of the battery engaging surface (121), when the battery (200) is installed in the battery charger (100).

5. The system (105) of claim 4, wherein the battery (200) further comprises a seal (225) disposed on the forward charger engaging surface (220).

6. The system (105) of claim 1, wherein the charging assembly (112) of the charging stand (110) further comprises status contacts (1 l4b, 1 l4c) that are electrically coupled to the power assembly (130) via the charging cord (120).

7. The system (105) of claim 6, wherein the battery (200) further includes status contacts (214b, 214c) that physically and electrically couple to the status contacts (1 l4b,

1 l4c) of the charging assembly (112) when the battery (200) is installed in the battery charger (100).

8. The system (105) of claim 7, wherein the battery (200) further comprises status circuitry (205) configured to monitor and report an internal temperature of the battery (200) to the power assembly (130) via the charging cord (120).

9. The system (105) of claim 1, wherein a side (1 l6a) of the heat removal assembly (111) opposite the charging assembly (112) does not extend through a plane defined by the battery engaging surface (121).

10. The system (105) of claim 1, wherein the charging cord (120) is removable from the charging stand (110) or the power assembly (130).

11. The system (105) of claim 1, wherein the battery charger (100) further comprises a main power cord (140) affixed to the power assembly (130) to provide electric power to the battery charger (100).

12. A battery charger (100) comprising:

a charging stand (110), the charging stand (110) comprising: a charging assembly (112) comprising charging contacts (1 l4a, 1 l4d) configured to electrically couple to power contacts (214a, 2l4d) of a battery (200) to charge the battery (200); and

a power assembly (130) comprising:

a power assembly housing (133); and

a charging cord (120) configured to couple the power assembly (130) and the power assembly housing (133) to the charging assembly (112), the charging cord (120) electrically coupling the charging contacts (1 l4a, 1 l4d) to the power assembly (130);

wherein the charge control circuitry (131) is configured to control charging of the battery (200) via the charging cord (120).

13. The battery charger (100) of claim 12, wherein the charging assembly (112) of the charging stand (110) further includes a battery engaging surface (121), wherein the battery engaging surface (121) includes an opening (119) and wherein the fan (115) is aligned with the opening (119) to generate the air flow through the opening (119).

14. The battery charger (100) of claim 12, wherein the charging assembly (112) of the charging stand (110) further comprises status contacts (1 l4b, 1 l4c) that are electrically coupled to the power assembly (130) via the charging cord (120).

15. The battery charger (100) of claim 12, wherein a side (1 l6a) of the heat removal assembly (111) opposite the charging assembly (112) does not extend through a plane defined by the battery engaging surface (121).

16. The battery charger (100) of claim 12, wherein the charging cord (120) is removable from the charging stand (110) or the power assembly (130).

17. The battery charger (100) of claim 12, further comprising a main power cord (140) affixed to the power assembly (130) to provide electric power to the battery charger (100).

18. A system (100) comprising:

a battery (200) comprising:

a connection interface (201), the connection interface (201) comprising power contacts (214a, 2l4d); and

a forward charger engaging surface (220); and

a battery charger (100) comprising:

a charging stand 110, the charging stand (110) comprising:

a heat removal assembly (111) comprising:

a fan (115); and

a battery engaging surface (121) comprising an opening (119); wherein the fan (115) is configured to generate an air flow through the opening (119) to cool the battery (200) when the battery (200) is installed in the battery charger (100) and the forward charger engaging surface (220) of the battery (200) is in contact with the battery engaging surface (121); and

wherein a side (1 l6a) of the heat removal assembly (111) opposite the charging assembly (112) does not extend through a plane defined by the battery engaging surface (121).

19. The system (105) of claim 18, wherein the battery charger (100) further comprises:

a power assembly (130) comprising:

a power assembly housing (133); and

charge control circuitry (131) disposed within the power assembly housing (133); and a charging cord (120) configured to couple the power assembly (130) and the power assembly housing (133) to the charging stand (112), the charging cord (120) electrically coupling the charging contacts (1 l4a, 1 l4d) to the power assembly (130);

20. The system (105) of claim 19, wherein the charging cord (120) is removable from the charging stand (110) or the power assembly (130).