Black Decker Inc.

Alcatel

Saft America

Janet M Embrey

Robert Bradus

Daniele C Brotto

Robert G Moores, Jr

Paul S White

Fred S Watts

Rouse Roby Bailey, Jr

John R Cochran

Lee W Ramstrom

Daniel Joseph White

Andrew E Seman

Danh Thanh Trinh

Salah M Oweis

James G Snyder

Richard A Marsh

Robert Staniewicz

Louis d'Ussel

J Douglass Briscoe

Gabriel L Castro

James D Briscoe

A control module for a battery that powers a load includes a compensation module that adjusts a shutoff voltage based on voltage and impedance of the battery and current drawn by the load from the battery as time the load is drawing current increases. A discharge control module restricts power to the load based on the adjusted shutoff voltage.

Temperature and polarization voltage compensation system

A cordless power tool has a housing which includes a mechanism to couple with a removable battery pack. The battery pack includes one or more battery cells as well as a vent system in the battery pack housing which enables fluid to move through the housing. A mechanism is associated with the battery pack to dissipate heat from the battery pack.

Battery cooling system

In a method of charging a battery pack, the pack is inserted in a charger and an initial set of checks of cell voltage and pack temperature is performed. Once the initial set of checks is satisfied, the cells may be charged at a first constant current level. The first constant current level is adjusted to one or more lower levels of constant current until cell voltages of all the cells are within a full charge voltage window. The voltage window is defined between a minimum full charge cell voltage level and a maximum full charge cell voltage level. The charge may be terminated once all of the cells are within the full charge voltage window.

Methods of charging battery packs for cordless power tool systems

A method for charging a rechargeable battery pack includes providing a charger having first and second charging processes, and manually selecting one of the first and second charging processes. The charging method may include a step for indicating status or end of the selected one charging process. The first charging process may include the steps of providing a fast charging current, indicating end of the fast charging current and providing an equalization current. The second charging process may include the steps of providing a fast charging current, subsequently providing an equalization current and indicating end of equalization current. The second charging process may also include a temperature checking step. Further disclosed is a battery charging apparatus including a charger for charging a battery and having first and second charging processes, and a switch connected to the charger for manually selecting one of the first and second charging processes. The charger may include a microprocessor. Further, the apparatus may include a display output and/or sound output connected to the charger. The display output and/or sound output may indicate status or end of the selected one charging process. The display output may comprise a light bulb, a light emitting diode and/or a liquid crystal display. The sound output may comprise a speaker and/or a piezo-electric device.

Method and apparatus for manually selecting battery charging process

A thermal electrochemical cell having a LiAl anode with a salt additive in the range of 10% to 40%, a transition metal fluoride cathode and an alkali metal fluoride salt mixture electrolyte. Preferably, the cathode is CuF and the electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of LiF&mdash;KF, LiF&mdash;KF&mdash;NaF, LiF&mdash;RbF, LiF&mdash;KF&mdash;RbF, LiF&mdash;NaF&mdash;RbF, and LiF&mdash;KF&mdash;RbF.

Anode invention for lithium/transition metal fluoride molten salt cells and batteries

A separator system for a LiAl/FeS.sub.x electrochemical cell includes microporous sintered metal particle retainer screens fabricated by cold compacting, tape casting or plasma spraying, followed by sintering. The separator may consist of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 or MgO powder, AlN microporous particles, AlN microporous disk or ceramic standoff sandwiched between two screens or Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 or MgO powder plasma sprayed onto one screen surface. The various separator system combinations are impregnated with 20% to 50% by volume electrolyte salt for ionic conductivity. Pore size is less than 10 .mu.m, excluding electrode particles from reaching the separator.

LIAl/FES.sub.x battery separator system with microporous electrode

Growing community of inventors

Fallston, MD, United States of America

Janet M Embrey