Black Decker Inc.

Snehal S Choksi

Geoffrey Stephen Howard

Daniele C Brotto

Danh Thanh Trinh

David A Carrier

Andrew E Seman

Fred S Watts

Daniel Joseph White

Qiang J Zhang

Daniel Lee Schwarz

Regina Gracia C Cunanan

Thomas C Kohler

Nathan J Cruise

Michelle Lynn Bowers

Keith Hopwood

Richard A Sy

Jiunping Huang

Gabriel E Concari

James B Watson

Andrew E Seman, Jr

Bhanuprasad V Gorti

James P Bascom

Rouse Roby Bailey, Jr

Andrzej R Wojcicki

Keith Moore

Chun-Te Chin

Minghuang Hung

Fugen Qin

Edward Allen Harrison

Jesse P Hill

R Roby Bailey, Jr

Alexis W Johnson

Jonathan Kirkpatrick

Crystal G Young

Leon T Gibson

Andrew E Seman Jr

A power supply apparatus is provided including a housing, at least one battery receptacle for receiving at least one removable battery pack, an inverter that converts a direct-current (DC) signal from the at least one battery pack to an alternating-current (AC) signal, and a controller that applies a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal to the inverter to shape the AC signal with a lower harmonic distortion relative to a square wave. For each full cycle of the AC signal, the controller sets the duty cycle to approximately 100% within a first period corresponding to a peak area of the AC signal, to less than approximately 100% but greater than approximately 0% within a second period in which the AC signal transitions from the peak to a zero-cross following the first period, and to 0% within a third period corresponding to the zero-cross of the AC signal following the second period.

Portable power supply

The present disclosure is directed to a portable power supply system for providing power to corded power tools. The portable power supply is configured to charge a plurality of battery packs in parallel from an external power supply. The portable power supply is also configured to discharge the plurality of battery packs in series to an output connectable to a corded power tool.

The present invention is directed to a portable power supply system. The system is capable of converting DC power from one or more removable, rechargeable battery packs to AC power for corded power tools and appliance. The system is also capable of receiving AC power from an AC power supply and converting the AC power to DC power and using the DC power to charge the removable, rechargeable battery packs. The system includes a heat sink to assist in dissipating heat generated by various electronic components in the system. The heat sink also serves as a structural element to provide structural support to a housing of the system.

A method of charging a battery pack is provided. The method includes: electronically connecting a battery pack to a charger; detecting information regarding the battery pack; determining an appropriate charging regime based on the detected information; and applying the charging regime to the battery pack. A battery charger may also provided. The battery charger includes: a first terminal for connecting to a battery pack; a second terminal for connecting to a battery pack, a microprocessor operatively connected to the terminals and configured to receive a signal from at least one terminal regarding a battery pack connected to the terminal and control the charger to select and apply a charging regime to the battery pack according to the signal.

Battery pack chargers and charging method

A light stand assembly with a base having pivoting legs and a power supply circuit. An adjustable post detachably connects to the base. The adjustable post is configured for telescoping movement between a lower position and a raised position, and secures at a selected position with latches. An adjustable post connector moveably connects to the adjustable post. A pair of light modules detachably connect to the adjustable post connector and operatively connects to the power supply circuit.

Light module

A control module is included in a battery charger that is adapted to charge a plurality of battery packs of different types or a power tool that is adapted to be powered by at least one of the battery packs. The control module includes a remote sensing module that communicates remotely with one of the battery packs. The control module also includes a battery pack connection module that determines that the one of the battery packs is in electrical communication with at least one of the battery charger and the power tool. The control module also includes a battery pack identification (ID) module that determines a first type of the battery pack based on remote sensing module signals. The control module also includes a charge control module that determines at least one of a charge setting and a discharge setting for the battery pack based on the first type.

Battery pack identification system

A battery pack which includes a battery pack electronic control circuit adapted to control an attached power tool and/or an attached charger. The battery pack includes additional protection circuits, methodologies and devices to protect against fault conditions within the pack, as the pack is operatively attached to and providing power to the power tool, and/or as the pack is operatively attached to and being charged by the charger.

Battery pack for cordless power tools

A method is provided for distinguishing between batteries having different chemistry compositions. The method includes: supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof; monitoring a voltage characteristic of the battery periodically during charging, wherein the voltage characteristic varies over time with the state of charge of the battery; and identifying the chemistry composition of the battery based on the voltage characteristic of the battery.

Method for distinguishing batteries having different chemistries

A battery pack which includes a battery pack electronic control circuit adapted to control an attached power tool and/or an attached charger. The battery pack includes additional protection circuits, methodologies and devices to protect against fault conditions within the pack, as the pack is operatively attached to and providing power to the power tool, and/or as they pack is operatively attached to and being charged by the charger.

Growing community of inventors

Owings Mills, MD, United States of America

Snehal S Choksi