The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 25, 2012
Filed:
Jul. 10, 2008
Andrew E. Seman, Jr., White Marsh, MD (US);
Nathan Cruise, Phoenix, MD (US);
Daniel J. White, Baltimore, MD (US);
David A. Carrier, Aberdeen, MD (US);
Daniele C. Brotto, Baltimore, MD (US);
Dahn Trinh, Parkville, MD (US);
Fugen Qin, Baltimore, MD (US);
Andrew E. Seman, Jr., White Marsh, MD (US);
Nathan Cruise, Phoenix, MD (US);
Daniel J. White, Baltimore, MD (US);
David A. Carrier, Aberdeen, MD (US);
Daniele C. Brotto, Baltimore, MD (US);
Dahn Trinh, Parkville, MD (US);
Fugen Qin, Baltimore, MD (US);
Black & Decker Inc., Newark, DE (US);
Abstract
A method for monitoring the voltage of each of a plurality of cells of a battery pack is provided. The method may include monitoring a voltage potential for each of a plurality of cells in a battery pack utilizing a single channel of battery control unit within the battery pack. If, during discharge of the battery, e.g., the battery is being used to power a hand tool, the voltage potential of any cell is determined by the battery control unit to be below a predetermined minimum voltage, the battery control unit discontinues a current flow from battery pack to the tool. Additionally, during charging of the battery pack, if a voltage differential between any one of the cells and any other one of the cells is determined to be above a predetermined maximum differential, the battery control unit reduces the voltage potential stored in the cell having the higher voltage potential.