Battery systems for power equipment

Abstract

A battery system for an electrical device, comprising: a battery configured to be removably connected to a receiver; and a processing circuit of the battery configured to be communicatively engaged with the processing circuit of the receiver, wherein the battery and the receiver are configured to be electrically connected and to transfer power from the battery to the electrical device through the receiver, wherein the processing circuit of the battery and the receiver are configured to transfer information between the battery and the receiver, and wherein the processing circuit of the battery and the receiver are configured to allow power to be transferred from the battery to the electrical device through the receiver based on the information transferred between the battery and the receiver.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related patent applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 62 / 745,045, filed October 12, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Background Art

[0003] The present application generally relates to battery packs. More specifically, the present application relates to a battery system for powering a motor on a power tool or other power equipment. Battery packs are generally used in the field of power equipment to power a motor on a power tool or to power other equipment. Typically, the battery is assembled in the receiver portion of the power tool and provides power to the motor through the terminal on the battery.

[0004] Overview

[0005] One embodiment of the present invention relates to a battery system for an electrical device, comprising: a battery configured to be removably connected to a receiver; and a processing circuit of the battery configured to be communicatively engaged with the processing circuit of the receiver; wherein the battery and the receiver are configured to be electrically connected and to transfer power from the battery to the electrical device through the receiver, wherein the processing circuit of the battery and the receiver are configured to transfer information between the battery and the receiver, and wherein the processing circuit of the battery and the receiver are configured to allow power to be transferred from the battery to the electrical device through the receiver based on the information transferred between the battery and the receiver.

[0006] Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a receiver component for an electrical device, comprising: a plurality of terminals configured to be connected to terminals of a battery; and a processing circuit configured to communicate with the processing circuit of the battery; wherein the processing circuit is further configured to enable the battery to transfer power from the battery to the receiver after receiving information from the processing circuit of the battery allowing the battery to transfer power from the battery to the receiver.

[0007] Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for connecting a battery to a receiver, wherein the method includes: removably connecting the battery to the receiver, wherein the battery and the receiver are electrically and communicatively connected, transferring information between a processing circuit of the battery and a processing circuit of the receiver, and transferring power from the battery to the receiver based on the transfer of information between the processing circuit of the battery and the processing circuit of the receiver.

[0008] Alternative exemplary embodiments are directed to other features and combinations of features recited generally in the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like elements, and in which:

[0010] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a battery and receiver assembly according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0011] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Front view of the battery and receiver assembly.

[0012] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Front perspective view of a battery.

[0013] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Front perspective view of a battery.

[0014] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 Front perspective view of a battery.

[0015] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 Rear perspective view of the battery.

[0016] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 Rear perspective view of the battery.

[0017] Figure 8 yes Figure 1 Front perspective view of the receiver.

[0018] Fig. 9 yes Figure 1 Front perspective view of the receiver.

[0019] Fig.10 yes Figure 1 Front view of the receiver.

[0020] Fig.11 yes Figure 1 Front view of the receiver.

[0021] Fig.12 yes Figure 1 Front perspective view of the receiver.

[0022] Fig.13 yes Figure 1 Front perspective view of the receiver.

[0023] Fig.14 Yes Connect Figure 1 A flow chart of a method of a battery and a receiver.

[0024] Fig.15 is a rear view of the mower head assembly including the battery and receiver assembly.

[0025] Fig.16 is a front perspective view of a leaf blower assembly including a battery and a receiver.

[0026] Fig.17 is a rear perspective view of a trimmer assembly including a battery and a receiver.

[0027] Fig.18 is a front perspective view of a chain saw assembly including a battery and a receiver.

[0028] Detailed description

[0029] Before turning to the drawings that describe exemplary embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the present application is not limited to the details or methods set forth in the specification or shown in the drawings. It should also be understood that the terminology is for descriptive purposes only and should not be considered as limiting.

[0030] Referring generally to the accompanying drawings, a battery and a receiver are shown according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the battery is configured to be removably connected to the receiver via a rail. In some embodiments, the battery is electrically connected to the receiver to transfer power from the battery to the receiver. The battery can be an 82-volt battery or can have a different rated voltage. According to some embodiments, the battery can have an anti-short circuit. In some embodiments, the battery is configured to detect whether it is inserted into the receiver. In some embodiments, the receiver is configured to detect that the battery has been inserted therein. If the battery detects that it is not in the receiver, the full power through its terminals is not allowed. If the battery detects that it is in the receiver, or if the receiver detects that the battery has been inserted and sends a command to the battery, the battery will allow full power through the terminals. In some embodiments, the battery communicates with the receiver to determine whether it should allow full power through its terminals. This communication between the battery and the receiver to determine that the battery can output power to the receiver can be called "digital handshaking". This "digital handshaking" can help ensure that only authorized batteries are allowed to power end products (such as power equipment or power tools) through the receiver. In some embodiments, the receiver and battery include an interface and circuitry configured to connect the battery and the receiver and allow the battery to output full power to the receiver.

[0031] Now refer to Figure 1 to Figure 2, a battery assembly 100 is shown. The battery assembly 100 includes a battery 110 and a receiver 120. According to some embodiments, the battery 110 may be an 82 volt battery. In some embodiments, the battery 110 is a 60 volt battery, a 52 volt battery, a 48 volt battery, a 24 volt battery, a 12 volt battery, etc., or a battery having any other voltage. In some embodiments, the battery 110 may be a lithium ion battery (Li-ion). In some embodiments, the battery 110 may be a nickel cadmium battery (NiCd), a nickel metal hydride battery (NiMH), a lithium ion polymer battery (Li-ion polymer), etc., or any other type of battery that can be used to store energy. The receiver 120 may be configured to be removably connected to the battery 110. In some embodiments, the receiver 120 is formed integrally with the power device. For example, the receiver 120 may be formed integrally with the housing of a lawnmower, a sump pump, a table saw, a concrete cutter, a hydraulic pump, a floor cleaner, a floor polisher, a handheld power tool, etc., or any other power device. These applications typically require a high-power engine with a large torque output. Such an engine requires a high voltage battery in order to be powered and run. When handling a large battery with high voltage, if a conductive object is placed between the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the battery, the battery will short-circuit. In some embodiments, for example, the receiver 120 can be formed integrally with the housing of the lawnmower. The receiver 120 can be configured to accommodate the battery 110 and can be positioned directly above the engine of the lawnmower or behind part of the engine. In some embodiments, the receiver 120 can be configured to deliver power from the battery 110 to the engine of the lawnmower, which is configured to drive the blades of the lawnmower. In some embodiments, the receiver 120 can be formed integrally with the housing of the power device and can be configured to supply power to the engine of the power device. In some embodiments, the receiver 120 can be configured to supply power from the battery 110 to the engine configured to start the internal combustion engine on the power device. In some embodiments, the receiver 120 is not formed integrally with the housing of the power device, but is removably connected to the power device and is configured to deliver power from the battery 110 to the power device. For example, the receiver 120 may be connected to the leg of a table saw and may be configured to deliver power from the battery 110 to the table saw motor.

[0032] Now refer to Figures 3 to 7 , according to some embodiments, a battery 110 is shown. According to some embodiments, the battery 110 can be a lithium-ion battery. The battery 110 can include a channel 112. The channel 112 can be configured to engage with a guide rail 126 (see Figures 8 to 9). According to some embodiments, the rails 126 and channel 112 can be configured to removably connect the battery 110 and the receiver 120. In some embodiments, the channel 112 and rails 126 guide the battery 110 into proper electrical connection with the receiver 120. The battery 110 is also shown as including a female terminal 114. The battery 110 can have any number of female terminals 114, including but not limited to a positive terminal and a negative terminal that can deliver power to a device through the receiver 120. The female terminal 114 can be configured to electrically engage with the male terminal 122 of the receiver 120 (see Figures 8 to 9 ). In some embodiments, the battery 110 has male terminals instead of female terminals 114. In some embodiments, the channel 112 is configured to properly connect the female terminals 114 of the battery 110 to the male terminals 122 of the receiver 120. In some embodiments, the terminals 114 on the battery 110 can be male or female terminals.

[0033] Still refer to Figures 3 to 7 , the battery 110 is shown to include an electronic controller 128. According to some embodiments, the electronic controller 128 may be connected to one or more of the terminals 114. In some embodiments, the electronic controller 128 is a circuit or a processor. The electronic controller 128 is configured to engage with at least one of the terminals 114 to determine whether the battery 110 has been connected to the receiver 120. The electronic controller 128 can receive information from one of the terminals 114, process the information to determine that the battery 110 has been connected to the receiver 120 and allow the battery 110 to output full power. As described above, this communication between the battery 110 and the receiver 120 can be referred to as "digital signal exchange". Advantageously, this provides a safety feature so that when the battery 110 is not connected to the receiver 120, it will not be accidentally short-circuited by a metal object across the positive terminal and the negative terminal. In addition, the battery 110 can only operate with a receiver 120 that can properly communicate with it. Therefore, the manufacturer of the battery 110 can ensure that the battery will not be used with other companies' equipment or other companies' receivers, and can allow other companies to use its batteries by providing the verification circuit 124 to other companies. Advantageously, this enables battery manufacturers to control the use of their batteries and ensure that the battery 110 is not used in an unsuitable receiver 120 .

[0034] Now refer to Figures 8 to 11, shows a receiver 120 according to some embodiments. According to some embodiments, the receiver 120 is shown to include a rail 126. In some embodiments, the rail 126 is configured to engage with the channel 112 of the battery 110 to removably connect the battery 110 and the receiver 120. In some embodiments, the receiver 120 includes a latch configured to removably connect the battery 110 to the receiver 120.

[0035] Still refer to Figures 8 to 11 , according to some embodiments, the receiver 120 is shown to include a male terminal 122. In some embodiments, the terminal of the receiver is a female terminal 114. In some embodiments, the male terminal 122 is configured to engage with the female terminal 114 of the battery 110. In some embodiments, the receiver 120 includes a verification circuit 124. According to some embodiments, the verification circuit 124 can be connected to one of the male terminals 122 and to one of the female terminals 114 of the battery 110. When the battery 110 is connected to the receiver 120, the verification circuit 124 and the electronic controller 128 can communicate with each other. The verification circuit 124 can provide information to the battery 110 indicating that the battery 110 has been connected to the receiver 120 and that the battery 110 can output full power to the receiver 120.

[0036] In some embodiments, the verification circuit 124 is a circuit board configured to communicate with the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110. According to some embodiments, the electronic controller 128 may also be a circuit board configured to communicate with the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120. Both the verification circuit 124 and the electronic controller 128 may be printed circuit boards including a processor, memory, communication interface, etc. Both the verification circuit 124 and the electronic controller 128 may include random access memory, read-only memory, dynamic random access memory, etc., or any other type of memory. In some embodiments, the electronic controller 128 and the verification circuit 124 are microcontrollers, which may include a central processing unit, random access memory, read-only memory, input / output ports, timers and counters, analog-to-digital converters and digital-to-analog converters, serial interfaces, etc. In some embodiments, the electronic controller 128 is also configured to control the output power across the terminals 114 of the battery 110.

[0037] According to some embodiments, the communication between the verification circuit 124 of the receiver and the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 can be analog or digital. In some embodiments, the verification circuit 124 can have a resistor with a specific value. The battery 110 can be configured to apply a current from a specific voltage to both ends of the resistor of the verification circuit 124 to determine the resistance of the resistor. If the electronic controller 128 determines that the resistance is a specific value (for example, 2 ohms), the electronic controller 128 can output all power to the receiver 120. In some embodiments, the battery 110 may include a resistor with a specific value, and the receiver 120 can verify its connection with the battery 110 by determining the value of the resistor and determining that it is a specific value. The receiver 120 can then send an instruction to the battery 110 to output all power from the battery 110 to the receiver 120.

[0038] In some embodiments, the communication between the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120 and the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 can be digital. The verification circuit 124 can communicate with the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 and verify that the battery 110 has been properly connected to the receiver 120 and that the battery 110 can output full power on the female terminal 114. In some embodiments, the communication between the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120 and the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 can be serial communication. In some embodiments, the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120 and the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 are both processing circuits, each of which includes a computer bus configured to communicate with each other via serial communication. The verification circuit 124 and the electronic controller 128 can communicate via SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface), I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit), USB (Universal Serial Bus), etc. or any other serial communication protocol. In some embodiments, the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120 may send a request to the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110, and the electronic controller 128 may return a value to the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120. In some embodiments, the value is a password, number, or any other information indicating that the battery 110 is connected to the receiver 120 and can output power to the receiver 120. In some embodiments, the password, number, or information indicating that the battery 110 is connected to the receiver 120 is proprietary to the manufacturer of the battery 110. According to some embodiments, this proprietary "handshake" information can help ensure that only authorized batteries 110 and receivers 120 are used in combination with each other. In some embodiments, the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 can convey information about the properties of the battery 110 (e.g., voltage, serial number, etc.) that indicates that the battery 110 is suitable for the receiver 120. In some embodiments, the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120 is configured to receive information about the properties of the battery 110 and return instructions to the battery 110 to output power to the receiver 120. In some embodiments, the information transmitted between the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120 and the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 can be encrypted. In some embodiments, the verification circuit 124 and the electronic controller 128 are configured to decrypt and encrypt information received and transmitted between the verification circuit 124 and the electronic controller 128. In some embodiments, the encryption of information transmitted between the verification circuit 124 and the electronic controller 128 can be AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), 3DES (Triple Data Encryption Standard), Twofish, RSA, or any other data encryption standard. Both the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 and the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120 can have the keys necessary to encrypt and decrypt information transmitted between the electronic controller 128 and the verification circuit 124.In some embodiments, the verification circuit 124 sends an instruction to the electronic controller 128 to allow full power to be transferred from the battery 110 to the receiver 120. The instruction may be encrypted and a key is required to decrypt the instruction. The electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 may use the key to decrypt the instruction and then process and execute the instruction, or the electronic controller 128 may process the instruction and perform an operation based on the instruction. If the battery 110 does not know the encryption / decryption key, or if the battery 110 is not equipped with an electronic controller 128 configured to decrypt and execute the command from the verification circuit 124, the battery 110 will not be able to process the instruction from the verification circuit 124, and will not output power to the device through the receiver 120. If the receiver 120 does not include the verification circuit 124, and the battery 110 includes the electronic controller 128, the battery 110 will not output full power to the receiver 120. In some embodiments, if the battery 110 does not include the electronic controller 128, the receiver 120 may be configured to prevent power from being transferred from the battery 110 to the device. For example, if a battery from another company that does not have the authentication circuit 124 is used and the battery is connected to the receiver 120, the receiver 120 will not allow power to pass from the battery to the device. In some embodiments, if the authentication circuit 124 of the receiver 120 does not receive information from the battery indicating that the battery is the correct voltage, brand, power output, etc., the receiver 120 will not allow power to pass from the battery to the device. In some embodiments, the receiver 120 can be configured to allow batteries from other manufacturers to be connected and power a device used with the receiver 120. In some embodiments, the battery 110 can be configured to output maximum power only when the battery 110 is connected to a receiver that includes the authentication circuit 124.

[0039] In some embodiments, when the battery 110 is disconnected from the receiver 120, it can be configured to be in a "locked" mode. When the battery 110 is in the "locked" mode, it can be configured to prevent the maximum power from being output through the positive terminal and the negative terminal. In some embodiments, the battery 110 can be configured to allow up to a small amount of current to be output from the terminal, so that the voltage of the battery 110 can be measured with a multimeter. In some embodiments, the "locked" mode ensures that the battery will not be short-circuited if a conductive object is placed between the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the battery 110. In some embodiments, the battery 110 includes a fuse that is configured to disconnect if the current output obtained from the battery 110 is greater than a threshold. In some embodiments, the communication between the battery 110 and the receiver 120 causes the battery 110 to be converted to an "unlocked" mode. In some embodiments, the battery 110 can only be unlocked when it has communicated with the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120 and is connected to the receiver 120. When the battery 110 is in the "unlocked" mode, it can allow the maximum power to be output through the terminal 114. The power output from the battery 110 can be delivered to the engine of the power device through the receiver 120. In some embodiments, when the battery 110 is removed from the receiver 120, it defaults to return to the "locked" mode. In some embodiments, the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 is powered by the battery 110. In some embodiments, the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120 is powered by the battery 110. In some embodiments, the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120 and the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 can each include their own batteries and can receive power from their own batteries. The electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 can be configured to detect that the battery 110 is connected to the receiver 120 and allow the power output from the battery 110 to be sufficient to power the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120. The electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 and the verification circuit 124 of the receiver can then communicate as described above to verify that the battery 110 and the receiver 120 can be used with each other and that the battery 110 can pass power to the device through the receiver.

[0040] In some embodiments, the connection between the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120 and the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 can be a wired connection. For example, one or more of the terminals 114 of the battery 110 and one or more of the terminals 122 of the receiver 120 can be configured to communicatively connect the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 to the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120. In some embodiments, the connection between the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120 and the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 can be a wireless connection. For example, the communication connection between the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120 and the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 can be a Bluetooth connection. In some embodiments, the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120 and the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 can include a radio transmitter / receiver configured to communicate with each other. In some embodiments, the radio transmitter / receiver communicates at a frequency between 2 MHz and 3.5 MHz. In some embodiments, the verification circuit 124 and the electronic controller 128 convey the same information as described above through the radio transmitter / receiver.

[0041] Now refer to Fig.13 According to some embodiments, the receiver 120 may include a terminal assembly 130. The terminal assembly 130 may include a terminal 122 connected to a verification circuit 124. The terminal assembly 130 is removably connectable to the receiver 120 and is configured to connect to the battery 110 and communicate with the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110. In some embodiments, the receiver 120 may include components (e.g., rails, latches, etc.) for removably connecting the battery 110 to the receiver 120, and the terminal assembly 130 may provide electronic components for connecting to the battery 110. Advantageously, the terminal assembly 130 may be provided to other manufacturers so that the terminal assembly 130 may be used in other power devices. This allows the terminal assembly 130 manufacturer to allow other manufacturers to use the battery 110 / terminal assembly 130 system without disclosing the method of the system.

[0042] Now refer to Fig.14 , according to some embodiments, a method 1400 for connecting a battery 110 to a receiver 120 is shown. The method 1400 includes steps 1410 to 1440, and describes in detail a method of connecting the battery 110 to the receiver 120 and allowing the battery 110 to output power to the receiver 120.

[0043] Step 1410 of method 1400 includes connecting the battery 110 to the receiver 120. Step 1410 can be accomplished by using the guide rails 126 of the receiver 120. In some embodiments, the guide rails 126 of the receiver 120 are configured to engage with the channel 112 of the battery 110 to guide the battery 110 to properly connect with the receiver 120. In some embodiments, the receiver 120 and / or the battery 110 can include a latch configured to removably connect the battery 110 and the receiver 120. Step 1410 also includes electrically and communicatively connecting the battery 110 and the receiver 120. The battery 110 and the receiver 120 can be electrically connected by connecting the terminal 122 of the receiver 120 to the terminal 114 of the battery 110. In some embodiments, one of the terminal sets 114 and 122 is a male terminal, and one of the terminal sets 114 and 122 is a female terminal. In some embodiments, the connection between terminals 114 and 122 allows the battery 110 to output power to the receiver 120, and then the power can be delivered to the device. In some embodiments, the battery 110 and the receiver 120 are also communicatively connected. In some embodiments, the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 is communicatively connected to the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120, so that the verification circuit 124 and the electronic controller 128 can pass information between each other. In some embodiments, the battery 110 and the receiver 120 are communicatively connected through at least one of the terminals 114 and 122. In some embodiments, the electronic controller 128 and the verification circuit 124 are communicatively connected to each other through at least one of the terminals 114 and 122. In some embodiments, the battery 110 and the receiver are communicatively connected through a radio transmitter / receiver. In some embodiments, the electronic controller 128 and the verification circuit 124 are communicatively connected to each other through a radio transmitter / receiver.

[0044] Step 1420 of method 1400 includes transmitting information between the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120 and the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110. In some embodiments, the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120 and the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 transmit information between each other through the communicative connection described in step 1410. According to some embodiments, step 1420 of method 1400 can be performed by the electronic controller 128 and the verification circuit 124. In some embodiments, the electronic controller 128 and the verification circuit 124 are circuits configured to communicate digitally with each other. In some embodiments, the electronic controller 128 and the verification circuit 124 are microprocessors. In some embodiments, the electronic controller 128 and the verification circuit 124 are configured to communicate serially with each other. In some embodiments, the information sent and received between the electronic controller 128 and the verification circuit 124 is at least one of a password, a value, an instruction, or any other information. According to some embodiments, the information transmitted between the electronic controller 128 and the verification circuit 124 can be encrypted. In some embodiments, both the electronic controller 128 and the verification circuit 124 may have a key or algorithm that encrypts and decrypts the information sent between them. According to some embodiments, the key or algorithm may be stored in the memory of the electronic controller 128 and the verification circuit 124. In some embodiments, the key or algorithm is stored in a non-volatile memory on the electronic controller 128 or the verification circuit 124. In some embodiments, the information sent between the electronic controller 128 and the verification circuit 124 is analog. For example, the verification circuit 124 of the battery 110 may be configured to detect that the resistor of the receiver 120 has a specific value. In some embodiments, the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120 can detect that the battery 110 has a resistor with a specific value, and send instructions to the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 based on the detection resistor having a specific value.

[0045] Step 1430 of method 1400 includes verifying that the battery 110 and the receiver 120 are properly connected based on the communicated information. In addition, step 1430 may include verifying that the battery 110 is the correct voltage, brand, etc. for the receiver 120. According to some embodiments, step 1430 of method 1400 may be performed by the battery 110 and the receiver 120. In some embodiments, step 1430 of method 1400 may be performed by the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120 and the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110. The information communicated between the battery 110 and the receiver 120 may indicate that the battery 110 and the receiver 120 are properly connected. In addition, the information communicated between the battery 110 and the receiver may indicate that the battery 110 and the receiver 120 are compatible with each other. For example, if the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 passes the correct password to the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120 (or if the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120 passes the correct password to the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 to "unlock" the battery 110), this can verify that the battery 110 and the receiver 120 are compatible with each other. In some embodiments, the information transmitted between the battery 110 and the receiver 120 or between the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 and the verification circuit 124 of the receiver 120 can be instructions, values, or any other information as described in step 1420 above.

[0046] Step 1440 of method 1400 includes outputting all power from battery 110 to receiver 120. In some embodiments, step 1440 is performed by electronic controller 128 of battery 110. Electronic controller 128 of battery 110 may be configured to control the power output from battery 110 based on information transmitted between battery 110 and receiver 120 or based on information transmitted between electronic controller 128 of battery 110 and verification circuit 124 of receiver 120. In some embodiments, the power output from battery 110 is transmitted to receiver 120 through the connection between terminals 114 and 122. In some embodiments, electronic controller 128 of battery 110 is configured to convert battery 110 from a "locked" mode (i.e., not allowing battery 110 to output all power) to an "unlocked" mode (i.e., allowing battery 110 to output all power) based on verification that battery 110 and receiver 120 are connected. In some embodiments, receiver 120 is configured to transmit the power supplied from battery 110 to the device. In some embodiments, the receiver 120 includes an electrical connection between a terminal 122 of the receiver 120 and the device. In some embodiments, the receiver 120 is electrically connected to a motor of the device.

[0047] Although not stated in method 1400, according to some embodiments, the electronic controller 128 of the battery 110 can be configured to convert the battery 110 to a "locked" mode when the battery 110 is disconnected from the receiver 120. When the battery 110 is used to power a device or to transfer power to the receiver 120, the battery 110 and the receiver 120 can continuously communicate information between the battery 110 and the receiver 120. For example, the battery 110 and the receiver 120 can be communicatively connected to continuously communicate information about the battery 110 currently being connected to the receiver between each other. In some embodiments, when the battery 110 is disconnected from the receiver 120, the communication between the battery 110 and the receiver 120 is stopped, and as a result, the battery 110 is converted to a "locked" mode. In other words, the battery 110 can be converted to an "unlocked" mode due to its connection with the receiver 120, but continuous communication between the battery 110 and the receiver 120 is also required to keep the battery 110 in the "unlocked" mode. Once communication between the battery 110 and the receiver 120 ceases (eg, because the battery 110 is disconnected), the battery 110 may default back to a “locked” mode.

[0048] Now refer to Fig.15 , according to some embodiments, an implementation of the present invention is shown. Fig.15 A lawnmower head assembly 200 is shown, which includes a lawnmower head 202, a receiver 204, a battery 206, and a shied guard 208. The lawnmower head 202 can be fixedly connected to a lawnmower deck (not shown) and can be configured to drive a lawnmower blade using an engine (not shown) to cut grass. In some embodiments, the battery 206 is configured to slide into a recessed portion of the receiver 204. In some embodiments, the receiver 204 is integrally formed with the lawnmower head 202. The battery 206 can be removably connected to the receiver 204. In some embodiments, the shied guard 208 is configured to be selectively configured in an open position (such as Fig.15 When the guard 208 is in the closed position, the guard 208 can provide a surface to maintain the battery 206 in place and prevent the battery 206 from falling out during operation of the mower head assembly 200. The mower head assembly 200 can include an electric motor (not shown) electrically connected to terminals (not shown) of the receiver 204. In some embodiments, the motor is configured to drive the mower blades.

[0049] The battery 206 may include the electronic controller 128, and the receiver 204 may include the verification circuit 124. In some embodiments, the electronic controller 128 and the verification circuit 124 are configured to communicate as described in detail above. The battery 206 and the receiver 204 may be configured to power the engine based on the communication of the electronic controller 128 and the verification circuit 124 as described in detail above. Fig.15 This is just one embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] Now refer to Figure 16-18 , showing several applications using the battery system described herein. Fig.16 A leaf blower assembly 300 is shown. Fig.17 An edge trimmer assembly 400 is shown, and Fig.18 Chain saw assembly 500 is shown. According to some embodiments, each of leaf blower assembly 300, edge trimmer assembly 400, and chain saw assembly 500 includes an electric device (ie, a power supply, such as a power supply, ... Fig.16 , Fig.17 and Fig.18 Each of the leaf blower assembly 300, the edge trimmer assembly 400, and the chain saw assembly 500 further includes a battery 110 and a receiver 120 (ie, a battery pack 110, a battery pack 12 ... Fig.16 , Fig.17 and Fig.18 306 and receiver 304, battery 406 and receiver 404, battery 506 and receiver 504 are shown). Each of the batteries 306, 406, 506 is configured to communicate with and "exchange signals" with the receiver 304, 404, 504, respectively, as described above. In some embodiments, each of the receiver 304, receiver 404, and receiver 504 is formed integrally with the housing of the leaf blower 302, edge trimmer 402, and chain saw 502, respectively. In some embodiments, each of the batteries 306, battery 406, and battery 506 is configured to deliver power to the engine of the leaf blower 302, edge trimmer 402, and chain saw 502 through the receiver 304, receiver 404, and receiver 504, respectively.

[0051] The battery system described herein is advantageous for a number of reasons. For example, the battery system provides a safety measure to ensure that the battery 110 does not short-circuit if a conductive object is accidentally placed on the positive terminal and the negative terminal 114. If the battery 110 short-circuits, it may cause a sharp rise in temperature, which may damage the battery 110. The battery system described herein also reduces the chance that the battery 110 may be damaged by providing a safety mechanism to ensure that the maximum power (or current) cannot be output when the battery is not inserted into an appropriate receiver. In addition, even when the battery 110 is not connected to the receiver 120, the battery 110 is still able to output the small amount of current required to measure the voltage of the battery 110.

[0052] Another advantage of the battery assembly described herein is that it provides manufacturers with greater ability to control the use of their batteries and their applications. For example, a manufacturer can provide terminal assemblies 130 or terminal 122 and verification circuit 124 components to other manufacturers. Other manufacturers can still use the battery 110 and receiver 120 system on their devices, but the battery 110 / terminal assembly 130 manufacturer can still maintain control of the use of the battery 110 / terminal assembly 130 system. For example, other manufacturers can produce receivers 120 incorporated into their devices, and be provided with terminal assemblies 130 that can be easily installed in the receiver 120 and configured to deliver power to the device.

[0053] Another advantage is that the battery system described herein ensures that the correct battery 110 will be used with the device, and the battery 110 will only output power to the device if the battery 110 is correctly connected to the receiver 120. Advantageously, this ensures that an incorrect battery with incorrect properties that could damage the device or the battery is not used with the device.

[0054] Although this specification contains many specific implementation details, these details should not be interpreted as limitations on the scope of the claimed protection, but should be regarded as descriptions of specific features of specific implementations. Certain features described in this specification in the context of separate implementations may also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features described in the context of a single implementation may also be implemented separately in multiple implementations or in any suitable sub-combination. In addition, although features may be described above as working in certain combinations, or even initially stated as such, in some cases, one or more features of the claimed combination may be separated from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or a variation of the sub-combination.

[0055] It should be understood that although words such as "suitable" or "appropriate" are used in the above description to indicate that the functions described in this way may be more suitable, they may not be necessary, and embodiments lacking them are expected to be within the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the appended claims. When reading the claims, it is intended that when words such as "a", "an" or "at least one" are used, it is not intended to limit the claim to only one, unless there is an explicit statement to the contrary in the claims.

[0056] It should be noted that certain paragraphs of the present disclosure may refer to terms such as "first" and "second" in relation to sides and ends, etc., for identifying or distinguishing one from another or the like. These terms are not intended to relate entities (e.g., first side and second side) only in time or according to sequence, although in some cases, these entities may include such a relationship. These terms also do not limit the number of possible entities (e.g., sides or ends) that can operate in a system or environment.

[0057] As used herein, the terms "connected" and the like refer to the joining of two components directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be fixed (e.g., permanent) or movable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved by the two components or the two components and any additional intermediate components being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or the two components or the two components and any additional intermediate components being connected to one another.

[0058] As used herein, the term "circuit" may include hardware configured to perform the functions described herein. In some embodiments, each respective "circuit" may include a machine-readable medium for configuring hardware to perform the functions described herein. The circuit may be embodied as one or more circuit components, including but not limited to processing circuits, network interfaces, peripherals, input devices, output devices, sensors, etc. In some embodiments, the circuit may take the form of one or more analog circuits, electronic circuits (e.g., integrated circuits (ICs), discrete circuits, system-on-chip (SOC) circuits, etc.), telecommunications circuits, hybrid circuits, and any other type of "circuit". In this regard, a "circuit" may include any type of component for implementing or facilitating the implementation of the operations described herein. For example, the circuit described herein may include one or more transistors, logic gates (e.g., NAND, AND, NOR, OR, XOR, NOT, XNOR, etc.), resistors, multiplexers, registers, capacitors, inductors, diodes, wiring, etc.).

[0059] "Circuit" may also include one or more processors that are communicatively connected to one or more memories or storage devices. In this regard, one or more processors may execute instructions stored in the memory, or may execute instructions accessible to another one or more processors. In some embodiments, one or more processors may be implemented in various ways. One or more processors may be constructed in a manner sufficient to perform at least the operations described herein. In some embodiments, one or more processors may be shared by multiple circuits (e.g., circuit A and circuit B may contain or share the same processor, which may execute instructions stored or otherwise accessed through different regions of the memory in some example embodiments). Alternatively or additionally, one or more processors may be constructed to perform or otherwise perform certain operations independently of one or more coprocessors. In other example embodiments, two or more processors may be connected via a bus to implement independent, parallel, pipelined or multi-threaded instruction execution. Each processor may be implemented as one or more general-purpose processors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), or other suitable electronic data processing components that are constructed to execute instructions provided by the memory. One or more processors may take the form of a single-core processor, a multi-core processor (e.g., a dual-core processor, a triple-core processor, a quad-core processor, etc.), a microprocessor, etc. In some embodiments, one or more processors may be external to the device, for example, one or more processors may be a remote processor (e.g., a cloud-based processor). Alternatively or additionally, one or more processors may be internal and / or local to the device. In this regard, a given circuit or its components may be provided locally (e.g., as part of a local server, a local computing system, etc.) or remotely (e.g., as part of a remote server (e.g., a cloud-based server). To this end, the "circuit" described herein may include components distributed in one or more locations.

Claims

1. A battery system for an electric power device, the battery system comprising: a battery configured to be removably connected to the receiver; processing circuitry of the battery configured to communicatively engage processing circuitry of the receiver; as well as an authentication circuit configured to communicate with a processing circuit of the battery and enable the battery to transition to an unlocked mode, wherein the authentication circuit is within the receiver, and wherein the receiver is separate from and connectable to the housing of the power equipment; wherein the battery and the receiver are configured to be electrically connected and to transfer power from the battery to the engine via the receiver; wherein the processing circuitry of the battery and the receiver is configured to communicate information between the battery and the receiver; wherein the processing circuitry of the battery and the receiver is configured to allow power to be passed from the battery through the receiver based on information passed between the battery and the receiver; and The battery switches between a locked mode and an unlocked mode based on the communicated information, wherein the locked mode includes preventing the battery from outputting maximum power and the unlocked mode includes allowing the battery to output maximum power.

2. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit of the battery and the processing circuit of the receiver are configured to continuously communicate information between each other during the transfer of power from the battery to the power device through the receiver. 3 . The battery system of claim 2 , wherein the information communicated between the battery and the processing circuit of the receiver is analog information indicating that the battery is connected to the receiver.

4. The battery system of claim 2, wherein the information communicated between the battery and the processing circuit of the receiver is digital information indicating that the battery is connected to the receiver. 5 . The battery system according to claim 4 , wherein the digital information is at least one of a value, a password, an instruction, and a signal.

6. The battery system of claim 5, wherein the digital information is encrypted, and the processing circuit of the battery and the processing circuit of the receiver contain keys to encrypt and decrypt the digital information.

7. The battery system of claim 6, wherein the battery is configured to return to a locked mode by default when the battery is removed from the receiver.

8. A receiver assembly for an electric power device, the receiver assembly comprising: a receiver housing; a plurality of terminals configured to connect to a plurality of terminals of a battery and provide power from the battery to the engine; a processing circuit configured to communicate with the processing circuit of the battery; as well as an authentication circuit configured to communicate with a processing circuit of the battery and enable the battery to transition to an unlocked mode, wherein the authentication circuit is within the receiver housing, and wherein the receiver is integrally formed with the housing of the power device; wherein the processing circuit is further configured to: upon receiving information from the processing circuit of the battery that allows the battery to pass power from the battery to the receiver, enable the battery to pass power from the battery to the receiver; The battery switches between a locked mode and an unlocked mode based on the information, wherein the locked mode includes preventing the battery from outputting maximum power and the unlocked mode includes allowing the battery to output maximum power.

9. The receiver assembly of claim 8, wherein the receiver's processing circuit is further configured to continuously communicate with the battery's processing circuit during the transfer of power from the battery to the receiver, and continuous communication between the receiver's processing circuit and the battery's processing circuit is necessary for the continued transfer of power from the battery to the receiver.

10. The receiver assembly of claim 8, wherein the processing circuit of the receiver is configured to digitally communicate with the processing circuit of the battery, and the information sent by the processing circuit of the receiver is digital information.

11. The receiver assembly of claim 10, wherein the digital information is at least one of: a password, a value, a number, an instruction, and a request.

12. The receiver assembly of claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry of the receiver is configured to encrypt the digital information and send the digital information to the processing circuitry of the battery.

13. A method for connecting a battery to a receiver, the method comprising: removably connecting the battery to the receiver, wherein the battery and the receiver are electrically and communicatively connected such that the receiver is configured to provide power from the battery to the engine; transferring information between processing circuitry of the battery and processing circuitry of the receiver; as well as transferring power from the battery to the receiver based on the communication of information between the processing circuit of the battery and the processing circuit of the receiver; The processing circuitry of the battery communicates with the authentication circuitry within the receiver to enable the battery to transition to an unlocked mode; as well as The battery is converted between a locked mode and an unlocked mode based on the information, wherein the locked mode includes preventing the battery from outputting maximum power and the unlocked mode includes allowing the battery to output maximum power.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: sending digital information regarding the presence of the battery from processing circuitry of the battery to processing circuitry of the receiver; receiving and processing, with the processing circuitry of the receiver, digital information regarding the presence of the battery from the processing circuitry of the battery; sending digital information from a processing circuit of the receiver to a processing circuit of the battery to cause the battery to provide power to the receiver; and Digital information sent from the processing circuit of the receiver is processed by the processing circuit of the battery, and power is transferred from the battery to the receiver.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising continuously communicating information between processing circuitry of the receiver and processing circuitry of the battery to maintain power delivery from the battery to the receiver.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising ceasing to transfer power from the battery to the receiver when the battery is disconnected from the receiver and continuous transfer of information between processing circuitry of the battery and processing circuitry of the receiver ceases.

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