Battery pack, battery-driven device, external charger, and configuration method

Abstract

The invention relates to a configurable battery pack having a control device with a data memory for storing at least one battery charging parameter. The battery pack also has a data interface connected to the control device. The control device and the data interface are designed to provide the at least one battery charging parameter at the data interface for a device connected to the battery pack. It is provided that the control device and the data interface are designed to configure the at least one battery charging parameter by an input at the data interface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a configurable battery pack having a control device with a data memory for storing at least one battery charging parameter and a data interface connected to the control device.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a battery-driven device for use with a configurable battery pack, having a power consumption control unit, a device interface, and at least one power consumption device.

[0003] The present invention also relates to an external charger for charging a configurable battery pack, having a charging control unit and a device interface.

[0004] The present invention also relates to a system comprising a device and a configurable battery pack.

[0005] Finally, the present invention also relates to a configuration method for a configurable battery pack, wherein at least one battery charging parameter of the battery pack is provided at the data interface of the battery pack. Background Technology

[0006] Batteries or battery packs have long been known and are used as current sources in many battery-powered devices in the prior art.

[0007] In the continuous improvement of batteries, the available total capacity or energy density of battery packs has sometimes been very high, necessitating special safety measures during the transportation, storage, and handling of battery packs. At the same time, for economic reasons, it is often necessary to arrange the transportation and storage of such "high-performance battery packs" (e.g., battery packs with a total capacity of 100 watt-hours or more) or electrical equipment containing such battery packs as uncomplicatedly as possible.

[0008] To address this problem, it is known that individual battery cells or multiple battery packs within a battery pack are only electrically connected to each other when the battery pack is to be put into use. Therefore, it is feasible to safely transport or store the battery pack or electrical device containing the battery pack, while simultaneously providing a high total available capacitance as the sum of the individual capacitances of the circuit during operation.

[0009] Such a battery pack is disclosed, for example, by DE 20 2015 106 271 U1. A battery pack with a switchable total capacitance for supplying power to mobile electrical equipment has at least two separate individual cell packs with electrical interfaces, wherein the electrical interfaces of the individual cell packs can be electrically connected to each other to generate the total capacitance only by incorporating the battery pack into the equipment and / or by electrically connecting the battery pack to the equipment. DE 20 2015 106 271 U1 also specifies that at least one switching element is provided for internally connecting the electrical interfaces of the individual cell packs, and that the switching element is switchable by incorporating the battery pack into the equipment and / or by electrically connecting it to the equipment.

[0010] Although such battery packs are safer to transport and store in principle, because the individual battery packs are initially separate and the total usable capacity of the battery pack is relatively small during transport and storage, there is a certain risk. This is because the sum of the stored energy of the individual battery packs, which are initially separate, is still high, and therefore the danger of the battery pack may be exposed in the event of serious transport damage.

[0011] In principle, it is preferable to limit the sum of the stored energy of the battery pack during transportation and storage.

[0012] It is also known to use a charger for a battery pack, where the desired state of charging can be set as the end standard for the charging process. Such a charger is disclosed, for example, by WO 2010 / 060400 A2. "Charging the battery pack to, for example, only 80% of the total capacity" is also advantageous in terms of the battery pack's lifespan, as it is known that the battery pack's lifespan is extended when it is not always fully charged.

[0013] While the energy fed into the battery pack can be limited during charging with the aid of a charger, it cannot be guaranteed that the user or manufacturer will actually only charge the battery pack to what is considered a safe charging limit. Therefore, legal regulations concerning the transport of dangerous goods depend only on the total available capacity of the battery pack and not on the actual state of charging.

[0014] Another problem may arise when using battery packs in various devices with different power consumption requirements. This is particularly problematic when the device has a energy recovery system to feed energy back into the battery pack during motor deceleration. If the battery pack is not properly matched to the specific application, the feedback current, determined by motor braking, can cause a voltage increase exceeding the permissible single-cell voltage of the individual battery cells. This can damage individual cells, potentially leading to battery pack failure or at least a shortened lifespan. This problem can also significantly limit the flexible compatibility of the battery pack between different devices. Summary of the Invention

[0015] In view of the prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide a configurable battery pack that allows for reliable transport and storage while also being flexible in use.

[0016] The object of the present invention is also to provide a battery-driven device that is advantageously suited for use with a configurable battery pack.

[0017] Finally, the objective of the present invention is also to provide an external charger that is advantageously suited for use with a configurable battery pack.

[0018] The object of the present invention is also to provide a flexible system consisting of a device and a configurable battery pack, and an advantageous method for configuring the battery pack.

[0019] The configurable battery pack (1) has a control device (2) with a data memory (4) for storing at least one battery charging parameter and a data interface (5) connected to the control device (2), wherein the control device (2) and the data interface (5) are configured to provide the at least one battery charging parameter at the data interface (5) to a device (6,7) connected to the battery pack (1), characterized in that the control device (2) and the data interface (5) are configured to configure the at least one battery charging parameter through input at the data interface (5).

[0020] The battery-driven device (6) has a power consumption control unit (15), a device interface (16), and at least one power consumption device (17). The device interface (16) is designed as a battery pack interface (9) that is electrically and mechanically connected to the power supply of the power consumption device (17) and is detachably connected to the power supply of the battery pack (1). The device is characterized by having a configuration interface (18) that can be electrically connected to the data interface (5) of the battery pack (1). The configuration interface is configured to configure at least one battery charging parameter of the battery pack (1) through the data interface (5) of the battery pack (1) according to the setting conditions of the power consumption control unit (15) and taking into account the user setting conditions and / or the power requirements of the power consumption device (17).

[0021] The external charger (7) has a charging control unit (21) and a device interface (16), wherein the device interface (16) is designed to be electrically and mechanically connected to the battery pack interface (9) of the battery pack (1) for the charging process of the battery pack (1). It is characterized by having a configuration interface (18) that can be electrically connected to the data interface (5) of the battery pack (1). This configuration interface is configured to collect at least one battery charging parameter provided on the data interface (5) of the battery pack (1) and configure it according to the setting conditions of the charging control unit (21) while taking into account user-defined conditions.

[0022] The system (14) includes the aforementioned configurable battery pack (1), battery-powered device (6), and external charger (7).

[0023] The method is a configuration method for a configurable battery pack (1), wherein at least one battery charging parameter of the battery pack (1) is provided at a data interface (5) of the battery pack (1) for a device (6,7) connected to the battery pack (1), characterized in that the at least one battery charging parameter is configured by input at the data interface (5).

[0024] The features described below relate to advantageous embodiments and variations of the invention.

[0025] A configurable battery pack is specified, having a control device with a data storage device for storing at least one battery charging parameter.

[0026] A battery pack refers not only to a single battery cell (also called a secondary cell) but also to an interconnected pack of multiple battery cells. A battery pack can also refer to an energy storage device that is not, or not solely, electrochemically composed; for example, it may be a capacitor.

[0027] This control device may have a battery management system (BMS) integrated into the battery pack or be designed as a battery management system. The battery management system is particularly used for monitoring and adjusting the battery pack and is sometimes also called a power management system (PMS).

[0028] The control device can include any circuitry. It can consist of multiple individual electronic components, which may be locally located or physically distributed within the battery pack. However, the control device can also be a separate, individual unit.

[0029] The control device preferably has a microprocessor or is designed to be a microprocessor. Instead of a microprocessor, any other means for implementing the control device may be specified, such as one or more circuits of individual electrical components on a circuit board, a memory programmable controller (PLC), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other programmable circuits such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and / or a programmable logic array (PLA).

[0030] Data storage can be integrated into a microprocessor or battery management system, for example. However, data storage can also be designed independently of a microprocessor or battery management system. Semi-permanent memory, i.e., non-volatile memory, can be specified as data storage, where the information can be changed during use. Examples include EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory (EEPROM), FRAM, or MRAM.

[0031] According to the present invention, the configurable battery pack has a data interface connected to the control device. The control device and the data interface are configured to provide at least one battery charging parameter at the data interface for use with devices connected to the battery pack (especially battery-driven devices or external chargers mentioned below).

[0032] A data interface can refer to an analog data interface and / or a digital data interface. In particular, a bus system can be specified in which multiple data streams can be transmitted serially and / or in parallel through the data interface. Alternatively, the data interface can be specified to consist of multiple individual interfaces.

[0033] Preferably, the data interface has at least one data line for data transmission. However, multiple data lines may also be specified, such as two, three, or more data lines.

[0034] "The control device provides at least one battery charging parameter for external devices at the data interface" can mean that the control device provides the at least one battery charging parameter permanently, periodically, or on demand (e.g., as requested by the device) at the data interface.

[0035] In cases where more than one battery charging parameter exists, it can be specified that the control device provides only the selected battery charging parameter to the device via the data interface. For example, it can be specified that only one battery charging parameter is provided for the device.

[0036] Alternatively, the battery charging parameters can be specified to be provided to the device in sequence, i.e., according to time order.

[0037] The present invention specifies that the control device and the data interface are configured to configure the at least one battery charging parameter by inputting at the data interface.

[0038] "At least one battery charging parameter can be configured via input at the data interface" can mean that the battery charging parameter can be set arbitrarily. However, it can also be specified that the battery charging parameter can be selected and configured according to multiple isolated levels, i.e., based on a predefined table.

[0039] It can be specified that the control device can be instructed to modify the battery charging parameters stored in the data memory via the data interface. Alternatively, it can be specified that the at least one battery charging parameter can be directly changed within the data memory via the data interface.

[0040] It can be stipulated that when using multiple battery charging parameters, not all battery charging parameters should be configured, but only the selected charging parameters should be configured, for example, only exactly one battery charging parameter should be configured.

[0041] The configuration of at least one battery charging parameter can be performed in digital, analog, or hybrid form. Therefore, for example, the control device can be designed at least partially to be analog and / or digital. The same applies to the data interface and data storage.

[0042] The configurable battery pack can be programmed automatically or manually by the device in an advantageous manner. Therefore, the battery pack can be configured, for example, via a connected battery-driven device or a connected external charger.

[0043] Configurable battery packs can therefore be optimally suited for different devices and applications, and can be automatically or manually adapted to the corresponding requirements of the overall system. In this way, the operation of the battery pack can be optimized, and the battery pack is also protected from overload while in operation.

[0044] For example, standardized high-performance battery packs can be mass-produced, and then flexibly configured using this equipment. Therefore, it is feasible to set the charging parameters of the battery pack using purely software techniques while keeping the hardware or structure unchanged.

[0045] The battery packs can be delivered with standard parameters, which can then be appropriately adapted for the application. Manufacturing such battery packs can be economically advantageous because a single type of battery pack can be produced in large quantities.

[0046] In an advantageous improvement of the invention, it can be specified that the total available capacity of the battery pack can be configured by input at the data interface.

[0047] The available total capacitance, especially the capacitance of the battery pack, is not necessarily equal to the total capacitance of the battery pack that is available based on the hardware.

[0048] According to an improvement of the invention, it may be specified that the available total capacitance is less than the maximum available hardware-based total capacitance of the battery pack, or the available total capacitance is equal to the maximum available hardware-based total capacitance of the battery pack.

[0049] Because the total available capacity of the battery pack can be flexibly configured, even "high-performance battery packs" can be transported and stored safely, even with a potentially limited total capacity. The battery pack can only be reconfigured when needed later, allowing the actual hardware-based total capacity of the battery pack to be utilized.

[0050] Specifically, it can be specified that the battery pack is a lithium-ion battery pack. It is known that lithium-ion battery packs, due to their high energy density, can be hazardous during handling. Therefore, this invention is particularly advantageous for such battery packs. However, the battery pack of this invention can obviously also be a nickel-metal hydride battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, or a lead-acid battery. In principle, this invention should be understood as not being limited to a specific type of battery pack.

[0051] The battery pack can be specified to provide an operating voltage of 18 volts or 36 volts. Clearly, the battery pack can be designed for any voltage and current.

[0052] Another advantage of flexibly configuring the total available capacitance of the battery pack may be that the user of the battery pack can determine whether he will use the battery pack as a high-efficiency battery pack, i.e., use it with a very high capacitance, or as a long-term battery pack, i.e., use it at only 80% of its maximum hardware capacitance.

[0053] According to an improved embodiment of the invention, the at least one battery charging parameter may be specified as the rated voltage, the charging interface voltage, and / or the total available capacitance.

[0054] In particular, by influencing the charging interface voltage, the moment when the charger assumes the battery pack is charged to 80% can usually be determined. Changes in the charging interface voltage can therefore affect the charging process of the battery pack and thus the total available capacitance.

[0055] Alternatively, a rated voltage could be specified, from which the charger infers the apparent total capacitance and charging interface voltage. Finally, the total available capacitance could also be predetermined in this way.

[0056] The total available capacitance can also be set directly.

[0057] It can even be specified that a complete charging curve can be defined within the battery pack, capable of transmitting the battery pack status to the charger, which then considers it for use in the charging process. The charging curve could be, for example, a current-time curve, a voltage-time curve, or a current-voltage curve.

[0058] In one embodiment of the invention, the total available capacity of the battery pack can be configured in multiple levels, preferably including a range of less than 100 watt-hours and a range of 100 watt-hours or more. For example, the total available capacity of the battery pack can be configured to 99 watt-hours before transport or storage. After the transport or storage process is completed, especially before the battery pack is put into use, this at least one battery charging parameter can finally be configured such that a total available capacity of 100 watt-hours or more is possible. The use of the 100-watt-hour limit may be advantageous because it is known that battery packs with a total available capacity of less than 100 watt-hours can be transported relatively safely and therefore without much trouble.

[0059] In an improved embodiment of the invention, the configurable battery pack may have a battery pack interface for detachably connecting the battery pack to the device electrically and mechanically, particularly for powering the battery-powered device and / or charging the battery pack by an external charger.

[0060] The battery pack interface may have mechanical coding so that it can only be connected to the device in a specified orientation and / or only to the device of a specified type.

[0061] The battery pack interface may have locking features to provide a detachable lock to the corresponding device interface, such as a combination of locking protrusions / hooks and locking slots / retractors. The battery pack interface and the device interface can be configured in a plug-in manner.

[0062] The battery pack interface may in particular have a charging interface and / or a power supply interface, which includes cathode contacts and anode contacts. Through this battery pack interface, electrical energy can be drawn from or supplied to the battery pack.

[0063] In one improved embodiment of the invention, the data interface may be integrated into the battery pack interface.

[0064] The battery pack interface may also have other interfaces.

[0065] In a particular improvement of the invention, the data interface may be provided with one or more contacts for electrically and mechanically energizing one or more corresponding mating contacts of the device (particularly mating contacts for energizing the device interface of the device).

[0066] The contact element or mating contact element can be, for example, a flat contact, a contact pin, and especially a contact pin with a spring, a contact spring of any structural type, and / or a sliding contact. In principle, any contact type can be specified, for example, a combination of plug contacts and socket contacts.

[0067] In an advantageous improvement of the invention, the data interface may be designed to be wireless, particularly as a Bluetooth interface, a WLAN interface, or an RFID interface.

[0068] This wireless interface allows for convenient configuration of battery charging parameters via the device. Multiple wireless interfaces and / or combinations of multiple traditional interfaces can also be specified.

[0069] The wireless data interface can optionally connect to mobile terminal devices, such as smartphones or tablets. The status of the battery pack can therefore be measured, for example, using a software application running on the mobile terminal device. The ability to set parameters for the battery pack or battery charging parameters can also be improved by using the mobile terminal device and / or software application.

[0070] The data interface can be designed as a serial interface or a parallel interface. The use of a serial interface may be advantageous because the data interface can thus be configured compactly.

[0071] This invention also relates to a battery-driven device for use with a configurable battery pack, particularly for use with a configurable battery pack as described above and below. The battery-driven device includes a power consumption control unit, a device interface, and at least one power consumption device. The device interface is designed as a battery pack interface that supplies power to the power consumption device and is detachably connected to the battery pack electrically and mechanically.

[0072] The power consumption control unit can include any circuitry. It can consist of multiple individual electronic components, which may be locally located or physically distributed within the battery-powered device. Alternatively, the power consumption control unit can be a separate unit. Preferably, the power consumption control unit may have a microprocessor or be designed to be a microprocessor. Instead of a microprocessor, any other means for implementing the power consumption control unit can be specified, such as those previously mentioned regarding control devices. This also applies to the charging control unit of an external charger, which will be discussed further below.

[0073] The device interface may have mechanical coding to ensure that it can only connect to the battery pack in a specified orientation and / or only connect to a specified type of battery pack. The device interface may also have locking elements to provide a detachable lock to the battery pack interface of the battery pack, for example, a combination of locking protrusions / hooks and locking slots / retractors. The device interface and battery pack interface can be configured in a plug-in manner. This also applies to the device interfaces of external chargers, as mentioned below.

[0074] The battery-driven device has a configuration interface that can be electrically connected to a battery pack data interface. The configuration interface is configured to configure at least one battery charging parameter of the battery pack through the battery pack data interface, based on the settings of the power consumption control unit and taking into account user settings and / or the power demand of the power consumption.

[0075] Preferably, but not necessarily, the at least one battery charging parameter may be read by the battery pack and provided at the data interface and / or acquired by the battery-driven device through the data interface and configuration interface.

[0076] Battery-powered devices allow configurable battery packs to flexibly adapt to the requirements of power consumers, thereby protecting both the power consumers and the battery pack from overload conditions. Furthermore, the operating conditions of the battery pack used for a specific power consumer can be optimized.

[0077] In principle, this battery pack can be used to power any electric machine.

[0078] However, in an advantageous improvement of the invention, it may be specified that the battery-powered device is designed as an electric machine tool.

[0079] Power tools can specifically refer to handheld power tools, such as drills and angle grinders, as well as machines that are positioned and installed during operation, i.e., fixed or semi-fixed machines, such as benchtop circular saws.

[0080] In an advantageous improvement of the invention, it may be specified that the power consumer is designed as an electric motor.

[0081] It can be specified that the battery-powered equipment has an energy recovery device, which is designed to feed electrical energy back to the configurable battery pack during motor deceleration. A regenerative braking process or recovery device is particularly advantageous, for example, in the case of an angle grinder. The braking current can be fed back into the battery pack, causing a corresponding voltage rise in the individual battery cell. During this process, voltage spikes exceeding the permissible single-cell voltage can occur when the battery pack has recently been charged to its maximum hardware capacitance. This can damage individual battery cells, leading to failure or at least a shortened lifespan. Furthermore, it can cause overvoltage circuits that should be avoided during operation. The motor braking characteristics and consequently equipment operation during use can also be unintentionally affected, potentially leading to dangerous situations, especially in power tools.

[0082] The problem can be avoided when the battery charging parameters are reconfigured or adjusted before the charging process so that the battery pack is no longer charged to its hardware-dependent total capacitance via the charger. The charger can then terminate the charging process early based on the changed battery charging parameters, thus preventing the battery pack from being overloaded during subsequent recycling.

[0083] Advantageously, overvoltage redundancy can be provided by appropriately configuring the battery charging parameters, for example, during the initial use of the battery pack in the corresponding battery-driven equipment or when a harmful voltage peak or other overload first occurs. This can extend the battery pack's lifespan.

[0084] The present invention also relates to an external charger for charging a configurable battery pack, particularly for charging a configurable battery pack as described above and below. The external charger has a charging control unit and a device interface, wherein the device interface is designed to be electrically and mechanically connected to the battery pack interface separately for the charging process of the battery pack.

[0085] The charging control unit may include any circuitry, as previously described within the scope of the battery pack control unit or the power consumption control unit.

[0086] The external charger has a configuration interface that can be electrically connected to the battery pack data interface, which is configured to acquire at least one battery charging parameter provided at the battery pack data interface and configure it according to the settings of the charging control unit, taking into account user-defined conditions.

[0087] This external charger can therefore be used to optimize battery charging parameters according to pre-defined applications.

[0088] For example, it can be specified that the total available capacity of the battery pack can be increased or decreased, taking into account user-defined conditions, such as during the first charging process within an external charger. For example, the capacity of the configurable battery pack can be increased to a value exceeding 100 watt-hours during the first charging process.

[0089] In one improvement of the invention, the configuration interface of the battery-powered device or the external charger may be integrated into the device interface.

[0090] Therefore, a connection to the battery pack data interface can be generated simultaneously using either the power supply connection or the charging connection, without the need for other measures.

[0091] According to an improved embodiment of the invention, the configuration interface of the battery-powered device or external charger may have one or more mating contacts for electrically and mechanically connecting with one or more corresponding contacts of the data interface of the battery pack.

[0092] In principle, any contact type can be specified as previously stated.

[0093] In an advantageous improvement of the invention, the configuration interface of the battery-powered device or external charger may be designed to be wireless, particularly as a Bluetooth interface, WLAN interface, or RFID interface.

[0094] With this wireless interface, battery charging parameters can be configured very conveniently.

[0095] The present invention also relates to a system comprising devices according to the above and below, such as a battery-powered device or an external charger and a configurable battery pack, particularly a configurable battery pack according to the above and below.

[0096] By an advantageous method, the overall system can be altered by setting individual parameters of the battery pack's charging parameters, thereby permanently or at least temporarily changing the characteristics of the battery pack when used with battery-powered devices and / or when used with an external charger.

[0097] The present invention also relates to a configuration method for a configurable battery pack, particularly a configurable battery pack according to the above and below description, wherein at least one battery charging parameter of the battery pack is provided at the data interface of the battery pack for use with a device connected to the battery pack, particularly for an external charger, and preferably an external charger according to the above and below description. It is specified that the at least one battery charging parameter is configured by input at the data interface.

[0098] In an advantageous improvement of the invention, it may be specified that the at least one battery charging parameter is configured by the device to affect the subsequent charging process.

[0099] It can be specified that the battery charging parameters available at the data interface affect the characteristic curve of the charging process and / or determine the charging process.

[0100] Because the data provided at the data interface is configurable, the battery pack may simulate a weaker battery pack state during the charging process. The external charger can therefore identify the weaker battery pack and automatically select the appropriate charging process or charging characteristic curve. The external charger can therefore, for example, prematurely disconnect the charging process, thus preventing the battery pack from being fully charged, although this is possible in hardware.

[0101] Ultimately, the battery pack can be transported and stored relatively safely and therefore uncomplicated.

[0102] In addition, the battery pack can be adapted for use to reliably connect with the recycling system of any battery-powered device.

[0103] According to an improved embodiment of the invention, the at least one battery charging parameter may be configured by the device taking into account the power demand of the power recovery device, so as to ensure that the battery pack is not overcharged while feeding electrical energy back into the battery pack.

[0104] Because the charging process is indirectly affected by the configuration of the battery charging parameters, battery packs can be used flexibly, for example, for recycling when used in conjunction with an electric motor.

[0105] The features described in relation to one of the various subjects specifically indicated by the invention—configurable battery packs, battery-powered devices, external chargers, systems, and methods—can also be advantageously implemented with respect to other subjects of the invention. Similarly, advantages mentioned with respect to one subject of the invention can be understood to relate to other subjects of the invention.

[0106] It should be further noted that terms such as "comprising," "having," or "with" do not exclude other features or steps. Additionally, terms such as "one" or "the" specifying a single step or feature do not exclude multiple features or steps, and vice versa.

[0107] However, in a simple embodiment of the invention, it may be stipulated that the features introduced by the terms "comprising," "having," or "with" in the invention are not exhaustive. Accordingly, a list of one or more features within the scope of the invention may be considered exhaustive.

[0108] It should be noted that terms such as "first" or "second" are used primarily to distinguish between the corresponding device features and method features, and do not necessarily indicate that the features are mutually restrictive or related.

[0109] It should also be emphasized that the values ​​and parameters described herein include deviations or fluctuations of ±10%, preferably ±5%, more preferably ±1%, and even more particularly preferably ±0.1% or less of the corresponding values ​​or parameters, provided that such deviations are not excluded in the practice of this invention. The ranges described by the initial and final values ​​also include all values ​​and components contained in the corresponding ranges mentioned, especially the initial and final values ​​and the corresponding average values. Attached Figure Description

[0110] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the figures.

[0111] The figures illustrate preferred embodiments, where individual features of the invention are shown in combination with each other. Features of the embodiments can also be implemented independently of other features of common embodiments, and can accordingly be readily combined by those skilled in the art with features of other embodiments to form meaningful combinations or sub-combinations.

[0112] In the figure, components with the same function are marked with the same reference numerals, as schematically shown in the figure:

[0113] Figure 1 A wiring diagram of a configurable battery pack according to the present invention is shown;

[0114] Figure 2 A perspective view showing a configurable battery pack with a battery pack interface;

[0115] Figure 3 A system according to the present invention, comprising a battery-powered device and a configurable battery pack, is shown.

[0116] Figure 4 The system according to the invention is shown, consisting of an external charger and a configurable battery pack;

[0117] Figure 5 An exemplary method for configuring a battery pack is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0118] exist Figure 1 The diagram schematically illustrates the wiring diagram of a configurable battery pack 1 according to the present invention. Figure 2 A perspective view is shown.

[0119] The battery pack 1 includes an integrated control unit 2, which, for example, has a battery management system 3. The control unit 2 also has a data memory 4 for storing at least one battery charging parameter. The control unit 2 or the battery management system 3 may, for example, have a microcontroller or be designed as a microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller is connected to the data memory 4 to read and write data (especially battery charging parameters) and / or has a corresponding internal data memory.

[0120] The configurable battery pack 1 has a data interface 5 connected to the control device 2. At least one battery charging parameter is provided by the control device 2 to devices 6 and 7 connected to the battery pack 1 via the data interface 5.

[0121] The at least one battery charging parameter can be configured via input at the data interface 5. For example, it can be specified that the control device 2 is instructed to change the battery charging parameter stored in the data memory 4 via the data interface 5. However, it can also be specified that the at least one battery charging parameter can be changed directly in the data memory 4 via the data interface 5.

[0122] The battery pack 1 includes individual battery cells 8, preferably one, two, three, or four, and perhaps one hundred or more, connected in series. It is also possible to specify that multiple individual battery cells 8 are connected in parallel to increase the total capacitance while keeping the battery voltage constant. In particular, a mixed connection, i.e., a series-parallel combination, can also be specified.

[0123] For detachable electrical and mechanical connection with devices 6 and 7, battery pack 1 has a battery pack interface 9, which is particularly for connection via an external charger 7 (see...). Figure 4 ) For battery-powered devices 6 (see Figure 3 It supplies power and / or charges the battery pack 1. The battery pack interface 9 includes a cathode contact 10 and an anode contact 11. Through the battery pack interface 9, electrical energy can be drawn from or supplied to the battery pack 1.

[0124] Data interface 5 is integrated into battery pack interface 9 and has mating contacts 13 for corresponding devices 6 and 7 (see...). Figure 4 The data interface 5 may also have other data lines or contact elements, in principle.

[0125] Other interfaces may also be provided on the battery pack 1, but they should not be discussed in detail here. For example, an interface may be provided through which the battery pack 1 can transmit temperature signals and / or fault signals.

[0126] The data interface 5 can also be designed to be wireless, especially a Bluetooth, WLAN, or RFID interface. The battery pack 1 can therefore be wirelessly configured via devices 6 and 7. Devices 6 and 7 can be, for example, PCs, tablets, or smartphones. For instance, configuring battery charging parameters can be easily done using a smartphone application.

[0127] Specifically, it can be specified that the total available capacitance of battery pack 1 can be configured by inputting data at data interface 5. The total available capacitance is preferably less than or equal to the maximum available hardware-based total capacitance of battery pack 1.

[0128] The at least one battery charging parameter is preferably the rated voltage and / or charging interface voltage and / or the total available capacitance. Preferably, this allows for multi-level configuration of the total available capacitance of the battery pack 1, particularly including a range of less than 100 watt-hours and a range of 100 watt-hours or greater. For example, stepless configuration can also be achieved when the data interface 5 is designed similarly.

[0129] In particular, the battery pack 1 with the same structure can be reconfigured in different variations through the configuration possibilities of at least one battery charging parameter. Therefore, for example, a "permanent" variation or a "power" variation can be selectively generated from the standard battery pack 1. Specifically, it can be stipulated that the user, i.e., preferably the end user, determines which variation is preferred and performs the corresponding configuration using devices 6 and 7. Devices 6 and 7 can also configure the battery pack 1 automatically, especially based on the specific electrical requirements of devices 6 and 7 for the battery pack 1.

[0130] Figure 3 An exemplary system 14 is shown, comprising a battery-powered device 6 and a configurable battery pack 1. The battery-powered device 6 is designed, for example, as a power tool (battery-powered drill). However, any battery-powered device 6 can be specified in principle, but the present invention is well adapted for use with an angle grinder.

[0131] The battery-powered device 6 has a power consumption control unit 15, a device interface 16, and a power consumption unit 17, which are respectively located in... Figure 3 The middle part is represented by a dashed line.

[0132] Device interface 16 can be detachably grounded and mechanically connected to battery pack interface 9 of battery pack 1 for power supply to power consumer 17.

[0133] The battery-driven device 6 also has a configuration interface 18 that can be electrically connected to the data interface 5 of the battery pack 1. The configuration interface is configured to configure the at least one battery charging parameter according to the setting conditions of the power consumption control unit 15, taking into account the power demand of the power consumption device 17 and / or user-set conditions. The user-set conditions can be measured, for example, through a mechanical user interface (e.g., button 19), a cable-based interface, and / or a wireless interface of the battery-driven device 6.

[0134] Configuration interface 18 is designed to correspond to data interface 5, has corresponding pairing contacts 13, and is integrated into device interface 16. However, configuration interface 18 can also be designed arbitrarily in principle, for example, it can also be designed to be wireless.

[0135] The power consumer 17 of the battery-driven device 6 is preferably designed as an electric motor.

[0136] This invention is particularly suitable for use with battery-powered devices 6, which include an energy recovery device 20 to feed electrical energy back into the battery pack 1 when the power consumer 17 or the motor decelerates. In this way, the specific requirements for energy recovery can be taken into account when configuring battery charging parameters to avoid overloading the battery pack 1. The recovery device 20 can be partially or fully integrated into the power consumer 17. The recovery device 20 can also be partially or fully integrated into the power consumer control unit 15.

[0137] Preferably, the battery charging parameters can be configured by the battery-driven device 6, which can affect the subsequent charging process, especially by increasing or decreasing the total available capacity of the battery pack 1.

[0138] exist Figure 4 Another exemplary system 14 is shown, which has an external charger 7 for charging a configurable battery pack 1 and one of the battery packs 1.

[0139] The external charger 7 has a charging control unit 21 and a device interface 16 (in Figure 4 (These are indicated by dashed lines). The device interface 16 of the external charger 7 is electrically and mechanically connected to the battery pack interface 9 of the battery pack 1 for the charging process of the battery pack 1. In this embodiment, the external charger 7 has two device interfaces 16 for receiving corresponding battery packs 1. However, in principle, the external charger 7 can also be designed to receive only one battery pack 1 or more battery packs 1.

[0140] The external charger 7 also has a configuration interface 18 that can be electrically connected to the data interface 5 of the battery pack 1. This configuration interface is used to acquire at least one battery charging parameter provided at the data interface 5 of the battery pack 1 and configure it according to the settings of the charging control unit 21, taking into account user settings. These user settings can be measured, for example, through a mechanical user interface, a wired interface, or a wireless interface of the external charger 7.

[0141] exist Figure 5 The present invention describes an exemplary method for configuring battery pack 1.

[0142] In the first method step S1, it can be specified that the pre-configured battery pack 1 is connected to the corresponding device 6, 7, such as the battery-driven device 6 or the external charger 7. The configurable battery pack 1 can in particular have standard settings relating to battery charging parameters, such as maximizing the total capacitance or reducing the available total capacitance for reliable transport.

[0143] Within the scope of the second method step S2, it can be specified that, for example, when devices 6 and 7 are turned on, devices 6 and 7, such as battery-driven device 6 or external charger 7, first receive battery charging parameters through configuration interface 18.

[0144] Within the scope of the third method step S3, it can be specified that the devices 6 and 7, such as the battery-driven device 6 or the external charger 7, configure the battery charging parameters according to the requirements of the power consumption device 17 of the battery-driven device 6 and / or the user-defined conditions.

[0145] Next, in the fourth method step S4, it can be specified that the battery pack 1 is charged by the external charger 7. The external charger 7 receives at least one battery charging parameter for this purpose and performs the charging process based on the battery charging parameter. The charging process can be advantageously influenced by the individual configuration possibilities of the battery charging parameter.

[0146] It can be specified that the battery charging parameters provided at data interface 5 affect the characteristic curve of the charging process of external charger 7 and / or specify the charging process. External charger 7 can identify battery pack 1 based on the available data and is therefore preferably able to perform an ideal charging process or ideal charging characteristic curve for the assumed battery pack 1.

Claims

1. A battery-driven device (6) for use with a configurable battery pack (1), the device having a power consumption control unit (15), a device interface (16), and at least one power consumption device (17), wherein, The device interface (16) is designed as a battery pack interface (9) that is detachably electrically connected to the power supply of the power consumer (17) and mechanically connected to the battery pack (1). It is characterized by having a configuration interface (18) that can be electrically connected to the data interface (5) of the battery pack (1). The configuration interface is configured to configure at least one battery charging parameter of the battery pack (1) through the data interface (5) of the battery pack (1) according to the setting conditions of the power consumer control unit (15) and taking into account the user setting conditions and / or the power requirements of the power consumer (17). The total available capacity of the battery pack (1) can be configured by input at the data interface (5), which is less than the maximum hardware-based total capacity that the battery pack (1) can achieve. The power consumer (17) is designed as an electric motor, and an energy recovery device (20) is provided to feed back electrical energy into the configurable battery pack (1) when the electric motor decelerates.

2. The battery-driven device (6) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The battery-powered device (6) is designed as an electric tool.

3. The battery-driven device (6) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The configuration interface (18) is integrated into the device interface (16).

4. The battery-driven device (6) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The configuration interface (18) has one or more mating contacts (13) for electrical and mechanical contact with one or more corresponding contacts (12) of the data interface (5) of the battery pack (1).

5. The battery-driven device (6) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The configuration interface (18) is designed to be wireless.

6. The battery-driven device (6) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The configuration interface (18) is a Bluetooth interface, a WLAN interface, or an RFID interface.

7. An external charger (7) for charging a configurable battery pack (1), the charger having a charging control unit (21) and a device interface (16), wherein, The device interface (16) is designed to be electrically and mechanically connected to the battery pack interface (9) of the battery pack (1) for the charging process of the battery pack (1). It is characterized by having a configuration interface (18) that can be electrically connected to the data interface (5) of the battery pack (1). The configuration interface is configured to collect at least one battery charging parameter provided on the data interface (5) of the battery pack (1) and configure it according to the setting conditions of the charging control unit (21) and taking into account the user setting conditions. The external charger (7) configures at least one battery charging parameter taking into account the power demand of the power recovery device (20) of the battery-driven device (6) to ensure that the battery pack (1) is not overcharged by feeding electrical energy back into the battery pack (1) by the power recovery device (20).

8. The external charger (7) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The configuration interface (18) is integrated into the device interface (16).

9. The external charger (7) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The configuration interface (18) has one or more mating contacts (13) for electrical and mechanical contact with one or more corresponding contacts (12) of the data interface (5) of the battery pack (1).

10. The external charger (7) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The configuration interface (18) is designed to be wireless.

11. The external charger (7) according to claim 10, characterized in that, The configuration interface (18) is a Bluetooth interface, a WLAN interface, or an RFID interface.

12. A system (14) comprising a battery-driven device (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and the configurable battery pack (1).

13. A system (14) comprising an external charger (7) according to any one of claims 7 to 11 and the configurable battery pack (1).

14. A configuration method for a configurable battery pack (1), wherein at least one battery charging parameter of the battery pack (1) is provided at a data interface (5) of the battery pack (1) for a battery drive device (6) or an external charger (7) connected to the battery pack (1), characterized in that, The at least one battery charging parameter is configured by input at the data interface (5); The external charger (7) or the battery-driven device (6) configures at least one battery charging parameter taking into account the power demand of the power recovery device (20) of the battery-driven device (6) to ensure that the battery pack (1) is not overcharged by feeding electrical energy back into the battery pack (1) by the power recovery device (20).

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The charging parameters of the at least one battery can be configured by the battery-driven device (6) or the external charger (7) to affect the subsequent charging process.

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