Charging system
By designing a high-output power charging system, the problem of power tool battery life was solved, and efficient energy transfer and information exchange between battery packs were achieved, supporting the continuous operation needs of various power tools.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NANJING CHERVON IND
- Filing Date
- 2025-08-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-26
AI Technical Summary
The existing power tools have a problem with battery life during continuous operation, especially how to effectively ensure the charging of the battery pack.
A charging system is designed, including a housing, a charging interface, a DC power interface, and a drive component. The drive component has a maximum output power of 2000W or more, is capable of transferring electrical energy from a second battery pack to a first battery pack, supports multiple battery pack types and charging modes, and has wireless communication capabilities.
It enables efficient energy transfer between battery packs, supports the range requirements of different power tools, improves the continuous operation capability of power tools, and provides information interaction and management functions.
Smart Images

Figure CN122292609A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of power tool technology, and for example to a charging system. Background Technology
[0002] Power tools such as circular saws, chainsaws, pruning machines, nail guns, and lawnmowers are widely used in various scenarios, including industry and households. Thanks to technological advancements, the power tool industry as a whole is trending towards lithium-ion batteries and intelligent operation. Most of the aforementioned power tools are powered by battery packs, and their design needs to consider the requirements of both the tool and the battery. One issue is ensuring battery life during continuous operation, which involves the charging of these battery packs.
[0003] This section provides background information related to this application, which is not necessarily prior art. Summary of the Invention
[0004] This application addresses or at least mitigates some or all of the aforementioned problems. Therefore, this application provides a charging system.
[0005] A charger includes: a housing; a charging interface configured to electrically connect to a first battery pack; a DC power interface configured to electrically connect to a second battery pack; and a drive assembly housed within the housing, configured to supply power to the charging interface. The drive assembly is electrically connected to the charging interface and the DC power interface, and configured to transfer electrical energy from the second battery pack to the first battery pack. The maximum output power of the drive assembly is greater than or equal to 2000W, and the first battery pack, the second battery pack, and the charger are detachably connected so that they can be disassembled and installed on a power tool to supply power to the power tool.
[0006] In some embodiments, the first battery pack powers a handheld power tool, and the second battery pack powers a wheeled power tool.
[0007] In some embodiments, the total capacity of the first battery pack is less than or equal to 1 kWh, and the total capacity of the second battery pack is greater than or equal to 2 kWh.
[0008] In some embodiments, the first battery pack and the second battery pack have substantially the same rated voltage.
[0009] In some embodiments, the cells in the first battery pack and the second battery pack have different electrochemical properties.
[0010] In some embodiments, the charger further includes an AC power interface configured to charge the first battery pack and the second battery pack.
[0011] In some embodiments, the charger further includes an AC-DC converter, through which the AC power interface charges the second battery pack.
[0012] A charger includes: a housing; a charging interface configured to electrically connect to a first battery pack; a DC power interface configured to electrically connect to a second battery pack; and a drive assembly housed within the housing and configured to supply power to the charging interface. The drive assembly includes a drive housing and at least one power module housed within the drive housing. The power module is electrically connected to the charging interface and the DC power interface and configured to transfer electrical energy from the second battery pack to the first battery pack. The ratio of the maximum output power of the drive assembly to the volume of the drive housing is greater than or equal to 0.7 W / cm². 3 .
[0013] In some embodiments, the drive box is generally rectangular, and its volume is less than or equal to 3500 cm². 3 .
[0014] In some embodiments, the power module includes an FSBB circuit, in which parallel switching transistors are used.
[0015] In some embodiments, the switching frequency of the switching transistor in the FSBB circuit is greater than or equal to 180kHz.
[0016] In some embodiments, the power module further includes a drive enhancement circuit configured to send an enhanced drive signal to the FSBB circuit.
[0017] In some embodiments, the drive enhancement circuit includes at least one of a drive chip, a push-pull circuit, a totem pole circuit, and a level conversion circuit.
[0018] In some embodiments, the power module includes an energy storage element with a height of less than or equal to 25 mm.
[0019] In some embodiments, the power module includes an aluminum substrate with a thickness of 3 mm or more.
[0020] In some embodiments, the drive assembly further includes a fan housed within the drive housing, the fan having a volume of 100 cm³ or less. 3 .
[0021] In some embodiments, at least two power modules may be connected in parallel to supply power to the same charging interface.
[0022] A charger includes: a housing; a charging interface disposed in the housing and configured to electrically connect to a first battery pack; a DC power interface disposed in the housing and configured to electrically connect to a second battery pack; and a drive assembly housed inside the housing and electrically connected to the charging interface and the DC power interface, configured to transfer electrical energy from the second battery pack to the first battery pack; the housing is identical to that of a second charger already on the market before December 31, 2024, and the maximum output power of the charger is at least 1.5 times that of the second charger.
[0023] In some embodiments, the second charger includes a second interface corresponding to the charging interface, wherein the maximum output power of the charging interface of the charger is at least three times that of the second interface of the second charger.
[0024] In some embodiments, the drive assembly includes a generally rectangular drive box located below the charging interface and / or DC power interface.
[0025] In some embodiments, the height of the driver box is greater than or equal to 8cm and less than or equal to 15cm.
[0026] In some embodiments, the drive assembly further includes at least two power modules that can be connected in parallel, the power modules being housed inside the drive box.
[0027] In some embodiments, the volumetric power density of the drive component is greater than or equal to 0.7 W / cm². 3 .
[0028] In some embodiments, the drive assembly further includes a heat sink disposed on the side of the drive box, wherein the thickness of the heat sink of the charger is at least twice that of the second heat sink of the second charger.
[0029] In some embodiments, the bottom of the drive box has an aluminum substrate, which can support the drive assembly and the thickness of the aluminum substrate is greater than or equal to 3 mm.
[0030] A charger includes: a first charging interface and a second charging interface, each configured to be electrically connected to a battery pack; a drive component including a plurality of power modules connected in parallel, configured to supply power to the first charging interface and the second charging interface; and a controller configured to control the output power of the drive component. The first charging interface is electrically connected to the drive component via a first electronic switch, and the second charging interface is electrically connected to the drive component via a second electronic switch. The controller is configured to: acquire the voltage of the battery packs electrically connected to the first charging interface and the second charging interface respectively; and turn off the first electronic switch when the voltage of the battery pack connected to the first charging interface is higher than the voltage of the battery pack connected to the second charging interface and the voltage difference between the two exceeds a preset voltage difference threshold.
[0031] In some embodiments, the controller is configured to control the output power of the drive component based on the maximum charging current allowed by the battery pack connected to the second charging interface.
[0032] In some embodiments, when the voltage difference between the battery pack connected to the first charging interface and the battery pack connected to the second charging interface does not exceed a preset voltage difference threshold, the first charging interface and the second charging interface adaptively allocate the output power of the drive component.
[0033] In some embodiments, each power module includes a DC-DC converter that uses parallel switching transistors.
[0034] In some embodiments, the charger further includes a power interface configured to supply current to the drive components.
[0035] In some embodiments, the power interface is an AC power interface, and the charger also includes an AC-DC converter.
[0036] In some embodiments, when the AC power interface supplies current to the drive component, the maximum output power of the charger is greater than or equal to 2000W.
[0037] In some embodiments, the power interface is a DC power interface; the DC power interface is configured to be electrically connected to a second battery pack different from the battery pack, and / or the DC power interface is configured to be electrically connected to another charger.
[0038] In some embodiments, the power interface includes an AC power interface and a DC power interface, wherein the preset voltage difference threshold used by the controller when the AC power interface supplies current to the drive component is higher than the preset voltage difference threshold used by the controller when the DC power interface supplies current to the drive component.
[0039] In some embodiments, the power interface includes an AC power interface and a DC power interface, wherein the maximum output power of the charger when the AC power interface supplies current to the drive component is greater than or equal to the maximum output power of the charger when the DC power interface supplies current to the drive component.
[0040] A charger includes: multiple charging ports, each configured to be electrically connected to a battery pack; a drive assembly including multiple power modules connected in parallel, configured to supply power to the multiple charging ports; and a controller configured to control the output power of the drive assembly; each charging port is electrically connected to the drive assembly via an electronic switch; the controller is configured to: acquire the battery pack connection status of the multiple charging ports; based on the battery pack connection status, control the on / off state of the electronic switch to enter a single-port charging mode or a multi-port charging mode; in the single-port charging mode, control the maximum output power of the drive assembly based on the maximum allowable charging current of the battery pack connected to the charging port where the electronic switch is turned on.
[0041] In some embodiments, the controller is configured to, in single-port charging mode, when the charging interface is electrically connected to a full-tab battery pack, control the drive component to provide a charging rate of greater than or equal to 5C to the charging interface; and when the charging interface is electrically connected to a tab-equipped battery pack, control the drive component to provide a charging rate of less than or equal to 2C to the charging interface.
[0042] In some embodiments, the controller is configured to turn off the electronic switch corresponding to the charging interface where the high-voltage side battery pack is located when the voltage difference between the battery packs connected to the multiple charging interfaces is greater than a preset voltage difference threshold, so as to enter a single-port charging mode.
[0043] In some embodiments, when the voltage difference of the battery packs connected to the multiple charging ports is less than or equal to a preset voltage difference threshold, a multi-port charging mode is entered.
[0044] In some embodiments, in multi-port charging mode, multiple charging ports adaptively allocate the output power of the driving components.
[0045] A charger includes: a plurality of charging ports, each configured to be electrically connected to a battery pack; a drive component configured to supply power to the plurality of charging ports; and a controller electrically connected to the drive component and the plurality of charging ports; the controller is configured to: confirm the battery pack connection status of the plurality of charging ports, and based on the battery pack connection status, control the drive component to allocate the maximum output power to each charging port.
[0046] In some embodiments, the battery pack connection status of the charging interface includes information on whether a battery pack is electrically connected to the charging interface.
[0047] In some embodiments, the drive component includes a plurality of power modules, the number of power modules being greater than or equal to the number of charging ports; the controller is configured to distribute the plurality of power modules equally among the charging ports electrically connected to the battery pack to supply power to the charging ports.
[0048] In some embodiments, the battery pack connection status of the charging interface also includes information about the battery pack electrically connected to the charging interface, and the battery pack information includes at least one of the following: battery pack temperature, voltage, SOC, and model.
[0049] In some embodiments, the controller is also configured to control the drive components to allocate the maximum output power to each charging interface based on information about the battery pack electrically connected to the plurality of charging interfaces.
[0050] In some embodiments, the charger further includes a housing, a plurality of charging ports disposed on the housing, and a drive assembly and a controller disposed inside the housing.
[0051] In some embodiments, the drive assembly includes a drive box and a plurality of power modules housed within the drive box, the power modules including DC-DC converters.
[0052] In some embodiments, the charger further includes a power interface configured to supply current to the drive components.
[0053] In some embodiments, the power interface is an AC power interface, and the charger also includes an AC-DC converter.
[0054] In some embodiments, the power interface is a DC power interface.
[0055] In some embodiments, the DC power interface is configured to be electrically connected to a second battery pack different from the battery pack, and / or the DC power interface is configured to be electrically connected to another charger.
[0056] In some embodiments, the DC power interface is also configured to be electrically connected to a photovoltaic module, which is configured to perform photoelectric conversion to supply current to the DC power interface.
[0057] A charger includes: a plurality of charging ports, each configured to be electrically connected to a battery pack; a plurality of power modules, each configured to supply power to one of the plurality of charging ports; the number of power modules being at least equal to the number of charging ports; and a controller electrically connected to the plurality of power modules and the plurality of charging ports; the controller being configured to: confirm the battery pack connection status of the plurality of charging ports, and adjust the connection relationship between the plurality of power modules and the plurality of charging ports based on the battery pack connection status.
[0058] In some embodiments, the controller is configured not to allocate a power module to a charging port when a battery pack is not connected to the charging port.
[0059] In some embodiments, the controller is configured to distribute multiple power modules equally among the charging interfaces electrically connected to the battery pack to supply power to the charging interfaces.
[0060] In some embodiments, the power module includes a DC-DC converter, wherein the switching frequency of the switching transistor in the DC-DC converter is greater than or equal to 180 kHz.
[0061] A charger includes: a first charging port and a second charging port, each configured to be electrically connected to a battery pack; a drive component configured to supply power to the first charging port and the second charging port; and a controller electrically connected to the drive component and the first and second charging ports. The controller is configured to: control the drive component to operate in a first charging mode when both the first and second charging ports are electrically connected to the battery pack; and control the drive component to operate in a second charging mode when only one of the first and second charging ports is electrically connected to the battery pack. In the second charging mode, the maximum output power of either the first or second charging port is greater than the maximum output power of each of the first and second charging ports in the first charging mode.
[0062] In some embodiments, the driving component includes a first power module and a second power module. In a first charging mode, the first power module supplies power to the first charging interface, and the second power module supplies power to the second charging interface.
[0063] In some embodiments, the driving component includes a first power module and a second power module, and in the second charging mode, the first power module and the second power module together supply power to the first charging interface or the second charging interface.
[0064] In some embodiments, the maximum output power of the first charging interface or the second charging interface in the second charging mode is greater than or equal to 2000W.
[0065] A charging system includes a charger and a wireless communication module: the charger includes: a housing; a charging interface configured to detachably connect to a battery pack; an AC power interface configured to obtain AC power; a DC power interface configured to obtain DC power; a drive component housed within the housing, configured to charge the battery pack connected to the charging interface using current obtained from the AC power interface or the DC power interface; a controller housed within the housing, configured to obtain information about the battery pack connected to the charging interface; a wireless communication module interface disposed within the housing and detachably connected to the wireless communication module; the wireless communication module includes: a module housing; a host interface disposed within the module housing and capable of coupling with the wireless communication module interface; a cellular network unit housed within the module housing and configured to connect to an internet server; and a built-in battery housed within the module housing and configured to supply power to the cellular network unit; the drive component is further configured to charge the built-in battery using current obtained from the AC power interface or the DC power interface when the host interface is coupled to the wireless communication module interface.
[0066] In some embodiments, the drive component is configured to preferentially use current drawn from an AC power interface to charge the built-in battery.
[0067] In some embodiments, both the charger and the wireless communication module further include a Bluetooth unit; the controller is configured to establish a wireless communication connection with the wireless communication module via the Bluetooth unit.
[0068] In some embodiments, the charger and the wireless communication module interact via a wireless communication connection to exchange information about the battery pack connected to the charging interface.
[0069] In some embodiments, the battery pack information includes one or more of the following: current, voltage, and charge level during the current charging process of the battery pack.
[0070] In some embodiments, the wireless communication module interface is a USB interface.
[0071] In some embodiments, the wireless communication interface is located on the side of the housing.
[0072] In some embodiments, the wireless communication interface is provided with a detachable protective plug.
[0073] In some embodiments, the DC power interface draws DC power from a second battery pack detachably connected to the charger, the total capacity of the second battery pack being greater than or equal to 2 kWh.
[0074] A charging system includes a charger and a wireless communication module: The charger includes: a housing; a charging interface configured to detachably connect to a battery pack; a drive component housed within the housing and configured to charge the battery pack connected to the charging interface; a controller housed within the housing and configured to acquire information about the battery pack connected to the charging interface; a Bluetooth unit housed within the housing and configured to communicate with the controller; and a wireless communication module interface disposed within the housing and detachably connected to the wireless communication module. The wireless communication module includes: a module housing; a host interface disposed within the module housing and capable of coupling with the wireless communication module interface; a Bluetooth unit housed within the module housing; and a cellular network unit housed within the module housing and configured to connect to an internet server. When the host interface is coupled to the wireless communication module interface, the wireless communication module and the controller establish a wired communication connection at least through the wireless communication interface; when the host interface is not coupled to the wireless communication module interface, the controller establishes a wireless communication connection with the wireless communication module through the Bluetooth unit. Attached Figure Description
[0075] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the power receiving system consisting of the power tool, battery pack, and charger that work together in this application;
[0076] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a scenario in this application where the charger's power interface is connected to DC or AC power and the charging interface is used to charge the battery pack.
[0077] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of a charger as one embodiment of the present application;
[0078] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 The image shows a 3D view of the internal structure of the charger after the casing has been removed.
[0079] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 The internal structure of the charger after the casing has been removed is shown from another perspective in a three-dimensional view.
[0080] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 The diagram shows a perspective view of the internal structure of the drive assembly inside the charger housing after the drive box has been removed.
[0081] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A 3D view of the aluminum substrate, heat sink, power module, etc. inside the charger driver box shown.
[0082] Figure 8 This is a perspective view of the driver box of the charger as one embodiment in this application;
[0083] Figure 9A yes Figure 8 Side view of the driver box shown;
[0084] Figure 9B yes Figure 8 Top view of the drive box shown;
[0085] Figure 10 yes Figure 8 An exploded view of the internal structure of the drive box shown.
[0086] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the electrical control of a charger as one embodiment in this application;
[0087] Figure 12A This is a schematic diagram of the electronic control principle of the controller controlling the drive component to adjust the maximum output power allocated to each charging interface and the battery pack thereon, as one embodiment of this application;
[0088] Figure 12B This is an electronic control schematic diagram of the controller controlling the drive component to adjust the maximum output power allocated to each charging interface and the battery pack thereon, as another embodiment of this application;
[0089] Figure 13A This is a schematic diagram of the electronic control principle of the charger in the second charging mode, as one embodiment of the present application;
[0090] Figure 13B This is a schematic diagram of the electronic control principle of the charger in the first charging mode as an embodiment of this application;
[0091] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the electronic control principle of the charger in single-port charging mode or multi-port charging mode as an embodiment of this application;
[0092] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the power control system of a charging system including a charger and a wireless communication module, as one embodiment of this application.
[0093] Figure captions: 100, Charger; 200, (First) Battery Pack; 300, Power Tool; 300a, Ride-on Lawn Mower; 300b, Electric Drill; 300c, Chainsaw; 300d, Lawn Trimmer; 300e, Hair Dryer; 300f, All-Terrain Vehicle; 400, Second Battery Pack; 500, AC Charger; 600, Wireless Communication Module; 110, Housing; 111, Slide; 120, Charging Interface; 121, First Charging Interface; 122, Second Charging Interface; 130, Power Interface; 131, DC Power Interface; 132, AC Power Interface; 140, Drive Component; 141, Power Module; 1411, DC-DC Converter 1411a, Switching transistor; 1412, Driver; 1413, Drive enhancement circuit; 1414, Output control circuit; 1415, Energy storage element; 142, Driver box; 1421, Circuit board / aluminum substrate; 1421a, Circuit board containing power module and its control circuit; 1421b, Circuit board containing current sharing module and its control circuit; 1421c, Circuit board containing EMS module and its control circuit; 1422, Guide section; 143, Fan; 144, Heat sink; 150, Controller; 151, Connection adjustment circuit; 160, Photovoltaic module; 170, Electronic switch; 171, First electronic switch; 172, Second electronic switch; 180, Wireless communication module interface; 190, (First) Bluetooth unit; 610, Module housing; 620, Host interface; 630, Cellular network unit; 640, Built-in battery; 650, (Second) Bluetooth unit. Detailed Implementation
[0094] Before explaining any implementation of this application in detail, it should be understood that this application is not limited to its application to the structural details and component arrangements set forth in the following description or shown in the above drawings.
[0095] In this application, the terms "comprising," "including," "having," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes that element.
[0096] In this application, the term "and / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent three cases: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this application generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "and / or" relationship.
[0097] In this application, the terms "connection," "combination," "coupling," and "installation" can refer to direct connection, combination, coupling, or installation, or indirect connection, combination, coupling, or installation. For example, a direct connection refers to two parts or components being connected together without the need for an intermediary, while an indirect connection refers to two parts or components each being connected to at least one intermediary, with the connection achieved through the intermediary. Furthermore, "connection" and "coupling" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections or couplings, but can also include electrical connections or couplings.
[0098] In this application, those skilled in the art will understand that relative terms (e.g., “about,” “approximately,” “basically,” etc.) used in conjunction with quantities or conditions are to include the values and have the meaning indicated by the context. For example, such relative terms include at least the degree of error associated with the measurement of a particular value, tolerances associated with the particular value due to manufacturing, assembly, use, etc. Such terms should also be considered as disclosing a range defined by the absolute values of the two endpoints. Relative terms may refer to a certain percentage (e.g., 1%, 5%, 10% or more) of the indicated value. Numerical values not using relative terms should also be disclosed as specific values with tolerances. Furthermore, “basically” when expressing relative angular relationships (e.g., substantially parallel, substantially perpendicular) may refer to a certain degree (e.g., 1 degree, 5 degrees, 10 degrees or more) added to or subtracted from the indicated angle.
[0099] In this application, those skilled in the art will understand that the function performed by a component can be performed by one component, multiple components, one part, or multiple parts. Similarly, the function performed by a part can also be performed by one part, one component, or a combination of multiple parts.
[0100] In this application, the directional terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," and "rear" are used to describe the orientation and positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of this application. Furthermore, in the context, it should be understood that when an element is mentioned as being connected "upper" or "lower" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element "upper" or "lower," or indirectly connected through an intermediate element. It should also be understood that directional terms such as upper side, lower side, left side, right side, front side, and rear side not only represent positive orientation but can also be understood as lateral orientation. For example, "below" can include directly below, lower left, lower right, lower front, and lower rear.
[0101] In this application, the terms "controller," "processor," "central processing unit," "CPU," and "MCU" are used interchangeably. When using the unit "controller," "processor," "central processing unit," "CPU," or "MCU" to perform a specific function, unless otherwise stated, these functions may be performed by a single or multiple of the aforementioned units.
[0102] In this application, the terms "device," "module," or "unit" are used to describe devices that can be implemented in hardware or software to perform a specific function.
[0103] In this application, the terms “calculation,” “judgment,” “control,” “determine,” “identify,” etc., refer to the operation and process of a computer system or similar electronic computing device (e.g., controller, processor, etc.).
[0104] The technical solution proposed in this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.
[0105] refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the use of battery pack 200 to power power tool 300. Power tool 300 in this application includes both different types of power tools 300 and different models of the same type of power tool 300. Power tools 300 powered by battery pack 200 include, but are not limited to, those... Figure 1The illustrated components include a ride-on lawnmower 300a, a drill 300b, a chainsaw 300c, a lawn mower 300d, a blower 300e, and an all-terrain vehicle 300f. In some embodiments, the power tool 300 powered by the battery pack 200 may include handheld power tools, such as a pruning machine, nail gun, reciprocating saw, etc. In some embodiments, the power tool 300 powered by the battery pack 200 may also include benchtop tools, such as a table saw, miter saw, metal cutter, etc. In some embodiments, the power tool 300 powered by the battery pack 200 may also include wheeled power tools. These wheeled power tools may include push-type tools such as push lawnmowers and push snow sweepers, ride-on tools such as ride-on lawnmowers and stand-up lawnmowers, and outdoor electric vehicles such as farm vehicles and golf carts. Furthermore, other power tools equipped with walking components such as wheels may also be included. In some embodiments, the power tool 300 receiving power from the battery pack 200 may also include robotic tools, such as lawnmowers, snowplows, etc. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the power tool 300 may be a garden tool, including a pruning machine, hair dryer, lawnmower, mower, etc. In some embodiments, the power tool 300 may be a decorating tool, including a screwdriver, nail gun, glue gun, sander, circular saw, etc. In some embodiments, the power tool 300 may be a cutting tool, including a reciprocating saw, jigsaw, circular saw, chainsaw, etc. In some embodiments, the power tool 300 may be a fastening tool, including a drill, screwdriver, hammer drill, etc. In some embodiments, the power tool 300 may be a grinding tool, including an angle grinder, sander, etc. In some embodiments, the power tool 300 may also be other tools, such as a light bulb, fan, vacuum cleaner, etc. It is understood that, provided the characteristics are not contradictory, the power tool 300 receiving power from the battery pack 200 may include more types not shown above.
[0106] Different power tools 300 may have different basic structural components. For example, a ride-on lawnmower may include a walking assembly consisting of wheels and a walking motor, and a cutting assembly consisting of blades and a cutting motor. A chainsaw may include a guide plate, a chain supported on the outer periphery of the guide plate, and a motor that drives the chain to rotate around the guide plate for cutting. In addition, the aforementioned power tools 300 powered by a battery pack 200 generally have a battery connection for mounting the battery pack 200, and the specific structure and arrangement of the battery connection may vary between different power tools 300.
[0107] The battery pack 200 includes a battery casing and one or more cell modules housed within the battery casing. Each cell module includes a plurality of cells. In some embodiments, the cells in the power tool battery pack are lithium-ion cells. In some embodiments, the cells in the power tool battery pack are tabbed cells or all-tabbed cells. The battery pack 200 generally also includes a battery management device, including a controller capable of monitoring and managing charging and discharging from the battery end. It may also include various sensors and other detection elements for temperature and current measurement, which will not be elaborated here. The battery pack 200 in this application may include different types of battery packs 200. The differences in the type of battery pack 200 may be reflected in the total capacity, rated voltage, and other electrical characteristics of the battery pack 200, or in the interface structure, external dimensions, and other mechanical characteristics of the battery pack 200. Furthermore, it may also involve differences in the electrical and mechanical characteristics of the cells.
[0108] refer to Figures 2 to 7 It shows a charger 100 that can be used as an embodiment of this application. This charger 100 can charge the aforementioned power tool battery pack 200. Meanwhile, Figure 3 The application also defines six directions for the charger: up, down, front, back, left, and right. For example... Figures 2 to 7As shown, the charger 100 includes a housing 110, interfaces 120 and 130 disposed on the housing 110, and a drive assembly 140 and a controller 150 housed within the housing 110. The housing 110 forms the main external structure of the charger 100, and an internal accommodating space is formed within the housing 110. The housing 110 provides support, fixation, and housing for other components of the charger 100. Interfaces 120 and 130 are disposed on the housing 110 for coupling with a battery pack and / or an external power source, thereby enabling the charger 100 to transfer electrical energy and exchange information with the battery pack and / or external power source coupled to the interfaces 120 and 130. Exemplarily, interfaces 120 and 130 penetrate the housing 110, with some located outside the housing 110 for connection to the battery pack and / or external power source, and some located inside the housing 110 for connection to the drive assembly 140, controller 150, etc., which will be described later. Interfaces 120 and 130 are generally located on the side of the housing 110 (excluding the bottom surface), and their electrical and mechanical characteristics are compatible with the interface characteristics of the battery pack 200 to be charged. The drive assembly 140 is located within the housing 110 and is electrically connected to the interfaces 120 and 130 to transfer electrical energy between battery packs and between an external power source and the battery pack. The controller 150 is also located within the housing 110 and is electrically connected to the drive assembly 140 and interfaces 120 and 130 to globally manage the electrical energy transfer and information exchange between interfaces 120 and 130. This includes receiving, processing, and transmitting data signals from the battery pack and / or external power source between interfaces 120 and 130, as well as controlling the electrical energy transfer performed by the drive assembly 140. In some embodiments, the controller 150 may be one or more of MCU (Microcontroller Unit), ARM (Advanced Reduced Instruction Set Computing Machine), and DSP (Digital Signal Processor).
[0109] For example, the charger 100 has at least two types of interfaces: a charging interface 120 and a power interface 130. The charging interface 120 is connected to the battery pack 200, through which the charger 100 can transfer electrical energy to the battery pack 200. The power interface 130 is connected to an external power source, through which the charger 100 can obtain electrical energy from the external power source. This external power source can be mains power, the battery pack, photovoltaic modules, etc. Information exchange between the charger 100 and the battery pack 200, and the external power source, can be conducted wiredly through the aforementioned interfaces 120 and 130, or wirelessly without using the aforementioned interfaces 120 and 130. The number and location of the aforementioned charging interface 120 and power interface 130 are not specifically limited.
[0110] In some embodiments, the charging interface 120 of the charger 100 may appear as a terminal block. It may include positive and negative terminals for power transfer, and also communication terminals for information exchange. Inside the housing 110, the terminals of the terminal block can be connected to the drive assembly 140, controller 150, etc., via cables. In other embodiments, the charging interface 120 may also take other forms, including but not limited to fast charging interfaces, USB interfaces, etc. In some embodiments, the charger 100 has at least two charging interfaces 120. Furthermore, depending on the type of battery pack 200 installed, the charging interface 120 may also be classified into different types. For example, the charging interface of the second battery pack 400, which can also discharge to charge other battery packs 200 as described later, is different from the charging interface of the first battery pack 200, which only performs charging.
[0111] like Figure 2As shown, the power interface 130 of the charger 100 can be either a DC power interface 131 or an AC power interface 132. Alternatively, the charger 100 can simultaneously have both a DC power interface 131 and an AC power interface 132. The DC power interface 131 receives DC power from sources such as the battery pack 400, while the AC power interface 132 receives AC power from sources such as mains power. In some embodiments, the DC power interface 131 (or AC power interface 132) is connected to electrical energy via an AC charger 500. The AC charger 500 has a plug for connecting to the mains and an interface that can be adapted and coupled to the DC power interface 131 (or AC power interface 132), and may include power processing circuitry such as voltage conversion (AC-DC, AC-AC, buck-boost). In some embodiments, the DC power interface 131 can receive DC power supplied by the battery pack 400. The battery pack coupled to the charging interface 120 is designated as the first battery pack 200, and the battery pack coupled to the DC power interface 131 is designated as the second battery pack 400. The first battery pack 200 is a power tool battery pack, which can power the power tool 300 after charging. The second battery pack 400 can also be a power tool battery pack, so both the first and second battery packs 200 and 400 can be detached and used to power the power tool 300. The second battery pack 400 may not be a power tool battery pack; for example, it may be a charger-specific battery pack. Furthermore, the capacity and volume of the second battery pack 400 may be larger than those of the first battery pack 200. It is also possible that the second battery pack 400 is not detachably connected to the DC power interface 131. The drive assembly 140 is electrically connected between the charging interface 120 and the DC power interface 131, and can transfer electrical energy from the second battery pack 400 to the first battery pack 200.
[0112] In some embodiments, part of the charging interface 120 also serves as a DC power interface 131. Battery packs 200 / 400 coupled to this interface 120 / 131 can both charge themselves and discharge to charge other battery packs 200. For example, the charger 100 may have a designated interface for installing a second battery pack 400, which is distinguishable from the charging interface 120 for installing the first battery pack 200. Alternatively, the user can control whether the battery packs 200 / 400 installed on the charger 100 are charging or discharging. Or, the charger 100 can determine, based on certain logic, whether the battery pack is currently charging or discharging after it is installed on the interface.
[0113] In some embodiments, the charger 100 is provided with both an AC power interface 132 and a DC power interface 131 for coupling the second battery pack 400. When the AC power interface 132 is enabled, in one example, the drive assembly 140 uses AC power from the AC power interface 132 to charge the first battery pack 200, and the DC power interface 131 and the second battery pack 400 thereon may not be operational. Alternatively, if the DC power interface 131 has a dual function, the drive assembly 140 can also use AC power to charge both the first battery pack 200 and the second battery pack 400, with the interface connecting the second battery pack 400 operating in the form of the charging interface 120. In another example, the drive assembly 140 uses AC power from the AC power interface 132 to charge the second battery pack 400, and the drive assembly 140 uses DC power from the DC power interface 131 to charge the first battery pack 200, with the interface connecting the second battery pack 400 operating in the form of the DC power interface 131. When the AC power interface 132 is not enabled, the drive assembly 140 can use DC power from the DC power interface 131 to charge the first battery pack 200. In the embodiment described above that includes the AC power interface 132, the drive assembly 140 may include an AC-DC converter to convert the input AC power, such as AC mains power, into DC power before charging the battery pack 200.
[0114] In some embodiments, chargers 100 can be cascaded with each other. A charger 100 equipped with a battery pack 200 can be cascaded with other chargers 100 as an external DC power source. The aforementioned DC power interface 131 includes, in addition to an interface coupled to the second battery pack 400, an interface for cascading with other chargers 100. In some embodiments, the charger 100 further includes a photovoltaic module 160. The photovoltaic module 160 can be disposed on the housing 110 of the charger 100 and is capable of performing light-to-electrical energy conversion. The aforementioned DC power interface 131 includes, in addition to an interface coupled to the second battery pack 400, an interface for connecting to the photovoltaic module 160 to obtain the electrical energy obtained from the photoelectric conversion. It is understood that the DC power interface 131 for cascading other chargers 100, the DC power interface 131 for connecting the photovoltaic module 160, and the DC power interface 131 for coupling the second battery pack 400 can be different interfaces. This provides more ways for the charger 100 to obtain power, ensuring its normal operation. It should be noted that, in this application, the charger 100 may at least be provided with a DC power interface 131 for coupling the second battery pack 400. Furthermore, it may also be provided with other forms of DC power interface 131 and / or AC power interface 132 as described above.
[0115] In one alternative embodiment of this application, following the foregoing description, a charger 100 for a power tool battery pack 200 includes at least a housing 110, a charging interface 120 for coupling charging of a first battery pack 200, a DC power interface 131 for coupling power supply to a second battery pack 400, and a drive component 140 for performing inter-interface power transfer (the drive component 140 transfers power from the second battery pack 400 to the first battery pack 200). The maximum output power of the drive component 140 of the charger 100 is greater than or equal to 2000W, and both the first battery pack 200 and the second battery pack 400 are detachably connected to the charger 100 so that they can be installed on a power tool 300 after disassembly and power the power tool 300. Thus, the charger 100 enables rapid charging between multiple power tool battery packs 200, achieving high-speed and efficient power transfer in scenarios using multiple different power tools 300 and multiple different battery packs 200. This significantly increases the types of tools available to the user and greatly extends the battery life of each type of tool.
[0116] In some embodiments, the total capacity of the second battery pack 400 is greater than the total capacity of the first battery pack 200, enabling the second battery pack 400 to charge one or more first battery packs 200. In some embodiments, the total capacity of the first battery pack 200 is less than or equal to 1 kWh, while the total capacity of the second battery pack 400 is greater than or equal to 2 kWh. In some embodiments, the rated voltages of the first battery pack 200 and the second battery pack 400 are substantially the same to maintain a similar voltage platform for power transfer. In other embodiments, the rated voltages of the first battery pack 200 and the second battery pack 400 may also be different.
[0117] In some embodiments, the first battery pack 200, coupled to the charging interface 120 for charging, can be detached to power a handheld power tool. The second battery pack 400, coupled to the DC power interface 131 for discharging and charging the first battery pack 200, can be detached to power a wheeled power tool. Wheeled power tools generally consume more energy than handheld power tools; therefore, using a wheeled power tool battery pack 400 with higher total capacity and output power to charge the handheld power tool battery pack 200 is more effective in the aforementioned scenarios.
[0118] In some embodiments, the electrochemical properties of the cells in the first battery pack 200 and the second battery pack 400 may differ. In some embodiments, the difference in the electrochemical properties of the cells may be due to the different positive and negative electrode materials of the cells. For example, one of the first battery pack 200 and the second battery pack 400 uses a lithium iron phosphate cell, and the other uses a ternary lithium battery cell. For instance, the second battery pack 400, which emphasizes battery life, may use a lithium iron phosphate cell, while the first battery pack 200, which emphasizes discharge capability, may use a ternary lithium battery cell.
[0119] In some embodiments, the drive assembly 140 uses AC power from the AC power interface 132 to charge the first battery pack 200 and / or the second battery pack 400 simultaneously or in a time-sharing manner. Exemplarily, the charger 100 includes an AC-to-DC converter that transforms the AC power from the AC power interface 132 to provide the first battery pack 200 and / or the second battery pack 400 with a corresponding form of electrical energy.
[0120] In one alternative embodiment of this application, following the foregoing description, the charger 100 for the power tool battery pack 200 includes at least a housing 110, a charging interface 120 for coupling charging of the first battery pack 200, a DC power interface 131 for coupling power supply to the second battery pack 400, and a drive assembly 140 for performing inter-interface power transfer (the drive assembly 140 transfers power from the second battery pack 400 to the first battery pack 200). The ratio of the maximum output power of the drive assembly 140 to the volume of the drive housing 142 of the drive assembly 140 is greater than or equal to 0.7 W / cm². 3 In other words, the drive component 140 of the charger 100 has a high volumetric power density, which can better meet the fast and efficient charging needs of the battery pack 200 and the portability needs of the charger 100 when carrying the power tool 300 out for work or for a long time.
[0121] The drive assembly 140 may include a drive box 142 and one or more power modules 141, both of which are physical entities. The aforementioned housing 110 of the charger 100 can be considered as an outer shell. The drive box 142 can be considered as an inner shell within the outer housing 110 of the charger 100, housing one or more power modules 141. In some embodiments, in addition to the power modules 141, the drive box 142 may also house a controller 150 or other related components, as well as electronic circuitry necessary for electrical connections. Figures 4 to 7As shown, in some embodiments, the drive box 142 is disposed at the lower part of the charger 100, which may be located below the charging interface 120 and / or the DC power interface 131 and / or the AC power interface 132. The power module 141 is electrically connected between the DC power interface 131 and the charging interface 120, and can transfer electrical energy from the DC power interface 131 and the second battery pack 400 to the charging interface 120 and the first battery pack 200. The power module 141 may be composed of functionally related electronic components and electronic circuits. The electronic components involved may include transistors such as MOSFETs (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors), IGBTs (Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistors), capacitors, inductors, resistors, etc. The specific structure of the power module 141 can be found later. Figure 5 , Figure 6 As shown, in some embodiments, the power module 141 described above can be deployed on a circuit board 1421, and one or more circuit boards 1421 on which the power module 141 or further on which the controller 150 is deployed are housed in a drive box 142.
[0122] The maximum output power of the drive component 140 is also the maximum charging power that the charger 100 can provide. This can be expressed as the maximum output power provided by a single charging port 120, or as the sum of the maximum output power provided simultaneously by multiple charging ports 120. In some embodiments, the maximum output power of the drive component 140 is also the sum of the maximum output power of multiple power modules 141.
[0123] The drive box 142 is generally cuboid in shape, and in some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, it is assumed that the plane containing the bottom surface of the driver box 142 is perpendicular to the line containing the vertical direction. The volume of the driver box 142 can be defined as the product of the maximum distances occupied by the driver box 142 in the vertical, front-back, and left-right directions, that is, its volume is calculated as a cuboid. In other embodiments, the driver box 142 has an upper end surface parallel to the bottom surface, and at least part of the power module 141 projects onto this upper end surface in the vertical direction. The distance between the bottom surface and the upper end surface of the driver box 142 in the vertical direction is the height of the driver box 142, and the volume of the driver box 142 can be defined as the product of the bottom area and the height of the driver box 142. In some embodiments, the volume of the driver box 142 of the charger 100 can be less than or equal to 3500 cm². 3 In some embodiments, the volume of the drive box 142 is less than or equal to 3400 cm³. 3In one example, the volume of the driver box 142 is calculated as 10cm*12cm*28cm by multiplying the maximum spacing in the three directions of up and down, front and back, and left and right.
[0124] In some embodiments, the height of the driver box 142 is greater than or equal to 8cm and less than or equal to 15cm. That is, the plane containing the bottom surface of the driver box 142 is perpendicular to the straight line in the vertical direction, and the distance between the uppermost and lowermost points of the driver box 142 in the vertical direction is greater than or equal to 8cm and less than or equal to 15cm. Alternatively, the distance between the bottom surface of the driver box 142 and the upper surface of the driver box 142 parallel to it is greater than or equal to 8cm and less than or equal to 15cm.
[0125] In some embodiments, the drive assembly 140 may not have a physical drive housing 142, and the ratio of the maximum output power of the drive assembly 140 to its volume is greater than or equal to 0.7 W / cm². 3 The volume of the drive assembly 140 can be defined as the product of the maximum distances occupied by each component of the drive assembly 140, including at least one or more power modules 141, in the vertical, front-back, and left-right directions. In some embodiments, the volume of the drive assembly 140 does not exceed the internal volume of the charger 100 housing 110.
[0126] In some embodiments, such as Figure 6 , Figure 7 As shown, the power module 141 of the drive assembly 140 includes an energy storage element 1415 with a height of 25 mm or less. Exemplarily, the energy storage element 1415 may include a capacitor, inductor, etc. The energy storage element 1415 is deployed on a circuit board 1421 parallel to the bottom surface of the drive box 142, and the height of the energy storage element 1415 can be its vertical height. In some embodiments, the volume of the inductor included in the drive assembly 140 is less than or equal to 20000 mm². 3 In some embodiments, the capacitance of the capacitor included in the drive assembly 140 is less than or equal to 1000 μF.
[0127] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the drive housing 142 also houses a fan 143 for heat dissipation. Alternatively, the drive housing 142 has an opening facing the fan 143 housed within the housing 110. In some embodiments, the plane of the fan 143 may be perpendicular to the plane of the circuit board 1421, which houses the power module 141, etc. Alternatively, the plane of the fan 143 may be parallel to the plane of the opening on the side of the drive housing 142. The cooling airflow blown or drawn by the fan 143 can flow through the circuit board 1421 and the drive assembly 140, controller 150, etc. In some embodiments, the volume occupied by the fan 143 within the drive housing 142 is less than or equal to 100 cm³. 3The fan 143 can utilize the side space of the circuit board 1421 and is small in size, so it will not affect the portability of the charger 100.
[0128] In some embodiments, such as Figure 6 , Figure 7 As shown, the drive box 142 can use an aluminum substrate 1421 to support components such as the power module 141 of the drive assembly 140. The aluminum substrate 1421 can be located at the bottom of the drive box 142. The power module 141, the controller 150, and other related electronic components can be soldered to the aluminum substrate 1421, so that the drive assembly 140 or the power module 141 can be supported and fixed within the drive box 142. Furthermore, the good heat dissipation performance of the aluminum substrate 1421 can effectively dissipate heat from the power module 141. In some embodiments, the aluminum substrate 1421 is the bottom plate of the drive box 142. In some embodiments, the thickness of the aluminum substrate 1421 is less than or equal to 3 mm.
[0129] In some embodiments, such as Figure 6 , Figure 7 As shown, a heat sink 144 is also provided on any side of the drive box 142. Exemplarily, the heat sink 144 may include a base (fin base) in thermal contact with the bottom surface of the drive box 142 and a plurality of fins arranged perpendicularly to the base and spaced parallel to each other. Following the previous example, the heat sink 144 may be in thermal contact with the aluminum substrate 1421, for example, it may be fixed to the back side of the non-circuit soldering surface of the aluminum substrate 1421 by bolts or screws, so as to further conduct the heat generated by the drive assembly 140 or the power module 141 outwards.
[0130] In one alternative implementation, refer to Figures 8 to 10 This illustrates an internal structure of a charger 100 for a power tool battery pack 200. Continuing from the previous description, the drive assembly 140 of the charger 100 includes multiple parallel power modules 141, which are also housed within a drive housing 142. Similarly, the drive housing 142 is generally cuboid in shape and can be located in the lower part of the charger 100, below the charging interface 120 and / or the power interface 130. The drive housing 142 has an internal receiving space where one or more circuit boards 1421, integrating the aforementioned parallel multi-power modules 141 and other related electronic circuits, are housed and fixed. In some embodiments, heat sinks 144 are provided on one or more sides of the drive housing 142. Figure 8 , Figure 10As shown, optionally, a heat sink 144 is provided on the bottom surface of the drive box 142. The base of the fins of the heat sink 144 is attached to the bottom surface of the drive box 142 or the base of the fins is integrated into the bottom surface of the drive box 142. Multiple parallel and spaced fins of the heat sink 144 extend outward from the base of the fins to transfer heat from the drive box 142 outward. Optionally, the extension length of the fins located at major heat dissipation positions, such as the base of the fins or the center of the bottom surface of the drive box 142, can be appropriately increased to increase the effective heat dissipation area of the fins, thereby further improving the heat dissipation effect of the heat sink 144 on the drive box 142.
[0131] In some embodiments, the drive box 142 and the housing 110 of the charger 100 are assembled together as inner and outer housings. Exemplarily, guide portions 1422 can be formed on the left and right end faces or other end faces of the drive box 142, which can engage with the sliding grooves 111 on the inner wall of the housing 110. Optionally, the sliding grooves 111 and guide portions 1422 can extend generally in the front-rear direction. During assembly, the guide portions 1422 on the side end faces of the drive box 142 and the sliding grooves 111 on the inner wall of the housing 110 can be used for positioning. After the guide portions 1422 extend into the sliding grooves 111, the drive box 142 can be pushed into the housing 110 by the guiding interaction between the two, and the drive box 142 can also be limited within the housing 110. Furthermore, locking elements such as bolts or screws can be provided on the outer end of the guide portions 1422 of the drive box 142 relative to the sliding grooves 111 to lock the drive box 142 within the housing 110. In addition, the driver box 142 and the heat sink 144 at the bottom of the driver box 142 will not extend beyond the scope of the outer casing when viewed from above, and will not interfere with the assembly of the whole machine.
[0132] In some embodiments, multiple circuit boards 1421 are arranged from bottom to top within the driver box 142. They are arranged in a stacked manner, making the overall structure compact, and through reasonable circuit deployment, facilitating the arrangement of electrical connection lines for power transfer and signal transmission between them. For example, as... Figure 10 As shown, the circuit board 1421 integrating the aforementioned multiple parallel power modules 141 can be arranged at the bottom layer, followed by the circuit board 1421 containing the relevant control circuits that manage the operation of the power modules 141. In some embodiments, among the multiple circuit boards 1421 arranged from bottom to top within the driver box 142, between one or more circuit boards 1421a located on the lower layer containing the power modules 141 and their control circuits, and one or more circuit boards 1421c located on the upper layer containing the EMS module and its control circuits, one or more circuit boards 1421b, such as those containing current sharing modules and their control circuits, are also provided in an intermediate layer to serve scenarios such as single-port and multi-port charging modes described later. Exemplarily, the area of the multiple circuit boards 1421 arranged from bottom to top within the driver box 142 decreases sequentially from a top-down view.
[0133] In some embodiments, the drive box 142 has a window on a side such as the rear wall, and terminals are provided on a side such as the upper wall. The circuit board 1421 housed inside the drive box 142 can be led out through the aforementioned side window to the aforementioned side terminals to continue to be connected to other modules outside the drive box 142, or it can be directly led out through the side window to be connected to other modules.
[0134] In one alternative embodiment of this application, following the foregoing description, a charger 100 for a power tool battery pack 200 has multiple charging ports 120, each of which can be electrically connected to a battery pack 200. The charger 100 also includes a drive assembly 140 that supplies power to each charging port 120, and a controller 150 that manages power transfer and information exchange within the charger 100. The controller 150 can confirm the battery pack connection status on the multiple charging ports 120 and, based on this connection status, adjust the maximum output power allocated by the drive assembly 140 to each charging port 120.
[0135] The charger 100 has at least two charging ports 120, and each of the at least two charging ports 120 can be coupled to charge at least one type of battery pack 200. The battery pack connection status on the charging port 120 includes at least the information of whether a battery pack 200 is connected to the charging port 120. The controller 150 can perform a global judgment based on the information of whether a battery pack 200 is connected to each charging port 120, and then regulate the maximum output power allocated by the drive component 140 to each charging port 120, that is, regulate the electrical energy allocated to each charging port 120. There are several possible ways for the controller 150 to confirm whether a battery pack 200 is connected to a charging port 120. For example, the controller 150 can determine whether a battery pack 200 is connected to the port based on the potential change on the charging port 120. Or, the controller 150 can determine whether a battery pack 200 is connected to the port based on the data signal transmitted by the battery pack 200 through the charging port 120. In short, the determination of the battery pack connection status is made autonomously by the controller 150. The maximum output power allocated to a charging port 120 can be as low as zero, meaning the controller 150 controls the drive component 140 not to supply power to that port. The maximum output power can be up to the maximum output power of the charger 100, meaning the controller 150 controls the drive component 140 to supply power only to that port. The maximum output power of each charging port 120 can be equal or unequal.
[0136] In some embodiments, the controller 150 performs real-time detection of the battery pack connection status on the plurality of charging ports 120. The installation or removal of any battery pack 200 from any charging port 120 will immediately trigger the controller 150 to refresh the information of that charging port 120. The controller 150 can then immediately adjust the power distribution of the drive assembly 140 after the information of any charging port 120 is refreshed.
[0137] In some embodiments, after confirming the battery pack connection status of each charging port 120, the controller 150 can allocate the power provided by the drive component 140 according to the number of charging ports 120 connected to the battery pack 200. In some embodiments, the controller 150 at least controls the drive component 140 not to allocate power to charging ports 120 not connected to the battery pack 200. In some embodiments, the controller 150 controls the drive component 140 to evenly distribute the available power to each charging port 120 connected to the battery pack 200. When the charger 100 has only one charging port 120 connected to the battery pack 200, the maximum output power received by that charging port 120 is the maximum output power of the drive component 140 or the charger 100. All the electrical energy of the drive component 140 or the charger 100 is supplied to that charging port 120, and the remaining charging ports 120 are not powered. When the charger 100 has multiple charging ports 120 connected to the battery pack 200, the maximum output power received by the multiple charging ports 120 may be equal or approximately equal. Numerically, this can be the ratio of the maximum output power of the drive component 140 or charger 100 to the number of interfaces connected to the battery pack 200. Other charging interfaces 120 not connected to the battery pack 200 will not receive power. In some embodiments, when managing power distribution, the controller 150 will also exclude battery packs 200 that, although connected to the charging interface 120, do not meet the charging requirements. For example, even if a battery pack 200 is connected to a charging interface 120, if the controller 150 determines that the battery pack 200 poses a safety risk such as overheating or malfunction, it will control the drive component 140 not to allocate power to it.
[0138] To illustrate with a specific example, assume that the charger 100 or its drive component 140 has a maximum output power of 2500W, and the charger 100 has two charging ports 120: a first charging port 121 and a second charging port 122. When only the first charging port 121 is connected to the battery pack 200, the controller 150 controls the drive component 140 to supply all 2500W of power to the first charging port 121. When only the second charging port 122 is connected to the battery pack 200, the controller 150 controls the drive component 140 to supply all 2500W of power to the second charging port 122. When both the first charging port 121 and the second charging port 122 are connected to the battery pack 200, the controller 150 controls the drive component 140 to supply an average of 1250W of power to both charging ports 121 and 122.
[0139] In other embodiments, the battery pack connection status on the charging interface 120 also includes specific information about the battery pack 200 connected to the charging interface 120. This includes, but is not limited to, the temperature, voltage, current, total capacity, charge / SOC, and model of the battery pack 200. One or more of the above information will be transmitted to the controller 150 of the charger 100. The controller 150 will perform a global judgment based on whether each charging interface 120 is connected to a battery pack 200 and the above-mentioned specific information about the battery pack 200 connected to the charging interface 120 connected to the battery pack 200, and then adjust the maximum output power allocated by the drive component 140 to each charging interface 120. The above-mentioned specific information about the battery pack 200 can be transmitted to the controller 150 via wired means through the charging interface 120 and the electronic cables in the housing 110, or wirelessly after the battery pack 200 is installed in the charging interface 120.
[0140] In some embodiments, the controller 150 further allocates the maximum output power provided by the drive component 140 to the charging interface 120 in a more complex manner than the average allocation described above, based on the specific information of the battery pack 200 connected to the charging interface 120. In one example, the charging interface 120 or the battery pack 200 on the charging interface 120 is categorized. When at least two types of charging interfaces 120 are respectively connected to at least two types of battery packs 200, the controller 150 can control the range of maximum output power allocated to one type of charging interface 120 connected to a corresponding type of battery pack 200, which is different from the range of maximum output power allocated to another type of charging interface 120 connected to another corresponding type of battery pack 200. For example, the charger 100 has charging interfaces 120-1 to 120-3. Charging interfaces 120-1 and 120-2 are one type of interface, which can connect to one type of battery pack 200-1. Charging interface 120-3 is another type of interface, which can connect to another type of battery pack 200-2. When at least one of charging ports 120-1 and 120-2 is connected to battery pack 200-1 and charging port 120-3 is connected to battery pack 200-2, the maximum output power allocated to charging ports 120-1 and / or 120-2 is not equal to the maximum output power allocated to charging port 120-3. In another example, the controller 150 has a preset rule for power allocation based on at least one of the parameters of the battery pack 200 connected to the charging port 120, such as its charge / SOC, voltage, temperature, and total capacity. After confirming the specific information of the connected battery pack 200, the controller 150 can substitute this information into the aforementioned preset rule to regulate the maximum output power allocated by the drive component 140 to each charging port 120. For example, the lower the charge, voltage, temperature, and total capacity of the battery pack 200 connected to the charging port 120, the higher the maximum output power that charging port 120 can receive. Meanwhile, the allocation of maximum output power on the interface should be carried out under the premise of ensuring safety, and should not exceed the power limit allowed by the battery pack 200.
[0141] In some embodiments, the controller 150 controls the power allocation of the drive assembly 140 to each charging interface 120 based on the battery pack connection status. That is, the controller 150 controls the power transfer from multiple power modules 141 in the drive assembly 140 to each charging interface 120 based on the battery pack connection status. Power allocation to each charging interface 120 by the drive assembly 140 is achieved by assigning the multiple power modules 141 to each charging interface 120 in different allocation methods. For example, assuming the drive assembly 140 has n power modules, the controller 150 allocates the n power modules to the charging interface 120 currently connected to the battery pack 200 when controlling the power allocation.
[0142] In one alternative implementation, continuing from the preceding text, a charger 100 for a power tool battery pack 200 has two charging ports 120: a first charging port 121 and a second charging port 122, each electrically connected to a battery pack 200. The charger 100 also includes a drive assembly 140 supplying power to the first charging port 121 and / or the second charging port 122, and a controller 150 managing power transfer and information exchange within the charger 100. The controller 150 can control the drive assembly 140 to distribute the maximum output power of the first charging port 121 and the second charging port 122 in a first charging mode and a second charging mode, respectively. When both the first charging port 121 and the second charging port 122 are connected to the battery pack 200, the controller 150 controls the drive assembly 140 to operate in the first charging mode. When only the first charging port 121 or only the second charging port 122 is connected to the battery pack 200, the controller controls the drive assembly 140 to operate in the second charging mode. The maximum output power of the first charging interface 121 or the second charging interface 122 is different in the first charging mode and the second charging mode. In the second charging mode, the maximum output power of the first charging interface 121 or the second charging interface 122, which is the only one connected to the battery pack 200, is greater than the maximum output power of the first charging interface 121 or the second charging interface 122, which is one of a plurality of charging interfaces 120 connected to the battery pack 200, in the first charging mode.
[0143] For example, the second charging mode is a single-pack mode, where the charger 100 supplies as much power as possible to the charging port 120 where the battery pack 200 is located. The first charging mode, however, is a multi-pack mode, where the charger 100 distributes power to multiple charging ports 120. The maximum output power achievable by a single charging port 120 in single-pack mode is higher than the maximum output power achievable by all charging ports 120 in multi-pack mode. This allows the charger 100 to charge the power tool battery pack 200 more quickly and efficiently in either the second charging mode or the single-pack mode, thus enhancing system battery life.
[0144] In some embodiments, the maximum output power of the first charging port 121 or the second charging port 122, which is uniquely connected to the battery pack 200, can be greater than or equal to 2000W in the second charging mode. Further, the maximum output power can be greater than or equal to 2500W. In some embodiments, the controller 150 and the drive assembly 140 can be configured with a third charging mode or more charging modes, enabling more complex power allocation to the first and second charging ports 121, 122, or more charging ports 120.
[0145] In some embodiments, the switching between the first charging mode and the second charging mode of the controller 150 or the drive component 140 is triggered in real time by the installation or removal of the battery pack 200 on the first charging interface 121 or the second charging interface 122. At any time, after the first battery pack 200 is installed into any charging interface 120, the charger 100 enters the second charging mode. At any subsequent time, after another battery pack 200 is installed into another charging interface 120, the charger 100 enters the first charging mode. At any subsequent time, after a battery pack 200 is removed from its charging interface 120, the charger 100 returns to the second charging mode. In some embodiments, it is not excluded that the controller 150 may have an observation period to confirm the number of charging interfaces 120 connected to the battery pack 200, and may wait briefly before switching charging modes to avoid frequent changes in charging modes when continuously inserting battery packs 200 into the charger 100 or changing the battery pack 200 to be charged.
[0146] In some embodiments, reference Figure 13A , Figure 13B The drive component 140 includes a first power module and a second power module. In the first charging mode, both the first charging interface 121 and the second charging interface 122 are electrically connected to the battery pack 200. The controller 150 can control the first power module to supply power to the first charging interface 121 and the battery pack 200 thereon, and control the second power module to supply power to the second charging interface 122 and the battery pack 200 thereon. Alternatively, the controller 150 can also control the first power module to supply power to the second charging interface 122 and the battery pack 200 thereon, and control the second power module to supply power to the first charging interface 121 and the battery pack 200 thereon. In the second charging mode, only the first charging interface 121 or only the second charging interface 122 is electrically connected to the battery pack 200. The controller 150 can control the first power module and the second power module to jointly supply power to the first charging interface 121 or the second charging interface 122, which is currently the only one electrically connected to the battery pack 200.
[0147] The following section further explains the specific implementation method of the drive component 140 being controlled by the controller 150 to distribute power to each charging port 120. (Reference) Figures 11 to 13BIn this application, the drive component 140 may include one or more power modules 141. The electrical energy provided by one power module 141 is supplied to only one charging port 120 at a time. When the charger 100 has more than one charging port 120, the drive component 140 may include multiple power modules 141. In some embodiments, the number of power modules 141 in the drive component 140 may be greater than or equal to the number of charging ports 120, so that when each charging port 120 is connected to a battery pack 200, at least one power module 141 can supply power to it. Exemplarily, the power module 141 may be electrically connected between the DC power interface 131 and the charging port 120. Of course, it is not excluded that the power module 141 may also be electrically connected between the AC power interface and the charging port 120. The power module 141 may use at least one of the following power sources to supply power to the power tool battery pack 200 to be charged at the charging port 120: a second battery pack, a photovoltaic module, or mains power. Exemplarily, these multiple power modules 141 may use the same power input.
[0148] In some embodiments, the power module 141 includes a DC-DC converter 1411 and a driver 1412. The DC-DC converter 1411 receives DC power from the DC power interface 131 and performs voltage / power conversion, rectification, filtering, and other processing on the received power. The driver 1412 sends a drive signal to control the voltage / power conversion of the DC-DC converter 1411. For example, the DC-DC converter 1411 includes a switching transistor 1411a. The driver 1412 receives a control signal from the controller 150 based on the battery pack connection status and then sends a corresponding drive signal to the switching transistor 1411a in the DC-DC converter 1411 based on the control signal. In some embodiments, the driver 1412 and / or the controller 150 are powered by the power supplied through the DC power interface 131. In other embodiments, to avoid interference with the power module 141, the driver 1412 and / or the controller 150 may be powered independently. In some embodiments, if the power module 141 can use electrical energy from the AC power interface 132, the power module 141 may also include an AC-DC converter.
[0149] In some embodiments, each power module 141 may further include an output control circuit 1414, such as an Oring control circuit. Taking the output of the DC-DC converter 1411 as input, it can connect or disconnect the power transfer line from the power module 141 to the target charging interface 120 under the control of the controller 150.
[0150] To meet the high-speed and high-efficiency performance expectations of the charger 100 for the power tool battery pack 200, the maximum output power of the drive assembly 140 of the charger 100 can be up to 2000W, while still maintaining its lightweight and convenient characteristics. The drive assembly 140 uses multiple controllable parallel power modules 141 when supplying power to the charging interface 120, thus distributing the high-power, small-size task of the charger 100, reducing the workload of each power module 141 and optimizing its performance. The multiple power modules 141 of the charger 100 can be connected in parallel, using the same power input, and can supply power to the same charging interface 120 in some modes. In some embodiments, the switching frequency of the switching transistor 1411a of the DC-DC converter 1411 in the power module 141 can be greater than or equal to 180kHz. Further, its switching frequency can be greater than or equal to 200kHz, thereby optimizing the size and efficiency of energy storage elements 1415 such as capacitors and inductors by reducing the amount of energy transferred per cycle. In some embodiments, the DC-DC converter 1411 in the power module 141 may employ an FSBB (Four Switch Buck-Boost) circuit. In some embodiments, the switch 1411a in the DC-DC converter 1411 that receives one drive signal may be a single switch or multiple switches connected in parallel. These switches 1411a may be MOSFETs or IGBTs, etc. In some embodiments, the driver 1412 in the power module 141 may also have an internally or externally configured drive enhancement circuit 1413 to improve the quality of the drive signal. The drive enhancement circuit 1413 may enhance the drive signal and the power supply of the driver 1412, thereby meeting the requirements of high output power and high switching frequency described above, and further improving the performance of the charger 100. In some embodiments, the aforementioned drive enhancement circuit 1413 includes, but is not limited to, push-pull circuits, totem poles, driver chips, and level conversion circuits. In some embodiments, an isolation device or circuit is provided between the driver 1412 and the DC-DC converter 1411 to reduce the influence between the control circuit and the power transfer circuit. In summary, the above-mentioned drive assembly 140 includes multiple configurations such as multi-power modules 141 that can be connected in parallel, which can effectively improve the power increase and reduce the loss of the charger 100.
[0151] A power module 141 can receive a set of control signals from the controller 150. Continuing from the previous description, the DC-DC converter 1411 of the power module 141 can receive a set of drive signals from the driver 1412 based on the control signals from the controller 150. Assuming the charger 100 has power modules 141-1 to 141-n, the controller 150 can send corresponding control signals (sets) A1 to An to the power modules 141-1 to 141-n respectively. The control signal Ai (i is any natural number from 1 to n) can regulate the output power of the power module 141-i. Simultaneously, the controller 150 can also adjust the connection relationship between each power module 141 and the charging interface 120. In some embodiments, the controller 150 or the control module / control board containing the controller 150 has a connection relationship adjustment circuit 151, which can receive the electrical energy output by each power module 141-i under the control signal Ai. Simultaneously, it also receives a second control signal B from the controller 150. The connection adjustment circuit 151 can respond to the second control signal B by transferring the power supplied by each power module 141 to different charging interfaces 120. In some embodiments, the connection adjustment circuit 151 includes multiple second switches. Which charging interface 120 the power supplied by the power module 141 is ultimately transferred to is determined by the specific topology of the connection adjustment circuit 151 and by whether each second switch in the topology is turned on or off under the second control signal B.
[0152] In some embodiments, such as Figure 12A As shown, each power module 141 acts as an independent unit, supplying power to each charging interface 120. The control signal Ai of the controller 150 determines the output power Pi of the power module 141-i. The control signal B of the controller 150 determines the sum of the output power ∑ of the power modules 141-p (where p is a natural number from 1 to n) that the charging interface 120-i can receive. p P p In other embodiments, such as Figure 12B As shown, one or more power modules 141 can supply power to the charging interface 120 as a combination. Power modules 141-1 to 141-n constitute combinations G1 to Gm (m is a natural number less than n), and the output power of the combination Gj (j is any natural number from 1 to m) supplied by one or more power modules 141 as a whole is Pj. The control signal Ai of the controller 150 determines the output power Pi of power module 141-i, and the control signal B of the controller 150 determines the sum of the output power ∑ of combinations Gq (q is several natural numbers from 1 to m) that the charging interface 120-i can obtain. q P qIn these embodiments, the maximum output power allocated by the drive component 140 to each charging interface 120 has multiple control methods, including power adjustment for a single power module 141 by drive signals and output control circuit 1414, and adjustment of the connection relationship between a single power module 141 or a combination of multiple parallel power modules 141 and multiple charging interfaces 120.
[0153] In one alternative implementation, continuing from the preceding text, a charger 100 for a power tool battery pack 200 has multiple charging ports 120, each of which can be electrically connected to a battery pack 200. The charger 100 also includes multiple power modules 141, each of which can supply power to one of the multiple charging ports 120. The number of power modules 141 is at least equal to the number of charging ports 120. The charger 100 also includes a controller 150 for managing power transfer and information interaction within the charger 100. The controller 150 can confirm the battery pack connection status of the multiple charging ports 120 and, based on this connection status, control and adjust the connection relationship between the multiple power modules 141 and the multiple charging ports 120. For example, the controller 150 can regulate the on / off state of the branches from each power module 141 to each charging port 120, thereby transferring the electrical energy output by each power module 141 to the corresponding charging port 120. For details, please refer to the preceding text; further elaboration is not required here.
[0154] In one alternative implementation, following the preceding text, refer to... Figure 14A charger 100 for a power tool battery pack 200 has at least two charging ports 120: a first charging port 121 and a second charging port 122, each electrically connected to a battery pack 200. The charger 100 also includes a drive assembly 140 supplying power to the first charging port 121 and / or the second charging port 122, and a controller 150 managing power transfer and information exchange within the charger 100. The drive assembly 140 includes multiple parallel power modules 141. These modules can use the same power input and can collaboratively charge the battery packs 200 electrically connected to the aforementioned at least two charging ports 120. Unlike the previous embodiment, the multiple parallel power modules 141 included in the drive assembly 140 can always supply power to one or more charging ports 120 in parallel. Simultaneously, the first charging port 121 is electrically connected to the drive assembly 140 via a first electronic switch 171, and the second charging port 122 is electrically connected to the drive assembly 140 via a second electronic switch 172. The controller 150 can acquire the voltages of the battery packs 200 electrically connected to the first charging interface 121 and the second charging interface 122, respectively. If the voltage of the battery pack 200 connected to the first charging interface 121 is higher than the voltage of the battery pack 200 connected to the second charging interface 122, and the voltage difference between the two battery packs 200 exceeds a preset voltage difference threshold, the controller 150 will turn off the aforementioned first electronic switch 171. Correspondingly, if the voltage of the battery pack 200 connected to the second charging interface 122 is higher than the voltage of the battery pack 200 connected to the first charging interface 121, and the voltage difference between the two battery packs 200 exceeds a preset voltage difference threshold, the controller will turn off the aforementioned second electronic switch 172.
[0155] For example, the drive assembly 140 of the charger 100 uses multiple power modules 141 connected in parallel to significantly improve the output capability of the charger 100. Simultaneously, the charger 100 is provided with at least two charging ports 120, capable of simultaneously charging multiple battery packs 200 electrically connected to different charging ports 120. However, when the voltage difference between the multiple battery packs 200 connected to the charging ports 120 is large, it can hinder the process control of simultaneous charging of multiple battery packs, posing safety risks such as BMS misjudgment and cross-current. Furthermore, the battery pack on the lower voltage side may have a lower relative charge level, requiring rapid replenishment. Therefore, in this embodiment, an electronic switch 170, whose on / off state is controlled by the controller 150, is provided between each charging port 120 and the drive assembly 140. When the electronic switch 170 is turned off, the branch between its corresponding charging port 120 and the drive assembly 140 is disconnected. That is, the charging circuit from the charger 100 to the battery pack 200 connected to that charging port 120 is disconnected, and the battery pack 200 cannot be charged. At this time, even if the battery pack 200 is connected to the charging interface 120 of the charger 100, it is isolated from the charging process of the charger 100 and does not participate in or affect the charging of the charger 100. When the electronic switch 170 is turned on, the branch between its corresponding charging interface 120 and the drive component 140 is connected. That is, the circuit for the charger 100 to charge the battery pack 200 connected to the charging interface 120 is connected, and the battery pack 200 can be charged. Based on this, when multiple battery packs 200 are connected, the controller 150 can obtain the voltage of the battery pack 200 connected to the charging interface 120 through sampling circuits such as voltage dividers and analog-to-digital converters or other communication methods. Let the voltage of the battery pack 200 connected to the first charging interface 121 be U1, and the voltage of the battery pack 200 connected to the second charging interface 122 be U2. The controller 150 determines whether the voltage difference |U1-U2| between the battery packs 200 exceeds the preset voltage difference threshold ΔUth. If it does, the controller turns off the electronic switch 170 connected to the charging interface 120 of the high-voltage side battery pack 200 (assuming U1 is higher than U2, the battery pack connected to the first charging interface 121 is the high-voltage side battery pack, and the battery pack connected to the second charging interface 122 is the low-voltage side battery pack). This prevents the high-voltage side battery pack 200 from participating in the charging process of the charger 100, ensuring that the power of the low-voltage side battery pack 200 is quickly restored, and that there are no unexpected risks in the control of the relevant charging process.
[0156] In some embodiments, after determining and turning off the first electronic switch 171, the controller 150 can control the maximum output power supplied by the drive component 140 to the second charging interface 122 based on the maximum allowable charging current of the battery pack 200 connected to the second charging interface 122. The maximum allowable charging current of the battery pack 200 connected to the second charging interface 122 can be communicated to the controller 150 by the battery pack 200. Optionally, the maximum allowable charging current of the battery pack 200 can be predetermined based on its electrical characteristics and remain unchanged. Alternatively, its maximum charging current can be dynamically assessed by the battery pack 200 during its charging and discharging process, and may change with the use of the battery pack 200. It is also possible that the controller 150 assesses or calibrates the maximum charging current of the battery pack 200. Then, the controller 150 of the charger 100 will determine and control the drive component 140 to provide the corresponding output power to the second charging interface 122 based on the known maximum allowable charging current of the battery pack 200. In some embodiments, the charger 100 controller 150 controls the drive component 140 to charge the battery pack 200 at the aforementioned maximum charging current or the maximum output power corresponding to the maximum charging current via the second charging interface 122. In some embodiments, the controller 150 may also combine the output power allocated to the charging interface 120 by the drive component 140 with more specific charging control logic, including but not limited to a combination of one or more of CC, CV, pulse charging, etc. at different stages.
[0157] In some embodiments, among the plurality of parallel power modules 141 included in the drive assembly 140, each power module 141 is provided with a DC-DC converter to convert electrical energy from the power interface, photovoltaic modules, etc., into a form suitable for charging the battery pack 200 on the charging interface 120. In some embodiments, the DC-DC converter 1411 in the power module 141 may employ an FSBB (Four Switch Buck-Boost) circuit. The circuit implementation of the DC-DC converter 1411 involves a switching transistor 1411a, and in some embodiments, such as Figure 11 , Figure 14 As shown, the switch 1411a in the DC-DC converter 1411 that receives one drive signal can be a single switch or multiple switches connected in parallel, thereby enhancing the circuit's performance efficiency and heat dissipation. However, the use of parallel switches in the DC-DC converter 1411 also increases the requirements for the drive signal. In some embodiments, such as... Figure 11 As shown, the power module 141 also includes a drive enhancement circuit 1413 to adjust the drive signal to meet the expectations of the DC-DC converter 1411 using parallel switching transistors. Further descriptions of the embodiments herein can be found in the foregoing related content.
[0158] In some embodiments, the charger 100 includes a power interface 130 capable of supplying current to the drive assembly 140. The number of power interfaces 130 can be one or more. The power interface 130 may include only a DC power interface 131 providing DC power, or only an AC power interface 132 providing AC / mains power; it may also include both DC power interface 131 and AC power interface 132. In some embodiments, the aforementioned DC power interface 131 can be connected to a DC power source such as a second battery pack 400, and / or, it can be connected to other chargers. That is, the charger 100 and other chargers can form a cascaded relationship capable of progressive charging. In some embodiments, when the charger 100 supplies current to the drive assembly 140 using AC power from the AC power interface 132, the charger 100 also includes an AC-DC converter that can convert AC power, such as mains power, into DC power. Exemplarily, multiple power modules 141 connected in parallel will use the DC power converted by the AC-DC converter as a common power input. In some embodiments, when the charger 100 uses AC power to supply the drive component 140, the maximum output power of the charger 100 is greater than or equal to 2000W. In this embodiment, the AC power supply method can significantly improve the charger 100's battery life and performance.
[0159] In some embodiments, the power interface 130 of the charger 100 includes both a DC power interface 131 and an AC power interface 132. Furthermore, the maximum output power of the charger 100 when supplying current to the drive component 140 via the AC power interface 132 is greater than or equal to the maximum output power of the charger 100 when supplying current to the drive component 140 via the DC power interface 131. The output capability of the charger 100 using AC power supply is stronger than that of the charger 100 using DC power supply such as the second battery pack 400. In some embodiments, the controller 150 of the charger 100 will preferentially use the AC mains power supplied by the AC power interface 132 when both the DC power interface 131 and the AC power interface 132 can supply current. Alternatively, when no AC mains power is connected to the AC power interface 132, the controller 150 will preferentially use the DC power from the second battery pack 400 connected via the DC power interface 131. In some embodiments, the capacity of the second battery pack 400 is greater than the capacity of the (first) battery pack 200. For example, the capacity of the second battery pack 400 is greater than or equal to 2kWh.
[0160] In some embodiments, after the controller 150 obtains the voltages of the battery packs 200 electrically connected to the first and second charging interfaces 121 and 122 respectively, the charger 100 can charge these multiple battery packs 200 simultaneously if the voltage difference between the battery packs 200 connected to the first and second charging interfaces 121 and 122 does not exceed a preset voltage difference threshold. Optionally, the drive component 140 uses a parallel multi-power module 141 to collaboratively supply power to the charging interface 120, and the first charging interface 121 and the second charging interface 122 can adaptively allocate the output power of the drive component 140. It is understood that in this embodiment, the battery packs 200 connected to different charging interfaces 120 have approximately equal rated voltages (or nominal voltages). They may have approximately equal rated capacities (nominal capacities) or unequal rated capacities (nominal capacities). When the actual voltages of the current battery packs are approximately equal (voltage difference does not exceed the threshold), the output power of the parallel multi-power module 141 can be adaptively allocated according to the differences in the internal resistance, aging, temperature, etc. of the battery packs 200. Ideally, if the battery packs 200 connected to the first and second charging ports 121 and 122 are identical, the output power of the drive component 140 will be evenly distributed between the two battery packs 200. If the battery packs 200 connected to the first and second charging ports 121 and 122 are battery packs with equal voltage but different capacities, the output power distributed by the drive component 140 to the different battery packs 200 is approximately inversely proportional to their respective internal resistances.
[0161] In some embodiments, the controller 150 determines whether the preset voltage difference threshold used by the charger 100 to perform single-port charging or multi-port charging is related to the current source (power input) currently used by the drive component 140. When the drive component 140 uses DC power provided by the DC power interface 131 as the supply current, the preset voltage difference threshold used by the controller 150 is recorded as the first preset voltage difference threshold. When the drive component 140 uses AC power provided by the AC power interface 132 to obtain the supply current, the preset voltage difference threshold used by the controller 150 is recorded as the second preset voltage difference threshold. This second preset voltage difference threshold is higher than the first preset voltage difference threshold. In this embodiment, the preset voltage difference threshold used by the controller to switch between single-port and multi-port charging modes is flexibly adjusted to ensure the accuracy of the charger 100's charging control.
[0162] In one alternative implementation, continuing from the preceding text, a charger 100 for a power tool battery pack 200 has multiple charging ports 120, each of which can be electrically connected to a battery pack 200. The charger 100 also includes a drive assembly 140 that supplies power to each charging port 120 and a controller 150 that manages power transfer and information exchange within the charger 100. The drive assembly 140 includes multiple parallel power modules 141 that can collaboratively charge the battery packs 200 electrically connected to the aforementioned multiple charging ports 120. Simultaneously, each charging port 121 is electrically connected to the drive assembly 140 via a corresponding electronic switch 170. The controller 150 can acquire the battery pack connection status of the multiple charging ports 120 and, based on this status, control the aforementioned electronic switches 170 corresponding to each charging port 120 to control the charger 100 to enter either a single-port charging mode or a multi-port charging mode. Furthermore, when the charger 100 enters the single-port charging mode, the controller 150 will control the maximum output power of the drive component 140 based on the maximum charging current allowed by the battery pack 200 connected to the charging interface 120 connected by the activated electronic switch 170.
[0163] For example, the controller 150 of the charger 100 can acquire and, based on the battery pack connection status of the multiple charging ports 120, turn on or off each electronic switch 170 connected between each charging port 120 and the drive component 140. The charger 100 has a single-port charging mode and a multi-port charging mode. In the single-port charging mode, the controller 150 turns on only one electronic switch 170, and only the charging port 120 corresponding to that electronic switch 170 and its battery pack 200 receive the supply current from the drive component 140. In the multi-port charging mode, the controller 150 turns on multiple electronic switches 170, and the multiple charging ports 120 corresponding to these multiple electronic switches 170 can all receive the supply current from the drive component 140, and the multiple battery packs 200 on the ports can be charged simultaneously. When the controller 150 determines and controls the charger 100 to enter the single-port charging mode, the controller 150 will adjust the maximum output power provided by the drive component 140 to the charging interface 120 based on the maximum charging current of the battery pack 200 on the charging interface 120 corresponding to the currently only conducting electronic switch 170.
[0164] In some embodiments, when the charger 100 has entered single-port charging mode, the controller 150 can control the drive component 140 to provide a charging rate of greater than or equal to 5C to the charging interface 120 when the charging interface 120 is electrically connected to a tabletop battery pack. When the charging interface 120 is electrically connected to a tabbed battery pack, the control drive component 140 provides a charging rate of less than or equal to 2C to the charging interface 120. The aforementioned tabletop battery pack and tabbed battery pack are relative concepts. Tabbed battery packs can include more traditional single-tab battery packs, bitabbed battery packs, etc. Tabletop battery packs can include "tabletop" battery packs with a large number of parallel small tabs extending from the edge of the electrode, or "tabletop" battery packs with tabs directly extending from the edge of the current collector. The type information of the aforementioned all-tab battery pack or tabbed battery pack can be transmitted to the charger 100 controller 150 via communication or other means. Based on this information, the controller 150 can adjust and control the charging rate provided by the drive component 140 to the corresponding charging interface 120 in single-port charging mode, that is, adjust and control the interface power accordingly, so as to adapt it to the actual charging and discharging capacity of the (all-tab / tabbed) battery pack 200, thereby improving the efficiency and effect of the charger 100 in charging the battery pack 200.
[0165] In some embodiments, the controller 150 acquires the voltage of the battery packs 200 electrically connected to each charging port 120, and if the voltage difference between the battery packs 200 connected to the multiple charging ports 120 is greater than a preset voltage difference threshold, it turns off the electronic switch 170 corresponding to the charging port 120 where the high-voltage battery pack 200 is located, and enters the aforementioned single-port charging mode. That is, when the voltage difference between the battery packs 200 connected to the multiple charging ports 120 exceeds the threshold, the controller 150 can only turn on the electronic switch 170 corresponding to the charging port 120 where the lowest voltage battery pack 200 is located, thereby controlling the charger 100 to enter the single-port charging mode. In some embodiments, the controller 150 will sequentially increase the number of corresponding electronic switches 170 turned on in the aforementioned situation according to the battery pack voltage from low to high. For example, following the order of battery pack voltage from low to high, after the previous battery pack 200 is charged to a voltage approximately equal to that of the next battery pack 200, an electronic switch 170 corresponding to the charging interface 120 of the next battery pack 200 is turned on, and so on.
[0166] In some embodiments, after the controller 150 acquires the voltage of the battery packs 200 electrically connected to each charging port 120, if the voltage difference between the battery packs 200 connected to the multiple charging ports 120 is less than or equal to a preset voltage difference threshold, it can turn on multiple electronic switches 170 corresponding to the charging ports 120 where the voltage difference is within the aforementioned threshold, thereby controlling the charger 100 to enter a multi-port charging mode. For example, in the multi-port charging mode, the charger 100 or the drive component 140 simultaneously charges multiple battery packs 200 with similar current voltages under the control of the controller 150. Optionally, the difference between the highest and lowest current voltage values of these multiple battery packs 200 will not exceed the aforementioned preset voltage difference threshold. In some embodiments, in the multi-port charging mode, the multiple charging ports 120 will adaptively allocate the output power of the charger 100 or the drive component 140. For example, if the battery packs 200 electrically connected to the charging interface 120 are the same battery pack, ideally, the charger 100 or the drive assembly 140 will charge the multiple charging interfaces 120 containing the multiple battery packs 200 at the same power. If the battery packs 200 electrically connected to the charging interface 120 have similar voltages but different capacities, the adaptive distribution of output power on each charging interface 120 can be approximately inversely proportional to the internal resistance of the battery pack.
[0167] In one alternative embodiment of this application, following the foregoing description, the charger 100 for the power tool battery pack 200 includes at least a housing 110, a charging interface 120 for coupling charging of the first battery pack 200, a DC power interface 131 for coupling power supply to the second battery pack 400, and a drive component 140 for performing inter-interface power transfer. The housing 110 of this charger 100 is identical to the housing of the second charger already on the market before December 31, 2024, and the maximum output power of this charger 100 will be at least 1.5 times that of the second charger. This charger 100 can be an updated iteration of the second charger, having the same external structure to maintain continuity and compatibility within the system comprising the power tool 300, battery pack 200, charger 100, and second charger. Simultaneously, this charger 100 has at least a 50% increase in maximum output power compared to the second charger, optimizing performance while maintaining product consistency within the system. In one example, the maximum output power of the charging port 120 of this charger 100 can reach 2500W, while the maximum output power of the second charger sold before December 31, 2024 is only 1400W.
[0168] In some embodiments, the second charger has a second interface for coupled charging of the battery pack 200, which corresponds to the charging interface 120 of the charger 100 and may have the same external structure. The maximum output power of the charging interface 120 of the charger 100 can be three times the maximum output power of the second interface of the second charger. In one example, the maximum output power of the charging interface 120 of the charger 100 can reach 2500W, while the maximum output power of the second interface of a second charger sold before December 31, 2024, is only 700W. In some embodiments, the charging speed of the battery pack 200 using the charging interface 120 of the charger 100 is at least three times that of the battery pack 200 using the second interface of the second charger, resulting in a significant reduction in charging time.
[0169] In some embodiments, such as Figures 3 to 7 As shown, in the charger 100, the drive assembly 140 includes a drive box 142 located below the charging interface 120 and / or the DC power interface 131 and / or the AC power interface 132. The drive box 142 is generally cuboid and houses a circuit board 1421 on which at least two power modules 141 can be connected in parallel, or further on which a controller 150 and related electronic circuitry are deployed. Electronic cables connect the drive box 142 to the interfaces 120 and 130, and these cables are essentially connected to the power modules 141 or the controller 150 within the box. In some embodiments, two circuit boards 1421 are arranged in parallel within the drive box 142. The upper board is the control board containing the controller 150, and the lower board is the main board containing the power modules 141. The power modules 141 on the lower board can be deployed in sections. Electronic circuitry for power and information transmission is also connected between the upper and lower boards; these circuits can be routed along the edges of the boards. This arrangement makes the drive assembly 140 compact and clearly divided into modules. Another structural design for the driver assembly 140 or driver box 142 can also be referenced. Figures 8 to 10 And the relevant descriptions mentioned above.
[0170] In some embodiments, the drive assembly 140 further includes a heat sink 144, which may be disposed on one or more sides of the drive housing 142. For example, it may be disposed on the bottom surface of the drive housing 142 and located between the drive housing 142 and the charger 100 housing 110. A plurality of fins of the heat sink 144 are arranged in parallel and spaced apart to effectively transfer heat from the drive housing 142 to the outside. In some embodiments, the thickness of the heat sink 144 of this charger 100 (the thickness of the fin base and / or the fins) will be at least twice the thickness of the second heat sink of a second charger sold before December 31, 2024. In some embodiments, the base thickness of the heat sink 144 is greater than or equal to 3 mm, and the fin thickness is greater than or equal to 15 mm.
[0171] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 15 This application also proposes a charging system including a charger 100 and a wireless communication module 600. Continuing from the foregoing, the charger 100 in this charging system includes a housing 110 and a charging interface 120 on the housing 110 for detachably coupled charging of a (first) battery pack 200. The charger 100 also includes an AC power interface 132 for obtaining mains power and a DC power interface 131 for obtaining DC power, and a drive assembly 140 housed within the housing 110 that uses the current obtained from the AC power interface 132 or the DC power interface 131 to charge the battery pack 200 connected to the charging interface 120. The charger 100 also includes a controller 150 housed within the housing 110 that manages the power transfer and information interaction of the charger 100, and can obtain information about the battery pack 200 connected to the charging interface 120. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the charger 100 also includes a wireless communication module interface 180 disposed on the housing 110 and detachably connected to the aforementioned wireless communication module 600 in the charging system.
[0172] The wireless communication module 600 in this charging system includes a module housing 610, a host interface 620 disposed on the module housing 610, a cellular network unit 630, and a built-in battery 640 housed within the module housing 610. The module housing 610 forms the main body of the module, and an internal accommodating space is formed within it. The host interface 620, disposed on the module housing 610, can be coupled to the wireless communication module interface 180 disposed on the housing 110 of the charger 100, thereby achieving a wired electrical connection between the wireless communication module 600 and the charger 100. The cellular network unit 630 and the built-in battery 640 are the functional unit and power supply unit of the wireless communication module 600, respectively. The cellular network unit 630 can connect to an internet server, and the built-in battery 640 can at least power the cellular network unit 630. In this embodiment, the wireless communication module 600 in the charging system can be considered as an external module of the charger 100. It can be installed on the charger 100 via interface coupling or detached from the charger 100. Charger 100 uses wireless communication module 600 to upload data. Information from charger 100 and / or battery pack 200 connected to charging interface 120 of charger 100 is uploaded to an internet server via cellular network unit 630 of wireless communication module 600 for data processing and analysis. Furthermore, when the host interface 620 of wireless communication module 600 is coupled to wireless communication module interface 180 of charger 100 in this charging system, the drive component 140 of charger 100 can use current obtained from AC power interface 132 to charge the built-in battery 640 of wireless communication module 600, or it can use current obtained from DC power interface 131 to charge the built-in battery 640. In other words, in this charging system, charger 100 can charge the built-in battery 640 of wireless communication module 600 using either AC or DC power, making the charger 100's task processing more flexible and efficient. The built-in battery 640 ensures that wireless communication module 600 can continue to operate even after being disconnected from charger 100. For example, within the housing 110 of the charger 100, the drive component 140 or its circuit board 1421 can be led out via electronic cables and connected to the aforementioned wireless communication module interface 180 to realize the connection of the power transfer line between the charger 100 and the wireless communication module 600, or further realize the connection of the wired communication link between the two.
[0173] In some embodiments, the power supply methods of the driving component 140 of the charger 100 to the built-in battery 640 of the wireless communication module 600 have different priorities. Optionally, the driving component 140 may preferentially use the current obtained from the AC power interface 132 to charge the built-in battery 640, that is, it may preferentially use AC to charge the module. When the charger 100 is connected to both AC mains power through the AC power interface 132 and DC power from the second battery pack 400 through the DC power interface 131, the driving component 140 may not use the energy stored in the second battery pack 400. Instead, it may perform AC / DC conversion, step-up / step-down conversion, rectification and filtering on the AC mains power connected to the AC power interface 132, and then transmit the power to the built-in battery 640 through the coupling between the wireless communication module interface 180 and the host interface 620. In some embodiments, a second battery pack 400 providing DC power is detachably connected to the DC power interface 131, and the total capacity of the second battery pack 400 is greater than or equal to 2kWh. The energy stored in the second battery pack 400 can be transferred to the (first) battery pack 200 connected to the charging interface 120. Alternatively, the energy stored in the second battery pack 400 can also be supplied to the built-in battery 640 of the wireless communication module 600 in the absence of AC power input.
[0174] In some embodiments, the wireless communication module interface 180 disposed on the charger 100 housing 110 is a USB interface. Exemplarily, the type of the wireless communication module interface 180 includes, but is not limited to, USB Type-C interface, USB Type-A interface, etc., and its application protocols include, but are not limited to, USB 4.0, USB 3.2, USB 3.0, etc. In some embodiments, the aforementioned wireless communication module interface 180 also supports fast charging. In some embodiments, the aforementioned wireless communication module interface 180 is disposed on the side of the charger 100 housing 110. Exemplarily, the location of the wireless communication module interface 180 includes, but is not limited to, one or more side walls of the charger 100 housing 110 that are not on the bottom surface. For example, assuming that the charging interface 120 and DC power interface 131 connecting the (first) battery pack 200 and the second battery pack 400 on the charger 100 can be disposed in the front-rear direction, the aforementioned wireless communication module interface 180 can be disposed on the left side and / or right side of the charger 100 housing 110. In some embodiments, the wireless communication module 600 may be provided with a snap-fit, magnetic or other connecting device that cooperates with the charger housing 100 to securely mount it to the side wall of the charger 100.
[0175] In some embodiments, the wireless communication module interface 180 is further provided with a detachable protective plug. When the wireless communication module interface 180 is not coupled to the host interface 620, the protective plug can be installed and connected to the wireless communication module interface 180, thereby isolating the wireless communication module interface 180 from the external space and providing dust and water protection. When the wireless communication module interface 180 is coupled to the host interface 620, the protective plug can be removed from the wireless communication module interface 180 without hindering the coupling connection between the two interfaces. For example, the protective plug is a rubber plug that can cooperate with the wireless communication module interface 180, or the protective plug is a movable baffle, etc. In some embodiments, the charger 100 is also provided with a groove for accommodating the removed protective plug. And / or, the protective plug, such as a rubber plug, can be detachably connected to the wireless communication module interface 180 in a manner that does not completely detach from the charger 100. For example, in addition to the body used to fill the interface, the protective plug also has a connecting part such as a connecting wire that is always connected to the charger 100 and also connected to the main body. In some embodiments, a protective plug may also be provided on the host interface 620 on the housing of the wireless communication module 600. For specific implementation, please refer to the protective plug on the aforementioned wireless communication module interface 180, which will not be described again.
[0176] In some embodiments, both the charger 100 and the wireless communication module 600 have built-in Bluetooth units. They can establish a wireless communication connection and transmit data such as battery pack information through their respective Bluetooth units. In some embodiments, the battery pack information transmitted between the charger 100 and the wireless communication module 600 includes one or more of the following: voltage, current, and charge level of the battery pack 200 currently being charged, which is connected to the charging interface 120. For example, the aforementioned information may include one or more of the following: the rated (nominal) voltage, rated (nominal) capacity, maximum charging current, maximum charging rate, and the current actual voltage, (charging) current, and charge level of the battery pack 200. Optionally, the battery pack information may also include the number of cycles, temperature, model, and estimated waiting time for full charge of the battery pack 200.
[0177] In one alternative embodiment of this application, following the foregoing description, the charging system includes a charger 100 and a wireless communication module 600. The charger 100 includes a housing 110 and a charging interface 120 on the housing 110 for detachably coupled charging of the battery pack, as well as a wireless communication module interface 180 for detachably connecting the wireless communication module 600 in the charging system. The charger 100 also includes a drive assembly 140, a controller 150, and a Bluetooth unit 650 housed within the housing 110. The drive assembly 140 is capable of charging at least the battery pack 200 connected to the charging interface 120. The controller 150 manages the power transfer and information exchange of the charger 100, and can acquire information about the battery pack 200 connected to the charging interface 120. The Bluetooth unit 650 has a communication connection with the controller 150 and can receive and forward information about the battery pack 200 and / or the charger 100 itself acquired by the controller 150. The wireless communication module 600 in this charging system includes a module housing 610 and a host interface 620 disposed on the module housing 610 and coupled to the aforementioned wireless communication module interface 180. It also includes a Bluetooth unit 650 and a cellular network unit 630 housed within the module housing 610; these are functional units within the wireless communication module 600. The cellular network unit 630 can connect to an internet server, and the Bluetooth unit 650 can wirelessly connect to the Bluetooth unit 190 within the charger 100. For clarity, the Bluetooth unit 190 within the charger 100 will be referred to as the first Bluetooth unit 190, and the Bluetooth unit 650 within the wireless communication module 600 as the second Bluetooth unit 650. In this charging system, when the host interface 620 of the wireless communication module 600 is coupled to the wireless communication module interface 180 of the charger 100, the wireless communication module 600 and the controller 150 of the charger 100 establish a wired communication connection at least through the aforementioned wireless communication module interface 180. When the host interface 620 is not coupled to the wireless communication interface, the controller 150 establishes a wireless communication connection with the wireless communication module 600 through the first Bluetooth unit 190. In other words, in this charging system, the charger 100 can establish a communication connection with the wireless communication module 600 in either wired or wireless mode, making data uploading of the charger 100 and its battery pack more flexible and efficient.
[0178] For example, the controller 150 of the charger 100 acquires information about the charger 100 itself and information about the battery pack 200 connected to the charging interface 120. When the wireless communication module interface 180 of the charger 100 is coupled to the host interface 620 of the wireless communication module 600, that is, when the wireless communication module 600 is installed in the charger 100, the controller 150 can communicate with the wireless communication module 600 via the coupling interface in a wired manner, transmitting the acquired information to the wireless communication module 600 through the wired communication link, and then transmitting it to the Internet server through the cellular network unit 630 within the wireless communication module 600. When the wireless communication module 600 is not coupled to the host interface 620, that is, when the wireless communication module 600 is detached from the charger 100, the controller 150 can establish a wireless communication connection with the second Bluetooth unit 650 within the wireless communication module 600 via the first Bluetooth unit 190, transmitting the acquired information to the wireless communication module 600 through the wired communication link, and then transmitting it to the Internet server through the cellular network unit 630 within the wireless communication module 600. The wired communication connection between the charger 100 and the wireless communication module 600, achieved through interface coupling, conforms to physical layer and / or application layer serial port protocols, including but not limited to UART, RS-485, Modbus, and CAN. The wireless communication connection between the first and second Bluetooth units 190 and 650 conforms to classic Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy protocol stacks. The wireless communication connection between the cellular network unit 630 and the internet server may involve multiple protocols (protocol families / stacks) such as TCP, IP, Wi-Fi, MIMO, 4G, and 5G; however, this is related to the actual network configuration and is not specifically limited.
[0179] In some embodiments, the first Bluetooth unit 190 of the charger 100, in addition to establishing a wireless communication connection with the second Bluetooth unit 650 to transmit information about the charger 100 and / or battery pack 200 when the wireless communication module interface 180 is not coupled to the host interface 620, can also establish a wireless communication connection with a target electronic device when it is within communication range, thereby transmitting the aforementioned information via another communication link. For example, a user can install a corresponding application on a user device such as a mobile phone or tablet. Through the operation of this application, the first Bluetooth unit 190 can establish a wireless communication connection with the Bluetooth unit on the user device to transmit the aforementioned information to the user device. The application can also invoke the cellular network unit of the user device to continue uploading the aforementioned information to an internet server. The wireless communication link described in this embodiment can serve as an alternative or redundant link in the above embodiments.
[0180] Information from the battery pack 200 and / or charger 100 is uploaded to an internet server via the cellular network unit. After the data is uploaded to the cloud, the internet server or other relevant processing devices can aggregate, organize, and analyze the information from the battery pack 200 and / or charger 100. Users can then use mobile phones or other devices to run the aforementioned applications and interact with the internet server to view the data and related analysis results.
[0181] In some embodiments, the first Bluetooth unit 190 and the second Bluetooth unit 650 can also establish a wireless communication connection when the wireless communication module interface 180 is coupled to the host interface 620. In some embodiments, redundant data transmission is performed between the aforementioned first and second Bluetooth units 190 and 650 to ensure that the information of the aforementioned charger 100 and / or battery pack 200 is not lost or can be verified, recovered, or otherwise processed. In other embodiments, the aforementioned first and second Bluetooth units 190 and 650 can perform wireless communication even if a fault is detected in the wired communication link between the wireless communication module interface 180 and the host interface 620.
[0182] In some embodiments, the battery pack information transmitted between the charger 100 and the wireless communication module 600 includes one or more of the following: voltage, current, and capacity information of the battery pack currently undergoing charging. For example, the aforementioned information may include one or more of the following: the rated (nominal) voltage, rated (nominal) capacity, maximum charging current, maximum charging rate of the battery pack 200, and the current actual voltage, (charging) current, and capacity of the battery pack 200. Optionally, the battery pack information may also include the number of cycles, temperature, model, and estimated waiting time for full charging of the battery pack 200. In some embodiments, the information transmitted between the charger 100 and the wireless communication module 600 also includes information about the current charging process of the charger 100, including but not limited to one or more of the following: the charger 100's maximum output power, maximum output current, total output power, total output current, current actual temperature, and the power and / or current allocated to the battery packs 200 connected to each charging interface 120. In some embodiments, the charger 100 and the wireless communication module 600 can perform both real-time data transmission and periodic transmission of relevant historical data from the previous period.
[0183] It should be noted that, provided that the features are not contradictory, the various implementation methods described above and the various embodiments under each of the various implementation methods can be combined with each other to comprehensively optimize the charger and charging system in this application, and these solutions should still fall within the protection scope of this application.
[0184] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of this application. Those skilled in the art should understand that the above embodiments do not limit this application in any way, and all technical solutions obtained by equivalent substitution or equivalent transformation fall within the protection scope of this application.
Claims
1. A charging system, comprising a charger and a wireless communication module: The charger includes: case; The charging port is designed for detachable connection to the battery pack; AC power interface, configured to obtain AC power; DC power interface, configured to obtain DC power; A drive assembly, housed within the housing, is configured to charge a battery pack connected to the charging interface using current obtained from the AC power interface or the DC power interface. A controller, housed within the housing, is configured to acquire information about a battery pack connected to the charging interface; A wireless communication module interface is disposed in the housing and detachably connected to the wireless communication module; The wireless communication module includes: Module casing; The host interface is located on the module housing and can be coupled to the wireless communication module interface; A cellular network unit, housed within the module housing, is configured to connect to an internet server; An internal battery, housed within the module housing, is configured to power the cellular network unit; The characteristic feature is that the driving component is further configured to charge the built-in battery using current obtained from the AC power interface or the DC power interface when the host interface is coupled to the wireless communication module interface.
2. The charging system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive component is configured to preferentially use the current obtained from the AC power interface to charge the built-in battery.
3. The charging system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the charger and the wireless communication module further include a Bluetooth unit; the controller is configured to establish a wireless communication connection with the wireless communication module via the Bluetooth unit.
4. The charging system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The charger and the wireless communication module interact with each other via the wireless communication connection to access information about the battery pack connected to the charging interface.
5. The charging system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The information of the battery pack includes one or more of the following: current, voltage, and charge level during the current charging process of the battery pack.
6. The charging system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wireless communication module interface is a USB interface.
7. The charging system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wireless communication interface is located on the side of the housing.
8. The charging system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wireless communication interface is equipped with a detachable protective plug.
9. The charging system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The DC power interface obtains DC power from a second battery pack that is detachably connected to the charger, the total capacity of the second battery pack being greater than or equal to 2kWh.
10. A charging system, comprising a charger and a wireless communication module: The charger includes: case; The charging port is designed for detachable connection to the battery pack; A drive assembly, housed within the housing, is configured to charge a battery pack connected to the charging interface; A controller, housed within the housing, is configured to acquire information about a battery pack connected to the charging interface; A Bluetooth unit, housed within the housing, is configured to communicate with the controller. A wireless communication module interface is disposed in the housing and detachably connected to the wireless communication module; The wireless communication module includes: Module casing; The host interface is located on the module housing and can be coupled to the wireless communication module interface; The Bluetooth unit is housed within the module housing; A cellular network unit, housed within the module housing, is configured to connect to an internet server; The feature is that, when the host interface is coupled to the wireless communication module interface, the wireless communication module and the controller establish a wired communication connection at least through the wireless communication interface; when the host interface is not coupled to the wireless communication module interface, the controller establishes a wireless communication connection with the wireless communication module through the Bluetooth unit.