Charging device

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging device comprising a first electrical interface, which is configured for electrical connection with a replaceable battery pack, a second electrical interface, which is configured for electrical connection with an electrical device, a control unit, and an actuating device, wherein the control unit is configured to reverse the direction of electrical energy supply between the first electrical interface and the second electrical interface in response to actuation by means of the actuating device, in order to switch between charging and discharging the replaceable battery pack.

Description

State of the art

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging device, an electrical arrangement, and a method for operating an electrical arrangement.

[0002] Charging devices are known for charging interchangeable battery packs, for example, for consumers such as power tools. The charging device can be connected to a power source, such as a mains connection. It is also known that such charging devices have electrical interfaces through which the interchangeable battery pack can be discharged, so that electrical energy can be supplied to an electrical device at the interface. For example, such an electrical interface could be a USB interface. Disclosure of the invention

[0003] In contrast, the charging device according to the invention, with the features of claim 1, is characterized by particularly flexible, simple, and reliable functionality. In particular, the charging device enables the targeted charging and / or discharging of a removable battery pack, allowing a variety of different energy sources and consumers to be used easily and with a high degree of user-friendliness. This is achieved according to the invention by a charging device, especially for a removable battery pack, preferably for a consumer such as a power tool. The charging device comprises a first electrical interface configured for electrical connection to a removable battery pack. Furthermore, the charging device comprises a second electrical interface configured for connection to an electrical device.Furthermore, the charging device comprises a control unit and an actuating device. The actuating device is designed to be manually operated. The control unit is configured to reverse the direction of electrical energy supply between the first electrical interface and the second electrical interface upon response to actuation, preferably manual, via the actuating device. In particular, this switches between charging and discharging the interchangeable battery pack connected to the charging device.

[0004] A replaceable battery pack is understood to be, in particular, an electrical energy storage device which may comprise one or more battery cells.

[0005] Preferably, any electrical device designed to consume and / or supply electrical energy is considered an electrical device. For example, such a device could be a user device, such as a smartphone. Furthermore, the electrical device could also be an electrical energy storage device, such as a power bank.

[0006] In other words, a charging device is provided that can be connected to both a removable battery pack and a separate electrical device. Preferably, the charging device can be used to both charge and discharge the removable battery pack. Electrical energy is supplied to the electrical device or the removable battery pack in a predetermined direction. By actuating the control unit of the charging device, the control unit can reverse the direction of electrical energy supply between the two electrical interfaces of the charging device. That is, for example, the control unit can determine, based on the actuation of the control unit, whether a removable battery pack electrically connected to the first interface is being charged or discharged.

[0007] The charging device offers the advantage that the direction of electrical energy delivery can be easily and reliably determined. In particular, a user can select or change the desired delivery direction very simply by operating the control device. This enables a wide range of applications for the charging device, such as use with various electrical devices. This allows electrical devices that can function both as electrical consumers and as electrical energy sources to be used easily and efficiently according to user requirements.

[0008] The subclaims contain preferred developments of the invention.

[0009] Preferably, the operating device includes a manually operated switch. In particular, the manually operated switch can be in the form of a push button. This allows for a particularly simple and cost-effective implementation of the charging device. Furthermore, it enables a user to easily and precisely adjust the direction of electrical energy delivery between the two interfaces with a high degree of user-friendliness.

[0010] The second electrical interface is preferably designed as a bidirectional interface. This means that the electrical device connected to the second electrical interface, which preferably has a single socket or, alternatively, for example, a single plug, can be both charged and discharged. This allows for a particularly simple and cost-effective design. Furthermore, it provides a particularly user-friendly charging device, as manual unplugging, for example, is not required.

[0011] Preferably, the second electrical interface has a Universal Serial Bus interface, which can also be referred to as a USB interface. Preferably, the Universal Serial Bus interface is of type C, i.e., in particular a USB-C interface. This allows for efficient charging and discharging via the second electrical interface in a particularly simple and user-friendly manner.

[0012] Preferably, the charging device includes several secondary electrical interfaces. In particular, each of the secondary interfaces is configured for electrical connection to one electrical device. This allows several electrical devices to be connected to the charging device simultaneously.

[0013] Preferably, at least two secondary electrical interfaces are configured differently. This means, for example, that the two electrical interfaces have different electrical connections for electrical devices. Preferably, at least one of the secondary electrical interfaces has a universal serial bus interface of type C. For example, at least one other secondary electrical interface can have a coaxial connection, for example, for a DC voltage and / or AC voltage. This allows for a particularly flexible charging device for a wide variety of applications.

[0014] Preferably, the charging device further comprises a housing in which the first electrical interface, the second electrical interface, and the actuating device are integrated. In particular, the housing can be designed to hold and, for example, also protect the electrical interfaces and the actuating device. Preferably, the control unit is also integrated into the housing, for example, arranged inside the housing. This allows for a simple and robust design of the charging device.

[0015] Preferably, the housing has a mechanical connection interface designed for mechanical connection to the replaceable battery pack. For example, the mechanical connection interface can include a rail arrangement and / or a locking mechanism by means of which the replaceable battery pack can be attached to the housing. This provides a simple and cost-effective design for easy and user-friendly handling.

[0016] Preferably, the housing has a cover designed to conceal the second electrical interface when the cover is in a closed position. Preferably, the cover can also expose the second electrical interface when it is in an open position. This provides, in particular, mechanical protection and protection of the second interface from dirt and moisture.

[0017] Furthermore, the invention leads to an electrical arrangement comprising the described charging device and a replaceable battery pack. In particular, the replaceable battery pack can be designed as an electrical energy storage device for use in a consumer, such as a power tool.

[0018] Preferably, the control unit is configured to generate a wake-up signal upon activation by the actuator, thereby putting the removable battery pack into standby mode. This means that the charging device's control unit can preferably switch the removable battery pack from a so-called deep sleep mode, in which the removable battery pack is completely deactivated and, in particular, no electrical energy can be supplied, into standby mode. In standby mode, the electrical energy supply of the removable battery pack can be accessed at any time. This means that the removable battery pack can be deliberately put into standby mode by activation using the actuator, for example, manually by a user of the electrical system. This ensures a particularly high level of user convenience and a reliable supply of electrical energy from the removable battery pack.

[0019] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating the described electrical arrangement. The method comprises the following steps: - Determining an actuation signal generated by the actuating device, and - Reversing the direction of electrical energy supply between the first electrical interface and the second electrical interface of the charging device of the electrical arrangement. Preferably, the method is carried out using the control unit of the charging device. Short description of the drawings

[0020] The invention is described below using exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the figures. In the figures, functionally identical components are identified by the same reference numerals. Here: Fig. 1 a simplified schematic view of an electrical arrangement comprising a charging device according to a first embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 a perspective view of the charging device of the Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 a perspective view of a charging device according to a second embodiment of the invention. Preferred embodiments of the invention

[0021] Fig. Figure 1 shows a simplified schematic view of an electrical arrangement 100, which includes a charging device 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The charging device 10 is also arranged in the Fig. 2 shown in a perspective view, with the interchangeable battery pack 11 schematically indicated.

[0022] In addition to the charging device 10, the electrical arrangement 100 comprises a replaceable battery pack 11 and an electrical device 12. The replaceable battery pack 11 is designed as an electrical energy storage device and can, for example, comprise several battery cells. Preferably, the replaceable battery pack 11 is configured for use in a consumer device (not shown), such as a power tool.

[0023] Electrical device 12 can be any device that can consume and / or supply electrical energy. For example, electrical device 12 can be a user device, such as a smartphone. Alternatively, electrical device 12 can be an energy storage device, such as a power bank.

[0024] The charging device 10 comprises a housing 5 in which several electrical interfaces 2, 3 and a control unit 3 are integrated.

[0025] The housing 5 also includes a mechanical connection interface 51, by means of which the replaceable battery pack 11 can be mechanically connected to the housing 5. In particular, the replaceable battery pack 11 can be at least partially inserted into the housing 5 and is held in the housing 5 by means of the mechanical connection interface 51.

[0026] Preferably, the charging device 10 can additionally have a charge status indicator 7, which is configured, for example, to display the charge status of the replaceable battery pack 11 by means of one or more LEDs. The charge status indicator 7 can also be integrated into the housing 5.

[0027] In detail, the charging device 10 comprises a first electrical interface 1, which is configured for electrical connection with the exchangeable battery pack 11. Preferably, this electrical connection is made directly by means of electrical contact elements, which are arranged on the exchangeable battery pack 11 and on the housing 5 of the charging device 10.

[0028] Furthermore, the charging device 10 includes several second electrical interfaces 2, 2a, 2b (see Fig. 2) Each of the second electrical interfaces 2, 2a, 2b is configured for connection to a separate electrical device 12. In the Fig. Figure 1 shows, by way of example, only a single electrical device 12, which is connected to the second electrical interface 2 designated by reference numeral 2. A cable 13, for example, can be used for the electrical connection between the electrical device 12 and the electrical interface 2.

[0029] The charging device 10 has at least one second electrical interface 2, which is designed as a universal serial bus interface of type C, and thus forms an electrically bidirectional interface.

[0030] The other second electrical interfaces 2a, 2b can be configured, for example, as a universal serial interface of type A, such as the second electrical interface 2a designated with reference numeral 2a, and / or as a coaxial interface for direct current and / or alternating current, such as the second electrical interface 2b designated with reference numeral 2b.

[0031] Furthermore, the charging device 10 includes an actuating device 4, which has a manually operable switch. The switch is located, in particular, on an outer surface of the housing 5 and can be manually actuated, i.e., pressed, by a user.

[0032] The actuating device 4 is coupled to the control unit 3. When the actuating device 4 is actuated, preferably while the exchangeable battery pack 11 and the electrical device 12 are simultaneously connected to the corresponding electrical interfaces 1 and 2, the control unit 3 reverses the direction of electrical energy supply between the first electrical interface 1 and the second electrical interface 2. That is, if before the actuating device 4 the supply direction was such that the electrical device 12 was charged by discharging the exchangeable battery pack 11, this can be reversed by manually actuating the actuating device 4, namely, such that after actuation the exchangeable battery pack 11 can be charged by discharging the electrical device 12.

[0033] This allows the user to easily and precisely adjust the charging and discharging processes of the interchangeable battery pack 11 and the electrical device 12 with a high degree of user convenience. This is particularly advantageous when the electrical device 12 is configured to both consume and supply electrical energy.

[0034] Furthermore, the charging device 10 can be configured to provide switching between the different second electrical interfaces 2, 2a, 2b based on actuation by means of the actuating device 4. That is, by actuating the actuating device 4, it can be selected at which of the second electrical interfaces 2, 2a, 2b electrical energy can be supplied or alternatively fed in.

[0035] Furthermore, the charging device 10 can be configured to enable the activation of the replaceable battery pack 11 based on actuation by means of the actuating device 4. That is, in particular when the replaceable battery pack 11 is connected to the first electrical interface 1, the control unit 3 can generate a wake-up signal in response to actuation by means of the actuating device 4 in order to put the replaceable battery pack 11, for example from a deep sleep mode, into a standby mode in which the electrical energy of the replaceable battery pack 11 can be provided.

[0036] Fig. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a charging device 10 according to a second embodiment of the invention. The second embodiment essentially corresponds to the first embodiment of the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, with the difference that the housing 5 of the charging device 10 of the second embodiment additionally has a locking cover 52. The locking cover 52 is designed to be in a closed position, which is in the Fig. Figure 3 shows that at least one of the second electrical interfaces 2, 2a, 2b is to be covered. In the illustrated second embodiment, the two upper second electrical interfaces 2, 2a are covered by the cover 52. In the closed position, the cover 52 prevents the ingress of dirt and moisture into the second electrical interfaces 2, 2a. In addition, the cover 52 can provide mechanical protection for the second electrical interfaces 2, 2a.

Claims

[1] Charging device comprising: - a first electrical interface (1) which is designed for electrical connection to a removable battery pack (11), - a second electrical interface (2) which is arranged for electrical connection to an electrical device (12), - a control unit (3), and - an actuating device (4), - wherein the control unit (3) is configured to reverse a direction of supply of electrical energy between the first electrical interface (1) and the second electrical interface (2) in response to an actuation by means of the actuating device (4), in order to switch between charging and discharging the interchangeable battery pack (11). [2] Charging device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating device (4) comprises a manually operable switch. [3] Charging device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second electrical interface (2) is designed as a bidirectional interface. [4] Charging device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second electrical interface (2) has a universal serial bus interface, in particular of type C. [5] Charging device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of second electrical interfaces (2). [6] Charging device according to claim 5, wherein at least two second electrical interfaces (2) are designed differently. [7] Charging device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a housing (5) into which the first electrical interface (1), the second electrical interface (2), and the actuating device (4) are integrated. [8] Charging device according to claim 7, wherein the housing (5) has a mechanical connection interface (51) which is designed for mechanical connection to the exchangeable battery pack (11). [9] Charging device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the housing (5) has a closure cover (52) for covering the second electrical interface (2) in a closure position. [10] Electrical arrangement comprising: - a charging device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, and - a removable battery pack (11). [11] Electrical arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the control unit (3) is further configured to generate a wake-up signal in response to an actuation by means of the actuating device (4) for placing the removable battery pack (11) in a standby mode. [12] A method for operating an electrical arrangement (100) according to one of claims 10 or 11, comprising the steps: - Determining an actuation signal generated by the actuation device (4), and - reversing the direction of supply of electrical energy between the first electrical interface (1) and the second electrical interface (2) of the charging device (10).

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