Method for controlling a charging device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling a charging process for at least one accumulator by a charging device, wherein the accumulator comprises a first communication device and the charging device comprises a second communication device, whereby the accumulator and the charging device can at least communicate with each other. The invention also relates to a charging device for carrying out the method. The invention further relates to an accumulator for carrying out said method. The invention also relates to a system comprising a charging device and at least one accumulator that can be connected to the charging device for carrying out said method.

Description

[0001] Method for controlling a charging device

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for controlling a charging process for at least one accumulator by a charging device, wherein the accumulator contains a first communication device and the charging device contains a second communication device, whereby the accumulator and the charging device can at least communicate with each other.

[0003] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a charging device for carrying out the method.

[0004] Furthermore, the present invention relates to an accumulator for carrying out the method.

[0005] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a system comprising a charging device and at least one accumulator connectable to the charging device for carrying out the method.

[0006] Accumulators are widely known in the art and can be used, among other things, to connect to machine tools so that the machine tool can be supplied with electrical energy from the accumulator. The accumulator essentially contains a large number of energy storage cells (also called battery cells) located in a fixed housing. With the help of the energy storage cells, electrical energy can be stored by the accumulator and also made available to a consumer (e.g., a machine tool).

[0007] An interface is provided on one side of the battery housing, through which the battery can be releasably connected either to a machine tool or a charging device. To charge a battery with electrical energy, the battery is releasably connected to the charging device. According to the prior art, charging devices have an interface on the top side of the charging device housing, through which the battery is mechanically and electrically connected to the charging device.

[0008] Charging devices, especially those used to charge batteries for machine tools, are relatively complex and expensive. The relatively complex and expensive design of these charging devices is due to the fact that, among other things, they are used in harsh and demanding environments (e.g., on construction sites or in workshops) and simultaneously have to supply highly sophisticated batteries with electrical energy in sometimes complex charging processes. To achieve this, these charging devices must be both very solid and robust, and also incorporate sensitive technology.

[0009] The design of the charging device's interface presents a particular technical challenge. This is because the interface is usually open at the top, thus exposing the electrical connections to the risk of water and / or dust penetrating the charging device. Penetrating water can, among other things, cause short circuits in the charging device and thus permanently damage it. Penetrating dust and other contaminants can also damage the charging device.

[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to solve the problem described above.

[0011] The object is achieved by the subject matter of independent patent claims 1, 6, 7 and 8. Advantageous embodiments of the subject matter according to the invention are contained in the dependent patent claims.

[0012] The object is achieved in particular by a method for controlling a charging process for at least one accumulator by a charging device, wherein the accumulator contains a first communication device and the charging device contains a second communication device, whereby the accumulator and the charging device can at least communicate with each other.

[0013] According to the invention, the following process steps are provided

[0014] Connecting the at least one accumulator to the charging device;

[0015] Sending at least one signal from the first communication device of the accumulator to the second communication device of the charging device for transmitting at least one battery characteristic value;

[0016] Sending at least one signal from the second communication device of the charging device to the first communication device of the accumulator to indicate the charging capability / compatibility for a charging process; Sending at least one signal from the first communication device of the accumulator to the second communication device of the charging device to set the charging device to a charging state;

[0017] Adjusting the accumulator from a discharge state to a charge state;

[0018] Sending at least one signal from the first communication device of the accumulator to the second communication device of the charging device for setting at least one first charging characteristic value on the charging device;

[0019] Emitting electrical energy from the charging device to the accumulator according to at least one charging characteristic value requested by the accumulator; and

[0020] Sending at least one signal from the first communication device of the accumulator to the second communication device of the charging device for setting at least one second charging characteristic value on the charging device when a predetermined time period and / or a predetermined state for the accumulator is reached.

[0021] According to an alternative embodiment, it may be possible for the at least one charging characteristic value to be a voltage value or current value.

[0022] According to a further alternative embodiment, it may be possible for the voltage value to be 21 to 60 V, in particular 48 V.

[0023] According to an alternative embodiment, it may be possible for the current value to be 1 to 10 A, in particular 5 A.

[0024] According to a further alternative embodiment, it may be possible for the charging power of the charging device to be 21 to 600 W, in particular 240 W.

[0025] Furthermore, the problem is solved by a charging device for carrying out the method.

[0026] According to the invention, the charging device contains a communication device and a charger interface device for selectively connecting the charging device to at least one accumulator, wherein the charger interface device is designed in the form of a USB plug.

[0027] Furthermore, the object is achieved by a rechargeable battery for carrying out the method. According to the invention, the rechargeable battery contains a communication device and a rechargeable battery interface device for selectively connecting the rechargeable battery to the charging device, wherein the rechargeable battery interface device is designed in the form of a USB socket.

[0028] Furthermore, the object is achieved by a system comprising a charging device and at least one accumulator connectable to the charging device for carrying out the method.

[0029] According to the invention, it is provided that the accumulator contains a first communication device and a battery interface device and the charging device contains a second communication device and a charger interface device, so that the charging device and the accumulator can be connected to charge the accumulator with electrical energy, wherein the charger interface device contains a USB plug and the battery interface device contains a USB socket.

[0030] Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the figures. The figures illustrate various embodiments of the present invention.

[0031] The figures, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The skilled person will expediently consider the features individually and combine them into further meaningful combinations.

[0032] They show:

[0033] Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a charging device according to a first embodiment and a battery connected to the charging device according to a first embodiment; and

[0034] Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the charging device according to a second embodiment and the accumulator connected to the charging device according to a second embodiment.

[0035] Examples of implementation:

[0036] Figure 1 shows a system 1 according to the invention comprising a charging device 2 according to the invention and a rechargeable battery 3 according to the invention according to a first embodiment. The charging device 2 serves to charge or supply the rechargeable battery 3, which can be connected to the charging device 2, with electrical energy.

[0037] The accumulator 3 can serve as a removable power supply for a machine tool or the like. The machine tool is not shown in the figures.

[0038] In Figures 1 and 2, for example, only a single rechargeable battery 3 is connected to the charging device 2. According to an alternative embodiment not shown in the figures, it may be possible for the charging device 2 to be designed to charge or supply electrical energy to more than a single rechargeable battery 3. In other words, the charging device 2 may alternatively be capable of charging multiple rechargeable batteries 3 simultaneously.

[0039] The charging device 2 shown in Figure 1 essentially contains a charger housing 4, a control device 5, a connection cable 6 and a charger interface device 7.

[0040] The charger housing 4 has a top side 4a, a bottom side 4b, a first side wall 4c, a second side wall 4d, a third side wall, and a fourth side wall. The third and fourth side walls are not shown in the figures.

[0041] The connecting cable 6 is attached to the first side wall 4c and the charger interface device 7 is attached to the second side wall 4d.

[0042] The connecting cable 6 includes a first end 6a and a second end 6b. The connecting cable 6 is attached to the first side wall 4c of the charger housing 4 by the first end 6a. A plug 8 for a power outlet is positioned at the second end 6b of the connecting cable 6, with which the connecting cable 6 can be connected to a power outlet.

[0043] The charger interface device 7 is configured in the form of a first line L1 with a first and second end 7a, 7b. The first end 7a is attached to the second side wall 4d of the charger housing 4. A USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector 9 is positioned at the second end 7b of the charger interface device 7. The USB connector 9 is configured to be detachably connected to a correspondingly configured USB socket 10.

[0044] As described in further detail below, the connection between the USB plug 9 and the USB socket 10 serves not only to transmit electrical energy but also to transmit or exchange data and information in the form of electrical signals. The control device 5 is located inside the charger housing 4 and includes, among other things, a current measuring device 11, a voltage measuring device 12, and a communication device 13.

[0045] The control device 5 serves to control and regulate the individual functions of the charging device 2. The various functions of the control device 5 include, among others, setting a specific voltage value or current value for electrical energy for charging a battery 3 connected to the charging device 2. The current measuring device 11 serves to measure or record a current value.

[0046] The voltage measuring device 12 is used to measure or record an electrical voltage value.

[0047] The communication device 13 is used to send and receive electrical signals. Using the communication device 13, the charging device 2 can communicate with the accumulator 3. For this purpose, electrical signals are sent and received between the charging device 2 and the accumulator 3 for the exchange of data and information.

[0048] According to the first embodiment of the charging device 2, the communication device 13 contains a communication element 13a and a transmission element 13b. The transmission element 13b is formed by the first line L1. Thus, with the help of the first line L1, in addition to electrical energy, electrical signals for exchanging data and information can also be exchanged between the charging device 2 and the accumulator 3.

[0049] The accumulator 3 essentially contains a battery housing 14, a plurality of energy storage cells 15, a control device 16, a battery interface device 17 and a communication device 18.

[0050] As indicated in Figure 1, the energy storage cells 15 are electrically connected to each other and to the control device 16 via second lines L2. Electrical energy can be conducted to and from the energy storage cells 15 through this connection.

[0051] The control device 16 serves to control and regulate the individual functions of the accumulator 3. These functions include, among other things, setting a voltage value and a current value for the controlled delivery of electrical energy from the energy storage cells 15 to a machine tool connected to the accumulator 3. The machine tool is not shown in the figures. The battery interface device 17 is designed in the form of a USB socket 10 for releasable connection to a correspondingly designed USB plug 9.

[0052] The communication device 18 of the accumulator 3 is used to send and receive electrical signals. Using the communication device 18, the accumulator 3 can communicate with the charging device 2. This also allows electrical signals for the exchange of data and information between the charging device 2 and the accumulator 3 to be exchanged.

[0053] By implementing the method according to the invention for controlling a charging process for the rechargeable battery 3 by the charging device 2, the rechargeable battery 3 is first detachably connected to the charging device 2, as indicated in Figure 1. To connect the rechargeable battery 3 to the charging device 2, the free end of the cable L1 is connected to the USB plug 9 of the charging device 2 with the USB socket 10 of the rechargeable battery 3. As already mentioned above, by connecting the USB plug 9 of the charging device 2 with the USB socket 10 of the rechargeable battery 3, electrical signals can be exchanged between the charging device 2 and the rechargeable battery 3.

[0054] After connecting the rechargeable battery 3 to the charging device 2, a signal is first sent from the communication device 18 of the rechargeable battery 3 to the communication device 13 of the charging device 2 to transmit the battery characteristics. The transmission of the battery characteristics serves to identify the rechargeable battery 3 to the charging device 2. Through this identification, certain properties of the rechargeable battery 3 are sent to the charging device 2 in the form of electrical signals. The properties of the rechargeable battery 3 include, for example, a maximum permissible voltage value, current value, temperature value, or power value for charging the energy storage cells 15 with electrical energy.

[0055] After receiving the corresponding signal regarding the battery characteristics, a signal is sent from the communication device 13 of the charging device 2 to the communication device 18 of the accumulator 3 to indicate the charging capability or compatibility of the charging device 2 and the connected accumulator 3 for a charging process.

[0056] Subsequently, or after receiving this signal, a further signal is sent from the communication device 18 of the rechargeable battery 3 to the communication device 13 of the charging device 2 to set the charging device 2 to a charging state. The charging device 2 is generally designed such that it can be set to a charging state, a neutral state (also referred to as "standby"), or a discharging state. In the charging state, electrical energy can be sent from the charging device 2 to a rechargeable battery 3 that is connected and suitable for a charging process. In the discharging state, electrical energy can be absorbed by a rechargeable battery 3 for storage in a corresponding energy storage device 19 of the charging device 2. The energy storage device 19 of the charging device 2 can be a rechargeable battery cell.

[0057] In the neutral state, electrical energy is neither absorbed from a connected accumulator 3 into the charging device 2 nor is it delivered from the charging device 2 to a connected accumulator 3.

[0058] Subsequently, the accumulator 3 is adjusted by its control device 16 from a discharge state to a charge state, so that electrical energy provided by the charging device 2 can be absorbed by the accumulator 3 or stored by the energy storage cells 15 of the accumulator 3.

[0059] After setting the accumulator 3 to the charging state, a further signal is sent from the communication device 18 of the accumulator 3 to the communication device 13 of the charging device 2 for setting at least one first charging characteristic value on the charging device 2. The charging characteristic value can be a voltage value, current value, or charging power value for the charging process.

[0060] The voltage value for the charging process can be between 21 and 60 volts (V). According to the present embodiment, the voltage value is 48 V.

[0061] The charging current can be between 1 and 10 amperes (A). According to the present embodiment, the maximum current is 5 A.

[0062] The charging power can be between 21 and 600 watts (W). According to the present embodiment, the charging power is 240 W.

[0063] In a next method step, electrical energy is sent from the charging device to the accumulator according to at least one charging characteristic requested by the accumulator. In the present exemplary embodiment, the charging characteristics for the connected accumulator correspond to a charging voltage of 48 V, a charging current of 5 A, and a resulting charging power of 240 W.

[0064] After a predetermined period of time and / or after reaching a predetermined state for the rechargeable battery 3, a further signal is sent from the communication device 18 of the rechargeable battery 3 to the communication device 13 of the charging device 2 for setting at least one new charging characteristic value on the charging device 2. The new charging characteristic value can be a new charging voltage value, charging current value, or charging power. The predetermined period of time can be several minutes, for example, between 5 and 30 minutes. As indicated in Figure 2, both the communication device 18 of the rechargeable battery 3 and the communication device 13 of the charging device 2 can be wireless, in particular using Bluetooth technology.

[0065] Reference symbol

[0066] 1 system

[0067] 2 charging device

[0068] 3 accumulator

[0069] 4 charger housings

[0070] 4a Top of the charger housing

[0071] 4b Bottom of the charger housing

[0072] 4c first side wall of the charger housing

[0073] 4d second side wall of the charger housing

[0074] 5 Control device of the charging device

[0075] 6 connection cables

[0076] 6a first end of the connection cable

[0077] 6b second end of the connection cable

[0078] 7 Loader interface device

[0079] 7a first end of the charger interface device

[0080] 7b second end of the charger interface device

[0081] 8 plugs

[0082] 9 USB connectors

[0083] 10 USB socket

[0084] 11 Current measuring device

[0085] 12 Voltage measuring device

[0086] 13 Communication device

[0087] 13a Communication element

[0088] 13b Transmission element

[0089] 14 Battery housing

[0090] 15 energy storage cells

[0091] 16 Accumulator control device

[0092] 17 Battery interface device

[0093] 18 Battery communication device

[0094] 19 Energy storage device of the charging device L1 first line

[0095] L2 second lines

Claims

Claims: Method for controlling a charging process for at least one accumulator (3) by a charging device (2), wherein the accumulator (3) includes a first communication device (18) and the charging device (2) includes a second communication device (13), whereby the accumulator (3) and the charging device (2) can at least communicate with each other, characterized by the following method steps - Connecting at least one accumulator (3) to the charging device (2); - Sending at least one signal from the first communication device (18) of the accumulator (3) to the second communication device (13) of the charging device (2) to transmit at least one accumulator characteristic value; - Sending at least one signal from the second communication device (13) of the charging device (2) to the first communication device (18) of the accumulator (3) to indicate the charging capability / compatibility for a charging process; - Sending at least one signal from the first communication device (18) of the accumulator (3) to the second communication device (13) of the charging device (2) to set the charging device (2) to a charging state; - Adjusting the accumulator (3) from a discharge state to a charge state; - Sending at least one signal from the first communication device (18) of the accumulator (3) to the second communication device (13) of the charging device (2) to set at least one first charging parameter on the charging device (2); - Emitting electrical energy from the charging device (2) to the accumulator (3) according to at least one charging parameter requested by the accumulator (3); and - Sending at least one signal from the first communication device (18) of the accumulator (3) to the second communication device (13) of the charging device (2) to set at least one second charging parameter at the charging device (2) when a predetermined time period and / or a predetermined state for the accumulator (3) is reached.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one charging characteristic is a voltage value or current value.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the voltage value is 21 to 60 V, in particular 48 V.

4. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the current value is 1 to 10 A, in particular 5 A.

5. Method according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the charging power of the charging device (2) is 21 to 600 W, in particular 240 W.

6. Charging device (2) for carrying out the method according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by a communication device (13) and a charger interface device (7) for selectively connecting the charging device (2) to at least one accumulator (3), wherein the charger interface device (7) includes a USB plug (9).

7. Accumulator (3) for carrying out the method according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by a communication device (18) and an accumulator interface device (17) for selectively connecting the accumulator (3) to the charging device (2), wherein the accumulator interface device (17) is designed in the form of a USB socket (10).

8. System (1) comprising a charging device (2) and at least one accumulator (3) connectable to the charging device (2) for carrying out the method according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the accumulator (3) includes a first communication device (18) and an accumulator interface device (17) and the charging device (2) includes a second communication device (13) and a charger interface device (7) so that the charging device (2) and the accumulator (3) can be connected to charge the accumulator (3) with electrical energy, wherein the charger interface device (7) includes a USB plug (9) and the accumulator interface device (17) includes a USB socket (10).

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