Battery pack charger and power source

Abstract

Battery pack chargers with discharge capabilities typically include separate charging and discharging lines, but these separate lines increase the size and cost of the battery pack charger. [Solution] The battery pack charger includes a battery pack interface configured to detachably receive a battery pack, a charging circuit electrically connected to the battery pack interface, a discharging circuit electrically connected to the battery pack interface, and a common charging and discharging line connected to the charging circuit and the discharging circuit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Reference to Related Applications) This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 709,203, filed prior to and co-pending on October 18, 2024, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0002] Power tool battery packs are used at work sites to operate various power tools. A power tool battery pack can be discharged and recharged by inserting the power tool battery pack into a battery pack charger. A battery pack charger having a discharge capability typically includes separate charging and discharge lines, but these separate lines increase the size and cost of the battery pack charger.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0003] In some embodiments, a battery pack charger includes a battery pack interface configured to removably receive a battery pack, a charging circuit electrically connected to the battery pack interface, a discharge circuit electrically connected to the battery pack interface, and a common charging and discharging line connected to the charging circuit and the discharge circuit.

[0004] In some embodiments, a battery pack charger includes a housing, a user interface, a battery pack interface disposed within a bay of the housing configured to removably receive a battery pack, a charging circuit disposed within the housing and electrically connected to the battery pack interface, a discharge circuit disposed within the housing and electrically connected to the battery pack interface, and a common charging and discharging line connected to the charging circuit and the discharge circuit.

[0005] Before describing any embodiment in detail, it should be understood that these embodiments are not limited to the details of the configuration and arrangement of components shown in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings in their application. Embodiments can be implemented or can be implemented in various ways. It should also be understood that the expressions and terms used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be considered limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and their variations means including the items listed thereafter and their equivalents, as well as additional items. Unless otherwise specified or not particularly limited, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and their variations are used broadly and include both direct and indirect mounting, connection, support, and coupling.

[0006] In addition, embodiments may include hardware, software, and electronic components or modules, which, for the purposes of discussion, may be illustrated and described as if the majority of the components were implemented solely in hardware. However, those skilled in the art will recognize, based on their reading of this detailed description, that in at least one embodiment, an electronically based aspect may be implemented in software (e.g., stored on a non-temporary computer-readable medium) executable by one or more processing units, such as a microprocessor and / or an application-specific integrated circuit ("ASIC"). Thus, it should be noted that multiple hardware and software-based devices, as well as multiple different structural components, may be used to carry out the embodiments. For example, “server,” “computing device,” “controller,” “processor,” etc., as described herein may include one or more processing units, one or more computer-readable medium modules, one or more input / output interfaces, and various connections (e.g., system buses) for connecting components.

[0007] For example, relative terms such as “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially,” used in relation to quantity or state, are understood by those skilled in the art to include the described value and have meanings indicated by the context (e.g., the term includes at least the degree of error related to measurement accuracy, tolerances related to a particular value [e.g., manufacturing, assembly, use, etc.]). Such terms should also be considered to disclose a range defined by the absolute values ​​of two endpoints. For example, the expression “about 2 to about 2” also discloses the range “2 to 2.” Relative terms may refer to ± a percentage of the indicated value (e.g., 1%, 3%, 10% or more).

[0008] While certain drawings illustrate hardware and software located within a particular device, it should be understood that these depictions are for illustrative purposes only. Functionality described herein as being performed by a single component may be performed by multiple components in a distributed manner. Similarly, functionality performed by multiple components may be integrated and performed by a single component. In some embodiments, the illustrated components may be combined or separated into separate software, firmware, and / or hardware. For example, logic and processing may be distributed across multiple electronic processors instead of being located and executed within a single electronic processor. Regardless of how they are combined or separated, hardware and software components may be located on the same computing device or distributed across different computing devices connected by one or more networks or other appropriate communication links. Similarly, a component described as performing a particular functionality may perform additional functionality not described herein. For example, a device or structure “configured” in a particular manner may be configured in at least that manner, but in ways not explicitly enumerated.

[0009] Other aspects of the embodiment will become apparent by considering the detailed description and the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Perspective views of battery pack chargers and power sources for charging and discharging battery packs are shown in several examples.

[0011] [Figure 2] Schematic diagrams of the current paths of the battery pack charger and power source in Figure 1 are shown in several examples.

[0012] [Figure 3] Schematic diagrams of the current paths of the battery pack charger and power source in Figure 1 are shown in several examples.

[0013] [Figure 4] The block diagrams of the battery pack charger and power source shown in Figure 1 are presented in several examples.

[0014] [Figure 5] Figure 1 shows a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for charging and discharging a battery pack using the battery pack charger and power source. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] Various configurations and advantages are described in the subsequent claims.

[0016] Figure 1 shows an example of a battery pack charger and power source 100. The battery pack charger and power source 100 includes a charger housing 105, a battery pack interface 110 configured to removably receive a battery pack 115, and a user interface (see Figure 4, 445). In the illustrated embodiment, the battery pack interface 110 is located on the bottom side of the charger housing 105 (e.g., a first side of the charger housing 105). The battery pack interface 110 is configured to removably (e.g., slideably) receive a first battery pack 115. Although not shown, the battery pack interface 110 includes a terminal block containing terminals (e.g., power terminals and communication terminals) for connecting to the corresponding battery pack terminal block of the battery pack 115. In some examples, the battery pack charger and power source 100 may have a configuration different from that shown in Figure 1.

[0017] The battery pack 115 is a power tool battery pack configured for use, for example, to operate a battery-powered power tool. In some examples, the battery pack 115 is an 18-volt (V) nominal voltage lithium-ion chemistry-based power tool battery pack. In other examples, the battery pack 115 may have different nominal voltages (e.g., 12V, 36V, 72V, etc.) and different chemistry (e.g., nickel-based). The battery pack 115 may include a connection portion 120 having two parallel, spaced-apart rails 125 configured so that the battery pack 115 may slidably engage with a slide-type battery pack interface of a power tool. The connection portion 120 also includes battery terminals 130 for electrically connecting the battery pack 115 to the charger terminals of a battery pack charger and a power source 100 or to other devices such as a power tool.

[0018] AC outlets 140 and DC outlets 150 are provided on the surface of the charger housing 105. Although not shown, the battery pack charger and power source 100 may include a user interface (for example, provided on the side of the charger housing 105). The user interface may include a display (e.g., an LCD display, an LED display, an e-ink display, etc.), an AC enable button, and a DC enable button. The user interface may provide an indication (e.g., via the display) of the status of the battery pack charger and power source 100. For example, the user interface may show a fuel gauge for the battery pack 115, the status of the AC outlets, the status of the DC outlets, etc. The AC enable button and DC enable button may be push-button switches configured to enable or disable the supply of power from the connected battery pack 115 to devices connected to the battery pack charger and power source 100 via, for example, the AC outlet 140 or the DC outlet 150. Although a single AC outlet 140 and a single DC outlet 150 are shown in Figure 1, other examples of the battery pack charger and power source 100 may include any number of AC outlets and any number of DC outlets.

[0019] In the illustrated example, the first DC outlet is a Universal Serial Bus-C (USB-C) Power Delivery (PD) outlet configured to provide power output at a predetermined maximum value (e.g., 100 watts). In other examples, additional DC outlets may be other types of DC outlets (e.g., USB-A, USB-B, etc.) configured to provide power output at higher or lower predetermined maximum values ​​(e.g., 15 watts, 120 watts). In addition, the battery pack charger and power source 100 illustrated in Figure 1 is a single-bay battery pack charger, but the systems and functions described herein may be integrated into a multi-bay battery pack charger.

[0020] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the battery pack interface 110, including a charging terminal 205 and a discharge terminal 210 connected to the battery pack 115. In the illustrated embodiment, during a discharge operation, current is drawn from the battery pack 115 via the discharge terminal 210 to supply power to a power outlet 255 (e.g., AC power outlet 140, DC power outlet 150) via a common charge and discharge line 215. During a charge operation, power is supplied from the power input 265 to charge the battery pack 115 via the common charge and discharge line 215 and the charging terminal 205. Switches 220 and 225 of the discharge circuit 260 are configured to electrically connect the discharge terminal 210 of the battery pack interface 110 to the common charge and discharge line 215 and to be controlled by a controller 400 (see Figure 4) via a gate driver 230. The two switches 220, 225 are provided for redundancy and extra protection. In some examples, a single discharge switch may be used. Switches 235 and 240 of the charging circuit 250 are configured to electrically connect the charging terminal 205 of the battery pack interface 110 to a common charge and discharge line 215, which is controlled by the controller 400 via a gate driver 245. Two switches 220, 225 are provided for redundancy and extra protection. In some examples, a single charge switch may be used. The discharge terminal 210 and charging terminal 205 are connected to the combined charge and discharge line 215. In the illustrated embodiment, the controller 400 is configured such that switch 220 is closed only when switch 235 is open, and switch 235 is closed only when switch 220 is open, so that the common charge and discharge line 215 is used either for charging the battery pack 115 only or for discharging it only at any given time (i.e., in a mutually exclusive manner). In addition, this approach to controlling switches 220, 225, 235, and 240 further ensures that no reverse current flows to the discharge terminal 210 or from the charge terminal 205.

[0021] In some examples, additional hardware protection circuits may be used to prevent reverse current from the charging terminal 205 and / or the discharging terminal 210. For example, forward-biased diodes (biased forward with respect to the expected direction of current) may be provided in each of the charging circuit 250 and the discharging circuit 260. Figure 3 shows a hardware protection circuit 300 for preventing reverse current flow to the charging terminal 205 and the discharging terminal 210 of a battery pack charger and power source 100. The illustrated hardware protection circuit 300 includes a field-effect transistor (FET) 350 and an ideal diode controller 360 configured to control the FET 350. During normal operation, the ideal diode controller 360 monitors the input line 370 for a negative voltage relative to ground. When it detects a reverse voltage indicating a reverse current flow, the ideal diode controller 360 opens the FET 350 to stop the flow of reverse current. To simplify the firmware of the switch control method described herein, the hardware protection circuit 300 may be used in place of the switches 220, 225, 235, 240 and gate drivers 230, 245 (as shown in Figure 2). The hardware protection circuit 300 receives signals to control the FET 350 for normal charge / discharge operation, as described above with respect to the switches 220, 225, 235, 240.

[0022] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of the controller 400 of the battery pack charger and power supply 100. The controller 400 is electrically and / or communicatively connected to various modules or components (constituents) of the battery pack charger and power supply 100. For example, the illustrated controller 400 is connected to a user interface 445, a plurality of switches 450, and a charge / discharge converter 455. The controller 400 provides control signals for controlling the user interface 445, the plurality of switches 450, and the charge / discharge converter 455. In some embodiments, the controller 400 is configured to control the plurality of switches 450 and the charge / discharge converter 455 in response to selections received via the user interface 445. For example, in some embodiments, the user interface 445 provides an element that enables the user to select either to charge or discharge the connected battery pack 115.

[0023] The controller 400 includes, among other things, a combination of hardware and software capable of controlling the operation of the battery pack charger and power source 100. For example, the controller 400 includes, among other things, a processing unit 405 (e.g., a microprocessor, microcontroller, electronic processor, electronic controller, or other suitable programmable device), memory 410, input unit 415, and output unit 420. The processing unit 405 includes, among other things, a control unit 425, an arithmetic logic unit ("ALU") 430, and several registers 435 (shown in Figure 4 as a group of registers), and is implemented using a known computer architecture (e.g., a modified Harvard architecture, a von Neumann architecture, etc.). The processing unit 405, memory 410, input unit 415, and output unit 420, as well as various modules or circuits connected to the controller 400, are connected by one or more control buses and / or data buses (e.g., a common bus 440). The control buses and / or data buses are generally shown in Figure 4 for illustrative purposes. Although the controller 400 is shown as a single controller in Figure 4, the controller 400 may also include multiple controllers configured to cooperate to achieve a desired level of control for the battery pack charger and power source 100. Thus, any control functions and processes described herein with respect to the controller 400 may also be performed by two or more controllers operating in a distributed manner.

[0024] Memory 410 is a non - transient computer - readable medium and includes, for example, a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area and the data storage area can include combinations of different types of memory such as read - only memory ( "ROM"), random access memory ( "RAM") (e.g., dynamic RAM [ "DRAM"], synchronous DRAM [ "SDRAM"], etc.), electrically erasable programmable ROM ( "EEPROM"), flash memory, hard disk, SD card, or other suitable magnetic, optical, physical, or electronic memory devices. The processing unit 405 is connected to the memory 410 and is configured to execute software instructions that can be stored in the RAM of the memory 410 (e.g., during execution), in the ROM of the memory 410 (e.g., on a substantially permanent basis), or on another non - transient computer - readable medium such as another memory or disk. The software included in the implementation of the battery pack charger and power supply 100 and the controller 400 can be stored in the memory 410 of the controller 400. The software includes, for example, firmware, one or more applications, program data, filters, rules, one or more program modules, and other executable instructions. The controller 400 is configured to retrieve and execute instructions related to the control processes and methods described herein, among other things. In other embodiments, the controller 400 includes additional components, fewer components, or different components.

[0025] The plurality of switches 450 includes, for example, switches 220, 225, 235, 240, and / or FET 350. As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of switches 450 may be controlled using gate drivers 230, 245 and / or ideal diode controllers 360. The plurality of switches 450 is controlled such that only one of the charging terminal 205 or the discharging terminal 210 provides power to or receives power from the charge / discharge converter 455 on the charge and discharge lines 215.

[0026] The charge / discharge converter 455 includes, for example, an AC-DC converter configured to convert AC power from power input 265 to DC power in order to charge the battery pack 115, a DC-AC converter configured to convert DC power from the battery pack 115 to AC power to be supplied by the AC outlet 140, and a DC-DC converter configured to convert DC power from the battery pack 115, which is at a first voltage, to a second voltage suitable for the DC outlet 150. The operation of the charge / discharge converter 455 is controlled by the controller 400.

[0027] Figure 5 is a flowchart of method 500 for charging / discharging a battery pack 115 using a battery pack charger and power source 100. In block 510, method 500 includes using a controller 400 to determine the current operation of the battery pack charger and power source 100. The current operation may include a charging operation and a discharging operation. The charging operation starts automatically when the battery pack charger and power source 100 are connected to a power source and the connected battery pack 115 is less than fully charged. The discharging operation may start when one of the AC enable button or DC enable button is activated and the charger is not connected to a power source, and / or when the battery pack is fully charged. The discharging operation starts when the controller 400 determines that the AC plug is accepted into the AC outlet 140 and the battery pack 115, which has a non-zero charge state, is connected to the battery pack interface 110. The discharge operation may begin when the controller 400 determines that the DC plug is accepted into the DC outlet 150 and that the battery pack 115, which has a non-zero charge state, is connected to the battery pack interface 110. In some embodiments, charging begins only in response to user interaction with the user interface 445 (for example, when the user presses a button or selects the "Charge" option on the display screen).

[0028] In block 520, method 500 includes using the controller 400 to enable the charging circuit 250 and disable the discharge circuit 260 when the current operation of the battery pack charger and power source 100 is a charging operation. The controller 400 closes the charging switches 235, 240 to provide charging power to the battery pack 115 from the power input 265 for charging. The controller 400 also opens the discharge switches 220, 225 to disable the flow of reverse current to the battery pack 115 through the discharge terminal 210.

[0029] In block 530, method 500 includes using the controller 400 to enable the discharge circuit 260 and disable the charge circuit 250 when the current operation of the battery pack charger and power source 100 is a discharge operation. The controller 400 closes the discharge switches 220, 225 to provide power from the battery pack 115 to one or more of the AC outlets 140 and DC outlets 150. The controller 400 also opens the charge switches 235, 240. In some examples, the charge switches 235, 240 do not need to be disabled during a discharge operation.

[0030] (Typical configuration) Typical configurations are described in the following clauses, either individually or in any combination with one or more configurations disclosed in the text and / or drawings of the specification.

[0031] Clause 1. A battery pack charger comprising: a battery pack interface configured to receive a battery pack in a removable manner; a charging circuit electrically connected to the battery pack interface; a discharging circuit electrically connected to the battery pack interface; and a common charging and discharging line connected to the charging circuit and the discharging circuit.

[0032] Clause 2. The battery pack charger according to Clause 1, further comprising an electronic processor electrically connected to a charging circuit and a discharging circuit, wherein the electronic processor is configured to charge the battery pack using the charging circuit and discharge the battery pack using the discharging circuit.

[0033] Clause 3. The battery pack charger described in Clause 2 is configured to have an electronic processor that opens the discharge switch of the discharge circuit while the battery pack is being charged.

[0034] Clause 4. The battery pack charger according to Clause 3, further comprising a charge switch, wherein the electronic processor is configured to control the discharge switch and the charge switch so that a common charge and discharge line is used solely for charging the battery pack or solely for discharging the battery pack at any given time.

[0035] Clause 5. The battery pack charger according to Clauses 3-4, wherein the electronic processor is configured to close the discharge switch and initiate a discharge operation in response to determining that the AC connector is accepted into an AC outlet of the battery pack charger and power source, and that the battery pack is connected to the battery pack interface and has a non-zero charge state.

[0036] Clause 6. The battery pack charger according to Clauses 3-5, wherein the electronic processor is configured to close the discharge switch and initiate a discharge operation in response to determining that the DC connector is accepted into the DC outlet of the battery pack charger and power source, and that the battery pack is connected to the battery pack interface and has a non-zero charge state.

[0037] Clause 7. The battery pack charger according to Clauses 1-6, wherein the discharge circuit includes an ideal diode controller, which is connected to the discharge switch of the discharge circuit and configured to open the discharge switch in response to detecting a reverse current flow in the discharge circuit.

[0038] Clause 8. The battery pack charger described in Clause 7 further includes a hardware protection circuit connected to an ideal diode controller, wherein the ideal diode controller is configured to detect the flow of reverse current in the discharge circuit, and includes monitoring the input line of the hardware protection circuit for a negative voltage relative to the ground of the hardware protection circuit.

[0039] Clause 9. A battery pack charger comprising a power input, a power output, a battery pack interface configured to receive a battery pack in a removable manner, a charging circuit electrically connected to the battery pack interface, a discharging circuit electrically connected to the battery pack interface, and common charging and discharging lines connected to the charging circuit, the discharging circuit, the power input, and the power output.

[0040] Clause 10. A battery pack charger according to Clause 9, further comprising an electronic processor electrically connected to a charging circuit and a discharging circuit, wherein the electronic processor is configured to charge the battery pack using the charging circuit and discharge the battery pack using the discharging circuit.

[0041] Clause 11. The battery pack charger described in Clause 10, wherein the electronic processor is configured to open the discharge switch of the discharge circuit while the battery pack is being charged.

[0042] Clause 12. A battery pack charger according to Clause 11, further comprising a charge switch, wherein the electronic processor is configured to control a discharge switch and a charge switch so that a common charge and discharge line is used solely for charging the battery pack or solely for discharging the battery pack when given.

[0043] Clause 13. The battery pack charger according to Clauses 11-12, wherein the electronic processor is configured to close the discharge switch and initiate a discharge operation in response to determining that the AC connector is accepted into an AC outlet of the battery pack charger and power source, and that the battery pack is connected to the battery pack interface and has a non-zero charge state.

[0044] Clause 14. A battery pack charger according to Clauses 11-13, wherein the electronic processor is configured to close the discharge switch and initiate a discharge operation in response to determining that the DC connector is accepted into a DC outlet of the battery pack charger and power source, and that the battery pack is connected to the battery pack interface and has a non-zero charge state.

[0045] Clause 15. The battery pack charger according to Clauses 9-14, wherein the discharge circuit includes an ideal diode controller, which is connected to a discharge switch of the discharge circuit and configured to open the discharge switch in response to detecting a reverse current flow in the discharge circuit.

[0046] Clause 16. The battery pack charger described in Clause 15 further includes a hardware protection circuit connected to an ideal diode controller, wherein the ideal diode controller is configured to detect the flow of reverse current in the discharge circuit, and this includes monitoring the input line of the hardware protection circuit for a negative voltage relative to the ground of the hardware protection circuit.

[0047] Clause 17. A method for controlling the charging and discharging operations of a battery pack charger and power source including a common charging and discharging line, comprising: determining the current operation of the battery pack charger and power source via an electronic processor of the battery pack charger; disabling the discharge circuit of the battery pack charger and power source via an electronic processor in response to determining that the current operation of the battery pack charger and power source is a charging operation; disabling the charging circuit of the battery pack charger and power source via an electronic processor in response to determining that the current operation of the battery pack charger and power source is a discharging operation; providing a charging current from the power input of the battery pack charger and power source to the charging circuit via a common charging and discharging line; and providing a discharging current from the discharge circuit of the battery pack charger and power source to the power output of the battery pack charger and power source via a common charging and discharging line.

[0048] Clause 18. The method according to Clause 17, further comprising detecting the flow of reverse current in a discharge circuit via an ideal diode controller connected to a common charge and discharge line, and switching open the discharge circuit to stop the flow of reverse current via an electronic processor.

[0049] Clause 19. The method of Clauses 17-19, wherein detecting the flow of reverse current includes monitoring the input line of a hardware protection circuit for a negative voltage relative to the ground of the hardware protection circuit connected to the ideal diode controller via the ideal diode controller.

[0050] Clause 20. The method according to Clauses 17-19, further comprising providing a discharge current from the battery pack to connected devices via an AC or DC outlet of a battery pack charger and power source.

[0051] Accordingly, embodiments described herein provide, in particular, a battery pack charger and power source, as well as a method for charging and discharging a battery pack via a common charge and discharge line. Various configurations and advantages are described in the following claims.

Claims

1. A battery pack interface configured to receive a removable battery pack, A charging circuit electrically connected to the aforementioned battery pack interface, A discharge circuit electrically connected to the aforementioned battery pack interface, Includes a common charging and discharging line connected to the charging circuit and the discharging circuit, Battery pack charger.

2. The system further includes an electronic processor electrically connected to the charging circuit and the discharging circuit, The aforementioned electronic processor, The battery pack is charged using the charging circuit. The battery pack is discharged using the discharge circuit. It is configured in such a way. The battery pack charger according to claim 1.

3. The battery pack charger according to claim 2, wherein the electronic processor is configured to open the discharge switch of the discharge circuit while the battery pack is being charged.

4. It also includes a charging switch, The electronic processor is configured to control the discharge switch and the charge switch so that the common charge and discharge line is used solely for charging the battery pack or solely for discharging the battery pack at any given time. The battery pack charger according to claim 3.

5. The battery pack charger according to claim 3, wherein the electronic processor is configured to close the discharge switch and initiate a discharge operation in response to determining that the AC connector is to be received into an AC outlet of the battery pack charger and power source, and that the battery pack is connected to the battery pack interface and has a non-zero charge state.

6. The battery pack charger according to claim 3, wherein the electronic processor is configured to close the discharge switch and initiate a discharge operation in response to determining that the DC connector is to be received into a DC outlet of the battery pack charger and power source, and that the battery pack is connected to the battery pack interface and has a non-zero charge state.

7. The battery pack charger according to claim 1, wherein the discharge circuit includes an ideal diode controller, the ideal diode controller is connected to a discharge switch of the discharge circuit and is configured to open the discharge switch in response to detecting a reverse current flow in the discharge circuit.

8. The system further includes a hardware protection circuit connected to the aforementioned ideal diode controller, The ideal diode controller being configured to detect the flow of the reverse current in the discharge circuit includes monitoring the input line of the hardware protection circuit for a negative voltage related to the ground of the hardware protection circuit. The battery pack charger according to claim 7.

9. Power input and, Power output and, A battery pack interface configured to receive a removable battery pack, A charging circuit electrically connected to the aforementioned battery pack interface, A discharge circuit electrically connected to the aforementioned battery pack interface, The charging circuit, the discharging circuit, the power input, and the power output are connected to a common charging and discharging line, Battery pack charger.

10. The system further includes an electronic processor electrically connected to the charging circuit and the discharging circuit, the electronic processor being The battery pack is charged using the charging circuit. The battery pack is discharged using the discharge circuit. It is configured in such a way. The battery pack charger according to claim 9.

11. The battery pack charger according to claim 10, wherein the electronic processor is configured to open the discharge switch of the discharge circuit while the battery pack is being charged.

12. It also includes a charging switch, The electronic processor is configured to control the discharge switch and the charge switch so that the common charge and discharge line is used solely for charging the battery pack or solely for discharging the battery pack when given. The battery pack charger according to claim 11.

13. The battery pack charger according to claim 11, wherein the electronic processor is configured to close the discharge switch and initiate a discharge operation in response to determining that the AC connector is to be received by the AC outlet of the battery pack charger and power source, and that the battery pack is connected to the battery pack interface and has a non-zero charge state.

14. The battery pack charger according to claim 11, wherein the electronic processor is configured to close the discharge switch and initiate a discharge operation in response to determining that the DC connector is to be received into the DC outlet of the battery pack charger and power source, and that the battery pack is connected to the battery pack interface and has a non-zero charge state.

15. The battery pack charger according to claim 9, wherein the discharge circuit includes an ideal diode controller, the ideal diode controller being connected to a discharge switch of the discharge circuit and configured to open the discharge switch in response to detecting a reverse current flow in the discharge circuit.

16. The system further includes a hardware protection circuit connected to the aforementioned ideal diode controller, The battery pack charger according to claim 15, wherein the ideal diode controller is configured to detect the flow of reverse current in the discharge circuit, which includes monitoring the input line of the hardware protection circuit for a negative voltage related to the ground of the hardware protection circuit.

17. A method for controlling the charging and discharging operations of a battery pack charger and power source including a common charging and discharging line, The current operation of the battery pack charger and the power supply source is determined via the electronic processor of the battery pack charger, In response to determining that the current operation of the battery pack charger and power source is a charging operation, the electronic processor disables the discharge circuits of the battery pack charger and power source. In response to determining that the current operation of the battery pack charger and power source is a discharge operation, the charging circuits of the battery pack charger and power source are disabled via the electronic processor. To provide a charging current to the charging circuit from the power input of the battery pack charger and power supply source via the aforementioned common charging and discharging line, This includes providing a discharge current from the discharge circuit of the battery pack charger and power source to the power output of the battery pack charger and power source via the common charging and discharging line, method.

18. The reverse current flow in the discharge circuit is detected via an ideal diode controller connected to the common charging and discharging line, The electronic processor further includes opening the switch of the discharge circuit to stop the flow of the reverse current, The method according to claim 17.

19. Detecting the aforementioned reverse current flow means This includes monitoring the input line of a hardware protection circuit for a negative voltage related to the ground of the hardware protection circuit connected to the ideal diode controller via the ideal diode controller, The method according to claim 18.

20. The method according to claim 17, further comprising providing the discharge current from the battery pack to a device connected via the AC or DC outlet of the battery pack charger and power supply source.

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