Adapter, adapter system, battery pack, and electric equipment system

Abstract

Provided is an adapter that can be connected to a battery pack capable of switching output voltages, is compact in size, or offers high design flexibility. An adapter 200, 300 can be mounted to a first voltage switching battery pack 100 by sliding backward with respect to the first voltage switching battery pack 100. A battery-side terminal 206, 306 and a body-side terminal 210, 310 are separated away from each other in the front-back direction, and a contact part of the battery-side terminal in contact with a battery terminal 102 overlaps the body-side terminal in the vertical direction.

Description

Adapter, adapter system, battery pack, and electrical equipment system

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery pack, and an adapter, adapter system, and electrical equipment system for connecting the battery pack to an electrical equipment (for example, a power tool, a charger, a power supply device, etc.).

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an adapter for connecting a battery pack with different interface specifications to an electrical device. Patent Document 2 discloses a battery pack capable of switching output voltage and an extension adapter connected between the battery pack and an electrical device. Patent Document 3 discloses a battery pack (battery pack 1) having a pair of power terminals (charge / discharge terminals 33) and signal terminals (temperature detection terminal 35, communication terminal 36). Patent Document 4 discloses a battery pack having a latch portion provided forward of the terminals.

[0003] International Publication No. 2022 / 172776 Patent No. 7255252 JP 2001-143768 A U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005 / 0280394

[0004] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the following problems. - First problem: To provide an adapter for connecting an electrical device to a battery pack configured to be able to switch output voltages and having interfaces with different specifications, or an adapter system having such a battery pack, electrical device, and adapter. - Second problem: To provide a battery pack capable of switching output voltages, a compact battery pack, or a battery pack with high design freedom. - Third problem: To provide an adapter, a compact adapter, or an adapter with high design freedom that can be connected to a battery pack with switchable output voltages. - Fourth problem: To provide a compact adapter system. - Fifth problem: To provide an adapter that looks integrated with the battery pack.

[0005] One aspect of the present invention is an adapter system comprising: a first voltage switching battery pack having a plurality of cell units and a first battery interface of a first specification having a pair of first power supply terminals and a pair of second power supply terminals connected to each of the plurality of cell units, the first voltage switching battery pack being configured to be able to switch the output voltage by switching the connection state of the plurality of cell units; an electrical device having an equipment interface of a specification different from the first specification, the equipment interface being configured so as not to be connectable to the first battery interface; an adapter connectable between the first voltage switching battery pack and the electrical device, the first adapter interface being connectable to the first battery interface of the first specification and having a pair of third power supply terminals connectable to the pair of first power supply terminals and a pair of fourth power supply terminals connectable to the pair of second power supply terminals; and an equipment side adapter interface connectable to the equipment interface of a specification different from the first specification.

[0006] Another aspect of the present invention is a first adapter system comprising: a first voltage switching battery pack having a first battery interface of a first specification and configured to be able to switch output voltage; a second electrical device having a second equipment interface of a second specification, wherein the second equipment interface is not connectable to the first battery interface but is connectable to the second battery interface of the second specification of a second voltage switching battery pack capable of switching output voltage; and a first adapter connectable between the first voltage switching battery pack and the second electrical device, the first adapter having a first adapter interface of the first specification connectable to the first battery interface and a second adapter interface of the second specification connectable to the second equipment interface.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is a first adapter system comprising: a first battery pack having a first battery interface of a first specification; a second electrical device having a second device interface of a second specification, wherein the second device interface is not connectable to the first battery interface but is connectable to the second battery interface of the second specification of a second voltage switching battery pack capable of switching output voltage; and a first adapter connectable between the first battery pack and the second electrical device in the vertical direction, the first adapter having a first adapter interface of the first specification connectable to the first battery interface and a second adapter interface of the second specification connectable to the second device interface, wherein when the first battery pack is connected to the lower side of the first adapter and the second electrical device is connected to the upper side of the first adapter, the upper end of the first battery pack is located above the lower end of the second electrical device.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is a second adapter system comprising: a first voltage switching battery pack having a first battery interface of a first specification and configured to be able to switch the output voltage; a third electrical device having a third equipment interface of a third specification, wherein the third equipment interface is not connectable to the first battery interface but is connectable to the third battery interface of the third specification of a third voltage fixed battery pack having a fixed output voltage; and a second adapter connectable between the first voltage switching battery pack and the third electrical device, the second adapter having a first adapter interface of the first specification connectable to the first battery interface and a third adapter interface of the third specification connectable to the third equipment interface.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is a second adapter system comprising: a first battery pack having a first battery interface of a first specification; a third electrical device having a third device interface of a third specification, wherein the third device interface is not connectable to the first battery interface but is connectable to the third battery interface of the third specification of a third voltage fixed battery pack having a fixed output voltage; and a second adapter connectable between the first battery pack and the third electrical device in the vertical direction, the second adapter having a first adapter interface of the first specification connectable to the first battery interface and a third adapter interface of the third specification connectable to the third device interface, wherein when the first battery pack is connected to the lower side of the second adapter and the third electrical device is connected to the upper side of the second adapter, the upper end of the first battery pack is located above the lower end of the third electrical device.

[0010] Another aspect of the present invention is a third adapter system comprising the first adapter system and the second adapter system.

[0011] Another aspect of the present invention is an adapter that is attached between a battery pack and an electrical device in the vertical direction, wherein the battery pack has a plurality of cell units and a first battery interface of a first specification having a pair of first power supply terminals and a pair of second power supply terminals connected to each of the plurality of cell units, and is a first voltage switching battery pack configured to be able to switch the output voltage by switching the connection state of the plurality of cell units, the electrical device is not connectable to the first battery interface and has an equipment interface of a specification different from the first specification, and the adapter has a first adapter interface that is connectable to the first battery interface of the first specification and has a pair of third power supply terminals connectable to the pair of first power supply terminals and a pair of fourth power supply terminals connectable to the pair of second power supply terminals, and an equipment side adapter interface that is connectable to the equipment interface of a specification different from the first specification.

[0012] Another aspect of the present invention is an adapter that is positioned between a battery pack and an electrical device in the vertical direction, and can be attached to the battery pack and the electrical device by sliding in a front-to-rear direction that intersects the vertical direction, and includes a battery-side terminal that extends in the vertical direction and the front-to-rear direction and is connected to a battery terminal of the battery pack, and a main-body-side terminal that extends in the vertical direction and the front-to-rear direction and is connected to a main-body terminal of the electrical device, and is attachable to the battery pack by sliding in the rearward direction relative to the battery pack, the battery-side terminal and the main-body-side terminal being spaced apart from each other in the front-to-rear direction, and a contact portion of the battery-side terminal that contacts the battery terminal overlaps with the main-body-side terminal in the vertical direction.

[0013] Another aspect of the present invention is a first adapter configured to connect a first voltage switching battery pack having a first battery interface of a first specification and configured to be able to switch output voltage to a second electrical device having a second device interface of a second specification different from the first specification, the first adapter interface of the first specification connectable to the first battery interface of the first voltage switching battery pack, the first adapter interface having a pair of first guiding portions that guide the first adapter relative to the first voltage switching battery pack, and a pair of third power supply terminals and a pair of fourth power supply terminals that are connectable to the pair of first power supply terminals and the pair of second power supply terminals of the first voltage switching battery pack, respectively; and a second adapter interface of the second specification connectable to the second device interface of the second electrical device. the first adapter interface includes a pair of second guide portions that guide the first adapter relative to the second electrical device, a pair of seventh power supply terminals and a pair of eighth power supply terminals that are configured to be connectable to a pair of fifth power supply terminals and a pair of sixth power supply terminals of the second electrical device, respectively; a first connection circuit that electrically connects the pair of third power supply terminals of the first adapter interface to the pair of seventh power supply terminals of the second adapter interface; a second connection circuit that electrically connects the pair of fourth power supply terminals of the first adapter interface to the pair of eighth power supply terminals of the second adapter interface; and a first adapter case that has the pair of first guide portions and the pair of second guide portions and is configured to accommodate the first connection circuit and the second connection circuit.

[0014] Another aspect of the present invention is a second adapter configured to connect a first voltage switching battery pack having a first battery interface of a first specification and configured to be able to switch output voltage to a third electrical device having a third device interface of a third specification different from the first specification, the first adapter interface being connectable to the first battery interface of the first voltage switching battery pack, the first adapter interface having a pair of first guide portions that guide the first adapter to the first voltage switching battery pack, and a pair of third power supply terminals and a pair of fourth power supply terminals that are connectable to the pair of first power supply terminals and the pair of second power supply terminals of the first voltage switching battery pack, respectively; and a third adapter interface being connectable to the third device interface of the third electrical device, the third adapter interface being connectable to the third device interface of the third electrical device, the pair of third guide portions that guide the second adapter to the third electrical device. a third adapter interface having a positive terminal of the pair of third power supply terminals of the first adapter interface, a positive terminal of the pair of fourth power supply terminals of the first adapter interface, and a positive terminal of the pair of tenth power supply terminals of the third adapter interface; a third connection circuit electrically connecting the positive terminal of the pair of third power supply terminals of the first adapter interface, the positive terminal of the pair of fourth power supply terminals of the first adapter interface, and the positive terminal of the pair of tenth power supply terminals of the third adapter interface; a fourth connection circuit electrically connecting the negative terminal of the pair of third power supply terminals of the first adapter interface, the negative terminal of the pair of fourth power supply terminals of the first adapter interface, and the negative terminal of the pair of tenth power supply terminals of the third adapter interface; and a second adapter case having the pair of first guide portions and the pair of third guide portions, the second adapter case configured to accommodate the third connection circuit and the fourth connection circuit.

[0015] Another aspect of the present invention is a battery pack that can be attached to a device interface of an electrical device facing forward, the battery pack including: a first battery cell unit having one or more battery cells connected to one another; a pair of first power supply terminals connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the first battery cell unit, respectively; a second battery cell unit having one or more battery cells connected to one another; a pair of second power supply terminals connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the second battery cell unit, respectively; a battery controller connected to the first battery cell unit and / or the second battery cell unit; signal terminals connected to the battery controller; and a battery case that houses the first battery cell unit, the second battery cell unit, and the battery controller, the battery case having a top surface a battery case having a portion, a battery guide portion provided on the top surface portion and configured to guide the battery pack toward the forward direction, a terminal accommodating portion provided on the top surface portion, a bottom surface portion located below the top surface portion, and a side surface portion connecting the top surface portion and the bottom surface portion, wherein the battery guide portion has a front end portion located on the front side and a rear end portion located on the rear side, the terminal accommodating portion has a plurality of slot portions opening on the surface on the forward side, and the pair of first power terminals, the pair of second power terminals, and the signal terminal accommodated in the terminal accommodating portion are arranged at positions corresponding to the plurality of slot portions in the left-right direction and at positions corresponding to the rear end portion of the battery guide portion in the front-to-rear direction.

[0016] Another aspect of the present invention is a battery pack that can be attached to a device interface of an electrical device facing forward, the battery pack comprising: a battery cell unit having one or more battery cells; a pair of power terminals connected to positive and negative electrodes of the battery cell unit, respectively, the pair of power terminals each having a mating portion that can be mated with a terminal of the electrical device; a battery case that houses the battery cell unit, the battery case having a top surface portion, a battery guide portion provided on the top surface portion and configured to guide the battery pack toward the forward direction, a terminal accommodating portion provided on the top surface portion, a bottom surface portion located below the top surface portion, and a side surface portion connecting the top surface portion and the bottom surface portion; and a restricting recess that engages with a restricting portion of the electrical device when the battery pack is attached to the electrical device to restrict the battery pack from moving backward, the restricting recess being provided integrally on the top surface portion of the battery case and positioned forward and below the mating portions of the pair of power terminals and above the battery cell unit.

[0017] Another aspect of the present invention is an adapter that is attached between a battery pack and an electrical device in the vertical direction, the case having an equipment-side adapter interface that is provided on the upper side and slides forward and backward to be attached to and detached from the electrical device, and a first adapter interface that is provided on the lower side and slides forward and backward to be attached and detached to the battery pack, and an operation unit that is operated by an operator to remove the battery pack from the first adapter interface, wherein when the equipment-side adapter interface is attached to the equipment interface of the electrical device, the operation unit is inoperable or is hidden by the electrical device.

[0018] Another aspect of the present invention is an adapter that is attached between a battery pack and an electrical device in the vertical direction, and is characterized by comprising: an equipment-side adapter interface that is provided on the upper side and slides in the front-to-back direction to be attached and detached to an equipment interface of the electrical device; and a first adapter interface that is provided on the lower side and slides in the front-to-back direction to be attached and detached to a first battery interface of the battery pack, wherein the upper end of the first adapter interface is located above the lower end of the equipment-side adapter interface.

[0019] Another aspect of the present invention is an adapter system comprising: a first battery pack having a first battery interface of a first specification; and an electrical device having an equipment interface of a specification different from the first specification, wherein the equipment interface is configured so as not to be connectable to the first battery interface of the first battery pack but to be connectable to the battery interface of a battery pack of a specification different from the first specification; and an adapter connectable between the first battery pack and the electrical device in the vertical direction, the adapter having a first adapter interface connectable to the first battery interface of the first specification of the first battery pack; and an equipment adapter interface of a specification different from the first specification, connectable to the equipment interface of the electrical device, the equipment adapter interface having a pair of guide portions that allow movement of the electrical device in a direction intersecting the vertical direction and restrict movement of the electrical device in the vertical direction; wherein when the first battery pack is connected to the lower side of the adapter and the electrical device is connected to the upper side of the adapter, an upper end of the first battery pack is positioned higher than a lower end of the electrical device.

[0020] Another aspect of the present invention is a battery pack that is slid forward into an adapter having a main body terminal that is connected to the main body terminal of an electrical device, and is characterized in that it comprises a battery cell unit having one or more battery cells, and power supply terminals that are connected to the positive and negative poles of the battery cell unit, respectively, and that when the battery pack is attached to the adapter, the contact portion of the power supply terminal that contacts the battery side terminal overlaps with the main body terminal in the vertical direction.

[0021] Another aspect of the present invention is an adapter that is attached between a battery pack and an electrical device in the vertical direction, comprising: an appliance-side adapter interface that is provided on the upper side of the adapter and slides forward to be attached to the electrical device; a first rear-side protrusion that is provided on the upper side of the adapter, located rearward of the appliance-side adapter interface, protruding above a lower end of the appliance-side interface, and having a first inclined surface on its upper surface; and a first adapter interface that is provided on the lower side of the adapter and slides rearward to be attached to the battery pack, wherein the battery pack has a second rear-side protrusion that is located rearward of the first adapter interface when the adapter is attached, protruding above a lower end of the first adapter interface, and having a second inclined surface on its upper surface; and wherein when the battery pack is attached to the first adapter interface, the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface extend so as to be smoothly connected.

[0022] Another aspect of the present invention is a battery pack that can be attached to a device interface of an electrical device facing forward, the battery pack comprising: a battery cell unit having one or more battery cells; a pair of power supply terminals connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the battery cell unit, respectively; and a battery case that houses the battery cell unit, the battery case having a top surface portion, a battery guide portion provided on the top surface portion and configured to guide the battery pack toward the forward direction, a terminal accommodating portion provided on the top surface portion and accommodating the pair of power supply terminals, a bottom surface portion located below the top surface portion, and side surfaces that connect the top surface portion and the bottom surface portion, wherein contact portions of the pair of power supply terminals that come into contact with device-side power supply terminals of the electrical device are located above the top surface portion or the battery guide portion.

[0023] Another aspect of the present invention is an electrical equipment system comprising the adapter and a battery pack that can be attached by sliding relative to the adapter, wherein the battery pack comprises a plurality of cell units consisting of a plurality of battery cells, and a battery case that houses the plurality of cell units and slides to be attached to the adapter.

[0024] According to the present invention, at least one of the above problems can be solved.

[0025] 1 is a schematic diagram of a system according to the first embodiment. It is a perspective view of the first voltage switching battery pack 100, the first adapter 200, and the second adapter 300 of FIG. 1 in a mutually separated state. (A) is a perspective view of the first voltage switching battery pack 100. (B) is a perspective view of the first voltage switching battery pack 100 and the first adapter 200 combined. (C) is a perspective view of the first voltage switching battery pack 100 with the upper part of the battery case 106 removed, showing the internal configuration of the first voltage switching battery pack 100. (A) is a perspective view of the first adapter 200 seen from above. (B) is a perspective view of the first adapter 200 seen from below. (C) is a perspective view showing the terminal configuration of the first adapter 200. (A) is a rear view of the first adapter 200. (B) is a side view of the first adapter 200. (C) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F-F of FIG. 5(B). (D) is a cross-sectional view taken along G-G in FIG. 5(C). (E) is a bottom view of the first adapter 200. (A) is a rear view of the first voltage switching battery pack 100 and the first adapter 200 combined. (B) is a side view of the same. (C) is a cross-sectional view taken along D-D in FIG. 6(A). (D) is a cross-sectional view taken along B-B in FIG. 6(A), showing the first adapter 200 attached to the second electrical device 40. (E) is a cross-sectional view taken along K-K in FIG. 6(D). (A) to (D) are views showing the first adapter 200 shifted forward in FIGS. 6(A) to (D), respectively. (A) is a side view of the first voltage switching battery pack 100 and the second electrical device 40 connected via the first adapter 200. (B) is a cross-sectional side view of the same. (C) is a front view of the same. (D) is a bottom perspective view of the lower part of the second electrical device 40. 8B. (E) is an N-N cross-sectional view of FIG. 8B. (A) is a perspective view of the second adapter 300 seen from above. (B) is a perspective view of the second adapter 300 seen from below. (A) is a rear view of the second adapter 300. (B) is a side view of the second adapter 300. (C) is a front view of the second adapter 300. (D) is an M-M cross-sectional view of FIG. 10C. (E) is a bottom view of the second adapter 300. (A) is a rear view of the first voltage switching battery pack 100 and the second adapter 300 combined. (B) is a side view of the same. (C) is a J-J cross-sectional view of FIG. 11A. (A) is a side view of the third fixed voltage battery pack 20 and the third electrical device 60 connected. (B) is a front view of the same. (C) is a P-P cross-sectional view of FIG. 12B. 10D is a bottom perspective view of the lower part of the third electric device 60. FIG.12(C). (E) is a diagram showing the state in which the operating unit 76 in FIG. 12(C) has been pressed to release the locking by the locking unit 77. (A) is a circuit block diagram of the first voltage switching battery pack 100. (B) is a circuit block diagram of the first adapter 200. (C) is a circuit block diagram of the second adapter 300. (A) is a circuit block diagram of the first electric device 80 (36V device). (B) is a circuit block diagram of the first electric device 90 (18V device). (A) is a circuit block diagram of the second electric device 40 (36V device). (B) is a circuit block diagram of the second electric device 50 (18V device). (C) is a circuit block diagram of the third electric device 60. (A) is an explanatory diagram of the attachment of the first voltage switching battery pack 100A and the first adapter 200A in embodiment 2. (B) is a front view of the first voltage switching battery pack 100A and the first adapter 200A connected. (C) is a cross-sectional view of the main part taken along the line M-M in FIG. 17(B). (A) is a perspective view of the first voltage switching battery pack 100B and the first adapter 200B in the third embodiment when connected. (B) is a perspective view of the state in FIG. 18(A) with the restricting member 227 removed. (C) is a side view of the state in FIG. 18(A). (D) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line L-L in FIG. 18(C). (E) is a perspective view of the first voltage switching battery pack 100B. (F) is a top perspective view of the first adapter 200B. (G) is a bottom perspective view of the first adapter 200B. (A) is a perspective view of the first voltage switching battery pack 100C and the first adapter 200C in the fourth embodiment when connected. (B) is a perspective view of the state in FIG. 19(A) with the operating unit 232 moved to the release position. (C) is a side view of the state in FIG. 19(A). 19(D) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line N-N in FIG. 19(C). (E) is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 19(D) with the operating unit 232 moved to the release position. (F) is a perspective view of the first voltage switching battery pack 100C. (G) is a top perspective view of the first adapter 200C. (H) is a bottom perspective view of the first adapter 200C.

[0026] In this specification, "specifications" specify the configuration of the interface relating to the interconnection between the battery pack and the electrical device, such as the configuration of the guide section, the configuration of the terminals, the communication method, etc. If the interfaces of the battery pack and the electrical device are configured according to common specifications, these battery packs and electrical devices can be directly connected to each other.

[0027] (Embodiment 1) [Overall System Configuration] Figures 1 to 13 relate to embodiment 1. Figure 2 defines the intersecting front-to-back, up-down, and left-to-right directions of the first voltage switching battery pack 100, first adapter 200, and second adapter 300. Note that these directions do not need to be perpendicular to each other, and may intersect at approximately right angles.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system according to the first embodiment.

[0029] The first voltage switching battery pack 100, the first electrical device 80, the second electrical devices 30, 40, 50, and the first adapter 200 constitute a first adapter system.

[0030] The first voltage switching battery pack 100, the first electrical device 80, the third electrical device 60, the third charger 70, and the second adapter 300 constitute a second adapter system.

[0031] The combination of the first adapter system and the second adapter system corresponds to a third adapter system.

[0032] The first voltage switching battery pack 100 has a first battery interface 101 of a first specification, and is configured to be able to switch the output voltage.

[0033] The first electrical device 80 has a first device interface 81 of a first specification. The first device interface 81 is configured to be connectable to the first battery interface 101 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100. The first electrical device 80 is an electric tool with a rated voltage of 36 V and has a terminal structure that outputs 36 V to the connected first voltage switching battery pack 100.

[0034] The second electrical devices 30, 40, 50 have second device interfaces 32, 42, 52 of the second specification, respectively.

[0035] The second device interfaces 32, 42, 52 are configured so as not to be connectable to the first battery interface 101 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100. The second device interfaces 32, 42, 52 are configured so as to be connectable to the second battery interface 12 of the second voltage switching battery pack 10 capable of switching the output voltage, which has a second specification different from the first specification.

[0036] The second electrical device 30 is a charger configured to be directly connected to the second voltage switching battery pack 10 for charging. The second electrical device 40 is a power tool with a rated voltage of 36 V and has a terminal structure that outputs 36 V to the connected second voltage switching battery pack 10. The second electrical device 50 is a power tool with a rated voltage of 18 V and has a terminal structure that outputs 18 V to the connected second voltage switching battery pack 10. The second electrical devices 40, 50 are each configured to be directly connected to the second voltage switching battery pack 10 and to operate using power from the second voltage switching battery pack 10. The second voltage switching battery pack 10 is configured to switch its output voltage between 36 V and 18 V depending on the terminal structure of the connected device. The second electrical devices 30, 40, 50 and the second voltage switching battery pack 10 are all compatible with existing products.

[0037] The first adapter 200 is configured to be connectable between the first voltage switching battery pack 100 and the second electrical device 30, 40, 50. The first adapter 200 has a first adapter interface 201 of a first specification connectable to the first battery interface 101 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100, and a second adapter interface 202 as an equipment-side adapter interface connectable to a second equipment interface 32, 42, 52 of a second specification different from the first specification of the second electrical device 30, 40, 50.

[0038] The third electrical devices 60, 70 have third device interfaces 63, 73 of a third specification. The third device interfaces 63, 73 are configured so as not to be connectable to the first battery interface 101 of the first voltage switchable battery pack 100. The third device interfaces 63, 73 are configured so as to be connectable to the third battery interface 23 of a third specification, which is different from the first specification, of the third fixed voltage battery pack 20, whose output voltage is fixed.

[0039] The third electrical device 60 is an electric power tool with a rated voltage of 18 V, and is configured to be directly connected to the third fixed voltage battery pack 20 so that it can operate using the power from the third fixed voltage battery pack 20. The third electrical device 70 is a charger, and is configured to be directly connected to the third fixed voltage battery pack 20 so that it can be charged. The third fixed voltage battery pack 20 is configured to output 18 V. The third electrical devices 60, 70 and the third fixed voltage battery pack 20 are all compatible with existing products.

[0040] The second adapter 300 is connectable between the first voltage switching battery pack 100 and the third electrical device 60, 70. The second adapter 300 has a first adapter interface 301 of a first specification connectable to the first battery interface 101 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100, and a third adapter interface 303 of a third specification different from the first specification as an equipment-side adapter interface connectable to the third equipment interfaces 63, 73 of the third electrical devices 60, 70. The first adapter 200 and the second adapter 300 are also examples of electrical devices.

[0041] [Configuration of the First Switchable Voltage Battery Pack 100] The first switchable voltage battery pack 100 is a battery pack that can be attached to the battery pack attachment sections of the first electrical device 80, the first adapter 200, and the second adapter 300 facing forward.

[0042] As shown in Figures 2, 3(A), 3(C), and 6(D), the first voltage switching battery pack 100 has a battery terminal 102, a battery case 106, a battery guide portion 107, a terminal accommodating portion 108, a restricting recess 110 (engaged portion), a remaining charge display portion 111, a remaining charge display button 112, a battery control board 113, a battery terminal board 114, a battery cell unit 115, a separator 116, and a holding member 117.

[0043] The battery terminals 102 include a pair of power supply terminals 103, a pair of power supply terminals 104, and a signal terminal 105. The battery terminals 102 form a part of the first battery interface 101.

[0044] The battery case 106 is, for example, a resin-molded body with a two-part structure, with a top and bottom, and has a top surface 106a, a bottom surface 106b, and a side surface 106c. The bottom surface 106b is located below the top surface 106a. The side surface 106c connects the top surface 106a and the bottom surface 106b. The battery case 106 houses a battery control board 113, a battery terminal board 114, a battery cell unit 115, a separator 116, and a holding member 117.

[0045] The battery guide 107 is provided on the top surface 106a and is configured to guide the first voltage switching battery pack 100 forward relative to the device to be connected (see FIG. 7C → FIG. 6C). The battery guide 107 constitutes part of the first battery interface 101. In the illustrated example, three battery guides 107 are provided on each side of the top surface 106a, but the number of battery guides 107 is arbitrary. As shown in FIG. 3A, the battery guide 107 has a front end 107a located on the front side and a rear end 107b located on the rear side. A second rear protrusion 151 is provided on the rear of the battery case 106, protruding above the top surface 106a. The upper end of the second rear protrusion 151 forms the upper end 150 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100. The upper surface of the second rear protrusion 151 has a rear inclined surface (second inclined surface) 152 that slopes gently rearward from its upper end (upper end 150). The second rear protrusion 151 is located outside the area in which the battery guide 107 is provided in the front-rear direction.

[0046] The terminal accommodating portion 108 is provided on the top surface 106a of the battery case 106. Specifically, the terminal accommodating portion 108 is erected at the rear center of the top surface 106a. In the front-rear direction, the terminal accommodating portion 108 extends to a position corresponding to the rear end 107b of the battery guide portion 107. The terminal accommodating portion 108 has multiple slots 109 that accommodate the battery terminals 102. Each of the multiple slots 109 opens on the front-facing surface, allowing the battery terminals 102 to face forward. The battery terminals 102 accommodated in the terminal accommodating portion 108, i.e., the pair of power terminals 103, the pair of power terminals 104, and the signal terminal 105, are positioned to correspond to the multiple slots 109 in the left-right direction and to correspond to the rear end 107b of the battery guide portion 107 in the front-rear direction. The battery terminals 102 are accommodated in the terminal accommodating portions 108 so that the contact portions (engagement portions) of the battery terminals 102 that contact (engage) with the terminals (battery terminals 206) of the connected device (e.g., the first adapter 200 serving as an electrical device) are positioned above the top surface 106a or the battery guide portions 107 in the vertical direction. The battery terminals 102 are positioned rearward in the front-to-rear direction and above the top surface 106a or the battery guide portions 107. Since it is no longer necessary to arrange the battery terminals 102 between the pair of left-to-right battery guide portions 107 located forward, the vertical dimension of the area where the battery guide portions 107 are provided can be reduced. Furthermore, the space saved in the vertical dimension can be used as space for arranging the first adapter 200. Therefore, even if a circuit or the like is provided within the first adapter 200, the vertical dimension of the first voltage switching battery pack 100 and the first adapter 200 when connected can be reduced. Furthermore, the rear side of the terminal accommodating portion 108 is covered by the second rear protrusion 151, which can prevent the terminal accommodating portion 108 from being subjected to an impact from behind.

[0047] When the first voltage switching battery pack 100 is attached to the first electrical device 80, the first adapter 200, or the second adapter 300, the restricting recess 110 engages with the restricting portion 80a of the first electrical device 80 ( FIG. 1 ), the restricting portion 218 of the first adapter 200 ( FIG. 4B ), or the restricting portion 318 of the second adapter 300 ( FIG. 9 ), preventing the first voltage switching battery pack 100 from moving backward. The restricting recess 110 constitutes part of the first battery interface 101. The restricting recess 110 is integrally formed on the top surface 106a of the battery case 106. The restricting recess 110 is positioned forward and below the mating or contact portion (the area indicated by R1 in FIG. 6D ) between the battery terminal 102 (e.g., a pair of power terminals 103) and the mating terminal, but above the battery cell unit 115.

[0048] 2, the remaining capacity display unit 111 and the remaining capacity display button 112 are provided on the upper rear portion (second rear protrusion 151) of the battery case 106. The remaining capacity display unit 111 displays the remaining capacity of the first voltage switching battery pack 100 in four stages in response to operation of the remaining capacity display button 112. The number of stages for displaying the remaining capacity may be any number.

[0049] As shown in Figure 3(C), the battery control board 113 is located above the battery cell unit 115 and is fixed to the separator 116 with screws or the like in an orientation perpendicular to the up-down direction. The battery control board 113 is equipped with a protection IC 123 and a battery controller 124 shown in Figure 13(A), etc. The front part of the battery control board 113 extends below the restricting recess 110, and the rear part extends below the battery terminal board 114.

[0050] The battery terminal board 114 is held by a holding member 117 in a vertical position and is located above the rear of the battery control board 113. The battery terminal board 114 is equipped with the battery terminals 102, as well as four remaining capacity indicator LEDs 121 and a remaining capacity indicator switch 122. When the remaining capacity indicator switch 122 is turned on, the remaining capacity indicator LEDs 121 light up in a number corresponding to the remaining capacity of the first voltage switching battery pack 100. The number of remaining capacity indicator LEDs 121 can be arbitrary. Light emitted by the remaining capacity indicator LEDs 121 passes through the remaining capacity indicator 111 and reaches the outside. The remaining capacity indicator switch 122 is turned on by operating the remaining capacity indicator button 112.

[0051] The battery cell unit 115 includes a first battery cell unit 118 having five battery cells connected to each other, and a second battery cell unit 119 having five battery cells connected to each other. The battery cells are, for example, lithium-ion secondary battery cells. The first battery cell unit 118 and the second battery cell unit 119 may include any number of battery cells. A pair of power supply terminals 103 are connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the first battery cell unit 118, respectively. A pair of power supply terminals 104 are connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the second battery cell unit 119, respectively.

[0052] The separator 116 is, for example, a resin molded body, and holds each battery cell that makes up the battery cell unit 115 in a predetermined position within the battery case 106. The holding member 117 is, for example, a resin molded body, and is fixed to the separator 116 by, for example, screws.

[0053] [Configuration of the first adapter 200] The first adapter 200 is configured to connect a first voltage switching battery pack 100 having a first battery interface 101 of a first specification to a second electrical device 30, 40, 50 having a second device interface 32, 42, 52 of a second specification different from the first specification. The first adapter 200 is positioned vertically between the first voltage switching battery pack 100 and one of the second electrical devices 30, 40, 50, and is configured to slide in a front-to-rear direction that intersects the vertical direction so that it can be attached to the first voltage switching battery pack 100 and one of the second electrical devices 30, 40, 50.

[0054] 1 , the first adapter 200 has a first adapter interface 201 of a first specification that can be connected to the first battery interface 101 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100, and a second adapter interface 202 of a second specification that can be connected to the second device interfaces 32, 42, and 52 of the second electrical devices 30, 40, and 50. The first adapter interface 201 and a battery pack mounting section 213 (described later) include areas that face the first voltage switching battery pack 100 (first battery interface 101) when the first voltage switching battery pack 100 is mounted on the first adapter 200, and that face the first battery interface 101 with almost no gap between them. The second adapter interface 202 and the electrical device mounting section 214 include areas that face the second electrical devices 30, 40, and 50 (second device interfaces 32, 42, and 52) when the first adapter 200 is mounted on the second electrical devices 30, 40, and 50.

[0055] The first adapter 200 includes a battery terminal 206, a main body terminal 210, a first adapter case 211, a battery pack mounting portion 213, an electrical device mounting portion 214, a latch mechanism 216, an operation portion 217, a restricting portion 218, a coil spring 219, and a first adapter circuit board 220. A first rear projection 230 is provided on the rear side of the first adapter 200, projecting upward beyond the lower end 214a of the electrical device mounting portion 214. The first rear projection 230 is provided with the latch mechanism 216. A first inclined surface that gently slopes from the upper front to the lower rear is formed on the upper surface of the first rear projection 230. The first rear projection 230 is provided on the upper side of the first adapter 200, rearward of the electrical device mounting portion 214 in the front-to-rear direction. The first rear projection 230 is located outside (rearward of) an area where a second guide portion 215 (described later) is provided.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 4C , the battery terminal 206 includes a pair of power terminals 203, a pair of power terminals 204, and a signal terminal 205. The battery terminal 206 extends in the up-down and front-rear directions and is connected to the battery terminal 102 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100. As shown in FIG. 6E , the pair of power terminals 203, the pair of power terminals 204, and the signal terminal 205 are configured to be connectable to the pair of power terminals 103, the pair of power terminals 104, and the signal terminal 105 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100, respectively. The battery terminal 206 constitutes part of the first adapter interface 201. The battery terminal 206 is located at a position corresponding to the rear end 107b ( FIG. 3A ) of the battery guide portion 107 in the front-rear direction. Note that although the battery terminal 206 is configured to be connected to the first adapter board 220 via lead wires (not shown), it may also be configured to be directly connected to the first adapter board 220.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 4C , the main body terminal 210 includes a pair of power supply terminals 207, a pair of power supply terminals 208, and a signal terminal 209. The main body terminal 210 extends in the up-down and front-rear directions and is connected to the main body terminals of the second electrical device 30, 40, 50. As shown in FIGS. 4C , 8D, and 8E , the pair of power supply terminals 207, the pair of power supply terminals 208, and the signal terminal 209 are configured to be connectable to a pair of power supply terminals 43 a, a pair of power supply terminals 43 b, and a signal terminal 43 c of the second electrical device 40, respectively. The main body terminal 210 constitutes a part of the second adapter interface 202. The pair of power supply terminals 43 a, the pair of power supply terminals 43 b, and the signal terminal 43 c of the second electrical device 40 constitute the main body terminals 43 and a part of the second device interface 42.

[0058] As shown in Fig. 4C, the battery-side terminal 206 and the main body-side terminal 210 are spaced apart from each other in the front-to-rear direction. The battery-side terminal 206 is located rearward of the main body-side terminal 210. As shown in Fig. 6D, in the up-down direction, the presence range R1 of the contact portion of the battery-side terminal 206 that comes into contact with the battery terminal 102 at least partially overlaps with the presence range R3 of the main body-side terminal 210, more preferably with the presence range R2 located above the top surface of the first adapter board 220.

[0059] The first adapter case 211 is, for example, a resin molded body, has a first guide portion 212 and a second guide portion 215 , and houses the first adapter board 220 .

[0060] As shown in FIG. 4(B), the battery pack mounting section 213 is provided at the bottom of the first adapter case 211. The battery pack mounting section 213 constitutes the first adapter interface 201. The first voltage switchover battery pack 100 is attached and detached by sliding back and forth relative to the battery pack mounting section 213. The battery pack mounting section 213 has a battery terminal 206 and a first guide section 212. The first guide section 212 is configured to guide the sliding movement of the first voltage switchover battery pack 100 (FIG. 7(C) → FIG. 6(C)). In the illustrated example, three first guide sections 212 are provided on each side of the battery pack mounting section 213, but the number of first guide sections 212 is arbitrary.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 4A , the electrical device mounting portion 214 is provided on the upper portion of the first adapter case 211. The electrical device mounting portion 214 constitutes the second adapter interface 202. The second electrical devices 30, 40, and 50 are attached and detached by sliding forward and backward relative to the electrical device mounting portion 214. The electrical device mounting portion 214 includes a main body terminal 210 and a second guide portion 215. The second guide portion 215 is configured to guide the sliding movement of the second electrical devices 30, 40, and 50. The second guide portion 215 allows the sliding movement of the second electrical devices 30, 40, and 50 in a direction intersecting the up-down direction (front-back direction) relative to the first adapter 200. The second guide portion 215 restricts the up-down movement of the second electrical devices 30, 40, and 50 relative to the first adapter 200. As shown in Fig. 5(B), in the first adapter 200, the upper end 213a of the battery pack mounting portion 213 is located above the lower end 214a of the electrical device mounting portion 214. As shown in Fig. 6(B), when the first voltage switching battery pack 100 is mounted to the first adapter 200, the upper end 150 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100 is located above the lower end 214a of the electrical device mounting portion 214. As shown in Fig. 6(B), when the first voltage switching battery pack 100 is mounted to the first adapter 200, the first rear protrusion 230 of the first adapter 200 is configured to extend continuously with the second inclined surface 152 of the second rear protrusion 151 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100. In other words, the first and second inclined surfaces are formed to be smoothly connected without any steps (i.e., without any unevenness). This eliminates the protruding feeling (separate feeling) of the first adapter 200, creates a sense of unity with the first voltage switching battery pack 100, and improves the aesthetic appearance.

[0062] 4A, the latch mechanism 216 has an operating portion 216a and an engaging portion 216b. The engaging portion 216b engages with a recess (not shown) in the second electrical device 40, 50 to lock the first adapter 200 to the second electrical device 40, 50. The operating portion 216a is operated by the operator to release the locking by the engaging portion 216b. The latch mechanism 216 constitutes a part of the electrical device mounting portion 214.

[0063] As shown in Figures 5(D), 6(D), and 7(D), the operating portion 217, the restricting portion 218, and the coil spring 219 constitute a locking mechanism that locks the first adapter 200 to the first voltage switching battery pack 100.

[0064] The operating portion 217 and the restricting portion 218 are an integral restricting member that is provided on the upper surface of the electrical device mounting portion 214 and is located forward of the main body terminals 210. The restricting portion 218 engages (fits into) the restricting recess 110 ( FIG. 3(A) ) of the first voltage switching battery pack 100, restricting the first voltage switching battery pack 100 from moving rearward relative to the first adapter 200. The operating portion 217 is operated by an operator to release the engagement by the restricting portion 218 (to remove the first voltage switching battery pack 100 from the battery pack mounting portion 213). The coil spring 219 is an elastic member that urges the operating portion 217 upward (urges the restricting portion 218 downward, i.e., in the direction of fitting into the restricting recess 110). When attaching the first adapter 200 to the first voltage switching battery pack 100, the restricting portion 218 abuts against the top surface of the first voltage switching battery pack 100, and the operating portion 217 rotates from the state shown in FIG. 5D to the state shown in FIG. 7D against the biasing force of the coil spring 219. Then, when the first adapter 200 is connected (attached) to the first voltage switching battery pack 100 by sliding it along the first guide portion 212 and the battery guide portion 107, the coil spring 219 biases the restricting portion 218 toward the restricting recess 110. In other words, when attaching the first adapter 200 to the first voltage switching battery pack 100, the restricting portion 218 and the restricting recess 110 automatically engage with each other without the operator having to operate the operating portion 217. This configuration saves the operator time and allows for smooth attachment. The same applies to the third adapter 300, described below.

[0065] When the electrical device mounting portion 214 is mounted on the second electrical device 40, as shown in FIG. 6(D) , the upper surface of the operation portion 217, which is the portion that the operator presses, is covered (hidden) by the housing of the second electrical device 40. This prevents the operator from operating the operation portion 217. In other words, the second electrical device 40 prevents the operator from operating the operation portion 217. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 6(D) and 8(A) , when the first voltage switching battery pack 100 is connected to the lower side of the first adapter 200 and the second electrical device 40 is connected (mounted) to the upper side of the first adapter 200, the upper end 150 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100 (the upper end 213a of the battery pack mounting portion 213) is located above the lower end 41 of the second electrical device 40 (the lower end 214a of the electrical device mounting portion 214). This positional relationship can also be applied when a first battery pack that does not have voltage switching capabilities and has a first battery interface 101 is attached to the first adapter 200, instead of the first voltage switching battery pack 100.

[0066] The first adapter board 220 is equipped with a first adapter control unit 221, a first connection circuit 222, a second connection circuit 223, etc., as shown in Fig. 13B. The circuit configuration will be described later.

[0067] [Configuration of the second adapter 300] The second adapter 300 is configured to connect a first voltage switching battery pack 100 having a first battery interface 101 of a first specification to a third electrical device 60, 70 having a third device interface 63, 73 of a third specification different from the first specification. The second adapter 300 is positioned vertically between the first voltage switching battery pack 100 and either of the third electrical devices 60, 70, and is configured to slide in a front-to-rear direction that intersects the vertical direction so that it can be attached to the first voltage switching battery pack 100 and either of the third electrical devices 60, 70.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 1 , the second adapter 300 has a first adapter interface 301 of a first specification that can be connected to the first battery interface 101 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100, and a third adapter interface 304 of a third specification that can be connected to the third device interfaces 63, 73 of the third electrical devices 60, 70. The first adapter interface 301 has a configuration similar to the first adapter interface 201 of the first adapter 200. The first adapter interface 301 and a battery pack mounting section 313 (described later) are areas that face the first voltage switching battery pack 100 (first battery interface 101) when the first voltage switching battery pack 100 is mounted on the second adapter 300, and include an area that faces the first battery interface 101 with almost no gap between them. The third adapter interface 303 and the electrical device mounting section 314 are areas that face the third electrical devices 60, 70 (third device interfaces 63, 73) when the second adapter 300 is mounted on the third electrical devices 60, 70.

[0069] The second adapter 300 includes a battery-side terminal 306, a main body-side terminal 310, a second adapter case 311, a battery pack mounting portion 313, an electrical device mounting portion 314, an operation portion 317, a restricting portion 318, a coil spring 319, and a second adapter circuit board 320. A first rear projection 330 is provided on the rear side of the second adapter 300, projecting upward beyond the lower end 314a of the electrical device mounting portion 314. A first inclined surface that gently slopes from the upper front to the lower rear is formed on the top surface of the second adapter 300. The first rear projection 330 is provided on the upper side of the second adapter 300, rearward of the electrical device mounting portion 314 in the front-to-rear direction. The first rear projection 330 is located outside (rearward of) the area where a second guide portion 315 (described later) is provided.

[0070] 9(B), the battery-side terminal 306 has a pair of power supply terminals 304, a pair of power supply terminals 305, and a signal terminal 307. The battery-side terminal 306 extends in the up-down and front-rear directions and is connected to the battery terminal 102 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100. The pair of power supply terminals 304, the pair of power supply terminals 305, and the signal terminal 307 are configured to be connectable to the pair of power supply terminals 103, the pair of power supply terminals 104, and the signal terminal 105 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100, respectively. The battery-side terminal 306 constitutes part of the first adapter interface 301.

[0071] As shown in Fig. 10(C), the main body side terminal 310 has a pair of power terminals 308 and signal terminals 309. The main body side terminals 310 extend in the up-down and front-rear directions and are connected to the main body terminals of the third electrical devices 60, 70. As shown in Fig. 10(C) and Fig. 12(D), the pair of power terminals 308 and signal terminals 309 are configured to be connectable to the pair of power terminals 64a and signal terminals 64b of the third electrical device 60, respectively. The main body side terminals 310 constitute a part of the third adapter interface 304.

[0072] The second adapter case 311 is, for example, a resin molded body, has a first guide portion 312 and a second guide portion 315 , and houses the second adapter board 320 .

[0073] As shown in FIG. 9(B), the battery pack mounting section 313 is provided at the bottom of the second adapter case 311. The battery pack mounting section 313 constitutes the first adapter interface 301. The first voltage switchover battery pack 100 is attached and detached by sliding back and forth relative to the battery pack mounting section 313. The battery pack mounting section 313 has battery terminals 306 and first guide sections 312. The first guide sections 312 are configured to guide the sliding movement of the first voltage switchover battery pack 100. In the illustrated example, three first guide sections 312 are provided on each side of the battery pack mounting section 313, but the number of first guide sections 312 is arbitrary.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 9A , the electrical device mounting portion 314 is provided on the upper portion of the second adapter case 311. The electrical device mounting portion 314 constitutes the third adapter interface 304. The third electrical devices 60, 70 are attached and detached by sliding forward and backward relative to the electrical device mounting portion 314. The electrical device mounting portion 314 includes a main body terminal 310 and a second guide portion 315. The second guide portion 315 is configured to guide the sliding movement of the third electrical devices 60, 70. The second guide portion 315 allows the sliding movement of the third electrical devices 60, 70 in a direction intersecting the vertical direction (front-to-back direction) relative to the second adapter 300. The second guide portion 315 restricts the vertical movement of the third electrical devices 60, 70 relative to the second adapter 300. The second guide portion 315 includes a locking recess 316. As shown in Fig. 12(C), the locking recess 316 engages with the locking portion 77 of the third electric device 60, locking the second adapter 300 to the third electric device 60. When the operator operates the operating portion 76 of the third electric device 60, the locking by the locking portion 77 is released as shown in Fig. 12(E). The coil spring 78 is an elastic member that biases the locking portion 77 in the direction of entering the locking recess 316.

[0075] As shown in FIGS. 10D and 11C , the operating portion 317 , the restricting portion 318 , and the coil spring 319 constitute a locking mechanism that locks the second adapter 300 to the first voltage switching battery pack 100 .

[0076] The operating portion 317 and the restricting portion 318 are an integral restricting member provided on the upper surface of the electrical device mounting portion 314. The restricting portion 318 engages (fits into) the restricting recess 110 ( FIG. 3(A) ) of the first voltage switching battery pack 100, restricting the first voltage switching battery pack 100 from moving rearward relative to the second adapter 300. The operating portion 317 is operated by an operator to release the engagement by the restricting portion 318 (to remove the first voltage switching battery pack 100 from the battery pack mounting portion 313). The coil spring 319 is an elastic member that biases the operating portion 317 upward (biases the restricting portion 318 downward, i.e., in the direction of fitting into the restricting recess 110).

[0077] Although not shown, when the electrical device mounting portion 314 is mounted to the third electrical device 60, the upper surface of the operation portion 317, which is the portion that the operator presses, is covered (hidden) by the housing of the third electrical device 60, similar to the operation portion 217 described above. This prevents the operator from operating the operation portion 317. In other words, the third electrical device 60 prevents the operator from operating the operation portion 317. As shown in FIG. 10B , in the second adapter 300, the upper end 313 a of the battery pack mounting portion 313 is positioned above the lower end 314 a of the electrical device mounting portion 314. As shown in FIG. 11B , when the first voltage switching battery pack 100 is mounted to the second adapter 300, the upper end 150 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100 is positioned above the lower end 314 a of the electrical device mounting portion 314. In other words, when the first voltage switching battery pack 100 is connected to the lower side of the second adapter 300 and the third electrical device 60 (not shown in FIG. 11 ) is connected (attached) to the upper side of the second adapter 300, the upper end 150 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100 is located above the lower end 61 (lower end 314a of the electrical device mounting portion 314) of the third electrical device 60. This positional relationship can also be applied when a first battery pack having a first battery interface 101 that does not support voltage switching is attached to the second adapter 300, instead of the first voltage switching battery pack 100. As shown in FIG. 11B , when the first voltage switching battery pack 100 is attached to the second adapter 300, the first inclined surface of the first rear protrusion 330 of the second adapter 300 is configured to extend continuously with the second inclined surface 152 of the second rear protrusion 151 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100. In other words, the first and second inclined surfaces are formed to smoothly connect without any steps (i.e., no bumps or irregularities), which eliminates the protruding feeling of the third adapter 300 (i.e., a separate object), creates a sense of unity with the first voltage switching battery pack 100, and improves the aesthetic appearance.

[0078] The second adapter board 320 is equipped with a second adapter control unit 321, a third connection circuit 322, a fourth connection circuit 323, etc., as shown in Fig. 13C. The circuit configuration will be described later.

[0079] [Circuit Configuration] FIG. 13A is a circuit block diagram of the first voltage switching battery pack 100.

[0080] In Figure 13 (A), the B1+ terminal corresponds to the positive terminal of the power supply terminal 103, the B1- terminal corresponds to the negative terminal of the power supply terminal 103, the B2+ terminal corresponds to the positive terminal of the power supply terminal 104, the B2- terminal corresponds to the negative terminal of the power supply terminal 104, and the Data terminal corresponds to the signal terminal 105.

[0081] The protection IC 123 is a circuit that protects the first cell unit 118. The battery controller 124 is a control unit that protects the second cell unit 119 and controls the overall operation of the first voltage switching battery pack 100. When the battery controller 124 detects operation of the remaining charge display switch 122, it lights up the remaining charge display LED 121 according to the remaining charge of the first voltage switching battery pack 100. The battery controller 124 is connected to the Data terminal and communicates with the other device. The battery controller 124 generates a signal to be transmitted from the Data terminal by turning on and off the switching element Q1.

[0082] FIG. 13B is a circuit block diagram of first adapter 200.

[0083] 13(B), the B1+ terminal on the left side corresponds to the positive terminal of the power supply terminal 203 and is connected to the terminal of the same name on the first voltage switching battery pack 100. The B1- terminal on the left side corresponds to the negative terminal of the power supply terminal 203 and is connected to the terminal of the same name on the first voltage switching battery pack 100. The B2+ terminal on the left side corresponds to the positive terminal of the power supply terminal 204 and is connected to the terminal of the same name on the first voltage switching battery pack 100. The B2- terminal on the left side corresponds to the negative terminal of the power supply terminal 204 and is connected to the terminal of the same name on the first voltage switching battery pack 100. The Data terminal corresponds to the signal terminal 205 and is connected to the terminal of the same name on the first voltage switching battery pack 100.

[0084] 13(B), the B1+ terminal on the right side corresponds to the positive terminal of the power supply terminal 207, the B1- terminal on the right side corresponds to the negative terminal of the power supply terminal 207, the B2+ terminal on the right side corresponds to the positive terminal of the power supply terminal 208, the B2- terminal on the right side corresponds to the negative terminal of the power supply terminal 208, and the Ld, V, Ls, and T terminals correspond to the signal terminals 209. The C1+ and C2+ terminals are positive terminals for charging.

[0085] The first connection circuit 222 electrically connects the left and right B1+ terminals to each other and the left and right B1− terminals to each other. That is, the first connection circuit 222 electrically connects the pair of power supply terminals 203 and the pair of power supply terminals 207.

[0086] The second connection circuit 223 electrically connects the left and right B2+ terminals to each other and the left and right B2− terminals to each other. That is, the second connection circuit 223 electrically connects the pair of power supply terminals 204 and the pair of power supply terminals 208.

[0087] The first adapter control unit 221 controls the overall operation of the first adapter 200. The first adapter control unit 221 generates a signal to be transmitted from the Data terminal by turning on and off the switching element Q2. When receiving a signal from the Data terminal, the first adapter control unit 221 turns off the switching element Q2. The switching element Q3 is turned on and off by the signal received from the Data terminal.

[0088] The first adapter control unit 221 is configured to convert a signal of a first specification input from the Data terminal into a signal of a second specification that is different from the signal of the first specification, and output it from at least one of the terminals Ld, V, Ls, and T. The first adapter control unit 221 is also configured to convert a signal of the second specification input from at least one of the terminals Ld, V, Ls, and T into a signal of the first specification, and output it from the Data terminal.

[0089] The second adapter interface 202 of the first adapter 200 has ten terminals: a C1+ terminal, a C2+ terminal, a right-side B1+ terminal, a right-side B1- terminal, a right-side B2+ terminal, a right-side B2- terminal, an Ld terminal, a V terminal, an Ls terminal, and a T terminal.

[0090] FIG. 13C is a circuit block diagram of the second adapter 300.

[0091] 13(C), the B1+ terminal corresponds to the positive terminal of the power supply terminal 304 and is connected to the terminal of the same name on the first voltage switching battery pack 100. The B1- terminal corresponds to the negative terminal of the power supply terminal 304 and is connected to the terminal of the same name on the first voltage switching battery pack 100. The B2+ terminal corresponds to the positive terminal of the power supply terminal 305 and is connected to the terminal of the same name on the first voltage switching battery pack 100. The B2- terminal corresponds to the negative terminal of the power supply terminal 305 and is connected to the terminal of the same name on the first voltage switching battery pack 100. The Data terminal on the left corresponds to the signal terminal 307 and is connected to the terminal of the same name on the first voltage switching battery pack 100.

[0092] In FIG. 13C, the B+ terminal corresponds to the positive terminal of the power supply terminal 308, the B- terminal corresponds to the negative terminal of the power supply terminal 308, and the T+ and T- terminals and the Data terminal on the right side correspond to the signal terminal 309.

[0093] The third connection circuit 322 electrically connects the B1+ terminal, the B2+ terminal, and the B+ terminal together, i.e., electrically connects the positive terminals of the power supply terminal 304, the power supply terminal 305, and the power supply terminal 308 together.

[0094] The fourth connection circuit 323 electrically connects the B1-terminal, the B2-terminal, and the B-terminal, i.e., electrically connects the negative terminals of the power supply terminal 304, the power supply terminal 305, and the power supply terminal 308 together.

[0095] The second adapter control unit 321 controls the overall operation of the second adapter 300. The second adapter control unit 321 generates a signal to be transmitted from the Data terminal by turning on and off the switching element Q4. When receiving a signal from the Data terminal, the second adapter control unit 321 turns off the switching element Q5. The switching element Q5 is turned on and off by the signal received from the Data terminal.

[0096] The second adapter control unit 321 is configured to convert a signal of the first specification input from the left Data terminal into a signal of a third specification different from the signal of the first specification and output it from each of the T+ and T- terminals or the right Data terminal. The second adapter control unit 321 is also configured to convert a signal of the third specification input from each of the T+ and T- terminals or the right Data terminal into a signal of the first specification and output it from the left Data terminal.

[0097] The third adapter interface 303 of the second adapter 300 has five terminals: a B+ terminal, a B- terminal, a T+ terminal, a T- terminal, and a Data terminal on the right side. The number of terminals of the third adapter interface 303 of the second adapter 300 is different from the number of terminals of the second adapter interface 202 of the first adapter 200.

[0098] The signal of the third specification inputted or outputted from the third adapter interface 303 of the second adapter 300 is different from the signal of the second specification inputted or outputted from the second adapter interface 202 of the first adapter 200 .

[0099] FIG. 14A is a circuit block diagram of the first electrical device 80 (36V device).

[0100] The B1+ terminal, B2+ terminal, B1- terminal, B2- terminal, and Data terminal are connected to the terminals of the same name of the first voltage switching battery pack 100, respectively.

[0101] The B2+ terminal and the B1- terminal of the first electrical device 80 are short-circuited, so that the voltage between the B1+ terminal and the B2- terminal is the series combined voltage (36V) of the voltage of the first cell unit 118 (18V) and the voltage of the second cell unit 119 (18V).

[0102] The first electrical device 80 includes a device control unit 85 , a control signal circuit 86 , a position sensor 87 a , a trigger switch 87 b , an inverter circuit 88 , and a motor 89 .

[0103] The device control unit 85 includes a microcontroller and controls the overall operation of the first electrical device 80. The device control unit 85 communicates with the battery controller 124 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100 via a data terminal. The control signal circuit 86 controls the on / off of each switching element of the inverter circuit 88 under the control of the device control unit 85. The position sensor 87a detects the rotational position of the motor 89 and sends a signal to the device control unit 85. The trigger switch 87b detects the motor drive operation by the operator and sends the signal to the device control unit 85. The inverter circuit 88 converts the DC voltage between the B1+ terminal and the B2- terminal into AC voltage and supplies it to the motor 89. The motor 89 is, for example, a brushless motor and is an example of a load driven by power from the battery pack.

[0104] FIG. 14B is a circuit block diagram of the first electrical device 90 (18V device).

[0105] The B1+ terminal, B2+ terminal, B1- terminal, B2- terminal, and Data terminal are connected to the terminals of the same name of the first voltage switching battery pack 100, respectively.

[0106] In the first electrical device 90, the B1+ terminal and the B2+ terminal are shorted, and the B1- terminal and the B2- terminal are shorted, so that the voltage between the B1+ terminal and the B2- terminal is the parallel combined voltage (18V) of the voltage of the first cell unit 118 (18V) and the voltage of the second cell unit 119 (18V).

[0107] The equipment control unit 95, control signal circuit 96, position sensor 97a, trigger switch 97b, inverter circuit 98, and motor 99 of the first electrical equipment 90 have functions similar to those of the equipment control unit 85, control signal circuit 86, position sensor 87a, trigger switch 87b, inverter circuit 88, and motor 89 of the first electrical equipment 80 described above, respectively.

[0108] FIG. 15A is a circuit block diagram of the second electrical device 40 (36V device).

[0109] The B1+ terminal, B2+ terminal, B1- terminal, B2- terminal, Ld terminal, V terminal, Ls terminal, and T terminal are each connected to the terminals of the same name on the right side of the first adapter 200 shown in FIG. 13(B).

[0110] In the second electrical device 40, the B2+ terminal and the B1- terminal are short-circuited, so that the voltage between the B1+ terminal and the B2- terminal is the series combined voltage (36V) of the voltage of the first cell unit 118 (18V) and the voltage of the second cell unit 119 (18V).

[0111] The device control unit 45, control signal circuit 46, position sensor 47a, trigger switch 47b, inverter circuit 48, and motor 49 of the second electrical device 40 have the same functions as the device control unit 85, control signal circuit 86, position sensor 87a, trigger switch 87b, inverter circuit 88, and motor 89 of the first electrical device 80, except for the communication method of the device control unit 45. The device control unit 45 communicates with the first adapter control unit 221 of the first adapter 200 via a communication terminal.

[0112] FIG. 15B is a circuit block diagram of the second electrical device 50 (18V device).

[0113] The B1+ terminal, B2+ terminal, B1- terminal, B2- terminal, Ld terminal, V terminal, Ls terminal, and T terminal are each connected to the terminals of the same name on the right side of the first adapter 200 shown in FIG. 13(B).

[0114] In the second electrical device 50, the B1+ terminal and the B2+ terminal are shorted, and the B1- terminal and the B2- terminal are shorted, so that the voltage between the B1+ terminal and the B2- terminal is the parallel combined voltage (18V) of the voltage of the first cell unit 118 and the voltage of the second cell unit 119 (18V).

[0115] The equipment control unit 55, control signal circuit 56, position sensor 57a, trigger switch 57b, inverter circuit 58, and motor 59 of the second electrical equipment 50 have the same functions as the equipment control unit 45, control signal circuit 46, position sensor 47a, trigger switch 47b, inverter circuit 48, and motor 49 of the second electrical equipment 40.

[0116] FIG. 16 is a circuit block diagram of the third electrical device 60.

[0117] The B+ terminal, B- terminal, T+ terminal, T- terminal, and Data terminal are connected to the terminals of the same names on the right side of the second adapter 300 shown in FIG. 13(C).

[0118] The device control unit 65, control signal circuit 66, position sensor 67a, trigger switch 67b, inverter circuit 68, and motor 69 of the third electrical device 60 have the same functions as the device control unit 85, control signal circuit 86, position sensor 87a, trigger switch 87b, inverter circuit 88, and motor 89 of the first electrical device 80, except for the communication method of the device control unit 65. The device control unit 65 communicates with the second adapter control unit 321 of the second adapter 300 via a communication terminal.

[0119] Here, the first power supply terminal corresponds to power supply terminal 103. The second power supply terminal corresponds to power supply terminal 104. The third power supply terminal corresponds to power supply terminals 203 and 304. The fourth power supply terminal corresponds to power supply terminals 204 and 305. The fifth power supply terminal corresponds to power supply terminal 43a. The sixth power supply terminal corresponds to power supply terminal 43b. The seventh power supply terminal corresponds to power supply terminal 207. The eighth power supply terminal corresponds to power supply terminal 208. The ninth power supply terminal corresponds to power supply terminal 64a. The tenth power supply terminal corresponds to power supply terminal 308.

[0120] This embodiment has the following advantages.

[0121] (1) The first adapter 200 is connectable between the first voltage switching battery pack 100 and the second electrical device 30, 40, 50. The first adapter interface 201 has a first specification that can be connected to the first battery interface 101 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100, and a second adapter interface 202 has a second specification that can be connected to the second device interfaces 32, 42, 52 of the second electrical device 30, 40, 50. Therefore, the second electrical device 30, 40, 50 that cannot be directly connected to the first voltage switching battery pack 100 can be connected to the first voltage switching battery pack 100 via the first adapter 200. This provides an adapter system with high design flexibility. For example, if a design change is made to the battery pack, such as replacing the guide portion with one with a stronger one, the first adapter 200 allows the battery pack after the design change to be connected to the second electrical device 30, 40, 50.

[0122] (2) The first adapter 200 has a first adapter control unit 221 configured to convert a signal of a first specification input from the first adapter interface 201 into a signal of a second specification different from the first specification and output it from the second adapter interface 202, and / or to convert a signal of the second specification input from the second adapter interface 202 into a signal of the first specification and output it from the first adapter interface 201. Therefore, even if the communication specifications (communication methods) of the first voltage switching battery pack 100 and the second electrical devices 30, 40, 50 are different, communication between the first voltage switching battery pack 100 and the second electrical devices 30, 40, 50 is possible via the first adapter 200.

[0123] (3) The second adapter 300 is connectable between the first voltage switching battery pack 100 and the third electrical device 60, 70. It has a first adapter interface 301 of a first specification connectable to the first battery interface 101 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100 and a third adapter interface 303 of a third specification connectable to the third device interfaces 63, 73 of the third electrical device 60, 70. Therefore, the third electrical device 60, 70, which cannot be directly connected to the first voltage switching battery pack 100, can be connected to the first voltage switching battery pack 100 via the second adapter 300. This provides an adapter system with high design flexibility. For example, if a design change is made to the battery pack, such as replacing the guide portion with one with a stronger one, the second adapter 300 allows the battery pack after the design change to be connected to the third electrical device 60, 70.

[0124] (4) The second adapter 300 has a second adapter control unit 321 configured to convert a signal of the first specification input from the first adapter interface 301 into a signal of a third specification different from the first specification and output it from the third adapter interface 303, and / or to convert a signal of the third specification input from the third adapter interface 303 into a signal of the first specification and output it from the first adapter interface 301. Therefore, even if the communication specifications (communication methods) of the first voltage switching battery pack 100 and the third electrical devices 60, 70 are different, communication between the first voltage switching battery pack 100 and the third electrical devices 60, 70 is possible by passing through the first adapter 200.

[0125] (5) In the first adapter 200, the battery-side terminal 206 and the main-unit-side terminal 210 are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction, and the contact portion of the battery-side terminal 206 that contacts the battery terminal (the mating portion) overlaps the main-unit-side terminal 210 in the vertical direction. That is, the ranges R1 and R3, preferably the ranges R1 and R2, shown in FIG. 6(D) at least partially overlap. Therefore, the vertical dimension of the first adapter 200 can be reduced compared to when the ranges R1 and R3 or R2 shown in FIG. 6(D) do not overlap. The second adapter 300 also achieves a similar effect. Furthermore, because the vertical dimension of the first adapter 200 can be reduced, when the first voltage switching battery pack 100 and the second electrical device 40 are connected via the first adapter 200, the upper end 150 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100 can be positioned above the lower end 41 of the second electrical device 400, thereby reducing the vertical dimension of the first adapter system. When the first voltage switching battery pack 100 is connected to the first adapter 200, the upper end 150 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100 (the upper end of the second rear protrusion 151) can be positioned higher than the lower end 214a of the electrical device mounting portion 214, thereby reducing the vertical dimension of the electrical device system. The second adapter 300 also provides the same effects.

[0126] (6) In the first voltage switching battery pack 100, the battery terminals 102 housed in the terminal housing 108, i.e., the pair of power terminals 103, the pair of power terminals 104, and the signal terminal 105, are positioned to correspond to the multiple slots 109 in the left-right direction, are positioned above the battery guide 107 in the up-down direction, and are positioned to correspond to the rear end 107b of the battery guide 107 in the front-rear direction. This makes it easier to ensure a large space in front of the battery terminals 102. This allows for a compact battery pack. Furthermore, this allows for a battery pack with a high degree of design flexibility, for example, allowing for a larger battery pack mounting area in an electrical device.

[0127] (7) The restricting recess 110 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100 is positioned forward and below the mating or contact portion (the area indicated by R1 in Figure 6(D)) between the battery terminal 102 (such as a pair of power terminals 103) and the mating terminal. This makes it easier to position the battery terminal 102 in a rearward position, ensuring a large space in front of the battery terminal 102. Furthermore, because the restricting recess 110 is positioned above the battery cell unit 115, the space required for providing the restricting recess 110 can be reduced compared to a configuration in which the restricting recess 110 is positioned in front, behind, to the left, or right of the battery cell unit 115. This allows for a compact battery pack. Furthermore, because a large space can be secured in front of the battery terminal 102, a battery pack with a high degree of design flexibility can be provided, for example, by allowing for a larger battery pack mounting portion of an electrical device.

[0128] (8) When the electrical device mounting section 214 is attached to the second electrical device 40, as shown in FIG. 6D , the upper surface of the operation unit 217, which is the part that the operator presses, is covered (hidden) by the housing of the second electrical device 40. This prevents the operator from operating the operation unit 217. This prevents the first voltage switching battery pack 100 from being accidentally disconnected from the first adapter 200. The second adapter 300 also provides a similar effect. Consider a scenario in which the first voltage switching battery pack 100, connected to a counterpart device via the first adapter 200 or the second adapter 300, falls with its rear side (the left side in FIG. 8A ) facing downwards, causing the counterpart device to hit a staircase or slope. In this case, a fall load (inertial force, moment) is applied to the first voltage switching battery pack 100 in the direction of the fall, i.e., in the direction in which the first voltage switching battery pack 100 will be detached from the adapter 200 or 300 (to the left in Figure 8(A)). At this time, the rotation of the operating unit 217 or 317 is restricted by the adapter attachment portion of the mating device, preventing the operating unit 217 or 317 from rotating due to the impact of the fall and causing the first voltage switching battery pack 100 to detach from the adapter 200 or 300. Furthermore, vibrations, etc., caused by using the mating device can prevent the operating unit 217 or 317 from rotating in a direction that disengages the restricting unit 218 or 318 from the restricting recess 110, preventing the first voltage switching battery pack 100 from detaching from the adapter 200 or 300.

[0129] 17A to 17C relate to embodiment 2. The following description will focus on the differences from embodiment 1.

[0130] In the first voltage switching battery pack 100A, the battery guide 107 is replaced with a battery guide 126, and the restricting recess 110 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100 is replaced with a restricting recess 125. The battery guide 126 is a rail extending in the front-to-rear direction. Correspondingly, the guide of the first adapter 200A is also changed from the first guide 212 of the first adapter 200 (not shown). The restricting recess 125 is a screw hole that opens forward.

[0131] In the first adapter 200A, the operating portion 217, the restricting portion 218, and the coil spring 219 of the first adapter 200 are replaced with a forward-opening through-hole 225. The first adapter 200A is attached and fixed to the first voltage switching battery pack 100A by a screw 224 that passes through the through-hole 225 and is screwed into the restricting recess 125.

[0132] Other aspects of this embodiment are the same as those of embodiment 1. The battery guide portion 126 may have the same configuration as the battery guide portion 107 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100. The restricting recess 125 may be a screw hole that opens upward, and the through-hole 225 may also open upward. In this case, as in embodiment 1, the first voltage switching battery pack 100A cannot be removed from the first adapter 200A while the first adapter 200A is attached to the counterpart device.

[0133] 18A to 18G relate to embodiment 3. The following description will focus on the differences from embodiment 2.

[0134] In the first voltage switching battery pack 100B, the restricting recess 125 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100A is replaced with a restricting recess 127, and a coil spring 128 and a locking member 129 are added.

[0135] In the first adapter 200B, the through-hole 225 of the first adapter 200A is replaced with a through-hole 226 that opens upward.

[0136] The first adapter 200B is locked to the first voltage switching battery pack 100B by a restricting member 227 that passes through the through-hole 226 and fits into the restricting recess 127. The restricting member 129 fits into the constricted portion 229 of the restricting member 227 due to the biasing force of the coil spring 128, generating a locking force to prevent the restricting member 227 from coming out upward. To remove the restricting member 227, insert the tip of a flat-head screwdriver, for example, into the through-hole 228 of the restricting member 227 and pull the restricting member 227 upward. When the first adapter 200B is attached to the other device, the restricting member 227 cannot be pulled out upward because it is hidden by the other device or interferes with the other device.

[0137] Other aspects of this embodiment are the same as those of embodiment 2. Note that first guide portion 231 of first adapter 200B is a rail portion corresponding to battery guide portion 126, and first adapter 200A of embodiment 2 also has a similar rail portion.

[0138] 19A to 19H relate to embodiment 4. The following description will focus on the differences from embodiment 1.

[0139] The first voltage switching battery pack 100C has a regulating recess 131 instead of the regulating recess 110 of the first voltage switching battery pack 100. The regulating recess 131 opens to the right. An engaged portion 130 is provided within the regulating recess 131.

[0140] In first adapter 200C, operation unit 217 and restriction 218 of first adapter 200 are replaced with operation unit 232 and restriction unit 233. Operation unit 232 and restriction unit 233 form an integrated restriction member.

[0141] 19A and 19D, when the operating part 232 is moved to the left, the restricting part 233 catches on the engaged part 130, generating a locking force that prevents the operating part 232 from moving to the right. In this state, the restricting part 233 is within the restricting recess 131, and the first adapter 200C is locked to the first voltage switching battery pack 100C.

[0142] 19(B) and 19(E), when the operating unit 232 is moved to the right, the restricting unit 233 is outside the restricting recess 131, and the first adapter 200C can be removed from the first voltage switching battery pack 100C. When the first adapter 200C is attached to the other device, the operating unit 232 is hidden by the other device and cannot be operated.

[0143] Other points of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0144] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments as examples, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. Various modifications can be made to the details specifically described in the embodiments within the scope of the claims.

[0145] The number of terminals and voltages of each interface, which are given as specific numerical values ​​in the embodiments, do not limit the scope of the invention in any way and can be changed as desired to suit the required specifications. The changes made to the first adapter 200 of the first embodiment in the second to fourth embodiments can also be applied to the second adapter 300.

[0146] 10...Second voltage switching battery pack, 12...Second battery interface, 20...Third voltage fixed battery pack, 23...Third battery interface, 30...Second charger, 32...Second device interface, 40...Second electrical device (36V device), 42...Second device interface, 43...Main body terminal, 43a...Pair of power supply terminals (fifth power supply terminals), 43b...Pair of power supply terminals (sixth power supply terminals), 43c...Signal terminal, 44...Short bar (short-circuit member), 45...Device control unit, 46...Control signal circuit, 47a...Position sensor, 47b...Trigger switch, 48...Inverter circuit, 49...Motor, 5 0...second electric device (18V device), 52...second device interface, 55...device control unit, 56...control signal circuit, 57a...position sensor, 57b...trigger switch, 58...inverter circuit, 59...motor, 60...third electric device, 63...third device interface, 64...main body terminal, 64a...pair of power supply terminals (ninth power supply terminals), 64b...signal terminal, 65...device control unit, 66...control signal circuit, 67a...position sensor, 67a...trigger switch, 68...inverter circuit, 69...motor, 70...third charger, 73...third device interface, 76...operation unit, 77...locking unit, 78... Coil spring (elastic member), 80... First electric device (36V device), 80a... Restriction section, 81... First device interface, 85... Device control section, 86... Control signal circuit, 87a... Position sensor, 87b... Trigger switch, 88... Inverter circuit, 89... Motor, 90... First electric device (18V device), 95... Device control section, 96... Control signal circuit, 97a... Position sensor, 97b... Trigger switch, 98... Inverter circuit, 99... Motor, 100... First voltage switching battery pack, 101... First battery interface, 102... Battery terminal, 103... Pair of power supply terminals (first electric device power terminals), 104...pair of power terminals (second power terminals), 105...signal terminal, 106...battery case, 106a...upper surface portion, 106b...bottom surface portion, 106c...side surface portion, 107...battery guide portion, 107a...front end portion, 107b...rear end portion, 108...terminal accommodating portion, 109...slot portion, 110...regulating recess (engaged portion), 111...remaining charge display portion, 112...remaining charge display button, 113...battery control board, 114...battery terminal board, 115...battery cell unit, 116...separator, 117...holding member, 118...first cell unit, 119...second cell unit, 121...remaining charge display LED,122... remaining charge display switch, 123... protection IC, 124... battery controller, 125... restriction recess (screw hole), 126... battery guide portion, 127... restriction recess, 128... coil spring, 129... locking member, 130... engaged portion, 131... restriction recess, 200... first adapter, 201... first adapter interface, 202... second adapter interface, 203... pair of power supply terminals (third power supply terminal), 204... pair of power supply terminals (fourth power supply terminal), 205... signal terminal , 206... battery side terminal, 207... pair of power supply terminals (seventh power supply terminal), 208... pair of power supply terminals (eighth power supply terminal), 209... signal terminal, 210... main body side terminal, 211... first adapter case, 212... first guide portion, 213... battery pack mounting portion, 214... electrical device mounting portion, 215... second guide portion, 216... latch mechanism, 216a... operation portion, 216b... engagement portion, 217... operation portion, 218... restriction portion, 219... coil spring (elastic member), 220... first adapter board, 2 21...First adapter control unit, 222...First connection circuit, 223...Second connection circuit, 224...Screw, 225...Through hole, 226...Through hole, 227...Regulating member, 228...Through hole, 229...Constricted portion, 231...First guide portion, 232...Operation portion, 233...Regulating portion, 300...Second adapter, 301...First adapter interface, 303...Third adapter interface, 304...Pair of power supply terminals (third power supply terminals), 305...Pair of power supply terminals (fourth power supply terminals), 306...Battery side terminal , 307... signal terminal, 308... pair of power supply terminals (tenth power supply terminals), 309... signal terminal, 310... main body side terminal, 311... second adapter case, 312... first guide portion, 313... battery pack mounting portion, 314... electrical device mounting portion, 315... third guide portion, 316... locking recess, 317... operation portion, 318... restriction portion, 319... coil spring (elastic member), 320... second adapter board, 321... second adapter control portion, 322, 323... third connection circuit, 323... fourth connection circuit.

Claims

1. An adapter that is positioned between a battery pack and an electrical device in the vertical direction and can be attached to the battery pack and the electrical device by sliding in a front-to-rear direction that intersects the vertical direction, the adapter comprising: a battery-side terminal that extends in the vertical direction and the front-to-rear direction and is connected to a battery terminal of the battery pack; and a body-side terminal that extends in the vertical direction and the front-to-rear direction and is connected to a body terminal of the electrical device, the adapter being able to be attached to the battery pack by sliding in the rearward direction relative to the battery pack, the battery-side terminal and the body-side terminal being spaced apart from each other in the front-to-rear direction, and the contact portion of the battery-side terminal that comes into contact with the battery terminal overlaps with the body-side terminal in the vertical direction.

2. An adapter according to claim 1, wherein the battery-side terminals are arranged rearward of the main body-side terminals.

3. An adapter as claimed in claim 2, comprising a first adapter interface having a first guide part on which the battery side terminal is provided and which guides the sliding movement of the battery pack, the first guide part having a front end part located on the forward side and a rear end part located on the rear side, and the battery side terminal part being arranged at a position corresponding to the rear end part in the forward-backward direction.

4. An adapter as claimed in claim 1, comprising: a case having an equipment-side adapter interface provided on the upper side, which slides back and forth to be attached to and detached from the electrical equipment and which has the main body-side terminals; and a first adapter interface provided on the lower side, which slides back and forth to allow the battery pack to be attached and detached and which has the battery-side terminals; and an operation unit operated by an operator to remove the battery pack from the first adapter interface, wherein when the equipment-side adapter interface is attached to the equipment interface of the electrical equipment, the operation unit is inoperable or is hidden by the electrical equipment.

5. An adapter according to claim 4, wherein the operation section is provided on the top surface of the device-side adapter interface.

6. An adapter as claimed in claim 4, comprising a main body side terminal provided on the device side adapter interface and connected to a terminal of the electrical device, the adapter being attachable to the battery pack by sliding rearward relative to the battery pack, and the operating unit being provided on the device side adapter interface forward of the main body side terminal.

7. An adapter that is attached between a battery pack and an electrical device in the vertical direction, comprising: an equipment-side adapter interface that is provided on the upper side and slides back and forth to be attached to and detached from an equipment interface of the electrical device; and a first adapter interface that is provided on the lower side and slides back and forth to be attached and detached to a first battery interface of the battery pack, wherein the upper end of the first adapter interface is located above the lower end of the equipment-side adapter interface.

8. An adapter according to claim 7, characterized in that, when the battery pack is attached to the adapter, the upper end of the battery pack is positioned higher than the lower end of the device-side adapter interface.

9. An adapter as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that when the battery pack is attached to the adapter, the rear protrusion of the battery pack, on which the remaining charge indicator is provided, protrudes above the lower end of the device-side adapter interface.

10. An adapter system comprising: a first battery pack having a first battery interface of a first specification; an electrical device having an equipment interface of specifications different from the first specification; and the adapter according to claim 7 connectable between the first battery pack and the electrical device in the vertical direction, wherein the equipment interface is configured to be incompatible with the first battery interface but connectable to a battery interface of a battery pack of specifications different from the first specification; the adapter having a first adapter interface connectable to the first battery interface of the first specification; and an equipment-side adapter interface connectable to the equipment interface of specifications different from the first specification and having a pair of guide parts that allow movement of the electrical device in a direction intersecting the vertical direction and restrict movement of the electrical device in the vertical direction; and wherein when the first battery pack is connected to the lower side of the adapter and the electrical device is connected to the upper side of the adapter, the upper end of the first battery pack is positioned higher than the lower end of the electrical device.

11. A battery pack that is slid forward and attached to the adapter described in claim 1, comprising: a battery cell unit having one or more battery cells; and power supply terminals that are connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the battery cell unit, respectively, and that are connected to the battery-side terminals of the adapter, wherein, when the battery pack is attached to the adapter, the contact portion of the power supply terminal that comes into contact with the battery-side terminals overlaps with the body-side terminals of the adapter in the vertical direction.

12. A battery pack that is slid forward and attached to the adapter described in claim 1, comprising: a battery cell unit having one or more battery cells; a pair of power supply terminals connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the battery cell unit, respectively; and a battery case that houses the battery cell unit, the battery case having a top surface, a battery guide portion provided on the top surface and configured to guide the battery pack toward the forward direction, a terminal accommodating portion provided on the top surface and accommodating the pair of power supply terminals, a bottom surface located below the top surface, and side surfaces connecting the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the contact portions of the pair of power supply terminals that come into contact with the device-side power supply terminals of the electrical device are located above the top surface or the battery guide portion.

13. A battery pack as claimed in claim 12, comprising: a controller connected to the battery cell unit; and a signal terminal connected to the controller and housed in the terminal housing, wherein a contact portion of the signal terminal that comes into contact with the device-side signal terminal of the electrical device is located above the top surface portion or the battery guide portion.

14. An adapter that is attached between a battery pack and an electrical device in the vertical direction, comprising: an equipment-side adapter interface that is provided on the upper side of the adapter and slides forward to be attached to the electrical device; a first rear-side protrusion that is provided on the upper side of the adapter, located rearward of the equipment-side adapter interface, protruding above the lower end of the equipment-side adapter interface and having a first inclined surface on its upper surface; and a first adapter interface that is provided on the lower side of the adapter and slides rearward to be attached to the battery pack; wherein the battery pack is located rearward of the first adapter interface when the adapter is attached, and has a second rear-side protrusion that protrudes above the lower end of the first adapter interface and has a second inclined surface on its upper surface; and wherein when the battery pack is attached to the first adapter interface, the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface extend so as to be smoothly connected.

15. An electrical equipment system comprising: an adapter as claimed in any one of claims 1, 7 and 14; and a battery pack that can be attached by sliding relative to said adapter, wherein said battery pack comprises: a plurality of cell units consisting of a plurality of battery cells; and a battery case that houses said plurality of cell units and is slidably attached to said adapter.

16. An electrical equipment system as claimed in claim 15, comprising an electrical equipment that can be attached by sliding relative to the adapter, the electrical equipment comprising: an attachment section to which the adapter is attached; and a load section that is driven by power from the battery pack.

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