Battery Pack Fault Display Using Prioritized LED Status Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs lack effective indicators for abnormal states during charging and discharging, such as temperature fluctuations, making it difficult for users to identify and address issues promptly, which can lead to unnecessary tool shutdowns and user complaints.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack equipped with a first state detection device, a controller, and an electricity meter that can detect and prioritize abnormal states, displaying them via LED lights, allowing users to differentiate between battery pack, tool, and charging device issues, even when not connected, and logging these events for maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional indicator devices are used to indicate abnormalities, then the ability to indicate abnormal states is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electricity meter is designed to perform multiple functions: it not only displays battery level information but also indicates various abnormal states (over-temperature, over-discharge, charging abnormalities, tool abnormalities, etc.). This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate indicator devices for each abnormality type, thereby improving reliability while maintaining simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the abnormality indication function with the existing electricity meter component. By merging these functions into a single device, the system avoids adding separate indicator devices, thus resolving the contradiction between improved abnormality indication and increased device complexity.
2Loss of information
If the electricity meter displays all abnormal states simultaneously, then the information completeness is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The electricity meter uses multiple LED lights that can be independently controlled to indicate different abnormal states. Each LED or combination of LEDs represents a specific abnormality type, allowing the system to segment and display multiple abnormal states simultaneously in a structured, easily interpretable manner rather than as a single undifferentiated indicator.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs different lighting states (on/off, different colors, different patterns) of LED lights to represent different abnormal states. This visual encoding system allows users to quickly comprehend the type and severity of abnormalities without requiring complex displays or text, maintaining ease of operation while providing complete information.
3Device complexity
If the battery pack indicates abnormalities only when connected to tools or charging devices, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack performs self-detection of abnormalities (such as temperature, voltage, and other critical parameters) even when not connected to tools or charging devices. This preliminary detection capability ensures that the battery pack can identify and indicate its own abnormal states independently, improving reliability without requiring complex external detection systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack is equipped with built-in state detection devices that enable it to autonomously monitor its own condition and detect abnormalities. This self-service capability allows the battery pack to indicate abnormalities regardless of connection status, enhancing reliability while avoiding the need for additional external detection equipment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables users to visually and prioritarily indicate abnormal states, improving system robustness, reducing accessory needs, and enhancing product durability by providing clear and urgent alerts, thus preventing unnecessary shutdowns and improving user experience.
Implementation Method 1
when a battery pack being charged and discharged. For example, when a battery pack being discharged, it may heat up due to prolonged operation, and a state detection device, especially a temperature sensor, in the battery pack or an electric tool will detect an increase in temperature
Implementation Method 2
the electricity meter indicates the battery level of the battery pack by means of a combination of lighting states of a plurality of LED lights
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a battery pack that is connectible to an electric tool to power the electric tool and is connectible to a charging device to obtain energy from the charging device, the battery pack comprising a first state detection device (130), a first controller (140), a memory (170), and an electricity meter, the first state detection device being capable of detecting an abnormal state of the battery pack and storing same in the memory, the battery pack being capable of obtaining an abnormal state signal from the electric tool and/or the charging device and storing same in the memory, the electricity meter having a battery level display mode and an abnormal state display mode, wherein in the abnormal state display mode, an abnormal state stored in the memory is displayed according to a predetermined priority.