Battery Pack Terminal Layout for Low-Noise Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery packs face issues with noise interference and limited information exchange between device and battery pack controllers due to shared power terminals, and low-power functions often require separate components or cause cell imbalance, leading to reduced service life.

Innovation Solution

A battery pack design with separate communication terminals isolated from power terminals, a low-power circuit for recurring functions, and a transformer or low dropout regulator to manage voltage levels, ensuring low-noise communication and efficient power distribution without cell imbalance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If power terminals are used for both power transmission and communication between controllers, then the number of terminals is reduced, but noise interference increases and information exchange capacity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of terminalsVSAvoidcommunication quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal structure is segmented into distinct power terminals and communication terminals. The communication terminals are electrically isolated from the power terminals through a communication isolation circuit, creating separate functional zones that prevent noise interference while maintaining adequate information exchange capacity between controllers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If a separate dedicated battery is used to power low power functions, then cell imbalance is avoided, but the device complexity increases with additional non-chargeable or non-replaceable components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell balanceVSAvoidnumber of battery components
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The low power circuit is electrically extracted from the main battery power circuit through a dedicated low power terminal. This terminal provides a separate current path that draws minimal current from specific battery cells without affecting the overall cell balance, eliminating the need for separate dedicated batteries while maintaining electrical stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If the device controller is powered continuously from the battery pack, then the controller is always ready for operation, but unnecessary power is consumed when the controller is not in use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontroller readinessVSAvoidbattery power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The device controller operates in periodic cycles between active and sleep modes. During sleep mode, the controller consumes minimal power while maintaining the ability to be quickly reactivated. The low power terminal provides sufficient current to maintain basic controller functionality during idle periods without causing cell imbalance, enabling energy-efficient periodic operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3913733B1Terminal configuration for a battery pack
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORP
  • EP3913733B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3913733B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3913733B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A battery pack, an electrical combination and a method of operating a battery pack. The battery pack may include a housing; a plurality of battery cells supported by the housing; a plurality of terminals including a positive power terminal, a negative power terminal, and a low power terminal; a low power circuit connecting the plurality of battery cells to the low power terminal and the negative terminal to output a first voltage; and a power circuit connecting the plurality of battery cells to the positive power terminal and the negative terminal to output a second voltage, the second voltage being greater than the first voltage. A terminal block for one of a battery pack and an electrical device may include a terminal with a terminal blade, and a terminal support portion.