Battery Pack Terminal Arrangement for Compact Power Tool Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs for power tools have unnecessary space due to signal connectors, making the battery-mounting part of the power tool less compact, as these connectors are not required when connected to power tools but are necessary for chargers.
Innovation Solution
The battery pack design includes a configuration where the battery-side power terminals and signal terminals are disposed in parallel and spaced minimally orthogonal to the sliding direction, allowing for a more compact design by eliminating unnecessary space for signal connectors when connected to power tools, and using charging-dedicated signal terminals on the outer side when connected to chargers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If signal connectors are provided between the positive terminal and the negative terminal in the battery pack, then signal transmission for charger connection is enabled, but the battery-mounting part of the power tool becomes less compact due to unnecessary space requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the signal transmission function into two separate terminal arrangements: (1) battery-side power terminals with integrated signal terminals disposed adjacently in parallel for power tool connection, and (2) charging-dedicated signal terminals disposed on the outer side for charger connection. This segmentation allows the power tool battery-mounting part to exclude unnecessary charging signal terminals, achieving compactness while maintaining adaptability for both power tool and charger connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by positioning different terminal types in different locations: power terminals and signal terminals are disposed adjacently in the local region for power tool connection, while charging-dedicated signal terminals are positioned in the outer region for charger connection. This localized arrangement optimizes space utilization in the battery-mounting part by placing only necessary terminals in each region.
2Area of stationary object
If battery-side power terminals and signal terminals are disposed adjacently in parallel orthogonal to the sliding direction, then the battery-mounting part can be made more compact, but the terminal arrangement becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric arrangement where battery-side power terminals and signal terminals are disposed adjacently in parallel orthogonal to the sliding direction, creating an asymmetric terminal layout. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes space utilization by eliminating unnecessary gaps while maintaining clear functional differentiation between power and signal terminals, reducing overall complexity despite the non-traditional layout.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional linear terminal arrangement to a two-dimensional parallel arrangement orthogonal to the sliding direction. By disposing power terminals and signal terminals adjacently in parallel in this alternative dimension, the design achieves compact battery-mounting part area while organizing terminal complexity in a structured, manageable spatial configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack (30) is configured to couple to a power tool (10) by sliding in a sliding direction and it contains a plurality of cells (31). A pair of battery-side, electric-power terminals (312a, 312b, 314a, 314b) and a battery-side signal terminal (313) can be electrically connected to a pair of tool-side, power-supply terminals (212, 214) and a tool-side signal terminal (213), respectively, which are provided on the power tool (10). The pair of battery-side, electric-power terminals (312a, 312b, 314a, 314b) and the battery-side signal terminal (313) are disposed in parallel adjacently in a direction that intersects the sliding direction.