Rotatable Latching Mechanism for Multi-Interface Battery Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cordless power tools' battery packs are often discharged faster than they can be charged, and charging infrastructure is frequently unavailable or insufficient in many environments, making it difficult to keep up with demand.
Innovation Solution
A battery charger system with multiple charging ports that can accommodate different removable battery packs with varying voltage ratings and external mechanical interfaces, using a latching mechanism to securely lock and charge packs without external adapters, ensuring compatibility and convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single charging port with fixed latching mechanism is used, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate battery packs with different external mechanical interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The latching wall is made rotatable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and configuration. This enables the same charging port to accommodate different battery pack interface types by rotating the latching wall to different angular positions, resolving the contradiction between versatility and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging port is designed with a universal latching mechanism that can serve multiple functions by accommodating different battery pack interface types. The rotatable latching wall allows a single charging port structure to universally accept various battery pack configurations without requiring multiple specialized ports.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fixed latching features are provided for different battery packs, then compatibility with different interfaces is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing multiple static latching features for different battery pack types, the invention uses a single rotatable latching wall that can be dynamically positioned to engage with different interface types. This reduces the number of latching features from multiple fixed elements to one dynamic element.
Solution Approach 2:
The latching wall is segmented into different engagement surfaces or positions that can be selectively brought into contact with different battery pack interfaces through rotation. This allows a single latching wall to perform the function of multiple dedicated latching features.
3Reliability
If battery packs are not securely latched, then the charging port structure is simple, but battery packs may be inadvertently released during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable latching wall appears to engage automatically with the battery pack interface through the natural insertion motion, without requiring additional actuation mechanisms. The geometry of the latching wall and battery pack interface causes the latching action to occur self-service during the charging connection process.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack charger system includes one or more charging ports for charging one or more removable battery packs. A set of indicators may be arranged on a housing, with a subset of the set of indicators being associated with each charging port. Each subset of indicators may output an indication of a state of charge of a battery pack received in an associated charging port of the charger system. A first indication may indicate that the battery pack is charging. A second indication may indicate that the battery pack has achieved a preset level of charge. A third indication may indicate that the battery pack has achieved a substantially full level of charge.