Abstract: A battery charging system for discriminating between different battery packs and charging the battery packs according to battery type and charging parameters of the battery pack. The battery charging system has a battery having a label and a charging dock for receiving the battery. Charging dock has a label reader for reading the label when the battery pack is operationally coupled to the charging dock. A discriminator, which is coupled to the label reader, generates at least one charge control signal based on information received from the label reader. A charger that is coupled to the discriminator receives the charge control signal and charges the battery pack based on the charge control signal.