Abstract: Various modular systems including a power unit are shown. In one example, a power unit includes a solar panel, a power storage device and one or more power outlet interfaces. One of the surfaces of the power unit includes a coupling mechanism that permits that power unit to couple with modular storage units. In one embodiment, the modular system includes a frame and wheels coupled to the frame to permit the power unit to be more easily transported.

Abstract: A battery pack charger that includes a housing and a plurality of battery receptacles supported by the housing that are configured to receive a battery pack. The charger includes a plurality of charging circuits connected to the battery receptacles and configured to transmit power to the plurality of battery receptacles. The charger includes at least one sensor to sense available power from a power source. The charger includes a controller operable to receive a signal from the at least one sensor indicative of the available power from the power source, receive signals from the plurality of charging circuits indicative of an amount of power needed by the charging circuits to charge the battery packs, and reduce a charging power to at least one of the plurality of charging circuits when the amount of power needed by the charging circuits is greater than the available power from the power source.

Abstract: A battery charger and a method of operating a battery charger. The charger may include a housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet; a charging circuit operable to output a charging current to charge a battery couplable to the battery charger; a tubular heat sink; and a fan operable to cause air flow from the air inlet to the air outlet and along the heat sink. The charger may include a first switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to a power source when the battery engages the charger; and a second switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to a battery terminal after the charger terminal is electrically connected to the battery terminal. The charging current or a fan speed may be adjusted based on at least one of the temperature of the charger or a temperature of the battery.

Abstract: A power tool includes a motor, a power source, and a printed circuit board (“PCB”) electrically connected to the motor and the power source. The PCB is mounted to the motor. The PCB includes a plurality of wide band gap semiconductor switches configured as an inverter for controlling power supplied by the power source to the motor.

Abstract: A power tool including a motor, a power source interface configured to connect to a power source, and a printed circuit board (“PCB”) electrically connected to the motor and the power source interface. The PCB includes a three-level or greater inverter configured for controlling power supplied by the power source to the motor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless charging of a battery pack. One system includes a direct current power source, a battery pack, and a wireless charger. The battery pack includes a receiver coil configured to convert an AC electric field to a power signal and a battery pack communication circuit configured to modulate the power signal. Modulating the power signal embeds communication signals within the AC electric field. The wireless charger includes a transmitter coil configured to convert the direct current power source to the AC electric field, a wireless charger communication circuit configured to detect the communication signals in the AC electric field, and a controller coupled to the transmitter coil and the wireless charger. The controller is configured to adjust charging characteristics of the AC electric field based on the communication signals.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide power management systems including a battery pack powered tool, one or more battery packs coupled to the battery pack powered tool, a first plurality of sub circuits including a switch and one or more first peripheral outputs, and a second plurality of sub circuits including a voltage regulator and one or more second peripheral outputs. The systems also include one or more control lines for enabling or disabling the first plurality of sub circuits and the second plurality of sub circuits.

Abstract: A battery charger and a method of operating a battery charger. The charger may include a housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet; a charging circuit operable to output a charging current to charge a battery couplable to the battery charger; a tubular heat sink; and a fan operable to cause air flow from the air inlet to the air outlet and along the heat sink. The charger may include a first switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to a power source when the battery engages the charger; and a second switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to a battery terminal after the charger terminal is electrically connected to the battery terminal. The charging current or a fan speed may be adjusted based on at least one of the temperature of the charger or a temperature of the battery.

Abstract: A system for charging a rechargeable power tool battery pack. The system includes a housing having a first port, a second port, and a power bus. The first port is configured to receive at least one selected from a power supply and a charging module. The second port is configured to receive the other of the at least one selected from the power supply and the charging module. Wherein the power supply is configured to supply a charging voltage, and wherein the charging module includes a battery receptacle configured to receive the rechargeable power tool battery pack, the rechargeable power tool battery pack having a first battery characteristic. The power bus is within the housing. The power bus is configured to provide an electrical connection between the first port and the second port and distribute the charging voltage.

Abstract: A battery charger and a method of operating a battery charger. The charger may include a housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet; a charging circuit operable to output a charging current to charge a battery couplable to the battery charger; a tubular heat sink; and a fan operable to cause air flow from the air inlet to the air outlet and along the heat sink. The charger may include a first switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to a power source when the battery engages the charger; and a second switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to a battery terminal after the charger terminal is electrically connected to the battery terminal. The charging current or a fan speed may be adjusted based on at least one of the temperature of the charger or a temperature of the battery.

Abstract: A system for charging a rechargeable power tool battery pack. The system includes a housing having a first port, a second port, and a power bus. The first port is configured to receive at least one selected from a power supply and a charging module. The second port is configured to receive the other of the at least one selected from the power supply and the charging module. Wherein the power supply is configured to supply a charging voltage, and wherein the charging module includes a battery receptacle configured to receive the rechargeable power tool battery pack, the rechargeable power tool battery pack having a first battery characteristic. The power bus is within the housing. The power bus is configured to provide an electrical connection between the first port and the second port and distribute the charging voltage.

Abstract: Devices, such as power tools, outdoor power equipment, lighting devices, test and measurement devices, battery packs, battery pack chargers, power supply devices, modular storage units, etc., include housing structures or other components of the devices made with graphene and/or a graphene polymeric material. The graphene polymeric materials include graphene and a polymer. The graphene polymeric materials are particularly advantageous for electromagnetic shielding purposes. Specific components of the graphene polymeric material may be selected based on their electromagnetic (“EM”) shielding effects (e.g., attenuation, reflection, and/or absorption of radiated emissions) and electrostatic discharge (“ESD”) shielding effects (e.g., dissipation of excess electrical charge and prevention of electrostatic charge accumulation).

Abstract: A battery charger includes a housing having support structure for simultaneously supporting at least two batteries of different types for charging including a first battery of a first type and a second batter of a second type. The battery charger further includes charger electronics supported by the housing and operable to output charging current to charge the first battery and charging current to charge the second battery. A fan is operable to cause air flow through the housing. A fan speed of the fan is adjustable based on a temperature of the battery charger (i) while at least one of the at least two batteries is coupled to the battery charger for charging and (ii) while no batteries are coupled to the battery charger for charging.

Abstract: A wireless charging system for heated garments includes a garment body, a heater coupled to the garment body, a receiver coupled to the garment body and configured to wirelessly receive power, an energy storage element coupled to the garment body and configured to store charge provided to the receiver, a controller selectively providing power from the energy storage element to the heater, and a power supply including a transmitter configured to wirelessly provide power to the receiver when the transmitter is near the receiver.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A battery pack charger that includes a housing and a plurality of battery receptacles supported by the housing that are configured to receive a battery pack. The charger includes a plurality of charging circuits connected to the battery receptacles and configured to transmit power to the plurality of battery receptacles. The charger includes at least one sensor to sense available power from a power source. The charger includes a controller operable to receive a signal from the at least one sensor indicative of the available power from the power source, receive signals from the plurality of charging circuits indicative of an amount of power needed by the charging circuits to charge the battery packs, and reduce a charging power to at least one of the plurality of charging circuits when the amount of power needed by the charging circuits is greater than the available power from the power source.

Abstract: Various modular systems including a power unit are shown. In one example, a power unit includes a solar panel, a power storage device and one or more power outlet interfaces. One of the surfaces of the power unit includes a coupling mechanism that permits that power unit to couple with modular storage units. In one embodiment, the modular system includes a frame and wheels coupled to the frame to permit the power unit to be more easily transported.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless charging of a battery pack. One system includes a plurality of battery packs and a wireless charger. Each of the plurality of battery packs includes a receiving antenna configured to convert an alternating current power to a charging current. The wireless charger includes an alternating current to direct current converter, a transmitter antenna configured to convert direct current power received from the alternating current to direct current converter to the alternating current power and transmit the alternating current power to each of the plurality of battery packs. The wireless charger also includes a communication circuit configured to transmit communication signals to an external device.

Abstract: A battery pack charger includes a first circuit region, a second circuit region, an input voltage measuring circuit, a temperature measurement device, and a controller. The controller is configured to measure an input voltage to the charger using the input voltage measuring circuit, measure a temperature of the second circuit region using the temperature measurement device, and estimate a temperature of the first circuit region based on the input voltage to the charger and the measured temperature of the second circuit region. The controller is further configured to select one of a plurality of correlations between the temperature of the second circuit region and the temperature of the first circuit region based on the input voltage to the charger to estimate the temperature of the first circuit region. After the temperature of the first circuit region has been estimated, one or more control operations associated with the charger can be performed.

Abstract: 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.