Abstract: A battery pack. The battery pack includes a housing, a plurality of terminals, a plurality of lithium-based battery cells, and a controller. The plurality of terminals electrically connect to an electrical device. The electrical device is able to support the battery pack. Each of the plurality of battery cells are individually tapped and have an individual state of charge. The plurality of terminals includes a sense terminal. The controller is operable to monitor a characteristic of each of the plurality of battery cells and to communicate the monitored characteristic of each of the plurality of battery cells to the electrical device via the sense terminal.

Abstract: A battery pack. The battery pack includes a housing, a plurality of terminals, a plurality of lithium-based battery cells, and a controller. The plurality of terminals electrically connect to an electrical device. The electrical device is able to support the battery pack. Each of the plurality of battery cells are individually tapped and have an individual state of charge. The plurality of terminals includes a sense terminal. The controller is operable to monitor a characteristic of each of the plurality of battery cells and to communicate the monitored characteristic of each of the plurality of battery cells to the electrical device via the sense terminal.

Abstract: A method of conducting an operation including a battery. The battery includes a cell having a voltage. Power is transferable between the cell and the electrical device. A controller is operable to control a function of the battery pack. The controller is also operable with a voltage at least one of equal to and greater than an operating voltage threshold. The cell is operable to selectively supply voltage to the controller. The method includes the act of enabling the controller to operate when the voltage supplied by the cell is below the operating voltage threshold.