Abstract: The present invention provides adapter 30 that supplies driving power from battery charger 10, which charges a battery pack, to cableless appliance 70, which is driven by the battery pack, via cable 44. Adapter 30 comprises charger-side adapter 40, which controls a charging voltage and a charging current of charger 10, an appliance-side adapter 45, which intermittently supplies a large current to the appliance 70 by utilizing power accumulated in capacitor C, which is disposed within the appliance-side adapter 45, and cable 44. By allowing a small current to continuously flow in cable 44 in order to charge capacitor C and by intermittently supplying the power accumulated in capacitor C to appliance 70, a large amount of power can be supplied to appliance 70. Accordingly, appliance 70 can be continuously used without the battery pack.

Abstract: Battery charger (10) may include a power source circuit (22) for charging rechargeable batteries (58) when a battery pack (50) is connected directly to the battery charger or is connected thereto with an adapter (30) interposed therebetween. The adapter may include a discharging circuit (42) for discharging the rechargeable batteries. The adapter may also include a switch (48) for alternatively connecting the rechargeable batteries with the discharging circuit or the charging circuit of the battery charger. The battery pack may have a memory (61) storing a flag indicating whether a refresh process is required. The adapter may further include a control portion (41) for controlling the switch. When the battery pack has been connected to the battery charger via the adapter, the control portion may preferably controls the switch on the basis of the flag stored in the memory of the battery pack.

Abstract: A battery charger and a charging method capable of charging a battery are described. The current temperature of the battery is detected (in step S12) and a battery temperature increase rate is calculated based upon the detected temperature (in step S14). An allowable current value is then retrieved based upon the detected temperature and the calculated battery temperature increase rate, which allowable current value permits charging of the battery while preventing excessive battery temperature increases (in step S16), and the battery is charged using the allowable current value (in step S20). Thus, it is possible to charge the battery within a short period of time while preventing the battery temperature from excessively rising.

Abstract: When rechargeable batteries have been discharged to a selected voltage reference level, LED 29 (and/or buzzer BZ) and controller 32 may warn the operator that the rechargable batteries should be recharged. Controller 32 may change the selected reference voltage level based upon use history information concerning the rechargeable batteries. The use history information may, e.g., be stored in EEPROM 52 of battery pack 40. Thus, the rechargeable batteries can be discharged to different voltage levels before the operator is warned that the rechargeable batteries should be recharged. In addition or in the alternative, switch 36 may be disposed between the rechargeable batteries and a motor (M). Controller 32 may open switch 36 when the detected voltage of the rechargeable batteries drops below the selected reference voltage level (or a derivative of the selected reference voltage level) in order to interrupt the flow of current to the motor (M).

Abstract: A battery pack (1) has a double casing structure, including an inner case (2) disposed inside an outer case (3). The inner case (2) includes a radiator plate (9) that is in contact with the side walls of battery cells (4) disposed within the battery pack (1). A forked air passage (32) extends from an air inlet (27) and is defined between the inner case (2) and the outer case (3) and along the outer surface of the radiator plate (9) until reaching a pair of air outlets (31).

Abstract: A battery pack (1) includes an air intake port (9), air discharge ports (11), first air passages (24), and a second air passage (25). Cooling air introduced into the battery pack through the air intake port (9) flows around and through two cell groups contained in the pack before exiting to the pack from the discharge ports (11). As the intake port and the discharge ports are both provided at an upper enclosure (4) of the battery pack that is set on a charger (50) for charging or an electric power tool as a power source, neither intake port nor the discharge ports are exposed to the exterior environment whether the pack is set on the charger or attached to a power tool.

Abstract: The present invention provides adapter 30 that supplies driving power from battery charger 10, which charges a battery pack, to cableless appliance 70, which is driven by the battery pack, via cable 44. Adapter 30 comprises charger-side adapter 40, which controls a charging voltage and a charging current of charger 10, an appliance-side adapter 45, which intermittently supplies a large current to the appliance 70 by utilizing power accumulated in capacitor C, which is disposed within the appliance-side adapter 45, and cable 44. By allowing a small current to continuously flow in cable 44 in order to charge capacitor C and by intermittently supplying the power accumulated in capacitor C to appliance 70, a large amount of power can be supplied to appliance 70. Accordingly, appliance 70 can be continuously used without the battery pack.

Abstract: Charging device 10 charges nickel-hydrogen batteries 58, while adjusting the current value so that the temperature follows the target temperature rise pattern. Therefore, nickel-hydrogen batteries that demonstrate a large temperature increase can be charged within a short time so that a high temperature is not attained. Furthermore, when lithium ion batteries 58 are charged, the current value is controlled so that the voltage follows the target voltage rise pattern. Therefore, lithium ion batteries can be charged at a potential no higher than the preset level.

Abstract: Cooling air intake port (52), cooling air exhaust port (55), and securing walls (86, 87), which contact and secure the side surfaces of one or more battery cells (72), may be defined within two battery pack housing halves (50, 80). When battery pack (99) is assembled, at least one cooling air passage (91, 92) is defined by the side surfaces of the battery cells, the interior surface of the battery pack housing, and the securing walls. The cooling air passage connects the cooling air intake port to the cooling air exhaust port. Further, the securing walls isolate or physically separate the cooling air passage from battery terminals (72a, 72b). By forcing cooling air through the cooling air passage, the battery cells can be effectively and efficiently cooled.

Abstract: A battery pack (1) has a double casing structure, including an inner case (2) disposed inside an outer case (3). The inner case (2) includes a radiator plate (9) that is in contact with the side walls of battery cells (4) disposed within the battery pack (1). A forked air passage (32) extends from an air inlet (27) and is defined between the inner case (2) and the outer case (3) and along the outer surface of the radiator plate (9) until reaching a pair of air outlets (31).

Abstract: An adapter (1) for an electric power tool (45) includes a main body (2) that has a light assembly and a first coupling portion (4) provided on the top surface of the main body (2), the first coupling portion (4) having a configuration identical to a coupling portion of a battery pack (31) that is attached to the electric power tool (45). The adapter further includes a second coupling portion (5) provided on the bottom surface of the main body (2), the second coupling portion (5) having a configuration identical to a coupling portion of the electric power tool (45) that is attached to the battery pack (31). The light assembly includes a light (26) attached to the main body (2) via a flexible stem (27). The light (26) can be turned on and off independently from the operation of the electric power tool (45).

Abstract: A battery charger and a charging method capable of charging a battery for a short period of time while suppressing battery temperature from rising. The current temperature of the battery is detected (in step S12) and a temperature rise is calculated from the detected temperature (in step S14). An allowable current map is then retrieved from the detected temperature and the obtained temperature rise, an allowable current with which the battery can be charged while suppressing battery temperature from rising is obtained (in step S16) and the battery is charged with the allowable current (in stop S20). Since the allowable current which the battery can be charged with, while suppressing battery temperature from rising is retrieved using the map which the allowable current is mapped, based on battery temperature and battery temperature rise, and charging current is controlled, it is possible to charge the battery for a short period of time while suppressing battery temperature from rising.

Abstract: A temperature rise pattern is retrieved from charging time based on the difference between a battery temperature at the beginning of battery charge and a target temperature value which a battery is intended to reach (in S116). The battery is charged while adjusting a current value so that a temperature rise value becomes the temperature rise pattern (in S118 and S120). Thus, by optimizing the temperature rise pattern, it is possible to charge the battery so that the temperature at the time of the completion of battery charge becomes the target temperature value (the lowest temperature value).

Abstract: A plurality of charging devices 30 may be connected to a computer 10, 110 via a network 60. When computer 10 receives chewing information from a charging device 30 before performing a charging operation, computer 10 may compute the optimal charging period based upon the charging information. Parameters defining the optimal charging period may be transmitted to the respective charging devices 30. Each charging device 30 may perform the battery charging operation based upon the transmitted parameters. Thus, a network system can manage and control the charging operations for the plurality of charging devices in order to optimize charging period, optimize the number of charging devices 30 and battery packs 50 in use and maximize battery life.

Abstract: When rechargeable batteries have been discharged to a selected voltage reference level, LED 29 (and/or buzzer BZ) and controller 32 may warn the operator that the rechargable batteries should be recharged. Controller 32 may change the selected reference voltage level based upon use history information concerning the rechargeable batteries. The use history information may, e.g., be stored in EEPROM 52 of battery pack 40. Thus, the rechargeable batteries can be discharged to different voltage levels before the operator is warned that the rechargeable batteries should be recharged. In addition or in the alternative, switch 36 may be disposed between the rechargeable batteries and a motor (M). Controller 32 may open switch 36 when the detected voltage of the rechargeable batteries drop below the selected reference voltage level (or a derivative of the selected reference voltage level) in order to interrupt the flow of current to the motor (M).

Abstract: A battery charger and a charging method capable of charging a battery for a short period of time while suppressing battery temperature from rising. The current temperature of the battery is detected (in step S12) and a temperature rise is calculated from the detected temperature (in step S14). An allowable current map is then retrieved from the detected temperature and the obtained temperature rise, an allowable current with which the battery can be charged while suppressing battery temperature from rising is obtained (in step S16) and the battery is charged with the allowable current (in step S20). Since the allowable current which the battery can be charged with, while suppressing battery temperature from rising is retrieved using the map which the allowable current is mapped, based on battery temperature and battery temperature rise, and charging current is controlled, it is possible to charge the battery for a short period of time while suppressing battery temperature from rising.

Abstract: Connecting to a home page via the Internet, selecting the mode of use of the battery desired by the user, downloading the charging characteristics which match the selected mode of use, and reading the charging characteristics into a EEPROM of charging device 30. Because of this, the optimal charging characteristics can be matched with the desires of the user and read into the EEPROM of the charging device.

Abstract: Charging device 10 charges nickel-hydrogen batteries 58, while adjusting the current value so that the temperature follows the target temperature rise pattern. Therefore, nickel-hydrogen batteries that demonstrate a large temperature increase can be charged within a short time so that a high temperature is not attained. Furthermore, when lithium ion batteries 58 are charged, the current value is controlled so that the voltage follows the target voltage rise pattern. Therefore, lithium ion batteries can be charged at a potential no higher than the preset level.

Abstract: The battery charging device obtains an open-circuit voltage at the time of 70% capacity based on information stored in a ROM of a battery package prior to the charge, and upon measuring an open-circuit voltage of the battery package by a voltage measuring portion, if this open-circuit voltage is higher than the obtained open-circuit voltage, a second indicator is switched ON to indicate that the remaining capacity is not less than 70% to thereby enable discrimination among batteries requiring charge or that do not prior to starting charging.

Abstract: Rotation of an air-blowing motor is continued also upon completion of charge; by retrieving a presumed temperature for cooling and upon detecting that a measured temperature is higher than the presumed temperature for cooling by not less than a specified value, a LED lamp is switched ON for indicating that clogging of an airflow path of a battery package has occurred, and an abnormal condition is written to an EEPROM of the battery package.