US 12,262,516 B2
Battery pack, charger and disconnect system
Donald J. Truettner, Waukesha, WI (US); Jeffrey M. Brozek, Mequon, WI (US); Steven T. Sommerfeld, Mukwonago, WI (US); and Cameron R. Schulz, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Assigned to Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, Brookfield, WI (US)
Filed by MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION, Brookfield, WI (US)
Filed on Dec. 4, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/527,797.
Application 18/527,797 is a continuation of application No. 17/061,733, filed on Oct. 2, 2020, granted, now 11,839,066.
Application 17/061,733 is a continuation of application No. 16/018,533, filed on Jun. 26, 2018, granted, now 10,827,655, issued on Nov. 3, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/524,827, filed on Jun. 26, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2024/0164070 A1, May 16, 2024
Int. Cl. H05K 7/20 (2006.01); G01K 1/14 (2021.01); H01M 10/48 (2006.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC H05K 7/20909 (2013.01) [G01K 1/14 (2013.01); H02J 7/0042 (2013.01); H05K 7/20172 (2013.01); H05K 7/209 (2013.01); H05K 7/20945 (2013.01); H01M 10/486 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A battery charger comprising:
a housing;
a charging circuit positioned within the housing and operable to output a charging current to charge a battery pack couplable to the battery charger, the charging circuit including a microcontroller and a charger terminal electrically connectable to a battery terminal of the battery pack;
a first switch engageable with the battery pack to operate the first switch;
a second switch engageable with the battery pack to operate the second switch; and
a third switch controlled by the microcontroller to control initiation and termination of charging,
wherein, when the battery pack disengages the battery charger:
the second switch electrically disconnects the charging circuit from the battery terminal,
the first switch electrically disconnects the charging circuit from a power source after the second switch electrically disconnects the charging circuit from the battery terminal, and
the third switch is deactivated by the microcontroller after the second switch electrically disconnects the charging circuit from the battery terminal and the first switch electrically disconnects the charging circuit from the power source.