US 12,266,960 B2
Multi-bay charger with power monitoring based on available power from a power source
Donald J. Truettner, Waukesha, WI (US)
Assigned to Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, Brookfield, WI (US)
Filed by MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION, Brookfield, WI (US)
Filed on Oct. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/504,798.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/093,560, filed on Oct. 19, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0123567 A1, Apr. 21, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H02J 7/00 (2006.01); H02J 7/02 (2016.01)
CPC H02J 7/0042 (2013.01) [H02J 7/00032 (2020.01); H02J 7/0013 (2013.01); H02J 7/00712 (2020.01); H02J 7/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A battery pack charger comprising:
a housing;
a plurality of battery pack receptacles supported by the housing, each of the plurality of battery pack receptacles configured to receive one of a plurality of battery packs;
a plurality of charging circuits connected to the plurality of battery pack receptacles, each of the plurality of charging circuits configured to transmit power to at least one of the plurality of battery pack receptacles;
at least one sensor configured to sense an available power from a power source; and
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, each of the signals from the plurality of charging circuits being indicative of an amount of power needed by the plurality of charging circuits to charge the plurality of 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 plurality of charging circuits is greater than the available power from the power source.