US 11,955,830 B2
Battery temperature based tool power reduction
Jonathan R. Feldkamp, Anderson, SC (US); Grzegorz Kondro, Piedmont, SC (US); Colin W. Hines, Easley, SC (US); Mathew Tang, Central, SC (US); and Nikolas F. Mika, Anderson, SC (US)
Assigned to Techtronic Cordless GP, Anderson, SC (US)
Filed by TECHTRONIC CORDLESS GP, Anderson, SC (US)
Filed on Apr. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/728,538.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/180,409, filed on Apr. 27, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0344961 A1, Oct. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. B25B 21/02 (2006.01); B25F 5/00 (2006.01); G01K 3/00 (2006.01); H01M 10/44 (2006.01); H01M 10/48 (2006.01); H01M 50/247 (2021.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01); H02P 29/68 (2016.01)
CPC H02J 7/007194 (2020.01) [B25F 5/00 (2013.01); G01K 3/005 (2013.01); H01M 10/441 (2013.01); H01M 10/443 (2013.01); H01M 10/482 (2013.01); H01M 10/486 (2013.01); H01M 50/247 (2021.01); H02P 29/68 (2016.02); H01M 2220/30 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A power tool system comprising:
a battery pack including:
a battery pack housing,
one or more battery cells located within the battery pack housing,
a sensor configured to sense a temperature within the battery pack housing, and
a battery pack controller located within the battery pack housing, the battery pack controller configured to receive a first signal from the sensor, the first signal indicative of the temperature; and
a power tool configured to electrically and communicatively couple to the battery pack, the power tool including:
a power tool housing,
a drive unit located within the housing, and
a power tool controller located within the housing, the power tool controller configured to:
receive a second signal from the battery pack controller, the second signal indicative of the temperature,
determine whether the temperature is between a lower temperature threshold and an upper temperature threshold, and
limit a drive unit power if the temperature is between the lower temperature threshold and the upper temperature threshold;
wherein the power tool controller is further configured to not limit the drive unit power if the temperature is less than the lower temperature threshold.
 
8. A power tool comprising:
a power tool housing,
a motor located within the housing, and
a power tool controller located within the housing, the power tool controller configured to:
receive a signal from a battery pack electrically and communicatively coupled to the power tool, the signal indicative of a temperature of the battery pack,
determine whether the temperature is between a lower temperature threshold and an upper temperature threshold, and
limit a drive unit power if the temperature is between the lower temperature threshold and the upper temperature threshold;
wherein the power tool controller is further configured to not limit the drive unit power if the temperature is less than the lower temperature threshold.
 
13. A method implemented on a controller of a power tool for reducing a supply of power to a drive unit of the power tool, the method comprising:
receiving, via the controller, a signal from a battery pack electrically and communicatively coupled to the power tool, the signal indicative of a temperature of the battery pack,
determining, via the controller, whether the temperature is between a lower temperature threshold and an upper temperature threshold, and
limiting, via the controller, the supply of power to the drive unit if the temperature is between the lower temperature threshold and the upper temperature threshold; and
not limiting, via the controller, the supply of power to the drive unit if the temperature is less than the lower temperature threshold.