JP2002199597A - Battery charger - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure a battery pack of different length at a charging position and charge the battery with safety especially in a charger having a temperature sensor. SOLUTION: The charger has a cradle 2 to mount a rechargeable battery pack 11. The cradle 2 is provided on the upper surface of a case 1 and has a groove 2A to insert the battery pack 11 and a slot 2B adjacent the groove to insert the tip of the battery pack 11. The groove 2A and the slot 2B have the same common bottom that inclines down toward the slot 2B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a battery charger for charging a battery pack, and more particularly to a battery charger most suitable for charging a battery pack used as a power source for a radio-controlled car, a radio-controlled airplane, or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A battery pack used for a radio controlled car or the like has a connector connected to the end of a lead wire. A battery pack connected to equipment such as a radio controlled car with a connector and a lead wire is suitable for discharging a large current. Further, this type is also suitable for a battery pack mounted on a vibrating device in order to prevent poor contact. This is because the connector can be connected in a state of low resistance, and the connector is securely connected even if it vibrates. However, it is not always important for the battery pack to eliminate poor contact due to large current discharge characteristics and vibration. For example, a battery pack mounted on a mobile phone or the like does not discharge a large current as in a radio-controlled car, and is not used in a state of being vibrated violently. For this reason, the battery pack is not connected to the device via the lead wire and the connector, but has a charge / discharge terminal provided in a part of the case. The battery pack having this structure can be easily charged without being connected to a connector, by being mounted on a charger having a charging terminal in contact with the charging / discharging terminal on the mounting portion. However, a battery pack of a type in which a connector is connected to the end of a lead wire instead of providing a charging terminal in a case cannot be charged by providing a charging terminal in a mounting portion of a charger. For this reason, a charger for charging this type of battery pack has a structure in which a connector is connected to a connector of the battery charger and charging is performed without providing a mounting section for the battery pack.

[0003]

However, battery packs such as radio-controlled cars are often used outdoors, and in a structure in which a battery is connected to a charger using only a connector, the lead wire is forcibly pulled or cut. In some cases, the connector may come off and charging may not be performed normally. This disadvantage can be solved by providing a mounting portion for mounting the battery pack in a fixed position in the case of the charger. However, since the number of connected secondary batteries differs depending on the capacity of the main battery pack, there are long battery packs and short battery packs.

[0004] Furthermore, the charger used for this kind of application is designed to charge the battery pack in the shortest possible time.
The temperature of the battery pack may be extremely high. This is for minimizing the waiting time for charging the battery pack. In particular, when the battery pack is rapidly charged outdoors in the hot summer months, the battery temperature becomes extremely high. This problem can be solved by incorporating a temperature sensor into the battery pack and stopping charging when the battery temperature rises. However, since the battery pack is a consumable item, incorporating a temperature sensor in the battery pack causes the temperature sensor and the like to be discarded together with the battery pack, and the parts cannot be used effectively. Although this disadvantage can be solved by providing the charger with a temperature sensor, it is difficult to accurately detect the temperature of the battery pack in a type in which the battery is connected to the charger with a lead wire and a connector. Further, it is more difficult to accurately detect the temperatures of the battery packs having different lengths and the like.

[0005] The present invention has been developed for the purpose of solving such a drawback. An important object of the present invention is to allow battery packs having different lengths and the like to be securely mounted in a fixed position and to be charged, and to have a structure including a temperature sensor, to accurately detect the battery temperature and charge safely. It is to provide a charger.

[0006]

The battery charger of the present invention has a mounting section 2 for removably mounting a rechargeable battery pack 11. The mounting portion 2 is provided on the upper surface of the case 1 and has a groove 2A into which the battery pack 11 can be fitted;
Adjacent to the groove 2A, there is an insertion slot 2B into which the tip of the battery pack 11 is inserted. The groove 2A and the insertion slot 2B have the same bottom surface, and are further inclined downward toward the insertion slot 2B. In this charger, the tip of the battery pack 11 is inserted into the insertion slot 2B, and the battery can be charged while being firmly held without slipping. In addition, the battery charger having the insertion slot 2B can be provided here by disposing the battery detection switch 3 and the temperature sensor 4 so as not to be seen from the outside. In addition, with the structure in which the battery detection switch 3 and the temperature sensor 4 are arranged in the insertion slot 2B, the battery pack 11 is held so as not to be displaced, so that the insertion of the battery pack 11 can be accurately detected, and the temperature can also be accurately detected. .

[0007] The battery charger that detects the insertion of the battery pack 11 and charges the battery pack has a battery detection switch 3 that detects the insertion of the battery pack 11 inside the insertion slot 2B. The battery detection switch 3 is preferably arranged on the upper surface of the insertion slot 2B.

Further, a charger for charging while detecting the temperature of the battery pack 11 has a temperature sensor 4 disposed in the insertion slot 2B. This temperature sensor 4 is preferably arranged on the upper surface of the insertion slot 2B. This is for accurately detecting the temperature of the battery pack 11.

The bottom surface of the mounting portion 2 preferably has an inclination angle of about 5 with respect to the lower surface of the case 1 so that the battery pack 11 can be mounted in a lying position, not in an upright position.
To 30 degrees. Further, the battery pack 11 that is charged by being set in the mounting section 2 is connected to a charger via the lead wire 13 and the connector 14 and can be charged more reliably while preventing poor contact.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below exemplify a charger for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention does not limit the charger to the following.

Further, in this specification, in order to make it easy to understand the claims, the numbers corresponding to the members shown in the embodiments will be referred to as “claims” and “ In the column of “means”.
However, the members described in the claims are not limited to the members of the embodiments.

The charger shown in FIG. 1 to FIG.
A mounting portion 2 is provided on the upper surface of the battery pack so that the battery pack 11 can be detachably mounted. The mounting portion 2 of the case 1 has a groove 2A provided on the upper surface of the case 1 for fitting the battery pack 11 and being adjacent to the groove 2A so as to hold the battery pack 11 so as not to shift left and right. And an insertion slot 2B into which the tip of the battery pack 11 is inserted.
The groove 2A and the insertion slot 2B have their bottom surfaces located on the same plane and are inclined downward toward the insertion slot 2B.

The groove 2A holds the lower surface and both sides of the battery pack 11 so as not to shift left and right. Therefore, the groove 2 </ b> A is formed along the bottom surface and both side surfaces of the battery pack 11. As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 6, the battery pack 11 houses cylindrical batteries 12 arranged in two rows in parallel on the same plane. The battery pack 11 has both sides curved in a shape along the cylindrical battery 12. Therefore, both sides of the groove 2A are also curved into a shape along the cylindrical battery 12. The capacity of the battery pack 11 can be adjusted by the number of vertically connected cylindrical batteries 12. The large-capacity battery pack 11 increases the number of vertically connected secondary batteries, and the small-capacity battery pack 11 reduces the number of vertically connected secondary batteries. This type of battery pack 11
The length differs depending on the capacity, the large capacity is long, and the small capacity is short. One of the grooves 2A is open and the other is connected to the insertion slot 2B so that the long battery pack 11 and the short battery pack 11 can be mounted on the mounting section 2. 1 and 5, the left side of the groove 2A is opened, and the insertion slot 2B is connected to the right side. The charger of FIG.
The state where the short battery pack 11 is mounted is indicated by a chain line.

The insertion slot 2B inserts the tip of the battery pack 11 and holds it firmly so as not to shift vertically and horizontally. Therefore, the insertion slot 2B has an inner shape slightly larger than the outer shape of the battery pack 11 so that the battery pack 11 can be smoothly inserted and removed. The size is as large as possible. Further, in the charger of FIG. 5, the opening of the insertion slot 2B is made slightly larger, and the depth of the insertion slot 2B is made smaller, so that the battery pack 11 can be easily inserted and kept in the inserted state. In the battery pack 11 of FIG. 6, two cylindrical batteries 12 are arranged side by side, and the cross-sectional shape in the horizontal direction is a shape close to an ellipse. Accordingly, the insertion slot 2B has an elliptical horizontal cross-sectional shape.

In the illustrated charger, the length of the insertion slot 2B is set to about 1/2 of the groove 2A. This charger can hold the battery pack 11 firmly in place. If the insertion slot 2B is long, the battery pack 11 can be held more firmly. However, if it is too long, it is difficult to insert and remove the battery pack 11, and if it is too short, the battery pack 11 cannot be held firmly without shifting. . Therefore, the insertion slot 2B is preferably 1/1 of the entire length of the groove 2A.
4 to 3/4.

Further, the mounting portion 2 connects the groove 2A and the bottom of the insertion slot 2B to the same plane, and makes the inclination angle approximately 5 degrees.
Degree. The inclination angle of the bottom surface of the mounting portion 2 is, for example,
It can be 3 to 30 degrees, preferably 3 to 15 degrees, and more preferably 3 to 10 degrees. When the inclination angle is increased, the battery pack 11 can be smoothly inserted by its own weight into the slot 2.
B can be inserted, but the long battery pack 11 approaches a vertical position, and easily falls down with the battery pack 11 set. The long battery pack 11 can be stably mounted by setting the battery pack 11 in the mounting section 2 in a posture lying substantially horizontally. Therefore, the charger attaches the battery pack 11 so that the battery pack 11 does not fall over the inclination angle of the battery pack 11 within the above-described range.

The battery charger has a battery detection switch 3 for detecting that the battery pack 11 has been set in the mounting section 2, and a temperature sensor 4 for detecting the temperature of the battery pack 11 inserted into the insertion slot 2B. . In the charger of FIG. 5, the battery detection switch 3 and the temperature sensor 4 are disposed in the insertion slot 2B. In the charger of FIG. 5, a battery detection switch 3 and a temperature sensor 4 are arranged on the upper surface of the insertion slot 2B. The battery detection switch 3 provided here accurately detects the insertion of the battery pack 11. This is because the battery pack 11 is inserted into the insertion slot 2B so as not to shift up and down and is detected by the battery detection switch 3. Battery detection switch 3
Protrudes the plunger 3A, and detects the battery 11 by pushing the plunger 3A with the battery 11 inserted in the insertion slot 2B. The battery detection switch 3 fixed to the upper surface of the insertion slot 2B does not malfunction due to dust or foreign matter entering the insertion slot 2B.
This is because dust and foreign matter do not adhere to the upper surface of the insertion slot 2B.

The temperature sensor 4 fixed on the upper surface of the insertion slot 2B accurately detects the temperature of the battery pack 11. It is the battery pack 11 inserted in the insertion slot 2B.
This is because, when the temperature of the battery becomes high, the air heated by the battery pack 11 rises and heats the temperature sensor 4. Further, the temperature sensor 4 arranged in the insertion slot 2B
Since air is not freely convected to the outside, the temperature sensor 4 is not cooled by air that is freely ventilated. This also enables the temperature sensor 4 to accurately detect the temperature of the battery pack 11.

The temperature sensor 4 is covered with a flexible soft tube 5 to detect the temperature of the battery pack 11 more accurately. The soft tube 5 is a silicone tube or a soft urethane tube. Since the silicon tube has heat resistance and is flexible, when pressed on the surface of the battery pack 11, the silicon tube is deformed into a shape along the surface of the battery pack 11, as shown in FIG. Therefore, there is a feature that the temperature of the battery pack 11 can be efficiently transmitted to the temperature sensor 4 by closely adhering to the battery pack 11 over a wide area. Also, since it has excellent wear resistance, it has a feature of excellent durability.

As shown in FIG. 8, the soft tube 5 preferably has such a thickness that a gap is formed between the inner surface and the temperature sensor 4. The gap between the inner surface of the soft tube 5 and the sensing portion 4A of the temperature sensor 4 is, for example, 0.1 to 1.5.
mm. The soft tube 5 can increase the amount of deformation when coming into contact with the battery pack 11. Therefore, the temperature of the battery pack 11 can be efficiently transmitted to the temperature sensor 4 by bringing the soft tube 5 into contact with the surface of the battery pack 11 over a wide area. However, when a thick tube is used as the soft tube, for example, a tube having a thickness of 0.3 to 2 mm, the inner surface of the soft tube may be shaped to be in close contact with the surface of the temperature sensor. This is because a thick flexible tube can increase the amount of deformation when pressed by the tube itself.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the temperature sensor 4 has a temperature sensing portion 4A put in a soft tube 5, and the lead wires 6 at both ends are fixed to a printed circuit board 7, and the printed circuit board 7 is fixed.
Is fixed to the case 1 and arranged at a fixed position. The temperature sensor 4 has a lead wire 6 soldered and fixed to a printed circuit board 7. The printed circuit board 7 has a battery detection switch 3
Is also fixed. The battery detection switch 3 is also fixed to the lower surface of the printed circuit board 7 by soldering the terminals. The printed circuit board 7 is fixed to the upper case 1 by screwing or bonding to the case 1.

The temperature sensor 4 is a thermistor. However,
As the temperature sensor 4, other elements whose resistance changes depending on the temperature, such as a varistor, a PTC, a transistor, and a diode, can be used. As the temperature sensor 4, as shown in FIG. 8, one in which lead wires 6 are fixed to both ends of a temperature sensing unit 4 </ b> A can be conveniently used. This is because, as shown in FIG. 8, the lead wire 6 can be bent so that the soft tube 5 does not shift. However, as the temperature sensor, a type in which two lead wires protrude at one end can also be used. However, in this type of temperature sensor, a part of the soft tube is adhered to the temperature sensor so that the sensing part placed in the soft tube does not move, or a stopper that prevents the soft tube from displacing is attached to the case or printed circuit board. It is necessary to provide.

The temperature sensor 4 detects the temperature of the battery pack 11. When the detected temperature is higher than the set temperature, the charger cuts off the current flowing through the battery pack 11 and stops charging. FIG. 9 shows a circuit diagram of the charger. The charger includes a charging power supply 8 for charging the battery pack 11, a switch 9 connected between the charging power supply 8 and the battery pack 11, a control circuit 10 for controlling the switch 9, and a control circuit 10 for controlling the switch 9. A battery detection switch 3 that outputs a mounting signal indicating that the battery pack 11 has been mounted on the battery pack 1;
And a temperature sensor 4 for inputting the first temperature signal.

The charging power source 8 uses the input commercial power of 100 V AC as the charging voltage and charging current of the battery pack 11. The charging power source 8 is a type of a battery pack 11 to be charged, and converts a charging voltage and a charging current. Switch 9
A switching element such as a transistor or an FET is turned on / off by a signal input from the control circuit 10 to control charging of the battery pack 11.

When the control circuit 10 detects that the battery pack 11 is mounted on the mounting section 2 by the battery detection switch 3, the control circuit 10 turns on the switch 9 to start charging the battery pack 11. When the charged battery pack 11 is fully charged, or when the battery temperature becomes higher than the set temperature, the switch 9 is switched from on to off. The control circuit 10 detects the temperature of the battery pack 11 based on a signal input from the temperature sensor 4. When the temperature of the battery pack 11 becomes higher than the set temperature, the switch 9 is turned off to stop charging. Further, the control circuit 10 charges while detecting the battery voltage, detects the full charge of the battery pack 11, and switches the switch 9 from ON to OFF when the battery pack 11 is fully charged. When the battery pack 11 is being charged and the battery pack 11 is pulled out of the insertion slot 2B and removed from the mounting section 2, this is detected by the battery detection switch 3, and the control circuit 10 turns off the switch 9. Switch to.

Battery pack 11 set in mounting section 2
Is charged by being connected to a charger via a lead wire 13 and a connector 14. Accordingly, the charger has a lead 13 connected to the battery pack 11 as shown in FIGS.
Are linked. The battery pack 11 also includes a lead wire 13,
A connector 14 is provided at the end of the lead wire 13. The charger and the battery pack 11 are connected to each other by a connector 13.
To connect the connector 14 and the lead wire 13
Connected via Thus, the charger that connects the battery pack 11 via the lead wire 13 and the connector 14 is:
Charging can be performed more reliably while preventing poor contact.

In the charger of the above embodiment, the battery pack 11 is connected via the lead wire 13 and the connector 14 for charging. However, the battery charger of the present invention can be charged by connecting a battery pack through a charging terminal and a charging contact.
Although not shown, this charger is provided with a charging terminal in contact with the charging contact of the battery pack mounted on the mounting part, and can be charged by contacting the charging terminal with the charging contact of the battery pack.

[0028]

The battery charger of the present invention has a feature that battery packs having different lengths and the like can be securely mounted in fixed positions and charged. That is, the charger of the present invention is configured such that the mounting portion for mounting the battery pack includes a groove portion into which the battery pack can be inserted, and an insertion slot adjacent to the groove portion for inserting the tip portion of the battery pack. This is because the bottom surface of the insertion slot is flush with the insertion slot and is inclined downward toward the insertion slot. By inserting the tip of the battery pack into the insertion slot, the battery charger can be charged while firmly holding the battery pack without slipping. Moreover, in this charger, since the groove and the bottom surface of the insertion slot are on the same plane, even battery packs having different lengths can be mounted and charged in fixed positions.

Further, in the battery charger according to the second and fourth aspects of the present invention, the battery detection switch and the temperature sensor are arranged in the insertion slot, so that the battery is not visible from the outside, that is, the external appearance is improved. The battery detection switch and the temperature sensor can be arranged on the mounting portion. In addition, the battery charger that places the battery detection switch and temperature sensor in the insertion slot can hold the battery pack with the insertion rod so that it does not shift, so that the battery detection switch and temperature sensor can be accurately contacted with the battery pack and installed. There is also a feature that can detect temperature and temperature.

Further, since the battery charger according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is provided with a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the battery pack in the insertion slot, there is a feature that the battery temperature can be accurately detected and the battery can be safely charged. As described above, since the charger in which the temperature sensor is disposed in the insertion slot does not allow air to freely convect outside, the temperature sensor is hardly cooled, and the temperature sensor can accurately detect the temperature of the battery pack.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a charger according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state where a battery pack is mounted on the charger shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the charger shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the charger shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the charger shown in FIG. 2 taken along line AA.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a battery pack mounted on the charger shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the charger shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a temperature sensor.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of a charger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Case 2 ... Mounting part 2A ... Groove part 2
B: Insertion slot 3: Battery detection switch 3A: Plunger 4: Temperature sensor 4A: Sensing unit 5: Soft tube 6: Lead wire 7: Printed circuit board 8: Charging power supply 9: Switch 10: Control circuit 11: Pack battery 12: Cylindrical Type battery 13 ... lead wire 14 ... connector

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A charger having a mounting part (2) for detachably mounting a battery pack (11) to be charged, wherein the mounting part (2) is provided on an upper surface of a case (1), A groove (2A) into which the battery (11) can be inserted, and an insertion slot for inserting the tip of the battery pack (11) adjacent to the groove (2A)
(2B), the groove (2A) and the bottom surface of the insertion slot (2B) are located on the same plane, and are inclined downwardly toward the insertion slot (2B). . 2. A battery pack is provided on the inner surface of the insertion slot (2B).
The battery charger according to claim 1, further comprising a battery detection switch (3) for detecting insertion of (11). 3. A battery detection switch (3) is inserted into an insertion slot (2).
3. The charger according to claim 2, which is arranged on the upper surface of B). 4. The battery charger according to claim 1, wherein a temperature sensor (4) for detecting the temperature of the battery pack (11) is provided in the insertion slot (2B). 5. The charger according to claim 4, wherein the temperature sensor is disposed on an upper surface of the insertion slot. 6. The charger according to claim 1, wherein the angle at which the bottom surface of the mounting portion (2) is inclined with respect to the lower surface of the case (1) is 3 to 30 degrees. 7. A lead wire (1) connected to a battery pack (11).
Connector having 3) and connected to the end of the lead wire (13)
The battery charger according to claim 1, wherein the battery charger is connected to the battery pack (11) via the battery (11).