Battery module and charger

Claim 1

A battery module comprising: a housing having an interior and an exterior; a plurality of battery apparatus materials, including a battery, disposed within the interior of the housing; a plurality of discrete electrodes electrically accessible from within the housing interior, and accessible on the exterior to corresponding electrodes within a charging pocket of a compatible battery charger; wherein at least a preselected one of the discrete electrodes is electrically uncoupled with respect to the battery apparatus materials.

Claim 5

A method for forming a battery module, comprising the steps of: (a) selecting from among at least a first type and a second type of battery module to construct; (b) regardless of whether the first type or second type of battery module has been selected, providing a common housing having an interior and an exterior; (c) regardless of whether the first type or second type of battery module has been selected, providing a common plurality of electrodes that are electrically accessible from the interior of the housing, and accessible on the exterior, to corresponding electrodes within a charging pocket of a compatible battery charger; (d) regardless of whether the first type or second type of battery module has been selected, coupling a first one and a second one of the plurality of electrodes in a predetermined way to a battery disposed in the interior; (e) when the first type of battery module has been selected, coupling a third one of the plurality of electrodes to a thermistor, and a fourth one of the plurality of electrodes to one of a group of connection points consisting of: no connection; the positive terminal; the negative terminal; one of the leads of the thermistor; and (f) when the second type of battery module has been selected, coupling the fourth one of the plurality of electrodes to the thermistor, and the third one of the plurality of electrodes to one of the group of connection points.

Claim 6

A method for forming a battery module, comprising the steps of: (a) selecting from among at least a first type and a second type of battery module to construct; (b) regardless of whether the first type or second type of battery module has been selected, providing a common housing having an interior and an exterior; (c) regardless of whether the first type or second type of battery module has been selected, providing a common plurality of electrodes that are electrically accessible from the interior of the housing, and accessible on the exterior, to corresponding electrodes within a charging pocket of a compatible battery charger; (d) regardless of whether the first type or second type of battery module has been selected, coupling a first one and a second one of the plurality of electrodes in a predetermined way to a battery disposed in the interior; (e) when the first type of battery module has been selected, coupling a third one of the plurality of electrodes to a thermistor, and a fourth one of the plurality of electrodes to one of a group of connection points consisting of: no connection; the positive terminal; the negative terminal; one of the leads of the thermistor; and (f) when the second type of battery module has been selected, coupling the fourth one of the plurality of electrodes to the thermistor, and the third one of the plurality of electrodes to one of the group of connection points.

Claim 7

A method for charging a battery module having an exterior and an interior, the battery module having a plurality of electrodes that are electrically accessible from the interior of the battery module, and accessible on the exterior to corresponding electrodes within a charging pocket of a compatible battery charger, and wherein the battery module includes a battery having a positive and negative terminal and a thermistor having two leads, and wherein a particular one of the electrodes is coupled to one of a group of connection points consisting of: no connection; a redundant connection to the positive terminal; a redundant connection to the negative terminal; a redundant connection to one of the leads of the thermistor; wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) detecting presence of the battery module to be charged; (b) testing at least some of the plurality of electrodes to provide tested electrodes; (c) when a first one of the tested electrodes comprises the particular one of the electrodes, charging the battery module using a first set of battery charging parameters; and (d) when a second one of the tested electrodes comprises the particular one of the electrodes, charging the battery module using a second set of battery charging parameters, wherein the first and second sets of battery charging parameters are different from one another.

Claim 8

A method for charging a battery module having an exterior and an interior, the battery module having a plurality of electrodes that are electrically accessible from the interior of the battery module, and accessible on the exterior to corresponding electrodes within a charging pocket of a compatible battery charger, and wherein the battery module includes a battery having a positive and negative terminal and a thermistor having two leads, and wherein a particular one of the electrodes is coupled to one of a group of connection points consisting of: no connection; a redundant connection to the positive terminal; a redundant connection to the negative terminal; a redundant connection to one of the leads of the thermistor; wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) detecting presence of the battery module to be charged; (b) testing at least some of the plurality of electrodes to provide tested electrodes; (c) when a first one of the tested electrodes comprises the particular one of the electrodes, charging the battery module using a first set of battery charging parameters; and (d) when a second one of the tested electrodes comprises the particular one of the electrodes, charging the battery module using a second set of battery charging parameters, wherein the first and second sets of battery charging parameters are different from one another.