Patent ID: 8497662

Claim:
A charging device comprising: a charging unit that selectively charges a first type of battery pack and a second type of battery pack, the first type of battery pack including a first plurality of battery cells connected in a single row, the first type of battery pack having a first identifier indicating a connecting configuration of the first plurality of battery cells, and the second type of battery pack including a single battery unit or a second plurality of battery units connected in series, each battery unit including at least two battery cells connected in parallel, or a third plurality of second battery units connected in parallel, each second battery unit including at least two battery cells connected in a single row, the second type of battery pack having a second identifier indicating a connecting configuration of the single battery unit, the second plurality of battery units, or the third plurality of second battery units; and a control unit that detects the first identifier when the first type of battery pack is connected to the charging unit, detects the second identifier when the second type of battery pack is connected to the charging unit, and controls the charging unit to control at least one of a charging current flowing through the battery pack and a charging voltage applied across the battery pack, depending on the detected first or second identifier of the battery pack to be charged; wherein each of the battery cells of the first type of battery pack and the second type of battery pack is a lithium ion (Li-ion) secondary cell; and wherein the connecting configuration of the battery cells of the first type of battery pack differs from the connecting configuration of the second type of battery pack and the first and second identifiers indicate the connecting configuration of the different connecting configurations of the first battery pack and the second battery pack, respectively.