A battery pack is provided including a body having a first wall forming a first face from which a connection port extends for connection to a power tool or a charger, and a second wall forming a substantially planar second face. A finger notch recessed in the second face extends along an elongate axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the body.

A battery pack is provided including a body having a first wall forming a first face from which a connection port extends for connection to a power tool or a charger, and a second wall forming a substantially planar second face. A finger notch recessed in the second face extends along an elongate axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the body.

Methods and systems for controlling windmilling in an engine are described. An electric starter motor is coupled to the engine, a circuit element is coupled to the electric starter engine and to a DC signal source, and a control system coupled to the engine and to the circuit element. The control system is configured for: determining whether the engine is in a windmilling state; when the engine is in a windmilling state, commanding the circuit element to apply a DC signal to the electric starter motor; and modulating the DC signal applied to the electric starter motor to control a level of rotational motion of the engine.

Methods and systems for controlling windmilling in an engine are described. An electric starter motor is coupled to the engine, a circuit element is coupled to the electric starter engine and to a DC signal source, and a control system coupled to the engine and to the circuit element. The control system is configured for: determining whether the engine is in a windmilling state; when the engine is in a windmilling state, commanding the circuit element to apply a DC signal to the electric starter motor; and modulating the DC signal applied to the electric starter motor to control a level of rotational motion of the engine.

A vehicle includes an electric machine, friction brakes, and a controller. The electric machine is configured to recharge a battery during regenerative braking. The friction brakes are configured to apply torque to wheels of the vehicle to decelerate the vehicle. The controller is programmed to, responsive to an anti-lock braking event, adjust a regenerative braking torque of the electric machine based on a difference between a desired wheel slip ratio and an actual wheel slip ratio.

A method for braking a motor in a high lift system of an aircraft, the high lift system comprising a central power drive unit for moving high lift surfaces arranged at a wing through providing rotational power by means of a transmission shaft to a plurality of drive stations operably coupled with the high lift surfaces; which power drive unit is operatively coupled to a controller and comprises at least one electric motor coupled therewith. The method includes determining a braking requirement for the at least one electric motor, measuring at least one of a current command to the motor and a current speed and direction of the at least one electric motor, based on the braking requirement, applying a braking command to the at least one electric motor, and reducing the braking command as the at least one electric motor comes to rest.

A method for braking a motor in a high lift system of an aircraft, the high lift system comprising a central power drive unit for moving high lift surfaces arranged at a wing through providing rotational power by means of a transmission shaft to a plurality of drive stations operably coupled with the high lift surfaces; which power drive unit is operatively coupled to a controller and comprises at least one electric motor coupled therewith. The method includes determining a braking requirement for the at least one electric motor, measuring at least one of a current command to the motor and a current speed and direction of the at least one electric motor, based on the braking requirement, applying a braking command to the at least one electric motor, and reducing the braking command as the at least one electric motor comes to rest.

A vacuum pump and a motor controller that make a safe transition to a regeneration mode while avoiding an overvoltage are provided. A turbo molecular pump includes a power supply unit that converts alternating-current power to direct-current power and outputs the power, the alternating-current power being obtained from an alternating-current power supply, and the motor controller that controls a motor. The motor controller includes: a motor driving circuit that drives the motor when receiving direct-current power or regenerated power; a backflow prevention diode interposed between the power supply unit and the motor driving circuit; a power-failure detection circuit that detects a primary voltage of the backflow prevention diode; a driving-voltage sensing circuit that detects a secondary voltage of the backflow prevention diode; and a motor control circuit that determines, when the primary voltage drops to a predetermined power-failure detection threshold value, whether a power failure is a primary power failure of the alternating-current power or a secondary power failure of the direct-current power based on a voltage difference between the primary voltage and the secondary voltage, and controls the motor driving circuit so as to enter a regeneration mode.

A vacuum pump and a motor controller that make a safe transition to a regeneration mode while avoiding an overvoltage are provided. A turbo molecular pump includes a power supply unit that converts alternating-current power to direct-current power and outputs the power, the alternating-current power being obtained from an alternating-current power supply, and the motor controller that controls a motor. The motor controller includes: a motor driving circuit that drives the motor when receiving direct-current power or regenerated power; a backflow prevention diode interposed between the power supply unit and the motor driving circuit; a power-failure detection circuit that detects a primary voltage of the backflow prevention diode; a driving-voltage sensing circuit that detects a secondary voltage of the backflow prevention diode; and a motor control circuit that determines, when the primary voltage drops to a predetermined power-failure detection threshold value, whether a power failure is a primary power failure of the alternating-current power or a secondary power failure of the direct-current power based on a voltage difference between the primary voltage and the secondary voltage, and controls the motor driving circuit so as to enter a regeneration mode.

A method is provided for identifying a battery pack that is operably coupled to a battery charger. The method comprises: measuring voltage at a plurality of designated terminals of a first battery pack while the battery pack is coupled to the battery charger; determining how many of the designated terminals are connected to a reference voltage, such as battery positive; and identifying an attribute of the battery pack based on how many of the designated terminals are connected to the reference voltage.