Abstract: A power supply housing with folding rotatable mounted blades adapted to rotate between a retracted position and an extended position. In a retracted position, the blades are adapted to be plugged into various receptacle adapters for use with receptacle configurations outside of North America. In an extended position, the rotatable blades are adapted to be plugged into a standard receptacle. A rotatable barrier is provided which prevents accidental contact with the blades when the blades are plugged into a standard receptacle, thereby enabling the power supply housing to meet industry standards.

Abstract: A battery charger for fast charging batteries, such as batteries requiring constant current charging, such as lithium ion batteries. The battery charger provides charging voltages across a battery pack having at least one rechargeable cell connected to battery terminals. The battery charger includes a digital to analog converter circuit for controlling a current source for supplying a charging current to the battery pack. The digital to analog converter may provide a constant current or a constant voltage output as a function of the battery characteristics. An analog to digital converter measures a first voltage across the battery pack while the battery pack is being charged and a second voltage across the battery pack while the charging current is interrupted, and a digital processor determines the potential difference between the first voltage and the second voltage to determine a voltage drop across the terminals of the battery pack.

Abstract: A battery charger for use with different types of batteries, such as batteries requiring constant current charging, such as nickel cadmium (NiCd) and nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, as well as batteries which not only require constant current charging, but also require constant voltage charging, such as lithium ion batteries. The battery charger includes a pulse width modulator circuit for controlling a power transistor to provide a constant current or a constant voltage output as a function of the battery characteristics. The battery charger may include dual pockets for charging two modular batteries on a time division multiplex basis. In the dual pocket application, power is divided between the two pockets as a function of the charging characteristics of the battery and the power dissipation of the power transistors used for supplying charging current to the pockets.

Abstract: A low cost load sensing technique that is suitable for use in sensing batteries in a battery charging circuit is disclosed. The circuit is adapted to be utilized in conjunction with a power supply which may include a primary converter and a voltage feedback circuit. A transformer with a dual secondary winding is connected between the primary converter and the output terminals of the charging circuit. When no load or battery is present, a first feedback loop is utilized with both of the secondary transformer windings in series, which supplies a constant output voltage at the output terminals. When a load is present, a second feedback loop is utilized which includes one of the secondary windings to provide the voltage of the output terminals. A capacitor is connected in parallel with the other secondary winding. When a load is present, a step increase in voltage occurs across the capacitor due to the fact that the both secondary windings are in phase when a load is present.