Abstract: A surveillance drone system is provided herein generally including an UAV, a base power station, and, a tether for connecting the UAV to the base power station to provide electrical power to the UAV when airborne. The base power station may include a cable take-up assembly for releasing and taking up the tether. A plug or power module is provided at the free end of the tether configured to be detachably coupled with the UAV, to transmit electrical power to, and, possibly, data to and from, the UAV. With the plug or power module being detached, the UAV is free to fly unrestricted. This arrangement allows for the UAV to be airborne for prolonged periods to allow for monitoring a region and for release to allow the UAV to investigate anomalies in the monitored region.

Abstract: In accordance with at least selected embodiments, the present disclosure or invention is directed to novel or improved testing apparatus for testing lead acid batteries and/or their components, and/or the efficacy of their components, testing tables, testing systems, and/or related methods. In accordance with at least certain embodiments, the present disclosure or invention is directed to novel or improved methods for testing lead acid batteries and/or their components, and/or the efficacy of their components. In accordance with at least certain selected embodiments, the present disclosure or invention is directed to novel or improved systems for testing lead acid batteries and/or their components, and/or the efficacy of their components.

Abstract: A method of operating a charging system may include connecting the charging system to a power grid with a plurality of phases, measuring a plurality of phase currents of the plurality of phases at a balance point, and transmitting a plurality of performance targets to a plurality of electrical consumers connected to one of a plurality of charging points of the charging system. The method may also include changing a performance target of the plurality of performance targets for each of the plurality of charging points individually for a predetermined test time interval and measuring a corresponding change of the plurality of phase currents at the balance point. The method may further include, based on the corresponding change of the plurality of phase currents, determining whether an electrical consumer charges with a significant current and whether the electrical consumer could charge with a higher current.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system including a computer programmed to actuate a plurality of drones to first establish one or more electrical connections therebetween and then to provide a jump start to a vehicle.

Abstract: A method for depassivation of an energy storage device having an anode, a cathode and a core with an electrolyte, the method including: detecting that a first predetermined event related to a buildup of passivation has occurred with regard to the energy storage device; switching between a positive input voltage and a negative input voltage provided to the anode at a frequency sufficient to depassivate the anode; discontinuing the switching when a second predetermined event related to passivation has occurred.

Abstract: A charge-pump control circuit includes an oscillator which supplies a clock for driving a charge pump driver to supply a first gate voltage to a discharging transistor in order to control discharge from a battery, and driving a charge pump driver to supply a second gate voltage to a charging transistor in order to control charge to the battery, respectively; and a drive control circuit which sets a control target voltage as one of the first gate voltage and the second gate voltage having a lower voltage in order to control generation of the clock by the oscillator according to the control target voltage.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery jump starting device with a control switch backlight system. The control switch backlight system is configured to assist a user viewing the selectable positions of the control switch for selecting a particular 12V or 24V operating mode of the portable rechargeable battery jump starting device in day light, sunshine, low light, and darkness.

Abstract: A power supply conversion structure and an electronic device including the same are provided. By providing a voltage regulating module connected to a switched capacitor converter, the voltage regulating module receives a first voltage of the switched capacitor converter and converts the first voltage into a second voltage, and the second voltage is higher than a voltage of a current battery, so that in the use process of the electronic device, if a voltage output to a load of the electronic device is reduced below a threshold voltage, the voltage output to the load of the electronic device is boosted to be higher than the voltage of the current battery, thus avoiding bad customer experience such as black screen and even shutdown of the electronic device. As the switched capacitor converter and the voltage regulating module operate cooperatively, the number of switches can be reduced.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a battery charging apparatus and a battery charging protection control method. A power adapter in the battery charging apparatus performs data communication with a charging control circuit; when the power adapter determines that overvoltage and/or overcurrent occurs in the direct current output by a communication interface of the power adapter, the power adapter notifies the charging control circuit to drive a controller in the electronic device to switch off a communication interface of the electronic device and switches off the direct current output automatically; when the charging control circuit determines that overvoltage and/or overcurrent occurs upon receiving output voltage and output current of the power adapter, the charging control circuit notifies the power adapter to switch off the direct current output and drives the controller in the electronic device to switch off the communication interface of the electronic device.

Abstract: A charging circuit includes: an interface; a plurality of charging management components connected to the interface in parallel; and a plurality of battery packs, wherein each of the plurality of battery packs includes a battery or a plurality of batteries connected in series with each other, the plurality of battery packs are connected in series with the plurality of charging management components, respectively, and the plurality of battery packs are connected in parallel; wherein the plurality of charging management components are electrically connected with each other to adjust, through signal interaction between the plurality of charging management components, a charging current that is input to each of the battery packs, such that a time period of a maximum charging current for each battery pack is different from a time period of a maximum charging current for another battery pack.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a two-stage on-board battery charger that can generate a wide range of output voltages is described herein. Generally, the battery charger employs a first stage buck and boost Power Factor Correction (PFC) converter, and a second stage DC-DC converter. The buck and boost PFC converter is capable of generating variable intermediate DC-link voltages which allow the on-board battery charger to efficiently generate the wider range of output voltages.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to systems, devices, methods, and computer-readable storage medium for adaptive/dynamic thermal management of an electrical power system having variable electric loads that may impact performance or life of the electrical power system. Embodiments may include adaptive thermal management of at least one of an energy storage system and an electric energy supply. Applications of this disclosure may include adaptive thermal management method for electric vehicles and non-mobility applications, particularly having variable electrical loads that may impact performance or life of the application.

Abstract: An external electric vehicle battery thermal management system is described. An electric vehicle thermal system provides external coolant to an internal battery thermal system of an electric vehicle. The internal battery thermal system includes a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger to cool or warm the set of batteries of the electric vehicle. The external coolant is pumped through a first side of the heat exchanger and serves as the source to cool or heat internal coolant pumped through a second side of the heat exchanger. The external coolant and the internal coolant do not mix.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling optimization of a charging amount of a battery for a vehicle charged with external power includes: a map storage, a position detector, and a controller to control the map storage and the position detector. The controller acquires a current position of the vehicle when a driver's desired charging setting value is input, acquires altitude information of topography corresponding to a driving path, calculates a gain charging amount in an uphill or downhill section on the driving path based on the altitude information, calculates an optimum charging setting value based on the driver's desired charging setting value and the gain charging amount, calculates a final target charging amount based on the optimum charging setting value and a current residual charging amount, and performs optimum charging of the battery.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for supplying power to gate drivers of a switched-mode power supply (SMPS) circuit. One example power supply circuit generally includes a SMPS circuit having a first input voltage node and a second input voltage node, and a charge pump. The charge pump generally includes a first capacitive element having a first terminal and a second terminal; a first switch coupled between a first input node of the charge pump and the first terminal of the first capacitive element; a second switch coupled between the second terminal of the first capacitive element and a second input node of the charge pump; a third switch coupled between the first terminal of the first capacitive element and the first input voltage node of the SMPS circuit; and a fourth switch coupled between the second terminal of the first capacitive element and the second input voltage node of the SMPS circuit.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for providing wireless power to a mobile device, such as an aerial mobile device like an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A navigational constraint model may prescribe a navigation path along which a wireless power transmission system can provide wireless power to the mobile device. Deviations from the prescribed path may require the mobile device to self-power. The prescription of a navigation path allows for the use of reduced-complexity wireless power transmitters that are fully capable of servicing the prescribed path. Multiple embodiments of prescribed paths with various limitations and features are set forth herein, along with multiple embodiments of wireless power transmission systems of reduced complexity and functionality to fully service the various embodiments of prescribed paths.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a charging control system for an electric vehicle including: an input device for receiving inputs of a demanded charge amount of a battery so as to charge the battery by using a charger; a processor configured to compute an expected charge time required to charge the battery and an expected drivable distance on completion of charging based on the demanded charge amount input to the input device; and an output device for displaying the expected charge time and the expected drivable distance computed by the processor.

Abstract: A base station configured for charging an autonomous drone may comprise a first conductive groove and a second conductive groove. The first conductive groove and the second conductive groove may be configured to interface with a first conductive strip and a second conductive strip disposed on a landing gear of the autonomous drone. The base station may be configured to charge a battery of the autonomous drone in response to the first conductive groove interfacing with the first conductive strip and the second conductive groove interfacing with the second conductive strip.

Abstract: In one aspect, a thermoelectric anti-freeze block-based system includes a cartridge with a chemical battery comprising. The chemical battery for a gel material. The chemical battery uses the gel material to maintain an internal chamber of the cartridge at a specified temperature for a specified period of time, and the internal chamber of the cartridge, wherein the internal chamber comprises a sealable cylindrical cavity surrounded by the chemical battery. A vacuum-insulation thermos is provided that includes an internal chamber to hold the cartridge with the chemical battery. A charging station is provided that includes a thermoelectric anti-freeze block-based charging station includes a liquid pump. The liquid pump is connected through a bottom of the charging station where a thermoelectric cooler system is provided. The liquid pump comprises a radiator, a fan and an anti-freeze liquid material. The liquid pump circulates the anti-freeze liquid material inside the charging station and through the radiators.

Abstract: A battery module that includes a battery and a bidirectional DC-DC converter including a switching element that is arranged at a position where heat generated by the switching element is transmitted to the battery. The bidirectional DC-DC converter operates in a discharge mode in which DC power supplied from the battery is converted and supplied to an input/output unit, and in a charge mode in which DC power supplied from the input/output unit is converted and supplied to the battery. Moreover, a control unit forces the bidirectional DC-DC converter to operate in the discharge mode and to increase a switching frequency of the switching element in comparison with a switching frequency in normal driving, when a temperature in a periphery of the battery needs to be increased.