Abstract: An inverter and battery charger system that uses no power magnetic components to convert DC power supply from a plurality of batteries to AC power and achieves very high efficiency and small size. The inverter takes advantage of the different voltages in a series string of batteries to create small voltage steps to approximate a sinewave or other waveforms. By changing the timing where the voltage steps are selected, different frequencies can be obtained. The low frequency operation of the inverter produces little radio frequency interference. The battery charger applies charging current to the various nodes in the series string of battery cells to charge each one as needed to accommodate the differing levels of discharge used to make a sinewave or other waveform.

Abstract: A battery bank control device is provided for setting a power limit value of a battery bank in which a plurality of battery racks (BRs) are connected in parallel. The device includes: a voltage measurement unit measuring a voltage of each BR of the plurality of BRs; a first power limit calculation unit calculating a first power limit value according to a state of charge (SOC) calculated based on the voltage of each BR with respect to each BR; a capacity ratio calculation unit calculating a capacity ratio of each BR based on capacity information of the plurality of BRs; a second power limit calculation unit calculating a second power limit value using the capacity ratio and the first power limit value of each BR; and a battery bank power limit calculation unit calculating a battery bank power limit value using the second power limit value of each BR.

Abstract: The solar USB charger comprises a first solar panel, a second solar panel, a spine, a controller, and a pocket. The first solar panel and the second solar panel may be adapted to convert incident light from a light source into an electrical potential. As a non-limiting example, the light source may be the sun. The electrical potentials from the first solar panel and the second solar panel may be electrically coupled to the controller where the electrical potential may be operable to recharge a battery, to power one or more USB charging ports, to illuminate a plurality of LEDs, or combinations thereof. The first solar panel and the second solar panel may be hingedly coupled via the spine. The plurality of LEDs may be operable to provide illumination.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes an automotive battery system that uses switching devices to increase operational performance and reliability. The battery system includes a battery cell, a primary switching device electrically coupled to a terminal of the battery cell, and a secondary switching device electrically coupled to the terminal of the battery cell and in parallel with the primary switching device. The primary switching device includes an electromechanical switching device that enables charging or discharging of the battery and generates a boosted voltage. A secondary switching device includes a solid-state switching device and a diode, electrically coupled in series, which detect short circuit conditions in a power-efficient manner and remove the short circuit condition by using the boosted voltage to actuate the armature.

Abstract: An electronic device powered by a solar panel and a rechargeable battery. The electronic device prevents draining of the rechargeable battery through the solar panel when the solar panel is unable to provide sufficient energy to power the electronic device. The electronic device prevents unnecessary charging and discharging of the rechargeable battery by disconnecting the rechargeable battery when the rechargeable battery is fully charged. The electronic device detects and reports a defective rechargeable battery by powering the electronic device off of the solar panel. The electronic device detects and handles brownout conditions when powered by the solar panel by re-connecting the rechargeable battery.

Abstract: An electric vehicle charger includes a power supply and a controller. The power supply is for supplying electric power over a charging connection to an electric vehicle. The charging connection employs charging conductors to supply electric power from the power supply to the electric vehicle for charging. The power supply is adapted to send data to and receive data from the electric vehicle over the charging conductors according to a power-line communications protocol. The controller coupled to the power supply to control supply of electric power to the electric vehicle, The controller is adapted to, prior to initiating supply of electric power by the power supply to the electric vehicle for charging, communicate with the electric vehicle to identify a payment method associated with the electric vehicle and with the payment network to authorize the payment method for payment for electric power supplied to the electric vehicle for charging.

Abstract: A system and method for the overcurrent protection in an electric vehicle is illustrated. The system comprises an electric vehicle charging port that includes an AC pin, a DC pin, a sensor, and a controller. The electric vehicle charging port also includes a protection circuit, wherein the protection circuit is configured to control a transmission of power through the electric vehicle charging port.

Abstract: There are provided a battery management apparatus, a battery management method and a battery pack. The battery management apparatus includes a sensing unit configured to detect a current, a voltage and a temperature of a battery, and a control unit. The control unit determines a first candidate value for a state of charge (SOC) of the battery using ampere counting. The control unit determines a Kalman gain and a second candidate value for the SOC using an extended Kalman filter. The control unit determines the first candidate value as the SOC when a difference value between the first candidate value and the second candidate value is larger than a threshold value. The control unit adjusts a ratio of second process noise to first process noise in the extended Kalman filter based on a first component and a second component of the Kalman gain.

Abstract: A cable assembly includes a cable having a first end and a second end. The cable has an electric conductor and a cooling conduit, each of which extends from the first end to the second end. The cooling conduit is adapted to convey a fluid that cools the electric conductor. The cable assembly includes a leak detection module to detect a leak of the fluid from the cooling conduit. The leak detection module includes a power source to generate an input voltage signal which is applied at a first node contact with the fluid. The leak detection module includes a controller to monitor an output voltage signal at the first node and to detect a leak of the fluid from the cooling conduit based on the output voltage signal.

Abstract: Power converting devices (100) for power tools. One embodiment provides a power converter device (100) including a power source (200), a power converter (210) coupled to the power source (200), and an electronic processor (220) coupled to the power converter (210) to control the operation of the power converter (210). The power converter (210) is configured to receive an input power in one form or at a first voltage from the power source and convert the input power to an output power in another form or at a second voltage. The power converter (210) includes at least one wide bandgap field effect transistor controlled by the electronic processor (220) to convert the input power to output power.

Abstract: In a control device for a vehicle, the vehicle is configured to charge an electric power storage device with an electric power supplied from a charger. The control device includes an input and output circuit and a control circuit. The input and output circuit is configured to input predetermined signal and output the predetermined signal. The control circuit is configured to prepare for charging of the electric power storage device by controlling transmission and reception of signals through the input and output circuit according to a predefined communication sequence. The control circuit is configured to proceed with the predefined communication sequence by transmitting the second signal to the charger even when the vehicle does not receive the first signal at the predetermined timing.

Abstract: A battery system for a motor vehicle. The battery system includes an actuating unit, a main control unit, multiple sub-control units, and multiple battery cells. The actuating unit is in signal communication with the sub-control units for data acquisition from the sub-control units. Each sub-control unit is in signal communication with a battery cell for data acquisition from the assigned battery cell. The main control unit is electrically connected to the sub-control units supplying power to the sub-control units. A method for operating a battery system is also described.

Abstract: A method for establishing an electrical connection of a vehicle contact unit of a vehicle which is at least in part electrically powered, to a ground contact unit of an electric charging infrastructure is provided. The ground contact unit has a plurality of electrical contact surfaces, at least two of which have to be contacted by the vehicle contact unit for charging the vehicle battery. The method includes the step of detecting, with the aid of at least one camera on the vehicle, at least one of the electrical contact surfaces and/or at least one insulation surface surrounding the electrical contact surfaces, for establishing an electrical connection. Further provided are a vehicle connection device for electrically connecting a vehicle contact unit of a vehicle which is at least in part electrically powered, to a ground contact unit of an electric charging infrastructure, and a vehicle having a vehicle connection device.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed configured to charge an electrical vehicle. The systems include a pallet sized to support and transport one or more vehicles. The pallet has a retractable charging cable housed on an underside of the pallet and extendable through an opening on a top surface of the pallet to couple a plug of the charging cable to a receptacle in an electric vehicle supported by the pallet. The pallet includes a cable retraction mechanism that maintains the charging cable under tension when the cable is in the extended position and protrudes from the top surface of the pallet or in the retracted position where the charging cable is housed on the underside of the pallet. The pallet can be used in mechanical parking systems, such as puzzle parking systems and stacker parking systems.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle charging station (1) comprising a first reservoir (5) arranged to contain a first charging fluid and a charging fluid delivery system (3) arranged to deliver at least part of the first charging fluid (5) into a heat exchange relationship with a vehicle thermal energy storage material (108) of a vehicle (100) selectively connected to the vehicle charging station (1), thereby charging the vehicle thermal energy storage material (108) by changing its temperature and/or phase and/or chemistry.

Abstract: A network-based energy management system of managing electric vehicle (EV) charging network infrastructure is provided. The system comprises a gateway including one or more of an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), a building automation system and any other independent controller. The gateway is configured for performing charging authorization, load management and/or demand response on an EVSE network using more than one communication channels including remote and/or local modes. The EVSE network includes two or more components from a group of components including a first EVSE, a controller, a second EVSE, the building automation system, a local server, a remote server and other energy management device.

Abstract: A method of operating a charging station for a marine battery on a marine vessel is provided, wherein the charging station includes a charger configured to deliver a DC charge current from an AC power source and wherein the charger is at least partially encapsulated in an enclosure located on a dock structure in or adjacent to a body of water. Upon the marine battery being operatively coupled to the charging station, charging the marine battery with the charger using the power source. At least one pump is controlled to draw in cooling water from the body of water and to circulate the cooling water through the enclosure to cool the charger.

Abstract: An ear-worn electronic monitoring system includes an on-ear component comprising a housing configured for placement on, in or about the wearer's ear. The on-ear component comprises a power source and a first interface coupled to the power source. The monitoring system also includes an in-ear component comprising a housing configured for deployment at least partially within an ear canal of the wearer. The in-ear component comprises a second interface configured to couple to and decouple from the first interface, a controller coupled to a memory, one or more physiologic sensors coupled to the controller and memory, and power management circuitry coupled to the controller. The power management circuitry comprises a wireless power receiver configured to receive power from a wireless powering arrangement. The power management circuitry is further configured to receive power from the power source of the on-ear component when the second interface is coupled to the first interface.

Abstract: A direct current (DC) electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) that includes a secure enclosure. The secure enclosure encloses a set of one or more contactors to open and close to provide DC charge transfer with one or more electric vehicles; a conductor to electrically connect the contactors with DC input; a current sensor to measure current draw; a voltage sensing circuitry to measure voltage; and one or more circuits that receive current data from the current sensor and voltage data from the voltage sensing circuitry, the one or more circuits to perform one or more safety functions and one or more metering functions using the received current data and voltage data. The DC EVSE may also include, external to the secure enclosure, a controller that is coupled with the circuits to control the opening and closing of the set of contactors.

Abstract: A device charger is provided. The device charger includes: a faceplate having an electrical outlet-sized aperture therethrough, the faceplate comprising an electrical circuit; a first body extending from a rear side of the faceplate, the first body comprising an AC-to-DC power supply; a second body extending from the rear side of the faceplate, the first body and the second body including respective electrical contacts located to electrically contact one or more respective electrical outlet terminals, the respective electrical contacts configured to provide alternating current from the terminals to an AC input of the power supply at least partially via the electrical circuit of the faceplate; and at least one electrical connector, located at a front side of the faceplate, connected to a DC output of the power supply, the at least one electrical connector for providing DC power to an external device connected thereto.