Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device, in particular a charger device, with a measuring unit (10) for acquiring at least one battery characteristic value. It is provided that the device includes an arithmetic unit (12) which is provided to determine an ageing-specific charging mode as a function, at the least, of the acquired battery characteristic value.

Abstract: To provide a system for controlling the charging of a secondary battery (battery), which is capable of keeping an initial charging/discharging characteristic of the battery in consideration of a change in environmental temperature and deterioration of the battery with elapsed time. An ordinary charging portion for performing a first charging control specified to stop the charging at a charge level less than a full-charge level is used in combination with a refresh charging portion for performing a second charging control specified to stop the charging at a charge level more than the full charge level. After the charging by the ordinary charging portion is continuously repeated by a specific number of times, for example, ten times, the next charging is performed by the refresh charging portion.

Abstract: Occurrence of power supply noise arising in connection with a step-down action at the time of turning on power supply is to be restrained. A step-down unit is provided with a switched capacitor type step-down circuit and a series regulator type step-down circuit, and stepped-down voltage output terminals of the step-down circuits are connected in common. The common connection of the stepped-down voltage output terminals of both step-down circuits makes possible parallel driving of both, selective driving of either or consecutive driving of the two. In the consecutive driving, even if the switched capacitor type step-down circuit is driven after driving the series regulator type step-down circuit first to supply a stepped-down voltage to loads, the switched capacitor type step-down circuit will need only to be compensated for a discharge due to the loads, and a peak of a charge current for capacitors can be kept low.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a multiple battery system and auxiliary battery attachment system. The invention provides a battery housing having a common positive terminal and a common negative terminal coupled to an electrical system. A main battery having a main positive output and a main negative output is also provided, together with an auxiliary battery having an auxiliary positive output and an auxiliary negative output. A switching device is provided with at least two operating positions. The two operating positions selectively engage the main battery and the auxiliary battery. In the first operating position of the at least two operating positions the common positive terminal is coupled to the main positive output and the auxiliary positive output, a one-way charging circuit preceding the auxiliary battery.

Abstract: A control device, which controls a power-converting module that is coupled to a light-emitting component, includes a duration detecting unit and a control signal generator. The duration detecting unit compares the duration of a predetermined logic state of a pulsating input dim control signal with a reference time period. The control signal generator is enabled by the duration detecting unit so as to generate a control signal that enables the power-converting module to generate a drive voltage for driving the light-emitting component when the duration of the predetermined logic state is not longer than the reference time period. The duration detecting unit disables the control signal generator to disable the power-converting module when the duration of the predetermined logic state is longer than the reference time period.

Abstract: A driver for a power converter, method of driving a switch thereof, and a power converter employing the same. In one embodiment, the driver includes switching circuitry referenced to a voltage level and configured to provide a drive signal for a switch referenced to another voltage level and subject to a control voltage limit. In a related, but alternative embodiment, the driver is employable with a power converter couplable to a source of electrical power adapted to provide an input voltage thereto. The power converter includes a power train having a switch referenced to the input voltage and subject to a control voltage limit. The driver includes switching circuitry referenced to a voltage level different from the input voltage and configured to provide a drive signal for the switch within the control voltage limit of the switch.

Abstract: A method for determining characteristic variables for electrical states of an energy storage battery includes subdividing an electrolyte volume of the battery into at least two electrolyte volume components with associated electrolyte balancing areasabd defining at least two electrode plate balancing areas by subdividing the total resistance of electrode plates in the battery into resistance components for the defined electrode plate balancing areas and by subdividing the total energy storage capacity of the electrode plates into energy storage capacity components for the defined electrode plate balancing areas. The method further includes determining the electrolyte concentration of the electrolyte volume components for the defined electrolyte balancing areas and determining the amounts of charge which are held in the electrode plates in each of the electrode plate balancing areas. At least one characteristic variable for associated electrical states of the battery is determined using a mathematical model.

Abstract: A current detection circuit of the present invention has a switching device 1; an auxiliary switching device 2; an offset voltage source comprising an offset resistor device 7 and a current source circuit 8; a compensation circuit, comprising a differential amplifier 4 and a compensation transistor 5, for adjusting the output current of the auxiliary switching device 2 so that the potential obtained by subtracting the voltage drop across the offset resistor device 7 from the output potential of the switching device 1 is equal to the output potential of the auxiliary switching device 2, being configured that the detection level of the current flowing in the switching device 1 is shifted by an offset amount.

Abstract: A voltage control apparatus checks a battery voltage when an automotive generator gradually increases its output to be within a predetermined range after temporarily stopping the generator. Then, the battery voltage is picked up to calculate the charge rate. Further, a first charge rate and a first residual capacity of the battery is memorized when the engine is stopped. Periodically, a pseudo-open circuit voltage is checked when a charge/discharge current fits within a predetermined small range while the engine is not running, and a second charge rate calculated based on the checked pseudo-open circuit voltage. A second residual capacity is calculated using the first charge rate, the first residual capacity and the second charge rate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to implement parallel current mode control that is suitable for digital and analog implementation. A duty cycle algorithm is composed of a voltage term and a parallel current term which depends on the inductor current change between the inductor current value at the beginning of a switching cycle and the reference inductor current value at the end of that switching cycle. Parallel current mode control can be applied to all DC-DC converters, including both non-isolated and isolated topologies. It can also be applied to AC-DC converters with power factor correction.

Abstract: A stabilized power supply for X-ray tubes having a first rectifier circuit, an inverter circuit comprising main switches, a transformer, a second rectifier circuit an oscillation circuit and an inverter circuit. The power supply includes an auxiliary circuit that can be, driven and is parallel-connected to the oscillation circuit. The auxiliary circuit duplicates changeover switching times of the switches of the inverter in order to limit an overlapping phenomenon that occurs for these switches during the changeover switching operations.

Abstract: In a soft start period after power-on, a voltage regulating apparatus checks LED by LED to determine whether the LED is mounted on a position to receive a drive voltage. After the soft start period, the voltage regulating apparatus monitors the driving status of each of the plurality of LEDs. When it is determined as a result of monitoring that the driving status of at least one of the LEDs is improper, the voltage regulating apparatus increases the drive voltage. In this process, the monitoring on an LED determined to be unmounted as a result of a mount checking process is invalidated. With this, it is ensured that a result of monitoring on the LED unmounted is prevented from affecting the increasing of the drive voltage.

Abstract: A switching power supply circuit in which a series circuit comprising a resistive element and a capacitive element is provided in a parallel configuration with an inductor which supplies a load current to a load circuit, a voltage comparator having first and second threshold voltages discriminates a voltage obtained from a mutual connecting point of the series circuit therefrom and controls a switch element for supplying a current to the inductor, thereby varying the current supplied to the inductor in accordance with a variation in the load current is combined with a series power supply circuit which shares the load current of the load circuit.

Abstract: A method of charging an electrochemical generator having a plurality of electrochemical cells. The method includes the step of charging the plurality of electrochemical cells such that the total voltage of the generator reaches a predetermined voltage level, followed by the steps of selecting a particular electrochemical cell and charging the particular electrochemical cell to its respective maximum voltage, such that the cathode(s) of the particular electrochemical cell is(are) restored to a fully-charged state. Once it has been restored to its fully-charged state, the particular electrochemical cell is allowed to discharge itself down to a nominal voltage. Each of the plurality of electrochemical cells of the generator is selected and charged to its respective maximum voltage in turn, according to a predetermined selection sequence.

Abstract: A power converter includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, and a plurality of switches coupled to the primary and secondary winding, the plurality of switches responsive to at least one control signal to short both the primary and secondary winding during a first reset time interval. An electronic device including such a power converter and related methods are also provided. A power converter having a plurality of DC to DC converters coupled in parallel is also provided.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter of multi-output type is provided wherein a primary winding 5a is wound around core halves 5g, 5h of a transformer 5 between first and second secondary windings 5b, 5c of transformer 5 also concentrically wound around core halves 5g, 5h to form an electromagnetic sparse coupling between first and second secondary windings 5b, 5c. When on-off operation of first and second primary MOS-FETs 2, 3 generates first and second DC outputs VO1, VO2, the electromagnetic sparse coupling can reduce, attenuate or relax serge voltage induced on first secondary winding 5b.

Abstract: A power supply circuit includes an output driver transistor, a reference voltage generator circuit, an output voltage detector circuit, an amplifier circuit, and a buffer circuit. The output driver transistor outputs a current in accordance with a first control signal input thereto. The reference voltage generator circuit generates a predetermined reference voltage. The output voltage detector circuit detects an output voltage and outputs a divided voltage generated based on the output voltage. The amplifier circuit has a first polarity and a second polarity opposite to the first polarity and compares the predetermined reference voltage and the divided voltage and outputs a second control signal. The buffer circuit receives the second control signal and controls the operation of the output driver transistor in accordance with the second control signal. The buffer circuit includes first and second transistors having a polarity same as the second polarity of the amplifier circuit.

Abstract: A method for determining a state of charge (SOC) characteristic variable for a storage battery including determining a first SOC value and a second SOC value. The method further including determining changes in the first and second SOC values. These changes in the first and second SOC values are measured between a first operating time and a second operating time. The method also including determining a characteristic variable relating to the state of charge as a function of the change in the first and second SOC values.

Abstract: A novel switching power supply device no more in need of a stand-by signal for turning on/off a switching element is provided. The switching power supply device is configured as having a main switching element Q1, wherein the switching power supply circuit is connected with a pulse oscillation circuit IC1 for outputting pulse signal; the pulse oscillation circuit and an output terminal of the main switching element are connected with an input section of an internal detection circuit 12; the internal detection circuit 12 is configured so as to control timing of switching of the main switching element Q1 upon detection of the pulse signal supplied from the pulse oscillation circuit IC1.

Abstract: A mobile toy is described. The mobile toy includes a wheel assembly having a hubcap for removably engaging a wheel of the wheel assembly. The mobile toy may also include a transmitter having a charging pad for charging of a radio-controlled embodiment of the toy. The transmitter comprises an indicator showing certain states of the toy as well as a storage compartment for housing items associated with the toy. Additional embodiments include an assembly for retaining the toy on the charging pad during charging of the toy. A kit for storing the components of the radio-controlled embodiment of the toy is also described.