Abstract: A battery charging system which prevents false switching from a fast charge mode to a trickle charge mode due to low frequency voltage aberration signals. The battery charging system includes a battery voltage analyzer and a plurality of battery charging and conditioning units for charging different types and kinds of nickel cadmium batteries. Firmware in the microprocessor rejects low frequency aberrations permitting a desired voltage signal to be produced which is indicative of the actual battery potential for charge switching purposes.

Abstract: A battery protective circuit for a portable cassette recorder equipping both battery and re-charger for preventing power consumption generated by the re-charger being charged by battery power when battery voltage is higher than re-charger voltage;when the power is supplied to a terminal of an instrument main frame by battery power, the circuit can prevent the charging by the battery to the re-charger by way of cutting off the connection between re-charger and battery. The circuit can also prevent unnecessary consumption of battery by causing the charge of re-charger to be possible only when an adapter which supplies power from separate power source is connected;the battery protective circuit in accordance with the present invention can obtain the effect of preventing unnecessary battery consumption and of lengthening the life span of battery by avoiding charging the re-charger through the battery.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of rechargeable batteries for supply of electrical power. Devices are provided which are highly efficient and which provide accurate and reliable control and indications, while using a small number of component parts and being otherwise readily and economically manufacturable. Devices of the invention are compact and such that they can be readily included, if desired, as integral parts of battery packs such as those used for supplying power to lap-computers and other types of portable equipment.

Abstract: The present invention is a liquid cooled electric machine (10) having enhanced cooling of the end turns (22) by providing intimate contact between the end turns and coolant fluid flowing through a first annular flow channel (34) and a second annular flow channel (50). Furthermore, a cylindrical liner (62) which is force fit within the annulus of the stator 12 forms part of the first and second annular flow channels and further provides support against radially inward deflection of the end turns (22). Furthermore, the invention is a cooling system (200) for an exciter generator in a self-excited electric power generator which has a liquid coolant circuit (216) which splits coolant flow between an inside surface (222) of a fullwave rectifier assembly (214) and an outside surface (226) of the fullwave rectifier assembly which absorbs heat from the rotor of the exciter generator.

Abstract: Charging equipment includes a portable apparatus charging portion for receiving a portable apparatus containing a cell pack to be charged, and a simple cell pack charging portion for receiving a simple cell pack separated from the portable apparatus and charging the same. The charging equipment is able to charge not only a portable charging apparatus containing a cell pack, but also a simple separable cell pack.

Abstract: A reference voltage generating circuit generates a reference voltage Vz, which is a predetermined level different from the potential of one of the terminals of a secondary battery. A minute voltage change extracting circuit comprises a operational amplifier to which the reference voltage Vz is input, a capacitor C, and a resistor R. The minute voltage change extracting circuit extracts minute voltage changes, which appear in the last stage of a process of charging the secondary battery and have components of a frequency higher than a change in a terminal voltage corresponding to the amount of charge, as output signals which vary around the reference voltage Vz. The output signals are shaped into pulse signals by a shaping circuit. The pulse signals are counted by a counter circuit. When the count reaches a predetermined value, charging of the secondary battery is controlled.

Abstract: A switching power supply that converts an input AC or DC voltage to a regulated output DC voltage while offering electrical isolation between the input and output stages through use of solid state switches and charge storage devices in place of isolation transformer used in traditional systems. The power supply uses two series connected switching blocks that alternately charge and discharge a storage capacitor, wherein each switching block includes a pair of switches which may be turned on and off with a duty cycle adjusted by a controller. The duty cycle and on time of each block is adjusted such that respective blocks are never turned on at the same time, thereby providing electrical isolation.

Abstract: A rotary electric motor has a stator core (1) with salient poles (4, 3), some of them ferromagnetic and some of them permanent-magnetic, which are spaced-apart and which are all simultaneously magnetizable by means of a magnetizing winding (5A, 5B). The rotor core has either reluctance poles (7) with intervening pole gaps and constant pole pitch, or permanent-magnetic poles (10) with constant pole pitch and without intervening pole gaps, alternating poles being of opposite polarities. Each reluctance pole (7) or permanent-magnetic pole (10) has a width which over a portion of the pole corresponds to respectively one-half of or the full pole pitch and is smaller over the remaining portion so that each pole (7 or 10) has a part (7B or 10A) which projects in a direction common to all poles. The ferromagnetic and permanent-magnetic poles (3, 4) of the stator (1) have a width corresponding to the width of the narrower portion of the poles (7 or 10) of the rotor (2).

Abstract: To prevent the complete discharge of a battery connected to a load, a battery voltage of the battery is compared with a reference voltage, and a switch is activated to open an electrical connection between the battery and the load when the detected battery voltage falls below the reference voltage. To compensate for dynamic characteristics of the battery and the load, a battery current flowing through the battery is detected and a value of the reference voltage is continuously set according to the detected battery current. Similarly, a battery temperature of the battery also controls the reference voltage. Also, a timer may be provided to cause the switch to open the connection between the battery and the load only when the detected battery voltage remains below the reference voltage for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: Improved circuitry for connecting a generator to a battery with a very low voltage drop conductive path whenever the generator is capable of charging the battery, yet preventing reverse current flow when the generator is not capable of charging the battery. Mechanical contacts are employed to maintain a low voltage drop connection and are controlled to open and close by known techniques. In the preferred embodiment, sensing when the generator is no longer generating sufficiently to substantially charge the battery is accomplished by monitoring the polarity of the tiny voltage drop across the closed mechanical contacts. With the mechanical contacts open, sensing when the generator begins generating sufficiently to charge the battery is accomplished by monitoring the forward voltage drop across a blocking diode in series between the generator and battery. The mechanical contacts are in parallel with the diode, so the diode voltage drop is eliminated when the mechanical contacts are closed.

Abstract: An arrangement for detecting the state of charge of a vehicle battery (B201) in an electrical system (Z201) of a vehicle comprises an array of diodes (BD201) arranged to detect the initial voltage drop across the load when energised by a switch (M201). Each diode in the array defines a predetermined forward voltage drop and the diodes are arranged to energise respective thyristors (S201 to S208) when they conduct. These thyristors energise respective LEDs (201 to 208) which form a bar graph display, whereby the greater the voltage drop across the load (Z201) the greater the number of diodes which conduct and the greater the number of LEDs which are illuminated. Accordingly the bar graph display indicates the state of charge of the battery.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring voltage as a function of temperature of a storage battery and an apparatus for controlling the charging voltage of the battery based on battery temperature, voltage, and charging system loads. The battery monitoring apparatus includes a comparator for comparing, at any temperature in the working temperature range of the battery, the actual battery voltage with a reference battery voltage. The reference battery voltage is the voltage gassing curve for the storage battery. The comparator is given a temperature coefficient provided by a temperature-sensitive band-gap voltage reference. A plurality of the temperature-sensitive band-gap reference cells may be connected together in order to accurately track any differently sloped battery gassing voltage curve.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device, such as a surface acoustic wave filter, comprises a piezoelectric film composed of a lead zirconium titanate compound applied to a substrate formed of silicon or gallium arsenide. The device includes an intermediate film between the piezoelectric film and the substrate and composed of a lead-free zirconium titanate compound to prevent interaction between lead oxide in the piezoelectric material and the material of the substrate that would otherwise cause spalling or adversely effect the electrical properties of the substrate. The piezoelectric device is made by first applying the film of the lead-free zirconium titanate compound and thereafter applying the film of the lead zirconium titanate compound. Preferably, the lead-free zirconium titanate film is applied by sputtering and annealed to densify the material and increase the dielectric constant prior to depositing the piezoelectric material.

Abstract: A device for draining a nickel cadmium or other battery prior to recharging the battery includes first and second input terminals for connecting the device to a battery to be discharged, and first and second circuits coupled to the input terminals for draining current from the battery for deep cycle discharge purposes. The first circuit has sufficient resistance to drain current from the battery without damage to the battery when the battery has an output voltage above a predetermined threshold level (e.g., 3.3 volts), and the second circuit presents a low resistance in order to drain current from the battery when the battery has an output voltage no greater than the threshold level. The device includes a relay coupled to the input terminals for decoupling the second circuit from the battery when the battery has an output voltage greater than the threshold level.

Abstract: A battery module (200) includes a preselected one (105) of a plurality of discrete electrodes (102-105) that is either electrically uncoupled, or is coupled in a fashion that is redundant with respect to one of the other electrodes (102-104). A battery module constructed in this fashion is compatible with both a microprocessor controlled rapid charger (400) and a trickle charger (500) constructed from simple discrete circuitry.

Abstract: A device for control of power (P) generated by a gas turbine (1) which drives an electric generator (2) with a rectifier (3) connected thereto, comprises a control member (6) adapted to control the fuel supply of the gas turbine (1) in such a way that the inlet temperature (T) of the gas turbine is caused to correspond, at least substantially, to a predetermined value (TR). A direct-voltage network (4) with controllable voltage (U) is connected to the rectifier (3) and the control member (6) generates a voltage control signal (URs) which is supplied to the direct-voltage network (4) .

Abstract: A charger (302) determines the voltage baseline of a battery (306) and establishes a voltage range based on the voltage baseline of battery (306). Once the rapid charge rate has terminated and the trickle charge rate commenced, charger (302) monitors the voltage of the battery in order to make sure the battery is not being depleted. If the battery voltage is above the established range, the trickle charge rate is decreased, and if the battery voltage is below the voltage range, the trickle charge rate is increased.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for dispensing a consumable energy soe, such as electrical power or liquid fuel, to a vehicle. A vehicle includes apparatus for coupling the vehicle to a dispenser of the consumable energy source. The vehicle further includes a memory and a coupler for bidirectionally coupling the memory to the dispenser of the consumable energy source for transferring information therebetween. Embodiments of the invention describe the transfer of an indicia from the memory to a remote site for use in accounting for an amount of the consumable energy source that is input to the vehicle. Messages and other information, such as advertisements, can be input to the vehicle while coupled to the dispenser. A display is provided for displaying the information to an operator. A data entry device, such as a keyboard, may also be provided for originating information within the vehicle for transmission to a remote site.

Abstract: A switched reluctance machine comprising a housing, a stator attached to the housing and a rotor mounted within the housing. The stator including teeth wound with electrical coils which are connected to form phase windings. The rotor comprising a series of laminates including teeth pressed onto a shaft. According to the present invention, at least one set of opposing phase wound stator teeth comprise permanent magnets.

Abstract: An electronic voltage regulator, particularly a regulator of the voltage of a field coil of an alternator within a motor vehicle, is protected against catastrophic failure of its output transistor due to a short-circuit overload by action of a direct current (d.c.) electrical path within the circuit of the regulator. The d.c. path, preferably a single diode, discharges an existing capacitor present within an alternating current (a.c.) feedback path between the regulator's output transistor and its error amplifier stage. This discharge causes the output transistor to break into a safe, and non-destructive, oscillation for the duration of any overload. The same electronic voltage regulator is further, optionally, protected against a catastrophic failure of its output transistor due to a loss of the reference voltage supplied to the regulator. This protection is obtained by action of yet another, second, direct current (d.c.) electrical path. This second d.c.