Abstract: Inductive charging systems comprising improved charging wands that are coupled between a source of power and a charging port that is coupled to a battery of an electric vehicle. The improvement provided by the present invention is that the charging wand has its magnetic core molded into its body. In one embodiment, a magnetic core is directly molded into the body of the charging wand. In another embodiment, the magnetic core is molded into a plastic ring that surrounds the core which in turn is secured into the body of the charging wand. The present invention improves the assembly process for charging wands by eliminating the wide tolerance range associated with core fabrication. Molding magnetic cores into the inductive charge wand eliminates the requirement for machining the side walls of the cores.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for charging a battery having a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a third terminal is disclosed, where a thermistor is positioned across the negative terminal and the third terminal. The apparatus includes a positive contact positioned so as to engage the positive terminal of the battery, a negative contact positioned so as to engage the negative terminal of the battery, a third contact positioned so as to engage the third terminal of the battery, and a logic circuit connected to the positive, negative and third terminals. In addition, a switching device is provided which receives an input from the logic circuit that dictates whether the switching device is positioned closed so as to connect the third contact to a biasing source. The position of the switching device is determined by comparing the voltage at the third contact to a predetermined threshold voltage.

Abstract: A portable cellular radiotelephone (100), which is powered by main and auxiliary batteries (101, 102) in an operating state. The main and auxiliary batteries (101, 102) include respective memories (402, 410) for storing a 64- bit registration number and 1024 bits of data for identifying the type and brand of such batteries. Memories (402, 410) store a laser-engraved 64-bit registration number and 1024 bits of data. In order to uniquely identify the batteries (101, 102), the 64-bit registration number includes a twelve-bit brand code having a predetermined brand code value and an eight-bit type code having a predetermined type code value, and the 1024 bits of data include a unique multi-character message. By identifying the unique brand code, type code and multi-character message when a battery is inserted into portable device (100), it can be insured that the portable device (100) will be operated with a reliable and safe battery. Otherwise, the portable device is turned off and the battery is not charged.

Abstract: In electric-supply equipment of the present invention, a main battery supplies electric power to equipment such as a camera, and an auxiliary battery such as an AA battery is used as a charging power source in order to supply electric energy to the main battery in a charging circuit. Thereby, if the power source (the auxiliary battery) has been consumed, only the auxiliary battery, which is inexpensive and easy to get, is replaced. In particular, a metal lithium secondary battery is used as the main battery, so that the main battery can supply a large amount of high current to the equipment such as a camera. Furthermore, the metal lithium secondary battery spontaneously discharges only a small amount of electricity, so that the battery need not be replaced even after a long period of non-use, and the equipment can be used anytime.

Abstract: A battery charging device for providing a fast charging a rechargeable battery and controlling the charging process to prevent overcharging. The battery charging device detects a decrease in the voltage of the rechargeable battery as it is being charged and approaches a full charge, and modulates the switching of a switching power supply supplying current to the rechargeable battery in response thereto. The battery charging device has a first resistor in series with the rechargeable battery which is to be charged, a power supply which charges the rechargeable battery, a charging control unit which detects a decrease in the voltage across the rechargeable battery using capacitors and which outputs battery condition signals and battery error signals in response thereto, and a power supply control unit which accepts a mode change signal and a battery error signal from the charging control unit and outputs a control signals for controlling the power supply.

Abstract: A dual mode battery charging device for charging a plurality of batteries includes a battery charging section for charging the batteries, and a charging control section for changing the switching period of a charging signal in the battery charging section in accordance with the number of batteries to be charged and outputs a control signal to the battery charging section which determines whether the charging section operates in a standard charging mode or a quick charging mode. In accordance with the number of batteries mounted, only one battery can be quickly charged or two batteries can be simultaneously charged at a normal speed. Therefore, the capacity of a battery and its available time increase.

Abstract: The power delivery of an energy source (10) is enhanced by a dual function circuit. The circuit utilizes a storage capacitor (32) to store a voltage higher than the source voltage by transferring charge from the energy source to the storage capacitor between current pulses (16), than transferring charge from the storage capacitor to the load during current pulses. This is achieved by the novel combination of a boost converter (40) operating in conjunction with a buck converter (45).

Abstract: A power source apparatus includes a power generation device, a battery and an overcharge protection circuit. The overcharge protection circuit includes a shunt circuit, including a switching device for short-circuiting the power generation device when an input signal is at an `L` level. A reverse current protection circuit prevents an electric current from reversely flowing to the power generation device and/or the shunt circuit. A voltage detection section detects the voltage of the load or between the poles of the battery. An overcharge judgement section outputs an `L` level to the switching device when the voltage value detected by the voltage detection section surpasses a preset voltage value. When the voltage across the battery surpasses a predetermined value, the power source apparatus is short-circuited by the overcharge protection circuit, and therefore it is possible to prevent overvoltage from being applied to the load.

Abstract: For use in a battery reserve system having a reserve battery, a charging circuit coupled between a source of electrical power and the reserve battery for charging the reserve battery and a heating element in thermal communication with the reserve battery for increasing a temperature of the battery, a mode selection circuit and method of operation thereof. The mode selection circuit includes: (1) a temperature transducer, coupled to the reserve battery, for sensing the temperature of the reserve battery and (2) a mode-changing circuit, coupled to the temperature transducer, for selecting an alternative one of: (a) a heating mode wherein the source of electrical power is coupled to the heating element when the temperature of the reserve battery is less than a reference temperature thereby to heat the reserve battery and (b) a charging mode wherein the source of electrical power is coupled to the reserve battery when the temperature is greater than the reference temperature thereby to charge the reserve battery.

Abstract: A battery charge controller (50) is provided which includes a PWM switch controller (36) that is operable to control a switching regulator to supply current to a battery (10) in either a current regulation mode or a voltage regulation mode. A charge control (40) is operable to control the charging operation such that multiple modes of operation are selectable by an external programmable pin. The three modes provided are: a constant voltage mode, a dual-current mode and a pulse-current mode. The constant voltage mode provides for a conditioning state followed by a bulk charging state followed by a maintenance state. In the bulk charging state, current regulation is provided at a maximum current until a charged condition occurs, at which time the charger is placed in a voltage regulation mode.

Abstract: An overcharge protection circuit for a battery pack and a method of recharging a battery pack in which a charging adaptor having two charging terminals may be used for a metal hydride battery pack, or the like, despite the fact that such a charging adaptor is responsive to a detected change in voltage across the two battery pack terminals to terminate a high rate of charging. The overcharge protection circuit senses the temperature of the cells in the battery pack and, when the sensed cell temperature reaches a threshold temperature, adjusts the voltage appearing across the battery pack terminals to exceed the change in voltage to which the charging adaptor responds by terminating a high rate of charging.

Abstract: A method for depolarizing polarized batteries before determining the capacity of the battery by first discharging the polarized battery for a minimum time of about thirty seconds and under a current load of about 0.5 amps and then sensing the battery terminal voltage and discharging the battery again if the rate of change of the battery voltage exceeds 10 mV/30 seconds or the voltage to cell ration exceeds 2.13.

Abstract: An overvoltage detecting apparatus for a combination battery can easily detect whether an overvoltage detecting function is normal or not. In the overvoltage detecting apparatus, with respect to blocks of cells constituting the combination battery, reference voltage generators, voltage dividers, comparators, and switching circuits for performing an ON/OFF operation between the cells and the reference voltage generators are arranged, and an output from the comparator of an upper cell controls the switching circuit of the next lower cell, so that a detection result is sequentially transmitted to lower cell blocks. A control signal given from a battery controller to the uppermost cell block is changed, and the normality/abnormality of the overvoltage detecting function is determined by checking whether a detection signal follows the control signal.

Abstract: An over-charge protection FET and an over-discharge protection FET are connected in series with the rechargeable battery and turned ON or OFF by a control circuit. An ON-OFF switching device is connected between G and S of the over-charge protection FET and controlled by an output signal from the control circuit. An over-charge protection FET drain voltage input circuit is connected to the input side of the ON-OFF switching device. When the drain voltage of the over-charge protection FET is high, the input circuit sets the ON-OFF switching device to the ON state to forcibly set the over-charge protection FET to the OFF state.

Abstract: Detected values of a voltage and a current of a battery which are supplied from a voltage and current detector are stored in a memory at a plurality of times while the battery is being discharged. A regression line calculator determines an internal resistance and an open-circuit voltage (non-load voltage or electromotive force) of the battery based on the detected values stored in the memory. Even when the battery is in use with the voltage and the current frequency varying while it is being discharged, a memory effect on the battery can be determined from a reduction in the open-circuit voltage and a deterioration of the battery can be determined from an increase in the internal resistance.

Abstract: The battery (4) is never removed from its location. The battery is charged through the difference of voltage maintained by means of an external source. The two poles of the source may be connected to the watch (1) through a plug if the lid of the watch is connected to the earth of its circuit, and through two plugs if the lid is isolated, or by a method of connection without penetration. The orifices (7) for inserting the plugs may be provided with appropriate isolators. In the case of two plugs, and in order to avoid an erroneous connection, the plugs may have different and incompatible shapes. Application to watches and apparatuses which are battery-operated.

Abstract: An inductive coupler having an antenna and primary winding formed as part of a single structure that can be readily and consistently produced using printed wiring board manufacturing techniques. The coupler has the primary winding and antenna are formed as part of a printed wiring board. A coupler housing having two mating coupler halves secures a center magnetic core and the printed wiring board therebetween. The coupler housing also secures a cable that is coupled between selected printed circuit layers of the primary winding and a power source for coupling energy to the charging coupler.

Abstract: A charging control apparatus for controlling a charging current supplied to a secondary battery has a pre-charge secondary battery status decision circuit for determining a discharged status of the secondary battery when it starts being charged, and a charging pattern control circuit for controlling the charging current supplied to the secondary battery at progressively smaller constant stepwise levels according to a charging pattern based on the discharged status of the secondary battery as determined by the pre-charge secondary battery status decision circuit each time the voltage across the secondary battery reaches a predetermined value, and charging the secondary battery with the charging current which is controlled at the progressively smaller constant stepwise levels.

Abstract: An inductive coupler for use in a battery charging system for an electric vehicle has a primary device having a primary coil and a core and a secondary device having a secondary coil and core. The primary and secondary devices are coupleable together with the primary coil placed within an open space defined by the secondary coil. The secondary coil is formed and sized so as to have a greater dimension than the primary coil as measured in the longitudinal direction of an electric vehicle parked for battery charging so that a space interval between the two coils in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is greater than that in the lateral direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: A battery charging system (300) provides an expanded range of battery recognition between a charger (302) and a battery (304). Two resistors (316, 318) are coupled in series across the positive and negative charging terminals (B+, B-) of the battery (304) such that when the battery is coupled to the charger (302) there is provided a voltage divider to an A/D port (332) which is used to determine the battery type. Initially, the charger (302) disables charge current to the battery (304) and the charger determines the first resistor (316) value by enabling a switching circuit (336) and reading A/D port (332). Current is then enabled through positive charge node (B+) with the switching circuit (336) switched off, and the value of second resistor (318) is determined. The two resistors (316, 318) provide for an expanded range within which the A/D port (332) can determine battery type. A second charging system (400) provides an expanded battery type recognition range in a three contact charging system.