Abstract: A battery identification system (100) includes a battery (104), a device (102), and an apparatus (106). The battery (104) is of a particular type (e.g., NiCd, NiMH, Lithium Ion) and is detachably coupled to the device (102). The device (102) includes a controller (112) that determines the type of the battery (104) and generates a number of signals according to the type. The apparatus (106) is detachably coupled to the device (102) and includes a current source (164) and a controller (162) that detects the number of signals. The controller (162), responsive to the controller (112), controls the current source (164) to initially provide charging current at a first rate to the battery (104) until reception of a first one of the number of signals. The controller (162) thereafter identifies the type of the battery (104) from the detection of additional ones of the number of signals.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to enable electronic apparatuses to display the remaining power of exchangeable batteries at any given time. A battery pack having a battery and an ID generator is attached to an electronic apparatus. The accumulated consumption hours of the battery is stored in a battery information memory for each battery ID. A remaining power detector determines the remaining battery power on the basis of the accumulated consumption hours and displays it on a display unit. Because the remaining battery power is determined based on the consumption hours of a battery, the running hours of a battery can be displayed at any given time.

Abstract: The power supply apparatus of this invention has a portable case. The case is provided with battery attachment sections for attaching a plurality of battery packs containing rechargeable batteries, a charging circuit for charging battery packs, a charging power input section for supplying power to the charging circuit for battery pack charging, a discharge circuit for discharging battery packs to electrical equipment loads, and a discharge power output section for delivering output from the discharge circuit to external loads.

Abstract: A battery charging system (200) is capable of maintaining a fully charged battery (202) without overcharging or undercharging the battery regardless of the operating mode of the radio (204). Charging system (200) includes a charger (202) which senses the capacity of the battery (206) through a capacity resistor (224) at a capacity sense terminal (244). The charger (202) also senses the radio current through the same capacity sense terminal (244) using a current sensing device (226). Charger (202) continuously compensates for the current drain presented by the radio (204).

Abstract: A battery charging and conditioning circuit is provided wherein application of a charging current to a battery (B) is alternated with the application of short current spikes. The impedance characteristic and no load voltage characteristic of the battery are monitored and processed to select the charging current and spiked current applied to the battery. Processing of the impedance characteristic and no load voltage characteristic of the battery is made by a processing unit (5). The circuit used to generate the short current spikes responds to a timing signal produced by an oscillator (15) by opening and closing a switch (11) to release charge stored in a charge storage device such as an inductor (19), the released charge comprising a current pulse for application to the battery.

Abstract: A method of charging a discharged battery by creating a level direct current carrier and a riding alternating current charging vector which rides on the level direct current, the alternating current having a repeating waveform comprising two phase displacements per wavelength.

Abstract: A battery capacity test and electronic system implementing the same tests both the high and low discharge capacities of a back-up battery to ensure that the battery is capable of handling both a short term, high discharge load and a long term, low discharge load. The battery capacity test is particularly suitable for use in an electronic system which, upon occurrence of a power outage, converts from an operational mode to a power saving mode during a conversion time. High discharge capacity testing is performed using a "safety net" where the primary power source of the electronic system is switched to a reduced testing voltage output, rather than shut off or disconnected, so that the primary power source can take over quickly in the event of a back-up power supply failure during the test.

Abstract: A power source balancing circuit (10) balances two power sources such as two battery cells (12 and 42). When the power source balancing circuit (10) is enabled, it compares a current flowing through the first battery cell (12) and a first resistor (22) with a current flowing through the second battery cell (42) and a second resistor (52). Because the resistance of the first resistor (22) is equal to that of the second resistor (52), a difference between the two currents indicates a difference between the voltages of the two battery cells (12 and 42). If a current difference larger than a predetermined limit is detected, the battery cell (12 or 42) with a higher voltage is discharged through a corresponding discharge resistor (14 or 44) by switching on a corresponding switch (16 or 46). The corresponding switch (16 or 46) is controlled by a corresponding flip-flop (32 or 62).

Abstract: In a capacitor-based energy storage system, in which the capacitor charging voltage is on the same order of magnitude as the system output voltage, the time between recharges for a given energy release rate is extended by producing an intermediate regulated capacitor output of a voltage having a lower order of magnitude and then stepping that voltage back up to the system output voltage through the use of an inverter. Regulation of the capacitor output voltage may be achieved through the use of a capacitor-voltage-dependent variable-duty-cycle switching transistor and an averaging network, which together maintain a level inverter input voltage independently of the capacitor voltage. The cycle control is powered by a rechargeable battery which recharges from the inverter input but cannot drive the inverter, and current and temperature sensing means are provided to control the transistor so as to limit the current draw through the transistor and to prevent battery overheating during operation.

Abstract: A control circuit including a relay switch having a fixed terminal adapted to be coupled to a terminal of the battery or the charging source, a normally-closed contact terminal adapted to be coupled to a terminal of the other of one of the battery and the charging source, a normally-open contact terminal, and a relay coil. The control circuit further includes a comparator circuit for coupling to terminals of the battery to sense the voltage of the battery, and coupled to the relay coil to energize the relay coil causing a connection between the fixed terminal and the normally-open terminal of the relay switch when the voltage of the battery exceeds a first voltage threshold and to de-energize the relay coil causing a connection between the fixed terminal and the normally-closed contact terminal of the relay switch when the charging voltage of the battery falls below a second voltage threshold.

Abstract: An auxiliary power supply line for powering the functional circuits of a portable apparatus during recharging of its internal battery by a constant current battery charger is derived from a node upstream of a sensing resistance of the current delivered to the battery under charge and is provided with isolation means.

Abstract: Apparatus for recharging a battery includes a compartment for accommodating the battery in a manner such that its electrical terminals are in contact with a pair of electrodes. The electrodes are connectable to respective poles of a controllable source of electrical energy. A strain gauge is positioned so as to make contact with a wall of the battery when the battery is in place in the compartment. The strain gauge includes a foil which carries a resistive element, each of the two extremities of the resistive element being connected to an electrical device via a separate contact wire, whereby the coefficient of thermal expansion of the strain gauge is substantially equal to that of the wall of the battery. The material of one of the contact wires, at its juncture with the resistive element, has a different Seebeck coefficient to the material of the other contact wire at its juncture with the respective element.

Abstract: A self-contained emergency battery charger for use in motor vehicles for charging a fully or partially discharged starter storage battery which delivers current to a starter motor of the vehicle. The batter charger contains a 12 volt, sealed lead acid charging battery and a boost converter deriving its energy from the charging battery. The charging battery has a nominal terminal voltage equal to or less than the vehicle's battery. The boost converter circuit provides an additional 2 to 3 volts to the charging battery output.

Abstract: A battery charging/discharging switching control protective circuit including a charging discharging loop, a constant current control circuit connected to the input terminal of the charging discharging loop, a microprocessor control circuit, a time series control circuit with its input terminal connected to the microprocessor control circuit and its output terminal connected to the switch of the charging discharging loop and the switches of the constant current control circuit, the time series control circuit being controlled by the microprocessor control circuit to control the transistor of the charging discharging loop in charging or discharging the battery at a constant current value, and to control the switches of the charging discharging loop in turning off the transistor at the beginning or the end of the charging or discharging operation, so as to prevent the occurrence of electric arc, sparks, transient electric current and voltage during the switching of the switches of the charging discharging loop.

Abstract: The charger comprises a circuit which includes a reactance before or after a transformer and includes a rectifier, a pull-off and/or an equalizer, formed of at least one diode/rectifier assembly, being provided between both branches of the circuit; the pull-off circuit may be substituted by a switch-off circuit to cut off the charging when the accumulator is carged. The charge is produced by voltage drop by voltage differential maintaining the amperage.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to enable electronic apparatuses to display the remaining power of exchangeable batteries at any given time. A battery pack having a battery and an ID generator is attached to an electronic apparatus. The accumulated consumption hours of the battery is stored in a battery information memory for each battery ID. A remaining power detector determines the remaining battery power on the basis of the accumulated consumption hours and displays it on a display unit. Because the remaining battery power is determined based on the consumption hours of a battery, the running hours of a battery can be displayed at any given time.

Abstract: An apparatus for safely connecting the batteries of two vehicles to jump start one of the vehicle engines. Safety is achieved by three means: 1) The location for making the connection is removed from the vicinity of the battery. The remote connector eliminates the potential for ignition of battery-generated gasses and also the potential for other accidents associated with open vehicle engine compartments. 2) The connector itself is designed so that the connection can be made in only one way, positive to positive and negative to negative, eliminating the possibility of reversing polarity and the resulting damage to personnel and to vehicles. 3) The connector is easy to use and inexpensive to manufacture because of unitized construction; positive and negative contact surfaces are included in each connector half.

Abstract: This pulse-charge battery charger charges Nickel-Cadmium and Nickel-metal hydride batteries having one or more cells and used with cellular telephones and camcorders. A battery is lowered into a finger accessible receiving volume and held by a magnetic force. Charging automatically commences and automatically stops, as controlled by utilizing a U1 controller and other combined circuits. Charging status is indicated by colored lights: yellow--charging; green--battery is charged; orange--battery is overheated and cooling; and red--battery is defective. Other combined circuits are: power supply circuit to receive either 12.

Abstract: In a method for controlling the strength of a charging current when charging a battery by means of an alternating voltage source, the rectified voltage of the alternating voltage source is fed to the battery via a phase control circuit with variable triggering angle. The battery voltage is measured and the value of the triggering angle to be set is identified as a function of the measured battery voltage and the voltage of the alternating voltage source.

Abstract: A circuit regulates charging of a rechargeable storage device having a pair of device terminals by a photovoltaic cell having a pair of cell terminals. The circuit has a pair of input terminals for coupling to the cell terminals and a pair of output terminals for coupling to the device terminals. The circuit includes a switch for selectively establishing and breaking an electrical connection between the input terminals and the output terminals and a variable resistor coupled to the device terminals for providing a signal proportional to a terminal voltage across the output terminals. The circuit also includes first and second operational amplifiers responsive to the signal and respective first and second voltage limits, each operational amplifier causing the switch to establish an electrical connection between the input terminals and the output terminals when the signal is equal to a predetermined proportion of the respective voltage limit.