Abstract: A charging system for an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) is disposed within a submerged docking station. The charging system includes a battery, a fuel cell, a fuel source, and a charge controller. The battery supplies electrical power to an electrical distribution bus in the docking station. The charge controller monitors the charge state of the battery and, when needed, activates the fuel cell to recharge the battery. The charge controller also activates the fuel cell when a UUV is docked in the docking station for recharging of its power plant.

Abstract: By measuring the average thickness of the oxide layer, regardless of the specification of the battery, the level of the degradation of the negative electrode can be accurately determined. With the present regenerating method, the reducing agent is prevented from being adding to the electrolyte when the level of the degradation is low, or only the electrolyte is prevented from being supplemented when the level of the degradation is high. Thus, the battery performance can be recovered effectively.

Abstract: If the voltage at any cell has become equal to or lower than a low-voltage decision-making voltage Vc1 and the average voltage among cells calculated based upon the total voltage at a battery cell is higher than a predetermined voltage level, it is determined that a voltage variance among the individual cells has occurred and that a capacity adjustment is necessary.

Abstract: A bypass engaging voltage is set to a relatively high value and a target charging rate for a capacity adjustment is set higher than the target charging rate set in a regular charge/discharge mode when executing the capacity adjustment for individual cells by employing capacity adjustment circuits that discharge the corresponding cells when their voltages exceed the specific bypass engaging voltage.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a communication port integral with a battery pack assembly is disclosed. The system provides a pathway between an external unit and a host unit via a printed circuit board of the battery pack. The battery pack can include communication ports mounted on the printed circuit board for interfacing with external units. The printed circuit board further includes a substrate(s) formed with a predetermined wiring pattern electrically and/or mechanically joined to the CPU of the host unit, as well as the battery cell(s).

Abstract: A sensor adapted for connection to a bus and a method for supplying power to a sensor connected to a bus are described, which serve to minimize the power consumption of a sensor connected to the bus. To this end, power for a sensor is stored in an energy storage device in a first time period and is discharged in a second time period, that is, the measurement time, in order to supply the sensor element with power. A capacitor is used as the energy storage device, and the charging of the capacitor is monitored by a voltage monitoring device.

Abstract: A card type device serving as a supplementary power supply device, and a host using the same. The card type device may include a battery provided in a frame to serve as a supplementary power supply to the host, a connector to connect to the host for an interfacing of power and data to and/or from the host, a battery charging/discharging circuit to charge the battery with an input power supplied via the connector, and to output the power of the battery via the connector. A power input/output controller provides the host with information of attributes of the battery during a connection to the host, with the power input/output controller to control the battery charging/discharging circuit so that the power of the battery is supplied to the host when a request for power supply is transmitted from the host. The power input/output controller controls the battery charging/discharging circuit so that the battery is charged with the input power when the battery is completely discharged.

Abstract: A power supply system for supplying power to a load of an electronic apparatus includes first and second battery units, and a selector coupled to the load and the first and second battery units. The selector is operable so as to break electrical connection between the second battery unit and the load and to simultaneously make electrical connection between the first battery unit and the load when a remaining capacity of the first battery unit is higher than a predetermined reference value, and so as to break electrical connection between the first battery unit and the load and to simultaneously make electrical connection between the second battery unit and the load when the remaining capacity of the first battery unit is lower than the predetermined reference value. A controller coupled to the selector, is responsive to a first control command, which may be issued by the electronic apparatus, so that the controller overrides the detector and enables operation of the selector in the first state.

Abstract: The uninterruptible power supply apparatus comprises an AC switch for turning on/off the AC power that is input from a commercial AC power source; a storage battery; a power conversion device; a load device connected to the output end of the AC switch; an output AC voltage detection unit for detecting an output AC voltage that is output from the AC switch; and an abnormality detection circuit for detecting that the detected output AC voltage is outside predefined upper and lower limits; wherein said AC switch turns off in accordance with a signal detected by said abnormality detection circuit. Further comprises a restoration circuit for generating a restoration signal when the AC voltage detected by an input AC voltage detection unit exceeds at least a lower-limit AC voltage setting that is increased gradually or continuously in accordance with a load factor computed by a load factor computation circuit.

Abstract: A control unit calculates target power to be generated based upon a bypass engaging voltage used as a reference voltage at which a capacity adjustment circuit executes a capacity adjustment, and issues a power generation command for an inverter so as to generate the target power if it is decided that the capacities of the individual cells need to be adjusted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that enables the load applied to a battery to be regulated. Regulation of the load to the battery is based upon a load request from which a set-point is derived in a microprocessor. From this set-point, voltage is either allowed to pass or not to pass through a regulator.

Abstract: A system has an adapter/charger to receive power from a power source and output a first DC power signal. A universal battery receives the first DC power signal directly from the adapter/charger and to supplies a second DC power signal, and the universal battery includes at least one battery cell chargeable by the first DC power signal. A power tip receives the second DC power signal and outputs a third DC power signal useable by an electronic device. The power tip includes control circuitry to output a programming signal to program a magnitude of the first DC power signal.

Abstract: A battery charger controller is coupled to DC output terminals of an AC-DC (or DC-DC) adapter containing an AC-DC (or DC-DC) converter. A controlled current flow path between input and output terminals of the battery charger controller circuit is controlled to provide a substantially constant current to charge the battery to a nominal battery voltage. When a constant voltage output of the said adapter transitions to a value that limits available charging current to a value less than programmed constant charging current, current flow drive for the controlled current flow path is increased for a limited time interval. Thereafter, the controlled current flow path gradually reduces charging current as the battery voltage remains at its nominal battery voltage until the charge is complete or otherwise terminated.

Abstract: A charging apparatus for charging a battery comprising a current source for providing current to the battery, a controller connected to the battery and to the current source for controlling charging of the battery, and a memory connected to the controller for storing information about the battery. The memory may also store information about the charging apparatus. Preferably, the memory is a nonvolatile memory, such as E2PROM. Also disclosed are a battery having a memory for storing information, a power tool having a memory for storing information about the tool, and a reading apparatus for reading the information stored in the memory of the charger, battery and/or power tool.

Abstract: Disclosed are a battery package and a method for charging and discharging secondary batteries including nickel hydrogen batteries by refreshing and suppressing inactivity of the batteries.

Abstract: A self-diagnosis system for an energy storage device, the latter including a plurality of electrochemical cells connected in series or parallel to form a cell string. The self-diagnosis system correlates a state of health of the battery based on the internal resistance value of each electrochemical cell of the energy storage device and determines a corresponding battery initial capacity which enables the self-diagnosis system to evaluate the exact capacity of the battery at any given time.

Abstract: An electrical cabinet for an uninterruptibe power supply (UPS) system includes universal slots that can receive power modules, battery packs, or chargers. The back plane of the slot has connector terminals for battery packs and power modules. The cabinet can be easily reconfigured as desired by changing the number of power modules chargers or battery packs installed. Circuitry is provided that indicates the capacity and operational readiness of the cabinet. This circuitry monitors the battery packs in each slot, and isolates any detected fault to a particular pack.

Abstract: For the measurement of the voltage of each block which constitutes a battery pack with different timings, a voltage (V) and current (I) every block the current of which is measured at the same timing as the voltage is measured are read (S100-S108) and an inner resistance (R) is derived from the temperature (T) of the assembled battery (S110, S112). A value of the difference (IN?IN+1) of two currents corresponding to two voltages of respective blocks of a plurality of battery blocks multiplied by the inner resistance (R) of the battery pack is added to the difference (VN?VN+1) of two voltages to calculate the voltage difference ?V (S116). When the maximum value ?Vmax of the calculated voltage difference ?V exceeds the threshold value Vref, the state is judged to be an overdischarge (S122, S124, S128).

Abstract: An automotive vehicle electrical system diagnostic apparatus includes first and second electrical connections configured to electrically couple to an electrical system of an automotive vehicle which includes a battery. Digital samples are obtained during operation of the vehicle which are related to the system. The digital samples are stored in memory.

Abstract: A method features the steps of determining whether a secondary battery collected from a user is reusable when being handed over again to the user after being recharged, by performing a simple inspection on a site where the battery is received and returned to the user. The battery is transferred to another site for additional detailed inspection to further examine whether the battery is reusable when the determination is such that quality up to the specified capacity is not assured if the battery is given back for further usage to the user only after recharging it. The processes described in the above method can ensure the user that the battery has a reusable quality to the specified capacity, while the battery can be given back quickly.