Abstract: A surveillance drone system is provided herein generally including an UAV, a base power station, and, a tether for connecting the UAV to the base power station to provide electrical power to the UAV when airborne. The base power station may include a cable take-up assembly for releasing and taking up the tether. A plug or power module is provided at the free end of the tether configured to be detachably coupled with the UAV, to transmit electrical power to, and, possibly, data to and from, the UAV. With the plug or power module being detached, the UAV is free to fly unrestricted. This arrangement allows for the UAV to be airborne for prolonged periods to allow for monitoring a region and for release to allow the UAV to investigate anomalies in the monitored region.

Abstract: Devices, methods and software for automated electrical connector positioning for electric vehicle (EV) charging are provided. Using, for example, the disclosed automatic charging device, a method for charging an EV includes determining receipt of an EV-side electrical connector to a charging zone of an EV charging environment. The method includes actuating a charger-side electrical connector from an initial position outside of the charging zone to a final position inside of the charging zone. The final position corresponds to the charger-side electrical connector matingly engaged with the EV-side electrical connector.

Abstract: An inductive charging unit for a vehicle includes a trough-shaped base support having a base surface and the base surface has laterally enclosing side walls where the base surface and the side walls form a trough. The charging unit further includes a top surface opposite the base surface and a primary coil for inductive coupling to a secondary coil associated with the vehicle, where the primary coil is disposed in the trough. A filling material is disposed in the trough and surrounds the primary coil so as to fix the primary coil mechanically.

Abstract: A charging system of an electrically powered vehicle includes a power storage device, a charging device that performs external charging for charging the power storage device with power received from an external power supply, a DCM that outputs information for informing a user of information about charging by the charging device, and an ECU that controls the charging device and the DCM. The ECU controls the charging device to perform the external charging, controls the charging device to limit charging power when a predetermined condition is satisfied during the charging, and controls the DCM to output information for informing the user of a remaining charging time calculated using charging power immediately before limitation while the charging power is limited. The user's feeling of strangeness can be reduced.

Abstract: Embodiments of a liquid-cooled charging cable are described. The charging cable includes one or more electrically conductive cables having a first end and a second end. Each cable has a set of one or more cooling tubes. Each cooling tube includes an inlet and an outlet, both at the first end of the cable, a forward part in thermal contact with the cable, the forward part beginning at the inlet and extending from the first end to the second end, and a reverse part in thermal contact with the cable, the reverse part extending from the second end to the first end and ending at the outlet. The forward and reverse parts together form a continuous fluid path between the inlet and the outlet, so that a working fluid can flow through each cooling tube from the inlet through the forward part and the reverse part to the outlet.

Abstract: A single-phase and three-phase compatible conversion circuit includes an EMC module, a PFC module, a switch K1 and a control module. The EMC module is connected between lines A, B, C and N of a power grid and the PFC module. Three lines A1, B1 and C1 are led out from the EMC module and are connected with the PFC module, and are respectively connected to a set virtual midpoint through capacitors CX1, CX2, and CX3. The virtual midpoint is connected to a bus midpoint of the PFC module through the switch K1. The control module is used for detecting a power grid input signal and controlling the state of the switch K1 according to the type of the power grid input signal. The common-mode noise of the three-phase conversion mode can be reduced, and the three-phase conversion mode can be controlled within a larger bus voltage regulation range.

Abstract: An embodiment relates to a charging control apparatus and a charging control method for an electric vehicle. A charging control apparatus according to an embodiment comprises: a proximity detection port to which a proximity signal from a connector of a charging cable is input; a first proximity detection interface for generating a first proximity detection signal on the basis of the proximity signal; a controller for determining whether the connector of the charging cable is in proximity, on the basis of the first proximity detection signal; and a relay disposed between the proximity detection port and the first proximity detection interface and providing a proximity identification signal to the controller on the basis of a control by the controller.

Abstract: A charging device adapted to charge an automatic moving device includes a case, an electricity supply end, a baffle, an arm below the baffle, a blocking assembly on the arm, and a follower. The automatic moving device includes a driving part and an electricity reception end. The case has an opening. The baffle is pivotally connected to the case to cover or expose the opening. The arm has a fixed end and a free end. The blocking assembly is located at an inner side near the opening and movably located on a rotating path of the baffle. The follower is disposed on the free end. When the driving part approaches the opening, the follower moves away from the driving part to drive the blocking assembly to leave the rotating path. The automatic moving device pushes away the baffle, so that the electricity reception end docks with the electricity supply end.

Abstract: In accordance with at least selected embodiments, the present disclosure or invention is directed to novel or improved testing apparatus for testing lead acid batteries and/or their components, and/or the efficacy of their components, testing tables, testing systems, and/or related methods. In accordance with at least certain embodiments, the present disclosure or invention is directed to novel or improved methods for testing lead acid batteries and/or their components, and/or the efficacy of their components. In accordance with at least certain selected embodiments, the present disclosure or invention is directed to novel or improved systems for testing lead acid batteries and/or their components, and/or the efficacy of their components.

Abstract: In external charging, a first threshold voltage and a second threshold voltage which is lower than the first threshold voltage are set. The ECU permits start of charging of a battery when a voltage of the battery is lower than the second threshold voltage. The ECU stops charging of the battery and notifies the user that the battery has been fully charged using an HMI when the voltage of the battery is higher than the first threshold voltage during charging of the battery. The ECU notifies the user that the battery has been fully charged using the HMI when the voltage of the battery after charging of the battery has been stopped is lower than the first threshold voltage and is higher than the second threshold voltage.

Abstract: A charge/discharge control circuit includes: an output terminal from which a cell-balance control signal is sent to each of the first and the second cell balance circuits; the first and the second voltage detection circuits; a control circuit configured to send the first and the second control signals in accordance with a detection signal received from at least one of the first and the second voltage detection circuits; and an output circuit configured to select one of a voltage of a power supply terminal, a voltage of an input terminal connected to each of a negative electrode of a first battery and a positive electrode of a second battery, and a voltage of a ground terminal in accordance with the first and second control signals, and send the selected voltage to the output terminal.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to methods and systems for provisioning mobile electric vehicles with various operational settings data transmitted over the air. A vehicle or its components may operate according to operational settings corresponding to operational settings data included in the vehicle components. A server that is remote to the vehicle may comprise operational settings data and may transmit operational settings data to the vehicle. The server may transmit operational settings data automatically, such as on a periodic basis, in response to a request, such as from a user or from a vehicle component or anytime new or updated operational settings data are available for the vehicle or its components.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present application relate to the field of robots, and disclose a method and a device for automatically charging a robot, a charging station and a robot. The method for automatically charging a robot in the present application, applied to the robot, includes the steps of: detecting a distance to a charging station according to a laser ranging signal; starting laser feature recognition when the distance is determined less than a preset distance, where the laser feature recognition is configured to identify the charging station; and performing docking process according to a recognition result of the laser feature recognition, a laser ranging signal and an infrared guiding signal. The method for automatically charging a robot in the embodiments enables the intelligent robot to quickly and accurately find the charging station, and accurately perform the docking process and automatically charging.

Abstract: Faster charging of a battery, including: opening a first switch disposed between an input node of the battery and an input node of a load to decouple the input node of the battery from the input node of the load; and charging the battery using a first charging source coupled to the input node of the battery while the load is being powered through the input node of the load via a second charging source having a charge rate slower than the first charging source.

Abstract: Wireless charging devices, methods of manufacture thereof, and methods of charging electronic devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a wireless charging device includes a controller, a molding material disposed around the controller, and an interconnect structure disposed over the molding material and coupled to the controller. The wireless charging device includes a wireless charging coil coupled to the controller. The wireless charging coil comprises a first portion disposed in the interconnect structure and a second portion disposed in the molding material. The wireless charging coil is adapted to provide an inductance to charge an electronic device.

Abstract: A method of operating a charging system may include connecting the charging system to a power grid with a plurality of phases, measuring a plurality of phase currents of the plurality of phases at a balance point, and transmitting a plurality of performance targets to a plurality of electrical consumers connected to one of a plurality of charging points of the charging system. The method may also include changing a performance target of the plurality of performance targets for each of the plurality of charging points individually for a predetermined test time interval and measuring a corresponding change of the plurality of phase currents at the balance point. The method may further include, based on the corresponding change of the plurality of phase currents, determining whether an electrical consumer charges with a significant current and whether the electrical consumer could charge with a higher current.

Abstract: The solar charging system according to the present embodiment includes a solar panel, a drive battery, an auxiliary system including one or more devices, and a controller that controls where to supply power generated by the solar panel. The controller determines whether the solar panel can generate power, and, upon determining that the solar panel can generate power, supplies the power from the solar panel to the auxiliary system to derive the power generated by the solar panel. Upon detecting a fact that the power generated by the solar panel is equal to or greater than a first power, the controller further supplies the power from the solar panel to the drive battery to charge the drive battery.

Abstract: A system comprising a high voltage (HV) bank section using energy storage devices arranged into one or more banks, an inductive device coupling the HV bank to a service voltage (SV) bank section and load through a charging circuit charging the SV bank from a more fully charged bank until the charging bank is depleted, and a switch switching, from the depleted bank to the other bank to charge the SV bank. The charging circuit then charging the depleted bank by a power supply as the other HV bank charges the SV bank. A supervisory controller controls the switch to repeat discharging and charging between the two banks for a defined period. The energy storage devices may be supercapacitors capable of storing energy on the order of 1 to 10 MegaJoules, and the inductive device may be a high-inductance, toroidal multifilar inductor.

Abstract: Main management unit manages the plurality of power storage modules via the plurality of sub-management units. Main management unit and the plurality of sub-management units are daisy-chain connected by power line. Main management unit can supply power from power storage unit other than the plurality of power storage modules to the plurality of sub-management units via power line. Main management unit and the plurality of sub-management units respectively include communication units. Each of communication units superimposes a communication signal on power line.

Abstract: A solar power generation control device, controlling a solar power generation system configured to charge a power storage device of a vehicle with electric power generated by a solar cell provided in the vehicle, includes: a determination unit configured to determine whether irradiation light to the vehicle is sunlight based on an output of an optical sensor; and a control unit configured to control an operation mode of the solar power generation system, including a first mode, in which the power storage device is charged with electric power generated by the solar cell, and a second mode, in which power consumption of the solar power generation system is lower than in the first mode, based on a determination result of the determination unit. The control unit sets the solar power generation system to the first mode when the determination unit determines that the irradiation light is sunlight.