Abstract: Provided is an electronic device including a secondary battery, a charging section which charges the secondary battery with power supplied from an external power supply section with a set charging current, a measurement section which measures an amount of charge accumulated in the secondary battery, a time information acquisition section which acquires time information, a storage section which stores charging history information indicating a time period in which a user performs charging, and a control section which has a chargeable time estimation section that estimates chargeable time based on the charging history information and the time information, and a charging current setting section that calculates a restricted charging current which enables the secondary battery to be charged up to a charging capacity within the chargeable time, based on the amount of charge acquired from the measurement section, and sets the restricted charging current in the charging section.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power transfer. A wireless power transceiver and device comprise an antenna including a parallel resonator configured to resonate in response to a substantially unmodulated carrier frequency. The wireless power transceiver further comprises a bidirectional power conversion circuit coupled to the parallel resonator. The bidirectional power conversion circuit is reconfigurable to rectify an induced current received at the antenna into DC power and to induce resonance at the antenna in response to DC power.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is solar power-generating equipment, including: a solar cell; a secondary battery; an electric power outputting portion; a display portion configured to display thereon information about an electric-generating capacity of the solar cell, and information about a state of charge of the secondary battery; and a control portion configured to cause the display portion to display thereon the information about the electric-generating capacity of the solar cell only for a predetermined time length, and cause the display portion to display thereon the information about the state of charge of the secondary battery only for a predetermined time length.

Abstract: A secondary cell control system includes a plurality of cells; a charging circuit section and a discharging circuit section. The charging circuit section charges cells selected from among said plurality of cells, and the discharging circuit section discharges cells selected from among said plurality of cells.

Abstract: A control apparatus controlling discharge of a secondary battery such that a discharge power of the secondary battery does not exceed an upper limit value has a current sensor and a controller. The current sensor detects a current value during charge and discharge of the secondary battery. The controller calculates an evaluation value for determining a first deterioration component depending on nonuniformity of an ion concentration in an electrolyte of the secondary battery by using the detection result of the current sensor, and reduces the upper limit value when the integral value of the evaluation values exceeding a target value exceeds a threshold value. The controller estimates a second deterioration component depending on the material of the secondary battery and changes the threshold value such that deterioration due to the first deterioration component is permitted in association with the second deterioration component.

Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device comprises at least one solar cell, and voltage-detection means operable to detect an output voltage of the at least one solar cell to obtain a detected output voltage. The electronic device also comprises control means operable to detect an operation of the at least one solar cell based on the detected output voltage, and to perform a predefined control depending on the operation.

Abstract: The advantageous embodiments comprise an apparatus to manage a current. An alternating current is received from an energy harvesting device configured to generate the alternating current. The alternating current received from the energy harvesting device is converted to a direct current. A voltage of the alternating current is increased. The direct current is adjusted to a desired current.

Abstract: A charging seat includes a base, a cover, a number of conductive contacts, a lid, and a cleaning member. The cover defines an opening and covers the base. The conductive contacts are positioned on the base. The lid is pivotably connected to the cover. The lid is configured to rotate between a first position where the lid closes the opening and covers the conductive contacts, and a second position where the conductive contacts are exposed through the opening. The cleaning member is connected to the lid and is configured to clean the conductive contacts during the rotation of the lid from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An in-vehicle charge control system includes a vehicle-state detector that detects a running state of a vehicle, a battery-state detector that detects a charge level of an in-vehicle battery, a fuel-efficiency-enhancement controller that predicts a discharge amount to be discharged by the battery under a discharge condition, sets a lower limit of the battery charge level on the basis of the battery charge level detected by the detector such that the lower limit of the battery charge level is higher than a battery charge level at which the battery begins to degrade by the predicted discharge amount, and controls a power generation amount of a vehicle generator according to the vehicle state detected by the detector. The system with this configuration can maintain the battery charge level and enhance the fuel efficiency simultaneously under practical use conditions.

Abstract: A battery charger having a charging side at the body thereof for receiving and charging a mobile robotic vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The charging side has a groove, a sound wave transmitter mounted in the groove and a baffle mounted in the groove in front side of the sound wave transmitter for reflecting the sound wave transmitted by the ultrasonic transmitter toward two opposite lateral sides of the charging side along the groove to form two opposing sound wave beams to form two opposing sound wave beams for receiving by a sound wave receiver of the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner for determination of the steering direction. Subject to the guide of the sound wave beams, the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner is accurately guided to the battery charger and will not pass over or impact the battery charger.

Abstract: An overcharge protection device (OPD) is provided that may be used alone, or in combination with conventional charging protection systems, to protect a battery pack from the occurrence of a potentially damaging overcharging event. The OPD is designed to be coupled to, and interposed between, the terminals of the battery pack. During normal system operation, the OPD has no effect on the operation of the charging system or the battery pack. During an overcharging event, if overcharging is not prevented by another conventional system, the OPD of the invention creates a short across the terminals of the battery pack causing a battery pack fuse designed to provide battery pack short circuit protection to blow, thereby interrupting the current path from the charger to the battery pack and preventing the battery pack from being overcharged.

Abstract: A protection circuit having: a connecting terminal which is connected to an external circuit and which inputs and outputs a charging/discharging current of a secondary battery to and from the external circuit; a voltage detection unit for detecting an output voltage of the secondary battery; a current detection unit for detecting a discharging current of the secondary battery; a power consumption calculation unit for calculating power consumption of the external circuit by multiplying a value of the output voltage detected by the voltage detection unit by a value of the discharging current detected by the current detection unit; and an external protection unit for executing external protection processing of protecting the external circuit when the power consumption calculated by the power consumption calculation unit exceeds a power threshold set to a value that is not less than a maximum value of power consumption of the external circuit.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that charges a lithium-ion battery. During operation, the system monitors: a current through the battery, a voltage of the battery, and a temperature of the battery. Next, the system uses the monitored current, voltage and temperature to control a charging process for the battery. In some embodiments, controlling the charging process involves: inferring electrode lithium surface concentrations for the battery from the monitored current, voltage and temperature; and applying the charging current and/or the charging voltage in a manner that maintains the inferred electrode lithium surface concentrations for the battery within set limits.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a device and method for stabilizing a battery pack, wherein the battery pack stabilization device has a by-pass circuit to prevent individual cell overcharge. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to an efficient balancing and monitoring system for use in an electric vehicle that utilizes nickel-zinc-based batteries. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a device that permits over-voltage protection as well as the ability to monitor cell voltage. In still another embodiment, the present invention provides a method to coordinate multiple packs of cells within a vehicle so a driver could be aware of possible distance and time parameters, as well as a monitoring or alert system to inform the driver of reduced power, thus preventing damage to the cells.

Abstract: A charging unit comprises a first input connectable to a first power source, a second input connectable to a second power source, and an output for connection to a battery to be charged. The charging unit also comprises a power supply unit operable simultaneously to provide power from the first input and power from the second input to the output.

Abstract: An charging device includes: capacitors connected in series; a charging unit that charges the capacitors; bypass units, each respectively connects in parallel to each capacitors, wherein each bypass unit causes, when a charged voltage of any capacitor has reached a set voltage, a charging current to bypass the capacitor whose charged voltage has reached the set voltage; and a control unit that controls the charging unit to charge the capacitors in such a manner that, when a charging voltage of the any capacitor has reached the set voltage, the control unit causes the charging unit to reduce the charging current, and if a predetermined period has elapsed since the charging voltage has reached the set voltage, and if a charging voltage of any of the other capacitors has not reached the set voltage after the predetermined period, the control unit causes the charging unit to increase the charging current.

Abstract: It is possible to prevent charge of an incompatible secondary cell while suppressing the size of a mobile electronic device and a secondary cell without increasing power consumption so as to prevent damage of the secondary cell or the mobile electronic device by charge. A detachable secondary cell (30) supplies power to a mobile electronic device (2). The mobile electronic device (2) includes: a cell terminal (60) which outputs and inputs power to/from the mounted secondary cell (30); non-contact information extraction means (20) which performs a magnetic field communication; a loop antenna (26) which transmits/receives a signal using an electromagnetic wave by the non-contact information extraction means (20); and control means (22) which acquires particular information outputted from the non-contact information extraction means (20) and controls charge of the secondary cell (30) according to the acquired particular information. The loop antenna (26) is arranged in the cell terminal (60).

Abstract: The energy-efficient fast charging method is applicable to an energy-efficient fast charging device having a power conversion module and at least a fast chargeable energy storage device. The power conversion module obtains and converts an input power from an external power source, and produces an internal DC power. The method contains the following steps. First, whether an external energy storage device is connected is detected. Then, if the presence of the external energy storage device is not detected, the internal fast chargeable energy storage device is charged by the internal DC power output from the power conversion module. Otherwise, the external energy storage device is charged by the internal DC power output from the power conversion module and the stored power of the fast chargeable energy storage device simultaneously.

Abstract: A two-stage charge equalization apparatus for a series-connected battery string includes a battery module having a plurality of batteries connected in series; a battery string having M (M?2) battery modules connected in series; M charge control switch modules connected in parallel to each of the M battery modules; M second DC/DC converters connected to each of the M charge control switch modules; a single first DC/DC converter connected to the M second DC/DC converter; and a microprocessor controlling the charge control switch module, wherein the first DC/DC converter is inputted with an overall potential of the battery string and outputs a potential lower than the potential inputted and each of batteries composing the battery module shares the second DC/DC converter using the charge control switch module.

Abstract: To provide a wireless power receiving device and an electronic device having the wireless power receiving device whose production costs do not increase even when frequency of electromagnetic waves received for power supply varies. Further, to provide a wireless power receiving device capable of power transmission without disconnection or poor connection when a load supplied with electricity and a battery connected to an antenna are manufactured in different steps. A power transmitter and receiver portion having first and second antenna circuits and a battery portion and a load portion having a third antenna circuit are provided to charge a battery of the battery portion with a first radio signal received at the first antenna circuit and transmit electricity stored in the battery portion as a second radio signal from the second antenna circuit to the third antenna circuit so that the third antenna circuit supplies electricity to the load.