Abstract: The present invention reduces components of a circuit board and miniaturizes a battery pack using a thermostat. The battery pack includes a thermostat (9) having a casing portion (10) formed of a nonconductive material, a first electrode portion (13) disposed at one surface (10a) of the casing portion, and a second electrode portion (18) and (18) disposed at another surface (10c) opposite to the one surface of the casing portion, wherein one electrode lead (5) projected from a battery cell (3) is connected to one electrode connecting portion (7) of a circuit board (4); another electrode lead (6) is connected to the first electrode portion of the thermostat; and the second electrode portion of the thermostat is connected to another electrode connecting portion (8) of the circuit board.

Abstract: A signal transmission method for transmitting a signal between a regulated power supply unit that operates and controls a high intensity discharge lamp and a setting unit that gives various kinds of commands to the regulated power supply unit is provided. The method includes providing the regulated power supply unit with a first communication controller; providing the setting unit with a second communication controller; providing a pair of signal lines.

Abstract: A solenoid type switch has at least two driving coils. The driving coils turn off a switch with a current for example an overcurrent that flows in the switch. The driving coils are magnetized or demagnetized by a driving circuit so as to turn on or off the switch. The driving circuit magnetizes or demagnetizes the driving coils in accordance with a control signal supplied from a controlling circuit. Thus, the switch can be turned off with the current that flows in the driving coils.

Abstract: A lighting-drive device includes: a lighting-drive circuit configured to drive a lamp for lighting of the lamp; an activation circuit configured to produce an activation voltage to be applied to the lamp in order to start lighting of the lamp; and an activation operation detector configured to be provided with a sensing member for sensing an induced voltage and output an operation state notification signal depending on a state of the induced voltage. The sensing member is provided on a circuit substrate on which the activation circuit is formed in such a manner as to be allowed to sense the induced voltage. The activation current flows in response to the activation voltage produced by the activation circuit. The operation state notification signal indicates whether or not the activation circuit has operated normally. The lighting-drive circuit, the activation circuit and the activation operation detector are integrated into one single component.

Abstract: A signal transmission method for transmitting a signal between a regulated power supply unit that operates and controls a high intensity discharge lamp and a setting unit that gives various kinds of commands to the regulated power supply unit is provided. The method includes providing the regulated power supply unit with a first communication controller; providing the setting unit with a second communication controller; providing a pair of signal lines.

Abstract: A solenoid type switch has at least two driving coils. The driving coils turn off a switch with a current for example an overcurrent that flows in the switch. The driving coils are magnetized or demagnetized by a driving circuit so as to turn on or off the switch. The driving circuit magnetizes or demagnetizes the driving coils in accordance with a control signal supplied from a controlling circuit. Thus, the switch can be turned off with the current that flows in the driving coils.

Abstract: The present invention reduces components of a circuit board and miniaturizes a battery pack using a thermostat. The battery pack includes a thermostat (9) having a casing portion (10) formed of a nonconductive material, a first electrode portion (13) disposed at one surface (10a) of the casing portion, and a second electrode portion (18) and (18) disposed at another surface (10c) opposite to the one surface of the casing portion, wherein one electrode lead (5) projected from a battery cell (3) is connected to one electrode connecting portion (7) of a circuit board (4); another electrode lead (6) is connected to the first electrode portion of the thermostat; and the second electrode portion of the thermostat is connected to another electrode connecting portion (8) of the circuit board.

Abstract: A voltage at the time of full charging of a battery being charged is set to be larger for a lithium ion battery than for a nickel cadmium battery. Charging of the battery is then carried out using a constant current circuit and a fixed voltage circuit. If the item being charged is a lithium ion battery, a current detection circuit detects when the charging current is less than a prescribed value, a control circuit switches off a switch and the charging is halted. If the item being charged is a nickel cadmium battery, a -.DELTA.V detection circuit detects when the terminal voltage for the battery becomes low (-.DELTA.V) and the charging is halted. Different types of batteries of the same shape can therefore be charged in the same charging equipment while damage to the batteries during the charging operation is prevented.

Abstract: A secondary battery charging method and a charger used therefor, in which the method uses a constant current and a constant voltage such that the secondary battery is first charged with the constant current until the terminal voltage of the battery becomes a reference voltage higher than the full charging voltage for the battery and then further charged with the constant voltage which is equal to the full charging voltage. These two charging operations are switched by using various kinds of detection and control circuits, so that the secondary battery is properly charged in a short time. Further, the charger of the present invention is provided with a circuit for charging a plurality of battery cells simultaneously or separately.

Abstract: A secondary battery charging method and a charger used therefor, in which the method uses a constant current and a constant voltage such that the secondary battery is first charged with the constant current until the terminal voltage of the battery becomes a reference voltage higher than the full charging voltage for the battery and then further charged with the constant voltage which is equal to the full charging voltage. These two charging operations are switched by using various kinds of detection and control circuits so that the secondary battery is properly charged in a short time. Further, the charger of the present invention is provided with a circuit for charging a plurality of battery cells simultaneously or separately.