Abstract: At least one embodiment of the invention provides a multi-modal rechargeable battery pack that can switch between charging algorithms dynamically. This dynamic switching can be accomplished in a wide variety of ways, for example via external command or automatically. At least one embodiment of the invention provides a system that can switch a multi-modal rechargeable battery pack between one or more of a runtime mode, a lifespan mode, and a quick charge mode.

Abstract: A highly reliable protection element for a storage battery is provided. A protection element includes a low melting point metal body and heater elements. The low melting point metal body is connected to a charger side line and a storage battery side line of a charge/discharge circuit. The heater element is connected to the storage battery side line and a switch, and the heater element is connected to the charger side line and a switch. When the switches are operated, a voltage that is not affected by a voltage drop of the low melting point metal body is applied to one of the heater elements, so that the low melting point metal body can be reliably fused.

Abstract: A DC/DC converter is disclosed. The DC/DC converter includes a first heavy-load electronic switch and a second heavy-load electronic switch connected in series between an input terminal and ground at a first output portion, a third light-load electronic switch and a fourth light-load electronic switch connected in series between the input terminal and ground at a second output portion, an output circuit, an output current measurement circuit, and a control circuit. The output circuit includes an inductor connected to the first and second output portions. The output current measurement circuit measures an output current. The control circuit, in response to an output of the output current measurement circuit, selects a combination of the first and second heavy-load electronic switches during a heavy load state, and selects a combination of the third and fourth light-load electronic switch during a light load state.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for charging battery packs. A battery pack connects to an external battery charger. A processor of the battery pack recognizes that the processor is connected the external battery charger. The external battery charger provides charging parameters to the battery pack. The processor sends charging parameters to the external battery in response to recognizing that the processor is connected to the external battery charger.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a power supply unit capable of achieving noise reduction while maintaining efficiency under the light load state. A FET driver controls switching elements in either one of a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) mode, an intermittent mode having a lower operating frequency than that in the PWM mode, and a noise-free mode having a higher operating frequency than an audible frequency range. The FET driver operates first in the intermittent mode under the light load state. A microphone collects noise generated from the surroundings of a power supply unit. When the level of an audio signal collected by the microphone exceeds a predetermined level, the FET driver transitions from the intermittent mode to the noise-free mode. In accordance with such an embodiment, the FET driver operates in the noise-free mode only when noise is actually generated.

Abstract: An electrical apparatus includes a body for consuming power; a battery for supplying power to the body, wherein the body is capable of detecting an installation of the battery into the body, correlating the installation of the battery to a current real-time date, and displaying the date on which the battery was first installed in the body; and a display of a full charge capacity of the battery, the full charge capacity being calculated by comparing an actual present capacity of the battery to an estimated present capacity of the battery.

Abstract: A battery pack and method are disclosed that permanently disable the battery pack on portable electronic equipment if the battery pack has been inauthentically remanufactured. An output voltage value and a discharge current value of the battery block are measured regularly and an amount of change in the output voltage value per unit time is calculated. If the amount of change in the output voltage value per unit time or the discharge current value exceeds predetermined values, operation of an electric circuit involved in charge/discharge operations of the battery pack is permanently disabled.

Abstract: A charging system capable of charging a battery cell so that the surface temperature of the battery cell does not exceed an upper temperature limit, is provided. A battery charger is configured in a manner such that a setting current is variable during charging. The battery charger starts charging of a secondary battery with a setting voltage set to a minimum charging current value. The surface temperature of the secondary battery is measured during charging. An estimated temperature value is calculated which is a surface temperature of the secondary battery, at which the secondary battery is charged up until a charging amount corresponding to the maximum surface temperature under assumption that the charging is performed with a present charging current value. The setting current is increased when the estimated temperature value is lower than the target temperature range and is reduced when the estimated temperature value is higher than the target temperature range.

Abstract: In a battery pack with battery charger, a circuit derives a relatively low constant current from the charge current of the battery charger, and this relatively low constant current is used to charge the battery pack when temperature is below a threshold. Otherwise, the charge current from the battery charger is used, at least up to a high temperature threshold.

Abstract: In an electrical instrument to which a plurality of battery blocks and/or a plurality of batteries are detachably connectable, to prevent a phenomenon that only specific battery and battery block are deteriorated. A hybrid battery connectable to a body of an electrical instrument consuming electrical power includes: a cell block which includes one or more battery cells, and supplies electrical power to the body of the electrical instrument by discharging after being charged; and a cell block which includes one or more battery cells, supplies electrical power to the body of the electrical instrument by discharging after being charged, and becomes active selectively with the former cell block. In the hybrid battery, a CPU selects a cell block becoming active based on the number of charge/discharge cycles of the former cell block and the number of charge/discharge cycles of the latter cell block.

Abstract: A battery charging system is disclosed. The battery charging system includes a battery charger, a switching circuit and a control circuit. The battery charger receives electric power from a DC power supply and charges a rechargeable battery based on a setting current. The switching circuit is capable of switching between a first charging mode and a second charging mode. In the first charging mode, the battery charger charges the rechargeable battery while the DC power supply is supplying electric power to the battery charger in a state where the DC power supply is able to supply electric power to a load. In the second charging mode, the DC power supply charges the rechargeable battery in a state where the DC power supply is able to supply electric power to the load.

Abstract: An overvoltage protection system capable of maintaining a high setting voltage of a battery charger while guaranteeing that cell voltage does not exceed a value limited by a threshold value. In one preferred embodiment, a battery set is a plurality of series-connected battery cells. A protection voltage measurement portion measures a cell voltage of each battery cell. A computation portion calculates an open circuit voltage of the battery set outputs a calculated voltage as a measurement voltage. An overvoltage setting portion stops charging of battery set when the value of the cell voltage of any one of the battery cells reaches a threshold value. A diagnostic voltage measurement portion measures an open circuit voltage of battery set to output measured voltage as a diagnostic voltage. A comparing circuit stops charging of the battery set based on comparison results of value of the measurement voltage and value of diagnostic voltage.

Abstract: A battery charging system is disclosed. The battery charging system includes a battery cell, a voltage measurement circuit and an overvoltage protection circuit. The voltage measurement circuit measures a cell voltage of the battery cell. The overvoltage protection circuit is configured to stop charging the battery cell when a reading voltage measured by the voltage measurement circuit reaches an overvoltage setting value. The battery charging system also includes a battery charger for charging the battery cell, and a control unit for supplying a control voltage to the battery charger to perform feedback control of an output voltage of the battery charger. The battery charger includes a voltage feedback input for receiving a feedback voltage and a setting value input for receiving a setting voltage. The control voltage is generated based on the reading voltage and the setting voltage.

Abstract: A battery pack is disclosed. The battery pack includes a battery, an impact sensor, a processor and a memory. The impact sensor is capable of generating an impact signal in response to a detection of an impact on the battery pack. The processor is capable of generating impact information based on the impact signal, and processor continues to count a number of charging times to the battery after the generation of the impact information. The memory is capable of storing the impact information and the number of charging times. The processor can refer to the memory to deliver a control command to a battery charger so that the battery can only be charged up to an allowable charge capacity smaller than a full charge capacity after an occurrence of an impact when the battery pack is attached to the battery charger. The charging to the battery stops when the number of the counted charging times reaches a predetermined number of allowable charging times that is allowed after the generation of the impact information.

Abstract: In dealing with degradation in performance of a system unit due to excessive controlling by performing a power consumption control function after power consumption of the system unit actually exceeds a maximum power of a power supply apparatus, the present invention solves the above technological problems, and controls the power consumption of a system unit in a state while making full use of performance of the power supply apparatus.

Abstract: A series power supply circuit and a switching power supply circuit are combined within a single power supply unit. The switching power supply circuit provides an efficiency lower than that of the series power supply circuit under a light load and provides an efficiency higher than that of the series power supply circuit under a heavy load. A standby signal that is asserted under a light load and is deasserted under a heavy load is input to a negative logic enable terminal (?EN) of the series power supply circuit through an inverter0. The standbysignal is directly input to the negative logic enable terminal (?EN) of a PWM controller in the switching power supply circuit.

Abstract: In the context of a notebook computer, multiple battery safety measures in the computer, battery pack, and individual battery cells. These battery packs include industry standard safety mechanisms as well as additional safeguards designed to increase safety. The additional safeguards can be categorized in the following ways. The first safeguard deals with multiple, independent levels of battery monitoring. The second safeguard employs abnormal condition detection methods. The third safeguard deals with improvements to mechanical and thermal design.

Abstract: A battery pack and method are disclosed that permanently disable the battery pack on portable electronic equipment if the battery pack has been inauthentically remanufactured. An output voltage value and a discharge current value of the battery block are measured regularly and an amount of change in the output voltage value per unit time is calculated. If the amount of change in the output voltage value per unit time or the discharge current value exceeds predetermined values, operation of an electric circuit involved in charge/discharge operations of the battery pack is permanently disabled.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for charging battery packs. A battery pack connects to an external battery charger. A processor of the battery pack recognizes that the processor is connected the external battery charger. The external battery charger provides charging parameters to the battery pack. The processor sends charging parameters to the external battery in response to recognizing that the processor is connected to the external battery charger.

Abstract: Apparatus includes a main body having a function of reducing performance of the apparatus during operation, an AC adapter which is connectable to the main body and supplies power to the main body from a commercial power source, and a rechargeable battery which is connectable to the main body and discharges to supply power to the main body. Apparatus operates without reducing the performance even while the power supplied from the AC adapter is turned off and the power is supplied from the battery during a peak shift period (e.g. mid-day summer where limiting the power supplied by the AC adapter is desirable) in a state where both the AC adapter and the battery are connected to the main body, and thereafter, the power supplied from the AC adapter is turned on and power is supplied to the main body from the AC adapter even during the peak shift period.