Abstract: A bicycle with a power assisting function has an electric motor for adding part of propulsive forces to manual forces to assist in the manual forces, a battery for supplying electric energy to the electric motor, a treading force detecting circuit for detecting manual forces applied as propulsive forces, and a control circuit for controlling operation of the electric motor depending on the magnitude of detected manual forces. The electric motor is operable as an electric generator with extra manual forces for utilizing part of regenerated electric energy to charge the battery.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the capacity of a battery wherein a voltage method of measuring the voltage of the battery, to calculate the capacity of the battery based on the correlation between the voltage and the capacity of the battery, is switched to a current integrating method of integrating the current magnitude of the battery with respect to time, to calculate the capacity of the secondary battery, and vice versa, with a pre-set current magnitude as a threshold value, in order to detect the capacity of the battery. By selectively using the voltage method and the current integrating method depending on the current magnitude of the battery, the capacity of the battery can be calculated with greater accuracy.

Abstract: Two battery packs are loaded into respective loading portions, and serve to deliver power to respective units of a personal computer through a port and are supplied with power through the port from an AC adapter connected to an AC power supply so that they are charged. Each lock portion serving as a loading mechanism includes a switch interlocking therewith. Output of the switch is delivered to a CPU serving as a mode control unit. The CPU controls a CPU serving as a switch control unit within the battery pack in correspondence with loading state of the battery pack inputted from the switch interlocking with the lock portion to switch operation mode of the battery pack. Thus, it is possible to prevent instantaneous cut-off of power supply at the time of removal of battery without allowing the apparatus to be complicated, and/or without allowing the cost to be high.

Abstract: A variety of information is transmitted to an electronic apparatus by using a microcomputer for low-speed processing and with saved power. A CPU acquires detection data of a thermistor, and detection data, such as the terminal voltage or the discharge current of a battery, at intervals of 10 seconds, through respective interfaces, calculates the remaining capacity and the total capacity of the battery, stores the results and the acquired data as transmission data in a RAM, and transmits this stored transmission data at intervals of one second from a communication interface to an electronic apparatus. Since the CPU transmits the data in one direction independently of the operation of the CPU on the electronic apparatus side, it is possible to greatly lower the operating clock of the CPU and to greatly reduce the consumption of power thereof.

Abstract: A secondary battery needs to be protected by an inexpensive structure having a small number of components. To this end, the structure includes a fuse 41 with a heater, connected to a positive electrode side of a battery cell 2, as a secondary battery, a driving FET 42 for driving the heater of the fuse 41 and a detection control IC 3 which, on detecting at least the over-charging state of the battery cell 2, drives the driving FET 42 to fuse the heater of the fuse 41.

Abstract: A battery pack 2 is detachably loaded with respect to an electronic equipment 1 through an electric connecting portion 3 to thereby deliver power. A CPU 2f of the battery pack 2 detects signal states of communication lines by using communication lines, e.g., data lines 3h, 3f and clock lines 3i, 3g for informing information between the battery pack 2 and the electronic equipment 1, whereby the battery pack 2 detects whether the battery pack is in the state electrically connected to the connecting portion of the electronic equipment 1 or in the state electrically detached from the connecting portion of the electronic equipment 1. Thus, the number of connecting terminals used in electrically connecting the battery pack with respect to the electronic equipment is reduced. As a result, miniaturization can be realized and there can result less unsatisfactory terminal contact.

Abstract: A capacity detection method for use with a secondary battery is provided which is capable of accurately detecting capacity by a voltage method by taking into consideration the polarization characteristics of a secondary battery, such as a lithium-ion secondary battery. When the capacity of a secondary battery is to be detected, this capacity detection method uses a voltage method in which the voltage of a secondary battery is measured and the capacity of the secondary battery is computed on the basis of the correlation between the voltage and the capacity of the secondary battery. A voltage and capacity correlation table of the secondary battery is prepared. The voltage of the secondary battery in the correlation table is adjusted by taking the polarization characteristics into consideration, and the capacity of the secondary battery is detected on the basis of the adjusted voltage of the secondary battery.

Abstract: A battery charging system with redundant overcharge protection. The voltage across a plurality of series connected battery cells as well as the voltage across each individual cell is monitored both at a battery module and a host charging system. In the event an overcharging situation is detected, by the battery module, a first switch is open-circuited to prevent overcharging. In the event an overcharging situation is detected in the host system via a communication channel with the battery module or damage to the first switch is detected, a second switch is open-circuited in the host system to prevent overcharging, thus providing a redundant level of security against overcharging the battery cells.

Abstract: Power is supplied to electronic equipment from a battery pack unit by the control of the battery pack unit. A plurality of battery packs are attached to a personal computer. The battery packs each compare the voltage of the personal computer with the voltage of a battery built in its own battery pack. Upon comparison, charging FETs and discharging FETs provided for the battery packs are independently switched on or off. Accordingly, the battery packs simultaneously supply power to the personal computer.

Abstract: A battery charging control apparatus for controlling charging of a secondary battery has a FET which is so controlled that the supply of a charging current is suspended after being forcibly supplied to the secondary battery for a predetermined charging time, when the voltage of the secondary battery has risen to a level equal to or higher than a predetermined reference voltage, and, after the battery voltage has come down to the reference voltage during the suspension of the supply of the charging current, forced supply of the charging current is commenced again, thus realizing intermittent charging. The FET also is so controlled as to vary the above-mentioned charging time in accordance with the progress of charging of the secondary battery.

Abstract: A battery charging control apparatus for controlling charging of a secondary battery has a FET which is so controlled that the supply of a charging current is suspended after being forcibly supplied to the secondary battery for a predetermined charging time, when the voltage of the secondary battery has risen to a level equal to or higher than a predetermined reference voltage, and, after the battery voltage has come down to the reference voltage during the suspension of the supply of the charging current, forced supply of the charging current is commenced again, thus realizing intermittent charging. The FET also is so controlled as to vary the above-mentioned charging time in accordAnce with the progress of charging of the secondary battery.

Abstract: A battery charging control apparatus for controlling charging of a secondary battery has a FET which is so controlled that the supply of a charging current is suspended after being forcibly supplied to the secondary battery for a predetermined charging time, when the voltage of the secondary battery has risen to a level equal to or higher than a predetermined reference voltage, and, after the battery voltage has come down to the reference voltage during the suspension of the supply of the charging current, forced supply of the charging current is commenced again, thus realizing intermittent charging. The FET also is so controlled as to vary the above-mentioned charging time in accordance with the progress of charging of the secondary battery.

Abstract: A battery pack (1) is connected to an external circuit (9) and to a power source circuit (10) which is also connected to the external equipment (9). The battery pack (1) is discharged to supply the current to the external equipment (9) or is charged by the current supplied from the power source circuit (10). An analog circuit (12) and a micro-computer (11) within the battery pack (1) detect the on/off state of the external circuit (9) and effect charging in the on-state of the external equipment with the power equal to the total supply power from the power source circuit less the maximum power consumed by the external equipment, while effecting charging during the off-state of the external equipment with the supply power from the power source circuit. The charging/discharging control is performed by the on/off control by the micro-computer (11) of a charging switch (S1), a discharging switch (S2) and a switch (S4).

Abstract: A battery pack (1) is connected to an external equipment (9) and to a power source circuit (10) designed to supply the power to the external equipment (9). The communication of the information is made between a micro-computer (11) in the battery pack (1) and the external equipment (9) via a terminal (8). At least the information indicating the present residual capacity of a battery main unit (4) is transmitted by such communication from the micro-computer (11) to the external equipment (9). The residual capacity is found by the calculations performed by the micro-computer (11) on the current, voltage, internal resistance and the temperature of the battery main unit (4). In this manner, the residual capacity may be accurately found on the side of the external equipment (9).

Abstract: Circuit for preventing overcharge and overdischarge of secondary batteries is disclosed. Overcharge detecting comparators COMP2 and COMP4 each having a hysteresis circuit 1 are connected between positive and negative electrodes of series-connected secondary batteries Abat and Bbat, and overdischarge detecting comparators COMP1 and COMP3 each having a hysteresis circuit 2 are connected also between the above electrodes. Transistors T1, T2 and a resistor R are connected between the batteries for overflow of overcharge and balance of overdischarge. Upon detection of any overcharge by the comparator COMP2 or COMP4, the charge current is interrupted by a transistor T6, and simultaneously the overcharge overflow is discharged by the hysteresis circuit until the battery voltage is lowered to the hysteresis voltage. And after the discharge, the transistor T6 is turned on to resume recharging the batteries.

Abstract: A battery protection circuit has a condition detecting circuit which detects a voltage across a secondary cell or cells and compares the detected voltage with a reference voltage to detect an overdischarged condition or an overcharged condition of the secondary cell or cells. A control unit controls a first switching element for cutting off a discharging current and a second switching element for cutting off a charging current based on a detected condition of the secondary cell or cells. A third switch element cuts off electric power supplied to the condition detecting circuit. The third switch element is rendered nonconductive when the overdischarged condition is detected by the condition detecting circuit.

Abstract: A battery unit of a cartridge type for use as a power supply for electric motorcars, broadcasting apparatus and the like comprises a battery, a monitoring unit for monitoring the condition of the battery and storing information about the battery, a display for displaying data obtained by the monitoring unit, an I/O unit for sending out data representing the condition of the battery monitored by the monitoring unit to an external device, and a battery identification output unit for sending out a battery identification signal representing the type of the battery. The monitoring unit comprises a voltage measuring unit for measuring the supply voltage of the battery, a current measuring unit for measuring the current supplied from the battery, a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the battery, and a clock for indicating passage of time. The monitoring unit determines the quantity of residual electrical energy remaining in the battery when replacing the battery with a fully charged battery.

Abstract: Circuit groups for preventing a battery from being deteriorated in efficiency due to a charging and discharging of each of secondary batteries is incorporated in a battery protection circuit for protecting a plurality of batteries connected in series to thereby extend a life of the battery. The battery protection circuit incorporates therein power down means for extending a time in which a voltage of a remaining capacity becomes 0V as much as possible by causing a current to flow only in the minimum circuit when the battery is overdischarged. Also, when a trouble such as a momentary overcurrent or the like is detected, the circuit can be prevented from set in the power down mode.

Abstract: An image drawing apparatus wherein the scanning speed is reduced without decreasing the image drawing speed for forming an image to achieve reduction of the noise and assure a long life. The image drawing apparatus for drawing an image in accordance with image data comprises a laser light source for generating a plurality of laser beams, a galvano mirror for deflecting the plurality of beams of light generated from the laser light source, and a rotary drum on which a predetermined image is to be drawn by the plurality of beams of light deflected by the galvano mirror.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide an on-demand type ink-jet printer which is free from the risk such that the nozzle is stopped and which is also free from the maintenance. An ink-jet print head comprises a liquid chamber (2) into which a carrier liquid (7) is filled, ink-jet driving means (3), (4) disposed within the liquid chamber (2), a nozzle (14) communicated with the liquid chamber (2) and a mixing unit (14a) disposed in the vicinity of the nozzle (14) for mixing an ink (9) into the carrier liquid (7). The ink (9) is mixed into the carrier liquid (7) in the liquid chamber (2) by the mixing unit (14a), pressed by the ink-jet driving means (3), (4) and then ink-jetted from the nozzle (14). Since the carrier liquid (7) is constantly filled into the nozzle (14), the nozzle (14) can be prevented from being choked up.