Abstract: Disclosed is a DC-DC converter for suitably converting the voltage of a solar panel into a desired output voltage to be supplied to various observation equipment installed in an artificial satellite. The DC-DC converter 10 comprises an input coil L1, a first intermediate capacitor C1 and a first intermediate coil Lm1 connected in series between positive and negative terminals of an input voltage source E, a switch S and a diode D having their one ends connected to a node a of the input coil L1 and the first intermediate capacitor C1, a second intermediate coil Lm2 connected between the other end (node d) of the switch S and the negative terminal of the input voltage source E, a second intermediate capacitor C2 connected between the other end (node c of the diode D and the node d and a load R connected to the node c through an output coil L2.

Abstract: A charging system for a vehicle rearranges the bank of battery cells between a series connection for delivering voltage to a load, e.g. a motor; and a parallel connection for being charged. The battery bank can thus be charged by a 12 volt battery charger. The charger can be a plug in charger, or can be a solar cell. For example, the solar cell can be moved to cover a windshield or other surface of the vehicle whenever the vehicle is shut down.

Abstract: The invention provides a charging device that uses switched capacitor voltage converters to charge a battery using solar power. The charger uses boosting topology to efficiently use solar module photovoltaic power. The boosting topology enables a lower voltage to be used resulting in reduced cutting and soldering of photovoltaic cells. The battery charger has overcharge protection and uses inductor-less circuitry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solar powered battery charger with voltage regulation circuit and the method for recharging a car battery. The charger comprises an input port for receiving electrical power from a solar panel; an output port for providing electrical power to a battery; and a power regulation circuit electrically coupled to the input power. The power regulation circuit is electrically coupled to the output port and for monitoring a voltage thereon, having a first state in which electrical power is provided to the output port and a second state in which electrical power is not provided to the output port. The power regulation circuit remains in a first state when the voltage at the output port is below a threshold voltage and for other than remaining in the first state when the voltage at the output port is above the threshold voltage.

Abstract: A rechargeable power assembly having at least one lithium ion cell comprising an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte gel; a pulsed balancing circuit connected to the at least one lithium ion cell for maintaining the at least one lithium ion cell in a balanced phase; at least two photovoltaic cells concurrently connected to the pulsed balancing circuit and at least one lithium ion cell, wherein the at least two photovoltaic cells are connected in series for recharging the at least one lithium ion cell; an insulating layer between the at least one lithium ion cell and the at least two photovoltaic cells, wherein the at least two photovoltaic cells each have a surface for absorbing radiation, the surfaces for absorbing radiation are disposed opposite the respective insulating layers forming an apparatus for providing usable DC current directly from an electric circuit connected to the at least one lithium ion cell.

Abstract: A electrically driven vehicle (100) has high-voltage battery (42) for driving an electric motor (10) for driving the vehicle, a solar battery (24), a charging DC/DC converter (36) supplying electrical power generated by the solar battery (24) to the high-voltage battery (42), a charging control ECU (38) that performs charging control of the charging DC/DC converter (36) for charging the high-voltage battery (42), and a low-voltage power supply DC/DC converter (34) that receives a part of the electrical power generated by the solar battery (24) and generates a power supply voltage that is supplied to the charging control ECU (38).

Abstract: A portable charger is disclosed including; a rechargeable battery module; a fluid energy converting device for converting kinetic energy of fluids flowing therethrough into electric power to charge the rechargeable battery module; a control circuit coupled to the rechargeable battery module; and a power output interface coupled to the control circuit for supplying power to an electronic device under the control of the control circuit when the power output interface is electrically connected to the electronic device.

Abstract: A power system having an extended life and a system and method for extending the life of a battery powered device. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a plurality of power sources and an alternate energy source. The method also comprises measuring the voltage of the power sources and the alternate energy source. The method further comprises selecting a power source to provide voltage to the device, wherein the selected power source provides voltage to the device. In addition, the method comprises optionally charging any power source that is providing voltage to the device. Moreover, the method is repeated after a variable delay. Further embodiments include switching to providing the voltage to the device from a power source while charging another power source.

Abstract: An apparatus for prolonging rechargeable battery life and power in a wireless communicating hand-held system provides a possibility to enhance a power saving of the power supply in the wireless communicating hand-held units, such as cellular telephone. An improved apparatus for prolonging rechargeable battery life and power in a wireless communicating hand-held system includes a solar battery, the positive pole of which is connected to the positive pole of the rechargeable battery and to the anode of the indicator, and the negative pole of the solar battery is connected to the first contact of the switch and to anode of the blocking device. The cathode of the blocking device is connected to the negative pole of the rechargeable battery and the second contact of the switch is connected to the cathode of the indicator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the efficient distribution of equipment for communication modules in a communication networking environment. Where a plurality communication devices serves a networking function, economy of cost and space are obtained by providing equipment and functionality for the individual computing devices from a centralized location such as a base station thereby enabling a simpler and less expensive design for the individual communication devices. The individual computing devices may thereby be made much smaller effecting savings in space at an Internet service provider location. Savings are also obtained by reducing the total number of components required and by reducing the total power consumption of the totality of the hardware in the network. Equipment most amenable to removal from the individual units and centralization in a base station include the main power supply, backup power supply, cooling fans.

Abstract: To provide a power supply apparatus that replaces a dry battery by detecting electric field energy in a free space, rectifying the energy, extracting the energy as electric power, and accumulating the electric power. In particular, there is provided a power supply apparatus that is useful for a portable electronic equipment. An electromagnetic energy conversion unit collects a radio wave propagating in the air and converts collected electromagnetic energy into electric power. A rectifying unit generates electric power having a DC waveform by rectifying electric power having an AC waveform and charges the rectified electric power having the DC waveform into a secondary battery. An electric load is supplied with the rectified electric power having the DC waveform or with electric power having a DC waveform discharged from the secondary battery.

Abstract: The method serves for the control of an electric power plant (2) associated with a power source (6) with temporally random availability, the plant comprising at least one battery (10) adapted to be supplied with electric current from the source. When the random power (6) is available, the battery (10) current supply is controlled. The supply is controlled so as to come as close as possible to a state of complete charge of the battery, and preferably to reach this state.

Abstract: A controller for a solar electric generator that permits the generator to produce power substantially at its maximum capacity while also providing efficient charging at three charging stages; i.e., bulk charging, acceptance charging and float charging. Power is transferred from the generator to a temporary electric storage device that is periodically partially drained of power to maintain the temporary electric storage device at a voltage corresponding to the voltage needed by the generator to provide maximum generator power. The electric power drained from the temporary storage device is used to charge conventional batteries. In a preferred embodiment, the temporary storage device is a capacitor that is part of a buck regulator operating at 50 kHz with duty factor control between 0% and 100%. This buck topology switching type regulator provides the periodic draining.

Abstract: A controller for a solar electric generator that permits the generator to produce power substantially at its maximum capacity. Power is transferred from the generator to a temporary electric storage device that is periodically partially drained of power to maintain the temporary electric storage device at a voltage corresponding to the voltage needed by the generator to provide maximum generator power. The electric power drained from the temporary storage device is used to charge conventional batteries. In a preferred embodiment, the temporary storage device is a capacitor that is part of a buck regulator operating at 50 kHz with duty factor control between 0% and 100%. This buck topology switching type regulator provides the periodic draining. In the preferred embodiment control of the duty factor of the buck regulator is utilized to limit current, to prevent battery over charging, to test for the voltage corresponding to maximum power, and to operate the solar generator at is maximum power voltage.

Abstract: In a power supply apparatus including a plurality of batteries and a plurality of power supply portions for connecting to loads, a plurality of switches connect these batteries to these power supply portions, respectively. The apparatus further includes a control mechanism which controls the opening and closing operations of the switches. When one of the switches is turned on in one of the power supply means, the control mechanism executes the control in such a manner that the other switches are turned off. The control mechanism further controls each of the switches on the basis of the remaining capacity of each battery and the load state of each power supply portion. Accordingly, the power supply operation can be flexibly carried out.

Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply circuit has a first power supply unit for supplying a first power supply voltage; a second power supply unit for supplying a second power supply voltage which is lower than the first power supply voltage; a back-up power supply unit for supplying a back-up power supply voltage; a charge current control unit for receiving the first power supply voltage and for controlling a charge current which is supplied to the back-up power supply unit according to a capacity of the back-up power supply unit; a reverse current protection unit connected between the second power supply unit and an output node connected to an output terminal; an overcharge protection unit connected between the back-up power supply unit and the output node, for protecting the back-up power supply unit from being overcharged; and a relay unit which is driven by the first power supply voltage and forms a path for outputting the back-up power supply voltage to the output node when the first power supply voltage is c