Abstract: An energy storage apparatus includes: one or more energy storage devices; and an outer covering which houses the one or more energy storage devices. The outer covering has a discharge portion forming a discharge path which discharges a substance generated in an inside of the energy storage apparatus toward outside of the outer covering in a first direction. An inner wall surface of the discharge portion includes a first wall surface inclined with respect to the first direction.

Abstract: An exemplary apparatus for converting fluctuations in periodicity of an input signal into proportional fluctuations in the amplitude of an output signal includes: an input line for accepting an input signal; a delay element with an input coupled to the input line and an output; a detector having a first input coupled to the input line, a second input coupled to the output of the delay element, and an output; an integrator having an input coupled to the output of the detector and an output; and an output line coupled to the output of the integrator. The delay element introduces a time delay which is greater than zero and less than twice the nominal oscillation period of the input signal. The detector performs a differencing operation. The integrator has a time constant of integration that is smaller than twice the delay applied by the delay element.

Abstract: A system and method for digital management and control of power conversion from battery cells. The system utilizes a power management and conversion module that uses a CPU to maintain a high power conversion efficiency over a wide range of loads and to manage charge and discharge operation of the battery cells. The power management and conversion module includes the CPU, a current sense unit, a charge/discharge unit, a DC-to-DC conversion unit, a battery protection unit, a fuel gauge and an internal DC regulation unit. Through intelligent power conversion and charge/discharge operations, a given battery type is given the ability to emulate other battery types by conversion of the output voltage of the battery and adaptation of the charging scheme to suit the battery.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to battery packs for use with surgical instruments. The battery packs may comprise a plurality of cells and at least a portion of the plurality of cells may not be electrically connected to one another. The battery packs may comprise a switch or other mechanism for interconnecting the plurality of cells and may also comprise, or be used in conjunction with, a discharge switch or plug configured to electrically connect an anode of the battery pack to a cathode of the battery pack, for example, via a resistive element.

Abstract: A digital high voltage power having a plurality of filters, a high voltage divider, and a processor with memory. The memory contains operating set points. The processor is configured to receive scaled voltage feedback signals from the high voltage divider, compare the scaled voltage feedback signals to the plurality of operating set points in memory, compute and store revised operating set points using the compared scaled voltage feedback signal, use the revised operating set points to simultaneously and automatically regulate output voltage to be within all operating set points, and generate an alert when output conditions exceed any operating set points.

Abstract: The present invention provides a battery management system and an electric energy storage equipped with the battery management system, which enable the adjustment of one or more variable connection voltages. In particular the energy storage of the present invention may provide highly dynamic varying output voltages, for instance in the form of an AC voltage. In this way energy storages may, for instance, be directly operated in connection with an electric power grid or may establish electric AC power grids.

Abstract: A battery cell balancing and measuring apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of terminals having a portion of the terminals grouped as terminal pairs, each terminal of the plurality of terminals operable to couple to a node in a battery stack. Each terminal pair having a capacitor and a switch coupled in parallel with each other, the capacitor and the switch coupled across respective terminal pair. The apparatus includes a plurality of resistors, each resistor of the plurality of resistors coupled to a terminal of the plurality of terminals. Each resistor of the plurality of resistors provides a discharge path for a respective battery cell coupled to a terminal pair via the switch and wherein each resistor of the plurality of resistors provides a low pass filter path for the respective battery cell via the capacitor.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a system includes a switching regulator and an electrochemical storage test circuit. The switching regulator is coupled to a power supply input and configured to supply a regulated voltage to a regulated supply terminal that is configured to be coupled to a device. The electrochemical storage test circuit is configured to be coupled to an electrochemical storage unit. The electrochemical storage test circuit includes a bidirectional switch with a first switch terminal coupled to the regulated supply terminal, a second switch terminal configured to be coupled to the electrochemical storage unit, and a switch control terminal. The electrochemical storage test circuit also includes a built-in self-test (BIST) circuit configured to be coupled to the electrochemical storage unit and to the switch control terminal.

Abstract: A system and method for digital management and control of power conversion from battery cells. The system utilizes a power management and conversion module that uses a CPU to maintain a high power conversion efficiency over a wide range of loads and to manage charge and discharge operation of the battery cells. The power management and conversion module includes the CPU, a current sense unit, a charge/discharge unit, a DC-to-DC conversion unit, a battery protection unit, a fuel gauge and an internal DC regulation unit. Through intelligent power conversion and charge/discharge operations, a given battery type is given the ability to emulate other battery types by conversion of the output voltage of the battery and adaptation of the charging scheme to suit the battery.

Abstract: A management system and a management method of a battery and a battery charger, and a battery charger are provided that can obtain information on the state of a battery and information on the usage state of a battery charger even during charging so as to monitor/control the battery and the battery charger even during the charging.

Abstract: A current sense apparatus comprises a first switch having a first terminal connected to a power source and a second terminal connected to a battery, a second switch comprising a gate connected to a gate of the first switch and a first terminal connected to the first terminal of the first switch, a first operational amplifier having a first input connected to the second terminal of the first switch and a second input connected to a second terminal of the second switch, a second operational amplifier having an output connected to the gate of the first switch, a first input coupled to the first terminal of the first switch and a second input coupled to the second terminal of the first switch and a reference voltage source connected to one input of the second operational amplifier.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that monitors a battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system monitors a state of charge of the battery while the battery is powering the portable electronic device. Next, when the state of charge of the battery reaches a predetermined reserve capacity, the system monitors a voltage of the battery. Then, when the monitored voltage of the battery reaches a predetermined termination voltage, the system puts the portable electronic device into a low power usage state.

Abstract: Generally, this disclosure describes an apparatus. The apparatus includes switch controller circuitry and zero crossing logic circuitry. The switch controller circuitry is to control a conduction state of a high side switch and a low side switch in a DC to DC converter. The zero crossing logic circuitry includes phase comparator circuitry, a first clocking circuitry and a second clocking circuitry. Each clocking circuitry includes one or more delay elements. The zero crossing logic circuitry is to monitor a switch node voltage, Vsw, and to determine whether Vsw is greater than a reference, Vref. The switch controller circuitry is to turn off a low side switch if Vsw is greater than Vref while the low side switch is turned on, Vsw greater than Vref corresponding to a negative inductor current.

Abstract: An abnormality diagnostic for a MOSFET switch element in a rechargeable battery pack for determining a short circuit abnormality (fusion) in a MOSFET switch element that causes a charge current to flow in. An on/off controller turns off a MOSFET causing a charge current to flow into a battery module, a start-of-charge instruction unit transmits to a charger an instruction signal to start a charging operation, and a short circuit abnormality diagnostic unit determines, based on a current sensor output, whether current is flowing through the MOSFET due to the charging operation to diagnose a short circuit abnormality in the MOSFET. After diagnosis of the MOSFET, a diagnosis of a short circuit abnormality in a MOSFET that causes a discharge current to flow out of the battery module is performed, and then a diagnosis of a short circuit abnormality in a charge relay is performed.

Abstract: A power supply device has a first monitoring portion monitoring one battery property of plural battery cells constituting a battery block, a second monitoring portion monitoring another battery property, a circuit board having a monitoring circuit monitoring states of the battery cells being connected to the first and second monitoring portions and based on battery property information detected in the first and second monitoring portions and having a rectangular shape in the external appearance, a first connector connecting a first harness extended from the first monitoring portion to the circuit board, and a second connector connecting a second harness extended from the second monitoring portion to the circuit board. The first connector is fixed to one side of the circuit board, and the second connector is fixed to another side crossing the one side of the rectangular outer shape at a position thereof crossing the second connector.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for suppressing power spikes. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses determine an available amount of power that a battery is capable of providing while maintaining a particular voltage level and a requisite amount of power that components will consume to perform a task. When the requisite amount of power exceeds the available amount of power, power states of the components are altered effective to enable the battery to maintain the particular voltage level.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a system includes a switching regulator and an electrochemical storage test circuit. The switching regulator is coupled to a power supply input and configured to supply a regulated voltage to a regulated supply terminal that is configured to be coupled to a device. The electrochemical storage test circuit is configured to be coupled to an electrochemical storage unit. The electrochemical storage test circuit includes a bidirectional switch with a first switch terminal coupled to the regulated supply terminal, a second switch terminal configured to be coupled to the electrochemical storage unit, and a switch control terminal. The electrochemical storage test circuit also includes a built-in self-test (BIST) circuit configured to be coupled to the electrochemical storage unit and to the switch control terminal.

Abstract: An isolation apparatus includes isolation circuitry that includes multiple semiconductor switches arranged electrically in parallel to isolate, from an electrical system, a plurality of battery cells of a battery capable of providing high levels of current. The apparatus includes a microcontroller operatively coupled to the isolation circuitry, wherein the battery cells are isolated from the electrical system to which the battery is connected when the microcontroller switches off the multiple semiconductor switches. The apparatus provides cell-balancing, circuit isolation, trace matching, split columns, heat-tied use of materials and slow-speed switching to provide safety through isolation, equalization and stress reduction.

Abstract: A method of balancing rack voltages of a battery pack having a plurality of racks includes (a) a voltage measurement step of measuring voltages of the racks, (b) a sorting step of sorting the racks in ascending powers based on the voltage values of the racks, (c) a comparison step of comparing a difference between a maximum voltage value and a minimum voltage value with a set voltage, (d) a charging/discharging count step of comparing the voltage values of the racks with a reference voltage to increase a charging or discharging count, and (e) a charging/discharging step of charging or discharging the racks according to the charging or discharging count. In a case in which, at step (c), the difference between the maximum voltage value and the minimum voltage value is lower than the set voltage, the racks are charged with the maximum voltage value without steps (d) and (c).

Abstract: A method for testing multiple spatially distributed protective devices of an energy supply network. Each of the protective devices is configured to, in the event of a fault occurring in the energy supply network, isolate the fault in the energy supply network. The method comprises: producing an initial test sequence; outputting of the test sequence to the protective devices; detecting outputs of the protective devices that the protective devices output on the basis of the test sequence; analyzing the outputs and generation of inputs for the protective devices depending on the outputs. If the inputs are not part of the test sequence, these inputs are incorporated into the test sequence and the outputting step proceeds. Otherwise, all outputs of the protective devices are evaluated. Each test sequence comprises inputs in the form of process variables of the energy supply network for at least one of the protective devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods for starting an engine are described. In one example, engine cranking speed for an engine of a hybrid vehicle is adjusted in response to operating conditions. The engine cranking speed may be reduced when capability of a battery that supplies power to rotate the engine is less than an amount of power to rotate the engine at a higher speed.

Abstract: A non-isolated symmetric self-coupling 18-pulse rectifier power supply system comprises a phase-shifting autotransformer, three circuits of output devices, a time sequence controller and a power output end. The phase-shifting autotransformer is provided with three groups of output ends and one group of input ends, and the output device in each circuit comprises a zero-sequence suppression reversing inductor, a three-phase uncontrolled rectifier bridge and a bidirectional switch BUCK converter, which are connected to each other in turn. The time sequence controller is provided with three groups of control ends which are respectively connected to the control end of the bidirectional switch BUCK converter in each circuit. The output end of the bidirectional switch buck converter in each circuit is connected to the power output end.

Abstract: In some implementations, a mobile device can be configured with virtual motion fences that delineate domains of motion detectable by the mobile device. In some implementations, the mobile device can be configured to invoke an application or function when the mobile device enters or exits a motion domain (by crossing a motion fence). In some implementations, entering or exiting a motion domain can cause components of the mobile device to power on or off (or awaken or sleep) in an incremental manner.

Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device that is capable of displaying data even when a radio signal is not supplied. The semiconductor device includes an antenna, a battery, a sensor, a nonvolatile memory, a first circuit, and a second circuit. Power supplied from the antenna is converted into first power via the first circuit. The battery stores the first power and supplies second power. The sensor performs sensing with the second power. The nonvolatile memory stores analog data acquired by the sensor. The second power is used to store the analog data. The second circuit converts the analog data into digital data with the use of the first power. The nonvolatile memory preferably includes an oxide semiconductor transistor.

Abstract: A method, system, and device provide power-efficient communications within the context of available power. Transmission and receipt data rates are scalable in accordance with output power available from a power source. Data is transmitted at a data rate determined, at least in part, by the available output power.

Abstract: System and methods for determining performance degradation of a battery system are presented. In certain embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods may involve testing, monitoring, and/or modeling of battery system cyclic performance degradation at a single battery system operating temperature. The disclosed systems and methods may offer certain efficiencies over conventional techniques for determining cyclic degradation of a battery system. Such efficiencies may allow the disclosed systems and methods to be implemented in connection with real-time battery state estimation methods.

Abstract: An electronic power supply circuit for battery-powered hardware devices is disclosed which can be electronically switched to supply any of at least two predetermined voltages wherein the batteries are switched in parallel or in series depending on the desired voltage. Also disclosed is an electronic apparatus comprising the electronic power supply circuit, which in some modes of operation uses the highest of the two predetermined voltages and which in other modes of operation can function with the lower of two predetermined voltages, and includes control logic that switches the electronic power supply circuit to supply said higher voltage when the apparatus in a mode in which it uses this higher voltage and that switches said electronic power supply circuit to supply said lower voltage at least during some of the modes in which the apparatus can function with the lower voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a system test module that initiates a system power test for a computer system. The computer system includes one or more power supplies that provide power to system components. The system power test includes determining power system characteristics under various loading conditions. The apparatus includes a configure module that configures a system component during the system power test. The system component uses a higher amount of power after being configured than in a previous un-configured condition. The apparatus includes a de-configure module that de-configures the system component during the system power test. The system component uses a lower amount of power after being de-configured than in a previous configured condition. The apparatus includes a diagnostic module that measures power system performance of the computer system during varying loading conditions caused by configuring and de-configuring one or more system components by the configure module and the de-configure module.

Abstract: A bi-directional voltage positioning circuit includes a voltage to current converter, a current mirror circuit and a switch. The voltage to current converter converts a sensing voltage to a first current, and the sensing voltage is sensed based on a current flowing through an output coil connected between a switching node and an output node. The current mirror circuit mirrors the first current to generate a second current and a third current, the second current is N times greater than the first current, the third current is M times greater than the first current, and N and M are real numbers greater than zero. The switch provides a feedback node with one of the second current and third current in response to a switching control signal, and an output voltage of the output node is divided at the feedback node.

Abstract: Provided is a charge and discharge control circuit and a battery device which ensure high safety, even when a charger is reversely connected. The charge and discharge control circuit includes a consumption current increase circuit for supplying a current from a power supply terminal to a ground terminal, the consumption current increase circuit including a switch circuit configured to be turned on in response to a detection signal from a charger reverse connection detection circuit, which indicates that a charger is reversely connected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a universal quick charger for recharging primary or secondary electrolytic members, in particular alkaline batteries with a non-rechargeable reputation, that can receive and automatically recharge a variable number of members without manual switching, that further comprises a switching transistor for hashing the recharge current in order to impart thereto a pumped characteristic, and that further comprises a microprocessor for automatically detecting the number and the nature of the members to be recharged, for supervising the recharging using a routine for continuously measuring the voltage at the terminals of the members as well as the time elapsed since the beginning of the recharging, said microprocessor being further used for deciding to stop the recharging when a criterion of the supervision routine is validated.

Abstract: A charging control method and system for an environmentally friendly vehicle are provided and promote the enhancement of charging efficiency by improving a power control method of a power factor correction (PFC) converter while a battery is being charged through an on board charger (OBC) in vehicle. The method sensing, by a voltage detector, a battery voltage during charging and calculating, by a controller, a target value to maintain an output voltage of the PFC converter. The target value is calculated from the sensed battery voltage and the maximum available duty value of the DC-DC converter. The output voltage of the PFC converter is maintained, based on the calculated target value.

Abstract: An electrical energy storage unit and control system, and applications thereof. In an embodiment, the electrical energy storage unit includes a battery system controller and battery packs. Each battery pack has battery cells, a battery pack controller that monitors the cells, a battery pack cell balancer that adjusts the amount of energy stored in the cells, and a battery pack charger. The battery pack controller operates the battery pack cell balancer and the battery pack charger to control the state-of-charge of the cells. In an embodiment, the cells are lithium ion battery cells.

Abstract: A modular heavy load battery test system is provided. The system includes a heavy load module and a battery tester. The heavy load module includes a housing, first and second lengths of high-resistivity, large-gauge wire arranged on respective upper and lower surfaces of a heat-resistant support plate, a switch and at least one cooling fan. The battery tester includes a housing, a microcontroller and a set of battery charging wires. The microcontroller selects the configuration of the first and second wires and provides the control signal to the heavy load module, while the switch selectively connects the first and second wires to the battery tester based upon the control signal.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to battery packs for use with surgical instruments. The battery packs may comprise a plurality of cells and at least a portion of the plurality of cells may not be electrically connected to one another. The battery packs may comprise a switch or other mechanism for interconnecting the plurality of cells and may also comprise, or be used in conjunction with, a discharge switch or plug configured to electrically connect an anode of the battery pack to a cathode of the battery pack, for example, via a resistive element.

Abstract: In battery cell control system and method, a monitoring section connected to a battery cell included in an assembled battery, operated with the battery cell as a power source, and configured to monitor a state of the battery cell is provided and a first consumption of the battery cell which is consumed by the monitoring section in accordance with a voltage of the battery cell is estimated using the voltage of the battery cell.

Abstract: A plurality of client devices may each run on battery power and each experience respective battery usage while in a respective operational state. A server may receive, from the plurality of client devices, a plurality of reports correlating the client devices' respective operational states with the client devices' respective battery usage. Based on the reports, the server may identify at least two client devices in the plurality that reported a common operational state. The server may further determine a representative battery usage for the common operational state, and use this representative battery usage to predict battery usage for a particular client device that is in the common operational state. Then, the server may instruct the particular client device to take an action based upon the predicted battery usage.

Abstract: A signal line for an implantable electromedical configuration, having an electric line segment or line end and a mechanoelectric converter for converting an electric AC voltage signal into a mechanical oscillation. The oscillation can in turn be converted back into an electrical signal for delivery to a part of a human or mammal body, e.g., a heart.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for performing power consumption management are provided, where the method is applied to an electronic device. The method includes: obtaining current information corresponding to an application from a database, the current information being of at least one current on at least one current path between a battery and at least one portion of the electronic device; and performing battery drain prediction corresponding to the application according to the current information. The method may further include: performing sampling operations to generate a plurality of samples of the current, and more particularly, utilizing an ADC to perform analog-to-digital conversion on a voltage difference corresponding to the current to generate the plurality of samples. The voltage difference can be obtained by probing two terminals of a resistor or a Hall component.

Abstract: A user-controlled application-based power management function is provided for a battery-operated device. In general, for each of a number of applications of the battery-operated device, a power management function enables a user of the battery-operated device to provide a usage parameter for the application defining a desired amount of usage of the application for each of one or more tasks. For each task, the power management function determines an estimated amount of battery life that is sufficient to provide the desired amount of usage of the application for the task and determines whether the estimated amount of battery life is available. If the estimated amount of battery life is available, the power management function allocates an amount of battery life corresponding to the estimated amount of battery life to the application for the task.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media are provided for enabling a reliable indication of the amount of time a battery will provide sufficient charge to power a computing device. One or more profiles of user activity on a computing device are created. A drain rate for each profile of user activity is determined and stored. An analysis of the user activities being engaged in on the computing device is conducted, and a profile of user activity is determined to describe the user activities. An amount of remaining charge stored in the battery is determined, and the period of time that the battery will provide sufficient charge to the computing device is determined based on the amount of remaining charge and on the drain rate at which charge is drained from the battery for the determined profile of user activity.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus performs a communication with a portable device detachably attached to a port of the apparatus. The apparatus supplies bus power to the portable device through the port. The apparatus includes a notification module configured to execute an operation of notifying the portable device whether the port is a first type port configured to supply a first charging current or a second type port configured to supply a second charging current higher than the first charging current. The apparatus controls, when a remaining level of a battery of the apparatus is lower than a threshold, an operation of the notification module such that the portable device recognizes the port as the first type port.

Abstract: A battery connector system for connecting a battery to a battery powered device is provided herein that includes an insert molded contact block comprising a contact block, a plurality of electrical contacts insert molded into the contact block, and an outer electrical connection for electrically coupling the plurality of electrical contacts to the battery powered device. The battery connector system further includes an inner electrical connection located on a housing enclosure for electrically coupling the battery housed in the housing enclosure to the outer electrical connection through the plurality of electrical contacts. The battery connector system further includes a sealed electrical path between the inner electrical connection and the outer electrical connection, wherein the sealed electrical path is formed by over molding the insert molded contact block with the housing enclosure.

Abstract: A method includes steps of dividing resistance R into a physical and chemical resistances Ro and Rp, obtaining corrected open-circuit voltages Vo corresponding to setting currents Ia to Ix, acquiring predicted reaching voltages Va to Vx corresponding to the setting currents Ia to Ix, and creating a current-voltage curve. The corrected open-circuit voltages Vo are obtained to predict available maximum currents I—target in a particular time t2. The predicted reaching voltages Va to Vx are acquired based on corrected physical and chemical resistances Ro and Rp, and the corrected open-circuit voltages Vo. The current-voltage curve is creased based on the setting currents Ia to Ix and the predicted reaching voltages Va to Vx to acquire upper and lower limit voltages Vmax and Vmin, and upper and lower limit currents Imax and Imin at a temperature whereby assigning these limit currents to available maximum currents I—target in charging and discharging operations, respectively.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus includes a first converter that converts first analog data indicating a voltage value of each of batteries into first digital data; and a second converter that converts second analog data indicating an electric current value flowing through the plurality of batteries into second digital data. The first analog data and the second analog data are data having the same timing.

Abstract: A battery pack, and a method of controlling the battery pack are disclosed. The battery pack detects consumption current when a load is not turned on, and shuts off power when a load is turned off or in stand-by mode, thereby preventing consumption current of the load from flowing.

Abstract: A charge control circuit includes a comparator circuit to compare a secondary-battery voltage with a comparison voltage corresponding to an input-power-supply voltage, a transistor to supply an input current to an inductor, a first control circuit to control the transistor, and a second control circuit to control second and third transistors to increase and decrease an inductor current, respectively, so that a boost DC-DC converter performs a boost operation. When the secondary-battery voltage is equal to or higher than the comparison voltage, the first and second control circuits turn on the transistor and perform switching of the second and third transistors complementarily, respectively. When the secondary-battery voltage is lower than the comparison voltage, the first control circuit controls the transistor so that the input current takes a predetermined value, and the second control circuit turns on and off the third and second transistors, respectively.

Abstract: A vehicle allows a power storage device mounted therein to be externally charged using electric power from an external power supply. The vehicle includes an engine, a motor generator and a vehicle ECU. The vehicle allows a motor generator to generate electric power by driving the engine. Then, when charging of the power storage device is not completed within a target charging time period set by the user only using the electric power from the external power supply in the case where external charging is performed, the vehicle ECU charges the power storage device with the electric power from the external power supply additionally using the electric power generated by driving the engine.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for virtual cells for battery thermal management are disclosed. The disclosed method involves sensing, with at least one temperature sensor, a temperature of at least one battery cell in a battery pack. The method further involves sensing, with at least one current sensor, at least one current within the battery pack. Also, the method involves determining, with a battery thermal management system (BTMS) controller, if the temperature of any of the battery cells in the battery pack exceeds a temperature limit (TLimit). Further, the method involves activating, with the BTMS controller, at least one virtual cell to provide current or sink current for at least one of the battery cells in the battery pack that exceeds the temperature limit.

Abstract: A battery for electronic equipment includes: a rechargeable power supply; and a battery chip, wherein: the rechargeable power supply is configured to supply power to the electronic equipment; and the battery chip is configured to detect whether the rechargeable power supply has started to supply power to the electronic equipment and, if a detection result is that the rechargeable power supply has started to supply power to the electronic equipment, transmit a customized signal to the electronic equipment through a predetermined transmitting pin.