Abstract: An equilibrated charging method for n cells of a lithium-ion or lithium-polymer battery, connected in series. The method is characterised in carrying out a continuous monitoring of the levels of charge of the different cells (1), from the beginning of the operation of charging the battery (2) and during the process and, as a function of the analysis of the levels of charge, to carry out a uniform supply to all the cells (1), or an equilibration of the levels of charge of the cells (1), by supplying the same in different manners, as a function of the levels of charge thereof.

Abstract: A back-gate voltage generator circuit generating a back-gate voltage of a four-terminal back gate switching MOSFET for charge and discharge control is disclosed. The back-gate voltage generator circuit includes first and second n-type MOSFETs connected in series through a common source electrode. A voltage at the common source electrode of the first and second n-type MOSFETS connected in series serves as the back-gate voltage of the four-terminal back gate switching MOSFET, and the back-gate voltage is used as a reference voltage for generating signals for controlling the first and second n-type MOSFETS.

Abstract: A power manager is configured to manage power for a battery-powered application. A power source, a load and a battery are interconnected through a circuit path. Power from the power source is provided to the load and battery by a switching regulator. Various implementations are presented.

Abstract: A power source switching apparatus is provided. The example power source switching apparatus may include a voltage adjuster outputting a first power source voltage having a voltage level, corresponding to the output voltage of a battery, during an external power source mode where the battery is being charged, the first power source voltage based at least in part on the external power source and the output voltage of the battery, a controller outputting a first control signal and a second control signal, the first control signal enabled if the battery is operating in the external power source mode and the second control signal is enabled if the battery is not operating in the external power source mode, a first switch outputting the first power source voltage if the first control signal is enabled and a second switch outputting the output voltage of the battery if the second control signal is enabled.

Abstract: A method to detect the presence of battery protection circuits in any battery powered product. The major advantage of the method is to make the battery voltage very smooth during the charging process. The proposed circuit can give a good prediction of protection switching turn on time. This can provide the battery powered system work smoothly by avoiding any battery voltage discontinuity. The proposed invention addresses the issue of deep discharge and provides a solution through a discharge test procedure.

Abstract: A battery management system includes a sensing unit, a controller, an Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) calculator, and a State of Charge (SOC) determination unit. The sensing unit measures a total voltage of the secondary battery. The controller maintains the secondary battery in an open circuit state for a first period of time after a power supply switch is turned on, and couples the secondary battery to an external device when the first period of time ends. The OCV calculator receives the measured voltage from the sensing unit and calculates an OCV of the secondary battery during the first period of time. The SOC determination unit receives the calculated OCV from the OCV calculator and determines an SOC corresponding to the OCV.

Abstract: In a method and system for protecting a battery being charged by an electrical device, a current flowing through a cell stack of the battery is measured. If the measured current is greater than a predefined value the battery is isolated from the device. If subsequent current measurements made within a predefined time interval indicate that the measured current is less than or equal to the predefined value then the battery is recoupled to the device. If the measured current remains greater than the predefined value during the predefined time interval then a fuse is blown and the battery is disabled.

Abstract: A battery is charged in a number of states, with a change from a third charge stage to a fourth charge stage (e.g., final stage) is executed when a battery voltage reaches a change voltage or when a charge time reaches an upper time limit, in order to inhibit the overcharging or undercharging of the battery. The upper time limit is set in response to a battery temperature detected at the end of a second charge stage. In addition, if the charge stage is changed to the fourth stage in response to a determination of whether the upper time limit has elapsed or not, a complete charge mode cycle is increased. At the fourth stage, a charge time calculated using a charge electricity quantity, a battery temperature and a charge mode of the first stage is set.

Abstract: Various synchronization and content acquisition tasks able to be performed by a portable device are governed by reference to a budget. In operation, the budget may be adjusted as a function of a state of a battery associated with the portable device, as a function of one more file sizes associated with content to be acquired, as a function of a data transfer rate, and/or as a function of a temperature associated with the portable device. A filter may also be provided for use in determining which content the portable device will acquire.

Abstract: A battery charging apparatus having a plurality of charging units connected in series. A charging unit has a series switch connected in series with a rechargeable battery, and a parallel switch connected in parallel with the series connected rechargeable battery and series switch. A charging control section controls charging of a rechargeable battery by switching the series switch and parallel switch ON and OFF. The charging control section changes the duty factor for switching series switches and parallel switches ON and OFF, switches a charging unit between a charging mode and a cut-off mode at a prescribed duty factor, and controls rechargeable battery charging currents to charge a plurality of batteries.

Abstract: The present invention provides a battery charger and a method for preventing both an overshoot charging current and an overcharged battery voltage during a mode transition. The battery charger includes a charging regulation circuit having an input terminal, an output terminal, and a control terminal, in which the charging regulation circuit outputs a charging current whose amount is regulated based on a first regulation signal at the control terminal. The battery charger also includes an operational amplifier having a positive input terminal, a negative input terminal, and an output terminal for generating the first regulation signal; The battery charger contains a first switch unit and a second switch unit for controlling current flow in the battery charger.

Abstract: A system interface having an interface for dual battery packs provides for power up sequencing of battery packs and pack switching under the control of a host processor within associated system electronics. The host processor communicates with each battery pack via a pack interface that includes a single wire mode control signal and a single wire status signal. The mode control signal allows the host processor to control the operational mode of selector switches within the respective battery pack. The single wire status signal provides status information to the host processor regarding the state of the selector switches within the respective battery pack. The mode and status signals are multi-state signals that permit at least three states to be identified via the single wire interface. Selector switches are provided only in the battery packs. No selector switches are included in the system electronics to minimize voltage drops between the selected battery pack and the system electronics.

Abstract: A multiple cell battery charger configured in a parallel topology provides constant current charging. The multiple cell battery charger requires fewer active components than known serial battery chargers, while at the same time preventing a thermal runaway condition. The multiple cell battery charger in accordance with the present invention is a constant voltage constant current battery charger that includes a regulator for providing a regulated source of direct current (DC) voltage to the battery cells to be charged. The battery charger also includes a pair of battery terminals coupled in series with a switching device, such as a field effect transistor (FET) and optionally a battery cell charging current sensing element, forming a charging circuit. In a charging mode, the serially connected FET conducts, thus enabling the battery cell to be charged. The FETs are controlled by a microprocessor that monitors the battery cell voltage and cell charging current and optionally the cell temperature.

Abstract: A battery backup system includes a control device including a power sensing device, a discharge circuit, a charging circuit, and a plurality of battery packs. A lower threshold is established representative of a minimum acceptable effective energy capacity. Each battery pack is recharged if its effective energy capacity falls below the lower threshold. Additionally, an upper threshold is established representative of the minimum acceptable effective energy capacity plus a performance margin. In a two battery-pack system, if both battery packs fall below the upper threshold, the battery with the least effective energy capacity is discharged to the minimum acceptable effective energy capacity and then recharged to the battery pack's maximum energy capacity. In this way, both battery packs are prevented from approaching the minimum acceptable effective energy capacity at the same time. This reduces the size or number of battery packs and reduces their associated cost and volume.

Abstract: The battery charging detects battery temperature and includes a temperature maintaining charging operation wherein average charging current is controlled to drive battery temperature to a holding temperature, and charging is performed while maintaining battery temperature at that holding temperature. In addition, a temperature increasing charging operation occurs prior to the temperature maintaining charging operation. The battery is charged with a current which raises battery temperature until the holding temperature is reached. When battery temperature rises to the holding temperature in the temperature increasing charging operation, charging can transition to the temperature maintaining charging operation.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively managing operating power for an electronic device may include a battery pack coupled to the electronic device for supplying operating power to the electronic device. A battery controller may be configured as a single integrated-circuit device to alternately manage the battery pack either in a single-cell implementation or in a dual-cell implementation. The battery controller may include a charge pump device to provide an internal controller power supply for operating the battery controller in the single-cell implementation.

Abstract: A system for automatically charging a battery of a remote keyless entry transmitter includes a voltage monitoring circuit having a first microprocessor which monitors battery voltage and which causes the transmitter to send an RF signal to a receiver in the form of a base station on a motor vehicle. The signal causes a charging circuit of the base station to activate an inductive field to cause the battery to be fully charged. In one embodiment, the first microprocessor also causes the transmitter to send a second signal to the base station to shut down the charging field when the battery voltage reaches a predetermined upper limit. In another embodiment, a second microprocessor of the base station tracks the charging time and shuts down the charging field when the charging time reaches a predetermined amount. Alternatively, charging can be done by direct contact or other means.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a lead-acid battery and a charger port and an electronic switch connected between the two, the switch being controlled by a microcontroller which is connected to each of the battery and the charger port for separately monitoring the voltages thereat.

Abstract: A system for automatically charging a battery of a remote keyless entry transmitter includes a voltage monitoring circuit having a first microprocessor which monitors battery voltage and which causes the transmitter to send an RF signal to a receiver in the form of a base station on a motor vehicle. The signal causes a charging circuit of the base station to activate an inductive field to cause the battery to be fully charged. In one embodiment, the first microprocessor also causes the transmitter to send a second signal to the base station to shut down the charging field when the battery voltage reaches a predetermined upper limit. In another embodiment, a second microprocessor of the base station tracks the charging time and shuts down the charging field when the charging time reaches a predetermined amount. Alternatively, charging can be done by direct contact or other means.

Abstract: A method of recovering and restoring the voltage in a zinc-air battery that has dropped below a first threshold. The method includes the steps of decoupling essentially all loads from the zinc-air battery and permitting the voltage to stabilize, sampling the voltage to determine if the voltage of the zinc-air battery is below a second predefined threshold, starting a timer and determining if the voltage has recovered to at least a third predefined threshold prior to the timing out of the timer, and periodically sampling the voltage to determine if the voltage has recovered to a voltage above a fourth predefined threshold for a sustained period of time, the periodic sampling being done if the zinc-air battery fell below the first predefined threshold but did not fall below the second predefined threshold, and upon determination that the voltage of the zinc-air battery has recovered to above the fourth predefined threshold, coupling the loads, previously decoupled from the battery, back to the battery.

Abstract: A power supply system, for example, for use with a portable personal computer, includes a smart battery pack and a charging system. The smart battery pack is provided with a dedicated microcontroller for controlling the charging level of the battery charger system. In particular, the status of the battery including the voltage and temperature of the battery is applied to the microcontroller along with a signal representative of the current load demand of the computer system. The microcontroller, in turn, provides a control signal in the form of fixed frequency, variable duty cycle pulse width modulated (PWM) signal for controlling the charging level of the battery charger system. The duty cycle of the PWM signal is used to regulate the charging current supplied by the battery charger. In particular, the DC value of the PWM signal is used as a reference to control the charging current of the regulator to provide a variable output charging current with a relatively wide current range.

Abstract: A power supply system, for example, for use with a portable personal computer, includes a smart battery pack and a charging system. The smart battery pack is provided with a dedicated microcontroller for controlling the charging level of the battery charger system. In particular, the status of the battery including the voltage and temperature of the battery is applied to the microcontroller along with a signal representative of the current load demand of the computer system. The micro controller, in turn, provides a control signal in the form of fixed frequency, variable duty cycle pulse width modulated (PWM) signal for controlling the charging level of the battery charger system. The duty cycle of the PWM signal is used to regulate the charging current supplied by the battery charger. In particular, the DC value of the PWM signal is used as a reference to control the charging current of the regulator to provide a variable output charging current with a relatively wide current range.

Abstract: A battery charging apparatus (12) includes a voltage regulator arrangement (14), a charging transistor (16), a switching transistor (18), and preferably an operational status indicating arrangement (20). The voltage regulator arrangement (14) receives an input voltage signal from a voltage source (22) and produces a regulated voltage output to be applied to a battery (10) to be charged. The charging transistor (16) is connected with its collector-emitter current path completing a charging circuit from the voltage regulator arrangement (14) through the battery (10) to be charged and is forward biased in normal operation by a signal derived from the regulated voltage output. A switching transistor (18) has its collector-emitter current path connected in parallel with the battery (10) and collector-emitter current path of the charging transistor (16) to complete a bypass circuit around the battery.

Abstract: A self-oscillating buck mode battery charger apparatus 10. The apparatus 10 includes a main switching transistor 22, a first control transistor 34 and a second control transistor 36. The control transistors 34 and 36 are arranged such that neither control transistor sees the full input mains voltage across input terminals 12 of the apparatus 10 when the switching transistor 22 is turned off. An alternative embodiment of the invention includes a high and low main sensing circuit 102 in which a controller 120 is used to detect an excessively high mains voltage condition as well as an undesirably low mains voltage condition. The controller 120 turns off a PWM control circuit 104 when either condition is present for a predetermined length of time. Turning off the PWM control circuit 104 causes the main switching transistor 106 to be turned off, thereby preventing damage to the components of the charger apparatus 100.