Abstract: Mobile swappable battery for a powered workstation. In an embodiment of a mobile swappable battery sized for detachable coupling with a base of a powered workstation of the present disclosure, the battery comprises a wheeled housing enclosing a portion of the battery, wherein the wheeled housing comprises at least two wheels attached to a bottom side of the housing, and a collapsible handle for pushing and guiding the wheeled housing into detachable alignment with a battery guide in the base of the powered workstation.

Abstract: Battery systems containing recyclable battery portions. The present disclosure includes disclosure of a battery system, comprising a housing configured to retain two or more battery portions; two or more battery portions configured to fit within the housing; wherein the housing is configured to fit within a battery compartment of a cart; wherein the two or more battery portions, when effectively connected together using a central connector of the battery system, collectively produce sufficient power to power electronic equipment of the cart; and wherein each of the two or more battery portions weigh at or below a desired threshold weight.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are batteries, battery packs, systems, and methods for calculating and/or determining, and then compensating for, the voltage loss due to interconnect resistance (IR) between cells of a battery pack. A program may calculate and/or determine the cell IR between each of the cells in a battery pack, which is referred to herein as the “calibration value,” and may be determined during the initial battery pack design phase. A program may then multiply the cell IR or “calibration value” by the measured pack current to compensate for the measured cell voltage. The cell IR or “calibration value” may be used during manufacture of the battery pack to compensate for the interconnect resistance (IR) between cells. This compensation for voltage loss due to IR between cells will increase accuracy of the BMS and improve overall battery pack performance, without increasing material costs or size of the battery pack.

Abstract: Multi-cell battery management devices, systems, and methods are disclosed herein. A multi-cell battery management device comprises a battery pack including a power output terminal and a plurality of battery cells each having a positive and a negative terminal and connected in series fashion. Each of the plurality of battery cells includes: i) a cell control processor to monitor cell voltage, cell current, cell temperature, and cell fuse status; ii) a programmable shunt controlled by the cell control processor that varies the internal resistance of each of the cells; and iii) a data communications circuit connected to the cell control processor and to the positive and negative terminals of each cell, the communications circuit enabling data communication over the battery cell positive and negative output terminals, and wherein the cell control processor responds to commands received via the data communications circuit to vary the operating state of the programmable shunt.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are battery management systems and methods for activating battery override logic for a battery management system to provide a power path to a battery pack. A method of activating battery override logic for a battery management system may comprise detecting a predetermined key toggle sequence performed in a predetermined amount of time or detecting an override message received from a CAN bus. The method may further comprise determining if the last override turn-on sequence was requested more than a predetermined amount of time ago, confirming that the override is configured for the contactor, and turning on the contactor to provide a power path to the battery pack for a limited predetermined amount of time. An exemplary predetermined toggle sequence may comprise on-off-on-off-on performed within 10 seconds. An exemplary override message from the CAN bus may be initiated by a user having a key, code, or access card.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are battery docks for receiving a battery, and methods for switching off an electrical load to a battery or to the battery dock to prevent overheating. A battery dock may comprise a battery connection contact to attach to a battery, and a circuit sensor electrically coupled to the battery connection contact for sensing the temperature of the battery dock and at the battery connection contact. The circuit sensor can be configured to switch off an electrical load or charging current once a threshold temperature has been reached to prevent overheating. In operation, the temperature of the battery dock, such as at the battery connection contact, may be sensed or monitored and electrical current may be prevented from passing to/from the battery by switching off the battery dock if the sensed temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are mobile battery powered medical carts, methods of operating these carts to increase efficiency of healthcare operations, and methods of accurately calculating remaining battery runtime for these carts. A mobile battery powered medical cart may comprise a wheeled base portion having a sliding battery power bay, an upper workstation area having a monitor, a computer, and a printer, and at least one adjustable height column coupling the wheeled base portion to the upper workstation area. The carts may include a glass overlay display positioned on a top surface of the upper workstation area and having anti-bacterial and chemical resistant properties. The glass overlay display may be configured to provide medical employees with haptic feedback on remaining battery runtime, calculated via a custom algorithm for increased accuracy.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an add-on battery that may be electrically coupled to a second system that includes an electrical energy storage device are presented. In one example, the systems and methods provide for extending operation of the second system via selectively powering the second system via the add-on battery in response to operating conditions of the second system.

Abstract: Mobile swappable battery for a powered workstation. In an embodiment of a mobile swappable battery sized for detachable coupling with a base of a powered workstation of the present disclosure, the battery comprises a wheeled housing enclosing a portion of the battery, wherein the wheeled housing comprises at least two wheels attached to a bottom side of the housing, and a collapsible handle for pushing and guiding the wheeled housing into detachable alignment with a battery guide in the base of the powered workstation.

Abstract: Battery management systems and methods for using the same to obtain battery shock and/or rollover data. An exemplary battery management system of the present disclosure comprises an accelerometer configured to obtain acceleration data, a microcontroller operably connected to the accelerometer and configured to receive the acceleration data from the accelerometer, and a data storage medium in communication with the microcontroller, the data storage medium configured to store the acceleration data therein, wherein when the battery management system is in communication with a battery, the accelerometer can obtain the acceleration data relating to the battery, and the microcontroller can operate to disconnect the battery from a load connected thereto should the acceleration data meet or exceed a threshold limit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are mobile battery powered kiosks generally shaped as a standing workstation having an interactive touch screen at a comfortable viewing height and a wheeled base portion for convenient rolling transportation. These mobile kiosks may have collapsible handles and may be nested together for more compact storage and more efficient battery charging, such as by daisy chaining These mobile kiosks may have removable or swappable rechargeable batteries, or may be recharged simply by plugging into a wall outlet. The mobile kiosks have an interactive touch screen, which may itself be a computer, or may be operably coupled to a computer, such as via Wi-Fi. These mobile kiosks may be used at a point-of sale and are wheeled and lightweight to be easily maneuvered and quickly deployed when needed, such as at crowded venues, or on a temporary as-needed basis, and can then be put away, when no longer needed.

Abstract: Electric powered forklifts or cleaning machine have attracted much attention in the last decade because of their very substantial benefits. The main issue facing the efficiency of Electric forklifts is the charging time needed for the battery pack. To achieve the Ultra-fast charging for the battery. An AC-DC or DC-DC converter is added inside the battery compartment. The converter enables the charger to supply high power and voltage as the converter step-down the voltage to the standard battery voltage. By using this method, the charging time will be reduced without using big or bulky cables.

Abstract: Fast chargers have recently become widespread due to their ability to reduce charging times. Because of the high power needed from the grid, these chargers need a very complicated infrastructure with high rated components like connectors, cables, and breakers which are not commonly found. Installing a used battery with the charger helps reduce power drawn from the grid as the battery supports the charger to supply the needed power to the load. Therefore, the user can enjoy fast charging without the need to invest in changing their infrastructure. The batteries can also supply power during peak periods when electricity prices are high, which will reduce the user peak demand, thereby reducing the electricity bill. The charger can also be upgraded with a converter to integrate solar panels into the system, where the solar panel supplies the power to the batteries as well as the grid.

Abstract: Disclosed are mobile battery powered workstations, methods of operating these workstations to increase warehouse and retail efficiency (through improved order fulfillment, as a mobile shipping & receiving station, mobile inventory management, and/or as mobile powered quality analysis stations), and methods of calculating remaining battery runtime for these workstations. A mobile battery powered workstation may comprise a wheeled base having a modular battery power bay, an upper workstation having a monitor, a computer, a printer, and at least one adjustable height column coupling the wheeled base to the upper workstation. The workstation may also include a glass overlay display positioned on a top surface of the upper workstation area and configured to provide order fulfillment employees with haptic feedback on remaining battery runtime, calculated via an algorithm for increased accuracy.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are battery packs, modular battery systems, and improved methods of impedance balancing for current sharing among parallel battery packs. Each parallel battery pack's impedance can be controlled by adding a controlled impedance and a control circuit. The controlled impedance is an impedance that can be varied, and/or controlled, using different impedance values. The control circuit communicates with other battery packs to determine impedance values (or an average impedance) for the other battery packs in a battery system. The controlled impedance can then increase the total impedance for the more highly used batteries (i.e., batteries delivering more current) to balance it with other less used batteries. By balancing impedance between parallel battery packs in a modular battery system, the current will be equally shared between the battery packs, thus ensuring all the battery packs in parallel have similar usage and similar operating lifetimes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are anti-theft battery systems and methods to reduce theft of expensive batteries, such as may be used as a backup power source in communication systems. These anti-theft battery systems include a battery having a BMS, current control circuit, and/or GPS. The battery may also be coupled to a system controller. These anti-theft battery systems allow the battery charge/discharge current to be controlled via a current control circuit within the battery, such as whenever communication is lost between the battery and the system controller, and/or whenever a GPS tracker within the battery indicates a change of location, and/or whenever the battery is connected/disconnected to/from a load. Whenever the current control circuit detects one of these changes in condition, it resets the charge/discharge current to low power, or voltage, such as less than 1%, thus making the battery useless and unable to perform charging and discharging, thus deterring theft.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are different charging stations, systems, and methods for recharging swappable or non-swappable batteries having differing states of health, impedance, age, etc. Swappable and non-swappable battery packs may be charged in parallel, but the amount of charge current supplied to each parallel battery pack is determined individually by the battery pack itself. Each battery may have its own maximum charge and/or discharge current limits set individually to avoid using a battery pack over its rating, provide voltage equalization, and control energy flow among the plurality of rechargeable battery packs. This also extends the operating lifetime of older battery packs. In a charging mode, a battery charger may set a floating voltage and each battery pack may take its own current to provide voltage equalization. Additionally, a battery pack can boost its own voltage to maintain the required voltage level by a particular load/application.

Abstract: Mobile battery powered workstation carts for order fulfillment are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a battery powered workstation cart may comprise a wheeled cart having a frame, a rechargeable lithium battery, a computer, a barcode reader/scanner, a RFID reader/scanner, a printer, an artificial intelligence hub, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and/or GPS. The frame may also comprise two side bracket arms and/or shelves, which may be modular to receive various different sized baskets, bins, or totes therein to expedite retail order fulfillment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various mobile battery powered beverage distribution and marketing carts, kiosks, systems, and methods for operating, transporting, charging, maintaining, optimizing, and storing these mobile battery powered beverage distribution and marketing carts. The mobile battery powered beverage carts may generally comprise a wheeled base, upper workstation, at least one storage and/or refrigerated compartment, a battery, and a large viewing screen for displaying marketing and/or entertainment content thereon. The battery within the cart is configured to operate any electrical componentry on the cart, so that the cart can be independently operable away from any electrical wall outlets. These carts can be customized with any number of options or accessories to meet particular demands and be temporarily deployed to areas where demand, or crowd size, is highest.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are battery management systems and methods for activating battery override logic for a battery management system to provide a power path to a battery pack. A method of activating battery override logic for a battery management system may comprise detecting a predetermined key toggle sequence performed in a predetermined amount of time or detecting an override message received from a CAN bus. The method may further comprise determining if the last override turn-on sequence was requested more than a predetermined amount of time ago, confirming that the override is configured for the contactor, and turning on the contactor to provide a power path to the battery pack for a limited predetermined amount of time. An exemplary predetermined toggle sequence may comprise on-off-on-off-on performed within 10 seconds. An exemplary override message from the CAN bus may be initiated by a user having a key, code, or access card.