Abstract: A solar cell and a portable electronic device are provided. The solar cell includes a semiconductor material configured to absorb light for generating a current. The solar cell further includes a positive contact and a negative contact. In addition, the negative contact is configured to couple with an external interface. The portable electronic device includes an energy storage unit. The portable electronic device also includes a semiconductor material configured to absorb light for generating a current, a positive contact, and a negative contact. The negative contact of the portable electronic device is configured to couple with an external interface.

Abstract: A wireless charging structure to wirelessly charge a mobile information terminal in a vehicle includes a mobile information terminal case, a support, a receiving coil, a reception controller, a transmitting coil, and a transmission controller. The transmitting coil is provided on a vehicle side and provided on an inner side of a facing portion of the support. The transmission controller is provided on the vehicle side and electrically connected to the transmitting coil. The transmission controller includes an inverter configured to convert direct current supplied from a battery provided on the vehicle side to alternating current and to supply the alternating current to the transmitting coil. The reception controller includes a converter configured to convert alternating current flowing through the receiving coil due to the magnetic flux generated by the transmitting coil to direct current.

Abstract: A system and method for fast charging of a lithium-ion battery, including: continuously monitoring a state of charge (SOC) of the lithium-ion battery; during a normal mode of operation and upon detecting that the battery is at the predetermined low charge level, discontinuing the discharge; upon detecting that the battery is connected to a charger, providing charging rate of at least 4 C for at least part of charging; and upon detecting that the battery, while connected to the charger is at the predetermined high charge level, discontinue the charging, wherein the predetermined low charge level and the predetermined high charge level define a consumable capacity of the battery, wherein the consumable capacity is below 50% of the full capacity of the battery.

Abstract: The embodiments provide a device including an enclosure having circuitry associated with the device and a battery configured to power the circuitry, and a power plug receiving unit configured to receive a power plug of a power charger to charge the battery. The power plug receiving unit includes a ground contact that is exposed through the enclosure for contact with a secondary ground contact of the power plug, and an active electrode configured to receive alternating current (AC) energy from the power charger for charging the battery or powering the circuitry via non-contact coupling.

Abstract: A power management system for a vehicle having wheels and an electric machine operable to provide torque to drive at least one of the wheels includes a first energy storage system capable of supplying power to operate the electric machine. The system also includes a second energy storage system capable of supplying power directly to at least one vehicle load at a lower voltage than the first energy storage system. A voltage conversion device is operable to reduce a voltage of the power supplied by the first energy storage system to the lower voltage to charge the second energy storage system when the vehicle is in a key-off state.

Abstract: A battery system includes multiple battery cells having multiple cell voltages, and a balancing module. The battery module coupled to multiple battery cells and configured to specify a first voltage threshold according to an amount of a charging current supplied to the battery cells in constant current charging mode, and to initiate a balance check of the battery cells if the first voltage threshold is not satisfied by a cell voltage of the plurality of cell voltages.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for connecting an electric or hybrid electric vehicle to a charging station. Automated charging and docking processes may be provided. In some embodiments, a vehicle arrival and position may be detected. The vehicle may be charged with a charging arm and some automated vehicle positioning may occur. The vehicle may be charged and released. Fault detection may occur.

Abstract: There is provided a battery voltage detector circuit which uses a multiplexer system and which is capable of reducing the influence of the deviation of a detected voltage attributable to a parasitic capacitance, thus improving the accuracy of voltage detection. The battery voltage detector circuit that monitors the voltages of a plurality of batteries connected in series includes a flying capacitor, a multiplexer switch that sequentially connects the flying capacitor to the plurality of batteries, a voltage detecting unit that detects the voltage of the flying capacitor, a first reference potential detecting unit connected to one terminal of the flying capacitor, a second reference potential connecting unit connected to the other terminal of the flying capacitor, and a control circuit that controls the multiplexer switch, the first reference potential connecting unit and the second reference potential connecting unit.

Abstract: An embodiment of a system for wirelessly charging a wrist-worn device may include a radio frequency (RF) charging energy generating element, and an antenna configured to radiate the RF charging energy, the antenna comprising a first coil and a second coil, the first coil and the second coil each comprising a plurality of windings, the windings of the first coil being wound in a direction opposite the direction of the windings of the second coil. An embodiment of a wrist-worn charge-receiving device may include an antenna coil adapted to receive radio frequency (RF) charging energy, the antenna coil comprising non-uniform windings; and a rechargeable power source coupled to the antenna coil, the antenna coil adapted to provide the RF charging energy to the rechargeable power source.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method for evaluating a cell of a battery is provided. The method may include: balancing a voltage of at least one cell of the battery using charge pulses, wherein the charge pulses are modulated with an oscillating test signal; measuring a current flow through the cell and measuring a voltage across the cell; demodulating the measured current and the measured voltage; and determining an impedance based on the demodulated current and the demodulated voltage. Further, in various embodiments, a circuit is provided, including a balancing circuit configured to inductively transfer charges between cells in a battery using current pulses, and a control unit configured to control the balancing circuit to provide the current pulses, wherein an average value of the current pulses oscillates over time.

Abstract: A battery includes a plurality of battery cells connected in series between a positive terminal and a negative terminal and a resistor connected in series with the battery cells. The battery also includes a plurality of cell voltage detection units which each include a plurality of voltage measurement inputs connected to a respective group of the battery cells. The battery is configured to determine cell voltages of the battery cells connected to the respective cell voltage detection unit. The cell voltage detection units are connected to each other by a communication bus and are configured to transmit, via the communication bus, the determined cell voltages to a microcontroller which is galvanically decoupled from the cell voltage detection units by an electrical isolation device. The resistor includes a first connection connected to a selected voltage measurement input of one of the cell voltage detection units.

Abstract: An auto-resonant driver for a transmitter inductor drives the inductor at an optimal frequency for maximum efficiency. The transmitter inductor is magnetically coupled, but not physically coupled, to a receiver inductor, and the current generated by the receiver inductor is used to power a load. The system may be used, for example, to remotely charge a battery (as part of the load) or provide power to motors or circuits. A feedback circuit is used to generate the resonant driving frequency. A detector in the transmit side wirelessly detects whether there is sufficient current being generated in the receiver side to achieve regulation by a voltage regulator powering the load. This point is achieved when the transmitter inductor peak voltage suddenly increases as the driving pulse width is ramped up. At that point, the pulse width is held constant for optimal efficiency.

Abstract: There is disclosed a dynamic boost charging system having a monitoring component configured to measure total DC current and/or battery current and a reporting component configured to transmit output data of the total DC current and/or battery current measured. A battery charger control system in operable connection with the monitoring component receives the data of the total DC current and/or battery current measured by the monitoring component, and is configured to: obtain an initial time and/or charge measurement; determine a time and/or charge to complete a recharge cycle based on the time and/or charge measurement; selectively use at least two preset DC output voltage settings, one of the at least two preset DC voltage settings being a float voltage, and another of the at least two preset DC voltage settings being a boost voltage; and maintain the boost voltage until the time has passed the charge has been provided.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a rechargeable battery module and a battery management system for controlling charging and/or discharging of the battery module. The battery module may include a substantially linear charging and discharging voltage-time profile within at least part of the charging and discharging cycle of the battery module, and the battery management system may be configured to calculate a state of charge of the battery module by using linear charging and/or discharging characteristics of the battery module.

Abstract: A battery power transfer system includes control circuitry coupled to a charge/discharge module. The charge/discharge module is configured to apply an electrical stimulus to a battery and to determine, based at least in part on a measured response of the battery to the applied electrical stimulus, a target power transfer frequency of the battery. The power is transferred to or from the battery with a power transfer profile comprising current pulses having a frequency component selected based on the determined target power transfer frequency.

Abstract: A system and method for powering and monitoring use of battery powered automated dispensers is provided. In one embodiment, a pseudo battery assembly comprised of a pseudo battery and a plurality of battery spacers powers and monitors use of an automated hand hygiene dispenser. More specifically, the pseudo battery receives an external power supply from a control unit that is part of a hand hygiene compliance (HHC) system, wherein the pseudo battery is operable to distribute the power to the dispenser and detect use thereof with a sensor. Further, a feedback device associated with the control unit is operable to display an alarm or notification once the dispenser has been used a predetermined amount of times. In other embodiments, the pseudo battery assembly powers and monitors use of battery powered automated dispensers, such as an automated towel dispenser or an automated gloves dispenser.

Abstract: There is provided a charging apparatus and a wireless charging apparatus that facilitate display of a fully charged state using a monochromatic display device. The charging apparatus and the wireless charging apparatus include a power supply unit supplying a charging power, a charging unit supplying the charging power to an external charging target device, a charging control unit controlling a charging state of the charging unit, a display unit that displays the charging state under the control of the charging control unit and, when the charging target device is in a fully charged state, stops an operation of displaying the charging state, and a delay unit that delays stopping the operation of the display unit that displays the charging state, for a previously set period of time, when the charging target device in the fully charged state is recharged.

Abstract: A safety guardian is operable to facilitate notifying an Electronic Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) system whether a vehicle charging system is ready to accept energy. The safety guardian may be configured to facilitate control of a vehicle interface used to provide a reference voltage to the EVSE reflective of whether the charging system is ready to accept energy. The guardian may control the vehicle interface in the absence of a suitable control signal from the vehicle charging system in order to ensure the EVSE is notified when the vehicle charging system is not ready to accept energy.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a circuit includes a first amplifier having a first differential input, a second differential input, and an output. The replica device is configured to generate a replica current of a current flowing through the battery where the first amplifier controls the control device to control the replica current. The circuit also includes a second amplifier having a third differential input, a fourth differential input, and an output. The second amplifier is configured to compensate for a first offset error of the first amplifier and a second offset error of the second amplifier based on selectively coupling the third differential input to the output of the first amplifier during a first phase, selectively coupling the output of the second amplifier to the second differential input during the first phase, and selectively coupling the output of the second amplifier to the fourth differential input during a second phase.

Abstract: A network of chargers for a battery of an electric vehicle is disclosed, having a 1st power connection, a power converter, a 2nd power connection and at least a 3rd power connection for exchanging power with another charger. A controller is provided for controlling a power switch, and is configured to: connect the power converter to the 2nd power connection when a vehicle is to be charged from the power source, connect the power converter to the at least one 3rd power connection when power is to be delivered to another charger, and connect the at least one 3rd power connection to the 2nd power connection when power from another charger is to be delivered to the vehicle.