Abstract: An electric charging station for a mobile drive unit includes a frame that defines an interior volume of space. The frame is configured to carry an electrical charging unit positioned above the interior volume of space. The station includes a station charge connector that is configured to be in electrical communication with the electrical charging unit and is also configured for mating with a corresponding charge connector of the mobile drive unit. The station charge connector extends forward within the interior volume of space along a longitudinal direction that is substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction. The station charge connector is connected to the frame by at least one compliant mechanism that is configured to provide the station charge connector with positional compliance with respect to the frame.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a battery which can include a power supply and power supply circuit, the power supply circuit connected to the power supply. The power supply can discharge through the power supply circuit. An electronic switch can control the power-on or off of the power supply, thereby avoiding the generation of sparks during the power on process and allowing for the normal use of the battery and the safety of the aircraft. The disclosure also provides an aircraft having the battery.

Abstract: Techniques, systems, and articles of manufacture for reducing conversion losses and minimizing load via appliance level distributed storage. A method includes identifying an alternating current power source associated with a direct current-powered device, determining a storage scheme for storing direct current power, converted from alternating current power input from the identified alternating current power source, in a local storage component associated with the direct current-powered device, and managing output of direct current power to the direct current-powered device based on the storage scheme and the identified alternating current power source.

Abstract: A method for a vehicle comprises, by a controller, responsive to charge current for a battery exceeding a threshold, inhibiting further charging of the battery. The method further includes, responsive to the vehicle achieving a predefined state following the charge current exceeding the threshold, discharging the battery for a predetermined time at a predetermined current both defined by an amount and duration that the charge current exceeded the threshold to deplate lithium from an anode of the battery.

Abstract: A vehicle charging system is disclosed. The vehicle charging system includes a powerline communication module of a vehicle that is configured to transmit a power request signal via a communication network and a powerline communication evaluation module that is configured to determine one or more communication characteristics of the communication network. The vehicle charging system also includes an adjustment module that is configured to reduce a charging rate provided by a charging station based on the one or more communication characteristics.

Abstract: A battery protection circuit protects a rechargeable battery from overdischarge, by turning off a transistor inserted in series in a current path between a negative electrode of the battery and a negative terminal coupled to ground of a load or a charger. A detection circuit detects a power source voltage between power source and ground terminals, and a control circuit pulls down a monitor terminal potential to a ground terminal potential by turning off the transistor and stopping battery discharge when the power source voltage lower than an overdischarge detection voltage is detected. The control circuit cancels pull-down of the monitor terminal potential to the ground terminal potential when the power source voltage higher than an overdischarge reset voltage is not detected until a predetermined time elapses in a state in which the battery discharge is stopped and the monitor terminal potential is pulled down to the ground terminal potential.

Abstract: The innovation disclosed and claimed herein, in at least one aspect thereof, comprises continuously charging a cell phone while the user utilizes the cellular phone for ordinary activities (e.g. posting to social media sites, texting, talking, etc.). The signals from routine cellular phone operations will send signals to a photocoupler or other dedicated sensor. The dedicated sensor will output current to drive a magnet mechanism which will in turn drive a fan that generates current to charge to a super/ultra-capacitor.

Abstract: A charging plug for an electrically driven vehicle has a feed line for electrically connecting the charging plug to a charging infrastructure. The charging plug includes power contacts, a signal contact, a rectifier, and a control and protection device. The power contacts and signal contact electrically connect the charging plug to the vehicle. The rectifier is connected to the feed line and to the power contacts for converting an alternating current obtained by the feed line into a direct current that is delivered by the power contacts to the vehicle in a charging process. The control and protection device is connected to the feed line, to the power contacts and to the signal contact for matching the charging process to the vehicle by means of the signal contact.

Abstract: An example method is performed at a near-field charging pad that includes a wireless communication component, and a plurality of power-transfer zones that each respectively include at least one power-transferring element and a signature-signal receiving circuit. The method includes: sending, by a respective power-transferring element included in a first power-transfer zone of the plurality of power-transfer zones, test power transmission signals with first values for a set of transmission characteristics. The method also includes: in conjunction with sending each of the power transmission signals: detecting, using the signature-signal receiving circuit, respective amounts of reflected power at the first power-transfer zone.

Abstract: Provided are a method of predicting a battery charge limit not to cause lithium (Li)-plating, and a battery charging method and apparatus capable of quickly charging a battery based on the battery charge limit. A battery charge limit prediction method according to the present disclosure includes (a) fabricating a three-electrode cell including a unit cell and a reference electrode, (b) measuring a negative electrode potential (CCV) based on a state of charge (SOC) while charging the three-electrode cell, and (c) determining a point at which the negative electrode potential is not dropped but starts to be constant, as a lithium (Li)-plating occurrence point, and setting the Li-plating occurrence point as a charge limit.

Abstract: A structure is provided. The structure may include an alignment mechanism used to align an electric vehicle in a parking lane of an electric vehicle charging station, and a coupler assembly including an arm and a charging coupler located in the parking lane and positioned beneath the electric vehicle, the charging coupler is positioned at one end of the arm, and is moveable in a vertical direction relative to the parking lane, and another end of the arm is pivotally mounted in the parking lane, where the charging coupler includes one or more electrical contacts in a shape of a right conical frustum extending from the charging coupler in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A charging system for an Implantable Medical Device (IMD) is disclosed having a charging coil and one or more sense coils. The charging coil and one or more sense coils are preferably housed in a charging coil assembly coupled to an electronics module by a cable. The charging coil is preferably a wire winding, while the one or more sense coils are concentric with the charging coil and preferably formed in one or more traces of a circuit board. The magnitude of one or more voltages induced on the one or more sense coils can be measured to determine the position of the charging coil relative to the IMD, and in particular whether the charging coil is (i) centered, (ii) not centered but not misaligned, or (iii) misaligned, with respect to the IMD being charged, which three conditions sequentially comprise lower coupling between the charging coil and the IMD.

Abstract: Techniques for battery management of a device having multiple batteries are described herein. In one or more implementations, management for increased battery reliability involves assessing a combination of factors that influence a control policy for multiple batteries in a battery system. Based on the assessment, values of control parameters for power management of the battery system are set to reflect a tradeoff between performance and reliability. Then, at least one of battery utilization or charge current distribution is controlled in dependence upon the values that are set. Control of the battery system can be based in part upon differences in cycle counts for multiple batteries of a battery system for a device, such that cycle counts of the multiple batteries are managed for improved reliability.

Abstract: One embodiment pertains to a method including determining if external power is supplied to a power system which includes a DC-DC voltage converter; if external power is not supplied to the power system, then turn on a switching transistor in the DC-DC voltage converter and provide battery power to the load through the switching transistor; if external power is supplied to the power system, then charge a battery.

Abstract: In an embodiment, adaptive charging of a battery is disclosed. In an embodiment, a device is disclosed comprising: a battery; at least one sensor configured to sense an outward pressure exerted by the battery; a monitoring module configured to monitor the outward pressure of the battery and at least one of a temperature, an age, a manufacturer, a state of charge, an impedance, and number of charging cycles of the battery; a control module configured to select a charging profile for the battery based on at least one of the sensed and/or monitored battery related variables; and a charging module configured to charge the battery according to a charging profile selected by the control module.

Abstract: A secondary side controller for a switched mode power supply, the controller comprising a first semiconductor die comprising an integrated circuit configured to provide a load connection signal; a second semiconductor die, packaged with the first semiconductor die, comprising a charge pump configured to, in response to the load connection signal received from the integrated circuit of the first semiconductor die, provide a switch signal for control of a load connection switch that controls whether or not the switched mode power supply is electrically connected to a load; wherein the presence or absence of the load connection signal is configured to control whether or not the charge pump generates the switch signal and the amplitude of the load connection signal is configured to control the voltage of the switch signal.

Abstract: A wireless charging system for charging a battery may include wireless charging circuitry based on inductive coupling, where the wireless charging circuitry includes: control circuitry for adaptively charging or charging a battery/cell; and an output of the charging circuitry configured to apply an adapted, unregulated current and/or voltage to the battery. In certain embodiments, the adaptation of the unregulated current and/or voltage is based on the charging and/or operating conditions of the battery.

Abstract: Examples relate to a smart bag for charging a set of electronic devices. An example smart bag may comprise a set of power sources integral to the smart bag, where the set of power sources may comprise multiple power sources. The example smart bag may also comprise a power management engine that manages provision of power from each of the set of power sources to a first electronic device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fast charging a battery with optimal charging. In an arrangement, a system includes a battery charger for applying a voltage to a rechargeable battery; and a controller coupled to the battery charger and monitoring at least one of a battery voltage, a battery temperature, and the current flowing into the battery; wherein the system is configured to apply a charging current from the battery charger by calculating an open cell anode voltage and an anode resistance of the battery, and determining the charging current. In additional arrangements, lithium ion plating is prevented by the charging current. Additional methods and arrangements are disclosed.

Abstract: A control system including a control device, which is connected to a power storage device capable of supplying power to one or more electric apparatuses, and a server, by which reduction in a communication load and appropriate charge/discharge control are both achieved, is provided. When acquiring weather information from a server, a control device, on the basis of the weather information, charge to the power storage device and power supply from the power storage device to the electric apparatus. The control device decides a period from timing at which the weather information is acquired to timing at which weather information is next acquired. At second timing at which the period has elapsed from first timing at which the weather information has been acquired, the control device repeats an operation from acquisition of weather information to decision of a period after which weather information is next acquired from the server.