Abstract: A power supply includes power circuitry configured to provide DC power to a separate load, and wireless communication circuitry for wirelessly communicating with an external control device such as a smart phone. A controller is configured to (1) conduct communications with the external control device via the wireless communication circuitry to receive configuration parameters, and (2) incorporate the configuration parameters into a control scheme for operation of the power supply. The power supply may be used with an LED lamp including a series of LEDs, and the configuration parameters establish desired operating characteristics including selection of constant-current or constant-voltage operation, and/or parameters for a dimming curve applied in dimming operation of the LED lamp. The power supply may be used in other applications including battery charging applications.

Abstract: A pack for containing and recharging an e-cigarette includes: a re-chargeable pack battery; a first connector which is electrically connectable to an external power source; a first recharging mechanism for re-charging the pack battery using the external power source when the first connector is electrically connected to the external power source; a second connector which is electrically connectable to an e-cigarette contained within the pack; and a second recharging mechanism for re-charging the e-cigarette when the e-cigarette is electrically connected to the second connector. The first recharging mechanism includes a first protection circuit module and the second re-charging mechanism includes a second protection circuit module, wherein the protection modules protect the pack and e-cigarette against excessive voltage or current during re-charging.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system including RF circuitry configured to generate an RF signal; a plurality of unit cells configured to receive the RF signal and to cause an RF energy signal having a center frequency to be present within the unit cells; and receiver circuitry configured to charge an electronic device in response to an antenna of the electronic device receiving the RF energy signal when the antenna is tuned to the center frequency and positioned in a near-field distance from one or more of the unit cells.

Abstract: A wireless charger is disclosed that comprises a transmitter and a resonator connected to the transmitter and comprising a conductive path substantially located within a plane, wherein the conductive path is arranged to form at least two loops, said loops being arranged such that a current that flows in the conductive path flows around a first one of said loops in a first direction and around a second one of said loops in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A hand tool case holding device includes at least one charging coil, a case accommodating area and a holding device housing, which includes a first outer side facing toward the case accommodating area. The holding device housing includes at least one second outer side, (a) which, in at least one operating state, faces toward the case accommodating area, (b) which is aligned essentially perpendicularly to the first outer side, and (c) on which the charging coil is situated.

Abstract: A charging device is provided. The charging device includes a support structure and contact elements provided in the support structure. The contact elements are positioned to mate or make electrical contact with a set of contact elements of a computing device.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises: a fuel cell formed of a plurality of cells stacked therein, each cell generating electric power through an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas; a cell monitor capable of detecting a group voltage for each group wherein each group is composed of two or more cells; and an estimation device that estimates a minimum cell voltage. The estimation device comprises a maximum cell voltage estimation part that estimates a maximum cell voltage, and the estimation device estimates the minimum cell voltage by using an estimated value of the maximum cell voltage and a minimum group-average voltage, where an average voltage of a group having the lowest voltage value among the group voltages is defined as the minimum group-average voltage.

Abstract: Apparatus, system and method to provide switchable coils in a computing device, comprising: a plurality of electrically conductive coils to transfer electromagnetic energy; a sensor coupled to a processor, to select a coil from among the plurality of electrically conductive coils; a switch to energize the selected coil; and a switch controller coupled to the switch and to the processor. In some embodiments, the plurality of coils may comprise an inductive charging interface. Some embodiments may further include a communication interface between the processor to the plurality of electrically conductive coils, the plurality of coils comprising an interface for near-field communications (NFC). The antenna coils may be arranged to provide improved NFC coverage when the computing device is in a respective predetermined physical configuration. Sensors may be used to detect the configuration and switch NFC communications to use a preferred antenna coil for the detected configuration.

Abstract: A power delivery controller includes a detection unit, a regulation unit, and a control unit. The detection unit has a detection pin and an enable pin, wherein the detection pin is used for detecting a power delivery consumer device. The regulation unit is coupled to the detection unit, wherein when the detection pin detects the power delivery consumer device, the detection unit is used for turning on the regulation unit through the enable pin, and after the regulation unit is turned on, the regulation unit generates an internal voltage. The control unit is coupled to the regulation unit for providing power to the power delivery consumer device according to the internal voltage. When the detection pin fails to detect the power delivery consumer device, the regulation unit is turned off.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to a battery disconnect unit capable of being stably driven, and minimizing damage of a circuit, by including a means to protect the circuit at high temperatures without an additional power source. In some embodiments, the battery disconnect unit includes a first main relay electrically connected between a first pole of a battery and an inverter; a second main relay electrically connected between a second pole of the battery and the inverter; a pre-charge relay connected to the second main relay in parallel; and a self-operating switch connected between the first pole of the battery and the second main relay, and configured to autonomously open a circuit providing an electric power from the battery when a ambient temperature is drastically increased, or when an over-current occurs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring an electric current between a vehicle battery and an electrical consumer connected to the vehicle battery. The claimed device includes a bus bar which picks up the electric current in the vehicle battery and guides it further to the electrical consumer, on which a first current sensor and a second current sensor which is different from the first current sensor are arranged, the current sensors being designed to measure, independently from each other, the electric current circulating in the bus bar.

Abstract: A trickle-charged RFID device includes a main antenna receiving wireless interrogator signals from one or more RFID readers, a power harvester connected with the main antenna to obtain power from the wireless interrogator signals, and an intermediate storage device connected to the power harvester to collect trickle flows of unused power harvested from wireless interrogator signals received by the RFID device that lack an inquiry for the device. The RFID device further includes a primary storage device, into which the intermediate storage device discharges its collection of trickle flows of unused power when the collection reaches a predetermined threshold level, which recharges power lost from the main storage device. The intermediate storage device can include one or more capacitors including super-capacitors, and the main storage device can include a rechargeable battery, such that the effective life of the main storage device is extended from the collected trickle flows.

Abstract: An example mobile device includes a built-in communications component and a receiver. The receiver includes a first radio frequency (RF) antenna element that interfaces with a constructive interference formed by wireless RF power transmission waves emitted from a far-field transmitter. The first RF antenna element is configured to transform energy from the constructive interference into an alternating current (AC) voltage. The receiver also includes a rectifier configured to convert the AC voltage into a DC voltage. The receiver further includes a power converter configured to changed the DC voltage into a constant DC voltage to provide electrical energy to the mobile device. The receiver uses the communications component to transmit, to the far-field transmitter, communication signals containing status data indicating a power transmission effectiveness of the power transmission waves.

Abstract: A method and system for charging a battery is provided. A group charging policy specifying a conditional charging behavior for charging a battery of a computing device is stored in a memory of the computing device. The computing device is coupled to a power source. Battery status data is received, via a communications interface of the device, for each of at least one other computing device coupled to the power source. A power draw rate for charging the battery of the computing device is throttled according to the group charging policy and the battery status data of the computing device and the at least one other computing device.

Abstract: A mobile terminal is provided with a housing, a circuit board included in the housing and having a thickness direction normal to a plane of the circuit board, a battery pack included in the housing, and a non-contact charging module included in the housing. The non-contact charging module includes a charging coil formed of a wound conducting wire; a communication coil arranged adjacent to the charging coil; and a magnetic sheet on which the charging coil and the communication coil are arranged. The magnetic sheet has four edges that collectively define a rectangular profile of the magnetic sheet, and at most three pairs of adjacent edges respectively meet to form at most three corners. At least a portion of the non-contact charging module overlaps with the circuit board as viewed in the thickness direction of the circuit board.

Abstract: Batteries, battery systems, battery submodules, battery operational methods, battery system operational methods, battery charging methods, and battery system charging methods are described. According to one aspect, a battery includes a first battery terminal, a second battery terminal, and a plurality of submodules individually comprising a first submodule terminal, a second submodule terminal, a plurality of rechargeable cells electrically coupled between the first and second submodule-terminals, and switching circuitry configured to electrically couple one of the first and second battery terminals with one of the first and second submodule terminals of one of the submodules during an engaged mode of operation of the one of the submodules and to electrically isolate the one of the first and second battery terminals from the one of the first and second submodule terminals of the one of the submodules during a disengaged mode of operation of the one of the submodules.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a methodology for wireless power transmission based on pocket-forming. This methodology may include one transmitter and at least one or more receivers, being the transmitter the sender of energy and the receiver the device that is desired to charge or power. In the present disclosures, transmitters may power devices within a predefined range out of which devices may not be operable. This configuration may be beneficial in retail store settings where improved interactivity between users and devices is required. In addition, the configuration provides a safety feature to avoid unauthorized usage of electronic devices. A variation of this configuration is given in an academic setting where electronic devices utilized for learning are required to stay within school premises. Finally, an example of how such devices may improve their own form factors by using the disclosed wireless power transmission may be provided.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for selecting a charging mode from among the set of charging modes supported by a charging device for charging a battery of a portable device. The method includes detecting a coupling of a charging device and the portable device. In response to detecting the coupling, a set of charging modes supported by the charging device is determined. The method further includes identifying whether the set of charging modes includes a particular charging mode. In response to identifying the charging device supports the particular charging mode, a first notification is issued to the charging device to trigger the charging device to operate in the particular charging mode. In response to identifying the charging device does not support the particular charging mode, an alternate charging mode is selected from among the set of charging modes.

Abstract: A battery system includes a chargeable and dischargeable secondary battery and a controller that estimates the deterioration state or the charge state of the secondary battery. When estimating the deterioration state or the charge state, the controller uses an average ion concentration between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The average ion concentration varies depending on an electric current flowing through the secondary battery. The average ion concentration between the electrodes can be calculated with a computing expression that includes a surface pressure of the secondary battery as a variable. The surface pressure of the secondary battery can be detected by a pressure sensor. The surface pressure of the secondary battery can also be estimated from an electric current flowing through the secondary battery.

Abstract: A wireless electrical charging system and a method of operating same wherein operating parameters from a remote portion of the system are wirelessly transmitted to a system controller controlling the output voltage of an alternating power supply. The system controller executes an adaptive model control algorithm that allows the system controller to update the output voltage at a greater rate than the transmission rate of the operating parameters from the remote portion of the system.