Abstract: Provided are a wirelessly charged robot cleaner in a robot cleaning system and a controlling method thereof. The wirelessly charged robot may include a target resonator to receive a resonance power through energy-coupling with a source resonator of a wireless power transmitter, a wireless power receiving unit to convert the received resonance power into a rated voltage, and a battery controller to check a remaining capacity of the battery based on a scope of a predetermined area to be cleaned, and to charge, using the rated voltage, the battery based on the remaining capacity of the battery.

Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub includes a first port that is configured to be switched from a downstream port to an upstream port; a plurality of other ports; and a controller configured to switch a function of the first port from the downstream port to the upstream port responsive to a command from an attached device and further configured to switch at least one of the plurality of other ports from a data and charge port into a port dedicated to charging.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery, main switch, controller, and driving voltage supply source. The battery has at least one battery cell. The main switch is connected between a first node and a second node, the battery is connected to the first node and an external terminal, and the external terminal connected to the second node. The controller manages the battery and to control the main switch. The driving voltage supply source generates a driving voltage based on a voltage of a third node and to supply the driving voltage to the controller. The third node is diode-connected to the first node and the second node.

Abstract: A charging method and a charging apparatus for an electronic device are provided. The method for charging a battery of a first electronic device, includes determining whether a current supply device is connected to a second electronic device connected to the first electronic device, recognizing at least one external device connected to the second electronic device when the current supply device is connected to the second electronic device, setting a charging current based on the recognized at least one external device, and receiving the set charging current from the current supply device connected to the second electronic device and charging the battery of the first electronic device.

Abstract: An equalization device for equalizing voltages of battery cells connected in series includes equalization switches, resistors, and a control circuit. Each equalization switch has energization terminals interposed between terminals of a corresponding battery cell. A current path between the energization terminals conducts when a control voltage not less than a threshold voltage is applied between control terminals of the equalization switch. Each resistor is connected between the control terminals of the corresponding equalization switch. The control circuit switches an equalization execution state and an equalization stop state in accordance with an equalization signal provided for each battery cell. In the execution state, the control circuit passes an electric current through the corresponding resistor to generate the control voltage not less than the threshold voltage. In the stop state, the control circuit causes the corresponding resistor to generate the control voltage less than the threshold voltage.

Abstract: A unique method for charging a battery includes comparing a parameter to a limit, wherein the parameter relates to previous charging of the battery; determining a current state of the battery; and performing a next charging cycle based on the comparison and/or the current state of the battery. A unique system includes a vehicle, a battery, and a charging system for charging the battery. The charging system includes a controller for determining whether the battery is in short term storage or long term storage; starting a new charge cycle after a first amount of reduction in the charge of the battery if the battery is in short term storage; and starting the new charge cycle after a second amount of reduction in the charge of the battery if the battery is in long term storage.

Abstract: A vehicle charging system may include a drive system mounted to a chassis, a positionable electrical connector assembly, a position sensor, a proximity sensor, and a control module. The control module may be programmed to operate the drive system to place the chassis proximate a vehicle electrical connector and operate the positionable electrical connector assembly to releasably engage the vehicle electrical connector.

Abstract: A suitcase integrated charging and powering device integrated into a suitcase includes a suitcase that has a housing, which defines an internal space. A plurality of rollers is coupled to a bottom of the housing. A power module is positioned in the internal space and coupled to the housing. The power module comprises at least one rechargeable battery that is removable from the housing, such that the power module can be connected to an external power source and recharged. A generator is positioned in the internal space and coupled to the bottom of the housing proximate to the plurality of rollers. The generator is operationally coupled to the plurality of rollers and the power module. A plurality of ports is coupled to and positioned on the housing. The ports are operationally coupled to the power module.

Abstract: A charging apparatus (22) for a motor vehicle (10) has a plurality of plug connection members (12, 14, 16) to connect the charging apparatus (22) to at least one external electrical energy source (18, 20), a plurality of temperature measuring elements (26, 28, 30) are associated respectively with the plug connection members (12, 14, 16) to detect a temperature of the plug connection members (12, 14, 16), and an evaluation unit (32) electrically connected to the temperature measuring elements (26, 28, 30) to evaluate the detected temperature of the temperature measuring elements (26, 28, 30). The temperature measuring elements (26, 28, 30) are connected to the evaluation unit (32) by a common first connecting line (42), and connectable electrically to the control unit (32) individually by a second connecting line (36, 38, 40) in each case.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a controller changes, when a charging state transitions from a first state of charging a first battery by using a power from an external power supply to a second state of charging the first battery by using a power from the second battery and if rated power of the external power supply and the rated discharge power of the second battery are different from each other, an upper limit of an input current to a charging circuit to a value corresponding to the rated discharge power of the second battery.

Abstract: A contactless charging device includes a placement plate on which a portable apparatus is placed, a charging coil, a position detector having a position detection coil, a foreign object detector having a foreign object detection coil, an alarm, and a controller. The position detection coil and the foreign object detection coil are disposed on or under the placement plate. The controller drives the alarm if the foreign object detector detects the presence of a conductive foreign object on the placement plate, and then the position detector detects the portable apparatus on the placement plate.

Abstract: A battery control device controlling an operation of a battery connected to a power system includes detection means that detects battery-related information showing a state of the battery, or a state of an interconnection point of the power system and the battery, first communication means that transmits a detection result of the detection means to an external device, and executes reception processing to receive operation control information to control the operation of the battery from the external device at a predetermined time interval, and control means that executes battery operation control processing to control the operation of the battery based on a state of the power system and based on the operation control information received by the first communication means, at a time interval shorter than the predetermined time interval.

Abstract: Charging circuit includes: DC input terminal; battery terminal; system terminal; first transistor; second transistor; gate controller for controlling turning on/off of first transistor; charging controller for controlling gate voltage of second transistor to control charging of secondary battery; overcurrent protection circuit for comparing an input current flowing in DC input terminal and first transistor with threshold current having multiple steps of values, and vary gate voltage such that on-resistance is increased when input current reaches threshold current; low-voltage detection circuit for comparing voltage at DC input terminal with predetermined threshold voltage, and decrease threshold current of overcurrent protection circuit by one step when voltage of DC input terminal is below predetermined threshold voltage; and DC power detecting unit for determining, when threshold current is at minimum value and voltage of DC input terminal is below threshold voltage, that DC power source is not connected to

Abstract: A battery discharge device using a plurality of power modules for varying a discharge capacity of the device, and its method of use. The device can be used to discharge high-voltage, high-energy density battery packs such as might be used in hybrid or electric vehicles. The device can discharge the energy of the battery pack at a relatively constant power rate.

Abstract: An improved electrical connector for electrically connecting a rechargeable battery with an electrically powered device as well as methods of operation are provided. The connector may comprise one or more features including: integration of both first terminals for transmitting charging or discharging signals to and from the battery as well as one or more signal terminals for transmitting one or more balancing signals to and from the battery; implementation of communication signals comprising battery specific information to be received by the electrically powered device upon making an electrical connection with the battery; and, one or more safety features for preventing unsupported electrical connections between incompatible connector configurations.

Abstract: A power tool system includes at least one power tool, in particular at least one measuring tool, which has a holder for at least partial insertion of a rechargeable battery pack, and a rechargeable battery pack, in particular a rechargeable battery pack including lithium cell chemistry, for reversible insertion into the holder of the at least one power tool. The holder and the rechargeable battery pack have compatible mechanical and electrical interfaces for mechanical and electrical contact-connection of the power tool and the rechargeable battery pack.

Abstract: Electromechanical adapter having at least one controller, wherein the adapter comprises at least a first interface for communication with at least one monitoring unit at the battery, a second interface for communication with a monitoring unit that is superordinate to the monitoring unit at the battery, and a third interface for the connection of at least one sensor and/or actuator, wherein the controller converts signals between the first and second interfaces.

Abstract: A method of optimizing electricity use from an electric grid is disclosed. The method includes formulating a target load using a cost function for the electric grid, broadcasting a cost signal to the electric device based on the target load, receiving a charging profile from the electric device based on the cost signal, aggregating a demand profile for the electricity use based on the charging profile, determining an updated cost signal based on the demand profile, and broadcasting the updated cost signal to another electric device. The electric device is chargeable electric device, such as a plug-in electric vehicle (PEV). The electric device determines the charging profile only once based on the cost signal, and is charged at maximum power.

Abstract: A charging discharging apparatus is applied to two super capacitor modules. The charging discharging apparatus includes a control unit, a first switch unit, a second switch unit, a third switch unit, a fourth switch unit, a first charging switch unit, a second charging switch unit and a charging unit. When an input power apparatus sends an input power to the charging discharging apparatus, the charging discharging apparatus enters a charging mode, so that the super capacitor module having the lower voltage is charged until the voltages of the two super capacitor modules are equal, and then the two super capacitor modules are charged simultaneously in parallel. When the input power apparatus stops sending the input power to the charging discharging apparatus, the two super capacitor modules discharge in series.

Abstract: This tank device comprises a fuel gas tank that stores fuel gas to be supplied to a gas consuming device, a first pressure sensor that detects the gas pressure when the fuel gas tank is filled with gas, a second pressure sensor that detects the pressure of the fuel gas supplied from the fuel gas tank to the gas consuming device, and a sensor output evaluation unit.