Abstract: A battery, a battery charger, an electrical system, and a method of charging a battery. In one aspect, the battery includes a housing, a battery cell supported by the housing, a first terminal electrically connected to the battery cell and having a first terminal end, and a second terminal electrically connected to the battery cell and having a second terminal end, the second terminal end extending forwardly of the first terminal end.

Abstract: In order to provide a battery charging state arithmetic operation device which can judge a charging state of a battery currently being used easily and in a short time, there are provided battery voltage calculation means 6 with specified load for calculating a first and a second battery voltages when a battery current is at a specified load current value from a first I-V characteristic of the battery which is in a first state as a currently used state and is stored in first I-V characteristic storage means 3 and a second I-V characteristic which is in a second state where the amount of remaining energy is small and is stored in second I-V characteristic storage means 4, and SOC arithmetic operation means 7 for calculating an SOC (charging state) of the battery in the first state by using the first and the second battery voltages calculated.

Abstract: A method and system for battery charging. In some aspects, an electrical combination including a battery charger operable to supply a charging current to a battery to charge the battery and a battery including a switch having an interrupt condition, in which the switch is operable to interrupt a discharge current from the battery. The battery is electrically connectable to the battery charger and the supply of the charging current from the battery charger to the battery is enabled when the switch is in the interrupt condition.

Abstract: A derailler with a set of gears powered by bicycle chain to drive an AC generator. A bridge rectifier to convert AC to DC to charge the battery and to energize the head light and the tail light. A set of switches to control the head light, tail light, and battery.

Abstract: An internal combustion motor assembly, including an internal combustion motor, a starter and a battery. In addition, the motor assembly includes a capacitor assembly, a capacitor charging assembly and a conductive network, logic and controlled switching assembly adapted to place the internal combustion motor into one of a set of states. This set includes a first state in which the capacitor assembly is receiving charge from the capacitor charging assembly but is not electrically connected to the starter; a second state in which the capacitor assembly is electrically connected to and powers the starter; and a third state in which both the battery and the capacitor assembly are electrically connected to and power the starter. The logic and controlled switching assembly places the internal combustion motor assembly into the third state after it has been in the second state and a set of criteria is met.

Abstract: A battery pack apparatus including a battery pack having a plurality of rechargeable batteries arranged in parallel, with a cooling medium passage interposed therebetween, a cooling medium feeding device for feeding a cooling medium through the cooling medium passages, and a control section for controlling the charge and discharge of the battery pack. In this configuration, the battery pack apparatus is divided into a first unit including the battery pack and the cooling medium feeding device and a second unit having the control section accommodated in a case. The battery pack of the first unit is connected with the control section of the second unit by means of a harness or metallic connecting member.

Abstract: A method for communicating with portable device batteries is described. Many portable devices such as cellular phones may employ a wide variety of batteries with different types, capabilities, and the like. Batteries may be retrofitted with additional circuitry that is arranged to provide information about the battery such as capacity, type, charging status, and the like to the portable device. However, additional pins for communication between the battery and the portable device may increase manufacturing cost, reduce reliability, and the like. In addition, many batteries nowadays have a resistor between their ground pin and temperature sense pin that may be used for sensing temperature of the battery as well as providing battery type information to the portable device. The present invention employs a one wire transceiver using the existing temperature sense pin and the resistor, thereby allowing additional information exchange with the battery without increasing manufacturing cost or reducing reliability.

Abstract: A battery monitor for use with a battery includes an input configured to receive a voltage from the battery, an analog to digital converter (ADC) coupled to the input and configured to convert analog voltages received through the input into digital indications of levels of the analog voltage, and a processor coupled to the ADC to receive the digital indications of the levels of the analog voltage of the battery and configured to manipulate the received digital indications to reduce inaccuracies introduced by the ADC in the received digital indications of the levels of the analog voltage relative to actual levels of the analog voltage during discharge of the battery, the processor being further configured to provide an output indicative of a determined level of the analog voltage.

Abstract: An optical communication probe enables a diagnostic tool to optically communicate with an external device, such as an appliance, through a low intensity indicator light of the external device. The communication probe is powered by a battery that is selectively coupled to the communication probe through a switch. The switch is coupled to a diagnostic tool to receive a power status signal from the diagnostic tool. In response to the power status signal indicating user inactivity at the diagnostic tool, the switch de-couples the battery from the communication probe to conserve battery life.

Abstract: A charging and discharging control circuit has over-charge detection circuits that monitor secondary batteries. A delay circuit generates a delay time in response to outputs from the over-charge detection circuits. A charging and discharging switch control circuit controls a charging and discharging switch circuit in response to outputs from the over-charge detection circuits and an output from the delay circuit. Detection circuits detect a voltage higher than an over-charge detection voltage of the secondary batteries. A circuit changes a state of the charging and discharging control circuit between a normal state for controlling charging and discharging of the secondary batteries and a test state for evaluating a characteristic of the charging and discharging control circuit in response to signals from the plurality of detection circuits.

Abstract: A highly efficient fast charger for high capacity batteries and methods for fast charging high capacity batteries. The fast charger preferably comprises a rectified AC input of single or preferably three phases, with an optional power factor corrected input, minimally filtered with high frequency, high ripple current capacitors, which is switched with a power switching circuit in the “buck” configuration into an inductor/capacitor output filter. Metallized film capacitors are employed, to minimize the rectified 360 Hertz AC component filtering while providing transient switch protection and ripple current requirements for the buck regulator, to provide a high current fast charger with substantially improved power factor. High power, high frequency switching with minimized output filter size provides a highly filtered DC output. The fast charger is adapted to be constructed in a modular design for simple maintenance.

Abstract: By determining charging current Ichar and then subsequently utilising that determination of charging current Ichar in relation to battery current Ibat and load current Iload as a result of operation of a phone or other electronic device it is possible periodically to adjust the necessary charging current in order to operate the device in terms of recharging the battery to a target charging voltage, as well as providing adequate electrical current for operation of the associated phone or other electronic device.

Abstract: A method and system for accurately reporting battery capacity is disclosed herein. The disclosed method and system prevent the reporting of discontinuous capacity values resulting from starting or stopping recharge cycles. The disclosed method and system prevent over or under reporting of battery capacity due to the transition between charge and discharge curves in a battery model.

Abstract: A battery charging device suitable for a portable electronic device includes a rechargeable battery, a controlling chip, an adjusting transistor, a feedback circuit and a charger with adjustable output. The charger has an external alternating-current power source and provides a changeable voltage to the rechargeable battery of the portable electronic device. The feedback circuit captures a signal of electric quantities of the rechargeable battery and feeds back to the charger to adjust its output voltage and then the charger is controlled to charge the rechargeable battery. The adjustable transistor is used to control the charging of the rechargeable battery to reduce the number of parts of the battery charging device and waste of circuit traces.

Abstract: The present invention provides a capacitor charging circuit that efficiently charges capacitive loads. In particular, circuits and techniques are preferably provided for using current from both the primary and secondary windings of a transformer to control ON-time and OFF-time of a switch. This arrangement preferably yields an adaptable ON-time and adaptable OFF-time switch that is capable of rapidly charging capacitor loads ranging from as low as zero volts to several hundred volts. The output voltage is preferably measured indirectly to prevent unnecessary power consumption. In addition, control circuitry can be provided to conserve power by ceasing the delivery of power to the capacitor load once the desired output voltage is reached. Control circuitry preferably operates an interrogation timer that periodically activates the power delivery cycle to maintain the capacitor output load in a constant state of readiness.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods to wirelessly charge batteries within a radius of a power source. A power transmitter generates a power signal of specific configuration which is received by the power charger. The power charger harvests the received power signal and stores the energy contained within for the purpose of charging target battery or batteries. The typical uses of this invention are but not limited to the home, car, office, and work place. Anywhere where rechargeable batteries are used in a device where they need to be placed or physically removed from the device for recharge by conventional wired chargers, this invention provides method to prolong battery life in such a way to extend the time between a physical wired recharge or eliminate such events all together.

Abstract: A rechargeable electrochemical cell is provided having a pressure-responsive apparatus for determining a charge termination point. In particular, a reversible pressure-responsive switch may be disposed in a cap at the open end of a rechargeable metal hydride cell. The reversible pressure-responsive switch may also contain a vent system for releasing the cell internal pressure. Alternatively, a rechargeable cell may include a strain gauge disposed in its outer surface whose resistance changes as the outer surface of the battery expands due to internal pressure accumulation during charging. Additionally, a rechargeable cell is used combination with a charging source that can supply constant voltage, constant current, alternating current, or voltage that varies between a minimum threshold and a maximum threshold.

Abstract: An electrical source analyzer is claimed and disclosed with a circuit for a quick test of voltages using LEDs to indicate the voltage range, a circuit for measuring voltage using a meter with a display, a circuit for measuring current, as applied across a load with a display, and a circuit to indicate reverse polarity of the electrical source.

Abstract: A combination of a power supply and a detachable electric implement is constructed to include a housing holding a power pack, a first coupling device fixedly located on the housing, an electric implement, which can be an electric sealing apparatus, electric fan, flash light, or any of a variety of small handheld electric apparatuses, and a second coupling device fixedly located on the electric implement for fastening to the first coupling device to secure the electric implement to the housing for enabling the electric implement to obtain the necessary working electric power from the power pack.

Abstract: The present invention provides a distributed secondary battery type power storage system capable of maintaining the soundness of the secondary battery and of efficient electric power charging and discharging operations. The secondary battery power storage system comprises a secondary battery connected to a load, a charge/discharge unit connectable to a power system and connected to the secondary battery, and a plurality of loads connected to the charge/discharge unit. A power receiving object is selected and a capacity is determined on the basis of information about the operating condition of the plurality of loads, and the surplus electric power remaining in the secondary battery after feeding electric power from the secondary battery to the load is fed to the selected power receiving object through the charge/discharge unit. The secondary battery power storage system is capable of maintaining the soundness of the secondary battery and of efficient charging and discharging operation.