Abstract: Discharging a battery is accomplished by: applying an electrical stimulus to the battery; measuring a response to the electrical stimulus, the measured response providing an indication of discharge efficiency of the battery; determining a target frequency corresponding to a maximum discharge efficiency; and then discharging the battery with a discharge current profile comprising current pulses having a frequency component selected based on the determined target frequency.

Abstract: A method of determining a charger of a mobile terminal, and which includes receiving, via a controller of the mobile terminal, a connection signal indicating the charger is connected to the mobile terminal; setting, via the controller, a charging current of the charger for charging the mobile terminal and increasing the set charging current in predetermined current units; measuring, via the controller, an actual current received from the charger and applied to the mobile terminal; comparing, via the controller, the set charging current with the measured actual current; determining, via the controller, a charging sector of the charger when the set charging current is larger than the measured actual current for a first predetermined amount of time; and calculating a charging current capacity of the charger using the determined charging sector.

Abstract: An assembled battery system is disclosed that includes a plurality of serially-connected battery cells; voltage detecting lines connectable at one ends to electrodes of the battery cells of the assembled battery; electric resistors serially-connected at one ends to the other ends of the voltage detecting lines; capacitors connected to the other ends of the electric resistors, each of the capacitors being configured to electrically interconnect one of the voltage detecting lines and the other voltage detecting line; voltage measuring circuits connected respectively to each of the voltage detecting lines; electrically openable short-circuiting switches arranged between the capacitors and the voltage measuring circuits and parallel-connected to the capacitors; and a monitoring circuit that detects a difference between a first measurement result and a second measurement result with respect to each of the short-circuiting switches and a failure of the voltage detecting lines, the short-circuiting switches or the v

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining a state of charge of a battery. The battery is subjected to a predetermined magnetic field such that the battery and the predetermined magnetic field jointly create a resultant magnetic field. The resultant magnetic field is sensed. The state of charge of the battery is determined based on the resultant magnetic field.

Abstract: A device and a method automatically trace and fix a resonance frequency of the batteries for offering an optimal charging frequency to the batteries. The device and method utilize a resonance frequency fr that charges batteries with a sinusoidal wave, automatic tracing function, and a fixed current. While the resonance frequency fr is adopted in a charging device and served as the optimum charging frequency, the using life of the batteries could be extended.

Abstract: A controller 50 for estimating a maximum internal temperature of a battery pack 14 processes battery pack input/output limitations. The controller 50 estimates: a difference between a surface temperature and an internal temperature of the battery pack 14; a temperature difference that is dependent on different internal resistances of unit cells 12; a temperature difference that is dependent on contact states of a plurality of temperature sensors 32 with the battery pack 14; and a temperature difference that is dependent on different detection characteristics between the temperature sensors 32. The controller 50 further limits the input/output electric power of the battery pack 14 based on the estimated maximum internal temperature.

Abstract: A power storage apparatus provided with a capacitor module and a power storage control circuit is connected between a generator and an electrical load. The capacitor module includes a plurality of capacitors and a plurality of switching devices which are connected in series with the capacitors, respectively, the capacitors and the switching devices together constituting a plurality of series circuits which are connected parallel to each other. When starting up the generator, the power storage control circuit controls only the specified switching device to become ON in order to quickly charge the capacitor which is connected in series with the switching device so that a voltage of the capacitor module is increased and a power source for starting up the generator is produced as high speed.

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: Techniques for monitoring a battery of an implantable medical device are disclosed. First and second current sources are provided to draw currents having amplitudes of I1 and I2, respectively, from the battery. First and second voltage measurements, V1 and V2, are obtained when first and second combinations, respectively, of the first and second current sources are selectively activated. Battery impedance is determined using the current amplitudes I1 and I2 and the voltage measurements V1 and V2. The impedance measurement may be used to obtain an open-circuit voltage of the battery without the need to disconnect the battery from circuitry to which it provides power. Battery impedance and/or open-circuit battery voltage may then be used to determine an estimated time until an action is required involving the battery, which may include activation of an ERI or EOL indicator, or initiation of a recharge session.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing a safety circuit in charging devices are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a method may include closing a latch to stop delivery of a charging current to a battery when voltage produced by the battery indicates that the battery is non-rechargeable. The method may also include dropping a threshold from an initial value for the voltage produced by the battery to a baseline value so that the latch remains closed even if the voltage produced by the non-rechargeable battery drops below the initial value of the threshold. The method may also include resetting the latch each time a battery is connected to the charging device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a distributed battery management system that uses cell modules that are attached to cell terminals. A connector tab extends from the cell modules that provides a solid thermal and electrical connection to a cell terminal, as well as structural support for the cell module. A single wire is used to connect the cell modules that carries power, a voltage sample level, a serial data stream, indicating the temperature at a cell terminal to which the cell module is connected, and voltage level of each of the cells, as well as discharge current to equalize the charge of each of the cells. Various adapters can be used for different cell formats, which provide structural support for the cell modules. Reverse connection protection circuitry is also provided that protects the circuitry in the cell modules from accidental reverse connection.

Abstract: Method and device for controlling charging stations for electrical vehicles. In order to minimize peak power demands in at least two charging stations 10 combined into a group 12, actual charging parameters are exchanged 32 within the charging stations 10 within the group 12, a load prediction for the group 12 is created 34 depending on at least the actual charging parameters, and setpoint charging parameters for the charging stations 10 of the group 12 are determined 38 depending on the load prognosis.

Abstract: A transponder device having an LC oscillator circuit, an energy storage capacitor and an integrated transponder circuit powered by energy from the storage capacitor. The device operates either in a charge mode in which RF energy is received through the LC oscillator circuit and stored in the energy storage capacitor, or in a transmit mode in which data from the transponder circuit are transmitted from the transponder device through the LC oscillator circuit by sustaining oscillation of the LC oscillation circuit and selectively modulating the oscillator frequency. The device further includes a stimulating circuit to feed energy from the storage capacitor into the LC oscillator circuit during the transmit mode and to sustain oscillation thereof, a peak detector for detecting a peak voltage level of an RF oscillator signal in the LC oscillator circuit and a pulse generator for providing trigger pulses to the stimulating circuit in response to an output from the peak detector.

Abstract: A power management system has a primary power source (100) and a secondary power source (106) generated from the primary power source (100) with a power output selector (204) coupled to each for selecting power for a regulated power output (212). First, during initialization and at any other time during operation, when the primary power source (102) exceeds the secondary power source (106), the primary power source (102) is used as a power supply for the regulated power output (212). Second, at any time after initialization that the primary power source (102) exceeds the regulated power output (212), the primary power source (102) is used as the power supply for the regulated power output (212). Third, at any time after initialization that the secondary power source (106) exceeds the primary power source (106) and the primary power source (102) is less than the regulated power output (212), the secondary power source (106) is used as the power supply for the regulated power output (212).

Abstract: This invention provides a battery protecting circuit where even if the battery voltage falls nearly to zero volts due to overdischarge or the like while an NMOS transistor set in the power feeding path on the side of the positive electrode of the battery is turned ON/OFF, it is still possible to charge the battery by a constant charging current in a stable way. When the voltage of battery B1 has not reached the voltage needed for generating the driving voltage of NMOS transistors Q1, Q2 in drives 111, 112, the boosting operation of drives 111, 112 is stopped, and PMOS transistor Q3 inserted in a power feeding path different from that of said transistors is turned ON by driver 113. In driver 113, by clamping voltage VDD generated in the power feeding path of PMOS transistor Q3 to a voltage lower than it, driving voltage ZVO of PMOS transistor Q3 is generated without performing a boosting operation.

Abstract: It is known that reforming implantable defibrillator capacitors at least partially restores and preserves their charging efficiency. An industry-recognized standard is to reform implantable capacitors by pulse discharging the connected electrochemical cell about once every three months throughout the useful life of the medical device. A Li/SVO cell typically powers such devices. The present invention relates to methodologies for significantly minimizing, if not entirely eliminating, the occurrence of voltage delay and irreversible Rdc growth in the about 35 % to 70 % DOD region by subjecting Li/SVO cells to novel discharge regimes. At the same time, the connected capacitors in the cardiac defibrillator are reformed to maintain them at their rated breakdown voltages.

Abstract: A charging control circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a detecting circuit and a charging transistor control unit for controlling a charging transistor supplying a first current, a current source for supplying a second current, and a current source control unit for controlling the current source. For example, if a secondary battery is charged using an adaptor endowed with a current-limiting function, during a constant-current charging period in which a charging voltage of the secondary battery reaches 3.2 V to 4.2 V, the secondary battery is charged with the first current I1, and during a constant-voltage charging period after the voltage reaches 4.2 V, the secondary battery is charged with the first charging current and the second charging current.

Abstract: A novel charger wherein a constant electric power control is made such that an electric power feed at the output end is the same as the electric power fed by a fuel cell at the input end, thereby keeping a cell charge current constant, reducing the number of components and further realizing a stable charging. A charger, an input source (Vfc) of which is a fuel cell or solar cell exhibiting a relatively large output impedance during electric power feed, includes a secondary cell (B) at the output end. A current control circuit (10), which is connected to the secondary cell, supplies a charging current to be caused to flow into the secondary cell. The value of the charging current is obtained from a control amount necessary for maintaining a converter output voltage at a drooping voltage as set.

Abstract: A rechargeable electrochemical cell charging system is provided having a thermistor that engages the negative cell terminal at a location remote from the negative charge contact. The thermistor outputs temperature data to a controller in the charger that determines the rate of cell temperature increase. When the increase reaches a predetermined predetermined rate, the charge to the cell is discontinued. The cell can also include an air moving system that circulates cool ambient air through battery compartment to cool the batteries being charged.

Abstract: A remaining battery capacity indicating apparatus includes an end voltage accumulated value setting unit operable to set an accumulated value indicative of a remaining capacity of a lithium-ion secondary battery, the accumulated value being set in a fully charged state of the battery so that the accumulated value reaches zero when a voltage in the battery is a device-side end voltage. It is determined whether a battery-side end voltage which ends discharges from the lithium-ion secondary battery corresponds to the device-side end voltage. If the battery-side end voltage does not correspond to the device-side end voltage, then the accumulated value is corrected in response to the device-side end voltage. A remaining capacity of the battery, corresponding to the device-side end voltage, is calculated based on the corrected accumulated value, and the calculated remaining capacity of the battery is displayed on a display unit.