Abstract: An adapter for a power tool battery. The adapter enables a battery having a first configuration, such as a “slide-on” configuration, to be used with a power tool and/or to be charged by a battery charger having a second configuration, such as a “tower” configuration. The adapter may also enable a battery having one general configuration, such as a “slide-on” configuration or a “tower” configuration, and a first connecting structure to be used with a power tool and/or to be charged by a battery charger having the same general configuration, such as the “slide-on” configuration or the “tower” configuration, respectively, and a second connecting structure different than the first connecting structure.

Abstract: Stationary and on-board battery chargers, methods of charging batteries, electric-vehicle chargers, and vehicles with chargers, including electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. Chargers may automatically charge at the correct battery voltage for various types of batteries. Chargers have variable AC power supplies controlled by digital controllers, isolation transformers, and rectifiers. Transformers may be foil-type, and may have copper foil. Power supplies may be variable-frequency generators and the controllers may control the frequency. Electric vehicle chargers may have card readers, and vehicles may have batteries and a charger. Methods of charging include identifying the battery type and gradually increasing the charging at different rates of increase while monitoring charging voltage, charging current, or both, until a current lid is reached. Charging may occur at constant current and then at constant voltage.

Abstract: A battery charger circuit is arranged to charge batteries in a constant current mode. A charging current flows from a power device through a sense resistor to a battery. The voltage across the sense resistor is used to measure the charging current. The temperature of the sense resistor changes either because of a change in ambient temperatures or as the result of the charging current creating thermal energy in the sense resistor. The measured charging current from the sense resistor changes because of the temperature coefficient of the sense resistor, creating inaccuracies. A temperature compensation block uses a set of controllable current mirror banks to adjust reference signals such that the effects of the temperature coefficient in the sense resistor are minimized and an accurate charging current measurement is achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus for improving protection of a battery pack when the battery pack is in a very low power state, the battery pack including a plurality of battery cells coupled to present an output voltage at a battery potential locus and a protection device for providing a plurality of safeguards to protect the battery pack, affects operation of the protection device to control at least one safeguard and includes a current sensing unit coupled with the plurality of battery cells and with the protection device. The current sensing unit senses a battery traversing current associated with at least one battery cell. The current sensing unit generates an alerting signal when the battery traversing current exceeds a predetermined value. The protection device enables the at least one safeguard in response to the alerting signal.

Abstract: A method for charge control of a photoflash capacitor. The method includes generating an input current to induce a charge current for the photoflash capacitor when an activation signal is asserted, detecting a first voltage from the photoflash capacitor and a second voltage corresponding to the input current, asserting and de-asserting a recharge signal respectively when the first detected voltage is lower and higher than a first reference voltage, asserting and de-asserting a current limit signal respectively when the second detected voltage is higher and lower than a second reference voltage, asserting the activation signal only when the recharge signal is asserted and the current limit signal is de-asserted, and providing a pin for connection of a resistive element which determines the second reference voltage.

Abstract: Battery mounting and testing apparatuses and methods of forming the same are described. In one implementation, a substrate includes a surface area over which a battery terminal housing member is to entirely cover. A conductive first test contact is disposed on the substrate surface and extends from within the surface area to outside of the surface area. A conductive second test contact is disposed on the substrate surface and extends from within the surface area to outside the surface area. The second test contact is spaced from the first test contact and is preferably electrically isolated therefrom on the substrate. In one aspect, an electronic device is provided by mounting a battery with the first and second test contacts. In circuit testing is performed after the battery is mounted utilizing the portions of the first and second test contacts which extend outside of the surface area for probe testing.

Abstract: A wheel having an accelerating charger includes a wheel body, a generator unit, an accelerating gear set, and a shaft. The generator unit and the accelerating gear set are coupled in the wheel body by a shaft. The generator unit includes a magnet and a coil. The accelerating gear set has a solar gear, a pair of planetary gears, a gear plate, and a driven gear. The solar gear and the coil are first coupled to the wheel body in such an arrangement that they spin in the same direction with the wheel body whereas the planetary gears are linked by the solar gear to rotate and the driven gear is also linked to rotate in an opposite direction. The magnet coupled on the driven gear rotates with the driven gear at the same time.

Abstract: A method for determining the amount of charge which can be drawn from a storage battery includes determining a response signal profile within a time interval to an electrical stimulus to the storage battery. The method also includes linearizing the response signal profile and determining the amount of charge which can be drawn as a function of a degree of change of the linearized response signal profile in the time interval. A monitoring device for a storage battery is provided that includes measurement means for measuring at least one of voltage and current of the storage battery over time intervals. The monitoring device also includes evaluations means that are designed for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A method and system, compatible with low-voltage CMOS technology, for controlling the charging of a battery. The method includes monitoring a battery voltage with respect to a threshold voltage. The method further includes coupling a charging control logic supply to ground, generating an active low first control signal, inverting the active low first control signal, and charging the battery at a first rate when the battery voltage is below the threshold voltage. The method further includes coupling the charging control logic supply to the battery voltage, generating an active high second control signal, and charging the battery at a second rate when the battery voltage exceeds the threshold voltage. The first charging rate is slower than the second charging rate. The method further includes supplying battery power to a charger line when the battery voltage exceeds the charger voltage, and suppressing a leakage current.

Abstract: A solar energy pulse charge device includes a solar-powered panel and a charging unit connected to the solar-powered panel for saving the energy from the solar-powered panel. A control unit is electrically connected to the charging unit for controlling the charging unit to charge or discharge. A flyback circuit is electrically connected to the charging unit for providing multiple independent power sources each having a unique reference potential. A feedback voltage regulator circuit is electrically connected to the flyback circuit for control the flyback circuit in a constant voltage and a cyclic start circuit.

Abstract: Battery mounting and testing apparatuses and methods of forming the same are described. In one implementation, a substrate includes a surface area over which a battery terminal housing member is to entirely cover. A conductive first test contact is disposed on the substrate surface and extends from within the surface area to outside of the surface area. A conductive second test contact is disposed on the substrate surface and extends from within the surface area to outside the surface area. The second test contact is spaced from the first test contact and is preferably electrically isolated therefrom on the substrate. In one aspect, an electronic device is provided by mounting a battery with the first and second test contacts. In circuit testing is performed after the battery is mounted utilizing the portions of the first and second test contacts which extend outside of the surface area for probe testing.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a docking module exchangeable with a battery module of an ultra thin notebook computer, which comprises a plurality of I/O ports of different functions at one end of the docking module and a plurality of corresponding connectors coupled to the I/O ports at the other end thereof. The another end of the docking module may be inserted into an exposed recess disposed on the notebook computer, which is originally used for inserting the battery module thereto, and communicate with the notebook computer after the removal of the battery module from the notebook computer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a battery charger comprising a primary circuit: a secondary circuit consisting of at least one transformer secondary and a rectifier; and an overload prevention circuit. According to the invention, the primary circuit is provided with at least one general switch (5), a switch (6b) that is actuated by a relay (6a) in accordance with determined load conditions and a transformer primary, all of which are disposed in series. The overload prevention circuit comprises a voltage-sensitive switch and at least one reactance (7, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) is disposed in the primary circuit or between the transformer and the rectifier in the secondary circuit. The invention is suitable for producing battery chargers.

Abstract: To realize a battery state monitoring circuit in which detection is reliably made even if a continuous noise is entered, and to provide a battery device which has a long life and is safe. In the battery state monitoring circuit, the detecting circuit outputs a signal for controlling a switch circuit in accordance with a state of the secondary battery with respect to one of a specified voltage value and a specified current value. The signal includes one of: a detection signal for starting one of charge protection and discharge protection of the secondary battery; and a release signal for releasing the one of the charge protection and the discharge protection of the secondary battery. A switching rate from the release signal to the detection signal is higher than a switching rate from the detection signal to the release signal.

Abstract: A charging apparatus of a bicycle dynamo is configured and arranged to charges a voltage generated by a dynamo GE and comprises a first capacitor C1, a second capacitor C2, a first diode D1 and a third diode D3. The second capacitor C2 is supplied and charged by the dynamo output during the negative half-cycle of the dynamo output. During the positive half-cycle of the dynamo output the first diode D1 supplies the electrical charge that was charged in the second capacitor C2 to the first capacitor C1. During the positive half-cycle of the dynamo output the third diode D3 supplies the dynamo output to the first capacitor C1 when the charging voltage of the second capacitor C2 is equal to or less than a specified voltage.

Abstract: A regulator voltage control includes measuring a current of a battery, determining a state of charge (SOC) of the battery based on the current, and determining a nominal optimum charging voltage as a function of the SOC of the battery. The nominal optimum charging voltage is converted to a % duty cycle, and a generator is operated relative to the % duty cycle for charging the battery. The nominal optimum charging voltage is reduced when either a battery charge current is below a predetermined value, or a current drawing accessory is turned on.

Abstract: An adapter for providing a source of power to a mobile device through an industry standard port is provided. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the adapter comprises a plug unit, a power converter, a primary connector, and an identification subsystem. The plug unit is operative to coupled the adapter to a power socket and operative to receive energy from the power socket. The power converter is electrically coupled to the plug unit and is operable to regulate the received energy from the power socket and to output a power requirement to the mobile device. The primary connector is electrically coupled to the power converter and is operative to couple to the mobile device and to deliver the outputted power requirement to the mobile device. The identification subsystem is electrically coupled to the primary connector and is operative to provide an identification signal.

Abstract: While measuring a value of a battery module voltage of an electric vehicle using a differential amplifier circuit having at least one resistor, an actual effective gain of the differential amplifier circuit depending on the resistivity of the resistor is measured and the output voltage of the differential amplifier is modified based on the actual effective gain to calculate the battery module voltage. In this way, accuracy of measuring the battery module voltage is enhanced.

Abstract: A power generating system is described including a plurality of electrochemical cells. The cells are generally arranged in sections that are selectively activated individually or in combination to produce power from selected cell sections. A method of generating power is also described. A first group of one or more electrochemical cells of an array of cells are selectively activated based on requirement of an associated load. The system switches to a second group of one or more electrochemical cells of the array when the first group is discharged.

Abstract: A battery charger includes a supply voltage unit supplying a power supply voltage, a constant current generator receiving the power supply voltage and outputting a substantially constant current, and a timer whose output is coupled to the constant current generator. The timer outputs the timer output in response to a transition in the power supply voltage. The supply voltage unit changes a magnitude of the power supply voltage in response to the timer output so that the substantially constant current is changed from a first current level to a second current level.