Abstract: Electronic equipment capable of removing a stain etc. formed on an electrode surface of a battery is disclosed. The electronic equipment comprises a battery chamber which houses a battery, and a battery contact member which is provided in the battery chamber and includes a contact portion contacting the battery housed in the battery chamber. Here, the contact portion is formed by bending a part of the battery contact member so as to protrude from the battery contact member and to have curvature. In a case where the battery is housed in the battery chamber, the contact portion moves while contacting the battery depending on movement of the battery in a direction in which the battery is housed.

Abstract: In a secondary cell charging apparatus and secondary cell charging method, an internal power supply circuit of a personal computer is used as a power supply for performing a charging operation on a secondary cell. The personal computer uses a charging processing operation program and displays information relating to the charging operation.

Abstract: Adaptive battery conditioning employs battery chemistry determination to establish how, when and whether to condition a battery. As a result, the conditioning is optimized for the determined battery chemistry. Further, conditioning of a battery that is not conditionable, such as a nonrechargeable battery, is prevented. A device determines battery chemistry in situ from a measurement of a characteristic of an installed battery, and conditions the installed battery in situ. The device can be a battery-powered consumer electronic device or a battery charging and conditioning system that is independent of an electronic device that uses the conditioned battery. A method of adaptive battery conditioning includes determining a chemistry of a battery from a measurement of a battery characteristic, and conditioning the battery according to the determined battery chemistry.

Abstract: A method for prediction of electrical characteristics of an electrochemical storage battery and includes determining a functional relationship between a state of charge value which is related to a first parameter for a storage battery and a second state of charge value which is related to a second parameter for the storage battery for a second phase of use of the storage battery. The method also includes determining at least one characteristic variable from the reference of the functional relationship for the second phase to a state characteristic variable profile for a previous first phase of use of the storage battery. The method further includes predicting electrical characteristics of the storage battery utilizing a functional relationship between the characteristic variable and the electrical characteristics.

Abstract: A method for conducting an operation including a power tool battery pack. The battery pack can include a housing, a first cell supported by the housing and having a voltage, and a second cell supported by the housing and having a voltage. The battery pack also can be connectable to a power tool and be operable to supply power to operate the power tool. The method can include discharging one of the first cell and the second cell until the voltage of the one of the first cell and the second cell is substantially equal to the voltage of the other of the first cell and the second cell.

Abstract: An overdischarge preventing circuit apparatus according to this invention is an overdischarge preventing circuit apparatus for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, including a discharge control mechanism which controls discharge of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery when a surface temperature of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery exceeds a discharge control temperature T1 (° C.) represented by T1=T0+QA ??(1) where T0 is an ambient temperature (° C.), Q is 8 (° C./C), and A is a discharge rate (C).

Abstract: A method for charging at least one battery, includes: determining a status of at least one parameter for the battery, where the at least one parameter comprises a closeness to a desired charge level; determining that the battery is to be charged during a peak usage time period; and determining a priority rating for the battery based upon the at least one parameter, where a battery closer to the desired charge level has a higher priority rating. The battery is then charged according to it priority rating. When batteries are to be charged for an off-peak usage time period, the charge rates of the batteries are adjusted based upon the available time for the charge. In this manner, quick recharged battery availability is provided during peak usage time periods, while battery life is prolonged during off-peak usage time periods.

Abstract: A method for calculating available power of a battery includes steps of calculating an equivalent charge resistance at a current charge current, a current SOC (state of charge), and a current battery temperature using predetermined equivalent charge resistance data, calculating an effective no-load charge voltage at the current charge current, the current SOC, and the current battery temperature using predetermined effective no-load charge voltage data, calculating a maximum charge current based on the equivalent charge resistance, the effective no-load charge voltage, and a predetermined maximum charge voltage, and calculating available charge power based on the maximum charge current, the predetermined maximum charge voltage, and a predetermined battery maximum current. A system for executing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, there is a method for determining the available energy of a battery. Various embodiments include the steps of applying an increasing current to the battery and measuring a response voltage of the battery when the increasing current is applied to the battery.

Abstract: Constructing a battery pack by: providing a resin sheet (40) to cover a release opening (20a) of a safety vent (20) formed on a sealing plate (23); integrating a rechargeable battery (2) and a circuit substrate (3) with a primary molding (11) by filing a resin between the rechargeable battery (2) and the circuit substrate (3); and then forming a secondary molding (12). In such constructed battery pack, an ejected gas, at the operation of the safety vent (20) of the battery pack, is externally released through an interface between the resin and metal.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for transferring power without requiring direct electrical conductive contacts. There is provided a primary unit having a power supply and a substantially laminar charging surface having at least one conductor that generates an electromagnetic field when a current flows therethrough and having an charging area defined within a perimeter of the surface, the at least one conductor being arranged such that electromagnetic field lines generated by the at least one conductor are substantially parallel to the plane of the surface or at least subtend an angle of 45° or less to the surface within the charging area; and at least one secondary device including at least one conductor that may be wound about a core. Because the electromagnetic field is spread over the charging area and is generally parallel or near-parallel thereto, coupling with flat secondary devices such as mobile telephones and the like is significantly improved in various orientations thereof.

Abstract: Polarized electric charge storage devices economically provide high available capacitance. The present invention directly employs polarized electrical charge storage (PECS) devices such as polarized capacitors or electrochemical batteries in general AC applications with a novel circuit topology. In one embodiment, an anti-series configuration of first and second PECS devices are used within an AC network for enhancing operation of the AC network. At least one DC source is provided for maintaining the PECS devices forwardly biased while they are subjected to an AC signal. The AC signal, which drives an AC load, is applied to the anti-series devices. The devices are sufficiently biased by the at least one DC voltage source so that they remain forwardly biased while coupling the AC signal.

Abstract: A system and method of balancing state of charge among plural series connected electrical energy storage unit is provided. Individual storage units are selectively coupled by semiconductor switches for monitoring and balancing state of charge. When the state of charge of a selected unit is greater than a target state of charge, energy is transferred from the selected unit to the string of storage units, such that the state of charge of the selected unit converges toward the target state of charge. Conversely, when the state of charge of a selected unit is less than a target state of charge, energy is transferred from the string of storage units to the selected unit, such that the state of charge of the selected unit converges toward the target state of charge.

Abstract: A concave portion serving as an erroneous insertion prevention groove is provided on a bottom of a battery pack along a battery pack attachment direction and an engagement concave portion engaged with an engagement member is provided in a battery-mounting equipment, whereby the detachment of the battery from the battery-mounting equipment can be prevented.

Abstract: Disclosed is a charger/cradle combination device for a portable terminal. The charger/cradle combination device includes: a supporter; a sliding housing inclinedly engaged on the supporter; sliding means for rendering the inclined grade of the sliding housing to increase/decrease as the sliding housing is upwardly/downwardly moved on the supporter; a cradle housing mounted on the sliding housing in such a manner that the cradle housing is in confronting relation with the sliding housing, the sliding means rendering the inclined grade of the cradle housing to increase or decrease as the cradle housing upwardly or downwardly moves; and a holding device provided on the cradle housing for preventing a portable communication device cradled on the cradle housing from shaking.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for transferring power without requiring direct electrical conductive contacts. There is provided a primary unit having a power supply and a substantially laminar charging surface having at least one conductor that generates an electromagnetic field when a current flows therethrough and having an charging area defined within a perimeter of the surface, the at least one conductor being arranged such that electromagnetic field lines generated by the at least one conductor are substantially parallel to the plane of the surface or at least subtend an angle of 45° or less to the surface within the charging area; and at least one secondary device including at least one conductor that may be wound about a core. Because the electromagnetic field is spread over the charging area and is generally parallel or near-parallel thereto, coupling with flat secondary devices such as mobile telephones and the like is significantly improved in various orientations thereof.

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 couple 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: The protection circuit for a power source of an electronic device capable of providing a certain range of current values to a peripheral unit comprising a power storage unit. The protection circuit comprises a first and second charging paths and a voltage detector. The voltage detector switches the first charging path to turn on the first switch, when the voltage value of the power storage unit 30 is lower than the threshold voltage, the power source can charge the power storage unit by the first switch, wherein the current limiting device limits the current value of first charging path to lower than a predetermined. The voltage detector switches the first charging path to breakup the second switch and the voltage detector switches to the first charging path to turn on the first switch.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a setting information storage device for storing setting information for setting the functions of an electronic device; a setting information control device for controlling, in accordance with a control signal for the electronic device, processes for writing and reading the setting information to and from the setting information storage device; and a communication device for transmitting and receiving the setting information, which is controlled by the setting information control device via the communication terminal. The electronic device includes a setting information operation device for controlling operations for writing and reading the setting information to and from the storage device of the battery pack; and a communication device for transmitting and receiving, via a communication terminal, the setting information, which is operated by the setting information operation device.

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.