Abstract: A power supply is for an electrical load in the form of a Notebook computer. The power supply includes first terminals which extend from the computer for releasably electrically connecting with a first energy storage device in the form of a battery during a first interval. A second energy storage device, in the form a second battery, releasably electrically connects with terminals during a second interval spaced apart from the first interval. This allows power to be supplied to the load during those intervals. A capacitive energy storage device supplies power to the load during a third interval that spans the spacing between the first and the second intervals.

Abstract: A battery charger having fixed ends for winding and releasing wires includes a box; an immovable axis provided at an inner wall of the box; a large turning wheel having a larger diameter and a small turning wheel having a smaller diameter disposed next to the large turning wheel, wherein the large and small turning wheels have a same center orifice flexibly connected into the immovable axis; and a wire having one end thereof penetrated through a through hole provided at the inner wall and further connected to the circuit board and winded in the large and small wire storage grooves. A wire is efficiently collected in the box, and thus making the wire of the battery charger spaceless for ready storage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for determining how a vehicle battery would perform when used to start a vehicle. A discharge voltage/current of the battery is predicted as a function of a battery dynamic parameter, an open circuit voltage of the battery, a battery temperature and a fixed current/voltage value at which the battery is to be discharged. This discharge voltage/current value is compared to a minimum starting voltage/current required to start the vehicle in which the battery is employed and an output indicative of a starting capability of the battery is provided.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, an attachment apparatus (100) for attaching a first device to a second device includes a cradle (110) and a suction cup (120) removably attached to the cradle. As an example, the first device can be a battery pack (400) for an electronic device. The cradle includes a major surface (111), a first sidewall (112) coupled to the major surface, a second sidewall (113) coupled to the major surface opposite the first sidewall, and a hole (114) in the major surface. The suction cup is attached to the cradle at the hole.

Abstract: A microcontroller-based system to detect ground-fault and grounded-neutral conditions in a monitored circuit of an electrical distribution system having line and neutral conductors. The system includes a single sensor producing an output signal responsive to current flow in both the line and neutral conductors of the monitored circuit, and a microcontroller receiving the sensor output signal and initiating the generation of a circuit status signal indicating one of a normal operating condition, a ground-fault condition or a grounded-neutral condition in the monitored circuit. The microcontroller is programmed to continuously test for ground-fault conditions by evaluating the sensor output signal and, at selected intervals, test for grounded-neutral conditions by evaluating the sensor's output signal response to a microcontroller initiated ping in the sensor circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solution to the needs described above through an inventive charger contact. The conductive contact includes a housing with an outer cylindrical surface and a hollow inner cylindrical core with a longitudinal axis. An actuator is disposed within the hollow inner cylindrical core capable of movement within the cylindrical core along the axis. A spring contact with conductive contacts is disposed in part within the hollow inner cylindrical core and coupled to the actuator. The spring contact is capable of compression and decompression along the longitudinal axis based on movement of the actuator.

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 battery protection circuit is provided that includes current monitoring circuit. The current monitoring circuit senses current flowing from a rechargeable cell. When the current exceeds a maximum value, the current monitoring circuit actuates, whereby opening a transistor. The transistor has a resistor coupled in parallel. When the transistor opens, current is forced through the resistor coupled in parallel with the transistor, thereby limiting the current to a maximum value. When the voltage across the resistor exceeds a predetermined threshold, an overcurrent condition is simulated in the lithium ion protection IC. The overcurrent condition causes a disconnect switch to open, thereby disconnecting the cell(s) from the external terminals. The circuit additionally includes three current blocking elements coupled between charging terminals and the cells to ensure that fault conditions occurring within the charger do not adversely affect the performance of either the cells or a host electronic device.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a display for a secondary battery in response to the status thereof. For this end, the secondary battery is provided with the display section including LEDs and the switch. If the switch is operated while the secondary battery is being exhibited in a shop, displays to give an image what happens after purchase of the secondary battery are preformed in the display section. Such displays differ from each other in the charging mode and the discharging mode of the secondary battery. For example, in the charging mode, LEDs are sequentially lighted to indicate that the secondary battery is being charged. Additionally, by controlling the LEDs based on the timing calculated from the charging current magnitude through the secondary battery, it is possible to indicate such information if the charging is approaching to the final stage.

Abstract: A temperature regulator efficiently regulates a temperature of a storage battery. The regulator includes a thermoelectric transducer having a first face and a second face. The first face is thermally coupled with one or plural storage batteries, and the second face is thermally coupled with a thermal action accelerating medium that accelerates thermal action on the second face. The first face and the second face do two jobs contradictory to each other, i.e., heat dissipation and heat absorption, responsive to a polarity in exciting the battery. This structure allows the temperature regulator to cool down and warm up the storage battery.

Abstract: An interlocking stand for storing and charging a rechargeable appliance such as a hair trimmer or hair clipper having a rechargeable battery includes a structure for supporting the appliance for storage. The supporting structure has at least one electrical contact for connecting to the appliance and a structure for providing power to the contact. The interlocking stand is also provided with structure that interlocks the stand with at least one other stand.

Abstract: An electric toothbrush includes a rechargeable energy store which is arranged in an inner space in the body of the toothbrush. The inner space is sealed by a primary sealing element against splash water and other detrimental influences. At least one contact element for an external power supply unit produces an electrically conductive connection to the energy store. The contact element is located either within the inner space, the primary sealing element being removable for charging purposes, or outside the inner space, in which case it is optionally protected by an additional secondary sealing element. The invention also relates to a process for producing such a toothbrush.

Abstract: A portable device for preventing overcharging of a secondary battery resulting from contact failure of a voltage detection terminal. The portable device includes a charging circuit for charging the secondary battery when a battery pack, which includes the secondary battery, is connected to the portable device. The charging circuit includes a charging terminal, which is used to supply the secondary battery with charging current, and a voltage detection terminal, which is used to detect voltage of the secondary battery. The charging circuit stops charging the secondary battery when voltage abnormality is detected at the voltage detection terminal.

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: A method of measuring and displaying the actual quantity of electricity of a rechargeable battery being charged by an external power source via a charger. The method includes issuing a power out signal from the charger to temporarily disable the power source; sending a signal indicating the actual quantity of electricity of the battery as feedback to the controller in response to the disabled power source; and configuring the controller to have a reference voltage so as to compare the reference voltage with a voltage of the feedback actual quantity of electricity of the rechargeable battery to obtain a voltage ratio, and issue a display signal to a display for displaying a correct measurement based on the voltage ratio.

Abstract: Methods and devices for rejuvenating, supplementing, or bypassing an individual fuel cell or a group of fuel cells, in a fuel cell stack, is disclosed. The methods and devices provide for a mechanism for removing catalyst poisons on both the anode portion and the cathode portion of the fuel cell and providing an improvement in the operation of the electrolytes. A controller that controls a variable resistor or a variable power supply in parallel with an individual fuel cell or a group of fuel cells in a stack is utilized. Adjusting the resistive value of the variable resistor, or the voltage level of the variable power supply, directly controls the current in the fuel cell. In accordance with Kirchoff s Current Law, decreasing the fuel cell voltage increases the current through the fuel cell, while the fuel cell stack is operational, and poisons deposited on the anode and cathode electrocatalysts are removed, thereby rejuvenating the fuel cell.

Abstract: A convenient source of charging power for portable communication devices is an integral power node of a computer data bus, such as a USB (universal serial bus) port. Unfortunately, USB ports have limited power capacity, making them generally incompatible with battery charge controllers (BCCs) which are designed to receive a steady, high capacity input. The invention provides a battery charging circuit which adjusts to the parameters of an external power supply such as a USB port by adding a regulating circuit to a standard BCC design. This regulating circuit maximizes the current drawn by the BCC, while keeping the voltage to the BCC above a preset minimum (the low voltage shut off level for the BCC). If the voltage to the BCC begins to drop, the regulating circuit reduces the current drawn, so the voltage rises and stays within the operating range of the BCC.

Abstract: A microcomputer monitors, on the basis of outputs from a current sensor and voltage sensor, a voltage drop due to an internal resistance when the drop in the terminal voltage due to polarization occurring during the discharge of a battery is saturated, and a dischargeable capacity of the battery corresponding to the value resulting when the saturated voltage drop of the terminal voltage is subtracted from the chargeable capacity of the battery. Such a configuration provide a battery status monitoring device capable of knowing the battery status correctly, a saturation polarization detecting method which is useful to know the charging state of the battery and a dischargeable capacity detecting method.

Abstract: A temperature sensing device can be embedded in a memory circuit in order to sense the temperature of the memory circuit. One oscillator generates a temperature variable signal that increases frequency as the temperature of the oscillator increases and decreases frequency when the temperature of the oscillator decreases. A temperature invariant oscillator generates a fixed width signal that is controlled by an oscillator read logic and indicates a temperature sense cycle. An n-bit counter is clocked by the temperature variable signal while the fixed width signal enables/inhibits the counter. The faster the counter counts, the larger the count value at the end of the sense cycle indicated by the fixed width signal. A larger count value indicates a warmer temperature. A smaller count value indicates a colder temperature.

Abstract: A battery charging, discharging, and protection switch circuit with enhanced reverse voltage protection is achieved. The circuit comprises, first, field effect transistor (FET) switches having gate, source, drain, and bulk. The FET switches may comprise either NMOS devices or PMOS devices. Second, means of controlling the FET switch's gate and bulk are included. The FET switch gate voltage determines the OFF and ON state of said FET switches. The bulk is switchable coupled between the battery terminal and the load terminal. To achieve high voltage breakdown limits the FET switch is realized with cascaded MOSFETs, where as a novelty here under certain operating conditions, i.e. the battery charger coupled in reverse condition—one FET is working as a source follower. All the necessary MOSFET switches are integrated onto a single chip, together with its controller logic. To form these MOSFETs within a single IC together with the other circuit elements is much less expensive.