Abstract: This application is directed to an apparatus for providing electrical charge to a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a driven mass, a generator, a charger, a hardware controller, and a communication circuit. The driven mass rotates in response to a kinetic energy of the vehicle and is coupled to a shaft such that rotation of the driven mass causes the shaft to rotate. The driven mass exists in one of (1) an extended position and (2) a retracted position. The generator generates an electrical output based on a mechanical input coupled to the shaft such that rotation of the shaft causes the mechanical input to rotate. The charger is electrically coupled to the generator and: receives the electrical output, generates a charge output based on the electrical output, and conveys the charge output to the vehicle. The controller controls whether the driven mass is in the extended position or the retracted position in response to a signal received from the communication circuit.

Abstract: A Dielectric Energy Storage System (DESS) and method that stores energy for a wide variety of applications.

Abstract: A battery management system is described that includes a controller configured to control electrical charging and discharging of a plurality of blocks of a battery. The battery management system also includes an inter-block communication network including a master node and a plurality of slave nodes arranged in a ring-type daisy-chain configuration with the master node. The master node is coupled to the controller and configured to initiate all command messages sent through the inter-block communication network and terminate all reply messages sent through the inter-block communication network. The plurality of slave nodes is bounded by an initial node coupled to the master node and a last node coupled to the master node.

Abstract: An on-demand power service provides electrical vehicle charging. Requesting the on-demand power service may include determining a current location of a computing device, determining an amount of power requested by a user of the computing device, and locating a plurality of mobile charging stations within a predefined geographic distance from the current location of the computing device. The method further includes receiving a price associated with each respective mobile charging station among the plurality of mobile charging stations, and providing on a display of the computing device, selectable options to purchase on-demand power from a mobile charging station among the plurality of mobile charging stations.

Abstract: To perform charge/discharge control of a storage battery at an appropriate timing. In a battery controller, a battery information acquisition unit acquires information on the storage battery. A degradation progression rate calculation unit calculates a degradation progression rate of the storage battery based on the information acquired by the battery information acquisition unit. A limit value setting unit sets a limit value for controlling charge/discharge of the storage battery based on the degradation progression rate calculated by the degradation progression rate calculation unit. A timing determination unit determines a timing at which the limit value needs to be output based on the information acquired by the battery information acquisition unit. A limit value output unit outputs the limit value to a host controller based on the timing determined by the timing determination unit.

Abstract: A hypercapacitor energy storage system or device facilitates fast charging, stable energy retention, high energy to weight storage and the like. The hypercapacitor comprises an ultracapacitor in electrical connection with an energy retainer which may comprise a battery, a battery field, a standard capacitor and/or the like. The electrical connection between the ultracapacitor and energy retainer may stabilize the energy retention of the hypercapacitor and provide for long-term energy storage and prevent self-discharge. The hypercapacitor may be electrically couplable to an energy source such as the utility grid via a low voltage outlet (e.g., 110V or 220V) or other charging system and may undergo fast charging. The hypercapacitor may be electrically couplable to and/or integrated with various systems or devices requiring energy storage and/or usage and may provide energy thereto.

Abstract: An intelligent battery charge equalization and monitoring system may assist in the management of battery string health by detecting individual batteries within a string that may need servicing. The system may detect a battery within a string that is charged to a higher voltage than other batteries within the string and discharge the overcharged battery until the battery's charge is equalized with the other batteries in the string. The system may use metrics related to how often individual batteries within a string of batteries must be equalized and utilize these metrics to perform maintenance actions.

Abstract: Charging devices described herein include at least one coil having spirals through which current flows in opposing radial directions to focus flux. For instance, the flux for a coil may be focused in a shape of a toroid having first and second cross-sections that intersect the respective spirals of the coil at a plane in which the spirals are defined. Focusing the flux in this manner may facilitate wireless power transfer from the coil(s) to a chargeable wireless device.

Abstract: A system comprising a high voltage (HV) bank section using capacitors arranged into two banks, a multifilar inductor coupling the HV bank to a service voltage (SV) bank section and load through a charging circuit charging the SV bank from a more fully charged bank until the charging bank is depleted, and a switch switching, from the depleted bank to the other bank of bank to charge the SV bank. The charging circuit then charging the depleted bank by a power supply as the other HV bank charges the SV bank. A supervisory controller controls the switch to repeat switching and charging between the two banks for a defined period. The capacitors may be supercapacitors having a capacitance on the order of 1 to 10 MegaJoules.

Abstract: A first controller can be coupled to a main power supply and deliver a first charging current to an electric vehicle (EV) at a first charging station. The first controller can also deliver power to a second controller that can provide a second charging current to an EV at a second charging station. The first controller turns off the power to the second controller in response to determining that there is an EV charging at the first charging station, and turns on the power to the second controller only in response to determining that an EV is not charging at the first charging station.

Abstract: An example wireless power transmitter includes: (i) a ground plate, (ii) a conductive wire offset from the ground plate, the conductive wire forming a loop antenna that is configured to radiate an RF signal for wirelessly powering a receiver device, (iii) a plurality of feed elements extending from the ground plate to the conductive wire, each feed element being connected to the conductive wire at a different position on the conductive wire, and (iv) a power amplifier connected to one or more feed elements of the plurality of feed elements. The power amplifier is configured to selectively feed the RF signal to a respective feed element of the one or more feed elements based on a location of the receiver device relative to the plurality of feed elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bidirectional DC/DC converter for transmitting energy between a high-voltage grid (HV) and a low-voltage grid (LV), comprising connections for a high-voltage battery (UHV) and a low-voltage battery (UNV). The converter comprises the following:—one or more transformers (1) for galvanically isolating the low-voltage grid (LV) from the high-voltage grid (HV), an intermediate circuit capacitor (CZK) in the high-voltage grid (HV),—electronic switches (D1 to D4, M1 to M4) for connecting and reversing the polarity of the coil of the transformer (1) on the high-voltage grid (HV) and on the low-voltage grid (LV),—a controller (2) for controlling the electronic switches (D1 to D4),—and a series inductance (W1) in the low-voltage grid (NV).

Abstract: A state-of-charge (SOC) circuit makes a continuous contact with terminals of a battery and monitors voltage of the battery to detect that the battery has an SOC greater than a threshold SOC. In response, the SOC circuit establishes a state of an SOC indicator to indicate that the battery has an SOC greater than the threshold SOC. The threshold SOC corresponds to an SOC of the battery for storing or transporting the battery, and can correspond to a governmental regulatory or commercial SOC. A container for storing and/or transporting a battery includes an SOC circuit and SOC indicator to detect and indicate that a battery, held in the container, has an SOC greater than the threshold SOC. A method uses an SOC circuit and SOC indicator to detect and indicate that a battery has an SOC greater than the threshold SOC.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an unmanned vehicle comprising a device to be powered; a capacitor energy storage system (CESS) and controller board for at least temporarily powering and operating the device to powered. Further, the CESS includes one or more metacapacitors as an energy storage medium. Additionally, the disclosure provides a capacitor energy storage cell composed of the at least one metacapacitor and a DC-voltage conversion device, where the output voltage of the metacapacitor is the input voltage of the DC-voltage conversion device. Still further, the CESS may be comprised of a module of said capacitor energy storage cells, or a system of modules of said capacitor energy storage cells.

Abstract: A charger having a fast transient response and a control method thereof are provided, which decide how to quickly respond to a requirement of a load by determining whether an input current reference signal indicating an input current is larger than or equal to a maximum safe current of a transformer. Therefore, the charger and the control method realize the fast transient response without having to control switching between a boost circuit and a buck circuit. Meanwhile, the charger and the control method thereof can be prevented from being damaged by an excessive input current and can stabilize an output voltage of the load more quickly.

Abstract: A method and system for improving vehicle implemented wireless charging. The method includes registering devices with a controller hardware apparatus. Charging attributes of the devices are generated based on analysis of operational data associated with the devices and associated charging code for implementing a charging plan for wirelessly charging a power source for each device is generated and executed. A first device comprising a power source requiring a charge is identified and a vehicle is deployed to a location of the first device. A charging process for charging the power source is executed upon arrival of the vehicle to the location of the first device.

Abstract: A battery charging system comprising a battery charger configured to deliver power to a rechargeable battery, wherein the battery charger comprises a wireless data transceiver; and a remote server communicatively coupled to the battery charger through a network via said wireless data transceiver and configured to communicate one or more battery charge parameters or battery charger control commands between the battery charger and a remotely situated portable user device.

Abstract: A relay device includes a controller, a capacitor included in a charger, and a discharge circuit that discharges electric charge charged to the capacitor. The discharge circuit includes a discharge resistance, a first relay switch connected to the discharge resistance and having a contact point that becomes a closed state by electric conduction to an exciting coil, and a second relay switch connected in parallel to the first relay switch and having a contact point that becomes an open state by electric conduction to an exciting coil. The controller, by mutually switching between a state in which the first relay switch is turned on and the second relay switch is turned off and a state in which the first relay switch is turned off and the second relay switch is turned on, determines abnormality of the first relay switch and the second relay switch.

Abstract: A charging system for a vehicle is provided. The charging system is for charging an energy storage system of the vehicle using grid power. The grid power may be an external three-phase AC. The charging system may use field weakening techniques to reduce a peak line-line voltage detected at input terminals of conversion circuitry when a need is determined.

Abstract: Provided is a charge/discharge control circuit for controlling charging and discharging of a secondary cell. The charge/discharge control circuit includes a positive power supply terminal and a negative power supply terminal configured to monitor a voltage of the secondary cell, a charge control signal output terminal from which a charge control signal is output, the charge control signal controlling stopping and allowing charging of the secondary cell, a discharge control signal output terminal, an overcurrent detection terminal, an overcurrent cancel terminal, an external voltage input terminal provided separately from the overcurrent cancel terminal, a discharge overcurrent detection circuit connected to the overcurrent detection terminal, to which a discharge overcurrent detection voltage is set, and a discharge overcurrent cancel circuit connected to the overcurrent cancel terminal, to which a discharge overcurrent cancel voltage is set.