Abstract: In the embodiment of the present invention, a method for balancing charges of a plurality of batteries coupled in series includes determining actual or estimated rates of self-discharge of the batteries and individually shunting across one or more of the batteries to cause shunt currents which at least partially compensate for differences in the rates of self-discharge between batteries. In a second embodiment of the present invention, a method for balancing charges of a plurality of batteries coupled in series comprises measuring temperatures of the batteries and individually shunting across one or more of the batteries to cause shunt currents from those batteries which are functions of the temperatures of those batteries. A third embodiment of the present invention provides a method for balancing charges of a plurality of batteries coupled in series, the batteries furnished to store and provide energy for use in propelling an electrically-propelled vehicle.

Abstract: A battery pack for use in a portable computing system includes a transistor that is used both for inhibiting charging of the batteries within the system and for limiting the voltage across the batteries in the battery pack. Rather than having two separate devices to inhibit and regulate, this single transistor performs the functions of both, thus reducing component count in a battery pack.

Abstract: The invention is related to a charging device (1) in which the charging current (I.sub.ch) used for charging a battery (2) is chopped according to a certain duty cycle (.eta.). A certain charging voltage reference value (V.sub.ch), which equals the real open circuit voltage of the battery charged, is known to the charging device (1). To achieve a correct duty cycle (.eta.), the terminal voltage of the battery is measured during the charging current pulse (I.sub.on) and between the pulses. The open circuit voltage of the battery is calculated on the basis of the measurement results using the formulaV.sub.batt0 =V.sub.min +K*.eta.*(V.sub.max -V.sub.min)where .eta. is said duty cycle, V.sub.max represents the voltage between the terminals of said battery (2) during the charging current pulse (I.sub.on), V.sub.min represents the voltage between the terminals of said battery (2) between the charging current pulses and the coefficient K equals 1 or the ratio of the average of the charging current (I.sub.

Abstract: An ignition switch is disclosed. The switch includes a housing defining an interior region, a cover affixed to an open back end of the housing and supporting a plurality of electrical terminals. Each terminal includes an end portion extending into the housing interior region. The switch also includes a switch assembly supported by the housing and at least partially disposed within the interior region, the switch assembly being rotatable about an axis of rotation between at least two positions. The switch assembly includes first and second conductive contact plates, the second contact plate being moveable with respect to the first contact plate along the axis of rotation. In at least one of the switch positions, the first contact plate bridges ends of the two terminals and the second contact plate bridges ends of two terminals different that the two terminals bridged by the first contact plate.

Abstract: A rotary connector 1 has a resilient engagement plate 3d to be snap-fitted to a base 5 of a switch 4. The base 5 has a first engagement portion 5b with which the resilient engagement plate 3d of the rotary connector 1 engages, and a second engagement portion 5c to which an engagement protuberance 7b of a bracket 7 fixed to a steering column, or the like, is fitted. The bracket 7 has the engagement protuberance 7b. The invention provides a fitting structure that permits the rotary connector to be easily fixed to the base, and the base to be easily fixed to the bracket.

Abstract: Lithium polymer battery charger apparatus for charging a plurality of equal charge point lithium polymer battery cells prevent overcharging of any cell, whether the cells are arranged in a series stack or are arranged in parallel. When the cells are connected in a series stack, a power supply is connected to the series stack to apply a charge current to the series stack. The state of charge of each cell in the stack is monitored. Information that the state of charge of any cell is approaching full charge is used to control the charge current and to prevent overcharging of any cell.

Abstract: A dual battery charging device for charging two different types of rechargeable batteries including a battery connector which connects with the battery; a charge circuit which supplies a charge current and a charge voltage to the battery connector to charge a battery; and a sensing controller which senses a temperature and a type of the battery and controls the charge current and the charge voltage output from the charge circuit according to the temperature and the type of the battery. Consequently, the present invention contemplates that either a NiMH battery or a lithium-ion battery can be charged by using a single dual battery charging device.

Abstract: The invention resides in a process and an apparatus for the revival of nickel-cadmium batteries and cells suffering from low, zero, or negative terminal voltage and unrechargeability. The process revives the cells or batteries by the injection of a short-duration high-magnitude current pulse through them. The apparatus to carry out the process is built around a current source that is operated either manually or by a timer for the required duration.

Abstract: A DC powered compressor system that uses a series of 12 volt batteries to provide multiple units of 12 volts power to a compressor motor as needed. A circuit arrangement comprises: a series of 12 volt batteries, a charging unit for the batteries when they are not powering the motor, and several switches to connect the batteries to the compressor motor when low pressure is detected. The arrangement allows the batteries to power the motor with a voltage equal to the sum of the batteries in series when low pressure in the compressor is detected and to allow a charging unit to charge the batteries when the motor is not being powered. A pressure switch in connection with the tank of the compressor activates the switches which disconnect the batteries from the charger and reconnects them to the motor upon detecting a drop in pressure in the tank.

Abstract: A charging system (100) includes a charger unit (102) having a charge pocket (110) within which a plurality of replaceable pockets (104, 106, 108) can be inserted to charge various battery types and various battery configurations. The replaceable pockets (104, 106, 108) each contain a memory chip (112) for storing battery parameter information. The charger unit (102) charges the battery (302) based on the battery parameter information stored in the memory chip (112) of the replaceable pockets (104, 106, 108).

Abstract: A control system for charging enabling efficient charging of rechargeable batteries in an electronic apparatus which charges its rechargeable batteries by using a charger circuit when driving the apparatus by using an external power source, including first detecting unit for detecting a differential value between a maximum permissible charging current allowed by the rechargeable batteries and a charging current flowing to the rechargeable batteries; second detecting unit for detecting a maximum usable current by detecting a differential value between a maximum supplyable current allowed by the external power source and the current consumption of the apparatus; third detecting unit for detecting a differential value between a maximum useable current and the charging current flowing to the rechargeable batteries; and control unit for controlling the system in accordance with the differential values detected by the first and third detecting units so that the charger circuit generates the maximum charging current

Abstract: The device 1 for the management of a plurality electric battery elements 2 connected in series, comprises a plurality of battery management modules 4, each management module being connected in parallel to the terminals of a respective battery element 2 and supplied by its output voltage, the management modules 4 including a digital circuit 11 and being connected in series by at least a digital liaison 9, 9' so as to exchange binary information between said digital circuit 11 and a control unit 5 of the battery, and is characterized in that at least a capacitor 8, 8' is connected in series on said digital liaison 9, 9' so that the binary information may be exchanged between each management module 4 and the unit control 5, independently of the electric potentials at the terminals of the battery elements 2.

Abstract: A battery discharge gas control system, which releases a hydrogen gas generated from the battery assembly when the battery assembly is charged and discharged, is capable of keeping the battery structure highly resistant to water or humidity. The battery discharge gas control system has a battery having a gas release port, a passage connected to the gas release port, a control valve connected to the passage, a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in the passage, and a control circuit for opening the control valve to release a gas generated by the battery from the passage, depending on the pressure in the passage as detected by the pressure sensor. During a period of time in which no hydrogen gas is generated or a generated hydrogen gas is not plenty enough to be released while the battery is being charged or discharged, the passage is closed for thereby keeping the battery structure highly resistant to water or humidity.

Abstract: A battery pack has a current detector, a voltage detector, a temperature sensor, and a CPU. The current detector detects a current flowing in secondary cells. When the current flows in the secondary cells, the voltage detector detects the voltage of the secondary cells, and the temperature sensor detects the temperature of the secondary cells. The CPU calculates the extent of deterioration of the secondary cells. The CPU calculates the remaining capacity of the secondary cells, based on the open voltage of the secondary cells, OCV, obtained by the equation:OCV=DV+K.times.DI.times.T.times.Fwhere DV represents the voltage of said secondary cells when used; DI, a current flowing in said secondary cells; T, the temperature of said secondary cells; F, the extent of deterioration of said secondary cells; and K, a predetermined proportional constant.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for disabling the internal battery charging algorithm of an electric device when connected to a smart battery charger having its own internal controller and charging algorithm. The controller of the external battery charger varies the output of the charger to provide the battery with a current source that predictably varies in voltage or represents a digital signal at a preset data rate. The internal controller of the electronic device recognizes the varying nature of the supplied direct current and disables its own internal battery charging algorithm. The charging algorithm of the external battery charger thus independently controls the charging of the electronic device internal battery.

Abstract: A chip-type composite electronic component according to the present invention comprises an insulating substrate (1), a common electrode (2) formed on the substrate (1), a plurality of individual electrodes (3a-3h) formed on the substrate (1) to be spaced from the common electrode (2), and a plurality of electronic elements (4a-4e) each interposed between each of the individual electrodes (3a-3h) and the common electrode (2). Each of the common electrode (2) and individual electrodes (3a-3h) has a plated solder layer as an outermost layer. Each of the electronic elements (4a-4e) has a direct current resistance of no less than 47K .OMEGA., and the solder layer of the common electrode (2) has a layer thickness which is no more than 2.9 times as great as that of the solder layer of the individual electrodes (3a-3h).

Abstract: A power supply is detachably attached to an outside surface of an outer casing of an electronic apparatus which can be driven by both a battery and an AC adaptor. The power supply includes a battery, a first connector for detachably connecting the AC adaptor, a switch for switching a mode for performing a power supply to the electronic apparatus by an output of the battery or a mode for performing such a power supply by an output of the AC adaptor connected to the first connector, and a second connector for a power source output which is detachably connected to an AC adaptor connector of the electronic apparatus. When the AC adaptor is not connected to the first connector, the output of the battery is applied to the second connector through the switch. When the AC adaptor is connected to the first connector, the output of the AC adaptor is applied to the second connector.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of recognizing a shunt caused by formation of dendrites in a rechargeable lithium battery which comprises charging the battery with a charging current, sampling the charging current voltage of the battery at pre-determined time intervals in order to identify one or more point indicating onset of shunting, and terminating charging if the shunt or dendrite is indicated. If a shunt is not recognized charging is continued. Dendrite formation or the beginning of shunting due to such formation is indicated by any one of the following conditions: a negative gradient in sampled voltage values; a negative gradient in sampled steady open circuit values; and a negative gradient in the chemical polarization voltage values which may be calculated by sampling both the open circuit voltage soon after current interruption and steady open circuit voltages during a plurality of currentless phases.

Abstract: When a start signal is inputted to an image forming apparatus, initial settings of the reader unit and printer unit are respectively performed in a first step. In a second step, if the apparatus is in the temporary stop state, the operation waits until this state is canceled. During this waiting period, the apparatus does not performs scanning of the next scanning line. If the apparatus is not in the temporary stop state, the operation proceeds to a third step, where the reader units and the printer units start scanning. When print-scanning of one line is completed in a fourth step, the operation proceeds to a fifth step, where data required for the next scanning is transmitted to the reader unit and the printer unit. In a sixth step, the above operation is repeated until the entire image formation is completed.

Abstract: A battery power supply transposition circuit has been provided to control the use of batteries in a power source supplying multiple voltages from multiple batteries that share a least one common battery. The transposition circuit includes switches to provide selective interconnections between the battery terminals which allow the order of the series connected batteries to be changed. A battery interconnection controller is also included to control interconnections between batteries, and so allow alternate batteries to be used as the at least one common battery. Changing the selection of the at least one common battery provides a means for minimizing differences in the rate at which the batteries are depleted.