Abstract: A battery charger includes a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of a battery, a charge completion sensor for detecting a fully charged state of the battery, a controller for controlling the charging of the battery, and a display. The controller starts the charging of the battery when the temperature sensor detects a temperature of the battery lower than a predetermined temperature and temporarily suspends charging of the battery whenever the temperature of the battery detected by the temperature sensor rises above the predetermined temperature. When either the temperature sensor has detected a temperature above the predetermined temperature a predetermined number of times or the charge completion sensor detects the fully charged state of the battery, the controller displays a charge completion indication on the display.

Abstract: The circuit includes sensors for supplying electrical signals indicative of the current flowing in the field winding of the generator in operation and a control circuit operatively connected to the sensors. The control circuit is arranged to control the transistor which drives the field winding so that the voltage at the battery terminals remains substantially constant with variations in the current supplied to the battery by the generator.

Abstract: A battery charger is disclosed for charging a battery from a vehicle electrical system. The battery charger includes switching devices and a storage element for providing a supply from the vehicle electrical system. The regulator is connected to the switching devices and the storage element for regulating a voltage applied to the battery. The regulated voltage is controlled to have a first value during charging and a second value after the battery is charged.

Abstract: Disclosed is a battery charger having a rack fastened in a casing to hold two horizontal battery-charging contacts and two vertical battery-charging contacts for charging rechargeable batteries of different types, a horizontal sliding frame controlled by a screw to hold down the battery to be charged. The pitch of the horizontal battery-charging contacts as well as the vertical battery-charging contacts is adjustable. The elevation of the horizontal battery-charging contacts is also adjustable.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided, for use in a vehicle having an internal combustion engine (10) and a battery (38), for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy for charging the battery, the apparatus being disposed within the engine crankcase (22). The apparatus includes a stator (14), disposed within the engine crankcase (22), having a plurality of teeth (34). Each tooth on the stator has a coil (36) wound thereabout electrically connected to the battery (38). The apparatus also includes a crankshaft (12) disposed within the engine crankcase (22) for rotation relative to the stator (14). The crankshaft (12) includes a plurality of lobes (30.sub.1-4), which periodically move into close proximity with the stator teeth (34) upon rotation of the crankshaft, thereby inducing a current in the coils (36) for charging the battery (38).

Abstract: Apparatus and method for conditioning batteries such as those of the nickel-cadmium type for which deep discharge prior to recharge is desirable. Mechanical programming plates having different patterns of apertures for batteries of different characteristics are provided. When a battery is to be conditioned, one of the programming plates having an aperture pattern representing the characteristics of that battery is attached to the battery and the combined battery/programming plate is positioned on the battery conditioner. A surface of the conditioner contains programming pins that sense the aperture pattern on the programming plate and automatically program the discharging/charging circuits to provide a discharge/charge sequence that is tailored to the particular characteristics of the battery being conditioned.

Abstract: A battery system comprises a plurality of sodium-sulfur storage cells connected in series to form a battery, with voltage measurement leads attached across each of the individual storage cells. A charge-limiting circuit controllably isolates an individual storage cell from a charging current applied across the battery when the measured voltage across that individual storage cell exceeds a preselected maximum storage cell voltage. Preferably, the charge-limiting circuit includes a bypass circuit connected through the voltage measurement leads and a circuit element that becomes conductive when the voltage across the individual storage cell exceeds the preselected maximum storage cell voltage. There are a plurality of charge-limiting circuits, one for each of the storage cells of the battery.

Abstract: A self contained battery charger is disclosed for use in charging an external battery through a pair of connecting cables. The battery charger comprises an internal battery for providing a first predetermined battery voltage and a DC to DC converter, connected to the internal battery, for converting the first predetermined voltage to a low current signal. First switching circuitry is provided for communicating a low current signal to the external battery. Status monitoring circuitry is provided for monitoring voltage and/or current conditions when said low current signal is communicated to the external battery. Second switching circuitry is provided for communicating a high current signal to the external battery in response to sensed voltage and/or current conditions.

Abstract: A charging device for rechargeable batteries. The device includes a basic charging device, which contains a recharging circuit which may include a transformer, rectifier and control circuit. An interchangeable adapter insert is received in this basic device. Each insert has the same exterior shape but a different type of inner loading channel that is compatible with the geometry of a particular type of battery that is to be charged. Thus, any type of rechargeable battery may be charged with one basic device and appropriate, additional interchangeable inserts.

Abstract: A battery condition detecting apparatus includes a current detecting apparatus, a voltage detector and a current accumulator of a battery. The battery condition detecting apparatus detects a first battery capacity when an engine is started based on the battery voltage and battery current when the starter is started; determines an initial capacity of the battery based on the first battery capacity; adds to this initial capacity, a battery current accumulated value which has been accumulated by the battery current accumulator after determining the first battery capacity, whereby a second battery capacity is detected after the engine has been started; and further comparing the presently detected first battery capacity with the second battery capacity just before this first battery capacity is detected, thereby setting the smaller capacity as the initial value.

Abstract: A process for improving the charge state of a motor vehicle battery arrangement having at least one battery and a generator driven by an internal combustion engine. Output power of the generator being at least partially utilized in order to charge the battery arrangement in the vehicle. The generator has an output voltage, which varies due to fluctuations in the speed of rotation of the internal combustion engine, and which is controlled so that it does not exceed a specific threshold value. Immediately after a starting process, at least under specific operating conditions, a raising of the specific threshold value U.sub.limit occurs during a specific period.

Abstract: A solar powered battery reclaiming and charging circuit is provided having a high frequency section (a bistable multi-vibrator, relaxation blocking bistable multi-vibrator or an oscillator inverter circuit) which is solar powered and output coupled by a close coupled RF transformer to the battery connected output section. The transformer has a secondary winding producing a current-voltage full wave output sharply defined through a two diode rectifying circuit to a multi-frequency 10 KHz to 100 KHz pulse output. The sharp pulse outputs with RF content in the 2-10 megahertz frequency range have specific frequencies equal to natural resonant frequencies of the specific electrolytes used in respective batteries. These resulting high frequency RF output signals in each pulse envelope structure are capable of reclaiming, maintaining and charging batteries that possess a liquid electrolyte or jell electrolyte and are beneficial to dry cell batteries as well in extending battery life.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for conditioning batteries incorporates a programming device having different signatures for batteries of different characteristics. When a battery is to be conditioned, one of the programming devices representing the characteristics of that battery is attached to the battery and the combined battery/programming device is positioned on the battery conditioner. A surface of the conditioner contains a reading device that reads the signature of the programming device and automatically programs the discharging/charging circuits to provide a discharge/charge sequence that is tailored to the particular characteristics of the battery being conditioned. Programming devices can include mechanical complementary protrusions and apertures, bar codes, magnetic strips, magnetic spots with Hall-Effect readers, electrical parameters, built-in wire coding, and other suitable complementary signatures and readers.

Abstract: A method for charging a radio telephone system including a radio telephone set having a chargeable battery built therein, wherein a power consumption of the radio telephone set is calculated on the basis of a data relating to the power consumption of the radio telephone set to perform a charging operation based on the power consumption. Also, a power consumption limit is set on the basis of a power consumption indicative of a use frequency so that a normal charging operation is carried out when the power consumption of the radio telephone set is equal to or smaller than the power consumption limit and so that a quick charging operation is carried out when the power consumption of the radio telephone set is larger than the power consumption limit.

Abstract: The invention supplies electricity to a recharger used to recharge batteries in a battery-powered vehicle. An arm mechanism is attached to the vehicle and moveable relative to the vehicle. At the distal end of the arm is an electrical plug protected by a retractable sheath and electrically connected to the recharger. A docking station located remote from the vehicle, emitting light and containing a conical passageway for guiding the plug to the outlet. A docker attached to the vehicle, containing optical sensors tuned to the light emitted by the docking station. Software instructions move the arm mechanism to seek the outlet, calculate the position of the outlet, and move the arm mechanism to connect the plug to the outlet. Software instructions activate the electrical supply to the outlet if the vehicle is authorized to receive electricity.

Abstract: A control device for an alternating current generator of a vehicle, having a storage battery which is charged by a rectified output of the generator, a field current detecting resistance (304) having a positive temperature coefficient, a voltage divider (305, 306) for setting a reference voltage, and a comparator (307) for comparing the potential drop across the current detecting resistance with the reference voltage to thereby control the field current duty cycle. The voltage divider includes a compensating resistor (319) to change the reference voltage in accordance with temperature.

Abstract: A high current battery charger of the driven blocking oscillator type includes a three-winding transformer. The primary winding is connected in series with the collector-emitter path of a switching power transistor. The secondary winding is connected in series with the collector-emitter path of a sense transistor which responds to the current flowing through the switching power transistor. The tertiary winding is connected in series with the battery, series-connected batteries or series-connected battery packs sought to be recharged, via a diode, which may be connected in parallel with a capacitor. The battery or batteries are charged by current pulses and discharge through the tertiary winding to repolarize the diode (and capacitor if present). The secondary winding is poled, with respect to the tertiary winding so that the blocking oscillator is driven by energy from the battery or batteries.

Abstract: A battery monitoring circuit provides information as to the level of electrical energy remaining in a battery for determining an appropriate charging rate for the battery from multiple available rates. Such information is obtained without the need for measuring battery voltage and temperature during operation of a battery operated device or prior to the recharging of the battery. Each one of a plurality of representative values is assigned to represent each one of different current levels obtained from the battery while the battery operated device is operated in different current consuming states. The representative values are totaled for providing a measure of the total current consumption of the battery operated device for all periods of operation. In accordance with the measure of total current consumption for the periods of operation, representing the level of discharge in the battery, the battery is charged at one of the multiple available charging rates, i.e., fast, standard or trickle.

Abstract: An inductive charge port for an electric vehicle in which part of the inductive coupling transformer core is attached to the inside of an access door on the vehicle, and wherein only a primary coil assembly is inserted into the charging device when charging the vehicle. The charge port includes a primary coil assembly having a primary winding that is coupled by way of an electrical cable to a power source, and a secondary coil assembly disposed in the vehicle. A housing in the vehicle has the secondary coil assembly disposed therein. The secondary coil assembly includes a transformer core having a first portion disposed in the housing. A secondary winding is disposed in a cavity in the first portion of the transformer core which receives the primary winding therein. A hinged access door has a compressible, resilient member disposed on its inner wall and a second portion of the transformer core is secured to the compressible member.

Abstract: Apparatus for protecting a synchronous generator from under-excitation, includes a limiter implemented as part of a microprocessor based voltage regulator. The limiter selectively characterizes one or more limiting parameters, such as, system stability, machine capability and loss of field protection, as straight line segments in the real/reactive power plane to provide versatile, easily modified limits on excitation.