Abstract: Disclosed herein is a hands-free kit for mobile phones using a solar cell. The hands-free kit has a solar cell, a charging unit, and a power switch. The solar cell is formed to be integrated with the body at a portion of the body of the hands-free kit and used to convert sunlight into electrical energy. The charging unit is formed at a portion within the body of the hands-free kit for charging one or more rechargeable batteries of the charging unit by power supplied from the solar cell. The power switch is formed at a portion of the body of the hands-free kit for allowing the rechargeable batteries to be connected in parallel with the solar cell and charged when the power switch is turned off, while allowing the rechargeable batteries to be connected in series with each other so as to convert a charged voltage into power for operating an internal circuit of the hands-free kit when the power switch is turned on.

Abstract: A battery pack comprises at least one pair of battery modules, each of the battery modules including a plurality of battery cells connected in series, in which the at least one pair of the battery modules are connected in parallel and are positioned in close vicinity to each other such that radiant heat can be transferred between the battery modules.

Abstract: A power distribution system is provided comprising a power regulator, a battery circuit, and a battery monitoring system. The power converter is provided for converting AC power to DC power and for providing DC power to a load. The battery circuit is coupled to the power regulator and the load and is operable to recharge by receiving DC power from the power regulator. The battery circuit is also operable to supply DC power to the load when there is an interruption of power from the load. The battery monitoring system comprises a field measurement device located in close proximity to the battery circuit, the field measurement device including an input mechanism for receiving current measurement data and an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the received current measurement data. The battery monitoring system further comprises a monitor located remotely from the field measurement device, the monitor including a first communicator for receiving digitized data from the field measurement device.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery which may be used with most presently available hearing aids (or other appliances) with no modification to the existing hearing aid is needed in order to use the described wireless charging system. The battery may be known a “Dynamic battery” as the battery is actively charged by means of an inductor circuit built into the battery housing itself or added onto the battery. The hearing aid may simply be placed within the charger housing (or cradle) to charge the battery. No electrical connection by either wires or electrical contacts is needed to recharge the battery, which is located inside the hearing aid housing. Moreover, the battery need not be removed from the hearing aid (or other appliance).

Abstract: To improve the performance of an inductive coupling system, the magnetic coupling between the primary (4) and secondary (8) windings is increased by adding auxiliary windings (26,28) on the primary (2) and/or secondary (6) yokes of the assembly near the air gap (18) between the yokes. Capacitors (30,32) are connected to the auxiliary windings (26, 28) which, together with the inductance of the auxiliary windings, resonate at the operating frequency of the primary AC voltage (Vp). The effect is an improved magnetic coupling between the primary and secondary windings (4, 8) without increasing the size of the magnetic assembly.

Abstract: An electronic equipment is connectable to a battery unit which includes an electronic circuit and a battery, and is provided with a power supply circuit to supply a power supply voltage directly to the electronic circuit.

Abstract: A testing device applies time-varying electrical excitation to a cell or battery and senses the resulting time-varying electrical response. Computation circuitry within the device uses voltage and current signals derived from the excitation and response signals as inputs and computes values of elements of an equivalent circuit representation of the cell or battery. The relative charge (SOC) of the cell or battery is calculated from the value of the conductance component G of a particular parallel G-C subcircuit of the equivalent circuit. The absolute charge (Ah) contained in the cell or battery is calculated from the value of the capacitance component C of a different parallel G-C subcircuit. Relative or absolute charge values are then either displayed to the user or are used to control an external process such as charging of the battery.

Abstract: A battery control apparatus of this invention comprises charge detecting circuit for detecting change of charge of a battery based on current of the battery, first residual charge amount detecting circuit coupled to the charge detecting circuit for detecting a first residual charge amount of the battery by compensating a predetermined reference residual charge amount based on the detected result of the change of charge of the battery. The battery control apparatus further comprises second residual charge amount detecting circuit for detecting a second residual charge amount of the battery based on al terminal voltage of the battery and reference residual charge amount updating circuit for updating the reference residual charge amount by detected result of the second residual charge amount of the battery, wherein the second residual charge amount of the battery is detected at a predetermined timing where the current of the battery is zero or almost zero.

Abstract: This invention includes a trickle charging circuit that works with a series charging element to charge battery cells with a low, constant current when the voltage of the cell is below a predetermined operational range. The trickle charging circuit includes a control transistor that is actuated by a current source when both the power supply and undervoltage battery cell are coupled. The trickle charging continues until a minimum operational voltage of the cell is reached. The invention includes a means for rapid charging the cell once the cell voltage is within a preferred operational range. The circuit includes means for charging at other currents, like mid-rate currents, as well.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery measurement and calibration system for use with a removable battery pack suitably used to power a mobile computer locates current measurement and battery status intelligence outside of the battery pack, thereby reducing the cost, complexity, and power consumption of the battery pack when compared with prior art systems. A system host controls the measurement and calibration of the battery system; the host requests current measurements under both zero-current and non-zero calibration current conditions, with the resulting calibration values enabling linearity errors that might otherwise be present in the current measurements to be totally and easily identified and accounted for in a fuel gauge measurement. The present system complies with the SBS-IF specification for Smart Battery systems.

Abstract: Individual voltages of la plurality of batteries or voltage sources which are connected in series and voltages on both ends of the plurality of batteries or voltage sources are detected. An offset value of a differential amplifier is determined through an arithmetic operation for the detected voltages. The offset value thus determined is used to correct the measured values of the battery voltages.

Abstract: A method of controlling the discharging of a battery including a plurality of modules each consisting of at least one secondary storage cell includes the following steps: (a) a voltage Vz(tn) of each module z and a discharge current I(tn) are measured synchronously at time tn, (b) the internal resistance IRz(tn) of each module z is calculated as follows: IRz(tn)=Vz(tn)/I(tn), (c) a voltage Vz(tn+1) of each module z and a discharge current I(tn+1) are measured synchronously at time tn+1, (d) the internal resistance IRz(tn+1) of each module z is calculated as follows: IRz(tn+1)=Vz (tn+1)/I(tn+1), (e) the slope of the variation in the internal resistance IRSz of each module z is calculated between times tn and tn+1 as follows: IRSz=[IRz(tn+1)−IRz(t)]/I(tn), (f) the maximum value IRSmax and the average value IRSavg of the slopes of the variation in the internal resistance of all the modules are calculated, (g) a difference DI

Abstract: A flip-up helmet mount for a night vision device with a goggle horn for attachment to the helmet mount is disclosed. The flip-up helmet mount includes an adjustable socket assembly for mounting goggle horns with varying dimensions therein, and an improved automatic shutdown assembly that provides for reliable shutdown of the night vision device when not operational. Additionally, the flip-up helmet mount includes a position adjustment assembly for adjusting the position of the night vision device between a use and a stowed position, a tilt adjustment assembly for adjusting the tilt angle of the night vision device relative to a user's eyes, and a focal adjustment assembly for adjusting the focus or location of the night vision device relative to the user's eyes. The assemblies provided for position, tilt, and focus adjustment all permit one-handed adjustment of these features of the flip-up helmet mount.

Abstract: A system and method for accurate and in real time determination of factors relating to the state of health of a storage battery. The system measures the values of battery temperature, voltage and current flow into and out of the battery. This data is multiplexed into a computer and the battery's internal resistance (IR), polarization resistance (PR), state of charge (SOC) and its cold cranking amp (CCA) capability are computed and displayed. The presence of shorted and mismatched cells also can be determined and displayed. The state of health of the battery is related to these displayed measured values and calculated factors which are made known to the user of the battery.

Abstract: A method of testing one or more cells and parameterising the results in order to obtain a characteristic curve/function from which cell discharge reserve time can be predicted from cell voltage. The test involves obtaining a plurality of data points representing the voltage of a cell as a function of charge remaining, and parameterising the data points to obtain a function representing cell voltage and charge remaining. The function allows charge remaining to be calculated from cell voltage. The invention also provides for a device for measuring capacity and predicting discharge reserve time of a cell, the device including a voltage and current measuring means adapted to measure the voltage and load current of a cell. The device also includes a timing means so that a number of voltage and current data points can be obtained with respect of time.

Abstract: A power supply for supplying energy to a load includes an energy supply source for generating energy, an energy storage device that is charged from the energy generated by the energy supply source, an optional regulator for improving the energy matching of the energy supply source and the energy storage device, an energy converter for delivering energy from the energy storage device and/or the energy supply source to a load, a detector for monitoring the energy level of the energy storage device and for determining when to activate the energy converter to allow energy delivery to the load from the energy storage device and/or the energy supply source, an optional energy discharge controller that allows the energy storage device to discharge over time, and an optional switch controller for controlling a switch, valve, relay, etc.

Abstract: A spacecraft power system utilizing a novel method for recharging batteries utilizing the ambient space plasma and at least two separate surface materials having different material properties is disclosed. This power system provides increased power and reduces electrical potential build-up of the spacecraft, thereby reducing the power needed from solar array panels and protecting sensitive electrical components and telemetry signals from damage or disturbance.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a new power device. More specifically, it creates hydrogen from supplied water and electricity. The hydrogen is then used in combination with air in an electrolysis-electrical cell to produce electric power. All of this is accomplished by first storing the hydrogen in a storage tank or section furnished for such storage, then converting the electricity, via a power converter, to power. Additionally, the power device of the present invention has a special feature whereby the electric power is created from the hydrogen stored in the above mentioned metal alloy hydride storage tanks. The present invention primarily comprises the following four components: (1) an energy source (i.e., a photovoltaic array to convert solar energy to electrical power; a windmill to collect wind power and convert it to electrical power; etc.

Abstract: A charger for a battery includes a power source and a control circuit. The battery has an internal resistance, at least one cell having a recommended charge voltage, and an aggregate recommended charge voltage. The power source is capable of providing an applied voltage and charge current to the battery. The control circuit is connected to the power source and is capable of detecting the applied voltage of the battery and enabling the charge current and applied voltage to the battery until the applied voltage is greater than the aggregate recommended charge voltage by an amount less than the product of the internal resistance and the charge current. The control circuit is capable of reducing the applied voltage towards the aggregate recommended charge voltage at a controlled rate such that the recommended charge voltage of the at least one cell is not exceeded.

Abstract: A methodology and circuitry for detecting capacity by boosted transient current having a load comprised of a bilateral capacitor and a limiting current impedance connected in series, the bilateral capacitor is charged first and then arranged in serials in reverse with the limiting current impedance and connected at both terminals of a battery to generate a boosted transient current for measuring and constructing the battery capacity.