Abstract: The invention first relates to a charging device (1) adapted for being connected on the one hand to a battery of a first electric vehicle (14), and on the other hand to a battery of a second electric vehicle (12), for being supplied with direct input current by the battery of the first electric vehicle (14), and for supplying the battery of the second electric vehicle (12) with a direct output current. The invention also relates to a charging method using this charging device.

Abstract: A wireless charging method and apparatus are provided. Identification information is transmitted, through a near field communication antenna, to a wireless power transmitter for an authentication process of the electronic device, if the electronic device is put on the wireless power transmitter for wireless charging and a near field communication controller is in an initial or idle state. Wireless power is received through a wireless power receiving antenna from the wireless power transmitter after the authentication process. Wireless charging is performed through a wireless charging controller by using the received wireless power. It is determined whether the wireless charging is complete. A charging completion signal is transmitted, through the near field communication antenna, to the wireless power transmitter based on the determining.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a charging unit, a maintaining unit, and a control unit. The charging unit charges a battery device with power supplied from a power supply line of an external cable. The maintaining unit maintains a connected state to a predetermined voltage of a specific line of the external cable by using power supplied from the power supply line. The control unit controls the maintaining unit so that the connected state is maintained by the maintaining unit, in a case where the charging unit is charging the battery device with power supplied from the power supply line when the electronic device is set to a power-off state.

Abstract: A manually controlled coupling mechanism for onsite energy generation and storage systems includes a first contact portion having a first electrical contact for coupling to an utility grid and a second electrical contact for coupling to an on-grid AC terminal of an inverter, a second contact portion having a third electrical contact for coupling to an off-grid output terminal of the inverter, and a manually activated multi-position switch, wherein in a first position, only the first contact portion is activated to allow power transfer between the utility grid, the on-grid AC terminal of the inverter and a main electrical panel, and in the second position, only the second contact portion is activated to allow power transfer from the off-grid output terminal of the inverter to the main electrical panel.

Abstract: A charging power system with low standby power consumption includes a system control unit and a plurality of charging modules. The charging modules are electrically connected in parallel and receive an input power source. Each charging module includes an auxiliary power supply unit, a power conversion unit, and a charging module control unit. When the charging modules enter standby conditions, the system control unit produces auxiliary control signals and the charging module control units produce main control signals to correspondingly control the auxiliary power supply units to stop outputting auxiliary power. Accordingly, it is to reduce standby power consumption and increase overall efficiency of the charging power system.

Abstract: An in-vehicle power storage device that discharges a battery in a case where collision of a vehicle is detected or predicted, and stops discharging the battery when an over-discharged state has not been reached, and a control method thereof. The in-vehicle power storage device includes: a battery mounted in a vehicle; charge-state detection means for detecting a charge state of the battery; and a discharging load for discharging the battery, and a control device which includes: battery charge-state detection means for detecting a charge state; a battery discharger means for discharging the battery using the load if collision of the vehicle is detected or predicted; and discharge stopping means to stop discharging the battery before the battery becomes over-discharged.

Abstract: A Charging Caddy (Caddy) comprises of a charging base and various interchangeable multi-use apparatus (IMA) which individually attach to a Caddy base. The Caddy's various IMAs complement the setting and décor of the Caddy's location. The base is powered by a wall outlet and a rechargeable battery providing the option of simultaneously charging multiple tablets and communication devices (TCD). The rechargeable battery further extends the versatility of the Caddy when a power outlet is not readily available. TCDs such as iPod, iPad, various tablets, laptops, cell phones, or other peripheral devices can be charged using one or more: dedicated or non-dedicated USB ports, cigarette lighter ports, 120 v plugs, or TCD cradles. The non-dedicated USB ports allow for the devices to communicate using networking protocols. The interchangeable multi-use apparatus and charging base create a unique embodiment allowing the components to be used separately, simultaneously, or in tandem with charging TCDs.

Abstract: An energy store has at least one energy storage module with a plurality of energy storage cells. The energy storage cells are each electrically coupled to a monitoring unit. Each monitoring unit is designed to discharge the respective energy storage cell by use of a specified symmetry current in an active operating state. The method operates the energy store by performing the acts of: detecting an open-circuit voltage of each energy store cell and determining a discharge duration for each energy storage cell as a function of the open-circuit voltage of the energy storage cell and a specified target discharge voltage value; and controlling each monitoring unit in order to discharge the respective energy storage cell by use of the specified symmetry current for the discharge duration associated with the respective energy storage cell.

Abstract: Novel techniques are described for discharging high voltage components. For example, a tool is provided to discharge high-voltage capacitors in electrical appliances prior to servicing those appliances. The tool can include a handle structure electrically and physically isolated from a head structure by an elongated body. The elongated body can house at least a portion of a discharge circuit configured to discharge high-voltage components and to indicate (visually, audibly, etc.) whether voltage is present on components being discharged. The head structure can include multiple probes adapted to electrically couple the tool with the high-voltage components and through which to discharge the components.

Abstract: A system including a primary coil assembly is provided. The primary coil assembly is configured to operate at a first resonant frequency having a first bandwidth; wherein a difference between the first resonant frequency and a system frequency is at least two times the first bandwidth, where the first resonant frequency is selected such that upon energizing the primary coil assembly at the system frequency, a primary current is induced in the primary coil assembly, which is at least ten times lesser than a system current.

Abstract: A charging circuit includes a first power source circuit that supplies charging power to secondary batteries; a switch that controls the supply of the power; and a control device that performs switching control of the switch. The control device detects a voltage difference between the secondary batteries before starting charging; starts a timer and starts serial charging of the secondary batteries; on the condition that the voltage difference before the charging has been equal to or larger than a first threshold, if respective voltage values of the secondary batteries have both become equal to or larger than a second threshold before the timer expires, shortens a remaining time on the timer at that time point; and finishes the serial charging of the secondary batteries at the earlier of a time point when the secondary batteries have both become fully charged, or a time point when the timer has expired.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surge arrester for a charge controller of a battery. The surge arrester comprises a first voltage detector with a fixed predetermined response threshold and a second voltage detector with an adaptively adjustable voltage threshold. The voltage threshold of the second voltage detector is adapted as a function of the response of the first voltage detector.

Abstract: A DC power control device including: an instructing unit configured to instruct another device connected to a DC bus line to read a voltage value and a current value on the DC bus line; and a correction reference value deciding unit configured to acquire the voltage value and the current value read by the other device and to decide a correction reference value in transmitting and receiving DC power to and from the other device through the DC bus line using the acquired values.

Abstract: In a power control system, a server transmits to each facility data generated by estimating a variation with time in power consumption in each facility and an upper limit value of power capable of being supplied to each facility. A HEMS controller calculates the sum of amounts of electric power consumed over an upper limit value on the basis of estimation data. A power conditioner reserves the power corresponding to the result of calculation in a storage battery in advance. The power conditioner supplies the power corresponding to the power storage capacity reserved in the storage battery to the facility in a case where the power consumption in the facility exceeds the upper limit value such that the upper limit of the power to be supplied from the system to the facility is set to the upper limit value.

Abstract: A switching power converter is provided with an overvoltage protection circuit that monitors the differential data signal voltages in a data interface such as a USB data interface powering a load device to detect soft short conditions.

Abstract: A method of operating a battery pack includes identifying a plurality of batteries in the battery pack, estimating a state of charge of each of the plurality of the batteries, obtaining a plurality of parameters of each of the plurality of the batteries, and determining, selectively, a charge current or a discharge current for each of the plurality of batteries using the state of charge and the plurality of parameters of each of the plurality of the batteries.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a ferrite arrangement that mitigates dimensional-tolerance effects on performance of a wireless charging pad, such as a WEVC pad. These systems and methods include a power-transfer structure having ferrite bars arranged to form ferrite strips in a staggered pattern to provide a path for magnetic flux induced by a magnetic field. The staggered pattern includes a series of ferrite strips that alternate defined starting-point locations at opposing sides of the power-transfer structure. Ending-point locations of the ferrite strips are not defined, but are based on an accumulation of lengthwise dimensional tolerances of the ferrite bars used to form the ferrite strips. Using the staggered pattern in a base power-transfer structure defines a coupling range for coupling with a vehicle power-transfer structure and a range limit for associated magnetic field emissions by the base power-transfer structure.

Abstract: A system for inhibiting the excessive discharge of a battery in an electronic device, in some embodiments, comprises: a battery to supply power to the electronic device; and a fuel gauge coupled to the battery to monitor said power, wherein the fuel gauge enters a standby mode upon determining that a voltage supplied by the battery is at or below a voltage threshold and that a capacity of the battery is at or below a capacity threshold.

Abstract: A dual battery mobile terminal and a wireless charging system are provided. The wireless charging system includes a main battery, a secondary battery, a wireless receive module and a charging control module. The wireless receive module senses a wireless charging signal, and converts the sensed wireless charging signal into a voltage and current signal. The charging control module in turn outputs the voltage and current signal outputted from the wireless receive module to charge the main battery or the secondary battery individually, or output the voltage and current signal to charge the main battery and the secondary battery simultaneously. Thereby, the control of the dual battery charging may be achieved.

Abstract: Techniques for electric vehicle systems, and in particular to a vehicle optical charging system and method of use. In one embodiment, a system for vehicle optical charging comprises: an optical charging station configured to transmit an optical signal, the optical charging station comprising a directive element configured to direct the transmitted optical signal; a receiving vehicle comprising an electrical storage unit and a receiver configured to receive the transmitted optical signal, the receiver in electrical communication with the electrical storage unit; wherein the received optical signal enables charging of the electrical storage unit.