Abstract: A battery management system for management and control of a plurality of rechargeable batteries connected in series. A programmed central processing unit communicates with a plurality of battery modules and a bulk charger. Each of the battery modules includes a rechargeable battery, a sensor node including a plurality of battery sensors and a microcontroller that processes signals generated by the battery sensors, and a direct current charger. During a charging cycle the bulk charger provides a variable bulk charging current to the rechargeable batteries connected in series and each of the rechargeable batteries receive a charging current from individual direct current chargers positioned at each rechargeable battery. During the charging cycle, the voltage and temperature of the rechargeable batteries are monitored by the programmed central processing unit by means of the sensor nodes and the bulk charging current reduced by one half when any battery voltage reaches a predetermined clamping voltage.

Abstract: An adaptive battery charger for charging batteries used in portable electronic devices. The battery charger monitors power provided from an AC adapter to the portable electronic device, and adaptively utilizes all available power from the AC adapter for charging the batteries, both when the portable electronic device is off, and when it is in use. As the power required for the portable electronic device increases, the power provided to the batteries decreases. As the power required to power the portable electronic device decreases, the power available to charge the batteries increases.

Abstract: A battery management system for management and control of a plurality of rechargeable batteries connected in series. A programmed central processing unit communicates with a plurality of battery modules and a bulk charger. Each of the battery modules includes a rechargeable battery, a sensor node including a plurality of battery sensors and a microcontroller that processes signals generated by the battery sensors, and a direct current charger. During a charging cycle the bulk charger provides a variable bulk charging current to the rechargeable batteries connected in series and each of the rechargeable batteries receive a charging current from individual direct current chargers positioned at each rechargeable battery. During the charging cycle, the voltage and temperature of the rechargeable batteries are monitored by the programmed central processing unit by means of the sensor nodes and the bulk charging current reduced by one half when any battery voltage reaches a predetermined clamping voltage.

Abstract: A switching apparatus and method for alternatively connecting at least two 12 volt automobile batteries, or other suitable D.C. power source, either in series or in parallel to provide D.C. current to a vehicle having a 12 volt or 24 volt electrical system which requires jump starting. The switching apparatus consists of five terminal members which are alternatively connected together with a pair of connecting members in such a way to correspondingly effect series connection of the batteries or parallel connection of the batteries.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for adjusting the process of charging a battery so as to charge the battery as rapidly as possible while avoiding overheating of or damage to the battery. The method provides for applying a charging pulse (C1) which provides an average charging current, applying a first depolarizing pulse (D1), waiting for a first rest period (DW1), measuring the voltage (V1) at a predetermined point within the first rest period, applying a second depolarizing pulse (D2), waiting for a second rest period (DW2), measuring the voltage (V2) at the predetermined point within the second rest period, determining a difference between the voltage (V1) and the voltage (V2), and decreasing the average charging current if the difference is greater than a predetermined amount. The present invention also provides for determining whether the battery is low on water.

Abstract: Apparatus for charging a battery (5) includes a battery compartment for accommodating the battery in a manner such that its electrical terminals are in contact with a pair of electrodes. The electrodes are connectable to respective poles of a controllable source of electrical energy. A resistive strain gauge (15) for monitoring mechanical deformation of the battery is attached to an elastic surface within the battery compartment, against which surface the battery is pressed when it is located in the battery compartment. In a particular embodiment, one of the electrodes (9) is a sprung metallic sheet and the elastic surface is located on this sheet.

Abstract: An automatic safety switch provides an automotive battery with protection against accidental discharge due to operator neglect. Such operator neglect includes inadvertent use of electrical circuits such as headlights, parking lights, or interior lights subsequently to turning the ignition off. This invention is connected in series with at least one of the power cables connecting the battery to the fuse box of a vehicle. The choice of power cable is made based on where the circuits to be protected are connected inside the fuse box itself. The automatic safety switch is connected as close to the fuse box as possible, since all necessary connection points are available in the immediate vicinity of the fuse box. The automatic safety switch comprises circuitry that impedes a current flow to its protected output loads when the battery voltage has diminished to a minimum voltage that can safely start a vehicle. The automatic safety switch remains in its current impeded state until reset by the ignition switch.

Abstract: Secondary batteries, also called rechargeable batteries, are subject to damage from overcharging during rapid charging. A fully-charged condition of a battery undergoing recharging, for example a NiCd or NiMH battery, is detected by a signature drop in battery voltage called a negative delta voltage (NDV). Low-cost analog circuits and methods are disclosed for detecting the NDV. Op amp circuits are arranged to charge one capacitor while the battery voltage is rising to determine a peak voltage, and charge another capacitor while the battery voltage is falling below the peak voltage. The second capacitor voltage is compared to a reference voltage to determine when the battery voltage drop exceeds a predetermined NDV, indicating a fully-charged battery. The invention is useful in battery chargers, battery conditioners, and the like.

Abstract: Apparatus for charging a battery includes a charger main body having a docking station with a docking bed and programmable electronics, which includes an array of programming contacts exposed at the docking bed, and a docking tray mountable on the docking bed. The docking tray has electrical contacts for interconnecting with at least one type and size of battery and an array of contactors connected with the electrical contacts, which contact selected ones of the programming contacts, and include associated circuitry on the tray to program the electronics for charging of the battery.

Abstract: A device (100) includes detachable main and auxiliary batteries (101, 102) and a circuit (310) for discharging and charging the batteries (101, 102). Discharging is accomplished by an auxiliary switch (420) that connects the auxiliary battery (102) to power the device (100), a detector (422), and a main switch (424) that connects the main battery (101) to power the device (100), without interruption, when the auxiliary battery (102) drops below a predetermined voltage (508) as determined by a detector (422). Charging is performed by switches (440, 442, 446), an internal charger (444), and a controller (306). When both batteries (101, 102) are attached, the controller (306) uses the switches (440, 442, 446) to select and couple charging current generated by the internal charger (444) to the main battery (101). Once charged, the controller (306) switches to charge the auxiliary battery (102).

Abstract: Current of electricity provided from a secondary battery 1 to a load 2, such as a personal computer and a printer, is determined by a current determination circuit 8. The detected result is compared with a predetermined threshold by a comparing circuit 7, the comparison result is used to deciding a voltage threshold for judging whether or not the secondary battery is in a low battery power state. After the voltage threshold is decided, a terminal voltage of the secondary battery is measured by a voltage determination circuit 6, then the measured result is compared with the voltage threshold. Thereby whether or not the secondary battery 1 is in a low battery power state is judged.

Abstract: A battery charger controller monitors the voltage across an associated battery charger's power element and opens a switch which inhibits current flow through the controller whenever the voltage across the pass element is substantially equal to zero.

Abstract: A charging device and control method for preventing recharging of a fully charged battery. The charging device for a rechargeable battery includes a power unit for outputting a constant voltage of a given level, irrespective of the current output therefrom a battery pack into which the battery is inserted, and a switch for supplying the battery with the constant voltage output from the power unit through the battery pack in response to a switch control signal, and a control unit.

Abstract: A circuit for charging a lithium-ion battery and a technique for charging the battery are described. The battery charger takes into account the electrical series resistance (ESR) of the battery. The charger contains a compensation circuit which outputs the battery terminal voltage minus the expected voltage drop across the ESR of the battery. This resulting voltage is then applied to the sense terminals of the power supply. The voltage applied to the sense terminals of the power supply is, thus, representative of the active electrode voltage (AEV) of the battery. The power supply then provides sufficient charging current to maintain the voltage at the sense terminals at a preset voltage limit. Using this technique, the lithium-ion battery is charged to within 99.5% of its full charge in about half of the time required by the prior art.

Abstract: A charging system employing a liquid-cooled transmission cable for transferring power. The transmission cable has a central tube with an extruded member disposed therewithin for carrying coolant. A plurality of layers of coaxial tubular wire braid are disposed around the central tube that carry charging current and that are separated by a layers of dielectric material. An outer layer of wire braid is disposed around an outermost layer of dielectric material that is used for grounding and/or shielding. An outer jacket is disposed around the outer layer of wire braid for encasing the transmission cable. The extruded member may comprise a thermoplastic rubber extrusion, for example. The coolant path through the transmission cable is internally supported by means of the extruded member to assure uniform flexibility, maintain tangential magnetic flux, and eliminate kinking and collapse of the flow path.

Abstract: A circuit is provided for controlling charge (or discharge) of an auxiliary battery using an auxiliary battery charge control circuit of improved design. The auxiliary battery charge control circuit is coupled between an auxiliary battery and a main battery for regulating charge and discharge of the auxiliary battery. The auxiliary battery control circuit includes a pair of voltage dividers coupled between ground potential and the main battery, and a pair of comparators having a mutually connected output. The inputs of the pair of comparators are connected to a reference voltage and the pair of voltage dividers. The output of the comparators is connected to a switch transistor, and the switch transistor modulates a battery connected transistor coupled between the main battery and the auxiliary battery.

Abstract: A secondary battery is charged to a full charge state without overcharging. A current detection circuit detects a charging current state supplied to the battery to control the turn-on and the turn-off of a switch in accordance with an output of the current detection circuit to control the application of the charging current to the battery.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically charging a transponder mounted to a go-cart. The transponder charging unit is basically comprised of a housing having a wall which divides its space into first and second compartments wherein a PC board and a transponder are at least partially contained, respectively. A cover plate secures and protects the PC board and transponder within the housing. A wire is spliced into the go-cart's coil grounding wire to extract A/C power therefrom and send it to the PC board. The PC board contains several solid state devices to rectify and regulate the voltage. Wires extend from the PC board's output to charging contacts operatively connected to the transponder's battery, thereby providing a charge thereto. Thus, the transponder's battery, is continually being charged while the go-cart's engine is running.

Abstract: A device, which is adapted to be connected to an electronic apparatus, is capable of having a non-rechargeable battery pack or a rechargeable battery pack connected thereto. The battery packs supply a driving voltage to the electronic apparatus when connected to the device. The device can have an external power source attached thereto for energizing the electronic apparatus by a DC voltage, for disabling the driving voltage supplied by the battery packs and for supplying a charging voltage to the device and to the rechargeable battery pack. The device automatically discriminates between the rechargeable battery pack and the non-rechargeable battery pack so that the charging voltage from the external power source is only applied to the rechargeable battery pack and not to the non-rechargeable battery pack.The rechargeable battery pack includes a casing having a positive electrode and a negative electrode mounted thereon and a non-conductive insulating member which is connected to the casing.

Abstract: A collapsible battery charger having a casing with one or more folding supports that generally conform to the casing when closed and that provide receptacles when opened that position rechargeable batteries so as to form an electrical connection between the batteries and the charger. Preferably, an electronic circuit for converting supplied ac or dc current to dc current suitable for recharging batteries is housed in the casing. Interchangeable cords with a variety of plug conformations adapt the charger to standard electrical outlets. The folding supports can accommodate batteries of varying size and capacity and preferably are configured to mate with structural features on the intended batteries in order to securely support and accurately position the batteries on the charger. In a preferred form of the invention, the casing comprises a first support that pivots open to an obtuse angle and a second support that pivots open to an acute angle.