Abstract: The invention includes a method of using a cell, such as a battery. In a method according to the invention, the cell is charged, discharged, and a voltage of the cell is measured after the discharge period. The measured voltage is compared to a standard voltage, and then the cell is charged again.

Abstract: A battery module is provided by coating selected sides of a battery cell having a rectangular shape with a prescribed resin material. The resin material is selected from among polyamide resin, polyurethane resin. Module side surfaces are provided with slopes having the slope angle of 5° or more in the thickness direction. A positioning structure is provided for establishing the prescribed positioning between the battery module and its counterpart unit such as a cellular phone having a hollow space. A plurality of slopes are formed along side walls of the hollow space to provide complementary shapes to the sloped module side surfaces. When the battery module is installed in the hollow space, the module side surfaces slide along and come in close contact with the slopes of the side walls of the hollow space.

Abstract: An electrical connection box includes a protection apparatus attachment recess. The protection apparatus attachment recess accommodates a power supply breaker apparatus. The power supply breaker apparatus includes a fixed member and a movable member. The fixed member is attached to an box main body. The movable member is attached to the fixed member in an attachable and detachable manner. When the movable member is detached from the fixed member, the power supply breaker apparatus breaks the supply from a battery to an electrical load.

Abstract: A charge control method by which batteries can be efficiently charged, even if the charging is aborted, as well as a computer which employs such a charge control method is provided. The charge to the main battery is started and then the charge to the,main battery is stopped when the amount of electric energy in the main battery reaches a predetermined value (steps 200 to 204). Next, the charge to the second battery is started and then the charge to the second battery is stopped when the amount of electric energy in the second battery reaches a predetermined value (steps 206 to 210). Next, the charge to the main battery is restarted and then the charge to the main battery is stopped when the amount of electric energy in the main battery reaches 100%. Thereafter, the charge to the second battery is restarted and then the charge to the battery is stopped when the amount of electric energy in the second battery reaches 100% (steps 212 to 222).

Abstract: A secondary battery protection circuit device for controlling charging of a secondary battery. The device has a first transistor connected in parallel to a power line. The power line connects the secondary battery to be charged to a battery charger, a second transistor connects to the second transistor, the clamping circuit normally clamping at or above ground level. The second and first transistor are turned ON when a residual voltage of the secondary battery is near 0 V and the clamping circuit does not operate. The result is a secondary battery protection circuit comprising a limited number of structural elements and consuming a reduced amount of power, and which is capable of charging a battery such as lithium-ion battery even when the residual voltage of the battery is at or near 0 V.