Abstract: A system for measuring a current of a battery for an electric vehicle includes a current transducer, a voltage-to-PWM (PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) converter, and a power supply unit. The current transducer measures a battery current during a charge or a discharge of the battery, and generates a corresponding voltage signal. The voltage-to-PWM converter converts the voltage signal input generated by the current transducer to a PWM signal. The power supply unit supplies power to the current transducer.

Abstract: In a method for determining the state of charge of rechargeable batteries by integration of the amounts of current flowing during charging and discharging, a first state of charge value LZA is determined by continuous integration of the rechargeable battery current. A second state of charge value LZB is determined by measurement of the no-load voltage U0 after receiving or supplying a defined amount of charge Q which is sufficient in order to leave the region of the mixed potential of the electrodes and to reach a no-load voltage of the rechargeable battery, and by comparison of this measured no-load voltage U0 with empirically determined no-load voltage characteristics for the rechargeable battery.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method reduces charging time of a multi-battery with a plurality of battery units. A charging process and apparatus charges a first battery unit of a multi-battery, keeps checking whether a current charging the first battery unit reaches a prescribed value, selects and charges a selected second battery unit of the multi-battery along with the first battery unit if the preset value is reached, and charges the second battery unit with a limited maximum magnitude current when the first battery unit is completely charged. Dual-charging operations for both first and second battery units conducted in the present charging process can reduce total charging time of the multi-battery.

Abstract: A battery pack charging device having a terminal which may be adaptively used even in case the battery pack is loaded in different loading directions to enable charging and detection of loading to reduce the cost. The battery pack charging device includes, in a loading section 4 or 24 in which a battery pack 15 or 30 is loaded, a charging terminal member 7 or 29, connected to a charging terminal unit 16 or 31, respectively, an actuation member 55 actuated by the battery pack and a detection switching unit 11 having switching elements 49, 50 opened or closed by the actuation member 55. The charging terminal unit 16 or 31 is mounted to a terminal block member 40 so as to be connected to the charging terminal member 7 of the first battery pack 15 or to the charging terminal member 29 of the second battery pack 30, respectively, in such a manner that the actuation member 55 can be actuated in the same direction by the first battery pack or by the second battery pack.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic circuit for a power supply device (1), in particular for a charger (2) for accumulators (3), in which the power supply device (1) is connected via input terminals (4, 5) to a power source (6), the power supply device (1) converting the supplied power from any voltage, in particular an AC voltage, into a DC voltage and this transformed power is forwarded via output terminals (7, 8) to a consumer (9), in particular the accumulator (3), in which, a switching element (10) is provided as a means of operating polarity reversal protection. The switching element (10) is disposed between at least one output terminal (7, 8) and a potential, in particular a negative potential, of the power supply device (1) and if a specific polarity appears at this output terminal (7, 8) the switching element (10) is connected through and if an opposite (incorrect) polarity appears it is switched off.

Abstract: An electrical system has a battery circuit that includes a plurality of battery blocks. Each of the battery blocks has a plurality of parallel strings of battery cells connected thereto. A plurality of virtual cells is formed during charging by parallel coupling one cell from each string in parallel using diode.

Abstract: A cell voltage measuring device for a fuel cell includes a terminal member to be connected to a separator of the fuel cell, the terminal member including a first end and a second end, and a voltage measuring unit which measures cell voltage of the fuel cell through the terminal member. The first end of the terminal member is fixed to the voltage measuring unit, and the second end of the terminal member makes contact with the separator, and an elastic portion is provided between the first end and the second end of the terminal member. The cell voltage measuring device may further includes a holder member which is capable of maintaining a state in which the second end of the terminal member is separated from each other, and the holder member is movably attached in a stacking direction of the separator with respect to the voltage measuring unit.

Abstract: This invention includes a thermally stable, low-cost charging circuit for rechargeable batteries. The circuit includes a thermal control circuit that employs a temperature dependent component such as a thermistor or positive temperature coefficient device. The temperature dependent device is thermally coupled to a charging pass element, which is typically a power transistor. When the transistor enters a danger zone, which is a region of operation characterized by elevated power dissipation in the pass element, the thermal control circuit is actuated to regulate the pass element in a constant power mode until the circuit exits the danger zone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing a smart management of a rechargeable battery provides the basic capabilities to measure the operating parameters of a rechargeable battery including voltage, temperature and current flow, used subsequently to control the flow of charge/discharge current and for determining the operation mode of the rechargeable battery. The control circuit includes a central processing unit to manage the charge/discharge operation and control the current flow; a trickle charger for slow charging; a cutoff switch to turn off the temperature detector; and an economizer switch to reduce power loss during normal charging of the battery. If the operating voltage of the battery is below a predetermined limit, the system automatically switches to a self-cutoff mode. Through a combination of the above control means, battery management for rechargeable batteries can be improved notably.

Abstract: A battery charger for charging a plurality of rechargeable batteries and is provided with temperature sensors for detecting battery temperature. The battery charger compares the battery temperature detected by the temperature sensors and charging stop temperature, and stops charging when the detected temperature becomes greater than the charging stop temperature. The battery charger has a plurality of attachment detecting portions for detecting attachment of the batteries respectively and independently. The number of temperature sensors is less than the maximum number of the batteries that can be attached. The battery charger varies the charging stop temperature for stopping charging in accordance with the battery-attached positions detected by the attachment detecting portions.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for testing voltage drops in positive and negative legs of an electrical system and for determining maximal current capacity of the electrical system based on the measured voltage drops. This is accomplished by connecting load leads of a testing unit at a starter or alternator of the electrical system, and connecting voltage leads of the testing unit at a battery of the electrical system. A load of known resistance is applied and a voltage at the load is measured. Voltage drops at the positive and negative legs of the electrical system are determined, based at least in part on the voltage at the load. A maximum current capacity of the electrical system is calculated based on the determined voltage drops.

Abstract: A circuit limits a current that is initially discharged from a battery through a battery protection circuit. The current may be discharged through safety circuitry that monitors voltage slew rates and/or voltage levels. The safety circuitry may shunt current to a voltage reference (such as ground) in response to detection of a voltage that exceeds selected parameters. The shunted current may undesirably cause power to be discharged from the battery that is to be charged. A resistive path from the battery to a charger input node is formed when a voltage that is sufficient for charging a battery is detected. A charging signal also is provided in response to the detection of the voltage. A second path that has substantially no resistance is formed between the detected voltage and the battery when the charging signal attains a voltage that is suitable for charging the battery.

Abstract: An electronic tester is disclosed that monitors the current capability of a storage battery without drawing heavy currents. It determines current capability from measurement of the battery's internal resistance is monitored in the conventional manner by drawing a small current load and observing the A.C. voltage generated at the battery terminals. The load circuit used here ensures that the current drawn is independent of battery resistance. The resistance signal is pocessed with a novel application of integrator circuitry to derive the battery's current capability.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium battery packet includes a strengthened plastic casing accommodating a plurality of repeatedly usable lithium batteries therein and being provided with a protective circuit board, positive and negative terminals, and a charger receptacle. The case is also coated with a layer of insulating film to provide enhanced insulting effect. The rechargeable lithium battery packet has the advantages of light in weight, wet-proof, repeatedly rechargeable and dischargeable to provide prolonged usable life, increased supply voltage, large dischargeable current, and being environmentally friendly.

Abstract: An energy system is formed of a plurality of battery cells, and has an application associated therewith that draws power from the energy system. As the application is being used, voltage and current measurements are taken at a predetermined rate, and stored in a history table to create a series of time-based measurements. The measurements stored in the history table are then processed to compute an impedance parameter value corresponding to the AC impedance of the energy system This impedance parameter value is then stored in a memory buffer where it can be used to carry out various diagnotic and control functions.

Abstract: A remote controlled toy vehicle with a rechargable battery operates with rechargeable system. A station has an outlet on or in adjacency with a surface on which the remotely controllable toy is movable, and electrical outlet contacts. The remote controlled toy has inlet contacts for electrically engaging the outlet contacts when steered to the station. When the toy is steered under remote control to the station and the outlet contacts and inlet contacts electrically engage, a rechargeable current is passible from the electrical outlet contacts to the electrical inlet contacts. The station is part of a bypass track and the toy vehicle is normally directed to travel on the track and bypass the station.

Abstract: A fast combinational charger includes a shell body, a circuit unit, and a combinational module. The shell body has a bearing seat at the outer side. The circuit unit is disposed in the shell body, and has a first connector. The combinational module includes a module shell body and a module circuit board. The module circuit board is disposed in the module shell body. The module circuit board has terminals protruding out of the module shell body. The combinational module can be placed on the bearing seat. The module circuit board can be connected with the first connector to achieve electric connection with the circuit unit.

Abstract: Lower order control devices control plural battery cells configuring plural battery modules. An input terminal of the low order control device in the highest potential, an output terminal of the low order control device in the lowest potential, and a high order control device are connected by isolating units, photocouplers. Diodes which prevent a discharge current of the battery cells in the battery modules are disposed between the output terminal of the low order control device and the battery cells in the battery module on the low potential side. Terminals related to input/output of a signal are electrically connected without isolating among the plural low order control devices.

Abstract: A plurality of battery pack blocks connected in series-parallel have their operation states monitored by battery ECUs, respectively based on detected voltage, current, and temperature. Detection outputs by current sensors provided at the charge/discharge circuits of the battery pack blocks are added up for the parallel-connected battery pack blocks in an analog data state before A/D conversion, so that the total charge/discharge current in the battery power source device is obtained.

Abstract: In a battery control device for controlling input to and output from a battery pack of the present invention, the battery pack includes a plurality of serially-connected battery blocks each including a plurality of serially-connected unit batteries. The device includes: an internal resistance measurement section for each battery block; and a first malfunctioning battery detection section for detecting the unit battery as a leakage malfunctioning battery based on an internal resistance variation measured for each battery block during a prescribed time interval of a charging operation, wherein detection information about the leakage malfunctioning battery is reflected in the control of charging and discharging operations.