Abstract: A separately power-feeding welding generator having at least two main generating windings for supplying power to loads by rectifying an induced voltage and adapted to permit the power being fed from the two main generating windings to the loads to be separately controlled, in whicha thyristor is provided in a rectifying circuit for rectifying a voltage induced in at least one of the two main generating windings;an a-c voltage detector for detecting the voltage induced in at least one of the two main generating windings anda thyristor control signal generator for controlling the conduction angle of the thyristor on the basis of the detected signal of the a-c voltage detector and the reference level obtained by extracting the level of the current being fed to the loads are provided;a diode which conducts when a positive half-wave is applied in parallel with the thyristor is connected in series with a resistor element;a first control power supply for rectifying a voltage induced in at least one of the two main g

Abstract: A battery charger for nickel-cadmium batteries uses a silicon controlled rectifier to rectify the alternating supply voltage. The silicon controlled rectifier has a current applied to its gate near the end of each positive half-wave, at a point after the voltage is low enough not to injure the battery being charged. An electronic timer is used to select the desired point in the half-wave, time being dependent on the charging of a capacitor. To terminate the charging, the circuit to the capacitor is opened. Termination of charging may be by monitoring the temperature of the battery and terminating on reaching a predetermined temperature, or by monitoring the battery voltage and terminating when the change in the voltage reverses.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery pack for a portable computer or other battery-powered device permits recharging of the battery while it is in the computer, or removal of the entire battery pack and recharging of the battery external to the computer by connecting an AC-DC converter directly to the battery pack. This permits removal of a battery pack and replacement with a charged battery pack, so that the portable computer is not occupied with battery charging and can be taken into the field while another battery pack is being charged. In the battery pack of the invention a DC power jack is located on the battery pack, identical to the DC jack on the exterior of the computer.

Abstract: There is provided a power supply apparatus for charging-type device including a transformer disposed in a main body of the power supply apparatus, current supply connection terminals connected to a secondary winding of the transformer, current receiving connection terminals so disposed in a charging-type device as to be capable of being coupled to and detached from the current supplying connection terminals, a storage battery so disposed in the charging-type device as to be charged from the current receiving connection terminals, and a load connected to the storage battery, the power supply apparatus for charging-type device comprising relay contacts of a relay connected to a primary side of a primary winding of the transformer, short-circuit contacts for the relay contacts, a relay coil for opering and closing the relay contacts, a first connection control terminal connected to the relay coil, and a second connection control terminal capable of being coupled and detached from the first connection control ter

Abstract: Disclosed are various circuits which assure safe connection of battery chargers or other electrical apparatus, wherever two sets or pairs of terminals are to be connected safely. Additionally, overload protection modules and On-time delay modules prevent overloads from being transmitted to the receiving side and delay the connection to the end terminals. Further, a minimum charger-voltage-detector version prevents use when not safe. Various embodiments of circuit modules, including using a micro processor, are presented in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: A charge control circuit is used for a cordless telephone system which includes a base unit having a quick charger and a trickling charger and a handset containing a battery. The charge control circuit comprises a connection detector, a full-charged condition detector, a timer and a controller. The connection detector detects the connection of the handset to the base unit to start the charging operation for the battery. The full-charged condition detector detects the full-charged condition of the battery. The timer has a predetermined period of time and starts it counting operation after the full-charged condition detector detects the full-charged condition of the battery. The controller controls the battery to be quickly charged with the quick charger after the timer counts up the predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A portable, self-contained, rechargeable battery power source provides a plurality of voltage levels to a load circuit, thus allowing one source to replace the need for many batteries. The battery is a high-capacity unit of the type used in camcorders and enables increased playing time for each battery period of charge.

Abstract: An automatic battery exhanging system for use with automatic guided vehicles which is capable of taking out the battery which is discharged below a threshold voltage of usefulness, mounting the battery to a recharging station, and after charging it, taking it back to the automatic guided vehicle so that the automatic guided vehicle may return to normal operation. This is completed under the control of a control unit. The invention comprises a battery mounting and dismounting means, a lifting means, a horizontal conveying means, a charging means, a dropping means, and control unit which automatically executes all of these operations.

Abstract: A battery charger for a vehicle-mounted equipment comprises a first sensor for detecting when the voltage of the vehicle battery is higher than a specified level. A second sensor is provided for detecting when the engine of the vehicle is running. The outputs of the sensors determine the start timing of a charging operation. A switch is connected between the vehicle battery and the equipment's rechargeable battery. A timing circuit is responsive to the output signals of the first and second sensors for causing the switch to establish a path between the batteries for an interval sufficient to charge the rechargeable battery with a current supplied from the vehicle battery.

Abstract: A resistance free constant voltage taper charger for batteries in which a voltage regulator of a conventional type is combined with a conventional instrumentation amplifier in such a way that the output voltage increases by the same amount as a reference voltage coupled to the input of the amplifier is varied. The result will be that the voltage at the final output is constant.The same basic circuit can be complemented with two switches and with a sample and hold circuit controlled by a pulse generator so that in short pulse periods the voltage regulator is disabled and the resistance free electrochemical battery voltage is samples, and during the longer intervals between the periods the sampled and stored value is used to regulate the output voltage so that the electrochemical voltage remains unchanged.

Abstract: An automobile generator apparatus for producing commercial line power when driven by an automobile engine comprises a generator, an inverter unit, a controller for controlling the generator field and an accelerator actuator.The accelerator actuator is mounted opposite the accelerator pedal in such manner as to prevent erroneous operation thereof.The generator field is controlled while monitoring both the low-voltage side output and the high-voltage side output so as to prevent a large output current from flowing through the low-voltage side load. A circuit is further provided for preventing the occurrence of an overvoltage as a result of field control transistor malfunction.The switching elements constituting the output stage of the inverter unit are controlled to vary the duty ratio of the output waveform so as to stabilize the inverter output voltage and controlled to remove the center portion of the output waves so as to cope with the startup load.

Abstract: A battery jumper-cable interconnecting system with a pair of mechanically activated high-current switches, one of which is closed to connect charged and discharged batteries in correct polarity without regard to positioning of the jumper cables. The appropriate switch to activate is determined by an automatic polarity-sensing circuit which provides a visual signal to the user by unlatching and moving the correct switch to an unlocked position, while maintaining the incorrect switch in a latched and locked position.

Abstract: A battery equalization circuit maintains first and second series connected batteries at equal voltages. The circuit includes a capacitor coupled across the first battery by a pair of switches for sampling the voltage across the first battery. An error amplifier compares the first battery's sampled voltage to the second battery's voltage to produce an error signal indicative of the difference between the voltage across the first battery and the voltage across the second battery. A charging and regulating circuit is responsive to the error signal for charging the batteries to reduce the error signal to zero.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high voltage electrical power supply device for an auxiliary circuit CA of a motor vehicle.The device comprises an alternator 1 having two identical stator windings 11 and 12, each connected to a rectifier bridge 13 and 14 supplying a rectified alternator voltage on a terminal B+1, B+2 an excitiation regulator 2 enabling the regulation of the excitation current of the inductor winding of the alternator and means for parallel-series/series-parallel switching of the stator windings. Alternator output terminals B+1, B+2 are provided for generating a nominal value voltage or a high voltage. A control logic is interconnected with the excitation regulator 2 and the switching means 3 to ensure the starting of the high voltage operation conditionally with respect to status parameters of the vehicle such as the engine speed, the clutch position, the temperature of the vehicle, and the supply voltage of the device.

Abstract: A Lithium battery includes a switch to operatively activate the discharging circuit so that Lithium may be inactivated for safe disposal of the battery.

Abstract: In order to provide the required electric power uninterruptedly to an electrical or electronic consuming device (M) powered by solar cells (1, 2, 3, 4), the supply of power to the consuming device must be assured even under inadequate illumination conditions and/or during brief failures of the solar collector (S), an electronic system is proposed wherein a control circuit (RK) is provided between the solar collector (S), the consuming device (M), and an electrical energy storage device (C1). The control circuit (RK) functions at least as a connecting and commutating switching device which, subject to the priority of maintaining the operational readiness of the consuming device (M); provides various interconnections of the solar collector (S), the storage device (C1), and the consuming device (M). The control circuit (RK) makes these various connections in dependence on (1) the voltage (U.sub.S) at the solar collector (S), (2) the voltage (U.sub.

Abstract: A battery charger for charging batteries of varying sizes is disclosed. Batteries to be charged are inserted into a recess in the battery charger housing and are captivated by a lip portion which extends into the recess. The lip portion has a plurality of surfaces, one of which surfaces contacts a surface of a battery of one size and maintains the position of the battery against the charging contacts of the battery charger. Different size batteries contact different lip surfaces.

Abstract: A switchable filter has characteristics (e.g., time constant) that are changed by a low offset, bipolar switch that is turned off and on to periodically connect/disconnect an additional circuit element to the filter. The preferred embodiment is specially designed for use in an automotive voltage regulator.

Abstract: A voltage regulator for an internal combustion engine having a permanent magnet alternator and utilizing an SCR/diode bridge rectifier includes crowbar SCR overvoltage protection means. To assure that the crowbar SCR has an adequate period in which to cool off after being triggered on by an overvoltage surge, crowbar SCR operation is detected to generate a control signal to activate a timer which shuts off gate drive to the main bridge SCR's and thereby shuts down the bridge for a period of time sufficient to provide crowbar SCR recovery and cool off. In its preferred embodiment, the control signal is provided by the crowbar SCR gate to cathode voltage drop during protective operation, which signal is of relatively long duration, thus allowing the use of filters to eliminate spurious triggering of the timer by transient noise signals. Feedback from the switch means supplying gate drive to the bridge SCR's is used to provide a tapered charging characteristic.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for charging batteries of the type characterized by entry into a gassing phase just prior to reaching full charge, are disclosed. Means are provided for periodically applying a load across the battery terminals during charging of the battery and for accurately measuring the battery discharge through the load. All signals other than those directly attributable to the battery energization of the load are removed from the measured signal. The isolated load response signal is compared to a predetermined threshold value established for the battery being charged to accurately determine when the battery enters into its gassing phase. Battery charging is maintained following entry of the battery into its gassing phase for a period of time known to return a predetermined overcharge of approximately 5 to 15% to the battery.