Abstract: A single phase, multipole alternator with inertial and/or electromagnetic energy storage is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention involves a high energy pulsed alternator which is capable of generating a variety of pulse signals by ready modification of the angle between the magnetic axes of the excitation field coil and the compensating coil or conducting shield.

Abstract: An AC exciter and a main AC generator are mounted on a common rotating shaft of an engine, and a power rectifier and a power inverter are connected in series to the output of the main AC generator. In starter mode, an external AC power source is connected by a switch to the input of the power rectifier, and the output of the power inverter is applied to an armature winding of the main AC generator to drive it as a nocommutator motor to start the engine. A permanent magnet AC generator is also mounted on the common shaft of the engine to provide DC excitation to the AC exciter after converting the output of the permanent magnet AC generator into DC current, and the output of the permanent magnet AC generator is further utilized to detect the rotational speed of the engine to control the switch.

Abstract: A controller for an AC power generator in vehicles having a rectifier for rectifying an AC output of an AC power generator equipped with a field coil, a battery charged with a rectified output of the rectifier, and a voltage regulator for adjusting an output voltage of the AC power generator by controlling a current flowing through the field coil to turn on and off; the voltage regulator being equipped with a detecting portion to detect the field current flowing through said field coil; and further comprising a field current controller, having a reference voltage supplying portion which generates a reference voltage to determine the field current by charging a set value which depends on the intermittent condition of the field current of the voltage regulator on the basis of a larger time constant than that of the field coil, and a comprising and controlling portion which compares each output of the detecting portion for a field current and the reference voltage supplying portion so as to control the voltage r

Abstract: An alternator regulator includes a status sensor connected to monitoring the connection of a voltage sensor to the alternator and a separate current limited monitor unit to regulate the output in accordance with the alternator current output. The sensor monitor unit includes a continuity circuit detector coupled to the voltage sensor and operable to continuously monitor the state of the connection to the alternator. A fault in the circuit connection such as a loose terminal, a broken lead or other such faults, opens the continuity circuit and generates a signal which drive the regulator off and terminates operation of the alternator, thereby protecting the alternator from possible destruction. A voltage/current mode selector receives a voltage related signal and a current related signal. A signal comparator is coupled to the voltage related signal and the sensed current related signal and generates a logic control signal applied to the selector to transmit one of the two signals.

Abstract: In a generator system having a fuel cell and a battery to which an output current is supplied from the fuel cell, the output current from the fuel cell is controlled in response to the energy charged in the battery, so that the stable supply of the current to the load can be ensured. As the load is increased, the battery discharges to the load, so that the energy charged in the battery is decreased. In this case, the control is carried out to increase the output current from the fuel cell, so that the burden on the battery is decreased.

Abstract: A generator and rechargeable battery system is disclosed for attachment to a ski having an electrically operable load. The invention comprises a rechargeable battery system in which the generator and/or battery can intermittently power a load such as a heating element of a ski boot. The rechargeable battery is detachable and may be recharged by the generator or in the home. Through the use of connecting wires, the generator and rechargeable battery system can be used to supply current to lights affixed to the ski and to power other electrical appliances.

Abstract: In a device where a load (R.sub.L) is powered by a battery (6) if a first detection device (100) detects that the expired discharge time measured by measurement means (40, 70) is equal to a first reference value stored in a memory (22), a first time measurement apparatus (40, 80) measures the time during which the load is powered by the battery. When the load is switched off and is not connected to the AC supply voltage via a power-supply circuit (1), the battery is discharged by a discharger (9). Second time-measurement apparatus (50, 80) measure the time during which the discharger is operative until a second detection device (13) detects a battery voltage at which the battery may be regarded as fully discharged.

Abstract: A charge completion detector comprises a thermoelectric detecting element outputting a thermally generated electromotive force in correspondence with the rise of temperature incidental to the completion of charging a secondary cell, and detecting means electrically connected to the thermoelectric detecting element for detecting the thermally generated electromotive force generated in the thermoelectric detecting element. The thermoelectric detecting element comprises a base material of semiconductive ceramics and a plurality of pairs of electrodes formed spaced apart from each other by a prescribed distance on the base material for forming hot junctions and cold junctions. A heat radiating member is thermally coupled to the cold junctions of the base material. The temperature of the hot junction side thermally coupled to the secondary cell will be approximately the same as that of the secondary cell while the temperature of the cold junction side is kept at an environmental temperature.

Abstract: The charging apparatus for lead-acid-accumulators controls the charging current and the charging voltage above the gassing voltage level according to a linearly declining characteristic. The charging current and the charging voltage are converted to a current signal (50) and a voltage signal (60) which are normalized (70, 80) and combined (150) into an indicating signal (160) which is constant as long as the charging current and the charging voltage follow the linear characteristic. A regulating device (130, 140, 40) compares the indicating signal (160) to a reference signal (132) for correcting the charging current and the charging voltage. The current signal (50) and the voltage signal (60) are converted to the indicating signal (160) by means of a weighted summation. For performing the summation there is provided an operational amplifier circuit.

Abstract: In a voltage regulator for charger/generator comprising a switching element, connected between a battery and a field winding of a generator adapted to charge the battery, for switching on and off an exciting current flowing through the field winding and a voltage detector responsive to voltage of the battery to control the operation of the switching element, there are provided an oscillator for generating an oscillation signal of a desired duty ratio, an initial excitation signal generator circuit having a plurality of stages of frequency dividers for dividing the frequency of the oscillation signal generated from the oscillator and combining together frequency division signals of the frequency dividers to produce a synthesized output signal of a desired duty ratio, a booster for boosting and rectifying an AC signal containing the oscillation signal of the oscillator and a signal which is opposite in phase to the oscillation signal to produce a boosted output signal, and excitation control means being operati

Abstract: A constant current battery charger includes a bucking regulator comprising a power switch transistor, a diode, an inductor and a voltage sensitive switch with adjustable delay for controlling the power switch transistor. The hysteresis or delay is obtained with a Schmitt trigger and the effect is a stable pulse width modulator in which the duty cycle of the power switch transistor is varied. A temperature sensor adds resistance to change the sensitivity of the switch and reduce charging current when a predetermined battery temperature is reached. A speed up circuit consisting of a shorting transistor is connected across the base-emitter of the switch transistor.

Abstract: A motor vehicle electrical system that has two alternating current generators for supplying current to the electrical loads on the vehicle including a storage battery. Both alternating current generators are connected to rectifier means which supply direct current to the loads. The output voltage of one of the generators is controlled by a voltage regulator. The direct current output of the rectifier means is sensed and the field current of the other generator is controlled such that its output current is slaved to and follows the output current of the generator that is controlled by the voltage regulator.

Abstract: A battery pack containing a rechargeable battery is detachable to a charger unit for charging under the control of a charging circuit in the charger unit. The battery pack includes a sensor output circuit which comprises a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the battery being charged. A voltage dividing resistor network is formed in the sensor output circuit and receives a constant current from the charging circuit upon attachment of the battery pack to the charger unit such that it provides an enable signal of a first voltage level to the charging circuit for allowing the charging of the battery at a first charge rate so long as the sensed battery temperature is below a predetermined reference level. When the sensed battery temperature exceeds the reference level, the voltage dividing resistor network responds to provide a stop signal of a second voltage level for inhibiting the charging at the first charge rate.

Abstract: An improved method and device for rapidly charging a battery by providing a charge pulse to the battery, followed immediately by a depolarization pulse created by allowing the battery to discharge across a load, followed by a stabilization period, and repeating this sequence cyclically until the battery is charged is disclosed. Preferably, the current level of the charge pulse is equal to or greater than the nominal rated current at which the battery can discharge in an hour, in order to achieve rapid charging. The duration of the charge pulse will generally be about one-tenth to two seconds. The current level of the depolarization pulse may be approximately the same magnitude or greater than the charging current, but of significantly shorter duration, such as 0.2-5% of the duration, to avoid unnecessary discharging of the battery. The duration of the stabilization period is generally greater than the magnitude of the depolarizing pulse.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the rechargeable, auxiliary battery pack includes a housing made of insulative material that defines an enclosed space and has a top surface cavity which companionately seats a bottom region of a cellular telephone. A bracket holds a standard battery of the telephone as a vertical extension from one end wall of the top surface cavity. A plurality of batteries comprise a battery subassembly that is disposed in the interior of the housing. A four prong female connector is electrically coupled to the battery subassembly and is adapted to mate with a four prong male connector. The male connector is coupled to a 9 volt voltage regulator and beyond the regulator is connected a male plug that is insertable in a car lighter socket such that power from an automobile can be drawn via its lighter to recharge the battery subassembly and enable activation of the cellular telephone. The auxiliary battery pack also includes a female socket that mates with the male plug.

Abstract: A vehicle battery harness including a battery charger having a cable permanently attached to the electrical or battery system of a storage battery equipped vehicle, the cable having a terminal which can only be connected in a correct polarity with the battery charger for a safe connection to charge the battery of the vehicle.

Abstract: The electric power supply comprises an electric rotary machine intended to be driven by an engine in order to supply electrical energy to a battery and/or to various user units, and rectifier means combined with the machine for obtaining direct current. The machine is chosen in such a way that when it is driven by the engine at its idling speed, the voltage at the terminals of the machine is insufficient to ensure charging of the battery; the unit comprises means to make it possible to establish periodically a voltage surge at the terminals of the machine and a current for charging the battery.

Abstract: A diagnostic device for monitoring charging and discharging currents of a storage battery employing a current sensing resistor (shunt) adapted to be connected in series with a battery, the voltage and its polarity across the resistor being proportional to charging and discharging current through the battery and the direction of its flow. Amplifiers are employed for selectively amplifying charging and discharging currents with voltage to frequency converters providing trains of pulses responsive thereto which are compared by a microprocessor with stored programs for interpretation.

Abstract: A control circuit for connection between a battery charger and a battery being charged, which includes a control switch in series between the charger and battery for disconnecting the battery under a variety of conditions including improper connection, loss of battery charger power, improper connection, and shorting of terminals. A switch connected in the series between a battery charger is closed in response to a low voltage condition in a battery and is open in response to a fully charged condition of the battery. An over-current circuit opens the switch and disconnects the battery charger from the battery when excessive currents are detected in the control system. An under voltage circuit also keeps the switch open when low voltages are detected prior to connection to a battery thus protecting the circuit from short circuits and similar mishaps in the connection of the charger and battery.

Abstract: This invention pertains to portable battery-pack power supplies for use in devices which must be operated between an upper voltage and a lower voltage limit. The battery pack is comprised of a main power supply and a reserve power supply. The reserve power supply is switched into series connection with the main power supply when said main power supply is discharged to the lower voltage limit. Means are provided for ensuring that only the initial power supply is switched into the circuit after fresh cells are installed in the battery pack.