Abstract: An automatic voltage regulator senses and controls the terminal voltage of a separately excited generator by controlling the field current applied to the field winding. In order to improve the response time of the circuit, the circuitry relies on the phasor relationships between the generator phase voltages to obviate the need for a rectification and filtering circuit, used in known AVR's. More specifically, each of the sinusoidal phase voltages is sampled and squared. The squared phase voltages are then summed together. The square root of the sum is used to provide a DC voltage signal, proportional to the terminal phase voltages V.sub.A, V.sub.B and V.sub.C. The DC voltage signal may then be compared with a reference signal to generate an error signal for use in regulating the generator terminal voltage by controlling the field current applied to the generator field winding.

Abstract: A solar recharge station is described having a contact area, a battery bank charge area and a solar panel array for maintaining the battery bank charged. The contact area includes electric contacts formed for engagement automatically by contacts on an electric powered vehicle as the vehicle enters the contact area. The battery bank is connected so that its energy is available for either recharging the vehicle or other use, and in case the vehicle needs a recharge but the battery banks lacks sufficient charge, ordinary house voltage is used.

Abstract: This automatic battery charging circuit has two independent channels for charging first and second batteries respectively. Circuit control means in the battery charging circuit enable it to provide charging current in proportion to the state of charge of the two batteries. First and second electronic bar displays are connected to the two channels by wires. The channels provide readings which indicate the state of charge of each battery. The state of charge of each battery is sensed only when no charging current flows to each battery. Computer components in the circuit control means compute the charge level of each battery and this charge level is indicated by the respective bar displays.

Abstract: A control unit for a battery-operated device is proposed which via an existing control connection recognizes an overload of the battery and/or of the electric device. The control connection of a temperature-dependent resistor is used, which is thermally connected to the rechargeable battery. This connection, which is typically usable to control a charging unit, now serves during the battery operation of the electric device as a control output for monitoring the battery temperature. Since the temperature gradient is also detected, this signal can also be used to monitor the overload of the electric device, which for instance is an electric motor.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for rapidly charging a battery. The preferred charging method comprises applying one or more charging pulses (C1, C2), separated by a waiting period (CW1), with the last charging pulse, if there are more than one, being followed by a second waiting period (CW2). This is then followed by a series of discharging pulses (D1, D2, D3), which are separated by waiting periods (DW1, DW2), and followed by a last waiting period (DW3) before the occurrence of the next charging pulse (C1). The discharging pulses preferably have a magnitude which is approximately the same as the magnitude of the charging pulses but which have a duration which is substantially smaller than the duration of the charging pulses. The discharging pulses serve to create and disperse ions throughout the electrolyte of the battery so that the ions do not shield the plates of the battery from further charge transfer.

Abstract: An overcharge preventing device and an overdischarge preventing device for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having voltage detectors and are provided to respectively detect terminal voltages of batteries connected in series. A switch is provided in series to the batteries between a common terminal and a charge terminal. When the terminal voltage of at least one of the batteries exceeds a battery design voltage in charging the batteries, the switch is turned off in response to an output from the corresponding voltage detectors, thereby cutting off a charging current. Further, a voltage detector is provided to detect a terminal voltage of the series connected batteries. A switch is provided in series to the batteries between the common terminal and a discharge terminal.

Abstract: The arrangement for charging an accumulator of a transporting device having its own electric drive at an external charging station having a machining station includes an external control unit for controlling the machining station and the charging, a charge regulating device located in the transporting device and containing a processor with a storage unit, a device for determining an actual charge in the accumulator, and a charging current changing device connected to the processor.

Abstract: The method of regulating a motor vehicle three-phase generator for operation in an overexcited range includes determining a temperature of the generator by a temperature-determining device provided in a voltage regulator circuit for the generator, supporting the housing of the voltage regulator on one of the generator component parts, reducing an excitation current of an excitation coil of the generator to keep the temperature of the generator below a predetermined maximum temperature when a generator speed is between a first generator speed threshold and a second generator speed threshold and increasing the excitation current of the excitation coil of the generator above the nominal value of the excitation current without consideration of the determined temperature, when the generator speed exceeds the second predetermined generator speed threshold and is below the first predetermined generator speed threshold.

Abstract: A circuit for detecting the state of a switch, in particular the state of a key contact for activating a regulator circuit for regulating the voltage at which a battery is charged by an alternator, in which a first terminal of the key switch is connected to a DC source and a second terminal of the key switch is connected to the regulator circuit via a load such as a warning lamp, said load being switched ON and OFF by means of a component having a voltage drop.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the charging of multi-cell batteries, for example, NiCd cells. The battery is connected to a battery charger for impressing a current through the battery for charging thereof. At the beginning of the voltage energization for impressing the current through the battery, the pole voltage of the battery is measured for determining the voltage drop across input conductors and interior resistance in the battery. The measured pole voltage is reduced by the measured rest voltage of the battery, and the size of the current through the battery is regulated such that the pole voltage rises to a predetermined voltage level which substantially corresponds to the voltage for preventing the risk of gas formation in the cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for detecting whether a battery is connected to an electric charger or the battery is disconnected therefrom. This invention is simple in construction, and can effectively carry out the operation thereof. The device of this invention includes a heat sensitive element connected through a temperature detecting line to a data processor and a reference voltage source connected to the end of the heat sensitive element. After at least one battery is connected to the device and an electric charging into the battery is completed, the battery is removed, whereby a data processor detects the resulting voltage change through the temperature detecting line similarly operating as a voltage detecting line.

Abstract: A battery charging device for charging a rechargeable battery unit includes a step-down unit which receives an external alternating current line voltage input and which reduces the line voltage input to an appropriate level. A rectifier unit receives the reduced line voltage input from the step-down unit and generates a direct current signal to charge the battery unit. A current limiting resistor serially interconnects the rectifier unit and the battery unit. A control unit is in series with the battery unit and includes a temperature switch, an excess current protective device in series with the switch, and a high resistance heating unit connected across the series combination of the switch and the protective device.

Abstract: A switched reluctance generator system, including a converter for coupling a dc voltage via a dc excitation bus (or excitation nodes) to a switched reluctance generator and thereby providing excitation thereto, has a separate generator bus for providing the output voltage of the switched reluctance generator. The generator bus is separate and distinct from the dc excitation bus such that the average current generated by the switched reluctance generator is substantially independent of the generator output voltage. As a result, the switched reluctance generator is capable of resuming generating operation after occurrence of an overload, without requiring a relatively large power source to supply the overload, clear the fault (e.g., via a fuse) and re-excite the generator.

Abstract: An electrical supply system (10) for use with low current loads (12) disposed in hazardous areas, is described. Electricity is supplied to the low current load (12) from a local source (46) in response to mechanical energy from a fluid medium supplied from a remote pressure source (24).

Abstract: A power supply with a battery disconnect has battery power terminals (105, 109), and a charging terminal (121). The battery power terminals are for receiving battery power from a to be provided battery (111, 119). External power terminals (103, 107) are also provided for receiving external power from a to be provided external power source (115). A charging circuit (137) provides a charge path between the external power terminal (103) to the charging terminal (121). A gate (113), has an input (123) coupled to the external power terminal (103), an output (125) coupled to the battery power terminal (109), and a control input (127) coupled to the external power terminal (107). The output (125) of the gate (113) is decoupled from the input (123), responsive to the connection of the external power source (115).

Abstract: A regulator circuit for the voltage for charging a battery by an alternator comprises in succession:processing and comparison means (A4, A1, A2) receiving a fraction of an alternator voltage (D+) and generating a monotonic variation of the mean voltage regulated as a function of the load on the alternator,power switching means (CP, T101) in series with an excitation winding (Le).Semiconductor correction means (CP) are associated directly and non-resistively with the power switching means and produce an offset of said voltage fraction which varies monotonically with the intensity of the current in the excitation winding and of the load on the alternator, in order to compensate said monotonic variation generated by the processing and comparison means and to obtain a mean value of the charging voltage which is essentially constant over all of the operating range.

Abstract: The problems of minimizing size and weight in aircraft and avoiding requirements for custom design are minimized in a digital voltage regulator circuit (120).The circuit (120) includes a programmed processor circuit (124) having a memory circuit (138), and a drive circuit (132) operatively coupled with the processor circuit (124) for developing an exciter control signal.This circuit (120) is manufactured using custom very large scale integration (VLSI) technology to reduce size, weight, life cycle costs and improve reliability.

Abstract: The method of regulating a voltage produced by a generator with a voltage regulator according to a battery charge state includes providing a controller containing a clock and a memory able to store battery and power supply reference data, battery voltage and generator rotation speed; maintaining a regulated voltage produced by the generator at a normal value (U.sub.R) during a first time interval (t1); measuring a battery voltage (U.sub.B) and decreasing the regulated voltage (U.sub.R) during a second time interval (t2); determining the battery charge state from the measured battery voltage (U.sub.B) according to the stored battery- and power supply-reference data; and, when the battery charge state is determined to be unsatisfactory, determining an additional time interval (t4) with the controller and an amount of increase of the regulated voltage (U.sub.

Abstract: An electronic device for automatically discharging and charging nickel cadmium batteries. When used regularly the device will prevent `memory` from developing in nickel cadmium cells. The prevention of memory development greatly increases the batteries' useful life and provides for predictable performance. The device is simple to operate, requires no technical knowledge on the part of the user, is completely automatic requiring no monitoring while the device functions, and is relatively inexpensive. The device is intended to replace the standard battery charger while providing a most useful function in addition to charging alone.The device discharges a battery or multiple configuration of batteries (battery packs) to a very specific level and then automatically charges the batteries at a slow rate. Charge and discharge rates are low to preclude damage to the batteries.

Abstract: A battery charger is disclosed comprising a pair of charging terminals to which a secondary battery may be connected, a power source for supplying the charging terminals with a charging voltage, a recharging detector for detecting the degree of recharging on the secondary battery on the strength of the voltage between the charging terminals, and a timer operative to measure a predetermined time beginning when the recharging detector detects that the degree of recharging on the second battery has reached a predetermined degree set within a range from seventy percent to ninety percent of full recharging. The invention further includes a first recharging indicator, for example an LED, which indicates that the secondary battery is being charged up until the timing operation commences.