Abstract: Briefly, the above and further objects of the present invention are realized by providing a portable wireless communication unit having an electronic communication device with an integrally formed U-shaped frame housing mounted externally thereto. A power pack for supplying electrically power to the communication device, is adapted to be mounted removably latchably within the frame housing. The power pack includes an apparel clip mounted externally to one of the power pack faces for enabling the communication unit to be supported from the wearing apparel of a user. A resilient spring finger disposed on the power pack is latchably received within a groove disposed in the frame housing, to retain releasably, the power pack in a confronting relationship within the frame. An integrally formed flange forming part of the power pack, cooperates with an elongated slit-like groove in the frame housing to facilitate the proper alignment of the power pack when received within the frame housing.

Abstract: A battery charger of the driven blocking oscillator type includes a three-winding transformer. The primary winding is connected in series with the collector-emitter path of a switching transistor. The secondary winding is connected in series with the collector-emitter path of a sense transistor which responds to the current flowing through the switching transistor. The tertiary winding is connected in series with the battery, series-connected batteries or series-connected battery packs sought to be recharged, via a diode, which may be connected in parallel with a capacitor. No smoothing capacitor is provided across the battery or batteries. The battery or batteries are charged by current pulses and discharge through the tertiary winding to repolarize the diode (and capacitor if present). The secondary winding is poled, with respect to the tertiary winding so that the blocking oscillator is driven by energy from the battery or batteries.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an AC generator in a vehicle, the AC generator including an exciting coil and driven by an engine to generate an AC output which is rectified and fed to a battery, includes a pilot-lamp switching transistor device constituted by a Darlington-connection of transistors, the pilot-lamp switching transistor device having a base and a collector for turning a pilot lamp on/off, the pilot lamp being fed with a current from the battery through a key switch, a resistor connected between the base and the collector of the pilot-lamp switching transistor, an initial exciting transistor for controlling a current for the initial excitation of the exciting coil by the battery, a voltage detection circuit for detecting a voltage of the battery, and a voltage detection circuit switching transistor for controlling a switching operation of the voltage detection circuit.

Abstract: A battery charger assembly for applying a charging current to a rechargeable battery pack having at least one battery cell. Charging circuitry is supported within a housing body and includes coupling electrodes which protrude beyond a front side wall surface of such housing body. Gripper arms are hingedly-connected to the housing body to protrude beyond the front side wall of the housing body. The battery pack to be recharged is positioned between the gripper arms which generate a gripping force upon opposing sides of the battery pack to maintain the battery pack at a charging position whereat the charging current is applied to the battery cells of the battery pack.

Abstract: A quick charging method of secondary cell in which a secondary cell is prevented from being damaged on account of overcharging. A strain gage is bonded to the side face of a cell to be charged. A low resistor for quick charging and a high resistor for normal charging connected in parallel are inserted between a charger and the cell. The low resistor for quick charging is connected with the contact of a normally open contact relay. A voltage for measurement is generated according to the resistance of the strain gage and this voltage for measurement is compared with a reference voltage. The relay is ON/OFF controlled by the result of the comparison. Since the resistance of the strain gage is low in the beginning stage of charging, a high voltage for measurement is generated and, thereby, the relay is energized and the contact is closed so that quick charging is performed.

Abstract: A method of supplying power to a device such as a lunar rover located on a planetary surface is provided according to the present invention. At least one, and preferably three, laser satellites are set in orbit around the planet. Each satellite contains a nuclear reactor for generating electrical power. This electrical power is converted into a laser beam which is passed through an amplifying array and directed toward the device such as a lunar rover. The received laser beam is then converted into electrical power for use by the device.

Abstract: Process for charging accumulators and circuit versions for implementing said process. The charging state of a 100% charged accumulator is determined by the detection of an extreme value in the trend of a parameter (S), which is related to the inner voltage or the inner resistance of the accu. The extreme value can be detected by means of electronic analog-digital or computer circuits. These circuits can be produced by discrete or hybrid technology and can be integrated on a monolithic substrate. Besides an improvement in reliability, the process is applicable for charging undetermined accumulators directly out of unstable sources like solar generators, dynamos, weak supplies, or similar.

Abstract: A battery pack charging device includes a housing with a base plate, a first upright wall which extends upwardly from the base plate and a second upright wall which similarly extends upwardly from the base plate and which is disposed opposite to the first upright wall. The first and second upright walls and the base plate define a receiving space to receive a battery pack. A movable wall assembly is provided in the receiving space adjacent to the first upright wall. The movable wall assembly includes a positioning wall member which faces the second upright wall and which is spaced from the second upright wall. The positioning wall member is movable towards or away from the first upright wall so as to vary the space between the positioning wall member and the second upright wall in order to correspond with the width of the battery pack. A frame of a movable electrical contact assembly is mounted on at least one of the second upright wall and the base plate.

Abstract: A battery charger for use with a portable telephone set and capable of charging both a battery pack mounted on the telephone set and a battery pack as a discrete unit. The case of the battery charger comprises a concave portion on the top thereof, a first convex portion at one end of the top and a second convex portion at the other end of the top. The concave portion of the top engages with a convex portion of the first battery pack. The first convex portion engages with a concave portion of the portable telephone set. The second convex portion engages with a concave portion common to the first battery pack and the second battery pack. Inside the case is a printed circuit board having charging circuits. A pair of charging terminals electrically connected to the charging circuits protrude from the case top. The battery charger further includes a battery pack holder removably attached to the case, the holder holding the battery pack from above to prevent its dislodging from the case.

Abstract: A battery charging device 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 a rechargeable battery unit which is serially connected to the rectifier unit via a current limiting resistor. A control unit has a temperature switch and a high resistance heating unit which is connected across the temperature switch. The switch and the heating unit are provided in a single circuit package. The switch is serially connected to the battery unit and is closed when the temperature of the battery unit is below a predetermined limit. The switch is opened so as to permit the direct current signal to flow through the heating unit when the temperature of the battery unit reaches the predetermined limit.

Abstract: A motor vehicle power supply system for supplying current to the direct voltage loads on a motor vehicle. The system has two alternating generators which are driven by the engine of the motor vehicle. The output windings of the respective generators are connected to bridge rectifiers that supply current to a common motor vehicle direct current load. Each generator has a field winding and the current supplied to a respective field winding is controlled by a respective voltage regulator. The voltage regulators cause pulses of current to be supplied to the field windings. The system has a control circuit for controlling the pulse width of the current pulses supplied to the respective field windings such that the pulse width of the current pulses supplied to one field winding are substantially equal to the pulse width of the current pulses supplied to the other field winding.

Abstract: A power management system for a portable computer is disclosed. The system can determine which one of a plurality of battery packs has been coupled to the system. After determining the type of battery pack, the system recalls from storage the recommended charging pattern for the particular battery pack and begins to charge the battery at the recommended rate. The system's information is used during charging to determine if the battery pack is defective. When the computer is running off the battery pack, the charge counter measures the total amount of charge supplied to the computer and provides this information to the system. When the difference betweem the total amount of charge supplied to the computer and the total charge available from the battery reaches a predefined limit, the system indicates to the computer that a low-power situation exists and that the computer should prepare for a possible loss-of-power event.

Abstract: A battery charger includes a battery compartment removable from the charger socket. The battery compartment includes a temperature-sensitive switch which opens when the temperature of the battery exceeds a predetermined value during charging, thereby cutting off the main charging current. A permanent magnet is positioned on the socket portion of the charger. The magnet latches the temperature-sensitive switch in an open position after charging so long as the battery compartment is in the socket. The switch can be reset by separating the battery compartment from the socket. A current limiting resistor is connected in parallel with the switch to maintain a small charging current when the temperature-sensitive switch is open.

Abstract: An electrostatic generator developed from the wheel and wheel wall of a car capable of generating very high voltages.The electric charge is applied to the wheel from the pavement by the motion of the car, then the charge is conveyed on the wheel to a device that collects the charge from the wheel to the spherical conductor that's mounted inside the wheel wall of the car. When sufficient charge is accumulated on the spherical conductor the voltage is then released to an electric motor that can operate off ac, dc, or static electricity. The generator's operation is very similar to that of a Van de Graaff generator.

Abstract: A battery pack composed of an array of secondary cells includes first and second electrodes for charging and discharging the battery pack. The battery pack has a temperature detecting element disposed below the first and second electrodes. The temperature detecting element is electrically connected through a lead to a third electrode in the form of a thin sheet disposed between the side of one of the cells and a lower casing member of a battery pack casing. The first and second electrodes remains in the same position as those of conventional battery packs. The battery pack can be charged by a battery charger which has a third terminal for receiving a temperature signal supplied from the temperature detecting element through the third electrode. The charging process for charging the battery pack is controlled based on the temperature of the cells as detected by the temperature detecting element.

Abstract: A battery charging circuit is provided with a thermally controlled cut-off switch whose normally closed contacts are in series with the main terminals of a thyristor. The thyristor is switched ON on commencement of battery charging by the charging of a capacitor C1, which remains charged even when the contacts of the cut-off switch open as a result of the battery temperature rising upon completion of charging. Consequently, the thyristor remains latched OFF by the capacitor even when the contacts of the cut-off switch close, and can only be turned ON again by disconnecting the battery or power supply, disconnection of the battery or power supply causing capacitor C1 to discharge through a charge maintenance by-pass circuit connected in parallel with the thermal switch and thyristor.

Abstract: A series-exciting device for a synchronous generator characterized in that armature windings at the side of the armature are wound using concentrated full-pitch winding or a winding method similar to the concentrated full-pitch winding; an exciting winding which is magnetically coupled to magnetic poles in a quantity odd times greater than the quantity of the poles of the said armature windings, and a rectifier which converts the electromotive force of the exciting winding into a DC are provided at the side of the field system; and a DC output terminal of the rectifier is connected to a field winding having poles in the same quantity as the quantity of the poles of the said armature windings.

Abstract: A battery type detector for battery-using and battery-charging equipment is disclosed. Operational characteristics of the using and charging equipment is modified in accordance with the battery type detected.

Abstract: A computer power system comprises an AC-to-DC power supply for providing DC power to the computer during the presence of AC line power and a backup power supply for providing DC power from batteries directly to the DC operated components of the computer system, completely bypassing the AC to DC power supply, when AC line voltage is absent or low.

Abstract: A method of charging a secondary battery by means of a constant voltage power source for supplying a limited current. The method includes a first step of charging the secondary battery until a predetermined condition is reached, and a second step of further charging the secondary battery for a predetermined period of time after the predetermined condition is reached. Accordingly, overcharge of the secondary battery can be surely prevented.