Abstract: Battery type is determined by measuring effective resistance of a thermistor/resistor network (205, 206, and 207) and one or more of a plurality of current sources (303-305) is enabled to provide the appropriate charging current. Measurement of necessary charging parameters and provision of appropriate charging current are accomplished through an interface to the battery pack undergoing charge that comprises only three connections (313-315).

Abstract: A battery maintenance system for charging, analyzing, discharging and conditioning of a NiCad battery. The system displays voltage and capacity to determine whether or not a NiCad battery has enough capacity to power equipment for an optimal time period. The system charges the battery using a negative delta voltage method of detecting full charge, while also displaying instantaneous battery voltage. The system also analyzes the battery in a charge, discharge and recharge mode of operation, and during the charge mode the instantaneous voltage is displayed. The discharge mode discharges the battery to one volt per cell while displaying voltage and accumulative capacity alternately. The system also conditions batteries by cycling a battery through three cycles of charging, discharging and a subsequent recharge cycle.

Abstract: An automatic power control device comprising a passive, non-linear voltage detector controlling a series bipolar transistor regenerative latch circuit, acts to connect the load to a power source only when the voltage obtainable from the power source is sufficient to prevent improper ambiguous operation of the load, and further acts to disconnect the load from the power source when its voltage declines to that range which could result in ambiguous and/or erroneous operation. An electronic thermometric digital display instrument is shown, powered solely by a miniature solar panel. The instrument is amply powered, and the display is legible, even in dim light. Operation at lower levels of light is available with an economical auxiliary battery that is cut out of the circuit at when the light is as little as 5 lux.

Abstract: The power supply system for a motor vehicle, includes a battery; a three-phase generator; a connecting line connecting the terminals of the generator and the battery; a rectifier connected electrically to the generator; a voltage regulator for switching an exciter field of the generator on and off to control a voltage actual value at the generator terminals and producing an average field current in the exciter field to maintain a power supply voltage substantially constant regardless of load and speed; and a circuit device for determining and for partially compensating an undesirable direct voltage drop at the generator terminals resulting from a voltage drop in the connecting line caused by load current. The device for determining and for partially compensating is structured to determine an alternating voltage at the generator terminals produced by an alternating current component in the connecting line.

Abstract: A sealing means is used for controlling the amount of one or more activating gases provided to an energy storage means so as to control the battery's self discharge rate.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus comprising a charger and an electronic device connected removably to the charger. The electronic device comprises a rechargeable battery unit charged by the charger when the charger is connected to the electronic device, an electronic unit having a plurality of operational modes in each of which a different operating current is required, a charger connection detector for detecting the connection of the charger to the electronic device, and a first control unit for calculating an appropriate current to be supplied from the charger, on the basis of an appropriate operating current value corresponding to the operational mode of the electronic unit and a specified charging current value for the battery unit, and informing the charger of the appropriate supplying current value when the charger connection detector detects that the charger is connected to the electronic device.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for electrically generating mechanical braking torque employs direct field drive incorporating an AC alternator plus a current regulator. The stator windings of the alternator are directly coupled to the field winding via a full wave rectifier and the current regulator. The invention simplifies electrical circuitry for generating braking torque, provides wide dynamic range of torque generation, limits voltages and currents to easily manageable levels, and reduces mechanical drive train requirements. The invention produces a constant power mechanical load from essentially 0 to over 1,000 watts from an alternator of the size typically used for automotive applications.

Abstract: Solid state jumper cables for connecting two batteries in parallel, having two bridge rectifiers for developing a reference voltage, a four-input decoder for determining which terminals are to be connected based on a comparison of the voltage at each of the four terminals to the reference voltage, and a pair of relays for effecting the correct connection depending on the determination of the decoder. No connection will be made unless only one terminal of each battery has a higher voltage than the reference voltage, indicating "positive" terminals, and one has a lower voltage than the reference voltage, indicating "negative" terminals, and that, therefore, the two high voltage terminals may be connected and the two lower voltage terminals may be connected. Current flows once the appropriate relay device is closed.

Abstract: A conditioning and charging circuit for NiCd battries includes a switch for initially connecting the battery to a discharge resistor to discharge the battery. The battery voltage is monitored during the discharge. When the battery voltage falls to predetermined value, a timer is triggered and the switch is actuated to connect the battery to a charger. The charger charges the battery until the timer times out after a predetermined period, at which point charging is terminated. The predetermined period may be fixed, or it may be a function of ambient temperature. Thus, the battery is first discharged to a predetermined voltage and then charged for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A battery charging apparatus includes a charger to which a battery to be charged is loaded and a charge controller which controls a charge in the charger. A terminal voltage of the battery loaded in the charger is sampled and A/D converted by a microcomputer of the charge controller at time intervals. At every timing when a new sampled value is stored in a memory, the new sampled value is compared with a maximum sampled value which has been stored in the memory before that time. When the new sampled value is smaller than the maximum sampled value by a predetermined value (.DELTA.V), a full-charge signal is outputted. In addition, when a state where the new sampled value is larger than the maximum sampled value continues for a predetermined time period or more, the maximum sampled value is updated.

Abstract: A charger for charging rechargeable batteries including circuitry for supplying electrical charging power to said rechargeable battery so as to rapidly charge said rechargeable battery, interrupting circuitry for repeatedly interrupting said electrical charging power to said rechargeable battery for a preselected timed interval so as to permit the detection of the internal resistance free voltage of said battery during said interruption of said power, electrical comparing circuitry for comparing the internal resistance free voltage of said battery with a preselected reference voltage, and electrical control circuitry for reducing said power to said battery when said internal resistance free voltage exceeds said preselected reference voltage so as to reduce gradually the rate of charging of said rechargeable battery and maintain said internal resistance free voltage of said battery at said preselected reference voltage.

Abstract: An over-discharge protection circuit included in a charge circuit in a portable apparatus having a portable portion and a body, the portable portion and body being interconnected by two charging terminals of the body and two terminals of the portable portion when the portable portion is placed on the body, the over-discharge protection circuit comprising: a first resistor connected across a battery charger for detecting a discharge current when a power source of the battery charger is accidentally turned OFF during a charge of the battery; a switching circuit connected between a load and a battery for disconnecting the load and battery when the power source of the battery charger is accidentally turned OFF during a charge of the battery; a switch control circuit connected to the switching circuit through a third resistor for turning the switching circuit ON/OFF; a second resistor connected between the switching circuit and the switch control circuit for controlling a flow of a charge current to the switch con

Abstract: The present invention relates to power distribution systems and more particularly, to such systems using power storage devices such as batteries and involving a first electrical load best served by a power source having a low current rate and slow discharge period, and a second electrical load best served by a power source having a high current rate and rapid discharge period. One particular application involving these requirements is in automobile electrical systems. The present invention provides an electrical control circuit that functions in conjunction with such power sources to satisfy such electrical system operating requirements. The system of the present invention maintains the power sources in electrically separate condition when the associated vehicle engine is not running, so as to prevent discharge of the power source serving engine starting systems as a result of inadvertent discharge of the other power source.

Abstract: In a circuit (20) for use in controlling a battery-charging process and producing an output (S) which has one of two distinct levels (S1, S2), these levels are independently adjustable by adjusting variable resistors (R1, R2). Switching between the two levels is effected by transistors (T1, T2) in response to a varying input signal (X).The input signal (X) is derived from a hydrogen/oxygen recombinator (40, FIG. 4, not shown) with a thermoelectric transducer which produces an abrupt change in output when the battery is fully-charged. To ensure a gradual switch-over to a lower battery-charging rate, the output of the transducer is passed via an integrator (41) to the circuit (20). The switch means for one of the resistors (R2) may be omitted (FIG. 1 not shown).

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling charging of a storage battery that initially charges the storage battery in a constant current charging mode and then in a constant voltage charging mode when the charging voltage across the storage battery reaches a desired value.

Abstract: The invention is a timer assembly (10, 100) to be interposed between a battery (12) and an electrical load (14) having a device switch (16). A timing cycle is initiated upon detection of closure of the device switch (16). The timer (10, 100) will terminate the current flow after the timing cycle. The timer assembly (10, 100) includes a first embodiment (10) to be connected in parallel with the battery (12) and electrical device (14), and a second embodiment (10, 100) connected in series with the battery (12) and the electrical load. Upon closure of the device switch (16), a detector (42, 44, 46) produces a pulse initiating the timing cycle. The timing cycle may be realized by discharging a storage capacitor (38, 40) or by a timer chip (36) controlling an electronic switch (26, 28, 30, 32) within the timer assembly (10, 100) to connect and disconnect the battery (12) to the load (14).

Abstract: The voltage-regulator circuit includes:a driver transistor whose collector-emitter path is in series with the field winding between two poles of a source of a direct-current voltage, anda control circuit adapted to drive the transistor in an on-off manner in dependence on the value assumed by the voltage supplied by the generator in comparison with a reference voltage and in dependence on the field current detected by a resistor connected to the transistor.

Abstract: A battery charger includes a switching circuit (8) for supplying the current to the timer (3) from the secondary battery (6). The battery charger also includes a detecting circuit (7) for activating the switching circuit (8) by charging the voltage into the capacitor (11). Further, the battery charger includes diodes (16) and (14) for supplying the current to the timer (3) from the outside battery (22) and from the secondary battery (6) respectively, and for preventing backward current flow to the respective power sources. The battery charger of the present invention prevents overcharging and extends the lifetime of the secondary battery in the mobile apparatus.

Abstract: A voltage setting value for charging a battery starts from a first constant voltage level less than a full battery voltage and after a period of time the battery voltage reaches that first level and the charging current begins to decrease. The charging current decrease is detected and the voltage value is increased to a next constant voltage level and the process is repeated until the constant voltage level is reached that equals the full battery voltage. Each time the voltage level is changed the corresponding percentage of the battery voltage is displayed to represent the charging amount.

Abstract: An electrical generator system integrated controller device utilizing PID control and capable of regulating voltage or current, and frequency simultaneously. The device utilizes a micro-controller (30.1) to monitor the engine generator set (20), then determines the appropriate signal to deliver to the electrical generator set (20) to regulate the engine throttle (21) and the generator (22) field windings. The micro-controller (30.1) also provides for real and reactive load sharing with additional generator sets (40) while also providing for an integrated circuit interrupter module (500) to open the line from the generator (22) to the load bus (42). Additionally, serial communications (34) are provided as well as displays (35), meters (37), and operator input (36). Finally, the permissive paralleling module (700) provides that the engine electrical generator set (20) will not be allowed to be connected to the load bus (42) until standards of voltage and phase have been achieved for a set period of time.