Abstract: Electrical energy buffering system, comprising an energy source for delivering electrical energy, an energy buffer for buffering electrical energy delivered from the energy source, the energy buffer comprising a plurality of supercapacitors, and control logic for controlling the operation of the energy buffer by selectively switching the supercapacitors, wherein the plurality of supercapacitors are switchably connected in parallel to each other in a circuit comprising the energy source and an electrical power output, and the control logic comprises a buffer monitor for monitoring a parameter representing the charge or discharge state, respectively, of each of the supercapacitors and is adapted to sequentially switch single supercapacitors or groups of supercapacitors on, responsive to the detection of a first predetermined charge or discharge state, respectively, and to switch them off, responsive to the detection of a second predetermined charge or discharge state, respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for charging a rechargeable battery that includes at least one rechargeable electrochemical cell is disclosed. The method includes measuring at least one electrical characteristic of the battery, and determining a charging current to be applied to the battery based on the at least one measured electrical characteristic.

Abstract: A solar panel storage and deployment system includes a container with an opening formed therein and an assembly of solar voltaic panels transitionable between a folded state and a deployed state. The assembly defines a series of accordion-like folds along the length thereof when in its folded state. The assembly arrays the panels in a substantially planar arrangement when the assembly is in its deployed state. The system also includes at least one stake adapted to be anchored to a position in proximity to and outside of the container. At least one link is provided for coupling an end of the assembly to the stake(s) when the assembly is in its deployed state.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for continuously powering tools downhole for extended periods of time, such as for the life of the producing well. Batteries may power the downhole tools, but traditionally, the batteries may last up to 2 years, and in some cases, up to 5 years may be reached with an optimized data sampling rate and power management scheme. After that time, operations may be halted temporarily for replacing the batteries. According to embodiments of the present invention, in contrast, rechargeable batteries may be utilized downhole to provide power to operate the tools, and rather than halting operations and retrieving the rechargeable batteries to the surface for recharging, reserve batteries may be used for recharging the rechargeable batteries. In many cases, these well tools may be designed to operate for a long period of time (e.g., around 10-20 years), depending on the life of the producing well.

Abstract: A composite device system including: a first device including a nonvolatile memory; and a second device configured to supply a power to the first device, the second device including: a power supply circuit configured to stabilize a first power supplied from an external part into a second power lower than the first power, and to supply the second power to the first device; a communication circuit configured to receive control data from the first device; and a switch configured to switch between on and off based on the control data, and to supply the first power to the first device when the switch is on, wherein the second device receives the control data from the first device by the communication circuit when data is written into the nonvolatile memory so that the switch is turned on and the first power is supplied to the first device.

Abstract: A supply unit (10) supplies an electrically operated device (12) with electrical power and/or an electrical signal by connector elements (22, 24, 26, 28) for a releasable contacting of a dedicated connector (30,32) of the electrically operated device (12). The supply unit (10) includes a measuring device (34) for measuring a parameter, which parameter is suitable for determining the presence of an external capacitance electrically interconnected between one connector element (22) and another connector element (24) the supply unit (10) from said parameter.

Abstract: Technologies related to a photovoltaic array apparatus are generally described. In some examples, the apparatus may comprise a central hub, adjustable length struts, and a plurality of photovoltaic segments coupled to the central hub and struts. The photovoltaic segments may be selectively positioned between a stowed arrangement and a deployed arrangement by operation of the central hub and/or struts. In the stowed arrangement, the photovoltaic segments may be stacked, and in the deployed arrangement, the photovoltaic segments may be azimuthally displaced about the central hub. A control system coupled to the struts may be configured to control the struts to dynamically orient the photovoltaic segments so as to maximize, or otherwise adjust, power collected from incident radiation.

Abstract: A battery is charged by first charging the battery at a constant current during a first time interval, and then charging the battery at a varying current during a second time interval. The battery can be a lithium-ion battery, and the charging uses a kinetic model. The kinetic model models the battery having an indiffused well having a capacity c, and a diffused well having a capacity 1?c, and the indiffused well is filled directly by the current, and the diffused well is filled only from the indiffused well via a valve with constant inductance.

Abstract: A method of activating a battery is applied to an electronic device having a controller that keeps counting system time to acquire a system date. The method includes: (1) acquiring data of the battery, including states, an activation number and a last activation date; (2) performing an activation process and setting the battery in an activation state when determining, based on the data, that the battery is in an inactivation state, the activation number is smaller than a predetermined activation number, and an interval between the last activation date and the system date is greater than a predetermined activation interval; (3) discharging the battery, and charging the battery when determining that a battery power level is less than a predetermined power level; and (4) setting the battery in the inactivation state after the activation process is finished. Therefore, a curing problem of the battery is overcome.

Abstract: A power control unit is provided with a converter; a filter capacitor that is connected onto one side of converter; a smoothing capacitor that is connected onto the other side of converter; an MG-ECU that is operated to control converter with power supplied from filter capacitor; and a casing that houses these constituent elements therein. In order to electrically discharge filter capacitor and smoothing capacitor, an MG-ECU controls converter in such a manner as to alternately repeat ON/OFF of an npn-type transistor for a lower arm of an IPM and ON/OFF of an npn-type transistor for an upper arm of IPM, and further, to set a time of ON of npn-type transistor for the upper arm longer than that of ON of npn-type transistor for the lower arm.

Abstract: A power transfer system includes a power transmission device, a power reception device and a capacitive coupling conductor. A high-voltage side conductor is formed near the upper surface of a casing of the power transmission device, and a low-voltage side conductor is formed near the lower or surrounding surface of the casing. The power transmission device includes an alternating voltage generating circuit. A high-voltage side conductor is formed near the lower surface of a casing of the power reception device, and a low-voltage side conductor is formed near the upper surface of the casing of the power reception device. The power reception device includes a load circuit. The high-voltage side conductors are capacitively coupled to each other when facing each other, and the low-voltage side conductors are capacitively coupled to each other via a capacitive coupling conductor.

Abstract: An AC/DC converter is configured to perform voltage conversion on power supplied from an AC power supply and supply the power to an auxiliary load during external charging in which a main power storage device is charged by the AC power supply. An auxiliary power storage device stores power to be supplied to the auxiliary load. A diode permits discharging of the auxiliary power storage device while preventing charging of the auxiliary power storage device during the external charging. A current sensor detects discharging of the auxiliary power storage device. A controller adjusts an output voltage of the AC/DC converter while confirming whether or not the auxiliary power storage device discharges, based on a detection value of the current sensor.

Abstract: A charger includes a power supply generating a direct current power supply potential, an output transistor, a USB connector, a controller, and a resistor bridge circuit. The controller has a potential setting circuit which sets the potentials of the first and second connection nodes of the resistor bridge circuit to a middle potential between a power supply potential and a ground potential in a first mode, and sets the potentials of the first and second connection nodes to the power supply potential in a second mode.

Abstract: Applicant has disclosed a method and apparatus for a bipolar automotive electrical system. In the preferred “apparatus” embodiment, Applicant's bipolar electrical system comprises: two (e.g., 12 V) batteries of equal, but opposite voltage (e.g., +12 V, ?12 V), with bipolar outputs; an alternator, responsive to the batteries, which controls electrical charge to the batteries individually; an automotive DC motor connected by a single lead wire to the bipolar outputs from the batteries; and, wherein the reversible motor is run off the bipolar output without the need for any intervening devices between the bipolar command outputs and the motors. Alternatively, the alternator can inherently charge the batteries sequentially with the lowest voltage battery being addressed first. This approach allows heavy loads to be powered by 24 V or 48 V DC, yet the arc voltage to ground is still only 12 V or 24 V DC.

Abstract: A vehicle battery charger including a base unit configured to store various cables and clamps are provided. A battery charging cable and pair of battery terminal clamps coupled to the charging cable may be stored in a compartment formed in the base unit when not in use, the clamps secured to pegs mounted within the compartment and a cover closing over the compartment. A grid power cable that provides electrical power to the battery charger may be wrapped around a channel formed in the base unit and secured in the channel with a retainer when not in use.

Abstract: New battery management systems are provided that maintain voltage, current, cell balance and other electrical characteristics, without wasteful cell-to-cell recharging or resistive bleeding. In some aspects of the invention, a lagging or deteriorated battery may be at least partially bypassed, and the output of another, stronger battery is altered and addressed to supply the resulting power, voltage or other “gap.” In other aspects, the invention is implemented in an insert with battery mimicking and replacement hardware, and with a form factor for installation in a wide variety of possible battery compartments along with ordinary batteries.

Abstract: A voltage polarity determination circuit includes an integration circuit, a switch, and a time measurement circuit. The integration circuit includes an operational amplifier circuit having an input offset voltage which is larger than the maximum value of a voltage input to the integration circuit or smaller than the minimum value of the input voltage of the integration circuit. The switch switches the input voltage of the integration circuit between a voltage whose polarity is to be determined and a reference voltage. The time measurement circuit measures a time interval which it takes for the output voltage of the integration circuit to reach a set voltage, and based on the result of the measurement, determines the polarity of the input voltage of the integration circuit.

Abstract: A charging schedule creation unit creates a charging schedule of a power storage device by an external power supply. A charging control unit executes charging control of the power storage device in accordance with the charging schedule. A condition determination unit turns on a charging continuation flag to be output to the charging control unit when a predetermined charging continuation permitting condition holds in the case where charging is not completed in accordance with the charging schedule. When the charging continuation flag is on, the charging control unit executes charging control such that charging is continued even after a charging end timing in accordance with the charging schedule.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a controller. If the controller detects that the internal resistance of a battery detected by an internal resistance detecting unit is relatively high, then the controller switches a first switch from an open state to a closed state using a first threshold value with respect to the voltage difference between a battery voltage and a system voltage, and if the controller detects that the internal resistance of the battery is relatively low, then the controller switches the first switch from the open state to the closed state using a second threshold value which is smaller than the first threshold value.

Abstract: An electric drive vehicle is equipped with a battery usable for traveling and chargeable by an external power supply and a vehicle-side ECU that permits the battery to be charged by a power generating unit capable of charging the battery in a case where power supplied from the external power supply is smaller than a predetermined threshold value ? that is defined with regard to an acceptable power of the battery. More specifically, the vehicle-side ECU permits the battery to be charged by the power generating unit in a case where power supplied from the external power supply is smaller than the predetermined threshold value ? and a parallel charging request switch is operated so as to execute parallel charging.