Abstract: A charging control method and a charging mechanism for a lithium ion secondary battery are provided that can determine the life of the lithium ion secondary battery with more accuracy and a simple configuration. A charging control method for a lithium ion secondary battery calculates an integrated value of the number of charged times. The method includes: adding a predetermined value to the integrated value of the number of charged times of the lithium ion secondary battery if both a residual voltage that is a voltage value of the lithium ion secondary battery before the beginning of charging and an elapsed time from the time of the previous charging of the lithium ion secondary battery are not less than predetermined values; and estimating the life of the lithium ion secondary battery based on the integrated value of the number of charged times.

Abstract: A method for controlling plural chargers equipped in a vehicle includes: recognizing a plurality of chargers, each configured to charge at least one battery supplying the vehicle with electric power, via an in-vehicle network; receiving an identification and at least one parameter from each recognized charger, which are delivered via the in-vehicle network; generating plural instructions, each instruction for each recognized charger in response to receiving the identification and the at least one parameter; and delivering the plural instructions to the plurality of recognized chargers via the in-vehicle network.

Abstract: A battery switching system for a vehicle controls a first battery device and a second battery device, which provide power to a vehicular load. The system includes multiple switch circuits and a battery control module. The switch circuits are operable for electrically coupling and decoupling each of the first battery device and the second battery device to the load and electrically coupling and decoupling the first battery device from the second battery device. Each of the switch circuits is operable in a closed state and an open state. The battery control module operates the switch circuits based predetermined conditions to form a first electrical path to electrically couple the first and second battery devices, a second electrical path to electrically couple the second battery device and the vehicular load, or a third electrical path to electrically couple the first battery device and the vehicular load.

Abstract: A power adapter, an electronic equipment, a battery charging system and a battery charging method are provided. The power adapter include a communication interface and charges via the communication interface a battery of the electronic equipment; during charging a battery, the power adapter is configured to: first charge the battery in a regular charging mode; when an output current value of the power adapter falls within a regular current range for a predefined time period, send a quick charge inquiry instruction to the electronic equipment; after receiving a quick charge command sent by the electronic equipment, adjust an output voltage according to battery voltage information fed back by the electronic equipment; and if the output voltage meets a quick charge voltage requirement predefined, adjust an output current and the output voltage according to a quick charge mode so as to charge the battery.

Abstract: A battery pack including: a rechargeable battery, a protection circuit configured to disable the rechargeable battery when an output voltage value of the rechargeable battery becomes equal to or lower than a first voltage value, and a control circuit configured to stop power supply for an electronic device from the rechargeable battery when the output voltage value of the rechargeable battery becomes equal to or lower than a second voltage value that is higher than the first voltage value, the second voltage value being updated based on the output voltage value of the rechargeable battery when power supply for the electronic device from the rechargeable battery becomes unnecessary.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling engagement between a vehicle and a charging device includes: attempting to discover a charging device; when the charging device is discovered, identifying the discovered charging device on a list of charging equipment stored in the vehicle; determining a charging history count of the discovered charging device according to the stored list of charging equipment; when the charging history count of the discovered charging device is greater than or equal to a predetermined number, performing a charging operation with the discovered charging device; and when the charging history count of the discovered charging device is less than the predetermined number, performing a Signal Level Attenuation Characterization (SLAC) procedure against the discovered charging device.

Abstract: A vehicle connected to electric vehicle supply equipment is configured to wake-up an onboard charger based on a pilot signal. A controller is configured to interrupt the pilot signal to prevent the pilot signal from subsequently waking the charger to reduce power consumed by the charger while the vehicle is connected. The interruption may be triggered by a completion of a charge cycle, an extensive charge wait interval, or a charging system condition that prevents charging. The controller may discontinue interruption of the pilot signal in response to a wake-up source other than the pilot signal.

Abstract: A wireless charging pad, a wireless charging device including the wireless charging pad, and an electronic device using the wireless charging device are provided. The wireless charging pad includes a pad case, a transmit (TX) coil disposed on an inner side of the pad case, and wound to form a surface for which a central portion of the TX coil is empty, a TX coil substrate on which the TX coil is disposed, a pad magnetic substance disposed on the TX coil substrate at a distance from the central portion of the TX coil, and a supporting structure supporting the TX coil substrate, the supporting structure movable relative to the pad case.

Abstract: An energy management system includes an energy management controller and a power conditioning system that charges and discharges a storage battery installed in an electric vehicle. The energy management controller includes: a charge/discharge controller that is configured to, in accordance with an operation mode having an operation right among a plurality of operation modes, control charging and discharging of the storage battery through the power conditioning system; and an operation right granter that is configured to determine an operation mode to which the operation right is to be granted next based on a predetermined transition condition, and to grant the operation right to the operation mode determined thereby.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a battery system. The method including receiving at least one measured characteristic of the battery over a pre-defined time horizon from the at least one sensor, receiving at least one estimated characteristic of the battery from a electrochemical-based battery model based on differential algebraic equations, determining a cost function of a Moving Horizon Estimation based on the at least one measured characteristic and the at least one estimated characteristic, updating the electrochemical-based battery model based on the cost function, estimating at least one state of the at least one battery cell by applying the electrochemical-based battery model, and regulating at least one of charging or discharging of the battery based on the estimation of the at least one state of the at least one battery cell.

Abstract: Batteries, battery systems, battery submodules, battery operational methods, battery system operational methods, battery charging methods, and battery system charging methods are described. According to one aspect, a battery includes a first battery terminal, a second battery terminal, and a plurality of submodules individually comprising a first submodule terminal, a second submodule terminal, a plurality of rechargeable cells electrically coupled between the first and second submodule-terminals, and switching circuitry configured to electrically couple one of the first and second battery terminals with one of the first and second submodule terminals of one of the submodules during an engaged mode of operation of the one of the submodules and to electrically isolate the one of the first and second battery terminals from the one of the first and second submodule terminals of the one of the submodules during a disengaged mode of operation of the one of the submodules.

Abstract: A battery charging system may include one or more battery packs each of which includes control circuitry and a switching assembly, and a charger including a power section and a charge controller. The charge controller and/or the control circuitry may be configured to direct operation of the switching assembly to control charging of the one or more battery packs.

Abstract: A power-supplying device includes a terminal, a rechargeable battery, a first shutdown circuit, and a second shutdown circuit. The terminal is configured to be connected to a power tool. The rechargeable battery is configured to output electrical power to the power tool via the terminal. The first shutdown circuit is positioned at a plus side of the rechargeable battery, the first shutdown circuit being configured to shutdown output of the rechargeable battery. The second shutdown circuit is positioned at a minus side of the rechargeable battery. The second shutdown circuit is configured to shutdown output of the rechargeable battery.

Abstract: A method and battery charger for charging one or more batteries includes a pulse generator, a detector and a processor communicably coupled to the pulse generator and the detector. A recovery/discharge circuit is electrically connected to each battery, and one or more energy storage devices are electrically connected to each of the recovery/discharge circuits. A charging pulse group, which includes a positive pulse, a rest period and a negative pulse, is determined based on one or more battery parameters using the processor and the detector. The charging pulse group is generated using the pulse generator, and sequentially applied to each of the batteries. Energy is recovered from each of the one or more batteries using the recovery/discharge circuits during the negative pulse, and the energy is stored in the one or more energy storage devices. The battery parameters are monitored and the charging pulse group may be adjusted.

Abstract: A retrofit wireless solar charger apparatus for a mobile device, the charger apparatus having an enclosure enclosing: a photovoltaic (PV) array having an efficiency of at least 22 percent, the PV array exposed to ambient light; a battery in electrical contact with the PV array; an RF power transfer coil in electrical contact with the battery; a printed circuit board (PCB) having a front side and a back side, the PCB having surface-mounted components mounted on the front side and the PCB being in electrical contact with the PV array, the battery, and the RF transfer coil; and a two-sided adhesive layer, the two-sided adhesive layer adhered to the back side of the PCB; wherein the charger apparatus has a thickness ranging from 1 to 3 mm and the charger apparatus is retrofittably-adhered on-board the mobile device.

Abstract: A removable modular energy pack may include a first housing, and one or more energy cells. The modular energy pack may also include a processing system that aggregates power from the plurality of energy cells, and a first interface that communicates a status of the modular energy pack to a second housing. The modular energy pack may further include a second interface that transmits the aggregated power to the second housing, and a thermal material enclosed in the first housing. A thermal material may be arranged in the housing adjacent to the plurality of energy cells to transfer heat away from the plurality of energy cells and to transfer the heat to the second housing.

Abstract: A secondary battery system capable of acquiring an SOC of a battery with a simple computation without acquiring battery characteristics is to be provided. The secondary battery system according to the present invention is adapted to acquire a momentary SOC (charging SOC) by obtaining an initial value of an SOC from a CCV acquired during a charging period and adding an integrated value of a charge or discharge current to the initial value of the SOC, acquire a momentary SOC (discharging SOC) by obtaining an initial value of an SOC from a CCV acquired during a discharging period and adding an integrated value of a charge or discharge current to the initial value of the SOC, and acquire an SOC close to a true value by averaging the charging SOC and the discharging SOC.

Abstract: A system for dynamic discharging to detected derated battery cells. In such a system, a battery cell capacity, cell voltage, as well as a time to discharge are used in combination to identify good or bad battery cells. More specifically, during a dynamic discharge cycle, an accumulated discharge capacity value is calculated and monitored by a charge level battery gas gauge via analog to digital (A/D) converters and an internal discharge time value is monitored. One of the values is assigned as a fixed value and the other value is used to identify good or bad batter cells.

Abstract: A secondary-battery protecting integrated circuit includes, a power supply terminal connected to a positive electrode of the secondary battery, a ground terminal connected to a negative electrode, an input terminal connected to the negative terminal, a control terminal at which a control signal is input, a pull-down resistor connected between the control terminal and the ground terminal, a voltage monitoring circuit monitoring a voltage between the control terminal and the ground terminal, a voltage comparison circuit configured to compare a voltage at the control terminal with a voltage at the input terminal; and a control circuit configured to perform an operation in which a discharge operation of the secondary battery is prevented by turning off a discharge control transistor included in the switch circuit in response to the voltage monitoring circuit detecting that the voltage between the control terminal and the ground terminal is greater than a first threshold.

Abstract: A standard two terminal battery package is configured to communicate with an external charger or load, without requiring modification to the battery mechanics and/or high current circuit components integral with the battery. A transmitter and receiver (transceiver) are incorporated into the battery housing. An associated battery charger and/or load, e.g., tool, appliance, vacuum, etc., has a corresponding transceiver configured to communicate with the battery transceiver. A microcontroller may be coupled to the transceiver. Serial number verification between the battery and tool load can be verified. Sensors for temperature, voltage, pressure and pH may be coupled between the battery and microcontroller for monitoring battery temperature, voltage charge and condition during operation or charging thereof. Information from these sensors and more may be communicated from the battery to the load or battery charger.