Abstract: Systems and methods for charging and discharging a plurality of batteries are described herein. In some embodiments, a system includes a battery module, an energy storage system electrically coupled to the battery module, a power source, and a controller. The energy storage system is operable in a first operating state in which energy is transferred from the energy storage system to the battery module to charge the battery module, and a second operating state in which energy is transferred from the battery module to the energy storage system to discharge the battery module. The power source electrically coupled to the energy storage system and is configured to transfer energy from the power source to the energy storage system based on an amount of stored energy in the energy storage system. The controller is operably coupled to the battery module and is configured to monitor and control a charging state of the battery module.

Abstract: A charge control system includes: a charging apparatus including a first processor to cause the charging apparatus to store electric power to be supplied to at least one preset facility; a facility server provided in the facility; and a charge control device including a second processor to acquire facility schedule information regarding a future schedule of the facility from the facility server, calculate an amount of electric power to be supplied to the facility based on a schedule of opening and closure of the facility included in the facility schedule information, and perform charging control for the charging apparatus based on the calculated amount of electric power.

Abstract: A multi-charging apparatus includes a power converter, a first sensing unit configured to sense a power source introduced into the power converter from a motor or introduced into the motor from the power converter, and a controller configured to determine whether failure occurs in the first sensing unit, and execute a charging operation control for the power converter when a failure occurs.

Abstract: An example portable computer disclosed herein includes a first housing, a keyboard carried by the first housing, a second housing pivotally coupled to the first housing, a display carried by the second housing, a wireless charger, and a pad to carry the wireless charger. The pad is pivotally coupled to the first housing. The pad is moveable relative to the first housing between a first orientation to position the wireless charger above the first housing and a second orientation to position the wireless charger adjacent the first housing. The pad to support a body part of a user adjacent the keyboard when the pad is in the first orientation. The pad is to support an external electronic device proximate the wireless charger when the pad is in the second orientation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of charging technologies, and particularly to a charging method and apparatus, a charging device, and a charging system. The charging method is configured for charging a battery. The method includes: acquiring a number of charging cycles and a charging temperature of the battery; determining a target charging parameter according to the number of charging cycles and the charging temperature; and charging the battery according to the target charging parameter. By means of the method, the embodiments of the present invention can determine in real time a target charging parameter for charging a battery according to different aging degrees and temperature states of the battery, thereby improving the safety of charging.

Abstract: A dielectric nanolayer capacitor comprises a nanoscale dielectric layer between a cathode layer and an anode layer. When exposed to a high electric field of at least about 0.5 GV/m at a temperature of about 200 K or less, the nanoscale dielectric layer includes an amount of trapped charge sufficient to form a Coulomb barrier for suppressing leakage current. A method of charging a dielectric nanolayer capacitor includes cooling a nanolayer capacitor comprising a nanoscale dielectric layer between a cathode layer and an anode layer to a temperature of about 200 K or less, and applying a high electric field of at least about 0.5 GV/m to the nanolayer capacitor to inject electrons into the nanoscale dielectric layer. While the nanolayer capacitor remains cooled to the temperature, the electrons are trapped in the nanoscale dielectric layer and form a Coulomb barrier to suppress leakage current.

Abstract: A merchant payment system designed for a high-traffic merchant. In an embodiment, the merchant payment system comprises a casing, a mobile computing device, a charging regulator, a payment receiver, and a docking station configured to charge the mobile computing device and payment receiver. The outer casing is configured to house the mobile computing device, a charging regulator, and payment receiver. Additionally, the docking station is configured to charge various mobile computing devices (e.g., a tablet or a mobile phone) housed within the casing. Moreover, the docking station is configured to supply a predetermined voltage and current to the charging regulator which in-turn supplies a first predetermined voltage and current to the payment receiver and a second predetermined voltage and current to the mobile computing device.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for adaptively fast-charging a battery pack using a battery charging device. At least one voltage and the temperature of the battery pack are continuously or periodically detected by means of a detection unit. A charging current of the battery charging device is adapted by means of a control and/or regulating unit of the battery charging device on the basis of the detected voltage and/or the detected temperature of the battery pack. At least one battery-specific threshold of the voltage and/or the temperature is taken into consideration in order to adapt the charging current by means of the control and/or regulating unit. Prior to starting the charging process, the battery-specific threshold of the voltage and/or the temperature is transmitted from a memory unit of the battery pack and/or the battery charging device to the control and/or regulating unit by means of a communication unit.

Abstract: A portable power apparatus includes a housing, a battery, a first charging port, a second charging port, a first power supply port, a second power supply port, and a communication module. The battery is configured to selectively engage with and selectively disengage from the housing. The first charging port includes at least five pins and is configured to receive a first input voltage. The second charging port is configured to receive a second input voltage that is less than the first input voltage. The first power supply port is configured to deliver a first output voltage. The second power supply port is configured to deliver a second output voltage that is greater than the first output voltage. The communication module is configured to communicate with a source of electrical energy and includes a transmitter configured to communicate that the battery is configured to receive the first input voltage.

Abstract: A battery charger identifies the type of battery that is connected to it in order to provide the optimum voltage-current-time profile that is needed to safely and optimally charge and maintain the battery. In some embodiments, the battery current or voltage is monitored during charging, and as the current or the voltage changes while the charger is powered, the changes are measured and used to determine the type of battery that is connected so that the optimum charge profile can be applied.

Abstract: A system includes at least two transmit coils. The system further comprises at least two transmit circuit units, a detection circuit, a communication module and a controller. The detection circuit is electrically connected to each of the transmit circuit units. The detection circuit and the communication module are both configured to acquire the coupling relationship between each of the transmit coils and a receive coil. The controller is electrically connected to the detection circuit, each of the transmit circuit units, and the communication module. The controller is configured to control, based on the acquired coupling relationship, the current output by each of the transmit circuit unit. The controller controls each of the transmit circuit units to supply a suitable current amplitude and a current phase to each of the transmit coils to achieve control of superimposed magnetic fields generated by currents on the transmit coils.

Abstract: An open cell detection system includes a battery management system. The battery management system includes a control unit that transmits an open cell detection signal, to enable a balance unit for a first time period and to disable it for a second time period, and to enable an under-voltage comparison unit and an over-voltage comparison unit for a third time period. The under-voltage comparison unit compares a voltage with a first open cell threshold and outputs a first comparison result in the third time period. The over-voltage comparison unit compares a voltage with a second open cell threshold and outputs a second comparison result in the third time period. A judging unit determines whether a connection between a first battery unit and the battery management system is inoperative based on the first and second comparison results.

Abstract: Controller transitions from a first state of controlling first wiring side switch and second wiring side switch connected to nodes on both sides of discharge cell to be discharged of n cells to be in on state and clamp switch to be in off state to a second state of controlling first wiring side switch and second wiring side switch connected to the nodes on the both sides of discharge cell to be in off state and clamp switch to be in on state. Controller inserts a dead time between the first state and the second state, the dead time being for controlling first wiring side switch and second wiring side switch connected to the nodes on both sides of discharge cell to be in off state and clamp switch to in off state.

Abstract: An energy management system and a method of operation thereof are provided. The energy management system includes a receiver that receives power amount information indicating an amount of power generated by a first new and renewable energy power plant, an amount of power stored in a first energy storage device for the first new and renewable energy power plant, an amount of power generated by a second new and renewable energy power plant, and an amount of power stored in a second energy storage device for the second new and renewable energy power plant and a controller that determines an operation mode for each of the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device based on the received power amount information.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for improved alignment of a charging device for an implanted medical device are disclosed herein. The system can include a charging device that outputs one or more charge parameters during charging to an external user device that outputs an alignment indicator to facilitate fine-tuned alignment of the external charging device. The indicator can be a dynamically updated while adjusting alignment of the charging device. The indicator can includes any of a visual, audio, or haptic output. The user device can be a clinician programmer, patient remote, or a patient's personal computing device. The functionality of the indicator can be incorporated into the charging device itself or distributed across multiple devices to allow fine-tuning of alignment remotely. The alignment feature can be included in a device of a clinical specialist or field technician for troubleshooting alignment problems experienced by some patients.

Abstract: A controller for managing a battery pack includes: a detection terminal, for transmitting an enable signal when values of battery parameters for the battery pack satisfy a sleep condition, where the enable signal enables the detection circuit to detect whether the battery pack is connected to a load and whether the battery pack is connected to the charger; and a receiving terminal, for receiving a detection result transmitted by the detection circuit. The detection result indicates whether the battery pack is connected to at least one of the load and charger. The controller controls the battery pack to enter a sleep mode of the sleep modes based on the detection result. The controller also includes a control terminal, for transmitting a control signal to control an on/off state of a charging switch and/or a discharging switch. The control signal is generated by the controller based on the detection result.

Abstract: A portable power apparatus includes a housing, a battery, a first charging port, a second charging port, a first power supply port, a second power supply port, and a communication module. The first charging port includes at least five pins and is configured to receive a first input voltage. The second charging port is configured to receive a second input voltage that is less than the first input voltage. The first power supply port is configured to deliver a first output voltage. The second power supply port is configured to deliver a second output voltage that is greater than the first output voltage. The communication module is configured to communicate with a source of electrical energy and includes a transmitter configured to communicate that the battery is configured to receive the first input voltage.

Abstract: A charging unit for a portable power appliance which has a motor and an appliance energy storage member. The charging unit is electrically connectable to a mains power supply. The charging unit has an onboard energy storage member and a power output circuit comprising a first output port and a second output port, wherein the first output port is electrically connectable to a power cord and the appliance energy storage member is directly mountable to the second output port and a switch operable to adjust the power output circuit between a first operational mode in which the onboard energy storage member is coupled to the first output port and a second output port in which the onboard energy storage member is coupled to the first output port.

Abstract: An example wireless-power receiver comprises one or more processors configured to perform operations, including receiving, via one or more antenna elements of an antenna array, a plurality of first electromagnetic (EM) signals. Each antenna element of the one or more antenna elements of the antenna array has a respective polarization. The one or more processors are further configured to perform operations including, in response to a change in an orientation of the wireless-power receiver, changing the respective polarization to a changed polarization for the one or more antenna elements of the antenna array, and receiving, via the one or more antenna elements of the antenna array, and while the one or more antenna elements have the changed polarization, a plurality of second EM signals.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the disclosure relate to an electronic device and a method for increasing efficiency of an antenna. The method may include performing a short-range communication function using a first coil in a closed state in which at least a portion of a first housing of the electronic device is slid into an inner space of a second housing of the electronic device, and performing the short-range communication function using a second coil in an open state in which at least a portion of the first housing is slid out of the inner space of the second housing. The disclosure provides various other embodiments.