Abstract: A method for assessing a state of charge/discharge (SOC/SOD) for a secondary electrochemical cell, the cell having a first operational mode during which the cell is charged from a power supply connected to terminals of the cell, a second operational mode during which the cell is discharged into a load and a rest mode, the method comprising steps of measuring entropy and enthalpy for the electrochemical cell in the course of the first and second operational modes and during rest, and calculating a data representative of the state of charge/discharge (SOC/SOD).

Abstract: A battery connector, an electrical combination and methods. The electrical combination may include a battery connector including a housing with a support portion for a battery pack, and a circuit supported by the housing, the circuit including a universal serial bus (USB) input terminal connectable to a USB cable for receiving power, a charging terminal connectable to a pack terminal of the battery pack, and a battery charging portion operable to receive power from the USB input terminal and to output a charging current to the charging terminal to charge the battery pack.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a battery pack including a housing, a plurality of battery cells supported by the housing, and a terminal block. The terminal block is configured to be coupled to a power tool to provide operating power from the plurality of battery cells to the power tool. The terminal block has a positive power terminal, a charging terminal, and a ground terminal. The battery pack also includes a charging circuit provided between the charging terminal and the plurality of battery cells. The charging circuit is configured to receive and transfer charging current above 12 Amperes to the plurality of battery cells during charging. The charging circuit includes a charging switch and a fuse coupled between the charging terminal and the charging switch.

Abstract: In general, one aspect disclosed features an apparatus, comprising: a battery; a resistive load; a switch comprising a first transistor and a second transistor; a resistor; an inductor; and a control circuit; wherein the switch, the resistor, and the inductor are coupled in series between the battery and the resistive load; and wherein the control circuit controls the switch based on a voltage across the resistor. In general, another aspect disclosed features an apparatus, comprising: a battery; a resistive load; a switch; a resistor; an inductor; and a control circuit; wherein the switch, the resistor, and the inductor are coupled in series between the battery and the resistive load; and wherein the control circuit controls the switch based on a voltage across the resistor.

Abstract: A system and method for charging and stacking electric transport devices is described. In one embodiment, an electric transport device charging system includes a charging mat including a plurality of charging terminals. The plurality of charging terminals have a first shape. The system also includes a plurality of electric transport devices. Each electric transport device has a pair of side surfaces including a plurality of connection points. The connection points on one of the side surfaces having a second shape that is configured to conform to the first shape of the plurality of charging terminals. A first electric transport device of the plurality of electric transport devices is configured to be placed on the charging mat with the plurality of charging terminals aligned with the connection points on one of the side surfaces having the second shape such that the connection points and the charging terminals fit into each other.

Abstract: A battery management device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a plurality of slave controllers including at least one sensing port connected to at least one battery cell provided to a plurality of battery modules through a sensing line to sense a voltage of each connected battery cell and at least one ID allocation port for receiving the voltage from the sensing line when being connected to the sensing line, the plurality of slave controllers being configured to be connected to at least one corresponding battery module among the battery modules; and a master controller connected to the plurality of slave controllers, respectively, to receive voltage information about the voltage applied to the ID allocation port from the slave controller and allocate a regular ID to each of the plurality of slave controllers based on the received voltage information.

Abstract: A USB Type C sensor is disclosed for use with an alarm system for monitoring a chargeable electrical device having a USB Type C port. A sensor comprises a first cable having a USB Type C plug receivable in the USB Type C port. A second cable has a second USB plug receivable in a power source. A third cable has an alarm plug receivable in an alarm receptacle for the alarm system, in use. A housing is operatively connected to the first, second and third cables. A sensor circuit is in the housing and electrically connects the second USB plug to the USB Type C plug to charge a chargeable electrical device to be monitored. A switch circuit monitors a configuration channel of the USB Type C port to determine if the first cable is connected to the chargeable electrical device and responsive thereto controls a switch electrically connected to the alarm plug so that the alarm system monitors status of the switch.

Abstract: A battery with switched accumulators, including: a first cell; a plurality of second cells series-connected with the first cell, each first and second cell including: an electric accumulator series-connected with a first switch, a second switch connected in parallel with the accumulator and the first switch, and a first diode, the cathodes of the first diodes being connected to an output node, the anode of the accumulator of the first cell being connected to ground, the anode of the first diode of each second cell being coupled to the cathode of the accumulator by at least one third switch; and a control circuit capable of measuring characteristics of at least certain accumulators and of controlling the first, second, and third switches according to the characteristics.

Abstract: A method of determining a lifetime parameter of a capacitor in a failsafe device including measuring an amount of energy required to return the failsafe device to a failsafe position, measuring an effective capacitance of the capacitor, and comparing the amount of energy to the effective capacitance to determine the lifetime parameter of the capacitor.

Abstract: A storage and charging station system for mobile electronic devices is described. The storage and charging station system includes a support tower structure including shelves for storing the mobile electronic devices during charging, a support device coupled to the support tower structure, a grid system on one side of the support tower structure, the grid system for mounting various accessories, a wire management system positioned adjacent to each of the shelves, a cable management system coupled to one side of the support tower structure, and a power distribution unit coupled to the support tower structure.

Abstract: Techniques for wireless charging in a system, method, and apparatus are described herein. For example, the apparatus includes a wireless power transmitting coil configured to propagate current to generate a magnetic field. The wireless power transmitting coil is disposed in a hand-operated input device.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a charging method and a terminal. The method includes: automatically learning, by the terminal, historical data by using a machine learning algorithm, to establish a habit model of a user, and matching a current time with the usage habit model of the user to determine a current charging intention of the user, so as to determine a charging mode according to the charging intention. By means of the technical solutions, a charging requirement of a user can be effectively identified, and on-demand charging can be implemented. This improves user experience while avoiding a battery life decrease caused by frequent fast charging.

Abstract: A method for determining a charging circuit, includes: acquiring a preset equivalent circuit model including a preset number of charging paths, wherein one or more of the preset number of charging paths includes a controllable device; controlling an operating state of each controllable device to obtain initial equivalent circuits each including respective different charging paths; acquiring a charging current in each charging path of each of the initial equivalent circuits in a charging state; for each of the initial equivalent circuits, acquiring a heat loss value of the initial equivalent circuit based on the charging current in each charging path of the initial equivalent circuit and a resistance value of each equivalent device in the equivalent circuit model; and determining one of the initial equivalent circuits having a minimum heat loss value under a same condition as a target charging circuit.

Abstract: A battery discharge control system and method for a motor-driven vehicle may monitor a SOC of an auxiliary battery in real time and control electric power supply to a first electric component, a wireless communication module, a vehicle controller, and a second electric component which is an always-on component, based on a predetermined order according to the SOC of the auxiliary battery, thereby inhibiting the complete discharge of the auxiliary battery and eliminating driver's discomfort.

Abstract: A method of charging a battery having a first voltage and a second voltage. In a first phase, applying a constant current to the battery; in a second phase, applying current pulses to the battery; repeating iteratively sampling the first voltage during a current pulse to obtain a measurement of the first voltage; sampling the first voltage during a current pause to obtain a measurement of the second voltage; generating a dynamic reference voltage based on the fixed reference voltage and on a difference between the measurement of the first voltage and the second voltage. There is a comparing the measurement of the first voltage with the dynamic reference voltage. There is a stopping of the current pulses when the measurement of the first voltage is equal to the dynamic reference voltage and the measurement of the second voltage is equal to the fixed reference voltage.

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: An electronic device supplies power to system load(s) from a first battery power source and a second battery power source connected in series across a re-configurable device section boundary. A battery monitor monitors voltage across each individual battery cell within the first and second battery power sources. The battery monitor directs a charge circuit as to how and when to charge the first and second battery power sources using an external power source. The battery monitor also directs the charge circuit as to how and when to use the first and second battery power sources to power the system load(s).

Abstract: This charging control device 50 controls charging of electricity storage elements B1-B4 and is provided with: a plurality of charging paths 61A, 61B leading to the electricity storage elements and connected in parallel with each other; voltage drop elements 64A, 64B and switches 65A, 65B which are connected in series on the charging paths; and a control unit 100. The control unit 100 controls the switches 65A, 65B and thereby switches a charging path not to be energized among the plurality of charging paths 61A, 61B during charging.

Abstract: A storage and charging station for storing and charging a plurality of mobile electronic devices communicable with a remote electronic device. The station comprises a storage assembly and an electrical system coupled to the storage assembly. The storage assembly comprises a frame and a plurality of storage bays supported by the frame. The plurality of storage bays is to receive the plurality of mobile electronic devices. The electrical system comprises a power component, a communication component, a logic component, a memory component, and a plurality of ports electrically coupled to the power component and the communication component. When a first mobile electronic device connects with a first port, the power component powers the first mobile electronic device via the first port, and the station communicates with the remote electronic device via the first port and the first mobile electronic device.

Abstract: An electrical combination including a power tool and a battery pack. The power tool includes power tool terminals. The battery pack is configured to be interfaced with the power tool. The battery pack includes a battery pack housing, at least three terminals, and a plurality of battery cells. The battery pack terminals include a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a sense terminal. The at least three terminals are configured to be interfaced with the power tool terminals. The plurality of battery cells are arranged within and supported by the battery pack housing. Each of the battery cells has a lithium-based chemistry and a respective state of charge, and power is transferable between the battery cells and the power tool. A circuit is configured to monitor the battery cells, detect a charge imbalance among the battery cells, and prevent the battery pack from operating when the charge imbalance is detected.