Abstract: A method is described wherein DC power is converted into battery charging power by means of an inductor carrying a current which is controlled by a power controller during an adjustable part of a pulse width period. The pulse width period is made adjustable in order to influence the power consumption of the controller which consumes a substantial amount of the total power consumed for controlled DC-DC conversion. Several additional features are provided to improve the efficiency and to further reduce the power consumed by both the converter and the power controller, which provides new uses for a variety of products and appliances having solar cells, such as road studs.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a first rechargeable battery, a solar cell mounted on the electronic device, a second rechargeable battery and a power management circuit. The power management circuit includes a control module, a DC/DC module, a switch and a power supply switching module. The DC/DC module is configured for converting the DC power generated by the solar cell from one voltage level to another, and activating and maintaining the activation of the control module. The switch is turned on by the control module when the control module is activated, causing the DC power from the DC/DC module to charge the second rechargeable battery. The power supply switching module is controlled by the control module to select the second rechargeable battery to power the electronic device if the voltage level of the rechargeable battery is lower than that of the second rechargeable battery.

Abstract: A state monitoring unit monitors a state of an assembled battery in which unit cells are connected in series. The state monitoring unit includes a plurality of voltage monitoring devices and a controller. The controller transmits a common voltage measurement command to the voltage monitoring devices connected in a daisy-chain scheme. Each of the voltage monitoring devices measures the voltage of the corresponding unit cells in response to the command that is received from the controller or the adjacent voltage monitoring device at a leading end of the communication channel, and transmits the command to the adjacent voltage monitoring device at a termination of the communication channel. When received the measured voltage from the adjacent voltage monitoring device at the termination, the voltage monitoring device transmits it with the own measured voltage. The controller determines the abnormality in reception state based on the number of received, measured voltages.

Abstract: A battery control apparatus includes an emergency charging unit including an external charging terminal for applying power to a main battery pack, a first voltage measurement unit for measuring the voltage of the external charging terminal, and an emergency charging switch for switching the connection between the external charging terminal and the main battery pack; an auxiliary battery connection unit including an auxiliary battery connection terminal for applying power to the vehicle through a contactor, a second voltage measurement unit for measuring the voltage of the auxiliary battery connection terminal, and an auxiliary battery switch for switching the connection between the auxiliary battery connection terminal and the contactor; and an emergency control unit for switching to an emergency charging mode or an auxiliary connection mode by turning on the emergency charging switch or the auxiliary battery switch during the voltage measurement of the first or second voltage measurement unit.

Abstract: A battery cell charging system, including a charger and a controller, for low-temperature (below about zero degrees Celsius) charging a lithium ion battery cell, the battery cell charging system includes: a circuit for charging the battery cell using an adjustable voltage charging-profile to apply a charging voltage and a charging current to the battery cell wherein the adjustable voltage charging-profile having: a non-low-temperature charging stage for charging the battery cell using a charging profile adapted for battery cell temperatures above about zero degrees Celsius; and a low-temperature charging stage with a variable low-temperature stage charging current that decreases responsive to a battery cell temperature falling below zero degrees Celsius.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a non-contact charging module that prevents the magnet from negatively influencing particularly the inside portion of a coil and improves power transmission efficiency, even when a magnet is used for alignment. This non-contact charging module is a reception-side non-contact charging module, to which power is transmitted from a transmission-side non-contact charging module which is equipped with magnet, by electromagnetic induction, in which the non-contact charging module includes a planar coil portion around which spiral electric lines are wound, and a magnetic sheet disposed to face the surface of coil of the planar coil portion so that it faces the magnet of the transmission-side contact module, in which the inner diameter of the planar coil portion is larger than the magnet.

Abstract: A charging apparatus for electrical connection with a charging supply for charging a battery module, the charging apparatus including a coolant pipe, the coolant pipe providing a passage for a cooling medium and surrounding a space for accommodating the battery module; a charging terminal for electrically connecting with the charging power supply; and a chiller connected with the coolant pipe, the chiller being configured to circulate and cool the cooling medium.

Abstract: A battery cell tab monitoring apparatus includes a conductive element electrically connected between two battery cells. The conductive element is connected to a sensing circuit including a pull-down current source connected to pull current from the conductive element and/or a pull-up current source connected to drive current into the conductive element. A voltage measuring circuit is connected to sense voltages during operation of the pull-down current source and the pull-up current source to be used to determine the status of the conductive element. For instance, voltages beyond certain fixed or variable thresholds indicate that the conductive element is flexing or cracking, which can be a precursor to its breaking. Voltages beyond other fixed or variable thresholds indicate that the conductive element is fully disconnected. The current sources used to push and pull the sensing currents may be used to bring the battery cells into balance when an imbalance is detected.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a non-contact charging module that uses a magnet included in a counterpart-side non-contact charging module or does not use the magnet when aligning with the counterpart-side non-contact charging module is performed. An L value of a coil that is provided in the non-contact charging module is not changed. This non-contact charging module includes a planar coil portion where electrical lines are wound and a magnetic sheet that places a coil surface of the planar coil portion and faces the coil surface of the planar coil portion, and in the magnetic sheet, a hole portion is provided at the position corresponding to a hollow portion of the planar coil portion.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement that has an energy source that can provide a charging voltage for charging an electrical energy storage unit in a charging circuit when it is connected to an energy supply, wherein it is possible to represent the charging voltage using an alternating quantity, and that has a capacitor circuit having a first capacitor element, a first valve element, and the energy source, wherein the first capacitor element is charged by the energy source via the first valve element if the charging voltage is negative, so that, if the charging voltage is positive, the voltage over the first capacitor element has the same orientation in the capacitor circuit, in terms of sign, as the charging voltage, and the voltage over the capacitor element.

Abstract: A personal solar appliance (PSA) is presented that collects and stores solar energy. A method of charging a battery from a solar cell according to some embodiments is presented that includes applying power from a bootstrap circuit when the battery has a very low state of charge or the solar cell has output below a threshold; and applying power from a maximum power point circuit when the battery and the solar cell provide power above the threshold.

Abstract: The electronic apparatus includes a portable electronic device and a charger for capacitively charging the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is temporarily placed adjacent the charger. The portable electronic device includes a device data communication unit and an associated battery, and a pair of device capacitive electrodes, defining a device conductive footprint, to receive a charging signal to charge the battery. The charger includes a base having an area larger than the device conductive footprint and able to receive the portable electronic device thereon in a plurality of different positions, and an array of charger capacitive electrodes carried by the base. A charger controller selectively drives only the charger capacitive electrodes within the device conductive footprint with a charging signal to capacitively charge the battery.

Abstract: A charge-or-start system applied in an electric vehicle is provided. The charge-or-start system includes a charge-or-start device coupled to an external power source, an on-car electric source coupled to the charge-or-start device and a battery unit coupled to the charge-or-start device for storing and providing power. In charge mode, under control of the charge-or-start device, anyone of the external power source and the on-car electric source provides power to the battery unit for charging the battery unit through the charge-or-start device. In starting mode, under control of the charge-or-start device, the battery unit provides power to the on-car electric source for activating the on-car electric source through the charge-or-start device.

Abstract: A PC executes a program including a step of selecting an exchange electric storage device with the shortest charging history when a charging request is present, inventory of exchange electric storage devices with completed charging is available, the number of inventory days is equal to or less than A days, and the sufficient number of storage locations is ensured, a step of selecting an exchange electric storage device with the longest charging history when the sufficient number of storage locations is not ensured, and a step of executing charging control when the selected exchange electric storage device is connected to a charger.

Abstract: A method for charging an electric storage battery in a plug-in electric vehicle through a power supply circuit includes coupling a charger to the circuit, providing the charger with a signal representing a current capacity of the circuit, using the signal to determine a maximum charge rate corresponds to the current capacity of the circuit represented by the signal, and charging the battery through the circuit and charger at the maximum charge rate.

Abstract: A connecting device includes: a shaft; a drum that has a container defined therein and is rotatably disposed on the shaft; a stator that is fixed to the shaft and is contained inside of the container; a rotator that is fixed to the drum, is rotatably disposed on the shaft, and is contained inside of the container with an interval with respect to the stator; first terminals that are disposed in the stator; second terminals that are disposed in the rotator and are brought into contact with the first terminals, respectively; a connecting cord that is wound around the drum, and has a connecting plug to be connected to a vehicle at one end thereof whereas is electrically connected to the second terminals at the other end thereof; a power supply cord having a power source plug electrically connected to the first terminals at one end thereof whereas connected to an outside power supply at the other end thereof; and a leakage detector contained inside of the container.

Abstract: A charging system that significantly increases the anti-theft capability of a charging subject. The charging subject includes a rechargeable battery. The rechargeable battery of the charging subject is connected to a power supply of a house by power lines. An authentication management device performs authentication of the charging subject by communicating with the charging subject through the power lines and permits charging of the rechargeable battery with the power supply of the house only when the authentication is established.

Abstract: A charging device for an electrically-drivable vehicle comprises a power-supply connector (100), a power-receiving connector (200), a safety-charging-signal-generating unit provided in the charging device, a CAN control module receiving a safety-charging signal generated by the safety-charging-signal-generating unit. The charging device may be configured to be chargeable to the electrically-drivable vehicle when the charging terminal and the charging-terminal-accommodating chamber are connected to each other. The power-supply connector and the power-receiving connector are engaged with the CAN module detecting the safety-charging signal. The personal safety during maintenance or other unexpected accidents is enhanced.

Abstract: A video game controller charging system for charging at least one video game controller is provided. The system includes a controller adapter including a battery unit, at least one first induction coil, and at least one first magnet, and is adapted to be received by the at least one video game controller; and a base including a power input, at least one second induction coil, and at least one structure on the base for providing physical support to the controller while the controller is being charged, the at least one structure including at least one second magnet. The base is configured to inductively charge the battery unit through inductive coupling between the at least one first induction coil and the at least one second induction coil when the controller is held in place on the structure by magnetic attraction between the magnets.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle electrical system diagnostic apparatus includes first and second electrical connections configured to electrically couple to an electrical system of an automotive vehicle which includes a battery. Digital samples are obtained during operation of the vehicle which are related to the system. The digital samples are stored in memory.