Abstract: In an effort to condition a battery for its current supply function, the electric charge required to restore the battery from a given first level to a higher second charge level is determined. A conditioning operation is comprised of a first step of reducing an unknown electric charge in the battery to the given first level, and a second step of introducing only the determined required electric charge into the battery. The battery is conditioned by administering in sequence the first step to reduce the unknown electric charge to the given first level and the second step to restore the battery to the higher second charge level by introduction of only the determined required electric charge into the battery.

Abstract: Magnetic actuation methods and apparatus provide in an air gap a first magnetic field and a magnet having a second magnetic field at an angle to and interacting with the first magnetic field. A pivot axis for the magnet is located laterally and entirely outside of the air gap, and such magnet is displaced in the air gap with the interacting first and second magnetic fields about the laterally located pivot axis. In practice, the air gap may be provided by a pair of pole pieces and the magnet may be located on a lever extending past the air gap. Such lever may be pivoted about an axis extending through one of the pole pieces. The lever is then displaced with the magnet and the magnetic field in the air gap.