Abstract: A portable power station includes a housing and a rechargeable battery disposed within the housing. A charging power port is disposed on the exterior of the housing. The charging power port is electrically connected to the rechargeable battery and the charging power port provides an electrical current to the rechargeable battery for recharging the rechargeable battery. A power outlet is disposed on the exterior of the housing. The power outlet is electrically connected to the rechargeable battery. The power outlet provides electrical current from the battery to a rechargeable device electrically connected to the power outlet for the purpose of recharging the rechargeable device. An illuminating device is disposed about a perimeter of the housing, proximate a top of the housing. The illuminating device is configured to emit light from substantially the entire perimeter of the housing.

Abstract: A portable power bank including a rechargeable battery may detect loss of capacity in the power bank battery. The power bank determines a nominal capacity of the power bank, and an actual capacity of the power bank, the actual capacity being less than the nominal capacity. The power bank compares the actual capacity to the nominal capacity to determine a health value of the power bank battery. When the power bank battery health value is at or below a threshold value, the power bank transmits an indication of the health value to a mobile computing device.

Abstract: A portable power bank including a rechargeable battery may detect loss of capacity in the power bank battery. The power bank determines a nominal capacity of the power bank, and an actual capacity of the power bank, the actual capacity being less than the nominal capacity. The power bank compares the actual capacity to the nominal capacity to determine a health value of the power bank battery. When the power bank battery health value is at or below a threshold value, the power bank transmits an indication of the health value to a mobile computing device.

Abstract: A reusable battery indicator includes a voltage sensor, a communication circuit communicatively connected to the voltage sensor, an antenna operatively coupled to the communication circuit, and a connector. The connector is electrically connected to the voltage sensor, and the connector is adapted to be removably connected to a battery, thereby providing an electrical connection between the voltage sensor and the battery. An electrical circuit is completed between the voltage sensor and the battery and the voltage sensor. The connection mechanism includes part of an electrical lock and key assembly.

Abstract: A portable power bank including a rechargeable battery may detect loss of capacity in the power bank battery. The power bank determines a nominal capacity of the power bank, and an actual capacity of the power bank, the actual capacity being less than the nominal capacity. The power bank compares the actual capacity to the nominal capacity to determine a health value of the power bank battery. When the power bank battery health value is at or below a threshold value, the power bank transmits an indication of the health value to a mobile computing device.

Abstract: A reusable battery indicator includes a voltage sensor, a communication circuit communicatively connected to the voltage sensor, an antenna operatively coupled to the communication circuit, and a connector. The connector is electrically connected to the voltage sensor, and the connector is adapted to be removably connected to a battery, thereby providing an electrical connection between the voltage sensor and the battery. An electrical circuit is completed between the voltage sensor and the battery and the voltage sensor. The connection mechanism includes part of an electrical lock and key assembly.

Abstract: A reusable battery indicator comprises a voltage sensor configured to convert sensed analog characteristics of a battery to digital information; a communication circuit communicatively connected to the voltage sensor; an antenna operatively coupled to the communication circuit; and a connection mechanism having at least a first connector and a second connector that are electrically connected to the voltage sensor, the first connector and the second connector being adapted to be removably connected to a first battery terminal and to a second battery terminal, respectively, thereby completing an electrical circuit between the voltage sensor and the first and second battery terminals when the connection mechanism is coupled to the first battery terminal and to the second battery terminal.

Abstract: A portable power bank for charging a mobile computing device is described, and a dynamic charging efficiency is monitored while the power bank is charging the mobile computing device. Particularly, instantaneous power output of a battery of the power bank is compared to power received by a battery of the mobile computing device to determine efficiency. The charging of the mobile computing device by the power bank is interrupted and/or resumed based upon the charging efficiency at any given time, thereby preventing inefficient use of the power bank.

Abstract: A portable power bank and mobile computing device are described, where the mobile computing device includes a rechargeable battery that receives electric charge from the power bank via an electrical connection. Systems and methods facilitate determination of a “number of potential rechargings” of the mobile computing device battery via the power bank, e.g., how many times the power bank can charge the mobile computing device battery to a desired fuel gauge (e.g., 100%) before the power bank is depleted. The number of potential rechargings is determined based upon the desired fuel gauge of the mobile computing device, present fuel gauges of the mobile computing device and the power bank, and charging efficiency factors corresponding to the mobile computing device and the power bank, respectively.

Abstract: A portable power bank for charging a mobile computing device is described, and a dynamic charging efficiency is monitored while the power bank is charging the mobile computing device. Particularly, instantaneous power output of a battery of the power bank is compared to power received by a battery of the mobile computing device to determine efficiency. The charging of the mobile computing device by the power bank is interrupted and/or resumed based upon the charging efficiency at any given time, thereby preventing inefficient use of the power bank.

Abstract: A portable power bank and mobile computing device are described, where the mobile computing device includes a rechargeable battery that receives electric charge from the power bank via an electrical connection. Systems and methods facilitate determination of a “number of potential rechargings” of the mobile computing device battery via the power bank, e.g., how many times the power bank can charge the mobile computing device battery to a desired fuel gauge (e.g., 100%) before the power bank is depleted. The number of potential rechargings is determined based upon the desired fuel gauge of the mobile computing device, present fuel gauges of the mobile computing device and the power bank, and charging efficiency factors corresponding to the mobile computing device and the power bank, respectively.

Abstract: A portable power bank including a rechargeable battery may detect loss of capacity in the power bank battery. The power bank determines a nominal capacity of the power bank, and an actual capacity of the power bank, the actual capacity being less than the nominal capacity. The power bank compares the actual capacity to the nominal capacity to determine a health value of the power bank battery. When the power bank battery health value is at or below a threshold value, the power bank transmits an indication of the health value to a mobile computing device.

Abstract: A reusable battery indicator includes a voltage sensor, a communication circuit communicatively connected to the voltage sensor, an antenna operatively coupled to the communication circuit, and a connector. The connector is electrically connected to the voltage sensor, and the connector is adapted to be removably connected to a battery, thereby providing an electrical connection between the voltage sensor and the battery. An electrical circuit is completed between the voltage sensor and the battery and the voltage sensor. The connection mechanism includes part of an electrical lock and key assembly.

Abstract: A positive terminal of a battery may act as an antenna ground plane for communicating battery status information. The positive terminal of the battery may include a first electrically conductive external surface with a first surface area. The negative terminal of the battery may include a second electrically conductive external surface with a second surface area less than the first surface area. An antenna impedance matching circuit may be electrically connected between a communication circuit, an antenna, and the positive terminal of the battery. Thus the positive terminal of the battery may act as a ground plane for the antenna.

Abstract: A reusable battery indicator includes a voltage sensor configured to convert sensed analog characteristics of a battery to digital information; a communication circuit communicatively connected to the voltage sensor; an antenna operatively coupled to the communication circuit; and a connection mechanism having at least a first connector and a second connector that are electrically connected to the voltage sensor, the first connector and the second connector being adapted to be removably connected to a first battery terminal and to a second battery terminal, respectively, thereby completing an electrical circuit between the voltage sensor and the first and second battery terminals when the connection mechanism is coupled to the first battery terminal and to the second battery terminal. One or more of the first connector and the second connector include part of a mechanical lock and key assembly.

Abstract: A reusable battery indicator comprises a voltage sensor configured to convert sensed analog characteristics of a battery to digital information; a communication circuit communicatively connected to the voltage sensor; an antenna operatively coupled to the communication circuit; and a connection mechanism having at least a first connector and a second connector that are electrically connected to the voltage sensor, the first connector and the second connector being adapted to be removably connected to a first battery terminal and to a second battery terminal, respectively, thereby completing an electrical circuit between the voltage sensor and the first and second battery terminals when the connection mechanism is coupled to the first battery terminal and to the second battery terminal.

Abstract: A reusable battery indicator comprises a voltage sensor configured to convert sensed analog characteristics of a battery to digital information; a communication circuit communicatively connected to the voltage sensor; an antenna operatively coupled to the communication circuit; and a connection mechanism having at least a first connector and a second connector that are electrically connected to the voltage sensor, the first connector and the second connector being adapted to be removably connected to a first battery terminal and to a second battery terminal, respectively, thereby completing an electrical circuit between the voltage sensor and the first and second battery terminals when the connection mechanism is coupled to the first battery terminal and to the second battery terminal.

Abstract: A reusable battery indicator includes a voltage sensor, a communication circuit communicatively connected to the voltage sensor, an antenna operatively coupled to the communication circuit, and a connection mechanism having a connector and a retainer. The connector and the retainer are electrically connected to the voltage sensor, and the connector is adapted to be removably connected to a first battery terminal, thereby providing an electrical connection between the voltage sensor and the first battery terminal. The retainer is adapted to removably secure the voltage sensor to a can of a battery, thereby providing an electrical connection between the voltage sensor and the can of the battery. An electrical circuit is completed between the voltage sensor and the first battery terminal and between the voltage sensor and the can. The connection mechanism includes part of an electrical lock and key assembly.

Abstract: A reusable battery indicator includes a voltage sensor, a communication circuit communicatively connected to the voltage sensor, an antenna operatively coupled to the communication circuit, and a connection mechanism having a first connector and a retainer. The first connector and the retainer are electrically connected to the voltage sensor, and the first connector is adapted to be removably connected to a first battery terminal, thereby providing an electrical connection between the voltage sensor and the first battery terminal. The retainer is adapted to removably secure the voltage sensor to a can of a battery, thereby providing an electrical connection between the voltage sensor and the can of the battery. An electrical circuit is completed between the voltage sensor and the first battery terminal and between the voltage sensor and the can.

Abstract: A reusable battery indicator comprises a voltage sensor configured to convert sensed analog characteristics of a battery to digital information; a communication circuit communicatively connected to the voltage sensor; an antenna operatively coupled to the communication circuit; and a connection mechanism having at least a first connector and a second connector that are electrically connected to the voltage sensor, the first connector and the second connector being adapted to be removably connected to a first battery terminal and to a second battery terminal, respectively, thereby completing an electrical circuit between the voltage sensor and the first and second battery terminals when the connection mechanism is coupled to the first battery terminal and to the second battery terminal.