Abstract: A battery cell may include, among other things, a can assembly, an electrode assembly housed inside the can assembly, and a venting system including a vent port and at least one of a vent tube inside the can assembly or a spacer plate mounted between the vent port and the electrode assembly.

Abstract: A battery cell may include, among other things, a can assembly, an electrode assembly housed inside the can assembly, and a venting system including a vent port and at least one of a vent tube inside the can assembly or a spacer plate mounted between the vent port and the electrode assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a thermal system for a battery; and a controller for the thermal system. The controller may be configured to, during vehicle motion, cool the battery when a temperature of the battery exceeds a lower threshold and inhibit transfer of power with the battery when the temperature exceeds an upper threshold, and while coupled with a charge station, heat the battery to a temperature between the lower threshold and the upper threshold.

Abstract: A battery cell according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a can assembly, an electrode assembly housed inside the can assembly and a venting system including a vent port and at least one of a vent tube inside the can assembly or a spacer plate mounted between the vent port and the electrode assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a thermal system for a battery; and a controller for the thermal system. The controller may be configured to, during vehicle motion, cool the battery when a temperature of the battery exceeds a lower threshold and inhibit transfer of power with the battery when the temperature exceeds an upper threshold, and while coupled with a charge station, heat the battery to a temperature between the lower threshold and the upper threshold.

Abstract: A battery management system for a vehicle includes a controller configured to, in response to a rate of change of voltage during discharge of a battery cell exceeding a first threshold more than a predetermined number of times over a predefined duration, output an error signal, and in response to the rate of change exceeding a second threshold greater than the first, output the error signal.

Abstract: A battery management system for a vehicle includes a controller configured to, in response to a rate of change of voltage during discharge of a battery cell exceeding a first threshold more than a predetermined number of times over a predefined duration, output an error signal, and in response to the rate of change exceeding a second threshold greater than the first, output the error signal.

Abstract: A battery cell according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a can assembly, an electrode assembly housed inside the can assembly and a venting system including a vent port and at least one of a vent tube inside the can assembly or a spacer plate mounted between the vent port and the electrode assembly.

Abstract: In at least some embodiments, a system comprises a load and a fuel cell coupled to said load, the fuel cell being configured to provide a constant power level to said load. The system further comprises a battery coupled to said load and configured to provide power in excess of said constant power level to said load, if needed by said load.

Abstract: A portable electronic system which obtains power from a dry-electrolyte fuel cell. Water which is produced by the fuel cell is atomized by an ultrasonic transducer, to avoid user inconvenience due to reservoirs or dripping.

Abstract: A portable electronic system which obtains power from a dry-electrolyte fuel cell. Water which is produced by the fuel cell is atomized by an ultrasonic transducer, to avoid user inconvenience due to reservoirs or dripping.

Abstract: A portable electronic system which obtains power from a dry-electrolyte fuel cell. Water which is produced by the fuel cell is atomized by an ultrasonic transducer, to avoid user inconvenience due to reservoirs or dripping.

Abstract: A battery charging system in which current is averaged over a long time period (seconds) to determine the maximum average charging rate. When the integral of charging current over this long period reaches the programmed maximum charge value for one period, current is simply cut off for the remainder of the fixed long period.

Abstract: A method for charging nickel metal hydride and comparable batteries, in which the applied voltage is clamped to a temperature-dependent and current-dependent value which is greater than the constant voltage during most of the charging cycle, but less than any voltage at which gassing can occur.

Abstract: A sealed rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack which includes a switching voltage regulator. The regulator uses the normal cutoff transistors as the switching devices, and also includes a discrete inductor in the battery pack. The regulator is operated with programmable voltage and current parameters, under control of a microcontroller which is also inside the sealed battery pack enclosure.

Abstract: A battery pack for use in a portable computing system includes a transistor that is used both for inhibiting charging of the batteries within the system and for limiting the voltage across the batteries in the battery pack. Rather than having two separate devices to inhibit and regulate, this single transistor performs the functions of both, thus reducing component count in a battery pack.

Abstract: A removable battery pack for powering a pen-based or portable computer system in which the battery pack blocks its terminals when inserted into an unknown system. The known system includes a power supply microcontroller which passes battery charge data back and forth between a memory located in the battery pack and the power supply microcontroller. A battery microcontroller, located in the battery pack, eavesdrops drops on the communication between the power supply microcontroller and the memory, and when it validates a known signature of this communication, the battery microcontroller then enables the terminals of the battery pack. A trickle discharge current flows from the battery pack whenever the battery pack is out of the known system to allow the power supply microcontroller to power up in the case of a dead auxiliary battery.

Abstract: A computer system is powered by a battery pack, the battery pack including either nickel-based batteries or lithium-ion based batteries. Either of the two battery packs can be interchanged without modification to the system.

Abstract: A battery pack for use in a portable computing system includes a transistor that is used both for inhibiting charging of the batteries within the system and for limiting the voltage across the batteries in the battery pack. Rather than having two separate devices to inhibit and regulate, this single transistor performs the functions of both, thus reducing component count in a battery pack.

Abstract: A battery pack of a computer system includes a battery having a nominal critical terminal voltage that may not be exceeded without hazardous failure of the battery. The battery pack includes a controller for routing power from an external power source to the battery to recharge the battery. The controller is configured to apply a time profile of charging power to the terminals of the battery. The profile includes time portions when the terminal voltage of the battery exceeds the nominal rated critical terminal voltage. The controller is also configured to control the time profile to prevent hazardous failure of the battery.