Abstract: A mobile workstation includes a first battery bracket for releasable attachment of a main battery, a second battery bracket for releasable attachment of a backup battery and a power control circuit. The power control circuit includes a first input for receiving and monitoring power from the main battery, a second input for receiving and monitoring power from the backup battery, and a DC output. The power control circuit selectively routes a first flow of electricity from the main battery to the DC output when the first flow of electricity exceeds a predetermined value, and routes a second flow of electricity from the backup battery to the DC output when the first flow of electricity falls below the predetermined value.

Abstract: A universal charge module for recharging rechargeable batteries includes a housing, a connector block formed on the housing for receiving a rechargeable battery, the connector block including an attachment mechanism for releasably attaching the rechargeable battery to the housing, and a power control circuit functionally integrated with the housing, the power control circuit being capable of determining operating and charging parameters of the rechargeable battery, wherein the power control circuit controls the recharging of the rechargeable battery in dependence upon the determined operating and charging parameters.

Abstract: An intelligent battery system for powering a mobile workstation includes a mounting block having a first battery interface bracket for the releasable attachment of a first battery, a second battery interface bracket for the releasable attachment of a second battery and a third battery interface bracket for the releasable attachment of a backup battery, and a power control circuit functionally integrated with the mounting block and being capable of detecting a change in status of at least one of the first and second batteries and routing the flow of electrical power from the first, second and backup batteries in dependence thereon.

Abstract: A universal charge module for recharging rechargeable batteries includes a housing, a connector block formed on the housing for receiving a rechargeable battery, the connector block including an attachment mechanism for releasably attaching the rechargeable battery to the housing, and a power control circuit functionally integrated with the housing, the power control circuit being capable of determining operating and charging parameters of the rechargeable battery, wherein the power control circuit controls the recharging of the rechargeable battery in dependence upon the determined operating and charging parameters.

Abstract: A technique for detecting when a full charge for a cell pack is reached based upon sensing an actual temperature of the cell pack. The initial actual temperature is the first value stored as a reference temperature. During subsequent sampling events, the actual temperature is stored as the reference temperature when the actual temperature exceeds said reference temperature. A first value for each sample event is stored in a rollover memory when said actual temperature exceeds the reference temperature, and a second value is stored in the rollover memory when the actual temperature does not exceed the reference temperature. The occurrences of the first values is summed for a series of consecutive sampling events to derive a total. The total is compared to a predetermined limit, and if the total is greater, then charging of the cell pack will be discontinued.