Abstract: A power reception device utilizing non-contact power transmission causes a PMOS transistor as a switch circuit to be turned ON when a secondary battery is in a heavy-load state to form a path which bypasses a series regulator (LDO) as a power supply circuit, and supplies a charging current to the secondary battery through the bypass path. An offset may be provided between ON/OFF control threshold values of the PMOS transistor. The series regulator (LDO) may be entirely or partially set in a non-operating state when forming the bypass path.

Abstract: A noncontact charging device includes a mounting portion, a primary transmission coil, a temperature-detecting element, and a control unit. A device charged in a noncontact manner is mounted on the mounting portion. The primary transmission coil supplies power to a secondary transmission coil provided to the device by the use of electromagnetic induction. The temperature-detecting element detects a temperature of a material mounted on the mounting portion. The control unit is configured to supply power to the primary transmission coil and terminate the power supply to the primary transmission coil when a predetermined temperature is detected by the temperature-detecting element. The temperature-detecting element is located on a side of a contact surface between the mounting portion and the primary transmission coil, and the center of the temperature-detecting element is located within a range of the diameter of the primary transmission coil from the center position of the primary transmission coil.

Abstract: A noncontact power-transmission coil is provided. The noncontact power-transmission coil includes a planar coil and a printed-circuit board. The planar coil is formed by spirally winding a linear conductor made of a single or twisted wire in a substantially same plane. The printed-circuit board includes a first external connection terminal portion, a second external connection terminal portion, a first contact portion connected to an inner peripheral end of the spirally-wound linear conductor, a second contact portion connected to the outer peripheral end of the spirally-wound linear conductor, a first conductor pattern connecting the first contact portion to a first external connection terminal portion, and a second conductor pattern connecting the second contact portion to a second external connection terminal portion. One planar portion of the planar coil is attached on the surface of the flexible printed-circuit board.

Abstract: A noncontact power-transmission coil is provided. The noncontact power-transmission coil includes a planar coil and a magnetic layer. The planar coil is formed by winding a linear conductor in a spiral shape substantially in a single plane. The magnetic layer is formed by applying a liquid-form magnetic solution in which magnetic particles are mixed with a binder solvent, so as to cover one planar portion of the planar coil and a side-face portion of the planar coil.

Abstract: By using a unique display control technique, game images are provided, in which characters can be displayed in different poses with a limited-capacity memory area. Both image data corresponding to each of a plurality of blocks obtained by dividing a character to be displayed in a game image and further image data for representing different pictures in connection with at least part of the blocks are prepared. And the display pose of the character displayed in the game image is changed by switching a combination of the prepared image data. By way of example, color of at least part of the character displayed in the game image is changed on the basis of the combination of the same image data, thereby representing a plurality of types of characters. The color within the block mapped uppermost in the game image among the blocks constituting the character is kept unchanged regardless of changing of the color with respect to the remaining blocks.

Abstract: A battery pack BP having terminals T1, T2, and T3, a detecting circuit, a signal generating circuit, a temperature, voltage, and current detecting circuit, a switching circuit, and a secondary battery connected to the switching circuit. A first external signal generating unit may be connected to terminals T1 and T2 and a second external signal generating unit may be connected to terminals T2 and T3. The detecting circuit detects whether the first or second external signal generating units has been connected. In so doing, the detecting circuit may detect an impedance of the first external signal generating unit and may detect a terminal voltage of the second external signal generating unit. The on/off operations of the switching circuit SW may be controlled in accordance with the detection result.

Abstract: A battery pack BP is constructed by terminals T1, T2, and T3, a detecting circuit 1, a signal generating circuit 2, a temperature, voltage, and current detecting circuit 3, a switching circuit SW, and a secondary battery BT. An external signal generating unit 4 is connected to the terminals T1 and T2. An external signal generating unit 5 is connected to the terminals T2 and T3. The detecting circuit 1 detects that the external signal generating unit 4 or 5 has been connected. The on/off operations of the switching circuit SW are controlled in accordance with a detection result. The temperature, voltage, and current detecting circuit 3 detects a temperature of the battery pack BP and a terminal voltage and a current of the secondary battery BT. The on/off operations of the switching circuit SW are controlled on the basis of the detected temperature, voltage, and current. A signal is supplied to the signal generating circuit 2 on the basis of the detected temperature, voltage, and current.

Abstract: A battery cartridge has a communication terminal from which control signals are sent to a charging adapter to deliver various pieces of information necessary for electrically charging the battery cartridge, such as charging stop information, capacity information, full charge information, battery defect information, and so on. Different kinds of charging modes can be distinguished by detecting a property curve of a charge voltage or a charge current input to the battery cartridge. In this manner, without reducing the whole number of pieces of information, the number of control signals from the communication terminal can be reduced.

Abstract: When a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery, etc. requiring constant-voltage charging is charged, the battery voltage and charging current of the secondary battery are detected under a specified state, and in accord with the detected state, a voltage at which charging is carried out, the charging time or charging stop period thereof, or connecting condition of the charging circuit etc. are controlled in order to favorably charge the secondary battery to a full-charge or to a nearly full-charged state, thereby effectively preventing deterioration of characteristics of the secondary battery.

Abstract: An over-charging voltage is supplied from a voltage detecting circuit 39 to a priority controlling circuit 46 and a switch circuit 43. A voltage detecting circuit 41 detects a terminal voltage of a secondary battery BT (namely, an over-charging voltage) and supplies the voltage to the switching circuit 43. A current that flows in a resistor 42 is supplied to a cumulating circuit 40 and the switch circuit 43. The cumulating circuit 40 adds a voltage received from the voltage detecting circuit 39 through the priority controlling circuit 46 and a current that flows in the resistor 42 and supplies the added result as a control signal to a charging portion PS. A temperature detecting circuit 44 detects the temperature of a battery pack BP. The detected result is supplied to the switch circuit 43 and a detected voltage switching circuit 45. The switch circuit 43 performs on/off operations corresponding to the received voltage, terminal voltage, current, and temperature.

Abstract: A secondary battery pack includes first and second terminal portions connected to a load device or a charging device, a secondary battery, a voltage detecting means for detecting a voltage applied to the secondary battery or a battery voltage of the secondary battery, a switch means connected between the first or the second terminal portion and the secondary battery and set to its disconnected state when the voltage detecting means detects a first voltage, and a charging circuit connected between the first or the second terminal portion and the secondary battery and controlled based on a voltage detected by the voltage detecting means with reference to a second voltage lowered by a predetermined voltage as compared with the first voltage.

Abstract: A charging control method and apparatus for controlling the charging of a secondary battery includes a charging unit that outputs a constant voltage and constant current and a battery unit that includes a secondary battery. The charging unit has a constant voltage constant-current circuit for supplying a fixed voltage and a fixed current and a first voltage detection circuit for comparing the output voltage from the constant-voltage constant-current circuit with a first threshold level and generating a first detection signal corresponding to the comparison result. The battery unit also includes a second voltage detection circuit for comparing the charging voltage of the secondary battery with the first threshold level and generating a second detection signal corresponding to the comparison result.

Abstract: In an electric power transmission device which transmits electric power between a primary coil and a secondary coil, a resonant frequency of the secondary coil side is arranged to become higher than a frequency of an oscillation signal of the primary coil side, so that a capacitance can be made small and the coupling coefficient of the primary coil and the secondary coil can be made high. Thus, efficiency of power transmission from the primary coil side to the secondary coil side can be improved.

Abstract: In a battery charger, current regulating means and voltage regulating means can be prevented from damages. In the case where a loss of current regulating means (11) or voltage regulating means (12) exceeds an allowable loss, pulse width modulating means (15, 16) for generating a pulse signal having a desired pulse width and control means (18, 19) for intermittently operating the current regulating means or the voltage regulating means, having the loss exceeding the allowable loss, based on the pulse signal are provided to suppress the loss of the current regulating means or the voltage regulating means and suppress heat generated thereby, thus the current regulating means and the voltage regulating means can be protected from damages.

Abstract: A battery charging system detects a secondary battery terminal voltage and selectively controls a first switch to connect/disconnect a series-connected smoothing capacitor and resistor to ground to present an impedance greater than the battery impedance and further controls a second switch to connect/disconnect a charging control circuit in series between the voltage supply and the secondary battery being charged.

Abstract: A cell evaluating method for evaluating characteristics of a secondary cell which can be repeatedly charged and which includes a step of detecting a cell voltage after a predetermined first charge operation for the cell is started, a step of, if the detected cell voltage is smaller than a reference voltage, proceeding to a second charge operation different from the predetermined first charge operation, and a step of evaluating a state of the cell. Moreover, the cell evaluating method includes a step of carrying out a first cell voltage detection after a first predetermined period of time has passed since a halt of the charge or discharge of a cell, a step of carrying out a second cell voltage detection after a second predetermined period of time has passed, and a step of evaluating, if the difference between the results of the first and second detections is not smaller than a predetermined value, that an internal short circuit occurs in the cell.

Abstract: A mechanical seal, such as may advantageously be used for an automotive water pump or the like, in which the amount of frictional torque is significantly reduced. The seal includes a follower ring through which a rotary shaft rotatably passes and a seat ring rotated by the shaft. Recesses are formed in the abutting surface of at least one of the two rings, each recess being defined by a forward edge and a rear edge and opening only to the inner circumferential surface of the rings. The forward edge of each recess is inclined from the inner circumferential surface to the rear side in the direction of rotation of the follower ring relative to the seat ring, and the rear edge extends from the outer end of the forward edge along a radial line extending through substantially the center of the shaft.