Abstract: According to the invention, a battery charging apparatus with a plurality of modes for charging a battery is disclosed. The apparatus may have a battery receptacle and a command processor. The battery receptacle may be adapted to detachably and mechanically couple with the battery and may be adapted to detachably and electrically couple the battery with a battery charging circuit. The command processor may be configured to: detect a first at least partial mechanical coupling of the battery with the battery receptacle; detect a first at least partial mechanical decoupling of the battery from the battery receptacle; detect a first at least partial mechanical recoupling of the battery with the battery receptacle; and/or to communicate a first instruction to the battery charging circuit based at least in part on detecting the first at least partial mechanical recoupling within a particular time period after the first at least partial mechanical decoupling.

Abstract: According to the invention, an apparatus for robust battery discharge which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle is disclosed. The apparatus may have a discharge circuit for discharging a battery. The discharge circuit may be adapted to be coupled with a discharge load and configured to discharge the battery using the discharge load during a discharging cycle. The apparatus may have a first power input and a second power input, which may configured to receive power from a first power source and a second power source, respectively. The power inputs may be further configured to supply power to the discharge circuit. The apparatus may have a power switching circuit for switching power from the first power source to the second power source when the first power source is interrupted. The second power source may be the battery.