Abstract: This application is directed to an electronic device powered by one or more rechargeable battery cells. The electronic device includes a first negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor proximate to the battery cells, and an open capacitor coupled in parallel with the NTC thermistor. The open capacitor has an open area and two electrodes that are at least partially exposed via the open area and electrically isolated. The electronic device further includes a control circuit coupled to the NTC thermistor and the open capacitor. The control circuit is configured to detect a voltage drop across the NTC thermistor and the open capacitor if conductive liquid enters the open area of the capacitor and electrically connects the two electrodes that are at least partially exposed via the open area.

Abstract: This application is directed to an electronic device powered by one or more rechargeable battery cells. The electronic device includes a first negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor proximate to the battery cells, and an open capacitor coupled in parallel with the NTC thermistor. The open capacitor has an open area and two electrodes that are at least partially exposed via the open area and electrically isolated. The electronic device further includes a control circuit coupled to the NTC thermistor and the open capacitor. The control circuit is configured to detect a voltage drop across the NTC thermistor and the open capacitor if conductive liquid enters the open area of the capacitor and electrically connects the two electrodes that are at least partially exposed via the open area.

Abstract: An example outdoor mounted device includes a first battery configured to operate at a low temperature range that at least includes negative 20 Celsius; a second battery configured to operate at a high temperature range; a temperature sensor; and processing circuitry configured to: determine, based on data received from the temperature sensors, a current temperature; responsive to determining that the current temperature is within the low temperature range, cause one or more components of the computing device to operate using electrical energy sourced from the first battery; and responsive to determining that the current temperature is within the high temperature range, cause the one or more components of the computing device to operate using electrical energy sourced from the second battery.

Abstract: Techniques to detect faults in a battery with at least two parallel battery cells. In some examples, a cell may fail or become disconnected. The circuitry of this disclosure may determine whether a battery pack has a fault by measuring battery parameters at the positive and negative terminals. When the circuitry detects a fault, the circuitry may adjust the charge rate so that the charge does not exceed the maximum charge rate of any single cell of the battery pack. In some examples, the circuitry may shut off the charge current to the battery pack to ensure that the charge rate does not exceed the maximum charge rate of any single cell. To avoid false positive fault detection, the circuitry of this disclosure may verify the detected fault and the parameters of the charging cycle before reducing the charging current.

Abstract: An indexed sequence of bits in a buffer is allocated for tracking a battery charging state. The indexed sequence of bits has a first number of bits. A battery voltage of a rechargeable battery is sampled at a sampling rate. For each sampled battery voltage, the battery voltage is compared with a voltage threshold. A next bit position in the indexed sequence of bits is identified. In accordance with a determination that a comparison result is true, a predefined first value is added to the next bit position. A second number of bits that are filled with the predefined first value is determined. A ratio between the second number and the first number is also determined. In accordance with a determination that the ratio exceeds a threshold step-down ratio, a battery charge voltage is stepped down. The rechargeable battery is charged to a step-down voltage.

Abstract: This application is directed to an electronic device powered by one or more rechargeable battery cells. The electronic device includes a first negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor proximate to the battery cells, and an open capacitor coupled in parallel with the NTC thermistor. The open capacitor has an open area and two electrodes that are at least partially exposed via the open area and electrically isolated. The electronic device further includes a control circuit coupled to the NTC thermistor and the open capacitor. The control circuit is configured to detect a voltage drop across the NTC thermistor and the open capacitor if conductive liquid enters the open area of the capacitor and electrically connects the two electrodes that are at least partially exposed via the open area.

Abstract: A battery provisioning method is implemented by an outdoor electronic device having a rechargeable battery. The electronic device obtains geolocation information of a geographic location where the electronic device is located. The electronic device further obtains outdoor temperature information of the geographic location based on the geolocation information. A battery setting of the rechargeable battery is determined based on the outdoor temperature information, and used to provision the rechargeable battery of this electronic device. In some implementations, the rechargeable battery is provisioned with an upper limit for a state of charge at each time of installing and initializing the electronic device. During normal operation, the rechargeable battery of the electronic device is charged up to the upper limit for the state of charge, while the upper limit for the state of charge of the rechargeable battery may be updated periodically or upon request.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery, an outer enclosure housing the battery to form a battery pack, and an expandable portion extending from the outer enclosure and allowing the battery pack to expand along an X-axis of the battery pack. The expandable portion includes an inner portion, an outer portion, and a gap portion between the inner portion and the outer portion. The inner portion and the outer portion have a sealing layer to seal off an interior space and the gap portion is devoid of the sealing layer. The sealing layer allows for fluid communication between the gap portion and the interior space when a pressure exerted on the sealing layer exceeds a pressure threshold. The expandable portion includes folds allowing the expandable portion to fold toward the battery pack in an initial folded configuration and expand away from the battery pack in an at least partially unfolded configuration.

Abstract: A method for monitoring battery degradation including receiving, from a pressure sensor, a first pressure value associated with a battery pack, comparing the first pressure reading to a first pressure threshold value and if the first pressure reading is greater than the first pressure threshold value, applying a first battery discharge pulse to the battery pack. The method further includes calculating a first internal resistance value of the battery pack in response to the first battery discharge pulse, comparing the first internal resistance value to an initial internal resistance value, and transmitting an alert to an electronic device if the first internal resistance value exceeds the initial internal resistance value.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery, a first temperature sensor configured to provide a first temperature value associated with a temperature of the battery, a heat source disposed proximate to the battery and configured to heat the battery, a second temperature sensor configured to provide a second temperature value associated with a temperature of the heat source, and a control board coupled to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, wherein the control board is configured to receive the first temperature value and the second temperature value. The control board is configured to compare the first temperature value and the second temperature value to determine a temperature gradient between the battery and the heat source and transmit an alert if the temperature gradient exceeds a first temperature gradient threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for generating power is provided. The apparatus comprises: at least one pocket (2a-h) for collecting inlet gas which rises through a liquid in which the at least one pocket may be located; an output rotor (4); and a greenhouse gas scavenger (6) for removing greenhouse gas from an inlet gas; the apparatus being configured so that collection of inlet gas causes movement of the pocket, the pocket being coupled to the output rotor so that movement of the pocket causes rotation of the output rotor. A method is also provided.

Abstract: This application is directed to a battery protection system including a sense resistor, a comparator, a switching component, and a protection integrated circuit (PIC). The sense resistor is electrically coupled in series with one of a plurality of rechargeable battery cells that are coupled in parallel in a battery. The comparator is coupled to the sense resistor and configured to compare a voltage drop across the sense resistor with a reference voltage to determine whether a subset of the rechargeable battery cells is not charging in the battery. The switching component is coupled to the battery, while the PIC is coupled to the comparator and the switching component. The PIC is configured to control charging and discharging of the battery including disabling the battery from being charged in accordance with a determination that a subset of the rechargeable battery cells is not charging in the battery.

Abstract: This application is directed to protecting a battery or battery by a battery protection system including two distinct protection integrated circuits (PICs). The two PICs are configured to determine whether a drive current of the battery is at fault and generate distinct switching signals indicating whether the drive current of the battery is at fault. The two PICs are interchangeable with each other. The battery protection system further includes control logic and two switching components. The control logic is configured to combine the switching signals provided by the two PICs to provide a combined switching signal. Each switching component is coupled to the control logic and configured to control a current path of charging and discharging the battery based on the combined switching signal.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for swelling resistant pouch batteries. In one embodiment, an example battery may include a pouch having an aluminum layer with a first portion and a second portion, and at least one cell that is partially positioned within the pouch. The at least one cell may include an anode, a separator, a cathode, and an electrolyte. Example pouch batteries may include a circuit electrically coupled to the cathode and to the first portion of the aluminum layer, where the circuit is configured to cause a electric potential difference at the aluminum layer with respect to the anode, and a first electrical contact electrically coupled to the first portion of the aluminum layer.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an electrochemical energy storage device, a non-conductive film at least partially covering the electrochemical energy storage device, and a nano-grain metallic film at least partially covering the non-conductive film. The electrochemical energy storage device may include a cathode electrode layer, an anode electrode layer, and a separator layer therebetween.

Abstract: A system and method of using light-energy to communicate with a packaged computing device is described. In some embodiments, an optical detector of the computing device stored in a container receives light energy through a light-transparent window of the container. In some embodiments, the light energy is used to charge a battery of the computing device while the computing device is in the container. In some embodiments, a pre-defined pattern of light pulses is used to transition the computing device between a sleep state and a wake state while the computing device is in the container.

Abstract: Described are techniques for improving the functionality of a computing device by regulating the temperature of an energy storage device used to power the computing device. A housing that encloses the energy storage device may include a first portion having a thermal conductivity that exceeds that of a second portion. The first portion may be configured to contact or be positioned proximate to a user's body or other heat-producing object during use. Heat from the user's body or other object may be conducted through the first portion of the housing toward the energy storage device. The less-conductive second portion of the housing may reduce the rate at which heat from the energy storage device is transmitted into the ambient environment. As a result, the temperature of the energy storage device may increase, improving the performance thereof.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for a flexible battery. The systems, methods, and computer-readable media described herein may improve user experiences and prolong the battery's life. In an example embodiment described herein, a flexible battery may include a battery laminate comprising a cathode layer having a first surface coated with an active material and a second surface coated with inactive material, wherein the second surface comprises a first segment oriented in a first orientation and a second segment connected to the first segment and oriented in a second orientation different from the first orientation.

Abstract: The time remaining until a charge-based event occurs on a computing device can be determined and notification provided to the user in order to prevent a shutdown due to loss of charge, extend the lifetime of the battery, and prevent a device lockout, among other such advantages. The current charge and information about the battery and device can be used to calculate various time periods, such as the time until a 0% state of charge (SOC) whereby a user will be unable to use the device until charging, as well as the time until a 0V lockout, whereby the device will become unusable. The time period and a charge-by date can be displayed on the device at the appropriate time(s), and notifications can be generated when the device is nearing a critical state. Such information also indicates to warehouses when devices become unsellable or at least require charging.

Abstract: A power source, designed to be bent or flexed during use, may include a layer of anode material having a length greater than a layer of cathode material to accommodate for movement of the cathode or anode layers during flexing of the power source. An enclosure containing the cathode and anode materials may include an inner protective layer proximate to the cathode and anode layers and a water-impermeable layer external to the inner protective layer. The water-impermeable layer may have a pleated or corrugated configuration that may be extended when the power source is bent under application of a flexure stress, preventing damage or deformation to the water-impermeable layer.