Abstract: A method includes steps of dividing resistance R into a physical and chemical resistances Ro and Rp, obtaining corrected open-circuit voltages Vo corresponding to setting currents Ia to Ix, acquiring predicted reaching voltages Va to Vx corresponding to the setting currents Ia to Ix, and creating a current-voltage curve. The corrected open-circuit voltages Vo are obtained to predict available maximum currents I—target in a particular time t2. The predicted reaching voltages Va to Vx are acquired based on corrected physical and chemical resistances Ro and Rp, and the corrected open-circuit voltages Vo. The current-voltage curve is creased based on the setting currents Ia to Ix and the predicted reaching voltages Va to Vx to acquire upper and lower limit voltages Vmax and Vmin, and upper and lower limit currents Imax and Imin at a temperature whereby assigning these limit currents to available maximum currents I—target in charging and discharging operations, respectively.

Abstract: A method includes steps of dividing resistance R into a physical and chemical resistances Ro and Rp, obtaining corrected open-circuit voltages Vo corresponding to setting currents Ia to Ix, acquiring predicted reaching voltages Va to Vx corresponding to the setting currents Ia to Ix, and creating a current-voltage curve. The corrected open-circuit voltages Vo are obtained to predict available maximum currents I—target in a particular time t2. The predicted reaching voltages Va to Vx are acquired based on corrected physical and chemical resistances Ro and Rp, and the corrected open-circuit voltages Vo. The current-voltage curve is creased based on the setting currents Ia to Ix and the predicted reaching voltages Va to Vx to acquire upper and lower limit voltages Vmax and Vmin, and upper and lower limit currents Imax and Imin at a temperature whereby assigning these limit currents to available maximum currents I—target in charging and discharging operations, respectively.

Abstract: A method including a remaining charge capacity determination step to determine a first remaining charge capacity from the first open circuit voltage and a second remaining charge capacity from the second open circuit voltage, a change in remaining charge capacity computation step to compute the change in remaining charge capacity from the difference between the first remaining charge capacity and the second remaining charge capacity, and a full-charge capacity computation step to compute the battery full-charge capacity from the change in remaining charge capacity and the change in charge capacity. The method computes battery full-charge capacity from the change in charge capacity and the change in remaining charge capacity when at least one of the values, namely the change in charge capacity, the change in remaining charge capacity, and the difference between the first open circuit voltage and the second open circuit voltage, is greater than a preset value.

Abstract: An SOC of each battery cell is periodically detected, and an SOCmin and an SOCmax are determined. Battery cells having the SOCs larger than SOCmin+? are selectively discharged. After an elapse of a preset equalization processing time period, discharge of all the battery cells is stopped. The equalization processing time period is set based on a rate of change in the SOC of the battery cell subjected to discharge and a rate of change in the SOC of the battery cell not subjected to discharge such that a magnitude relationship between the SOC of the battery cell having the SOCmin and the SOC of another battery cell is not reversed.

Abstract: A power supply device is provided that includes a battery pack 10, and forcedly discharging circuits 20. The battery pack 10 includes serially-connected rechargeable battery cells 2. The forcedly discharging circuits 20 are connected to the battery cells 2 in parallel so that, when a cell voltage of a battery cell is becomes higher than a predetermined voltage, this battery cell is forcedly discharged. The forcedly discharging circuits 20 are composed of analog circuits. When a cell voltage of a battery cell exceeds the predetermined voltage, one of the forcedly discharging circuits 20 corresponding to this battery cell forcedly discharges this battery cell. Since forcedly discharging circuit 20 is not composed of controlling software but is physically composed of an analog circuit, the forcedly discharging circuit can stably operate without malfunction caused by noise. A power supply device can be provided that includes a protection circuit with improved reliability.

Abstract: An SOC of each battery cell is periodically detected, and an SOCmin and an SOCmax are determined. Battery cells having the SOCs larger than SOCmin+? are selectively discharged. After an elapse of a preset equalization processing time period, discharge of all the battery cells is stopped. The equalization processing time period is set based on a rate of change in the SOC of the battery cell subjected to discharge and a rate of change in the SOC of the battery cell not subjected to discharge such that a magnitude relationship between the SOC of the battery cell having the SOCmin and the SOC of another battery cell is not reversed.

Abstract: A fully-charged battery capacity detection method includes a capacity variation detection step, an open-circuit voltage detection step, a remaining capacity determination step, a remaining capacity variation rate calculation step, and a fully-charged capacity calculation step. The capacity variation detection step calculates a capacity variation value of a battery between first detection timing and second detection timing. The open-circuit voltage detection step detects first and second open-circuit voltages of the battery at the first and second detection timing, respectively. The remaining capacity determination step determines first and second remaining capacities of the battery based on the first and second open voltages, respectively. The remaining capacity variation rate calculation step calculates a remaining capacity variation rate based on the difference between the first and second remaining capacities.

Abstract: A method includes steps of dividing resistance R into a physical and chemical resistances Ro and Rp, obtaining corrected open-circuit voltages Vo corresponding to setting currents Ia to Ix, acquiring predicted reaching voltages Va to Vx corresponding to the setting currents Ia to Ix, and creating a current-voltage curve. The corrected open-circuit voltages Vo are obtained to predict available maximum currents I—target in a particular time t2. The predicted reaching voltages Va to Vx are acquired based on corrected physical and chemical resistances Ro and Rp, and the corrected open-circuit voltages Vo. The current-voltage curve is creased based on the setting currents Ia to Ix and the predicted reaching voltages Va to Vx to acquire upper and lower limit voltages Vmax and Vmin, and upper and lower limit currents Imax and Imin at a temperature whereby assigning these limit currents to available maximum currents I—target in charging and discharging operations, respectively.

Abstract: A method of controlling battery current limit values, the method controls maximum charging and discharging current values according to the state of charge of the battery. The method of controlling current limits integrates battery charging and discharging current to compute a first state of charge, determines first charging and discharging current limit value candidates from that first state of charge, computes a second state of charge based on battery voltage, and determines second charging and discharging current limit value candidates from that second state of charge. Further, the method takes the smaller of the first and second charging and discharging current limit value candidates as the charging and discharging current limit values for charging and discharging the battery.

Abstract: A battery remaining capacity detection method calculates a remaining capacity of a battery having the possibility that a memory effect occurs by using correlation between an voltage V0 and the remaining capacity. Correlation between a reset voltage Vo reset that is obtained by subtracting a value obtained by multiplying an occurrence amount Vm based on the memory effect by a memory effect occurrence amount correction value C(SOC) from an initial voltage Vo ini and the remaining capacity is obtained, in the battery after use, based on correlation between the initial voltage Vo ini and the remaining capacity. The remaining capacity is obtained by setting the voltage V0 of the battery after use as the reset voltage V0 reset. This method provides precise battery detection without completely discharging.

Abstract: A fully-charged battery capacity detection method includes a capacity variation detection step, an open-circuit voltage detection step, a remaining capacity determination step, a remaining capacity variation rate calculation step, and a fully-charged capacity calculation step. The capacity variation detection step calculates a capacity variation value (?Ah) of a battery between first detection timing and second detection timing. The open-circuit voltage detection step detects first and second open-circuit voltages (VOCV1, VOCV2) of the battery at the first and second detection timing, respectively. The remaining capacity determination step determines first and second remaining capacities (SOC1 [%], SOC2 [%]) of the battery based on the first and second open voltages (VOCV1, VOCV2), respectively. The remaining capacity variation rate calculation step calculates a remaining capacity variation rate (?S [%]) based on the difference between the first and second remaining capacities (SOC1 [%], SOC2 [%]).

Abstract: A battery remaining capacity detection method calculates a remaining capacity of a battery having the possibility that a memory effect occurs by using correlation between an voltage V0 and the remaining capacity. Correlation between a reset voltage Vo reset that is obtained by subtracting a value obtained by multiplying an occurrence amount Vm based on the memory effect by a memory effect occurrence amount correction value C(SOC) from an initial voltage Vo ini and the remaining capacity is obtained, in the battery after use, based on correlation between the initial voltage Vo ini and the remaining capacity. The remaining capacity is obtained by setting the voltage V0 of the battery after use as the reset voltage V0 reset. This method provides precise battery detection without completely discharging.

Abstract: The method of controlling battery current limiting controls maximum charging and discharging current values according to the state of charge of the battery. The method of controlling current limiting integrates battery charging and discharging current to compute a first state of charge, determines first charging and discharging current limit value candidates from that first state of charge, computes a second state of charge based on battery voltage, and determines second charging and discharging current limit value candidates from that second state of charge. Further, the method takes the smaller of the first and second charging and discharging current limit value candidates as the charging and discharging current limit values for charging and discharging the battery.

Abstract: An electrode body in which current collecting bodies are welded to upper and lower end surfaces of a spiral electrode group formed by interposing a separator between a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate is installed into a battery case. After the current collecting body is welded to the battery case, the cylindrical body is loaded on the diameter of the current collecting body, then the blade portions are welded, then the electrolytic solution is injected, and then a pair of electrodes are arranged on the port-sealing body and the battery case while bringing the bottom surface of the port-sealing body into contact with the peripheral side surface of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A cylindrical alkaline storage battery including a spiraled electrode body composed of a pair of opposed electrodes spirally rolled up through a separator and coupled within a cylindrical casing, at least one of the electrodes being in the form of a non-sintered type electrode composed of an active material retention substrate of three dimensionally meshed structure impregnated with paste of an active material, and a current collector formed with a disc portion for connection to one end portion of the non-sintered type electrode and a lead portion for connection to a terminal, wherein the one end portion of the non-sintered type electrode is formed without impregnation of the paste of the active material, and wherein a perforated sheet metal welded to the one end portion of the non-sintered type electrode is welded at its side edge to the disc portion of the current collector.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a method of producing a hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode which is solid and enables a metal hydride storage cell, using the hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode, with high discharge characteristics in high-rate discharge and in low temperature and a long cycle life. To achieve this, the hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode is produced by firstly generating a first powder by giving a surface treatment to a hydrogen absorbing alloy powder in an acid solution, secondly generating a mixed material by mixing the first powder with a second powder which is composed of a metal which does not absorb hydrogen and/or an alloy which does not absorb hydrogen, thirdly attaching the mixed material to a base plate, and fourthly baking the base plate for sintering the mixed material attached to the base plate.