Abstract: A battery pack includes a secondary battery, a connector that can be detachably connected to multiple different types of devices, control circuitry that controls power supply from the secondary battery and charge of the secondary battery, a detector that outputs the detected state of the secondary battery as secondary battery information, a first memory that stores the secondary battery information, a second memory that stores a recommendation table in which each of multiple conditions predetermined for the state of the secondary battery and a recommended device are associated with each other, a determiner that determines a recommended device from among the devices using the secondary battery information and recommendation table, and an informer that reports information indicating the recommended device determined by the determiner to the user.

Abstract: A fuel cell activation apparatus including: a storage battery; a first current sensor detecting a current outputted by the storage battery; a first switch switching between supplying the current outputted by the storage battery and supplying a current provided from the system power supply; a second switch switching between transmitting a result of detecting by the first current sensor and transmitting a result of detecting by a second current sensor which detects the current provided from the system power supply; and a control unit switching between a normal mode for activating, based on the result of detection performed by the second current sensor, the fuel cell using the current provided from the system power supply and a self-sustained mode for activating, based on the result of detection performed by the first current sensor, the fuel cell using the current outputted by the storage battery.

Abstract: An electricity distribution device is connected to a system power supply and a battery pack, and includes: a primary power converter circuit converting DC electric power discharged from the battery pack into electric power supplied to the load; a first switch switching conducting and non-conducting states between the primary power converter circuit and the load; and a control circuitry controlling the first switch to switch the conducting and non-conducting states between the primary power converter circuit and the load. The primary power convertor circuit consumes DC electric power discharged from the battery pack, in a state where the first switch switches the non-conducting state between the primary power convertor circuit and the load, and a current value is acquired when discharging from the fully-charged state to an empty state. The fully-charged capacity of the battery pack is measured using the acquired current value.

Abstract: In a battery charger cradle, a battery incorporated in a battery built-in device is charged by electric power induced to an induction coil. The cradle includes a primary coil for inducing electromotive force to the induction coil, a casing having a top plate atop of which the battery built-in device is placed, a movement mechanism for moving the primary coil along an inner surface of the top plate, and a position detection controller for detecting a position of the battery built-in device placed on the top plate and controlling the movement mechanism to bring the primary coil closer to the induction coil in the battery built-in device. When the battery built-in device is placed on the top plate, the position detection controller detects the position of the battery built-in device, and the movement mechanism moves the primary coil closer to the induction coil in the battery built-in device.

Abstract: An electric power management device is an electric power management device that is provided in a facility connected to an electric power system and connects to a mobile unit provided with a power generator and an electricity storage device and includes a receiver operative to accept an instruction for selecting one of a first mode in which generated electric power of the power generator is preferentially supplied to an outside of the mobile unit and a second mode in which the electricity storage device is preferentially charged with the generated electric power of the power generator and control circuitry operative to change a supply destination of the generated electric power of the power generator in accordance with the instruction accepted by the receiver.

Abstract: In a battery charger cradle, a battery incorporated in a battery built-in device is charged by electric power induced to an induction coil. The cradle includes a primary coil for inducing electromotive force to the induction coil, a casing having a top plate atop of which the battery built-in device is placed, a movement mechanism for moving the primary coil along an inner surface of the top plate, and a position detection controller for detecting a position of the battery built-in device placed on the top plate and controlling the movement mechanism to bring the primary coil closer to the induction coil in the battery built-in device. When the battery built-in device is placed on the top plate, the position detection controller detects the position of the battery built-in device, and the movement mechanism moves the primary coil closer to the induction coil in the battery built-in device.

Abstract: A battery pack has a communicator storing various communication protocols. When new hardware is connected thereto, the battery pack sequentially transmits a respective communication request signal to request communication with the hardware using a stored communication protocol, and establishes communication. The battery pack transmits the communication request signal using a standard such as a compatibility priority among communication protocols, a frequency priority for communication protocols used according to a history record, a communication speed priority for communication protocols, and so on, thereby achieving quick establishment of communication.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes: a connection unit to which a battery pack is connected; a power conversion unit which converts direct current power output from the battery pack via the connection unit into a first power; a power plug which is connected to an external power source; a power supplying unit to which a power receiving unit of the external apparatus is connected to supply the first power output from the power conversion unit or a second power which is the power supplied from the external power source via the power plug; and a switching unit which switches between outputting the first power to the power supplying unit and outputting the second power to the power supplying unit.

Abstract: A distribution board includes: a storage battery including one or more storage batteries and electrically connected to a predetermined load; a detector which detects a power outage state in which no electric power is being supplied from a power system; a first switch between the power system and the storage battery; and a controller which controls at least the first switch. When the detector detects the power outage state, the controller turns off the first switch to electrically disconnect the storage battery and the power system, and the storage battery causes the one or more storage batteries to discharge and supplies electric power to the controller and the predetermined load.

Abstract: The fuel cell system includes: a power generation unit; an obtaining unit obtaining battery information indicating a storage state of a storage battery; and a control unit selecting one of a first control mode and a second control mode based on the battery information when load power changes from a first load power to a second load power, the first control mode being for supplying power from the power generation unit to the load by causing the power generation unit to generate power without causing the storage battery to charge and/or discharge, the second control mode being for causing the power generation unit to generate power with a change rate of generation power being set to a value smaller than a value in the first control mode, by causing the storage battery to charge and/or discharge.

Abstract: A distribution board includes: a pack housing unit which houses a battery pack and includes a connecting unit; and a charge control unit. The battery pack includes a connecting terminal unit for charge and discharge of power and can supply power to the distribution board and another device different from the distribution board. The connecting unit is connectable to and disconnectable from the connecting terminal unit. The charge control unit converts AC power supplied from a power system into DC power, and supplies the DC power to the battery pack housed in the pack housing unit to charge the battery pack.

Abstract: In a battery charger cradle, a battery incorporated in a battery built-in device is charged by electric power induced to an induction coil. The cradle includes a primary coil for inducing electromotive force to the induction coil, a casing having a top plate atop of which the battery built-in device is placed, a movement mechanism for moving the primary coil along an inner surface of the top plate, and a position detection controller for detecting a position of the battery built-in device placed on the top plate and controlling the movement mechanism to bring the primary coil closer to the induction coil in the battery built-in device. When the battery built-in device is placed on the top plate, the position detection controller detects the position of the battery built-in device, and the movement mechanism moves the primary coil closer to the induction coil in the battery built-in device.

Abstract: In a battery charger cradle, a battery incorporated in a battery built-in device is charged by electric power induced to an induction coil. The cradle includes a primary coil for inducing electromotive force to the induction coil, a casing having a top plate atop of which the battery built-in device is placed, a movement mechanism for moving the primary coil along an inner surface of the top plate, and a position detection controller for detecting a position of the battery built-in device placed on the top plate and controlling the movement mechanism to bring the primary coil closer to the induction coil in the battery built-in device. When the battery built-in device is placed on the top plate, the position detection controller detects the position of the battery built-in device, and the movement mechanism moves the primary coil closer to the induction coil in the battery built-in device.

Abstract: A line switching system is a line switching system which switches line of a power supply system including: a plurality of PV panels which generate power using renewable energy; at least one PCS which conditions supplied power to output the conditioned power to a power system; and a first switch which connects any one of the PV panels and the PCS, wherein the line switching system includes a display device which displays an image corresponding to the power supply system and receives an operation on the image from the user, and a control unit which is configured to switch between conduction and non-conduction between a plurality of PV panels and the PCS by controlling the first switch according to the operation received by the display device.

Abstract: In a battery charger cradle, a battery incorporated in a battery built-in device is charged by electric power induced to an induction coil. The cradle includes a primary coil for inducing electromotive force to the induction coil, a casing having a top plate atop of which the battery built-in device is placed, a movement mechanism for moving the primary coil along an inner surface of the top plate, and a position detection controller for detecting a position of the battery built-in device placed on the top plate and controlling the movement mechanism to bring the primary coil closer to the induction coil in the battery built-in device. When the battery built-in device is placed on the top plate, the position detection controller detects the position of the battery built-in device, and the movement mechanism moves the primary coil closer to the induction coil in the battery built-in device.

Abstract: In a battery charger cradle, a battery incorporated in a battery built-in device is charged by electric power induced to an induction coil. The cradle includes a primary coil for inducing electromotive force to the induction coil, a casing having a top plate atop of which the battery built-in device is placed, a movement mechanism for moving the primary coil along an inner surface of the top plate, and a position detection controller for detecting a position of the battery built-in device placed on the top plate and controlling the movement mechanism to bring the primary coil closer to the induction coil in the battery built-in device. When the battery built-in device is placed on the top plate, the position detection controller detects the position of the battery built-in device, and the movement mechanism moves the primary coil closer to the induction coil in the battery built-in device.

Abstract: A charging pad is provided with a power supply coil, and a device housing a battery containing an induction coil. The device housing a battery is provided with a rectifying circuit that rectifies AC power induced in the induction coil, a charging circuit that charges the internal battery with output from the rectifying circuit, a shorting circuit that short circuits the terminals of the induction coil, and a control circuit that controls the shorting circuit ON when a charging abnormality is detected. If the control circuit detects a charging abnormality during power transmission from the charging pad power supply coil to the device housing a battery induction coil, it controls the shorting circuit ON to cut-off the supply of power from the induction coil to the rectifying circuit.

Abstract: A battery pack, instead of size AA batteries, is loaded in a battery storage compartment of an electronic device. The battery pack includes a battery casing, a plurality of size AAA batteries, a battery holder, a circuit board, and an induction coil electromagnetically connected to a primary coil of a battery charger cradle. The size AAA batteries are accommodated in the battery casing in a spaced-apart manner where a distance between longitudinal axes of the size AAA batteries is larger than a distance between longitudinal axes of the size AA batteries loaded in the battery storage compartment, and a storage space is defined between the adjacent size AAA batteries. With an electronic component, mounted on the circuit board, being disposed in the storage space, the battery pack accommodates the size AAA batteries, the battery holder, the circuit board, and the induction coil in a mutually layered state in the battery casing.

Abstract: A device housing a battery (50) includes a receiving coil (51), and a charging pad (10) includes a transmitting coil (11) that magnetically couples with, and supplies charging power to the receiving coil. The device further includes a modulator circuit (61) that changes the impedance of the receiving coil according to internal battery data. The charging pad further includes a detection circuit (17) that detects receiving coil impedance changes to detect the battery data. The modulator circuit has a load circuit (62) connected in parallel with the receiving coil and has a series-connected switching device (64) and impedance modulating capacitor (63), and a control circuit (65) that switches the load circuit switching device ON and OFF according to the battery data. The modulator circuit switches the switching device 64 ON and OFF to transmit battery data to the charging pad.

Abstract: A battery charging pad includes a moving mechanism that moves the transmitting coil, and a position detection controller that detects the position of a device housing a battery and controls the moving mechanism to move the transmitting coil in close proximity to a receiving coil. Pulse signals are supplied to a plurality of position detection coils from a pulse generator, and the echo signals are a result of coil excitation by the pulse signals. The battery charging pad position detection controller detects the position of the receiving coil and moves the transmitting coil in close proximity to the receiving coil, and the position detection controller detects the position of the transmitting coil and moves the transmitting coil to the reference position, or it moves the transmitting coil in close proximity to the receiving coil.