Abstract: A charger apparatus and a charging method are provided for charging/discharging battery modules connected in series. The chargers of the charger apparatus are grouped at least into a first charger group and a second charger group. The first terminal of the first charger of the first charger group is coupled to the positive terminal of the i-th battery module of the battery modules, and the second terminal of the first charger is coupled to a first node between the j-th battery module and the k-th battery module of the battery modules, wherein j ranges between i and k. The first terminal of the second charger of the second charger group is coupled to a second node between the i-th battery module and the j-th battery module, and the second terminal of the second charger is coupled to the negative terminal of the k-th battery module.

Abstract: A charging method for a rechargeable battery and a related charging architecture are provided. The provided charging method includes following steps. A characteristic curve of the rechargeable battery related to charge cycle vs. a residual capacity of a non-constant voltage charging stage under a warranty life limitation is provided. An expected residual capacity corresponding to a condition when a terminal voltage of the rechargeable battery reaches a limited charge voltage is found from the characteristic curve related to the charge cycle vs. the residual capacity of the non-constant voltage charging stage by using a current charge cycle count of the rechargeable battery. A real residual capacity corresponding to a condition when the terminal voltage of the rechargeable battery reaches the limited charge voltage approaches to the expected residual capacity by adjusting a charging current of the rechargeable battery.

Abstract: A power management method for electro-chemical batteries in low capacity state is provided, including: obtaining battery information based on device hardware, to know in advance the maximum allowable current and maximum allowable power when the battery power is low; by detecting the changes in the voltage versus current, updating BCC curve; using BCC curve as power budget to control the ON/OFF of device function thread; and determining whether the minimum battery capacity and the control restriction are reached, and when the minimum battery capacity and the control restriction are reached, turn off the battery through normal shutdown process; otherwise, return to the step of obtaining battery information.

Abstract: A heating method of a heating apparatus is provided. The heating apparatus includes a fuel cell, a power storage device, a heat-electricity conversion element, and a switching unit. The fuel cell is adapted for charging the power storage device. The power storage device is adapted for supplying electricity to the heat-electricity conversion element. The switching unit is adapted for switching the heating apparatus between a first mode and a second mode. The method includes a first heating process in which the fuel cell charges the power storage device and generates heat during a charging process, and a second heating process in which the power storage device supplies electricity to the heat-electricity conversion element and the heat-electricity conversion element generates heat. The first heating process and the second heating process are performed alternatively or simultaneously when the heating apparatus is switched to the first mode or the second mode, respectively.

Abstract: A control method of replenishing anode fuel for DMFC system is provided. The DMFC system includes at least a fuel cell, a cathode humidity-holding layer, a fuel distribution unit, a control unit, a liquid fuel replenishment device, a fuel storage region, and a temperature detecting device. The temperature detecting device is for detecting an actual temperature of the fuel cell. The control method of replenishing anode fuel includes utilizing the control unit to adjust a fuel replenishment amount supplied from the liquid fuel replenishment device. The fuel replenishment amount is the sum of a basic replenishment amount and a replenishment amount for temperature correction. The basic replenishment amount is a function of actual discharge current of the fuel cell. The replenishment amount for temperature correction is a function of the difference between the actual temperature of the fuel cell and the target temperature.

Abstract: A battery pack and a method for controlling charge-and-discharge of the battery pack by its thermoelectric property are provided, in which the battery pack has a plurality of thermal regions divided by different ranges of temperature. The battery pack includes a plurality of parallel-connected battery groups and a plurality of variable resistances. The parallel-connected battery groups are located in the thermal regions respectively, and each of the parallel-connected battery groups includes batteries connected in parallel. The variable resistances are disposed between two parallel-connected battery groups.

Abstract: A method for estimating a capacity of a battery is provided includes providing a look-up table storing data relating to a voltage and a capacity of the battery, and initializing the battery to reach an initialization state which serves as a starting point for a discharging process. The method also includes discharging the battery, from the initialization state, by a first amount of charge to reach a first state, calculating an actual capacity of the battery based on a measured amount of charge discharged from the initialization state to the first state, measuring an open-circuit voltage at the first state, obtaining a look-up capacity of the battery from the look-up table according to the open-circuit voltage measured at the first state, calculating a difference between the actual capacity and the look-up capacity, and correcting the look-up table based on the difference.

Abstract: A shutdown and self-maintenance operation process of a liquid fuel cell system is introduced. The liquid fuel cell system gives out a shutdown signal and a liquid fuel cell of the liquid fuel cell system stops discharging when receiving the shutdown signal. Thereafter, a self-maintenance operation consisting of the following four steps will be performed: (a) Supply of the cathode gas is stopped in the liquid fuel cell system. (b) After a first duration, the supply of the cathode gas is started. (c) The liquid fuel cell discharges until the output power of the liquid fuel cell is less than or equal to a first predetermined value. (d) The liquid fuel cell stops discharging and the supply of the cathode gas is stopped again. The (a) to (d) four steps are repeated several times before the liquid fuel cell system is completely stopped.

Abstract: This invention relates to parallel mechanisms and, to be more specific, mechanical devices consisting of plates connected together by several legs. The 6 degrees of freedom variable leverage motion simulator, shown in FIG. 1, basically an in-parallel actuated robotic platform with three serial subchains, features a novel design that can provide 6 degrees of freedom motion capability. Two simplified versions, shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, can provide selective 3 degrees of freedom motion. The designs also exploit the use of various pickup points which make them very easy to adapt to different actuators and to provide different leverages. Potential energy storage devices can be installed to the pickup points as a safety feature and to reduce the payload of actuators. The preferred embodiments of this invention may be used, among other things, as a motion/force simulator for flight simulation, driving simulation or object interaction and telepresence issues in virtual reality environments.