Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery including a battery element covered with a packaging member, a battery protection circuit board, a covering material, and a rippable portion formed in a part of the covering material. The battery element includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode which are spirally wound or stacked through a separator. The covering material collectively covers the battery and the battery protection circuit board. The rippable portion rips open due to a gas generated from the battery in the event of an abnormal condition to form a gas release hole for releasing the gas outside the battery pack.

Abstract: A battery pack having a secondary battery is disclosed. The battery pack comprises at least one voltage converter; and switching means for switching an operation mode of the voltage converter to one of a charging mode and a discharging mode, in the charging mode, a charging voltage being output to the secondary battery, in the discharging mode, a voltage of the secondary battery being converted into a predetermined discharging voltage and the converted voltage being output.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery including a battery element covered with a packaging member, a battery protection circuit board, a covering material, and a rippable portion formed in a part of the covering material. The battery element includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode which are spirally wound or stacked through a separator. The covering material collectively covers the battery and the battery protection circuit board. The rippable portion rips open due to a gas generated from the battery in the event of an abnormal condition to form a gas release hole for releasing the gas outside the battery pack.

Abstract: A solenoid type switch has at least two driving coils. The driving coils turn off a switch with a current for example an overcurrent that flows in the switch. The driving coils are magnetized or demagnetized by a driving circuit so as to turn on or off the switch. The driving circuit magnetizes or demagnetizes the driving coils in accordance with a control signal supplied from a controlling circuit. Thus, the switch can be turned off with the current that flows in the driving coils.

Abstract: A battery pack and method of manufacturing same are provided. The battery pack can stabilize bending of a lead housed in a space defined by an external package. Leads 2, 3 of a battery element are bonded to a circuit board housed in a top cover 6. A holder 11 is mechanically fitted to the top cover 6, made of resin molded material and produced by injection molding, for example. The edge faces of ribs 12a, 12b, 12c formed on the holder 11 serve as planes which receive the circuit board 4 in the top cover 6. The top cover 6 and the holder 11 fitted to each other are turned 90°, and moved toward the opening in the edge face of the cell 1 while bending the leads 2, 3, which are bent along the contours of both the sidewalls and bottom surface of the holder 11 and housed in a space defined by the external package. The circumferential surface of the top cover 6 is bonded by heat to the inner surface of the external package.

Abstract: A driving circuit is disclosed. The driving circuit comprises a secondary battery cell having a positive electrode and a negative electrode, first and second N-type field effect transistors each having a gate, a drain, and a source, first and second switching devices, connected between the gates of the first and second N-type field effect transistors and the negative electrode side of the secondary battery cell, for turning on and off the first and second N-type field effect transistors, driving means for controlling the first and second switching devices, first and second output terminals, and a diode having an anode and a cathode.

Abstract: A battery pack and method of manufacturing same are provided. The battery pack can stabilize bending of a lead housed in a space defined by an external package. Leads 2, 3 of a battery element are bonded to a circuit board housed in a top cover 6. A holder 11 is mechanically fitted to the top cover 6, made of resin molded material and produced by injection molding, for example. The edge faces of ribs 12a, 12b, 12c formed on the holder 11 serve as planes which receive the circuit board 4 in the top cover 6. The top cover 6 and the holder 11 fitted to each other are turned 90°, and moved toward the opening in the edge face of the cell 1 while bending the leads 2, 3, which are bent along the contours of both the sidewalls and bottom surface of the holder 11 and housed in a space defined by the external package. The circumferential surface of the top cover 6 is bonded by heat to the inner surface of the external package.

Abstract: A solenoid type switch has at least two driving coils. The driving coils turn off a switch with a current for example an overcurrent that flows in the switch. The driving coils are magnetized or demagnetized by a driving circuit so as to turn on or off the switch. The driving circuit magnetizes or demagnetizes the driving coils in accordance with a control signal supplied from a controlling circuit. Thus, the switch can be turned off with the current that flows in the driving coils.

Abstract: A battery pack having a secondary battery is disclosed. The battery pack comprises at least one voltage converter; and switching means for switching an operation mode of the voltage converter to one of a charging mode and a discharging mode, in the charging mode, a charging voltage being output to the secondary battery, in the discharging mode, a voltage of the secondary battery being converted into a predetermined discharging voltage and the converted voltage being output.

Abstract: A driving circuit is disclosed. The driving circuit comprises a secondary battery cell having a positive electrode and a negative electrode; first and second N type field effect transistors each having a gate, a drain, and a source; first and second switching devices, connected between the gates of the first and second N type field effect transistors and the negative electrode side of the secondary battery cell, for turning on and off the first and second N type field effect transistors; driving means for controlling the first and second switching devices; first and second output terminals; and a diode having an anode and a cathode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a protective apparatus for a secondary battery comprising a temperature sensing switch turned on when the ambient temperature around the secondary battery exceeds a predetermined temperature setting, and a discharging circuit electrically connected via the temperature sensing switch to the secondary battery, the discharging circuit acting to discharge that battery. The discharging circuit contains a voltage sensing switch turned on when the voltage applied to the discharging circuit exceeds a predetermined discharge starting voltage, and a discharging resistor serially connected to the voltage sensing switch.

Abstract: A device for detecting and displaying residual capacity of a battery comprises a comparator comparing detection voltages set to predetermined values and open circuit voltage. The device further contains circuitry to compensate the difference of the open circuit voltage and the closed circuit voltage of the battery. Thus the device can detect the residual capacity of the battery under conditions both with and without the external load.

Abstract: Alkaline cell comprising a cathode material, an alkaline electrolyte and an anode material, which are sealed in a container, said cathode material containing an Ni- and Ag-containing oxide wherein the trivalent nickel ion (Ni.sup.3+) and the monovalent silver ion (Ag.sup.+) are present in a substantially equimolar ratio.