Abstract: An open contactor bypass system for a battery is disclosed. The battery system has a positive and a negative output terminals, a battery management system, and a latching contactor in series with the positive and negative terminals. The latching contactor is operable between an open state and a closed state, under control of the battery management system. The open contactor bypass circuit may permit charging of the battery when the battery is coupled to a battery charger and the latching contactor is in the open state. The open contactor bypass circuit may comprise a bypass circuit disposed across the latching contactor for permitting charging current from the battery charger to flow through the bypass circuit, to bypass the open state contactor and charge the battery.

Abstract: A battery system having a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal is disclosed. The positive output terminal and the negative output terminal are adapted to provide power to an external load. The battery system comprises a relay including a contactor, a battery cell for providing electrical power to the external load via the contactor, and a battery management system. The battery management system includes a controller. The controller is adapted to manage operation of the contactor. The battery management system includes a power supply circuit adapted to provide regulated power to the controller and a standby circuit comprising a bistable latch powered by the battery cell. The standby circuit is coupled to the power supply circuit of the battery management system, to selectively provide power to the power supply circuit.

Abstract: A capacitively coupled data link for a battery is disclosed. The battery comprises a battery cell and a battery management system. The battery is disposed in a battery case. The data li communicates data between the battery management system and a data terminal disposed outside of the battery case. The data link comprises an interior date link portion coupled to the battery management system. The interior data link portion comprises an interior electrode disposed on an inside surface of the battery case and an interior transceiver disposed inside of the battery case coupled to the interior electrode. The data link further comprises an exterior data link portion coupled to data terminal. The exterior data link portion comprises an exterior electrode disposed o outside surface of the battery case opposite the interior electrode, and an exterior transceiver disposed outside of the battery case coupled to the exterior electrode.

Abstract: For a battery system including a battery pack and a battery management system, the battery system having output battery terminals, a method and apparatus for preventing inadvertent connection and disconnection the output battery terminals from the battery pack is disclosed.

Abstract: For a battery system including a battery pack and a battery management system, the battery system having output battery terminals, a method and apparatus for preventing inadvertent connection and disconnection the output battery terminals from the battery pack is disclosed.

Abstract: A novel, small outline molded, high voltage, lead frame based integrated circuit package is described. The integrated circuit die has at least one high voltage I/O pad that is electrically connected to an associated high voltage lead/pin in the lead frame. All of the pins of the lead frame that are not high voltage pins have a standard pitch between adjacent pins on the same side of the lead frame that is no more than approximately 0.5 mm. The pitch between each high voltage pin and an adjacent pin is double the standard pitch. The high voltage I/O pad is arranged to handle output signals having voltages of at least 30 volts. In some embodiments, the lead frame is formed from a copper or copper alloy based material and exposed portions of the pins are plated with a lead/tin based solder material.

Abstract: A jacketed high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp comprising an arc tube having main electrodes at opposite ends and a starter electrode, has a resistor and a diode in series bridged across the main electrodes which are connected across a peaked lead ballast in operation. A second resistor connects the starting electrode to the remote main electrode. The circuit lowers the minimum open circuit voltage required from the ballast for reliable starting.