Abstract: A battery polarity determination circuit includes a battery accommodating unit including a first contact and a second contact to be in contact with respective electrode terminals of a battery, a control device that is connected via a resistor to a voltage lead-out point at which a voltage of the battery is led out and determines a polarity of the battery, a connection switching circuit capable of switching between a first connection state and a second connection state, and a diode having a cathode to be connected to a voltage read-in point at which the resistor and the control device are connected to each other, and an anode to be grounded, wherein the control device determines the polarity of the battery based on a voltage at the voltage read-in point according to the connection state of the connection switching circuit, and a forward voltage of the diode is set so that the voltage at the voltage read-in point is not less than a lower limit value of an absolute maximum rating of the control device.

Abstract: This charger 1 is provided with: a battery housing unit 2 including a first contact T1 and a second contact T2 which touch the respective electrode terminals of a battery BAT to be housed therein; a high-potential power supply line 3 and a low-potential power supply line 4 to which power for charging the battery BAT is supplied; a connection switching circuit 5 capable of switching between a first connection state in which the first contact T1 is connected to the high-potential power supply line 3 and the second contact T2 is connected to the low-potential power supply line 4 and a second connection state in which the second contact T2 is connected to the high-potential power supply line 3 and the first contact T1 is connected to the low-potential power supply line 4; and a control device 7 for controlling the connection switching circuit 5 to perform charging control on the battery BAT.

Abstract: A battery pack is provided in which the battery pack itself can recognize a determination of a full charge, which is made by a charger, without using a communication line. A battery pack is provided with a secondary battery, current measurement means for measuring a charging current for charging the secondary battery, and a control circuit which receives an output signal from the current measurement means. The control circuit determines that the secondary battery is fully charged when a reduction rate of the charging current in a unit time exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A sorting mechanism includes a flap that selects a first path connecting from a battery outlet of a charging section to a battery inlet of a first compartment section as a path to introduce a first battery to the first compartment section in a case of housing the first battery in the first compartment section, and that selects a second path connecting from the battery outlet of the charging section to a battery inlet of a second compartment section as a path to introduce a second battery to the second compartment section in a case of housing the second battery in the second compartment section.

Abstract: This charger 1 is provided with: a battery housing unit 2 including a first contact T1 and a second contact T2 which touch the respective electrode terminals of a battery BAT to be housed therein; a high-potential power supply line 3 and a low-potential power supply line 4 to which power for charging the battery BAT is supplied; a connection switching circuit 5 capable of switching between a first connection state in which the first contact T1 is connected to the high-potential power supply line 3 and the second contact T2 is connected to the low-potential power supply line 4 and a second connection state in which the second contact T2 is connected to the high-potential power supply line 3 and the first contact T1 is connected to the low-potential power supply line 4; and a control device 7 for controlling the connection switching circuit 5 to perform charging control on the battery BAT.

Abstract: A charger includes: a power supply device for charging a secondary battery; a power supply path that includes a first switch and a second switch, and supplies electric power from the power supply device to the secondary battery; a discharge circuit that includes a first resistor and a third switch, has one end connected to a connection point between the first switch and the second switch, and has the other end connected to a ground line; a short-circuit preventing circuit that includes a second resistor and a fourth switch, and is connected in parallel to the first switch; and a control device that controls open-close of each switch and acquires a voltage value VP, wherein the control device detects a failure of each switch on a condition where the voltage value VP is different between a normal state and a failure state, in a combination of open-close control for each switch.

Abstract: A battery polarity determination circuit includes a battery accommodating unit including a first contact and a second contact to be in contact with respective electrode terminals of a battery, a control device that is connected via a resistor to a voltage lead-out point at which a voltage of the battery is led out and determines a polarity of the battery, a connection switching circuit capable of switching between a first connection state and a second connection state, and a diode having a cathode to be connected to a voltage read-in point at which the resistor and the control device are connected to each other, and an anode to be grounded, wherein the control device determines the polarity of the battery based on a voltage at the voltage read-in point according to the connection state of the connection switching circuit, and a forward voltage of the diode is set so that the voltage at the voltage read-in point is not less than a lower limit value of an absolute maximum rating of the control device.

Abstract: A charging circuit includes a first power source circuit that supplies charging power to secondary batteries; a switch that controls the supply of the power; and a control device that performs switching control of the switch. The control device detects a voltage difference between the secondary batteries before starting charging; starts a timer and starts serial charging of the secondary batteries; on the condition that the voltage difference before the charging has been equal to or larger than a first threshold, if respective voltage values of the secondary batteries have both become equal to or larger than a second threshold before the timer expires, shortens a remaining time on the timer at that time point; and finishes the serial charging of the secondary batteries at the earlier of a time point when the secondary batteries have both become fully charged, or a time point when the timer has expired.

Abstract: A sorting mechanism includes a flap that selects a first path connecting from a battery outlet of a charging section to a battery inlet of a first compartment section as a path to introduce a first battery to the first compartment section in a case of housing the first battery in the first compartment section, and that selects a second path connecting from the battery outlet of the charging section to a battery inlet of a second compartment section as a path to introduce a second battery to the second compartment section in a case of housing the second battery in the second compartment section.

Abstract: A charger includes: a power supply device for charging a secondary battery; a power supply path that includes a first switch and a second switch, and supplies electric power from the power supply device to the secondary battery; a discharge circuit that includes a first resistor and a third switch, has one end connected to a connection point between the first switch and the second switch, and has the other end connected to a ground line; a short-circuit preventing circuit that includes a second resistor and a fourth switch, and is connected in parallel to the first switch; and a control device that controls open-close of each switch and acquires a voltage value VP, wherein the control device detects a failure of each switch on a condition where the voltage value VP is different between a normal state and a failure state, in a combination of open-close control for each switch.

Abstract: A charger includes: a charging circuit which receives an electric power from external equipment and charges a secondary battery; a control device which determines a power supply capability of the external equipment on the basis of the electric power that is supplied to the charging circuit from the external equipment; and a display device that displays the power supply capability of the external equipment, which has been determined by the control device.

Abstract: A charging circuit includes a first power source circuit that supplies charging power to secondary batteries; a switch that controls the supply of the power; and a control device that performs switching control of the switch. The control device detects a voltage difference between the secondary batteries before starting charging; starts a timer and starts serial charging of the secondary batteries; on the condition that the voltage difference before the charging has been equal to or larger than a first threshold, if respective voltage values of the secondary batteries have both become equal to or larger than a second threshold before the timer expires, shortens a remaining time on the timer at that time point; and finishes the serial charging of the secondary batteries at the earlier of a time point when the secondary batteries have both become fully charged, or a time point when the timer has expired.

Abstract: A charger of the present invention includes a charging circuit that allows a secondary battery to be charged, a state-of-charge detection circuit that detects a state of charge of the secondary battery, a pictogram display unit that displays the state of charge of the secondary battery, and a control device that controls the charging circuit and the pictogram display unit on the basis of the state of charge of the secondary battery. The control device determines a kind of electronic apparatus available by the secondary battery in accordance with the state of charge of the secondary battery, and then displays the kind of electronic apparatus available on the pictogram display unit.

Abstract: A charger includes: a charging circuit which receives an electric power from external equipment and charges a secondary battery; a control device which determines a power supply capability of the external equipment on the basis of the electric power that is supplied to the charging circuit from the external equipment; and a display device that displays the power supply capability of the external equipment, which has been determined by the control device.

Abstract: A charger of the present invention includes a charging circuit that allows a secondary battery to be charged, a state-of-charge detection circuit that detects a state of charge of the secondary battery, a pictogram display unit that displays the state of charge of the secondary battery, and a control device that controls the charging circuit and the pictogram display unit on the basis of the state of charge of the secondary battery. The control device determines a kind of electronic apparatus available by the secondary battery in accordance with the state of charge of the secondary battery, and then displays the kind of electronic apparatus available on the pictogram display unit.

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: 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.