Abstract: A power adapter with replaceable plug structure includes a plug and a housing. The plug includes a contact point. The housing includes an assembly member configured for detachably engaging the plug. The housing includes a left cover, a right cover and an assembly plate. When the left cover and the right cover are assembled, the assembly plate is disposed between the left cover and the right cover. One or more slots are disposed on the assembly plate to form a resilient area. The resilient area includes an electrical conductor. The electrical conductor is in contact with the contact point when the plug is assembled onto the housing.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for collecting data for nondestructive evaluation of the quality of a crimped wire connector are provided. The process involves providing a crimping tool having an anvil and opposing jaw for crimping a terminal onto a stranded wire, moving the jaw relative to the anvil to close the distance between the jaw and the anvil and thereby compress the terminal against the wire, while transmitting ultrasonic waves that are propagated through the terminal wire combination and received at a receiving ultrasonic transducer as the jaw is moved relative to the anvil, and detecting and recording the position of the jaw relative to the anvil as a function of time and detecting and recording the amplitude of the ultrasonic wave that is received at the receiving ultrasonic transducer as a function of time as the jaw is moved relative to the anvil.

Abstract: A terminal group includes: a plurality of pin terminals, each pin terminal being formed of a metal wire of a predetermined length and being to be press-fitted and held in each of a plurality of terminal insertion holes of a connector housing. Some of the plurality of pin terminals have different overall lengths. The plurality of pin terminals respectively have a pair of press-fitting supports that protrude from both side edges of each of the plurality of pin terminals in a width direction at the same distant positions from a distal end in an insertion direction, and insertion direction rear end side surfaces of the press-fitting supports receive reaction force with respect to the terminal insertion holes in press-fitting.

Abstract: A back shell apparatus receives a cable having conductors extending through the apparatus for attaching to a connector. The back shell includes at least two clam shell halves that mate to surround the conductors. The back shell allows for angular configurations of the cable and connector by including flexible bellows through which the conductors extend. The bellows are respectively expandable and retractable about the conductors. The back shell apparatus further includes a modular cable adapter that receives a respectively sized cable terminus from which the conductors extend into the bellows toward a connector. The back shell apparatus further includes a coupling nut adapter holding a respectively sized coupling nut that mates with the connector.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a dual beamsplitting element based excimer laser pulse stretching device comprising two beam splitting elements and one confocal resonator. The first beamsplitting element splits incident laser beam into two beams, one beam enters the confocal resonator, generates a certain time delay and then is incident on the second beamsplitting element, and the second beam is directly incident on the second beamsplitting element. The second beamsplitting element further splits each of the incident laser beams into two beams, one of the two beams enters the confocal resonator, generates a certain time delay and is returned back to the first beamsplitting element to be further split, and the other of the two beams is combined with other beams which are direct outputs after being split by the beamsplitting elements or being optically delayed by the confocal resonator to form a stretched output beam.

Abstract: A power supply and circuitry system for powering HVPT devices includes a power supply circuit that selectively provides an operating power and a simmer power to multiple HVPT devices. The system also includes a trigger circuit for each respective HVPT device that selectively couples the power supply circuit to one HVPT device to provide the operating power thereto. The system also includes a simmer control circuit for selectively coupling the power supply circuit to the HVPT devices to provide the simmer power thereto, the simmer control circuit further including a simmer switch circuit for each HVPT device, wherein each simmer switch circuit comprises an input coupled to the power supply circuit to receive the simmer power therefrom and an output coupled to one HVPT device. The simmer control circuit also further includes a simmer drive circuit coupled to each simmer switch circuit for selectively enabling the simmer switch circuits.

Abstract: An optical amplifier includes a multi-mode pump laser module, a multi-mode waveguide, a multi-mode to multiple single-mode fiber converter module and a plurality of single-mode cores. The multi-mode pump laser module emits pump light having a plurality of modes to the multi-mode fiber or waveguide. The multi-mode waveguide propagates the emitted pump light to the converter module. The converter module receives the pump light and distributes the pump light approximately uniformly to a plurality of single-mode cores.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed towards a stabilized laser including a laser to produce light at a frequency and a resonator coupled to the laser such that the light from the laser circulates therethrough. The laser also includes Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) feedback electronics configured to adjust the frequency of the light from the laser to reduce phase noise in response to light sensed at the reflection port of the resonator and transmission port feedback electronics configured to adjust the frequency of the light from the laser toward resonance of the resonator at the transmission port in response to the light sensed at the transmission port of the resonator, wherein the transmission port feedback electronics adjust the frequency at a rate at least ten times slower than the PDH feedback electronics.

Abstract: A system for self-aligning assembly and packaging of semiconductor lasers allows reduction of time, cost and testing expenses for high power density systems. A laser package mounting system, such as a modified TO-can (transistor outline can), has modifications that increase heat transfer from the active laser to a heat exchanger or other heat sink. A prefabricated heat exchanger assembly mounts both a laser package and one or more lenses. Direct mounting of a fan assembly to the package further minimizes assembly steps. Components may be physically and optically aligned during assembly by clocking and other indexing means, so that the entire system is self-aligned and focused by the assembly process without requiring post-assembly adjustment. This system can lower costs and thereby enable the use of high powered semiconductor lasers in low cost, high volume production, such as consumer items.

Abstract: Laser diode apparatus, comprising a carrier (1) having a carrier top (11), a laser diode chip (4) arranged on the carrier top (11) emitting, during operation, electromagnetic radiation through a radiating face (5), which radiating face (5) runs perpendicularly to the carrier top (11), and at least one optical element (6) to deflect at least some of the electromagnetic radiation radiated by the laser diode chip (4) perpendicularly to the carrier top (11). By the use of a plurality of laser diode chips having wavelengths that differ very slightly from one another, speckles can be reduced. By means of a retarder plate (8) between the laser diode chip and the optical element it is possible to influence the polarization. A polarization cube enables the deflected light beam bundles to fully cover one another as differently polarized light beam bundles.

Abstract: A circuit system includes: a first optoelectronic semiconductor component situated with an n-conductive surface facing an electrically conductive support surface and connected to the support surface in an electrically conductive manner; and a second optoelectronic semiconductor component situated with a p-conductive surface facing the support surface and connected to the support surface in an electrically conductive manner.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a burst-mode laser comprising an active layer and configured to emit an optical signal during a burst period, wherein a temperature change of the burst-mode laser causes the optical signal to shift in wavelength, and a heater thermally coupled to the active layer and configured to reduce a wavelength shift of the optical signal during the burst period by applying heat to the active layer based on timing of the burst period.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device assembly includes (A) a semiconductor laser element and (B) a diffraction grating that configures an external resonator, returns diffraction light other than zero-th order diffraction light to the semiconductor laser element, and outputs the zero-th order diffraction light to the outside. An extension direction of a diffraction surface of the diffraction grating and a main vibration direction of a field of a laser beam incident on the diffraction grating are substantially parallel to each other.

Abstract: A modulated light source includes a ring modulator, a first optical waveguide and a second optical waveguide that are optically connected to the ring modulator, and a third optical waveguide that optically connects an end of the first optical waveguide and an end of the second optical waveguide. At least part of the third optical waveguide has optical gain, and an optical waveguide loop including the ring modulator, the first optical waveguide, the second optical waveguide, and the third optical waveguide is used as a resonator to cause laser oscillation.

Abstract: An elevated automatic transfer switch (ATS) cabinet provides modular and incremental power support redundancy to a set of electrical loads which reduces capital waste and increases the floor space which can be occupied by electrical loads. The cabinet includes a mounting element which can be coupled to a free-standing structure proximate to the floor space, so that the cabinet is supported by the structure in an elevated position and is freed from occupying floor space. The cabinet includes slots in which separate ATS modules can be installed via blind mate connections, thereby enabling modular and incremental installation of ATS support capacity in the cabinet based on incremental installation of electrical loads. The cabinet can physically couple with power cables extending from separate electrical loads, so that the cabinet electrically couples ATS modules to electrical loads independently of branch circuits between the cabinet and the electrical loads.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for placing at least one duct/communication cable below a road surface in an area, said area comprising a first layer (L1 and a second layer (L2), said first layer (L1) being a road layer, such as asphalt or concrete, and said second layer (L2) being a bearing layer for said first layer (L1) and being located below said first layer (L1), said method comprising the steps of: cutting a micro trench in said area through said first layer (L1) into said second layer (L2); placing at least one duct/communication cable in said micro trench so that said at least one duct/communication cable is placed below said first layer (L1); and filling said micro trench so as to restore said road surface.

Abstract: An enhanced apparatus and method for securing a wire to a pulling cable for pulling wire. Specifically, the pulling cable and wire are attached via a pulling head body. The wire is inserted into an end of the pulling head body and secured by crimping the pulling head body against the wire. Further, crimp zone indicators positioned on the outer surface of the pulling head body indicate the optimal zone of crimping to achieve substantial contact between the pulling head body and the wire. A pulling cable is secured to the pulling head body via a ball swage that comprises a tapped surface.

Abstract: An integrated shielding protector and a wire harness are provided so that the man-hours concerning the wiring operation can be reduced, and the number of components also can be reduced. A conductive integrated shielding protector, including a first high voltage accommodating part, a second high voltage accommodating part and a low voltage accommodating part, is used when first high voltage wires the voltage of which is high, second high voltage wires the voltage of which is high but lower than that of the first high voltage wires, and low voltage wires the voltage of which is low are wired in parallel in the same course. A wire harness, including the integrated shielding protector, the first high voltage wires, the second high voltage wires and the low voltage wires, is wired inside a vehicle compartment.

Abstract: An electrical box includes a housing having a mounting plate and a housing body; and a cover rotatably mounted to the housing to cover a central opening in the mounting plate when the cover is in a closed configuration and to allow access to the central opening when the cover is in an open configuration. The housing body includes at least one chamber for receiving an electrical device mounted therein and for receiving a cable for connecting to the electrical device. The housing body is coupled to the mounting plate by a plurality of rib members to form a gap between the housing body and the mounting plate. The cover includes fluid directing elements that project downwardly from the cover and which are received within the gap between the housing body and the mounting plate when the cover is in the closed configuration.

Abstract: A cable retainer for a downhole tubing string includes a body; a detent extending from the body; a relief between the detent and the body facilitating deflection of the detent to allow passage of a cable; and a detent lip extending from the detent. A method for securing a cable to a tubular.

Abstract: A device for preventing the intrusion of water or other liquids into the interior of an automatic splice. The device includes a series of fingers that contact the cable stranding and wick water away from the cable and out of the connector. These fingers could be integrally molded into the cable cone or molded as a separate piece and inserted. They could also be constructed of any typical brush material such as metal, plastic, rubber, or fiber. The fingers could be arranged in a variety of configurations.

Abstract: An electronic module (100) has a first and a second circuit (200, 300) with respective first and second output connections (230, 330), respective first and second reference potential connections (220, 320), and respective first and second sensing connections (240, 340), each circuit (200, 300) comprising a respective sensing block (250, 350), which at its input side is connected to the respective sensing connection (240, 340) and to the respective reference potential connection (220, 320). The first sensing connection (240) is either connected to the first output connection (230) or to the second output connection (330). The second sensing connection (340) is connected to the second output connection (330). The sensing blocks (250, 350) are configured to detect a failure of the electronic module (100) with respect to its respective reference potential connection (220, 320) and to indicate a detected failure by providing a failure signal at its respective output connection (230, 330).

Abstract: A power management and distribution (PMAD) system includes a main DC bus, an auxiliary DC bus, a power converter, one or more hybrid solid-state circuit breakers, and a controller. The power converter converts power from the main DC bus to provide a regulated output to the auxiliary bus. Each hybrid SSCB includes a main switch connected between the main DC bus and a load and an auxiliary switch connected between the auxiliary DC bus and the load. The controller selectively turns the main switch and the auxiliary switch On/Off to selectively supply power from the main DC bus and/or the auxiliary DC bus to the load, and to selectively regulate the voltage on the auxiliary DC bus.

Abstract: A load driving device includes a driving switching element, an interrupting part, a short-circuiting switching element, and a protecting element. The driving switching element drives a load by controlling energization to the load. The interrupting part is disposed on an energizing path to the load. The interrupting part is not melted by a driving current to the load and is melted by an interrupting current larger than the driving current so as to interrupt energization to the load. The short-circuiting switching element is connected in parallel with the load and applies the interrupting current to the interrupting part. The protecting element protects the short-circuiting switching element.

Abstract: A system including an electromagnetic braking system that has an eddy current brake. The eddy current brake includes an electrically conductive surface coupled to a shaft of a generator system, wherein the eddy current brake is configured to induce an electromagnetic force on the electrically conductive surface when powered. The electromagnetic braking system further includes a supercapacitor coupled to the eddy current brake, wherein the supercapacitor is configured to discharge to power the eddy current brake for the duration of a ride through event of the generator system, and the supercapacitor is configured to supply a threshold current to the eddy current brake within approximately 100 ms of a start of the ride through event.

Abstract: An electrical overstress (EOS) protection circuit that at least partially neutralizes or compensates for undershoot and overshoot in first and second signals that are communicated using differential signaling, such as with USB communications. For an undershoot, the EOS protection circuit injects charge into pads that receive the first and second signals. For an overshoot, the EOS protection circuit drains charge from the pad that receives the second signal and injects charge into the pad that receives the first signal.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: an output transistor; and a current detection section. The output transistor controls electric power supply from an electric power source to a load. The current detection section detects a current flowing through the output transistor. The current detection section has a current detection characteristic in which a current detection value has approximately linier and negative dependence on a drain-source voltage of the output transistor.

Abstract: A surge suppression device comprising a voltage sensitive element, heat sensitive materials, terminals, a blocking element and a non-conductive barrier is disclosed. One of the terminals comprises an arm portion, a contact portion and an extension portion extended from the contact portion. The blocking element has a part engaging with the extension portion and another part contacting with the barrier and separating the barrier from the arm portion of the terminal. The device has higher structural stability and sensitivity and is only failed in the event that the voltage sensitive element is failed due to aging or grid fault.

Abstract: A touch control device with enhanced ESD protection effect comprises a sensing circuit module; a plurality of signal lines electrically connected with the sensing circuit module; an ESD protection ring disposed on periphery of the sensing circuit module and the signal lines; and an ESD shield ring interposed between the signal lines and the ESD protection ring. A touch on the sensing circuit module induces a sensation signal. While the signal lines transmit the sensation signal, the electrostatic charges generated thereby is drained off by the ESD protection ring. The ESD shield ring can drain off the residual electrostatic charges that the ESD protection ring does not drain off. Therefore, the present invention can exempt the touch control device from ESD interference, guarantee the accuracy of signal transmission, and protect the electronic elements of the touch control device.

Abstract: An ESD protection system for an internal circuit is disclosed. The ESD protection system comprises an ESD clamping device connected between a pad and a ground of a first domain); a pre-driver having an output coupled to a gate of the ESD clamping device); an ESD control circuit connected between the pre-driver and the internal circuit; and a transient detection unit coupled to the ESD control circuit, configured to detect an ESD transient from the pad of the first domain. The transient detection unit outputs an first signal to the control circuit upon detection of an ESD transient. In response, the control circuit causes the pre-driver to output a high-impedance state at the gate of the ESD clamping device, thereby floating the gate thereof.

Abstract: An example, overvoltage protection device includes a switch and a surge protection device that is selectively activated by actuating the switch. The switch is actuated in response to a voltage. An example method of absorbing an overvoltage includes sensing a voltage, and selectively activating a surge protection device in response to the sensed voltage.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes multiple I/O banks, each bank having multiple I/O-ESD tiles, each tile having one or more I/O circuits and electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuitry for the one or more I/O circuits in the tile. The ESD circuitry for one tile includes at least one RC-triggered clamp, whose resistance is provided by a resistor shared by one or more other RC-triggered clamps in one or more other tiles of the same bank and whose capacitance is provided by a combination of distributed capacitors, one for each of those two or more RC-triggered clamps. Each tile may have multiple instances of such RC-triggered clamps providing ESD protection for different (e.g., power supply and/or bus) nodes. The shared resistors are variable to allow different instances of the same ESD circuitry design to be implemented with the same time constant for different banks having different numbers of tiles.

Abstract: There is provided a power supply circuit including a first series regulator including a first semiconductor element and a first constant voltage source, and a second series regulator including a second semiconductor element and a second constant voltage source, wherein the first series regulator and the second series regulator are cascaded and an input voltage to the first series regulator is a high voltage equal to or greater than 500 V.

Abstract: A method of controlling operation of a hybrid continuous current supply, the current supply including a fuel cell stack, a battery, and a DC/DC converter including an input and an output, the converter input being connected to the fuel cell stack output and the output being connected to a variable load in parallel with the battery, the fuel cell stack being formed of a plurality of electrochemical cells configured to produce electricity from a fuel and an oxidizing gas.

Abstract: A power transmission and distribution system includes a supplying side having a current source and a receiving side. The receiving side includes a modular converter with plurality of direct current (DC)-alternating current (AC) current source converters connected in series with the current source and a plurality of AC-DC rectifiers connected in parallel to supply power to a multiplicity of loads. Each of the DC-AC current source converters supply power to a corresponding AC-DC rectifier and includes a plurality of reverse blocking fully controllable switches having bidirectional voltage blocking capability. Furthermore, a current from the current source flows in at least one reverse blocking fully controllable switch at any instant.

Abstract: In a cogeneration apparatus having a power generation unit connected to an AC power feed line between a commercial power source and electric load, and an internal combustion engine, a switch is installed between the power generation unit and an outage power output, and the switch is opened to combine the power generation unit with the commercial power source to supply combined power to the electric load if a calculated total engine operation time period is not more than a predetermined time period when the outage is determined not to occur, while the switch is closed to connect the power generation unit to the outage power output, if the power generation unit is determined to be capable of generation power based on an estimated degree of deterioration of the unit when the outage is determined to occur.

Abstract: Dispatch engines service endpoints by transmitting dispatch signals to the serviced endpoints that cause the endpoints to adjust their electric power consumption from the electric power grid in accord with a control signal received by the dispatch engine. A market interface dispatch engine receives its control signal from an electric power grid managing entity, and downstream dispatch engines form a hierarchy cascading downstream from the market interface dispatch engine with each downstream dispatch engine being an endpoint serviced by a dispatch engine located upstream in the hierarchy. The control signal received by each downstream dispatch engine comprises dispatch signals transmitted by the upstream dispatch engine. The endpoints further include electric power-consuming loads. A suitable load controller comprises separate power interface and logic elements operatively connected to define the load controller, with the logic element powered by low voltage DC power received from the power interface element.

Abstract: In an electric power system with a distributed power source, a fluctuation of its system voltage is brought about by an amount of power generation of the distributed power source that depends on weather. Stabilization of the system voltage is realized by generating a driving signal of a switch that the system has from weather forecast information and power system information and switching a configuration of the system.

Abstract: A power system for an electrical system with highly fluctuating loads is powered by one or more power sources that are slow to react to load changes. The power sources are connected to electrical equipment used on the drill rig which provide active load to the generators. One or more load banks may be positioned to provide passive load to the generators to maintain generally constant generator load, while allowing for instant access to power as active load increases. Generators may be run at 100% capacity, a maximum efficient capacity, or at a high enough level to allow for a sufficiently rapid increase in power output. At least one parameter of a drilling operation may be utilized to anticipate load demand changes.

Abstract: A power management circuit for a multi-phase alternating current (AC) power supply is provided to manage a single phase bad, connected thereto, during a brownout condition. The management circuit is configured to switch the single phase electrical bad from an affected conductor of the AC power supply and to connect the single phase electrical bad between two unaffected conductors of the AC power supply thereby ensuring continued supply of voltage to the single phase electrical load.

Abstract: A power management apparatus includes a storage unit to store power rate levels corresponding to a plurality of power rates, and store display information corresponding to the power rate levels, a communication unit to receive power rates for each hour of each day from a power provider, a controller to confirm power rate levels corresponding to power rates for each hour of each day, and confirm display information for each power rate level, and a control panel unit to display the power rates for each hour of each day according to individual power rate levels, the displayed power rate levels being displayed as different types of display information. The power management apparatus allows the user to intuitively recognize the current power rate and the current power rate level, and predicts the future power rates and the future power rate level, such that it can establish an optimum power use schedule.

Abstract: An energy storage system includes modular energy storage equipment that may be connected to an external system, such as a power grid. In at least one embodiment, the energy storage system includes a power transfer control system comprising a power transfer network and a processing module or controller. The power transfer network has a first interface coupleable to one or more energy storage units and a second interface coupleable to one or more power conversion units. One or more conductors in the power transfer network are selectively coupleable to the first interface and the second interface for transferring power between the energy storage units and the power conversion units based at least in part on information indicating a power or energy supply or demand of an external system or information indicating an amount of energy stored in the energy storage units. The energy storage system is scalable for different implementations.

Abstract: Reconfigurable power systems and converters and operating methods therefor are disclosed. Reconfigurable power systems may include a DC power source, an electrical energy storage device, an AC power grid connection, and a power converter configured to selectively couple two or more of the DC power source, the electrical energy storage device, and the AC power grid connection.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a communication power with multi-energy-source supply and a control method. The communication power includes: an inputting unit (21), configured to receive at least two kinds of electrical energy and provide the at least two kinds of electrical energy to an allocating unit (22); the allocating unit (22), configured to allocate at least one kind of electrical energy of the at least two kinds of electrical energy determined by a monitoring unit (25) to a power converting unit (23) according to the control of the monitoring unit (25); the power converting unit (23), configured to perform power conversion on the at least one kind of electrical energy allocated by the allocating unit (22), and then provide the converted power to an outputting unit (24); the outputting unit (24), configured to supply power to an external load; and the monitoring unit (25). With the present disclosure, the modules for input allocating, power converting, etc.

Abstract: A power transfer interface (120) is formed of a primary repeater coil (104) and one or more secondary repeater coils (106) coupled via a wired interconnect (110), and integrated within a garment (114). The repeater coils operate as part of a wireless charging or powering system in which a transmit coil (102), located in a vehicle or a radio, is driven to magnetically couple a wireless radio frequency (RF) power signal to the primary repeater coil (104) which in turn transfers the RF power signal to the secondary repeater coil (106) via the wired interconnect (110). The system further comprises a portable electronic device (220) having a receive coil (108). The receive coil (108) wirelessly receives the RF power signal from the secondary repeater coil (106), which can in turn be used to power the portable device or charge a battery of the portable device.

Abstract: A signal generator generates an electrical signal that is sent to an amplifier, which increases the power of the signal using power from a power source. The amplified signal is fed to a sender transducer to generate ultrasonic waves that can be focused and sent to a receiver. The receiver transducer converts the ultrasonic waves back into electrical energy and stores it in an energy storage device, such as a battery, or uses the electrical energy to power a device. In this way, a device can be remotely charged or powered without having to be tethered to an electrical outlet.

Abstract: Provided is a contactless power supplying system which is efficient and can be built of small coils by appropriately limiting power to be inputted into a transmitting coil. In the contactless power supplying system, power transmitted from a transmitting coil is received by a receiving coil by means of magnetic coupling, and the contactless power supplying system includes a power control unit configured to cause power from a power source to flow through the transmitting coil and a control unit configured to perform power limiting control of limiting the power flowing through the transmitting coil by controlling the power control unit.

Abstract: A wireless response system and method of receiving user input selections at a base station includes distributing a plurality of response units to users. The response units wirelessly communicate with the base station in order to retrieve user responses received by the response units. Each of the response units has a user input device that is configured to receiving user input selections, a controller that is responsive to the user input device to process user inputs and to communicate responses wirelessly to the base station and a power supply having a super capacitor. The super capacitor is charged with a wireless-charging circuit and current is supplied from the super capacitor to the controller. Current supplied to the controller is controlled.

Abstract: A battery state estimation system estimates a state of charge of a chargeable battery. A SOCv computing unit calculates a state of charge of the battery using a voltage applied across the battery. A SOCi computing unit integrates a current flowing through the battery to calculate a state of charge of the battery. A SOCw computing unit which performs weighted addition to the state of charge of the battery calculated by the SOCv computing unit and the state of charge of the battery calculated by the SOCi computing unit, wherein when the temperature of the battery is a threshold value or less and the current flowing through the battery is a threshold value or less, the SOCw computing unit sets the specific gravity at the state of charge of the battery calculated by the SOCi computing unit larger than that in other cases upon the weighted addition.

Abstract: Batteries, battery systems, battery submodules, battery operational methods, battery system operational methods, battery charging methods, and battery system charging methods are described. According to one aspect, a battery includes a first battery terminal, a second battery terminal, and a plurality of submodules individually comprising a first submodule terminal, a second submodule terminal, a plurality of rechargeable cells electrically coupled between the first and second submodule—terminals, and switching circuitry configured to electrically couple one of the first and second battery terminals with one of the first and second submodule terminals of one of the submodules during an engaged mode of operation of the one of the submodules and to electrically isolate the one of the first and second battery terminals from the one of the first and second submodule terminals of the one of the submodules during a disengaged mode of operation of the one of the submodules.