Abstract: An automatic flow control apparatus includes a solar cell module that provides a received light signal, an energy storage module, a charging circuit, a regulating module, a control module, a rainfall detection module for generating a detected rainfall signal, and a pair of conductors. The control module converts the received light signal and the detected rainfall signal into measured light data and measured rainfall data, and stores a measured data set that includes the measured light data and the measured rainfall data. The controller determines based on at least the measured data set whether to output a control signal to the regulating module for controlling regulation of fluid flow.

Abstract: A cathode active material is a lithium-rich lithium-containing compound having a bedded salt-type crystal structure. A product SD of a specific surface area S in square meters per gram and a crystallite diameter D in micrometer is equal to or more than about 1.4×10?6 cubic meters per gram.

Abstract: A power supply system (1), in particular for an electric drive or hybrid drive of a motor vehicle, has the following components: an electrical energy storage device (2) which supplies a low voltage and which has at least one energy storage cell (3) and/or at least one cell module (4) composed of at least two energy storage cells (3), an electrical load (5) which is operated with a high voltage, a voltage transformer (6), in particular a DC voltage transformer, which transforms a low voltage into a high voltage and/or a high voltage into a low voltage, and a control device (8) for controlling the electrical energy storage device (2). In addition, the power supply system (1) has a low voltage region (9) in which the electrical energy storage device (2) is arranged, and a high-voltage region (10) in which the electrical load (5) is arranged. It is proposed that the control device (8) be arranged essentially in the low-voltage region (9) of the power supply system (1).

Abstract: A charger and discharger for a secondary battery includes a secondary battery coupled to an output stage of the charger and discharger, a first converter circuit including a first pulse voltage generator that outputs a first pulse voltage according to a first duty ratio, and a first inductor that outputs a first current in proportion to a value of an integral of the outputted first pulse voltage with respect to time to a positive electrode terminal of the secondary battery, a second converter circuit including a second pulse voltage generator that outputs a second pulse voltage according to a second duty ratio, and a second inductor that outputs a second current in proportion to a value of an integral of the outputted second pulse voltage with respect to time to a negative electrode terminal of the secondary battery, and first and second controllers controlling the duty ratios of the first and second pulse voltage generators, respectively.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a first rechargeable battery, a solar cell mounted on the electronic device, a second rechargeable battery and a power management circuit. The power management circuit includes a control module, a DC/DC module, a switch and a power supply switching module. The DC/DC module is configured for converting the DC power generated by the solar cell from one voltage level to another, and activating and maintaining the activation of the control module. The switch is turned on by the control module when the control module is activated, causing the DC power from the DC/DC module to charge the second rechargeable battery. The power supply switching module is controlled by the control module to select the second rechargeable battery to power the electronic device if the voltage level of the rechargeable battery is lower than that of the second rechargeable battery.

Abstract: A transition metal hexacyanoferrate (TMH) cathode battery is provided. The battery has a AxMn[Fe(CN)6]y.zH2O cathode, where the A cations are either alkali or alkaline-earth cations, such as sodium or potassium, where x is in the range of 1 to 2, where y is in the range of 0.5 to 1, and where z is in the range of 0 to 3.5. The AxMn[Fe(CN)6]y.zH2O has a rhombohedral crystal structure with Mn2+/3+ and Fe2+3+ having the same reduction/oxidation potential. The battery also has an electrolyte, and anode made of an A metal, an A composite, or a material that can host A atoms. The battery has a single plateau charging curve, where a single plateau charging curve is defined as a constant charging voltage slope between 15% and 85% battery charge capacity. Fabrication methods are also provided.

Abstract: A wireless hotpoint device includes a main body having a circuit board and a battery arranged therein. The circuit board includes a first control unit, a second control unit connected to the first control unit, and a wireless transmission unit connected to the second control unit. The first control unit controls an input voltage of an external power supply and an output voltage of a battery power of the battery, and informs the second control unit to turn on. The second control unit enables a wireless access via the wireless transmission unit or an access via the Ethernet, and enables a router mode or a network service mode. With these arrangements, the wireless hotpoint device not only enables data access via local or wireless networks, but also supplies electric power for charging other electronic products connected thereto.

Abstract: Systems and methods for actively balancing battery cells are disclosed. In one example, a charge is supplied to different battery cells at different times during a battery discharge cycle. The method may reduce instantaneous current draw within a battery pack.

Abstract: A detecting unit detects a usage state of a charge storage unit for each predetermined time period. A setting unit determines whether the usage state of the charge storage unit satisfies a predetermined condition for each time period, and when it is determined that the usage state satisfies the predetermined condition, sets a corresponding time period as a charge-use permitted time. A control unit determines whether a current time falls in the charge-use permitted time, and when it is determined that the current time falls in the charge-use permitted time, allows a discharging unit to discharge the charge storage unit.

Abstract: A battery system including an assembled battery, a charge mode for charging the assembled battery and a discharge mode for converting electric energy charged in the assembled battery to AC power having the same or substantially the same frequency as a grid and supplying the AC power to a power supply line through which the grid and a load are connected further including a current detector for detecting current supplied to the load, and a control device for calculating an average power usage of past several days based on current being detected by the current detector, and converting the amount of electric power corresponding to the difference between the average power usage and a power usage based on the current value from the current detector to the AC power from the assembled battery to the load in the discharge mode to supply the AC power to the power supply line.

Abstract: A multifunctional portable power bank includes a main body having a circuit board and a battery arranged therein. The circuit board includes a first control unit, a second control unit connected to the first control unit, and a wireless transmission unit connected to the second control unit. The first control unit controls an input voltage of an external power supply and an output voltage of a battery power of the battery, and informs the second control unit to turn on. The second control unit enables a wireless access via the wireless transmission unit or an access via the Ethernet, and enables a router mode or a network service mode. With these arrangements, the multifunctional portable power bank not only enables data access via local or wireless networks, but also supplies electric power for charging other electronic products connected thereto.

Abstract: A control circuit of a battery power-path management circuit establishes a first power path between a battery input node and an output node when the input node voltage is larger than a charger input node voltage and a second power path between the charger input node and the output node when the voltage on the charger input node is larger than the battery input node voltage. It controls the second power path to provide power to the output node, enabling battery charging and protection over a battery voltage range from about zero volts. It has low power consumption and can support wide-swing power supply voltage from as low as one volt to as high as maximum allowed Vds of drain-extended devices. It can use smaller device sizes because the PMOS switch gate voltage is 0V when the power supply is not too high.

Abstract: Apparatus for increasing the efficiency of a starter battery for a starter motor of an internal combustion engine in a battery pack arrangement with one or more lithium based cells. The invention includes a solid state switching configuration for high powered battery systems for protecting against over-charging, over-discharging and short circuiting of batteries, especially starter batteries for internal combustion engines.

Abstract: The method for determining the end-of-discharge voltage threshold of a rechargeable battery includes discharging the battery up to a predefined end-of-discharge voltage threshold, at least partially charging the battery, determining, while at least partially charging the battery, an electrical parameter representative of a coup de fouet effect, which coup de fouet effect appears during the partial charging, comparing said electrical parameter with a predetermined characteristic and updating the end-of-discharge voltage threshold to be used for subsequent discharging according to the result of said comparison.

Abstract: A discharge circuit for increasing discharge time of battery includes a discharging IC and a delay discharge circuit. When the discharging IC detects any voltage input, a minimum operating voltage of the discharging IC is set to 6.3V, when the discharging IC detects no voltage input, the minimum operating voltage of the discharging IC is set to 5.5 V. The delay discharge circuit is connected with a system voltage via a first current-limiting resistance, to make the discharging IC unable to detect any voltage input when only a battery is used as power source, thereby the minimum operating voltage of the discharging IC is set to 5.5V.

Abstract: A portable terminal and a method for controlling a display of a mobile terminal are provided. The portable terminal includes a terminal body having a display, a solar cell disposed on at least one region of the terminal body and configured to convert sunlight into electric energy for charging a battery, a sensing unit configured to detect a quantity of electric energy generated from the solar cell, and a controller configured to control brightness of the display based upon the quantity of energy detected by the sensing unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring a voltage pump to determine the status of a battery connected to the voltage pump are provided. The operation of the voltage pump is monitored during at least one monitoring period which corresponds to a period of relatively heavy consistent load. The operation of the voltage pump can be monitored by sampling a control signal that corresponds to the operation of the voltage pump.

Abstract: A device is used for measuring an output voltage of a battery. The device includes a detecting circuit, an encoding circuit, a control circuit, and a processing circuit. The detecting circuit is configured for detecting the output voltage of the battery and generating a first signal, a second signal, and a third signal accordingly. The encoding circuit is configured for generating a first code and a second code according to the first signal and the second signal. The control unit is configured for modifying the second code when the third signal indicates that the output voltage is lower than a predetermined value. The processing unit is configured for generating and outputting display control signals according to the first and second codes. The display control signals are used to control a display panel to display information of the output voltage of the battery.

Abstract: A method and system for charging multi-cell lithium-based batteries. In some aspects, a battery charger includes a housing, at least one terminal to electrically connect to a battery pack supported by the housing, and a controller operable to provide a charging current to the battery pack through the at least one terminal. The battery pack includes a plurality of lithium-based battery cells, with each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells having an individual state of charge. The controller is operable to control the charging current being supplied to the battery pack at least in part based on the individual state of charge of at least one battery cell.

Abstract: A secondary battery includes: a cathode; an anode; and an electrolytic solution. The anode includes a carbon material and styrene-butadiene rubber. The electrolytic solution includes an unsaturated cyclic ester carbonate represented by the following Formula (1). (X is a divalent group in which m-number of >C?CR1R2 and n-number of >CR3R4 are bonded in any order. Each of R1 to R4 is one of a hydrogen group, a halogen group, a monovalent hydrocarbon group, a monovalent halogenated hydrocarbon group, a monovalent oxygen-containing hydrocarbon group, and a monovalent halogenated oxygen-containing hydrocarbon group. Any two or more of the R1 to the R4 are allowed to be bonded to one another. m and n satisfy m?1 and n?0.

Abstract: The electrical consumption mitigation provided by energy storage systems can be unreliable when a consumption peak lasts long enough to deplete the energy stored and the remainder of the peak is unmitigated. By implementing a waiting period between detecting the peak and discharging the energy storage in which characteristics of the peak are observed, a peak mitigation system can lengthen the effective discharge duration of the energy storage system and prevent unmitigated plateaus from appearing. For example, when a consumption plateau is detected, the system may discharge at a slower rate than when a spike is detected in order to prolong mitigation activities before the conclusion of the plateau. Thus otherwise-incurred demand-related utility charges can be reduced without having to increase the capacity of the mitigation system. In some cases, these processes are performed with respect to the bounds of demand-averaged time periods used to calculate demand charges.

Abstract: A battery pack suitable for handheld appliance, the battery pack including a plurality of cells and a circuit board associated with the cells, wherein a power terminal is associated with the circuit board and configured to transmit power to an appliance, in use, the battery pack further including a momentary switch operatively connected to the circuit board and movable between closed and open positions by an actuator wherein, when in the open position the power terminal is configured by the circuit to a power delivery state and, when in the closed position, the power terminal is configured by the circuit to a power disabled state.

Abstract: A battery-driven device extends an operating time of a battery (a secondary battery). A battery control unit included in the battery drive-device stores therein one or more voltage thresholds, and detects a sharp voltage drop that occurs immediately after the start of discharging of a battery that is fully charged, based on the current and voltage of the battery and the stored voltage thresholds. Upon detecting a sharp voltage drop, the battery control unit decreases power consumption of the battery.

Abstract: A battery based power supply assembly is disclosed. The system comprises a discharge initiating device and a plurality of battery modules electrically connected with one another. Each of the battery modules comprises a plurality of battery cells, a discharge load connected in series with the battery cells, a switch coupled between the battery cells and the discharge load, a temperature sensor, and a controller adapted for placing the switch in its electrically connected state upon being driven by the discharge initiating device. The invention further provides a safe method of draining the energy from the power supply assembly disclosed herein.

Abstract: Methods and systems for depowering an automotive battery in a controlled manner. The methods comprise (i) providing a depowering medium comprising one or more non-ionic electric conductors (for example, a carbon conductor) dispersed in a substantially non-ionic aqueous medium; (ii) contacting terminals of the battery with the depowering medium; and (iii) maintaining contact between the depowering medium and terminals for a period of time sufficient to depower the battery. The systems comprise (i) the depowering medium; and (ii) a container configured to receive a battery and the depowering medium such that the battery body is contacted with the depowering medium prior to the terminals.

Abstract: A secondary battery includes: a cathode; an anode; and an electrolytic solution. The electrolytic solution includes an unsaturated cyclic ester carbonate and one or more selected from a group configured of aromatic compounds, dinitrile compounds, sulfinyl compounds, and lithium salts.

Abstract: A portable power system which contains a battery, which is intended for use as a power source for charging the batteries of portable electronics devices or for powering other electrical systems. It contains a USB connection for power input and a myriad of adapters for connecting the power system with the proprietary connectors of portable devices, as well as a screen to output system information to the user. The power system also contains a microcontroller which controls internal systems, input and output current and voltage, such that the power system may operate with any portable device as well as any type of USB port.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes a plug, a first socket, a capacity storage module and a power measurement module. The plug is configured for being plugged in either a first socket of a second similar rechargeable battery to constitute a battery pack or a second socket of a charge apparatus. In addition, the first socket either is configured for either receiving a plug of a third similar rechargeable battery to constitute the battery pack or being electrically coupled to a power input port of an electronic device. The power measurement module is electrically connected to the capacity storage module, and is configured to measure a residual capacity value of the capacity storage module, and feedback the measured residual capacity value to the charge apparatus. A related power supply system is also provided.

Abstract: An electronic device and a method of operating the same are disclosed, where the electronic device includes a main system, a battery, and a battery device power protection and reset circuit The battery device power protection and reset circuit includes a charging circuit and a switch device. The switch device connects the battery and the main system. The charging circuit turns off the switch device when operating under a first trigger mode, so that the switch device can electrically isolate the main system from the battery.

Abstract: To provide a secondary battery controlling apparatus and a controlling method that can keep a storage amount of a secondary battery used for supply and demand control of a power system not close to 100% or 0%. The present invention is a power supply and demand controlling apparatus of a small-scaled power system 1 including distributed power supplies 31, 32, . . .

Abstract: A charge balancing circuit implemented within a charge storage device (cell) in a series connected charge storage unit (battery) made up of a plurality of cells. The charge balancing circuit may utilize a controller to sense the voltage in the cell it is implemented therein and the cells adjacent thereto. If the voltage of the current cell exceeds a threshold voltage and is greater than at least one adjacent cell the current cell can transfer charge to the adjacent cell having the lowest voltage. The transfer of the charge is done with a switching network that extracts current from the current cell and then transfers the current to the adjacent cell having the lowest voltage. The switching network may utilize switches and a current storage device (inductor) to transfer the charge. The controller may activate different switches based on which adjacent cell has the lowest voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rendering a battery safe for disposal by completing a circuit between positive and negative terminals to rapidly deplete the battery of power.

Abstract: A circuit is for checking the voltage of a battery. The circuit includes a regulator component, a pnp type transistor, an npn transistor, a diode, and an alarm. The circuit activates an alarm when the voltage of the battery is less than a preset value.

Abstract: A high voltage output monitoring device and system of a power battery comprises a monitoring module, a control module and a central processor module, wherein the monitoring module carries out high voltage output monitoring, pre-charge monitoring and relay switching times monitoring; the control module controls a relay switch; the central processor module carries out processing and analysis of monitor signals, packs relay state signals, sends the packed relay state signals to a battery management system (8), prognosticates a relay health condition, sends alarming signals to the battery management system (8), judges the pre-charge state, controls a high voltage system to be opened or closed, receives the control of the battery management system, and forces the high voltage system to be opened or closed.

Abstract: A battery control device is provided that uses a discharge to adjust the capacitance of cells that form a bipolar battery and calculates the voltage increase value of the remaining cells that do not discharge to adjust capacitance if one or more cells, among all of the cells that form the bipolar battery, are discharged to adjust capacitance in a battery control device that controls voltage dispersion or volume dispersion between cells that form the bipolar battery; and setting the general discharge value when there is a discharge to adjust capacitance on the basis of the result of the voltage increase value calculation.

Abstract: Energy storage arrangement for safely discharging an energy accumulator with electric poles via which the energy accumulator can be at least discharged, an electrically conductive conductor medium in the form of a fluid or fine-grained bulk material or a mixture of both, a reservoir container which is filled with the conductor medium, a collecting container which is provided for accommodating the conductor medium and which encloses the electric poles of the energy accumulator, and a triggerable discharging device, by means of which, in the case of triggering, conductor medium is discharged from the reservoir container into the collecting container such that the electric poles of the energy accumulator are connected to one another in an electrically conductive fashion via the conductor medium.

Abstract: A power bank apparatus with speaker combines the function of power bank and the function of speaker. The power bank apparatus not only charges the portable electronic apparatuses but also supplies power to the internal speaker. The voice or music of the portable electronic apparatus is amplified by the speaker of the power bank apparatus to improve the quality of the voice or music.

Abstract: A power storage system has a plurality of secondary battery packs and a host device. The secondary battery packs each have: secondary batteries; a charge switch means that turns a charging path to the secondary batteries ON and OFF; a discharge switch means that turns a discharging path from the secondary battery ON and OFF; and a current-limiting means that causes the secondary battery to discharge while limiting the current to, or below, a fixed value. When switching from the secondary battery pack connected to the input/output terminals of the system to a first secondary battery pack in which voltage is higher than in the second secondary battery pack, the host device causes the charge switch means of the second secondary battery pack to turn OFF the charging path while in a state in which the current limiting means of the first secondary battery pack will cause a discharge operation to begin while limiting the flow of current.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a charge controlling method, wherein, when charging into at least one of a plurality of charging apparatus each including a battery is to be started, if it is detected that at least one of the charging apparatus is connected or disconnected, then charging into all of the charging apparatus is stopped.

Abstract: A device according for warming up cells of a battery having at least one cell including a capacitor. The capacitor is connected to the inductor of the at least one battery cell and its connecting elements to form a resonant circuit in such a way that its thermal loss serves to warm up the at least one battery cell.

Abstract: A metal-air battery system includes: a metal-air battery (2) including a case (1) and a charge/discharge member arranged in said case and having a cathode (4), an anode and an electrolyte; a CO2 absorbing member (6) having a CO2 selective absorber (5) selectively absorbing CO2 over O2; an outside air supplying member (7) supplying outside air to said CO2 absorbing member; a purified air supplying member (8) supplying purified air to said cathode, the purified air having undergone absorptive CO2 removal by said CO2 selective absorber; and a recycling mechanism (10) recycling said CO2 selective absorber.

Abstract: When charge power or discharge power of each individual sodium-sulfur battery included in a plurality of sodium-sulfur batteries becomes 1/n (n is a natural number) or less of a rated output, individual sodium-sulfur batteries are sequentially stopped. This prevents the discharge power (or the charge power) of the sodium-sulfur battery from becoming minute, so that a battery depth (or a stored energy) of the sodium-sulfur battery can be accurately managed.

Abstract: In a charging/discharging unit provided with: a lithium secondary battery, a voltage detecting sensor for detecting a voltage and a current detecting sensor; the charging/discharging control unit is further provided with a controller, and a discharging element for performing a constant voltage discharging operation of 3 V. A voltage, V0, of the battery when a discharging operation is terminated (t=0) is measured by the voltage detecting sensor. If V0?3.6 V, within a rest time during which the battery is not charged/discharged until a next charging operation, a voltage, V1, of the battery when a time, t1, has elapsed is measured by the voltage detecting sensor. If this voltage charge is in a range of V1-V0?0.2 V, then the constant voltage discharging operation of 3 V is carried out for a time duration longer than or equal to 1 hour.

Abstract: In a discharge system that outputs DC power from a vehicle battery to the outside, improved safety is obtained during discharge of the battery. A discharge system includes an electric car having a battery unit mounted thereon, and a discharge device that discharges the battery unit. The electric car includes a connector to which the discharge device is connected, and a power line that connects the connector and the battery unit to each other. In the power line, switches and switching elements are provided. The switches render the power line conducting upon permission from the discharge device and a battery management unit. The switching elements adjust a current flowing in the power line when the battery unit is discharged.

Abstract: Provided are a battery protection IC adaptable to any number of batteries connected in series without increasing a breakdown voltage thereof, and a battery device including the battery protection IC mounted thereon. A charge control signal input terminal and a discharge control signal input terminal of one battery protection IC are provided with a clamp circuit (121), and hence an output driver (112) of another battery protection IC connected to those terminals is not applied with a voltage equal to or higher than a breakdown voltage. Accordingly, the breakdown voltage of the battery protection IC is not required to be high.

Abstract: A controller 10 suitable for controlling a bath lift. The controller 10 includes a rechargeable unit 12 and a first protection unit 14 which measures the voltage and current provided by the rechargeable unit 12. The first protection unit 14 prevents connection to the bath lift when the voltage of the rechargeable unit falls below a lower predetermined limit. A second protection unit 20 is also provided which measures the voltage from the rechargeable unit 12 and detects whether the voltage has fallen below an upper predetermined voltage, and if the voltage has dropped below this level downward movement of the bath lift is not permitted.

Abstract: An electrochemical energy storage system including at least a first type of electrochemical cell and a second type of electrochemical cell. The first type of electrochemical cell and the second type of electrochemical cell have different geometries. Also methods of making and using the electrochemical energy storage system.

Abstract: A method and system for power source management of a portable device. A power source used to supply electrical energy for a portable device should ideally operate with a constant terminal voltage. However, the terminal voltage of a cell or group of cells used as a source of electrical energy can be expected to reduce in amplitude over its operational lifetime. Near the end of operational lifetime, the terminal voltage of such a source can be expected to decrease rapidly. Furthermore, the source terminal voltage will also exhibit significant variations in amplitude in response to changes in electric current demands on the source. Such source voltage variations can impair or even prevent proper operation of the electronic circuits within the portable device. Power management for proper operation of a portable device is necessary to ensure proper device operation and to prevent loss of data.

Abstract: A battery module including: a battery assembly including a plurality of rechargeable batteries; a case receiving the battery assembly; a battery management system (BMS) managing unit batteries of the battery assembly; and a relay installed to the case on an output line of the battery assembly and including a relay body configured to selectively block a current according to a signal of the BMS; a connection bar connected to the relay body; and an output terminal connected to the relay body via the connection bar and fastened to the case at a location spaced apart from the relay body.

Abstract: A battery pack for electric power tool is provided with a battery and a control circuit. The circuit includes a condition satisfaction determination unit, a continua lion satisfaction determination unit, and a sleep-mode transition unit. The condition satisfaction determination unit determines whether each of at least one predetermined sleep-mode transition condition is satisfied, and determines whether an all-condition satisfaction state is present, which is a state wherein all of the at least one sleep-mode transition condition are satisfied. The continuation satisfaction determination unit determines whether the all-condition satisfaction state has continued for a predetermined. period of time when the condition satisfaction determination unit determines that the all-condition satisfaction state is present, The transition unit stops part of operation of the circuit to shift the circuit to a sleep mode when the continuation satisfaction determination.