Abstract: Battery charging assemblies for children's ride-on vehicles, and children's ride-on vehicles that include the same. The charging assemblies may include a power adapter that is adapted to be electrically connected to a power source, a charger cord, and a charging connector that is adapted to electrically interconnect with the rechargeable battery of the ride-on vehicle. The battery charging assemblies further include at least one protective element to prevent or significantly reduce backflow current from the battery into the battery charging assembly. The protective element may be located in the charging probe or at any point along the charger cord of the battery charging assembly. The protective element may include any suitable current-limiting or current-interrupting device. Examples of such current limiting devices include, without limitation, a fuse, a circuit breaker, an anti-backflow diode, and a resettable fuse such as a positive temperature coefficient resistor (PTC resistor).

Abstract: A battery control module is provided for use with a battery and includes a voltage measuring module that measures battery voltage, a current measuring module that measures battery current, and a state of charge (SOC) module that communicates with said current and voltage measuring modules. In some features, the SOC module determines an unfiltered SOC of said battery, a characteristic of said unfiltered SOC, and a modified SOC that is based on said unfiltered SOC and said characteristic. In other features, the SOC module determines first and second reset voltages, compares the battery voltage to the first and second reset voltages, and determines an unfiltered SOC based on said first and second reset voltages and said battery voltage.

Abstract: A battery pack monitoring apparatus for and method of monitoring various characteristics of the battery pack such that when the battery pack malfunctions, the exact reason for the malfunction can be grasped. The apparatus includes a bare cell adapted to be charged/discharged with a predetermined voltage; a voltage sensor for sensing a charging/discharging voltage of the bare cell and outputting the voltage as a predetermined electrical signal; a current sensor for sensing a charging/discharging current of the bare cell and outputting the current as a predetermined electrical signal; a control unit, a current sensor, and a data storage unit.

Abstract: In a hybrid electric motor vehicle, a power supply system for storing and supplying electrical power includes a motor-generator located onboard the vehicle, driveably connected to the vehicle wheels and producing AC electric power, an energy storage device for alternately storing and discharging electric power, an inverter coupled to the motor-generator and the energy storage device for converting alternating current produced by the motor-generator to direct current transmitted to the energy storage device, and for converting direct current stored in the energy storage device to alternating current transmitted to the motor-generator, a source of AC electric power located external to the vehicle, and a charger coupled to said electric power source and the energy storage device for supplying DC electric power to the energy storage device from said AC electric power source.

Abstract: A battery control system for controlling a state of charge of a hybrid vehicle battery includes a detecting arrangement for determining a vehicle operating state or an intended vehicle operating state and a controller for setting a target state of charge level of the battery based on the vehicle operating state or the intended vehicle operating state. The controller is operable to set a target state of charge level at a first level during a mobile vehicle operating state and at a second level during a stationary vehicle operating state or in anticipation of the vehicle operating in the stationary vehicle operating state. The invention further includes a method for controlling a state of charge of a hybrid vehicle battery.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus that can estimate the charge/discharge electricity amount without being affected by current measurement error. If specific selection conditions are met, a no-load voltage calculation part (105) takes a plurality of pairs of data consisting of current data I(n) and voltage data V(n) corresponding to the current data and calculates a no-load voltage Vsep as the voltage intercept at a current of zero in a straight-line approximation obtained by statistical processing such as regression analysis using a least squares method with respect to the plurality of pairs of data. In addition, if specific current conditions continue to be met for a certain amount of time, an open circuit voltage calculation part (106) calculates the terminal voltage of the secondary battery as the open circuit voltage Voc.

Abstract: A battery-monitoring circuit detects rapid changes in current drawn from a battery by a device powered thereby. The circuit includes calibrating operating modes that determine voltage-to-frequency conversion parameters, and amplifier errors at various levels of battery voltage.

Abstract: In a method and system for converting an alternating current (AC) input to a direct current (DC) output, an AC-DC adapter includes a rectifier module operable to receive the AC input and generate a first DC output. The AC-DC adapter includes a buck converter module operable to receive the first DC output and generate the DC output responsive to a control signal. A controller module, included in the AC-DC adapter is operable to receive a first feedback signal input indicative of a target voltage required by a load and a second feedback signal input indicative of the DC output to generate the control signal. The controller module adjusts the control signal responsive to the first and second feedback signal inputs so that the DC output is maintained to be within a predefined range of the target voltage.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a thermal battery testing apparatus and a method for testing a thermal battery. The method includes one or more of the following steps: connecting the thermal battery in series with a resistance; connecting the thermal battery and resistance in series with a sinusoidal voltage source; applying a sinusoidal voltage to the thermal battery, measuring an impedance, reactance and/or capacitance across two terminals of the thermal battery, comparing the measured impedance, reactance and/or capacitance to a reference impedance, reactance and/or capacitance; and indicating whether the tested thermal battery is “in family” or “out of family.” The battery testing apparatus may include a testing device configured to apply a sinusoidal voltage to the thermal battery and to measure the impedance, reactance and/or capacitance across two terminals of the thermal battery. The testing apparatus may further be configured to report “out of family” batteries.

Abstract: The present invention is a battery fuel gauge circuit for measuring the capacity of a battery pack. The battery fuel gauge circuit includes an amplifier circuit, a correction circuit, a plurality of comparators, and a multiplexer. The amplifier circuit can sense a discharge current flowing through a sense resistor and a variable temperature from the battery pack and generate a first and a second voltage signals, which are corrected by the correction circuit and compared with a reference voltage by the plurality of comparators. After correction and comparison, the multiplexer can transmit the compared signals to an external indicating circuit that controls the display of the capacity of the battery pack.

Abstract: A charge evaluating method for a mobile phone is provided. The method includes calculating a final charge value A of a mobile phone battery when charging is complete according to a charge value prior to the battery being charged by the battery charger, a charge current value, a power dissipation value and a charging time. The method further includes converting the final voltage value to a final charge value B of the mobile phone battery, and displaying the final charge value A if the final charge value B is more than the final charge value A.

Abstract: In a device combination system of the present invention, END setting parameters are read from a main body. A power supply converter and END setting parameters are obtained from a camera head and a battery. An END setting value is set according to these END parameters. A CPU determines whether or not the battery being mounted is in an unusable state that it is exhausted to a dead level. With the above arrangement, there is provided a device combination system in which a battery check function provided in a power supply device works normally regardless of a type of a device mounted on the power supply device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to charge a battery. A wall adapter may provide a power to a battery charger in a collapsed mode of operation. In the collapsed mode of operation, the wall adapter may provide the battery charger with a collapsed power. The battery charger may provide a charging current and/or voltage in a constant current charge mode of operation and/or a constant voltage charge mode of operation using the collapsed power. When operating in the constant current charge mode of operation, the battery charger provides the charging current and/or voltage having a constant current until the voltage of the battery is less than or substantially equal to a constant charge voltage. Alternatively, when operating in the constant voltage charge mode of operation, the battery provides the charging current and/or voltage having a constant voltage until the voltage of the battery is less than or substantially equal to a float voltage.

Abstract: A charging method and device for a rechargeable battery to make more stable and faster full charging possible. One embodiment of a charging method for the rechargeable battery includes charging the battery by applying a constant current, and then charging the battery by applying a constant current pulse having uniform pulse width. The charging method further includes charging the battery by applying or interrupting the constant current and then applying the dynamic constant current pulse based on a voltage across terminals of the battery.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an adjustable current source that is coupled to an external battery. The semiconductor device includes a feedback control module that is responsive to a voltage level at the external battery. The feedback control module also has an output that is directed to control the current supplied by the adjustable current source. Also, the feedback control module can selectively provide a signal to periodically and temporarily turn off the current supplied by the adjustable current source. A voltage at the external battery is measured during a time period when the current is turned on and during a time period when the current is turned off. While the current is turned off, the feedback control module can measure the external battery voltage so that it can be compared to the battery voltage while the adjustable current source is on.

Abstract: The present invention provides a battery charging circuit to charge batteries in phases. In a first charging phase the charging circuit charges the batteries with a large current and at a second charging phase the charging circuit charges the batteries with a much smaller current. The charging circuit includes a current detection circuit which detects a charge current and provides a detection voltage proportional to the charge current. The battery charging circuit also includes an amplifier circuit to amplify the detection voltage and a comparison module compares the amplified detection voltage with a reference voltage. If the amplified detection voltage is lower than the reference voltage, the comparison module outputs a switch signal to a control module. The control module controls a charging module to charge the battery in a trickle mode when receiving the switch signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for accurately determining the state of charge and the relative age of lithium sulfur batteries are provided. The cell resistance and taper input charge of a particular type of lithium sulfur battery are respectively measured to determine the state of charge and age of the battery.

Abstract: The apparatus, which is for estimating a state of charge of a rechargeable battery charged by a vehicle-mounted power generation apparatus capable of generating a variable output voltage, includes a first function of quantifying charging/discharging history of the rechargeable battery, and a second function of performing estimation of a state of charge of the rechargeable battery on the basis of a parameter which indicates a charging/discharging current of the rechargeable battery when variation of the output voltage of the vehicle-mounted power generation apparatus is below a predetermined value, and the quantified charging/discharging history, while eliminating an effect which polarization of the rechargeable battery due to the charging/discharging history has on the charging/discharging current before the variation of the output voltage becomes below the predetermined value.

Abstract: A system, in one embodiment, may include a portable welder having a welding output, a charging output, a welding circuit coupled to the welding output; and a charging circuit coupled to the charging output. The charging circuit may be configured to automatically adjust power to the charging output based on a feedback associated with charging a battery.

Abstract: A battery remaining capacity detection method calculates a remaining capacity of a battery having the possibility that a memory effect occurs by using correlation between an voltage V0 and the remaining capacity. Correlation between a reset voltage Vo reset that is obtained by subtracting a value obtained by multiplying an occurrence amount Vm based on the memory effect by a memory effect occurrence amount correction value C(SOC) from an initial voltage Vo ini and the remaining capacity is obtained, in the battery after use, based on correlation between the initial voltage Vo ini and the remaining capacity. The remaining capacity is obtained by setting the voltage V0 of the battery after use as the reset voltage V0 reset. This method provides precise battery detection without completely discharging.

Abstract: There is provided an accessory device for a financial transaction token. The accessory has an onboard power storage device that enables a financial token or card that is in communication with the accessory to operate when the card or token is not in the proximity of a merchant terminal (e.g.; a POS terminal). In one implementation, the onboard power storage device includes a rechargeable battery or capacitor such as a thin-film capacitor that stores sufficient energy to power the accessory's onboard electronics and/or the electronics of a financial token in communication with the accessory. The accessory may be a subcomponent of another consumer device such as a computing device, communications device, an item of clothing, an item of jewelry, a cell phone, a PDA, an identification card, a money holder, a wallet, a purse, a briefcase, or a personal organizer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for battery charging are provided. A system includes a battery charger electrically coupled to at least one battery and a plurality of sensors configured to measure a voltage of the battery, a charging current supplied to the battery, and a temperature of the battery wherein the battery charger is configured to determine a state of charge of the battery using at least one of the plurality of sensors to control gassing of the battery during charging.

Abstract: A transcutaneous charging device for charging an implant comprising: a power input; a conversion circuit to convert power from said power input to transcutaneously charge said implant; a control; and an indication element; wherein said control is programmed to initiate an indication using said indication element when it is time to charge said implant.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling the operating point (AP, AP1, AP2) of a battery (1), such as a lithium ion battery, a nickel metal hydride battery or a lithium polymer battery. The charging state (SoC1, SoC2) of the battery (1) is recorded as a state variable which determines the current operating point (AP1, AP2) of the battery (1). The current operating point (AP1, AP2) is set by a corresponding set value (SoCAP1, SoCAP2) for the charging state (SoC1, SoC2) which is continuously adjusted depending on the temperature (T) and/or on the age state (SoH) of the battery.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a charging circuit and method for generating a charging current supplied to an output terminal (15) to which a battery (40) to be charged is connected. The charging current is indirectly sensed to generate a sensing current having a predetermined relation to the charging current. This sensing current is then compared to a generated predetermined reference current, wherein the charging current is controlled in response to the result of the comparison. Thereby, accuracy, system costs and power efficiency can be increased as a low-ohmic precision resistor is no longer required in the charge current branch of the circuit. Furthermore, the proposed solution enables a simple implementation of the circuit as an integrated circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for charging and for charge monitoring of a rechargeable battery. A charging circuit contains a rechargeable battery (B) and a charging device (L) for charging the rechargeable battery. A measurement device (M) is arranged in the charging circuit and contains a device for determining the rechargeable-battery current and the state of charge of the rechargeable battery. A control device (R) compares a value that is proportional to the rechargeable-battery current with a set value, and controls the charging device.

Abstract: A method for determining at least one characteristic variable for the state of a battery includes: (a) determining the charge throughput of the battery per time step; having, (b) determining a first characteristic figure in order to describe the stratification of the electrolyte concentration in the battery on the basis of a defined initial state for an as-new battery, and of a second characteristic figure in order to describe the stratification of the state of charge in the battery on the basis of a defined initial value for an as-new battery during operation of the battery, in which (c) in each time step, the first characteristic figure and the second characteristic figure are adapted as a function of the charge throughput from the instantaneous state of the battery, and at least one characteristic variable is determined from the first and the second characteristic figure.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the operating readiness of memory elements which are assigned to an electronic unit, an engine control unit for example. Furthermore, an electronic unit for executing the method and a computer program, as well as a computer program product are described. In the method described, a supply voltage of the electronic unit is monitored to ensure error-free operation of the memory elements.

Abstract: A charging circuit for controlling a system charging parameter provided to a host of rechargeable batteries, wherein the host of batteries includes at least a first battery and second battery that may be coupled in parallel. The charging circuit provides for fast charging of rechargeable batteries in parallel. Independent current and voltage sensing for each battery enables parallel charging of batteries at different charging currents. The charging circuit may be configured to accept either analog or digital signals from an associated power management unit.

Abstract: A power supply system can include a primary power supply coupled to an output, and a secondary power supply coupled to the output. The primary power supply provides power to the output when a voltage level of the secondary power supply is less than a first predetermined level. The secondary power supply provides power to the output when the voltage level of the secondary power supply is greater than the first predetermined level. The secondary power supply not only provides power to the output, but also charges the primary power supply when the voltage level of the secondary power supply is greater than a second predetermined level that is greater than the first predetermined level.

Abstract: Subject matter includes an electric charge counting fuel gauge that displays an amount of fuel based on electric charges obtained from a fuel. The electric charge counting fuel gauge can display an amount of fuel used in a power source and the amount of fuel remaining in a fuel supply.

Abstract: A charge control device of a secondary battery that allows the use of an electronic apparatus for a long period using a single initial charging, and is capable of extending battery life. The charging device includes a charge circuit for supplying charging current to secondary batteries, a voltage detection circuit for detecting the voltage of secondary batteries, a current detection circuit for detecting the charging current in secondary batteries, a memory such as an EEPROM for recording the number of times of charging or total charge integrated amount in secondary batteries, and a microcontroller for controlling charge circuit, changing over to constant voltage charge after charging secondary batteries 2 at constant current, and decreasing the voltage in constant voltage charging depending on the number of times of charge or total charge integrated amount recorded in the memory of EEPROM.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of estimating the state-of-charge of a rechargeable battery, taking into account the factors battery spread and ageing. The method comprises the steps of: determining the starting state-of-charge of the battery by measuring the voltage across the battery and converting this measured value into a state-of-charge value; charging the battery; integrating the charge current and determining the accumulated charge during charging of the battery and adding said value to the starting state-of-charge. Also disclosed is a method for determining the use time left of a rechargeable battery.

Abstract: A battery pre-charging circuit. The pre-charging circuit comprises a pre-charging path, a pre-charging switch and a low-voltage pre-charging circuit. The pre-charging path is coupled between a charger and a battery for providing a pre-charging current from the charger to the battery. The pre-charging switch is coupled to the pre-charging path for conducting along the pre-charging path. The low-voltage pre-charging circuit coupled to the pre-charging switch for controlling the pre-charging switch. The low-voltage pre-charging circuit is configured to switch on the pre-charging switch when a battery voltage over the battery is below a first battery voltage level.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for precisely estimating the remaining capacity of a rechargeable battery in a practical system. To evaluate the remaining capacity of a battery through a calibrated current which is calculated from a predictable capacity close to the end of discharge or to the end of fill charge, so that the remaining capacity of battery will approach end points smoothly. A system can thus detect battery status and take necessary actions safely. Battery aging problem is considered while calculating the remaining capacity and the full charge capacity (FCC) of battery is also updated according to the total cumulated charges during a charge or discharge stage.

Abstract: A method of controlling electric power generation during idle charge in a hybrid electric vehicle. The method includes determining whether an idle charge condition is satisfied; if the idle charge condition is satisfied, calculating a first charge power amount based on whether a load is applied, a gear shift position, and a state of charge of a battery; calculating a target charge speed based on the first charge power amount; calculating an altitude correction coefficient based on atmospheric pressure; calculating a second charge power amount based on the altitude correction coefficient and the first charge power amount; and controlling an amount of power generation and an amount of battery charge based on the second charge power amount.

Abstract: The invention includes a peripheral charging system for a computer. The peripheral charging system comprises a retention mechanism configured to retain a peripheral having a battery, the retention mechanism comprising a charging mechanism, and a system battery electrically connected to the charging mechanism. When the peripheral is retained by the retention mechanism, the peripheral contacts the charging mechanism of the retention mechanism to charge the peripheral battery. The invention also comprises a method for charging a peripheral for a mobile computing device. The method comprises retaining the peripheral in a retention mechanism of the mobile computing device, and charging a battery of the peripheral device from a battery of the mobile computing device. The retention mechanism of the mobile computing device includes a charging mechanism configured to supply charge to a charging mechanism of the peripheral.

Abstract: A charging apparatus and a charging current detecting circuit thereof are disclosed in which it is possible to implement an electric circuit with little voltage loss by using an operational amplifier of low cost. A detecting resistor is disposed at the power voltage side of the downstream side of a power supply. The charging apparatus further includes an auxiliary power means for generating an auxiliary voltage to supplement the voltage limited to the range of an input voltage of the operational amplifier.

Abstract: A filter for smoothing pulse voltage outputted by a transistor has a diode, an inductance, a resistor element and a capacitor. The resistor element is functionally homologous to the equivalent series resistance of the capacitor. A capacitor having a low equivalent series resistance can be used as the capacitor by virtue of employing as the resistor element a resistor having a resistance value such that the control circuit is supplied with the necessary and sufficient feedback signals for a stable operation of a feedback system. Reducing the equivalent series resistance of the capacitor allows suppressing generation of ripple voltage inputted to the battery, making it possible to realize stable charge control.

Abstract: It calculates a capacity difference ESOC between a reference remaining capacity SOCV based on an open-circuit voltage and a final remaining capacity SOC in a previous one calculation cycle. It calculates a proportional correction amount and an integral correction amount according to a proportional-integral control by using this capacity difference ESOC, and requires a final remaining capacity SOC by adding a remaining capacity SOCI based on a current integration to these correction amounts. Thus, while making good use of the remaining capacity based on the battery open-circuit voltage, it can avoid the influence of the load fluctuation and require a remaining capacity always stable and accurate.

Abstract: A state-of-charge (SOC) estimating device and method for a secondary battery that estimates the SOC of the battery with high precision when variation takes place in the parameters of the battery model, even if the input current is constant. A first SOC estimating part estimates the open-circuit voltage by estimating the battery parameters en bloc using an adaptive digital filter computing treatment from the measurement values of the current and the terminal voltage and computes a first estimated SOC of the secondary battery from the open-circuit voltage and a predetermined relationship between the open-circuit voltage and the SOC. A second SOC estimating part computes a second estimated SOC by means of current-integration. State-of-charge estimated value-selecting part selects the second SOC value as when the current is constant and otherwise selects the first SOC value.

Abstract: A battery backup system includes a control device including a power sensing device, a discharge circuit, a charging circuit, and a plurality of battery packs. A lower threshold is established representative of a minimum acceptable effective energy capacity. Each battery pack is recharged if its effective energy capacity falls below the lower threshold. Additionally, an upper threshold is established representative of the minimum acceptable effective energy capacity plus a performance margin. In a two battery-pack system, if both battery packs fall below the upper threshold, the battery with the least effective energy capacity is discharged to the minimum acceptable effective energy capacity and then recharged to the battery pack's maximum energy capacity. In this way, both battery packs are prevented from approaching the minimum acceptable effective energy capacity at the same time. This reduces the size or number of battery packs and reduces their associated cost and volume.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for operating a rechargeable battery, the system comprising: current maintaining device for maintaining a predetermined current to the rechargeable battery until the rechargeable battery reaches a predetermined maximum voltage; voltage maintaining device for maintaining a predetermined voltage to the rechargeable battery until a predetermined minimum current is delivered to the rechargeable battery; determining device for determining a cyclical charge value delivered to the rechargeable battery by the current maintaining device and the voltage maintaining device during a cycle; and a correction device for correcting the determining device when charge is not being delivered to the rechargeable battery, on the basis of the charge value.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus using a battery and a method of detecting a time to change/recharge the battery in the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for estimating discharge and charge power of battery applications, including battery packs used in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) and Electric Vehicles (EV). One charge/discharge power estimating method incorporates voltage, state-of-charge (SOC), power, and current design constraints and works for a user-specified prediction time horizon ?t. At least two cell models are used in calculating maximum charge/discharge power based on voltage limits. The first is a simple cell model that uses a Taylor-series expansion to linearize the equation involved. The second is a more complex and accurate model that models cell dynamics in discrete-time state-space form. The cell model can incorporate a inputs such as temperature, resistance, capacity, etc. One advantage of using model-based approach is that the same model may be used in both Kalman-filtering to produce the SOC and the estimation of maximum charge/discharge current based on voltage limits.

Abstract: A storage battery system includes a battery module A with a first nonaqueous electrolyte battery including a negative-electrode material which has an average grain size of 2 ?m or more and is used to occlude and discharge lithium ions, a battery module B with a second nonaqueous electrolyte battery set at a lithium-ion-occluding potential of 0.4V (vs.Li/Li) or more, and including a negative-electrode material which has an average grain size of primary particles of 1 ?m or less and is used to occlude lithium ions, and a controller configured to intermittently connect the module A to the module B to intermittently supply power from the module A to the module B to set a charge state and a discharge depth of the second nonaqueous electrolyte battery within a range of 10 to 90%, when no power is supplied to the module B at least from an outside.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus driven by an AC power supply or a rechargeable battery has a charge directing unit which initiates charging of the battery from the AC power supply, provided that the remaining amount of power of the battery is lower than a predetermined charge-start-criteria level and that the information processing apparatus is driven by the AC power supply. Also included is a drive history storage which stores a drive history including information indicating which of the AC power supply and the battery was driving the information processing apparatus in each time period in the past. A recharge-start-criteria-level-setting unit sets the charge-start-criteria level on the basis of the drive history.

Abstract: An electronic watch in which the display on a liquid crystal display 236 is prohibited when the detected output voltage of a secondary battery 220 drops to a first predefined voltage. An initialization process is performed when the detected voltage of the secondary battery 220 drops to a second voltage lower than the first voltage, and the display on the liquid crystal display unit 236 is restarted when the detected voltage of the secondary battery 220 rises to a third voltage not lower than the first voltage after having reached the second voltage.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, there is a method for determining the available energy of a battery. Various embodiments include the steps of applying an increasing current to the battery and measuring a response voltage of the battery when the increasing current is applied to the battery.

Abstract: A portable range extender is provided for an electric vehicle having a vehicle controller, and an electric traction motor powered by a battery. The portable range extender has an engine, a dynamoelectric machine coupled to the engine by a shaft and electrically connectable to the vehicle, and a range extender controller for controlling operations of the range extender independently of the vehicle controller. The range extender controller monitors voltage of the battery to automatically activate the range extender when the battery voltage is less than a first threshold value and automatically deactivate the range extender when the battery voltage reaches a second threshold value. The dynamoelectric machine operates as a motor for starting the engine when the battery voltage is less than the first threshold value. In response to prescribed engine conditions, the range extender controller operates the dynamoelectric machine as a generator driven by the engine to generate electric power supplied to the vehicle.