Abstract: An electronic apparatus which detects when a battery having a different characteristic is mixed in a plurality of batteries accommodated therein. An average voltage V1 per battery of plural batteries connected in series and an average voltage V2 per battery at a connecting point halfway of those connected batteries are detected. A difference in voltage |V1?V2| between the average voltage V1 and average voltage V2 is compared with a tolerable voltage difference ?V. If it is determined that a battery having a different characteristic is mixed, the operation of the apparatus is interrupted and an alarm is displayed or the supply of power is shut down.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a battery management system includes a charger controller for controlling a charging current of a battery according to a status of a load which is powered by the battery, and a counter coupled to the charger controller for determining a charging time according to such status. Advantageously, a first charging current is selected when the load is off. A second charging current that is less than the first charging current is selected when the load is on. Furthermore, a frequency of the counter is set to a first frequency when the load is off. The frequency is set to a second frequency that is less than the first frequency when the load is on.

Abstract: An energy saving type feeder voltage compensation apparatus improved in availability at low temperatures, wherein when a secondary battery is lower in temperature than a predetermined value, an output voltage output to a feeder side is made equal to or higher than a no-load output voltage of a substation connected in parallel. Power is supplied to a power running rolling stock preferentially from the secondary battery. The heating value of the secondary battery is increased and the battery temperature is raised by this discharging, whereby internal resistance of the secondary battery is lowered, and the charging and discharging loss is suppressed, and the efficiency and availability of the energy saving type feeder voltage compensation apparatus as a whole are improved.

Abstract: A battery control module for a rechargeable battery includes a voltage measuring module that measures a voltage of the rechargeable battery and that estimates a first derivative of the voltage with respect to time (dV/dt) and a second derivative of the voltage with respect to time (d2V/dt2). A charge control module estimates a maximum charging current based on dV/dt. A current control module limits a charging current of the rechargeable battery to the maximum charging current and turns off the charging current when d2V/dt2 is greater than dV/dt.

Abstract: A battery delivers its rated capacity when the battery is below a temperature when the available battery capacity is limited. The battery includes a heating element, a temperature sensor, and a switch operatively connected to the heating element and temperature sensor and responsive to the temperature sensor for switching on the heating element and raising the temperature of the battery to allow the battery to deliver its rated capacity when a sensed temperature of the battery is below a temperature where available battery capacity is limited.

Abstract: In a charging/discharging control system for controlling an allowable power level of a secondary battery at the time of charging/discharging operations, excessive discharging or recharging of the secondary battery is prevented, and excessive suppression of the charging/discharging of the secondary battery is prevented. A vehicle ECU controls charging/discharging of the secondary battery in accordance with a predetermined allowable power level. A battery ECU detects an actual loading power level of a secondary battery; calculates a differential power level between the detected actual loading power level and an allowable power level; measures the number of times the calculated differential power level has become equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value; and downwardly revises the allowable power level when the count has become equal to or greater than a predetermined upper-limit level.

Abstract: A fuel cell system determines each of a battery charging current error, a battery voltage error, and a stack current error. The fuel cell system regulates current through a series pass element in response to a greater of the determined errors. Thus, the fuel cell system operates in three modes: battery voltage limiting mode, stack current limiting mode and battery charging current limiting mode. Additionally, there can be a fourth “saturation” mode where the stack voltage VS drops below the battery voltage VB as the load pulls even more current. Individual fuel cell systems can be combined in series and/or parallel to produce a combined fuel cell system having a desired output voltage and current.

Abstract: A method (20 or 30) and system (40) for estimating a battery state of charge can include a memory (48) for storing at least one among an impedance value, a plurality of values for V drop 0-1, or a plurality of values for V drop 0-1 normalized for charge or discharge values providing a stored plurality of values. The system can include a processor (44) and can measure at least one among V drop C-0 providing a measured V drop C-0 value and V drop 0-1 for the providing a measured V drop 0-1 value. The processor can be programmed to perform the functions of dividing the V drop C-0 value by the impedance value to estimate a charging current at the battery or comparing the measured V drop 0-1 value with a value among the stored plurality of values to estimate the battery state of charge.

Abstract: The invention provides: a charging and discharging control circuit which includes a charging and discharging control terminal having a test function as well and which is capable of conducting switch over among a normal application state, a charging and discharging prohibition state, and a test state; and a charging type power supply unit. Any one of a level “L”, “H”, or “M” of a voltage inputted to a charging and discharging control terminal is selected using the charging and discharging control terminal and a test fuse to allow switch over to the normal application state, the charging and discharging prohibition state, or the test state. In the test state, two modes for shortening a test delay time are realized depending on whether or not the test fuse is cut.

Abstract: A control system and method for a battery charger. The system includes a processor that receives inputs from a battery current sensor and temperature sensors within the batteries. The processor terminates and resumes charging in response to measured battery temperatures compared to stored reference values in order to prevent high temperatures associated with damage to the batteries.

Abstract: The charging method includes the steps of charging a battery pack, sensing voltage of the battery pack, calculating voltage change rate, detecting a first inflection point based on the voltage change rate so long as a voltage step is not detected, detecting a second inflection point based on the voltage change rate so long as a voltage step is not detected, and reducing current sent to the battery pack when both first and second inflection points have been detected.

Abstract: In charge rate estimating apparatus and method for a secondary cell, a current flowing through the secondary cell is measured, a voltage across terminals of the secondary cell is measured, an adaptive digital filtering is carried out using a cell model in a continuous time series shown in an equation (1), all of parameters at one time are estimated, the parameters corresponding to an open-circuit voltage which is an offset term of the equation (1) and coefficients of A(s), B(s), and C(s) which are transient terms, and, the charge rate is estimated from a relationship between a previously derived open-circuit voltage V0 and the charge rate SOC using the open-circuit voltage V0, 1 V = B ⁡ ( s ) A ⁡ ( s ) · I + 1 C ⁡ ( s ) · V 0 , ( 1 )

Abstract: A battery charger and a charging method capable of charging a battery are described. The current temperature of the battery is detected (in step S12) and a battery temperature increase rate is calculated based upon the detected temperature (in step S14). An allowable current value is then retrieved based upon the detected temperature and the calculated battery temperature increase rate, which allowable current value permits charging of the battery while preventing excessive battery temperature increases (in step S16), and the battery is charged using the allowable current value (in step S20). Thus, it is possible to charge the battery within a short period of time while preventing the battery temperature from excessively rising.

Abstract: A nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery charging/discharging method is provided that has a prolonged cyclic life. In the charging/discharging method, a secondary battery is continuously charging a battery unconditionally until a charging capacity exceeds 20% of a full charging capacity because the battery voltage and the battery temperature are unstable in an initial charging stage (step S11). The charging is completed when the charging capacity exceeds 70% of a full charging capacity (step S12). A maintenance charging/discharging operation is performed because the full charging capacity is in an error state if dV/dt exceeds a specified value “a” before a charging current exceeds 70% of the full charging capacity (step S13). A maintenance charging/discharging operation performed because the full charging capacity is in an error state if dT/dt exceeds a specified value “b” before a charging current exceeds 70% of the full charging capacity (step S14).

Abstract: A method of charging a nickel-hydrogen battery which includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte, after the battery has been subject to discharge is disclosed the method comprising the steps of: (a) subjecting the battery to a high charge rate for a period until the battery temperature increases at least &Dgr;T1 over the local minimum battery temperature; (b) switching the battery charge level to a lower rate of charge than in step (a) for a period until the battery temperature increases at least &Dgr;T2 over the local minimum battery temperature; (c) switching the battery charge level to a much lower rate of charge than step (b) for a period up to about 30 to 60 minutes before the next scheduled eclipse; and thereafter (d) switching the battery to a pulse charge equivalent to the high charge rate of step (a).

Abstract: Rotation of an air-blowing motor is continued also upon completion of charge; by retrieving a presumed temperature for cooling and upon detecting that a measured temperature is higher than the presumed temperature for cooling by not less than a specified value, a LED lamp is switched ON for indicating that clogging of an airflow path of a battery package has occurred, and an abnormal condition is written to an EEPROM of the battery package.

Abstract: A method of charging a rechargeable battery which comprises charging the battery with a charging current; sampling conditions of the battery during charging to recognize potential adverse conditions within the battery; interrupting the charging current periodically to create current-free periods and sampling an open circuit voltage of the battery during each current-free period to identify potential overcharge conditions in the battery; lowering the charging current if any adverse conditions are identified and continuing charging with the charging current if adverse charging conditions are not identified; and terminating charging when a predetermined value is recognized. The method of charging nickel-metal hydride and nickel-cadmium batteries is based on switching charging current as soon as temperature related battery open circuit voltage reaches the first predetermined value, tapering current and continuing charging up to terminating point.

Abstract: A solid-state secondary lithium battery with excellent charge and discharge cycle characteristics, using a negative electrode active material which shows discontinuous change of potential caused by the lithium ion insertion and extraction reactions, wherein the amount of the lithium ion inserted, until discontinuous change of potential of the negative elctrode takes place, is equal to or smaller than the maximum amount of extraction of lithium ions within the range where lithium ions are inserted and extracted into or from the lithium transition metal oxide reversibly, and a battery assembly using these batteries.

Abstract: The voltage of each of battery block of a battery is detected by a voltage sensor. Further, the temperature of the battery is detected by a temperature sensor. These detected values are supplied to a detecting section of a battery ECU. A judging section reads out the threshold value of the voltage stored in a memory, on the basis of the detected values of temperature, and compares the threshold value of the voltage with the detected voltage of each of the battery blocks. Then, if at least any one is less than the threshold value of the voltage, a relay is turned off. Furthermore, the threshold value of the voltage is arranged to be the voltage at the moment when the value of the current is suddenly increased by the discharge of a constant current of the battery.

Abstract: A method for charging and monitoring a rechargeable battery is proposed. The charging method includes charging a rechargeable battery, sensing temperature of said battery, and calculating temperature change rate. The method further includes sensing voltage of said battery after the temperature change rate reaches a predetermined value, calculating voltage change rate, and reducing current sent to the battery when the voltage change rate reaches a predetermined value. A second embodiment of the charging method may include charging a rechargeable battery, sensing temperature and voltage of said battery, and calculating temperature and voltage change rates. The method further includes sensing for a maximum voltage change rate after the temperature change rate reaches a predetermined value, and reducing current sent to the battery when the maximum voltage change rate is sensed.

Abstract: A battery charging method in an environment of variable temperatures provides for a temperature correction to determine an onset of an overcharge phase which is detected by a discernible thermal energy output of a charging battery. The method comprises a precursory operation of determining time period required for effecting a temperature change in the battery in response to a temperature change of an ambient space about the battery. The temperature of the battery is then monitored throughout the charging process by measuring the temperature of the battery at timed, predetermined intervals. Over the same timed intervals the temperature of the ambience is measured. A measured difference in the temperature of the ambience with respect to a prior temperature of the ambience is applied to a measured temperature of the battery as modified by a predetermined time delay factor.

Abstract: A battery charger and method of charging a rechargeable battery which comprises charging the battery with an initial charging current and measuring and comparing the charging temperature to an initial temperature to identify a temperature factor which either identifies a need to lower the current or terminate the charging current. The temperature factor may be a temperature gradient .DELTA.T. The open circuit voltage may be monitored from the beginning or may begin when .DELTA.T is identified. V.sub.OCV is plotted with respect to time t elapsed to identify a point or points on the V.sub.OCV (t) curve, such as an inflection point in the dV.sub.OCV /dt data or a transition point in the d.sup.2 V.sub.OCV /dt.sup.2 which indicate the onset of overcharge. If the open circuit voltage V.sub.OCV of the battery is sampled from the beginning of charging the second order differential information should be ignored until a predetermined temperature gradient is realized.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for charging a secondary battery and a charger by which it can be prevented that a secondary battery is charged at very high or low temperature, and that the secondary battery is charged for a long time. Therefore, the secondary battery is prevented from being damaged, so that the lifetime can be prolonged. In this method, a generally constant current is supplied from a charging means to the secondary battery. The constant-current charging is stopped when voltage of the secondary battery has reached a peak value after passage of a predetermined time period from start of the supplying of the first current; temperature of the secondary battery has been out of a predetermined range; or a predetermined time period has passed since start of the supplying of the first current.

Abstract: A circuit (103) for charging a battery (101) is connected to an input (126) for inputting a signal indicative of a temperature of the battery. A switch (108) selectively supplies power to the battery under the control of a control signal. A microcontroller (140) calculates a rate of change of the temperature signal and stores a peak rate of change during a battery charging interval. The microcontroller is operable to control the switch to disable charging of the battery when the temperature rate of change drops below the peak value by a rate of change threshold amount.