Abstract: A voltage clamping circuit includes a current source having a fixed current source and a variable current source and a variable resistor receiving current from the current source. The variable resistor varies its resistance in response to an environmental operating condition. The voltage clamping circuit also includes an amplifier configured to compare a sensor node voltage with a reference voltage, the sensor node voltage being in communication with the voltage drop across the variable resistor. The amplifier is configured and connected to provide a control output to control the variable current source to modify current output from the variable current source to at least in part prevent the sensor node voltage from exceeding a reference voltage when certain operating conditions are present.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for charging a battery in an information handling system. The method includes prompting a user to select from a plurality of charging modes for the battery, wherein the charging modes comprise a first mode, a second mode, or a third mode. The method further includes charging the battery in the first mode when the first mode is selected, wherein a charge voltage and a charge current are constant In the first mode, and charging the battery dynamically when the second mode or the third mode is selected, wherein the charge current changes dynamically based on a battery temperature.

Abstract: There is provided a charge controller capable of charging a capacitor while suppressing the progress of deterioration of the capacitor without unnecessary charge/discharge of the capacitor. The charge controller includes a voltage sensor 133 that detects the voltage of a capacitor 101, a current sensor 135 that detects the charge/discharge current of the capacitor 101, a battery ECU 123 that estimates the SOC of the capacitor 101 based on the detected voltage, and a management ECU 117. The management ECU 117 calculates the charge/discharge amount from the start of charging of the capacitor 101 by integrating the charge/discharge currents detected by the current sensor 135 and controls the charging of the capacitor 101 based on the estimated SOC and the calculated charge/discharge amount. The management ECU 117 updates and sets the estimated SOC to an actual use upper limit SOC based on the state characteristics of the capacitor 101.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for charging a battery with improved charging performance and reduced degradation of the battery. A battery charging profile is configured to achieve minimal degradation of a selected battery possible for a given charge time. The minimization is achieved using battery degradation modeling data indicative of a battery degradation level of a selected battery, and voltage and temperature response modeling data indicative of predicted battery voltage and temperature of the selected battery as a function of time and charging current.

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: The present invention discloses a charger circuit. The charger circuit comprises a control circuit and at least two charging paths. The control circuit determines to activate or inactivate each charging path according to a battery feedback signal representing the charging status. Accordingly, the battery is charged by input power in an optimal way so that the charging efficiency is improved and the overheating problem is solved.

Abstract: A smart battery charger having a plurality of charging stations for simultaneously charging a plurality of batteries, such as vehicle batteries, in an efficient manner without overcharging by compensating for the current state of charge and temperature of each one of the batteries while indicating a status of the batteries to an operator.

Abstract: A battery system includes a battery pack, a detecting portion, a storage portion, and a determining portion. The battery pack includes serially-connected parallel battery units each of which includes battery cells connected in parallel. The detecting portion detects voltage and current of the units, and calculates the accumulated current value of each of the units. The storage portion stores reference voltage values to be associated the accumulated current value of each of the units. The determining portion reads, from the storage portion, one of the reference voltages corresponding to the accumulated value of each of the units, and compares the read reference voltage with the detection voltage of the each of the units. Thus, a battery cell internal short circuit is detected if the difference between the detection voltage and the read reference voltage exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: An electronic circuit comprising a circuit module, a capacitor connected to the circuit module and a shutdown line providing a shutdown signal to the circuit module for suspending the circuit module. The electronic circuit further comprises a switching module for switching the capacitor such as to reduce discharging of the capacitor, depending on the shutdown signal. Particularly, the switching module disconnects the capacitor from ground. Disconnection takes effect when the circuit module is suspended or in power down mode because of the shutdown signal being provided.

Abstract: A method of charging a battery and a battery pack utilizing the same, is disclosed. The method enhances the battery life characteristic of a battery cell by varying the charging parameters (e.g., charging voltage, charging current, rate of charge, relative state of charge, and battery capacity) based a temperature of or around the battery cell is in a normal, extended, or abnormal temperature range when the battery cell is fully charged. The charging method includes determining whether a battery cell is being charged, and if the battery cell is being charged, determining whether the battery cell is fully charged; if the battery cell is fully charged, determining whether a temperature of or around the battery cell is in a normal range or in an extended range; and if the temperature is in the normal range, selecting a first charging parameter set, and if the temperature is in the extended range, selecting a charging condition of the battery cell as a second set value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing battery optimization and protection in a low power energy environment is presented. A current configuration of a battery module including a plurality of a particular type of battery is determined. A voltage level of the battery module is detected. A determination is made whether the current configuration of the battery module is a preferred configuration for the particular type of batteries of the battery module. When the determination is that the current configuration of the battery module is not the preferred configuration for the particular type of batteries of the battery module, then the battery module is reconfigured to a preferred configuration for the particular type of batteries of the battery module.

Abstract: A battery pack and a method of charging the same are disclosed. The battery pack is chargeable by a variety of chargers which have different output voltages.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an apparatus and method for estimating state of health (SOH) of a battery. The apparatus for estimating state of health of a battery includes a sensing unit for measuring a battery voltage and current within a predetermined charging voltage range; a memory unit storing the battery voltage and current values measured by the sensing unit and SOH-based ampere counting values, obtained by an ampere counting experiment of a battery whose actual degradation degree is known; and a control unit for calculating an ampere counting value by counting the measured current values stored in the memory unit within the charging voltage range, and estimating a SOH value by mapping the SOH value corresponding to the calculated ampere counting value from the SOH-based ampere counting values stored in the memory unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for charging a lithium battery.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that charges a lithium-ion battery. During operation, the system monitors: a current through the battery, a voltage of the battery, and a temperature of the battery. Next, the system uses the monitored current, voltage and temperature to control a charging process for the battery. In some embodiments, controlling the charging process involves: inferring electrode lithium surface concentrations for the battery from the monitored current, voltage and temperature; and applying the charging current and/or the charging voltage in a manner that maintains the inferred electrode lithium surface concentrations for the battery within set limits.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an electrochemical battery system performs optimized charging of a battery. The electrochemical battery system includes at least one electrochemical cell, a memory storing command instructions, and a controller operably connected to the memory and a current source. The controller executes the command instructions to generate a first prediction of at least one state parameter corresponding to an internal state of the at least one electrochemical cell in the event that a first input current is applied to the at least one electrochemical cell for a predetermined time based upon a present state of the at least one state parameter in the electrochemical cell, determine a second input current based on the first prediction and at least one predetermined state parameter constraint, and control the current source to apply the second input current to the at least one electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A circuit and communication method for charging and/or discharging electrical energy storage devices (e.g., one or more cells of ultracapacitors, one or more cells of batteries, one or more cells of ultracapacitors and batteries).

Abstract: A method for determining an end of life of a battery includes determining a discharge capacity of the battery at a given moment in time, determining a discharge capacity at a functional endpoint of the battery, and determining a fuel remaining in the battery at the given moment in time as a function of both the discharge capacity at the given moment in time and the discharge capacity of the battery at the functional endpoint of the battery. The determined fuel remaining is indicative of an end of life of the battery.

Abstract: A method for balancing voltage for a multi-cell battery system, in which the battery system includes at least two parallel groups of cells connected in series and in which the parallel group of cells includes at least one battery cell, includes: charging the battery system by keeping the voltage of all parallel groups of cells less than or equal to a second threshold voltage value, while at least the voltage of one group of parallel cells is less than or equal to a first threshold voltage; and while at least the voltage of one group of parallel cells is less than or equal to a second threshold voltage; and while the charging current is above a predefined minimal current. The method further includes measuring the voltage of each parallel group of cells while electrical loads are shut off and dissipating energy in each of the parallel group of cells of the amount that is represented by the voltage difference between the individual parallel group of cells and the parallel group of cells with the lowest voltage.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the temperature of cells in a battery pack, without using temperature sensors, by measuring the impedance of the cells and using the impedance to determine the temperature. An AC voltage signal is applied to the battery pack, and a time sample of voltage and current data is obtained. The voltage and current data is narrowed down to a simultaneous time window of interest, and a fast fourier transformation is performed on the windowed voltage and current data to identify voltage and current magnitudes at one or more specific frequencies. The voltage and current magnitudes are used to determine the impedance at the one or more frequencies. Finally, the impedance is used to determine the temperature of the cell or cells using a look-up table, where the impedance, the frequency, and a state of charge are used as input parameters for the look-up.

Abstract: A battery state-of-charge (SOC) estimator uses a robust H? filter design by taking into account the battery parameter uncertainties, which is due to battery age, variation, and operating conditions such as temperature and SOC level. Each of the time-varying battery parameter values and their variation rates are bounded. By utilizing the parameter variation bounds and parameter variation rate bounds into the design process and minimizing the H? gain from the measured current signal to the estimation error of Voc, the battery SOC estimator can achieve enhanced robustness to the variations of battery age, variation, and operating conditions that include temperature and SOC level.

Abstract: A robust battery state-of-charge observer determines a state-of-charge as function of an open circuit voltage by taking into account battery parameter uncertainties, which are due to battery age, variation, and operating conditions, (e.g. temperature and SOC level). Each of the time-varying battery parameter values are bounded. By utilizing the parameter variation bounds in the design process and constantly minimizing the estimation error covariance matrix, the robust observer achieves enhanced robustness to the variations of battery age, variation, and operating conditions such as temperature and SOC level.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for easily detecting an abnormal status of power generation of a solar cell panel in a solar cell power generation system having the power generation of 1 MW or higher. The present invention provides an abnormality detecting apparatus for a solar cell power generation system including a plurality of solar cell strings each having a plurality of solar cell modules connected to each other in series and a backflow preventing diode connected to a power output terminal of each of the solar cell strings, characterized in that the abnormality detecting apparatus further includes measuring means for measuring a current flowing in the backflow preventing diode; and that the measuring means is supplied with electric power from both terminals of the backflow preventing diode.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable medium are provided for high current battery charging using IR dropout compensation. The method first measures a battery current value and then multiplies that battery current value by an effective resistance of the battery to produce an effective dropout voltage value. The effective battery voltage value is then compared with a desired battery top off voltage value. The switch mode battery charger output setpoint is adjusted based on the setpoint voltage. Battery current and terminal current are then compared. Charging is terminated if the battery current is less than the terminal current. If the battery current is greater than the terminal current the battery current value is measured again and the charging process continues until the condition is met.

Abstract: Provided is a charging apparatus for a moving robot including a charging terminal that is connected to a terminal for charging a battery of the moving robot; a power supply unit that supplies a charging voltage for charging the battery of the moving robot; a power switching unit that outputs a detection signal, depending on whether a voltage is applied from the charging terminal or not, and switches a current flow between the power supply unit and the charging terminal in accordance with an input control signal; and a control unit that responds to the detection signal so as to output the control signal.

Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, an energy harvesting system is provided. The system comprises a coil wound about a generally cylindrical shaped magnetic core having a first end and a second end. The coil includes wires that are wound in such a manner that the wires are generally parallel to the cylindrical shaped magnetic core axis. The cylindrical shaped magnetic core defines a core gap that extends parallel to the magnetic core axis. The cylindrical shaped magnetic core also defines an opening extending therethrough from the first end to the second end such that the cylindrical shaped magnetic core is configured to fit around current carrying conductor.

Abstract: An assembly for electrically recharging vehicles, to which individual radio units are assigned, having a parking space for a vehicle, a recharging station assigned to the parking space for cable-connected recharging of a vehicle located therein, and a transceiver connecting to the recharging station for communication with a radio unit, wherein the transceiver clears the recharging station for the recharging process depending on the communication with the radio unit, and the transceiver has a communication zone, which is restricted to the region of the parking space or can locate a radio unit as being located in this restricted region.

Abstract: A battery cell charging system, including a charger and a controller, for low-temperature (below about zero degrees Celsius) charging a lithium ion battery cell, the battery cell charging system includes: a circuit for charging the battery cell using an adjustable voltage charging-profile to apply a charging voltage and a charging current to the battery cell wherein the adjustable voltage charging-profile having: a non-low-temperature charging stage for charging the battery cell using a charging profile adapted for battery cell temperatures above about zero degrees Celsius; and a low-temperature charging stage with a variable low-temperature stage charging current that decreases responsive to a battery cell temperature falling below zero degrees Celsius.

Abstract: An intelligent eco-friendly starter battery includes pre-heating plates attached to lithium polymer cells thereof, a battery cell sensor module capable of sensing the temperature of the lithium polymer cells and controlling the pre-heating plates to pre-heat the lithium polymer cells to a predetermined temperature, a battery charging control circuit consisting of a plurality of power sensors and a battery charger for sensing the power level of each lithium polymer cell and charging each lithium polymer cell, a protection circuit assembly consisting of a field effect transistor, a relay and a controller for battery over-current and overheat protection, a transmitter receiver circuit and an antenna for transmitting the data sensed by the battery cell sensor module to a remote controller or external display.

Abstract: A discharge circuit for an EMI filter capacitor includes normally-ON transistors. The normally-ON transistors may be controlled to limit current through them when an AC source is coupled across the discharge circuit. When the AC source is disconnected from the discharge circuit, the normally-ON transistors turn ON to allow current flow through them. The current flow allows the EMI filter capacitor to be discharged by a discharge resistor.

Abstract: A mobile environment-controlled unit having a structure, a compartment supported by the structure, and an environmental-control system in environmental communication with the compartment. The environmental-control system is configured to control an environmental parameter of the compartment. The environmental-control system includes an internal combustion engine, having a starter, powering the environmental-control system; a battery powering the starter; and a controller. The controller monitors battery health status, predicts battery failure, and communicates the predicted battery failure. Also, described is a method of operating the mobile environment-controlled unit and a controller for controlling the mobile environment-controlled unit.

Abstract: A controller (130) reads out a voltage value correlated with the ambient temperature of a battery (200) measured by a temperature measurer (110) from a storage device (120), so that a charger (140) charges the battery (200) at the voltage value read out by the controller (130).

Abstract: A battery pack includes a voltage detection part configured to detect the voltage of a battery unit including multiple chargeable and dischargeable secondary cells; a current detection part configured to detect a current flowing through the battery unit; a dischargeable capacity calculation part configured to calculate the dischargeable capacity of the battery unit based on the current detected by the current detection part; and a capacity correction part configured to correct the remaining capacity of the battery unit, the remaining capacity including the dischargeable capacity calculated by the dischargeable capacity calculation part, wherein the capacity correction part is configured to correct the remaining capacity based on an estimated dischargeable capacity calculated from the relationship between a preset predetermined voltage and the drop rate of the voltage of the battery unit, in response to the voltage of the battery unit becoming less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for detecting state of charge (SOC) of a battery. A voltage of a battery pack (100) is detected by voltage sensors (120-1) to (120-n). A determining unit (160) samples currents at times when the battery voltage reaches predetermined threshold voltages (Vth1, Vth2) respectively, and calculates an open end voltage (Vocv), based on representative values (I1, I2) of the sampled currents and threshold voltages (Vth1, Vth2). Furthermore, based on a correspondence relationship between the voltage (Vocv) and the state of charge (SOC) which is determined in advance, the state of charge (SOC) that corresponds to the calculated voltage (Vocv) is calculated.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery cell, a charge-blocking unit, a voltage sensing and balancing circuit, and a microcomputer, the microcomputer including a controller that detects at least one selected from the group of abnormal analog-to-digital conversion, abnormal voltage, and abnormal temperature of the battery cell, the controller outputting a charge control signal to the charge-blocking unit to inhibit charging of the battery cell.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that manages use of a battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system monitors a cycle number of the battery during use of the battery with the portable electronic device, wherein the cycle number corresponds to a number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery. If the cycle number exceeds a first cycle number threshold, the system modifies a charging technique for the battery to manage swelling in the battery.

Abstract: An apparatus may be configured to provide electrical power while incorporated in an armored garment. The apparatus may include a plate having a footprint that corresponds to a plate of body armor, a plurality of energy storage cells carried by the power plate, and a port carried by the plate. The port may be configured to output power stored in the plurality of energy storage cells from the apparatus. The apparatus may also include one or more processors configured to enhance functionalities of the apparatus.

Abstract: The present disclosure is concerned with operation of an energy storage system (ESS) connectable to an electric power system. The charging-discharging schedule of the ESS can be determined through application of a time-dependent forecast of ESS and power system states based on historical data. Exemplary embodiments can include ESSs which have been historically activated with a certain periodicity, for example, for power system load leveling, frequency regulation, arbitrage, peak load shaving and/or integration of renewable power generation.

Abstract: A method of dynamic power management of a mobile device. The method includes monitoring at least one load to determine when at least one of the loads will become active or inactive, determining a minimum required output voltage level to be provided by a single voltage converter based on voltage level requirements of the at least one load that will become active or inactive, converting an input voltage level via the voltage converter to provide the minimum required output voltage level to the output power port in advance of the at least one load becoming active or after the at least one load becomes inactive, monitoring the input voltage level, determining whether the input voltage level is below a first threshold, and when the input voltage level is below the first threshold, reducing the output voltage level provided by the single voltage converter.

Abstract: The invention relates to an indicator device for displaying a battery charge status of an electronic battery powered user terminal device, which is adapted to provide a plurality of applications to a user. The user terminal device comprises a plurality of electric components performing the applications, a battery supplying power to the electric components and a power supply control deactivating the electric components of individual applications at a predetermined battery charge status respectively. The indicator device comprises a detection device for detecting the battery charge status of the user terminal device and a display for displaying the battery charge status. A charging state arrangement is provided for determining and displaying an application-specific battery charge state of at least one of the applications.

Abstract: Provided are a battery state monitoring circuit with a small number of terminals and a battery device including the battery state monitoring circuit. An output of an overcharge detection circuit (12) is an open-drain output to a charge control terminal (18), and an input terminal of a voltage detection circuit (11) is connected to the charge control terminal (18), to thereby share a charger detection terminal and a charge control terminal.

Abstract: A battery monitor for monitoring operations of a battery, such as but not limited to monitoring operations of a vehicle battery. The battery monitor may be configured to monitor current flow and battery temperature. The battery monitor may be connected to a cable used to electrically connect the battery to a number of electronic devices so that the battery monitor is located away from the battery. The battery monitor may include a processing element grounded directly to a negative pole of the battery to facilitate isolating the processing element from noise created by the electronic devices connected to the cable.

Abstract: In a vehicle charging system, conservation of energy may be achieved by an energy-routing device that selectively routes electrical energy generated from moving air to an energy-storage device, to an energy-dissipation device, or to both. The determination of where to route the electrical energy may be based on sensor measurements of voltage, current, and temperature. A processor may use measurements of sensors within the system to determine whether the energy-storage device may safely or efficiently store additional electrical energy.

Abstract: A system for periodically charging an electrically powered automated guided vehicle includes a charging station positioned adjacent a predetermined route of the automated guided vehicle. The charging station includes a charging arm which is selectively movable between a stowed position and a charge position in which the charging arm engages with the automated guided vehicle to perform a charging operation. The charging station is dimensioned and positioned so as to be positioned underneath a bottom surface of a platform connected to the automated guided vehicle and between a side edge of the platform and the automated guided vehicle.

Abstract: In order to widen an operational input voltage range of a power conversion apparatus and obtain a maximum efficiency value comparable to that in a case where the operational input voltage range is not widened by changing software but not hardware, provided is a power conversion apparatus, in which a control section (5) controls a current input to an inverter circuit (14) to cause a DC output voltage from an AC/DC converter section (10) which is a voltage across a smoothing capacitor (22) to follow a target voltage and to cause an input power factor from an AC power supply (1) to approach one, to thereby maintain a DC voltage from a single-phase inverter (14a), and adjusts the target voltage for the DC output voltage from the AC/DC converter section (10) in accordance with a voltage of the AC power supply (1).

Abstract: A charge control circuit equipped with a function of controlling a charging current to be supplied to a secondary battery, comprises: a detecting unit for monitoring a temperature; and a charge control unit for controlling so as to break the charging current when the monitored temperature rises to a temperature equal to or more than a predetermined set temperature, decrease the charging current as the monitored temperature becomes higher when the monitored temperature is in a predetermined temperature range lower than the set temperature, flow the charging current having a predetermined current value in a state where the monitored temperature is lower than a lower limit temperature of the temperature range, or flow the charging current having a current value smaller than the current value when the monitored temperature is within a range of from an upper limit temperature of the temperature range to the set temperature.

Abstract: Described are systems and methods for accurately characterizing thermodynamic and materials properties of electrodes and battery systems and for characterizing the state of health of electrodes and battery systems. Measurement of physical attributes of electrodes and batteries corresponding to thermodynamically stabilized electrode conditions permit determination of thermodynamic parameters, including state functions such as the Gibbs free energy, enthalpy and entropy of electrode/electrochemical cell reactions, that enable prediction of important performance attributes of electrode materials and battery systems, such as energy, power density, current rate, cycle life and state of health. Also provided are systems and methods for charging a battery according to its state of health.

Abstract: A charging circuit for charging a battery includes a processor, a switching circuit, a voltage converter, and a power voltage detecting circuit. A first terminal of the switching circuit is connected to a power source. A second terminal of the switching circuit is connected to a first output of the processor. A first terminal of the voltage converter is connected to a third terminal of the switching circuit. A second terminal of the voltage converter is connected to the battery. The power voltage detecting circuit is connected to the power source, and a first input and a second output of the processor.

Abstract: In a voltage monitor, an abnormality detecting unit receives first information outputted from a first obtaining unit and second information outputted from a second obtaining unit, and determines that an abnormality that affects on at least one of first and second diagnostic thresholds arises in the voltage monitor when the first information is different from the second information. The abnormality detecting unit receives a first forced signal outputted from a first forced-output unit and a second forced signal outputted from a second forced-output unit. The abnormality detecting unit determines whether a timing at which the level of the first diagnostic threshold is switched for each step is deviated from a timing at which the level of the second diagnostic threshold is switched for a corresponding step based on a result of a comparison between the first forced signal and the second forced signal.

Abstract: A computer system includes a device which operates depending on a clock frequency; a battery unit which comprises a plurality of battery cells and supplies power to the device; a temperature sensor which senses temperature of the battery cells; and a controller which decreases the clock frequency if the sensed temperature is beyond a first preset critical point.