3059results about "Battery overcharge protection" patented technology

An intelligent rechargeable battery pack having a battery management system for monitoring and controlling the charging and discharging of the battery pack is described. The battery management system includes a memory for storing data related to the operation of the battery, and the battery management system is also configured to communicate the data related to the operation of the battery to other processors for analysis.

A carrier, such as a battery, that queries a memory of a charger or charging circuit, or the memory of equipment or discharging circuit powered by the battery, to determine the relative date or version of data, operating parameters and / or software on both the battery and the equipment, and either provides updated data, operating parameters and / or software to the equipment, or retrieves later dated data, operating parameters and / or software from the equipment to update the memory of the battery and / or further distribute the updated data, operating parameters and / or software to other batteries or equipment.

An intelligent rechargeable battery pack having a battery management system for monitoring and controlling the charging and discharging of the battery pack is described. The battery management system includes primary and secondary protection circuits for monitoring the charging and discharging of the battery. Individual battery cells forming the battery pack are connected by a main bus to a connector for connection to a battery charger or a device to be powered, and the main bus may be interrupted by a switch controlled by the battery management system to prevent damage to the battery during charging or discharging of the battery.

Some embodiments provide a system for charging devices. The system includes a master device and a slave device. Some embodiments provide a method for charging devices in a system that includes a slave device and a master device. The slave device includes (1) an antenna to receive a radio frequency (RF) beam and (2) a power generation module connected to the antenna that converts RF energy received by the slave antenna to power. The master device includes (1) a directional antenna to direct RF power to the antenna of the slave device and (2) a module that provides power to the directional antenna of the master device.

An actively heated mug or travel mug is provided. The mug or travel mug can include a body that receives a liquid therein and a heating system at least partially disposed in the body. The heating system can include one or more heating elements that heat a surface of the receiving portion of the body and one or more energy storage devices. The mug or travel mug can include a wireless power receiver that wirelessly receives power from a power source and control circuitry configured to charge one or more power storage elements and to control the delivery of electricity from the one or more power storage elements to the one or more heating elements. The mug or travel mug also can have one or more sensors that sense a parameter of the liquid or sense a parameter of the heating system and communicates the sensed information to the control circuitry. The control circuitry can turn on, turn off, and / or operate the heating element to actively heat at least a portion of the body to maintain the liquid in a heated state generally at a user selected temperature setting based at least in part on the sensed parameter information. The mug or travel mug can also be paired with a remote device or mobile electronic device to send or receive communications or commands.

Heated or cooled dishwasher safe dishware and drinkware are provided. The dishware and drinkware can be a plate or mug with a dishwasher safe body having a food or beverage receiving portion and a heating or cooling system. The heating or cooling system can have a heating or cooling element that heats or cools the receiving portion of the body. The heating or cooling system can optionally have a power storage element connected to the heating or cooling element, a charging module operatively connected to the power storage element, and / or a wireless power receiver operatively connected to the charging module and configured to transmit power thereto to charge the power storage device. The heating or cooling system is operable to actively heat or cool at least a portion of the body to maintain the solid or liquid food in a heated or cooled state for an extended period of time.

Some embodiments provide a system for charging devices. The system includes a master device and a slave device. Some embodiments provide a method for charging devices in a system that includes a slave device and a master device. The slave device includes (1) an antenna to receive a radio frequency (RF) beam and (2) a power generation module connected to the antenna that converts RF energy received by the slave antenna to power. The master device includes (1) a directional antenna to direct RF power to the antenna of the slave device and (2) a module that provides power to the directional antenna of the master device.

A wireless power receiver for receiving charging power from a wireless power transmitter includes a power reception unit configured to receive the charging power, a rectification unit configured to rectify charging power provided by the power reception unit, and output charging power in a form of Direct Current (DC), a charging unit configured to store charging power, and a power processing Integrated Chip (IC) configured to convert a voltage of the output rectified charging power, into at least one voltage, that an operation of the wireless power receiver requires, and output power having the at least one voltage. Accordingly, charging efficiency is increased.

A wireless charging apparatus is provided. The wireless charging apparatus includes: an antenna that receives electrical waves; at least two charging power generators that generate charging power for charging a battery using the electrical waves received through the antenna; and a controller that senses a frequency of the electrical waves received through the antenna and that activates one of the at least two charging power generators according to a sensed result.

The vehicle power supply apparatus 100 has a power transmitting unit 110 including a power transmission side coil 111 for generating an alternating magnetic field, a positioning member 112 for positioning the power transmission side coil 111 in a vehicle 20, and a power transmission side circuit 114 supplying an electric current to the power transmission side coil 111; and a power receiving unit 120 including a power receipt side coil 121 disposed in a rear window member 30 which is a non-magnetic portion of the vehicle 20 and generating an induced current based on an alternating magnetic field generated by the power transmission side coil 111 and a power receipt side circuit 122 supplying, to a power-supplied object, electric power based on the induced current generated by the power receipt side coil 121.

A charging apparatus includes an antenna, a receiver, and a battery. The battery is charged by a harvester, which converts wireless energy sent by antenna to direct current and charges the battery. The harvester includes a sensor coil, a rectifier and voltage regulating filter. The wireless energy is converted by the sensor coil to alternating current (AC). The rectifier is electrically connected to the sensor coil for converting AC to direct current (DC). The voltage regulating filter is electrically connected to the rectifier to regulate DC. The battery can be charged by the wireless charge apparatus.

An inductive power transfer device is provided for recharging cordless appliances. The device includes a plurality of inductors arranged in an array and connected with a power supply via switches which are selectively operable to activate the respective inductors. The inductors serve as the primary coil of a transformer. The secondary coil of the transformer is arranged in the appliance. When the appliance is arranged proximate to the power transfer device with the respective coils in alignment, power is inductively transferred from the device to the appliance via the transformer.

Apparatus for a modular battery management system with interchangeable slave modules connected to each cell and including a master module controlling and managing the battery system. All the modules receive power through a transfer switch that selectively switches between an external source, an auxiliary source, and the battery. The modules are configured to connect to a cell of the battery for charging and monitoring the cell individually. Each module is electrically isolated from the other modules. The modules are autonomous and shut down the battery and disconnect the module when a critical parameter of the cell is reached. When the battery is in service and a cell parameter approaches the critical level, the master controller instructs the corresponding slave module to charge the cell using battery power. The master module initializes the slave modules to uniquely identify the modules.

The object is to reliably detect a ground fault of a solar battery. To detect a ground fault position to take an efficient measure against the ground fault, DC power input from a solar battery is converted into AC power and supplied to a system. In a system interconnection inverter (utility connected inverter) having non-insulated input and output, the input voltage of a converter circuit and / or the intermediate voltage between the converter circuit and an inverter circuit are varied to control the potential to ground at each portion of the solar battery to a value other than a value close to zero.

A method of conducting an operation including a battery. The battery includes a cell having a voltage. Power is transferable between the cell and the electrical device. A controller is operable to control a function of the battery pack. The controller is also operable with a voltage at least one of equal to and greater than an operating voltage threshold. The cell is operable to selectively supply voltage to the controller. The method includes the act of enabling the controller to operate when the voltage supplied by the cell is below the operating voltage threshold.

An inductive charging system for recharging a battery. The system includes a charger circuit and a secondary circuit. The secondary circuit includes a feedback mechanism to provide feedback to the charger circuit through the inductive coupling of the primary coil and the secondary coil. The charger circuit includes a frequency control mechanism for controlling the frequency of the power applied to the primary coil at least partly in response to the feedback from the feedback mechanism.

Described herein are improved capabilities for a system and method for wireless energy distribution to a mechanically removable vehicle seat, comprising a source resonator coupled to an energy source of a vehicle, the source resonator positioned proximate to the mechanically removable vehicle seat, the source resonator generating an oscillating magnetic field with a resonant frequency and comprising a high-conductivity material adapted and located between the source resonator and a vehicle surface to direct the oscillating magnetic field away from the vehicle surface, and a receiving resonator integrated into the mechanically removable vehicle seat, the receiving resonator having a resonant frequency similar to that of the source resonator, and receiving wireless energy from the source resonator, and providing power to electrical components integrated with the mechanically removable vehicle seat.

Stationary and on-board battery chargers, methods of charging batteries, electric-vehicle chargers, and vehicles with chargers, including electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. Chargers may automatically charge at the correct battery voltage for various types of batteries. Chargers have variable AC power supplies controlled by digital controllers, isolation transformers, and rectifiers. Transformers may be foil-type, and may have copper foil. Power supplies may be variable-frequency generators and the controllers may control the frequency. Electric vehicle chargers may have card readers, and vehicles may have batteries and a charger. Methods of charging include identifying the battery type and gradually increasing the charging at different rates of increase while monitoring charging voltage, charging current, or both, until a current lid is reached. Charging may occur at constant current and then at constant voltage.

Systems, methods, and computer program products for induction charging with a closed magnetic loop are described herein. In one aspect, an apparatus for wireless power transmission comprises a plurality of coplanar coils, each of the plurality of coplanar coils configured to be individually energized and produce a magnetic field. Further, the controller is configured to reverse polarity of the magnetic field of at least one of the plurality of coplanar coils based on a measure of coupling between coils and to select at least two of the plurality of coplanar coils for wireless power transmission based on the measure of coupling between coils.

Ambulatory infusion pumps, pump assemblies, cartridges, baseplates, cannulas, insertion tools, and related components as well as combinations thereof and related methods.

When a battery pack having an output voltage of 14.4 V that is connectable to an electric tool in a sliding manner is used as a power supply source for the electric tool that is connectable to a battery pack in an insertion manner and has a rated voltage of 12 V, the electric tool and the battery pack are connected to each other with an adaptor interposed therebetween. The adaptor has an FET that is switched at a predetermined duty of a predetermined frequency. The battery pack and the electric tool are connected or disconnected to or from each other by the switching operation, thereby dropping the output voltage of the battery pack. The voltage from the battery pack is detected. When the detected voltage is out of a predetermined value range, it is judged that the overcurrent or overdischarge has occurred. Then, the FET is turned off to stop the electric tool.

High frequency power supplied to the primary coil from the high frequency power supply is transferred to the secondary coil by magnetic induction, and secondary coil AC is rectified to charge the battery pack housed in the portable electronic equipment. The battery charger is provided with internal batteries that are charged by input power and supply power to the high frequency power supply, and with a charging circuit to charge the internal batteries. The external case is provided with storage space between its top plate and bottom plate, and internal batteries, which are rectangular batteries, and a planar primary coil wound in a spiral shape are disposed in that storage space. The battery charger charges the internal batteries with input power, and when no power is input, internal battery power is converted to high frequency power and supplied to the primary coil to charge the battery pack.

Described herein are improved capabilities for a system and method for wireless energy distribution across a vehicle compartment of defined area, comprising a source resonator coupled to an energy source of a vehicle and generating an oscillating magnetic field with a frequency, and at least one repeater resonator positioned along the vehicle compartment, the at least one repeater resonator positioned in proximity to the source resonator, the at least one repeater resonator having a resonant frequency and comprising a high-conductivity material adapted and located between the at least one repeater resonator and a vehicle surface to direct the oscillating magnetic field away from the vehicle surface, wherein the at least one repeater resonator provides an effective wireless energy transfer area within the defined area.

An inductive charging system for recharging a battery. The system includes a charger circuit and a secondary circuit. The secondary circuit includes a feedback mechanism to provide feedback to the charger circuit through the inductive coupling of the primary coil and the secondary coil. The charger circuit includes a frequency control mechanism for controlling the frequency of the power applied to the primary coil at least partly in response to the feedback from the feedback mechanism.

In a battery pack manager that manages series-connected rechargeable unit cells, a cell equalizer equalizes the cell voltages by individually discharging the unit cells according to deviations from reference voltages. An overcharge / overdischarge detector detects an overcharge and an overdischarge state of each unit cell. An inhibit circuit prevents the cell equalizer from discharging the unit cells when the overcharge / overdischarge detector is activated to reduce the cell voltage variability, which would otherwise occur as a result of interference from the overcharge / overdischarge detector, so that the overcharge / overdischarge states of all unit cells can be determined with precision. Connecting lines of the unit cells are monitored to detect a line-cut. The inhibit circuit further inhibits the cell equalizer when the connecting lines are being monitored to reduce the cell voltage variability, which would otherwise occur as a result of interference from the line-cut detection, so that false line-cut detection is avoided.

A power pack system for charging a set of isolated batteries is provided. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, a single fuel cell, a single DC-DC converter and a single system controller device comprises the power-generation side of the power pack. A set of switches is used to connect the power-generation side of the Power pack to one of the isolated batteries in the power pack, thereby recharging that particular battery in the battery power pack set. A battery protection and powerpath control device communicates with the system controller to determine which switches are to be closed depending upon which battery requires recharging. During normal operation the switches will follow the direction from the system controller. If a fault is detected by the battery protection circuit, the protection circuit will take priority and turn off the appropriate switch(es).

An apparatus and method for identifying a presence of a short circuit in a battery pack. A fault-detection apparatus for a charging system that rapidly charges a collection of interconnected lithium ion battery cells, the safety system includes a data-acquisition system for receiving a set of data parameters from the collection while the charging system is actively charging the collection; a monitoring system evaluating the set of data parameters to identify a set of anomalous conditions; and a controller comparing the set of anomalous conditions against a set of predetermined profiles indicative of an internal short in one or more cells of the collection, the controller establishing an internal-short state for the collection when the comparing has a predetermined relationship to the set of predetermined profiles.

A state estimation value indicating a battery state is successively calculated from time to time according to a battery model capable of dynamically estimating the internal state of the secondary battery by using an inspection value of a sensor group indicating the secondary battery behavior. By using the sate estimation value at each moment estimated by the battery model expression at each predetermined cycle, an I / O-enabled time is predicted when a predetermined power is continuously inputted (charged) or outputted (discharged) from the current moment. A load operation instruction of the secondary battery is set so as to avoid overcharge and over-discharge of the secondary battery according to the operation request to the load and by considering the predicted characteristics between input / output power and input / output-allowed time.

Disclosed is an electronic apparatus (1) comprising a power receiving device (2) and an electronic apparatus main body (3). The power receiving device (2) comprises a power receiving coil (11) having a spiral coil, a rectifier (12) and a secondary battery (13). The electronic apparatus main body (3) comprises an electronic device (14) and a circuit board (15). A magnetic foil (16) is arranged in at least one position between the spiral coil (11) and the secondary battery (13), the rectifier (12), the electronic device (14) or the circuit board (15). The magnetic foil (16) has a value expressed as the product of the saturation flux density MS and the thickness t, namely Ms·t, of not less than 15.