Abstract:
A life extending device, such as a capacitor, is optionally positioned to be electrically connected in parallel with a battery. In one embodiment, the life extending device is optionally inserted in a battery holder which is used in substitution for the original battery. The battery holder is designed for at least one AA battery and the battery being replaced is a lithium ion or lithium metal primary battery.
Abstract:
An electrochemical capacitor includes an ionically conductive polymer thin film, a liquid electrolyte absorbed in the polymer thin film, and thin flexible active electrode layers constituting anode and cathode composed of energy dense material of high intrinsic surface area positioned at either side of the electrolyte-retaining polymer thin film to tightly sandwich it between the electrode layers. In one embodiment, the capacitor includes a polymer electrolyte in which a polymer thin film is cast from the base polymer and impregnated with the electrolyte solution, which contains a salt for ionic conduction. In another embodiment, the base polymer material includes an ionically conducting polymer, a perfluorocarbon polymer backbone to which sulfonic acid sites are permanently anchored. The energy dense material of the electrode layers may be physically mixed with battery active material to enhance the capacity and discharge time of the capacitor. In fabrication, the electrode material is reduced to particle size suitable for application to a thin film metallized polymer substrate, and applied directly and adherently on opposite sides of the substrate by injection, spraying, or evaporation, and a final thin flexible film of each electrode is formed with a desired thickness by use of rods if a slurry, or by controlling the extent of spray or evaporation, followed by curing. In another embodiment, the electrode elements are laminated directly onto opposite sides of a single- or double-metallized polymer substrate.
Abstract:
A method and system for fabricating solid-state energy-storage and energy-conversion devices including fabrication of films for devices without an anneal step, especially for the fabrication of supercapacitors and photovoltaic cells. A film is fabricated by depositing a first material layer to a location. Energy is supplied directly to the material forming the film. The energy can be in the form of energized ions of a second material. Supplying energy directly to the material and/or the film being deposited assists the growth of the crystalline structure of the film and controls stoichiometry.
Abstract:
A hybrid energy storage device (10) including first, second, and third electrodes (20, 25, 30), a first electrolyte (35) disposed between the first and second electrodes (20, 25), and a second electrolyte (40) disposed between the second and third electrode (25, 30). The first electrode (25), the first electrolyte (35), and the second electrode (25) form a battery, and the second electrode (25), the second electrolyte (40), and the third electrode (30) form a capacitor. The first and third electrodes (20, 30) are directly connected together so that the battery and capacitor are in parallel within the hybrid energy storage device (10).
Abstract:
A hybrid energy storage system 10 including a first energy storage device 12, such as a secondary or rechargeable battery, and a second energy storage device 14, such as an electrochemical capacitor. The electrochemical capacitor provides intermittent energy bursts to satisfy the power requires of, for example, pulsed power communication devices. Such devices typically require power pulses in excess of those which conventional battery cells can easily provide for numerous cycles. The first and second energy storage devices may be coupled to output electronics to condition the output of the devices prior to delivering it to the application device.
Abstract:
A semiconductor device with reduced power consumption is provided. The semiconductor device includes a node ND1, a node ND2, a resistor, a capacitor, and a comparison circuit. The resistor is electrically connected in series between one of a positive electrode and a negative electrode of a secondary battery and a first terminal. The resistor has a function of converting current flowing between the one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the secondary battery and the first terminal into a first voltage. The first voltage is added to a voltage of the node ND2 through the capacitor. The comparison circuit has a function of comparing a voltage of the node ND1 and the voltage of the node ND2. The comparison circuit outputs a signal that notifies detection of overcurrent when the voltage of the node ND2 is higher than the voltage of the node ND1.
Abstract:
A battery string is configured such that a plurality of battery circuit modules can be connected in series. A middle point between a first capacitor and a second capacitor provided on a detection line connecting a positive electrode output line and a negative electrode output line of the battery string to each other is grounded by a ground line through a limiting resistor. During operation of the battery string, an electric leakage detection unit sets a battery circuit module in a pass-through state, and detects electric leakage in the battery string based on a differential voltage that is a difference between a first voltage being the voltage of the first capacitor and a second voltage being the voltage of the second capacitor.
Abstract:
An open cell detection system includes a battery management system. The battery management system includes a control unit that transmits an open cell detection signal, to enable a balance unit for a first time period and to disable it for a second time period, and to enable an under-voltage comparison unit and an over-voltage comparison unit for a third time period. The under-voltage comparison unit compares a voltage with a first open cell threshold and outputs a first comparison result in the third time period. The over-voltage comparison unit compares a voltage with a second open cell threshold and outputs a second comparison result in the third time period. A judging unit determines whether a connection between a first battery unit and the battery management system is inoperative based on the first and second comparison results.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatuses are described for use in self-reconfigurable multi-cell batteries. The methods include receiving, by a controller, a communication from an external unit, and reconfiguring a multi-cell battery based on the communication. The external unit includes one of a load and a battery charger. The multi-cell battery includes a plurality of switches and a plurality of battery cores operatively coupled to each other, wherein each battery core includes at least one battery cell. The plurality of switches may be controlled to reconfigure the multi-cell battery based on the communication received from the external unit. The multi-cell battery may be reconfigured by connecting the plurality of battery cores in a series configuration or a parallel configuration.
Abstract:
A safety system and method for batteries to protect the batteries from damage and fire. The safety system includes a micro pressure sensor to detect a pressure of the battery and a micro temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the battery. The system can cease the charging and/or discharging of the battery when the current temperature or pressure of the battery exceeds a threshold temperature or pressure respectively. The housing of the safety system is filled with a thermally conductive epoxy to dissipate the heat. The system further includes a load resistor to slowly discharge the faulted battery.