Dynamic allocation of power modules for charging electric vehicles is described herein. The charging system includes multiple dispensers that each include one or more power modules that can supply power to any one of the dispensers at a time. A dispenser includes a first power bus that is switchably connected to one or more local power modules and switchably connected to one or more power modules located remotely in another dispenser. The one or more local power modules are switchably connected to a second power bus in the other dispenser. The dispenser includes a control unit that is to cause the local power modules and the remote power modules to switchably connect and disconnect from the first power bus to dynamically allocate the power modules between the dispenser and the other dispenser.

A voltage measuring apparatus is configured to measure voltages of respective battery cells of a battery cell array including a plurality of battery cell groups each including a predetermined number of battery cells connected in series. The voltage measuring apparatus includes a plurality of measuring units each provided for each of the battery cell groups. The adjacent measuring units are connected through a communication channel so as to perform current communication therebetween. A bidirectional diode circuit element is connected to the communication channel extending between the adjacent measuring units.

A transportation vehicle including a plurality of battery packs, a plurality of power equipment, and a controller. The controller is configured to identify at least one of the plurality of power equipment or at least one of the plurality of battery packs that requires charging and direct power through a bus to distribute power to at least one of the plurality of power equipment or at least one of the plurality of battery packs. The plurality of battery packs are configured to recharge the plurality of power equipment.

Present systems and methods are directed to a ride system that includes a personal electronic device (PED) holding system for a ride vehicle. The PED holding system includes a lock that is configured to move from an unlocked configuration to a locked configuration to lock a PED of a passenger of the ride vehicle to the ride vehicle during a ride cycle. The PED holding system also includes a charging system that is configured to charge an energy storage component of the PED during the ride cycle.

An article of footwear that produces an audio component for a performance includes a rigid heel assembly that attaches to the article of footwear. The rigid heel assembly has a cavity with an open end. The cavity houses an audio transmission assembly that includes a transmitter. A microphone converts the audio component of the performance into a digital audio signal and is operatively connected to the audio transmission assembly which wirelessly transmits the digital audio signal of the audio of the performance.

The present disclosure relates to an adapter. The adapter includes an input port, a first output port and a second output port, and the adapter further includes: a rectifier circuit having an input terminal being connected to the input port of the adapter; a bus capacitor connected to an output terminal of the rectifier circuit in parallel; a first flyback converter having an input terminal connected to the bus capacitor and an output terminal coupled to the first output port; and a second flyback converter having an input terminal connected to the bus capacitor and an output terminal coupled to the second output port.

A patient support apparatus for removably retaining differently-sized portable electronic devices. The patient support apparatus comprises a base, a litter with a patient support deck for supporting the patient, and a side rail. The side rail is coupled to the litter and arranged for movement relative to the base. The side rail includes a caddy comprising a back, a first brace, and a second brace spaced from the first brace. The first brace extends laterally from the back and defines a first bottom support region. The second brace extends laterally from the back and defines a second bottom support region converging toward the first bottom support region to arrange the first and second bottom support regions to provide differing points of contact for retaining differently-sized portable electronic devices.

A power distribution system is provided that ensures that a car is able to operate safely in an autonomous mode. The system includes multiple power rails, including a pair of safety critical power rails. Associated with each safety critical power rail is a safety switch, vehicle sensors (e.g., vehicle location and obstacle sensors), vehicle actuators (e.g., braking and steering actuators) and an autonomous control unit. If a fault is detected during vehicle initialization or general operation, the safety switch which detected the fault opens and that particular power rail is decoupled from the general purpose power rail as well as the remaining safety critical power rail. The remaining safety critical power rail is then able to provide power to a sufficient number of sensors, actuators and controllers to allow the car to safely and autonomously complete an emergency stop on the side of the road.

The invention discloses a device for collection of tiny charges in the Nano-Coulomb-range and below, comprising at least one capacitor stack build by n capacitors and 2n switches (nϵN), at least one further capacitor outside the capacitor stack as buffer capacity, at least two additional switches and a DC input source. The n capacitors are dedicated to be sequentially charged by the DC input source one after the other, wherein the 2n switches in the capacitor stack couple the n capacitors sequentially to the DC input source. The at least one further capacitor is dedicated to be charged from the n capacitors of the capacitor stack at once. Furthermore, the invention discloses a method for small charge collection, comprising the steps of sequentially charging the n capacitors of the at least one capacitor stack by coupling one capacitor after the other to the DC input source by selectively closing the switches and discharging the n capacitors of the capacitor stack into at least one further capacitor outside the capacitor stack (nϵN). Additionally, the usage of the device or the method according to the invention to collect charges from sources with electrical potentials of a few millivolts is disclosed.

A charging method for battery. In an n-th charging process, charging a first battery to a charge cut-off voltage U.sub.n in a first charging manner, where n is a positive integer; after the n-th charging process is completed, leaving the first battery standing, and obtaining an open-circuit voltage OCV.sub.n of the first battery at a standing time of t.sub.i; in an m-th charging process, charging the first battery to the charge cut-off voltage U.sub.n in the first charging manner, where m is a positive integer, and m>n; after the m-th charging process is completed, leaving the first battery standing, and obtaining an open-circuit voltage OCV.sub.m of the first battery at the standing time of t.sub.i; and under the condition of OCV.sub.n>OCV.sub.m, continuing to charge the first battery standing in a second charging manner to a first voltage U′.sub.m, where U′.sub.m=U.sub.n+k×(OCV.sub.n−OCV.sub.m), and 0<k≤1.