A relay control apparatus and method for retaining a relay in a closed state even though a system error occurs to reset the processor. Therefore, the relay control apparatus and method prevents an accident caused by the reset of the processor since the operation state of a plurality of relays is maintained even when the processor is reset. In addition, if the operation state of the processor is a reset state even after a predetermined time passes, the operation state of the plurality of relays is changed to a turn-off state, and system resources and energy are prevented from being wasted. In addition, when the operation state of the processor is recovered, the operation state of the plurality of relays may be controlled by the processor.

A method of operating a portable power station including a plurality of battery modules and a battery management system operably connected to the plurality of battery modules, includes supplying at least one first battery module of the plurality of battery modules with a charging current generated from mains electricity operably connected to an AC input connection of the portable power station using the battery management system, and electrically connecting at least one second battery module of the plurality of battery modules to a load to supply the load with an operating current using the battery management system. The method further includes electrically disconnecting at least one third battery module of the plurality of battery modules from the charging current and the load to manage thermally the at least one third battery module using the battery management system.

An ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus includes: a power source control section that supplies power to a power source section which performs supply of power to each part of the ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus; a battery that supplies the power to the power source control section: an external power supply section that supplies, to the power source control section, the power supplied from outside of the ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus; and a power supply control section that controls supply of power from the battery and the external power supply section to the power source control section based on an operation state of the ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus and the presence or absence of the power supplied from the external power supply section.

A battery charging control method applicable to a vehicle electrical system that includes a current control unit including a semiconductor device. Two ends of the current control unit are connected to a battery and a charging power supply, respectively. The method includes controlling, when a temperature of the battery is below a preset temperature, the current control unit to be in a first state in which the semiconductor device is reversely connected in a circuit, sending a first charging request including a first charging current required to heat the battery to the preset temperature, controlling, when the temperature of the battery reaches the preset temperature, the current control unit to be in a second state in which the semiconductor device is disconnected from the circuit or forwardly connected in the circuit, and sending a second charging request including a second charging current at which the battery is charged.

Power management and power transfer systems within the transmit and receive portions of an inductive charging system. An inductive charging system may include an inductive charging station to transmit power and a portable electronic device to receive power. Embodiments may take the form of power transfer systems within an inductive charging station including load-based transmit frequency adjustments. Embodiments may also take the form of power management systems within portable electronic devices which conserve power by disconnecting circuits from ground when those circuits are in an idle state.

Various systems and methods for implementing zero-power mode are described herein. A battery-powered apparatus includes a non-removable battery for powering processing circuitry of the apparatus, charging pins to connect the apparatus to a charging source, and control circuitry that is separate from the processing circuitry. The control circuitry can perform operations that detect the charging pins are shorted and activate a timer for a predetermined wait interval. The control circuitry can also, upon expiration of the timer, disconnect the battery from powering the processing circuitry to activate a device zero-power mode. Upon detecting the charging pins are no longer shorted, the control circuitry can resume power to the processing circuitry. The non-removable battery is only powering the control circuitry while the battery is disconnected from the processing circuitry.

Systems and methods for operating an electric energy storage system are described. The systems and methods include ways of coupling electric energy storage cell stacks to an electric conductor or bus. The coupling is performed to reduce current flow through contactors and to increase a life span of the contactors.

A battery-operated electronic device, such as, e.g., a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) transmitter, has a switch disconnect circuit that reduces battery discharge while the device is stored and/or in “shelf mode.” The device has two externally-accessible activation pads each configured to contact a same electrical conductor positioned in packaging for the device that causes the switch disconnect circuit to disconnect the battery from device electronics while the device is in the packaging. Upon removal of the device from the packaging, the two activation pads no longer contact the electrical conductor, causing the switch disconnect circuit to automatically connect the battery to the device electronics. Methods of reducing battery discharge in a battery-operated electronic device and other aspects are also described.

A vehicular starter battery management system includes a detection unit, a processing unit, a control unit, a discharging circuit and a communication unit. The detection unit, the control unit, and the communication unit are coupled respectively with the processing unit. The discharging circuit is coupled with the control unit. The detection unit includes a static detection circuit and a dynamic detection circuit. The static detection circuit includes a micro current detection circuit, an anti-theft detection circuit and a static voltage detection circuit. The dynamic detection circuit includes a dynamic voltage detection circuit, a dynamic current detection circuit and a temperature detection circuit. The processing unit transmits a signal to the control unit and the communication unit based upon the current intensity, the voltage, the temperature and the time at which the battery management system enters into the static mode, detected by the detection unit, thereby operating the control unit to protect the vehicular starter battery. The processing unit uses the communication unit to transmit a signal to and receive a signal from a hand-held communication device equipped with an application.

A system for initializing operations of one or more batteries of a lithium-ion battery pack to supply electric power to an electrical load includes a switching device, an output device, and a controller. The switching device is configured to move between a first position to facilitate supply of electric power from the batteries to the electrical load and a second position to restrict supply of electric power from the batteries to the electrical load. The output device is configured to be activated to indicate an availability of the batteries to supply electric power to the electrical load. The controller receives an input, actuates a contactor associated with at least one battery to facilitate electrical connection between the at least one battery and the electrical load, and moves the switching device to the first position to cause an activation of the output device in response to the actuation of the contactor.