An apparatus comprises a power electronic energy conversion system comprising a first energy storage device configured to store DC energy and a first voltage converter configured to convert a second voltage from a remote power supply into a first charging voltage configured to charge the first energy storage device. The apparatus also includes a first controller configured to control the first voltage converter to convert the second voltage into the first charging voltage and to provide the first charging voltage to the first energy storage device during a charging mode of operation and communicate with a second controller located remotely from the power electronic energy conversion system to cause a second charging voltage to be provided to the first energy storage device during the charging mode of operation to rapidly charge the first energy storage device.

A mobile platform comprising: (a) one or more platforms to support one or more cartridges, (b) one or more compartments within the one or more platforms, (c) one or more vertical supports connected to the one or more platforms, (d) a plurality of wheels connected to a bottom of the one or more platforms, and (e) one or more recesses located in the one or more platforms to receive one or more support accessories, wherein the one or more compartments are shaped to receive the one or more cartridges so that the one or more cartridges are secured to the one or more platforms during movement.

The present disclosure relates to high-voltage circuits. The teachings thereof may be embodied in a circuit apparatus for detecting a state of an interlock loop monitoring a high-voltage component. The apparatus may include a power connection to a voltage source; a ground connection; a positive connection to a line end of the electrical interlock loop; a negative connection to a second line end of the interlock loop; a measuring arrangement for a voltage potential at the negative connection when two mutually different currents flow from the power connection via the negative connection to the ground connection; and a detector arrangement comparing the two potential measurements at the two respective currents with two predefined potential reference values and ascertaining, based on the comparison results of the comparison unit, whether the negative connection is electrically short-circuited with the positive connection, the power connection, or the ground connection, or with none of these connections.

A vehicle electric battery controlling apparatus is applied to a vehicle including an on-board charger to charge a battery in the vehicle with power supplied from an external power source, a heater to warm the battery, and a DC-DC converter to reduce the voltage of power from the battery and then supply the battery power to the heater. The vehicle electric battery controlling apparatus includes a DC-DC converter controller to drive the DC-DC converter to supply the battery power to the heater before the charge of the battery by the on-board charger, and an on-board charger controller to drive the on-board charger such that the power source for the heater is gradually shifted from the battery to the external power source, after the DC-DC converter is driven.

A rechargeable motorized personal shopping and utility cart. Designed for elderly or infirm consumers who find it difficult to pull or push a manual utility cart, particularly on inclines, the electronic shopping cart would propel itself on demand. Designed in every aspect for the ultimate in convenience, the front of the unit would also feature an easy-access swing-open door which makes the loading and unloading of the electronic shopping cart far easier, even for extra tall items.

A method for managing an authorized operating range of a battery, the authorized operating range being limited between a minimum level and a maximum level of state of charge of the battery. The method includes estimating a state of health in power of the battery, the state of health in power characterizing capacity of the battery to supply a minimum required power level across an entirety of the operating range; and determining the minimum level of state of charge of the battery in accordance with the estimated state of health in power, the minimum level of state of charge being increased when the state of health in power decreases.

Charge efficiency of normal charge is improved without restricting an operation of a low-voltage load of an electric vehicle during the normal charge. During a charge of a high-voltage battery of a vehicle, when a determination of the normal charge is made, and when a determination that a mode switching target load is not operated is made, power saving mode transition processing is performed. Therefore, an operating mode of a DC-DC converter, which steps down a voltage at the high-voltage battery and supplies the stepped-down voltage to a low-voltage battery and a low-voltage load, is set to a power saving mode in which consumption power is reduced compared with a normal mode. When a determination that a start-up manipulation of the mode switching target load is performed is made, the operating mode of the DC-DC converter is changed to the normal mode.

A battery management system includes at least one cell monitoring unit with a plurality of cell voltage terminals, supply lines coupled to the cell voltage terminals, and a cell monitoring circuit made of a plurality of electronic semiconductor modules connected in parallel via the supply lines. The battery management system is configured to monitor a plurality of battery cells via the cell monitoring unit. The battery cells are in each case connected on both sides with their respective positive battery cell terminal and negative battery cell terminal to the battery management system via the cell voltage terminals. Furthermore, one or several supply lines are provided with a melt fuse so that in each battery cell that is connected to the battery management system at least one supply line coupled to the battery cell comprises a melt fuse in its current path.

An underwater station may include a filter manipulator that is arranged to input a filter into a pool cleaning robot that is located in a filter replacement position and to assist in positioning the filter at a filtering position in which the filter is at least partially disposed within a fluid path formed between a first fluid opening and a second fluid opening of the housing thereby allowing the filter to apply a filtering operation on fluid that passes through the fluid path.

A drive wheel having an electric wheel hub motor for a motor vehicle includes a stator arranged around a wheel hub and is connected to the wheel hub in a non-rotatable manner. A rotor is mounted in such a manner that it can rotate relative to the stator to drive a wheel rim connected to the rotor in a non-rotatable manner. At least two energy storage devices are arranged between the wheel hub and the stator to output electrical energy for operation of the electric wheel hub motor. The energy storage devices are embodied in each case in the shape of a ring segment in such a manner that the energy storage devices form a closed ring around the wheel hub when lying adjacent to one another.