A vehicle battery charger and a vehicle battery charging system are described and illustrated, and can include a controller enabling a user to enter a time of day at which the vehicle battery charger or system begins and/or ends charging of the vehicle battery. The vehicle battery charger can be separate from the vehicle, can be at least partially integrated into the vehicle, can include a transmitter and/or a receiver capable of communication with a controller that is remote from the vehicle and vehicle charger, and can be controlled by a user or another party (e.g., a power utility) to control battery charging based upon a time of day, cost of power, or other factors.

A battery characterization system includes a drive-sense circuit (DSC), memory that stores operational instructions, and processing module(s) operably coupled to the DSC and the memory. Based on a reference signal, the DSC generates a charge signal, which includes an AC (alternating current) component, and provides the charge signal to a terminal of a battery via a single line and simultaneously to senses the charge signal via the single line to detect an electrical characteristic of the battery based on a response of the battery. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the electrical characteristic of the battery. The processing module(s), based on the operational instructions, generate the reference signal to include a frequency sweep of the AC component of the charge signal (e.g., different frequencies at different times or multiple frequencies simultaneously) and processes the digital signal to characterize the battery across the different respective frequencies and generate spectrum analysis (SA) information of the battery.

A battery characterization system includes a drive-sense circuit (DSC), memory that stores operational instructions, and processing module(s) operably coupled to the DSC and the memory. Based on a reference signal, the DSC generates a charge signal, which includes an AC (alternating current) component, and provides the charge signal to a terminal of a battery via a single line and simultaneously to senses the charge signal via the single line to detect an electrical characteristic of the battery based on a response of the battery. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the electrical characteristic of the battery. The processing module(s), based on the operational instructions, generate the reference signal to include a frequency sweep of the AC component of the charge signal (e.g., different frequencies at different times or multiple frequencies simultaneously) and processes the digital signal to characterize the battery across the different respective frequencies and generate spectrum analysis (SA) information of the battery.

A vehicle battery charger and a vehicle battery charging system are described and illustrated, and can include a controller enabling a user to enter a time of day at which the vehicle battery charger or system begins and/or ends charging of the vehicle battery. The vehicle battery charger can be separate from the vehicle, can be at least partially integrated into the vehicle, can include a transmitter and/or a receiver capable of communication with a controller that is remote from the vehicle and vehicle charger, and can be controlled by a user or another party (e.g., a power utility) to control battery charging based upon a time of day, cost of power, or other factors.

A battery information management system, comprises: a battery; and a server that establishes communication with the battery via a network. The battery includes: a storage unit configured to store maintenance information for maintenance of the battery, user information related to personal data of a user of the battery, and usage history information of the battery; an information communication unit configured to transmit the user information and the usage history information from the storage unit to the server; and a control unit configured to control the storage unit and the information communication unit.

A battery information management system, comprises: a battery; and a server that establishes communication with the battery via a network. The battery includes: a storage unit configured to store maintenance information for maintenance of the battery, user information related to personal data of a user of the battery, and usage history information of the battery; an information communication unit configured to transmit the user information and the usage history information from the storage unit to the server; and a control unit configured to control the storage unit and the information communication unit.

A method and apparatus for monitoring an internet-of-things (IoT) battery device (IBD). An example IBD includes a radio transceiver to communicate with an IoT charging device (ICD), a battery, and a battery monitor to determine a state of charge for the battery. An alerter is included to send an alert message to the ICD, via the radio transceiver, to indicate that the SoCh is less than an alert threshold.

A method and apparatus for monitoring an internet-of-things (IoT) battery device (IBD). An example IBD includes a radio transceiver to communicate with an IoT charging device (ICD), a battery, and a battery monitor to determine a state of charge for the battery. An alerter is included to send an alert message to the ICD, via the radio transceiver, to indicate that the SoCh is less than an alert threshold.

An exemplary embodiment is a temperature monitoring buffering sensor and system for applications ranging from food storage to temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals. The system includes a temperature sensor unit with a buffered temperature probe sensor contained in a housing with a Bluetooth® transmitter circuit. The sensor unit is battery operated and is self-contained without the need for wiring to provide power or signal flow. The sensor unit controller periodically sends out a transmitter beacon signal identifying the temperature sensor unit and the temperature sensed by the probe, as well as a battery condition. A base station is positioned close enough to be in range of the transmitter beacon signal and includes an RF receiver circuit configured to receive the RF transmitter beacon signal from the sensor unit, and a processor configured to monitor and analyze data received by the RF receiver circuit.

The disclosure relates to a method for interacting with a user of a rechargeable-battery-operated machining tool, which can be supplied with energy by means of an exchangeable rechargeable battery pack or exchangeable rechargeable battery. According to the disclosure, in one method step a power characteristic variable of the exchangeable rechargeable battery pack or exchangeable rechargeable battery is sensed by means of a sensing unit of the rechargeable-battery-operated machining tool and/or of the exchangeable rechargeable battery pack or exchangeable rechargeable battery at defined times during the operation of the rechargeable-battery-operated machining tool, and in an additional method step the frequency with which the exchangeable rechargeable battery pack or exchangeable rechargeable battery has been operated at its power limit is calculated. The disclosure also relates to a system, comprising a rechargeable-battery-operated machining tool and an exchangeable rechargeable battery pack or exchangeable rechargeable battery, for carrying out the method.