Cordless devices (20, 40) detachable from chargers (10, 30, 31) are mounted on the chargers (10, 30, 31) and charged. First storage sections (12, 33) chargeable by DC power sources (11, 32) included in the chargers (10, 30, 31), first charge/discharge control circuits (13, 50) for controlling the charge/discharge of the first storage sections (12, 33), second storage sections (21, 43) included in the cordless devices (20, 40), and second charge/discharge control circuits (22, 45) for controlling the second storage sections (21, 43). The chargers (10, 30, 31) can be equipped with a third storage section (28) chargeable by the DC power sources (11, 32). The cordless devices (20, 40) can be equipped with a fourth storage section (44). When the cordless devices are mounted, the second storage sections (21, 43) are charged from the first storage sections (12, 33). As compared with the charging time of a conventional secondary battery, a quick charge is possible as well as a long-time use, so that the miniaturization and the cost reduction of a charger are realized.

Cordless device system

The invention provides an anode capable of relaxing stress due to expansion and shrinkage of an anode active material layer associated with charge and discharge, or an anode capable of reducing structural destruction of the anode active material layer and reactivity between the anode active material layer and an electrolyte associated with charge and discharge, and a battery using it. The anode active material layer contains an element capable of forming an alloy with Li, for example, at least one from the group consisting of simple substances, alloys, and compounds of Si or Ge. An interlayer containing a material having superelasticity or shape-memory effect is provided between an anode current collector and the anode active material layer. Otherwise, the anode current collector is made of the material having superelasticity or shape-memory effect. Otherwise, a thin film layer containing the material having superelasticity or shape-memory effect is formed on the anode active material layer.

Anode and battery

Disclosed is a positive active material for a rechargeable lithium battery. The positive active material includes a core and a surface-treatment layer on the core. The core includes at least one lithiated compound and the surface-treatment layer includes at least one coating material selected from the group consisting of coating element included-hydroxides, oxyhydroxides, oxycarbonates, hydroxycarbonates and any mixture thereof.

Positive active material for rechargeable lithium battery and method of preparing same

A roof-mounted passenger position sensor array (10) of capactive coupling passenger position sensors (12), to determine position and motion of a passenger by analysis of distances of the passenger to the various sensors of the array and analysis of the changes of said distances with time.

Motor vehicle occupant sensing systems

A battery includes a positive electrode having a current collector and a first active material and a negative electrode having a current collector and a second active material. The battery also includes an auxiliary electrode having a current collector and a third active material. The auxiliary electrode is configured for selective electrical connection to one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The first active material, second active material, and third active material are configured to allow doping and undoping of lithium ions. The third active material exhibits charging and discharging capacity below a corrosion potential of the current collector of the negative electrode and above a decomposition potential of the first active material.

Lithium-ion battery

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.

Hybrid energy storage system

A hybrid electrode for a high power, high energy, electrical storage device contains both a high-energy electrode material (42) and a high-rate electrode material (44). The two materials are deposited on a current collector (40), and the electrode is used to make an energy storage device that exhibits both the high-rate capability of a capacitor and the high energy capability of a battery. The two materials can be co-deposited on the current collector in a variety of ways, either in superimposed layers, adjacent layers, intermixed with each other or one material coating the other to form a mixture that is then deposited on the current collector.

High power, high energy, hybrid electrode and electrical energy storage device made therefrom

A system for charging a battery (100) includes a power supply (200) and a vibrating mechanism (210). The power supply provides current to the battery in order to charge the battery while the vibrating mechanism simultaneously vibrates the battery to increase the deliverable capacity of the battery. A system for discharging a battery includes an electrical load (300) and a vibrating mechanism (210). The load is electrically connected to the battery and the vibrating mechanism vibrates the battery while the battery is being discharged.

Battery charging and discharging system and corresponding method

The invention provides for an improved pseudocapacitive device (10) having dissimilar electrodes (20) and (40). The first electrode (20) stores electrochemical charge via a double layer electrochemical mechanism, while the second electrode stores electrochemical charge via an oxidation/reduction reaction.

Electrochemical capacitors having dissimilar electrodes

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, fuel cell, or flywheel. The second energy storage device provides intermittent energy bursts to satisfy the power requires of, for example, pulsed power communication devices. The first and second energy storage devices are coupled to a current controller to assure that pulse transients are not applied to the first energy storage device as a result of charging the second energy storage device.

George Thomas

Papers

Hybrid energy storage system

High power, high energy, hybrid electrode and electrical energy storage device made therefrom

Battery charging and discharging system and corresponding method

Electrochemical capacitors having dissimilar electrodes

Independent dual-switch system for extending battery life under transient loads