VRLA Battery

A valve regulated lead-acid (VRLA) battery is a starved electrolyte AGM (absorbent glass mat) type battery and has a safety valve which prevents excessive build up of gas pressure inside the battery. Valve-regulated lead acid batteries rely upon internal gas recombination to minimize electrolyte loss over the life of the battery, thereby eliminating the need for re-watering. A lead-acid battery has lead positive plates, lead oxide negative plates, and an electrolyte which is a solution of sulfuric acid and distilled water. The plates and the plate separator material between them are arranged in plate packs in plate compartments. A valve regulated lead acid battery comprises separators and plates stacked within a sealed container, in which an electrolyte in a cell is retained in the pores of the separators and both of positive and negative electrode plates so as not to flow. VRLA recombination batteries offer a number of advantages compared to flooded cell batteries. The starved acid design of the battery facilitates the oxygen recombination reaction. The recombination reactions are facilitated by the starved acid or electrolyte condition where the electrolyte is immobilized in glass separators disposed between the plates of the battery. VRLA batteries are particularly suited for remote back-up power applications because they do not require the same type of periodic maintenance required by flooded cells. These differing maintenance requirements provide cost savings when VRLA batteries are used. For further details Click here

Voltage Regulator

A voltage regulator is a switching power supply that supplies a steady, typically low, voltage to a load. Power management control systems including voltage regulators are incorporated within electronic devices to generate a stable output voltage from a varying input voltage supply. A voltage regulator regulates the external power supplied to the internal circuitry such that the current usage or quiescent power is efficient. Typical voltage regulator circuits regulate an output voltage responsive to an input reference voltage. The voltage regulator circuit feeds back the regulated output voltage to a comparator through a resistor circuit. The resistor circuit varies its resistance such that a voltage regulator circuit provides various required voltage levels for operating a semiconductor memory device. Linear voltage regulators are widely used to supply power to electronic devices, such as to a load on a motherboard of a computer. Such linear voltage regulators are available in a wide variety of configurations for many different applications. A typical linear voltage regulator includes a resistive voltage divider, a three-terminal adjustable shunt regulator, and a regulating transistor. The resistive voltage divider receives an output voltage, and provides a voltage reference to the three-terminal adjustable shunt regulator. The three-terminal adjustable shunt regulator receives the voltage reference, and provides a controlling voltage to the regulating transistor. The regulating transistor receives a system voltage, and provides the output voltage to a load. Line voltage regulators are used to control the voltage applied to a load. A phase angle control technique can be used to adjust the effective voltage applied across the load by phase shifting the gate pulses of switching devices used in the voltage adjusting circuit. Low dropout voltage regulators may be utilized in a variety of electronic devices including laptop computers, portable phones, personal digital assistants, and the like, to provide a regulated output voltage to a load. LDO voltage regulators enable power management systems to efficiently supply additional voltage levels that are smaller than the main supply voltage. Low dropout voltage regulators are widely used building blocks in almost any electronic application. They adapt an external power supply to the needs of the supplied circuit. In portable applications as in mobile phones a main requirement for the voltage regulator is a low dropout voltage and a good stability over a large range of capacitive loads. For further details Click here

Voltage Converter

Voltage converters receive an input voltage and generate an output DC voltage therefrom. Voltage converters include chopper type switching system, fly-back converter, forward converter, charge pump type converter and the like, and they are used properly according to applications. Many semiconductor devices are designed to operate at various supply voltages and signal voltages. To accommodate the use of different supply voltages, the semiconductor device is typically designed to operate at the lower supply voltage which is often generated by including a voltage converter that steps-down the voltage of a higher external voltage level to a lower internal voltage level. Buck converters are used to convert a higher voltage to a lower voltage suitable for use with, for example, a microprocessor. A buck converter typically operates using a clock, whereby an inductor is charged during a first portion of a clock cycle and operates as a current source during the second portion of the clock cycle. DC-DC voltage converters generate an output voltage that is greater than the input voltage. Such converters utilize input and output capacitors, an inductor, one or more diodes, a switching transistor, and a pulse width modulator, generally implemented by an integrated circuit. DC to DC voltage converters are essential to providing accurate power delivery to sensitive electronic devices. Virtually all mobile devices such as cellular phones and laptop computers require a regulated power supply, which is usually generated from a battery source. A DC to DC buck converter is used to convert an input voltage from a high-voltage power supply to a lower voltage supplied to the circuit or apparatus connected to the output node of the converter. For further details Click here

UPS Power Supply

Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems are used in a variety of different environments in which an interruption of power due to the variations or loss of the primary power source is unacceptable. Uninterruptible power supplies are required for many computer installations such as network file servers, telecommunications equipment or other applications where a sudden loss of power would create an unacceptable and costly occurrence. Commercial AC power waveforms are subject to many variations due to the demands of other users on the power line and other factors. Typical undesirable variations are over-voltage, under-voltage, voltage outages and signal transients. Undesirable variations also occur due to load conditions, as well as line conditions. Such occurrences include the loss of data during a data transfer or the shutdown of an entire business as a result of the loss of a computer. An uninterruptible power supply system comprising a battery connects between an electric power and electric equipment, and when the electric power is normal, the UPS charges the battery and provides a stable voltage to the electric equipment. When the electric power is abnormal, the UPS transforms the power of the battery into an alternating current power for providing the electric equipment with an uninterruptible electric power. According to different system designs, the UPS are classified as on-line, off-line, or and a line interactive. An on-line UPS system will keep certain electronics circuitry in a powered condition for the purpose of more quickly detecting the presence of a power outage and apply backup power to the protected system. An off-line UPS supplies power to a minimum of electronics circuitry, and in the event of utility power outage other electronic circuitry must be powered up so that the process of transferring to backup power can be implemented. The line interactive UPS is a hybrid of the online and standby units. Like the standby, it does not constantly draw from the battery, but it switches to battery faster when required. The line interactive unit does not use the battery when low voltage is encountered. It uses extra power from the AC source to make up the difference in voltage. In general, a UPS typically comprises a rectifier, inverter, and battery charger. The UPS uses the commercially supplied AC power to charge a DC battery. For further details Click here

Switching Power Supply

The switching power supply device is one type of stabilized direct current power supply which is configured to output a direct current at a constant voltage by converting a direct current obtained from a power supply into a pulse voltage having a frequency higher than the audio frequency by a high-speed switching function of semiconductor devices such as transistors, and controlling the pulse width and the pulse interval of the pulse voltage. The switching power supply device itself converts an AC voltage to a DC voltage by rectifying the AC voltage through a rectifying circuit thereof and by smoothing a resultant undulating voltage through a smoothing circuit thereof. The DC voltage thus obtained is switched on and off by a switching element and fed to an output rectifying smoothing circuit for rectifying and smoothing processes to obtain any given predetermined DC voltage. Switching power supplies typically rectify an alternating current power source where the resultant direct current voltage is fed to a group of high-frequency high-power switching transistors. These switching transistors chop the DC voltage into a high frequency AC signal. The high frequency AC signal is then fed to a high frequency transformer that is wound to produce the correct output voltage. Switching power supply circuits have a transformer and other devices miniaturized by raising the switching frequency, and are used as a power supply for various electronic devices, such as a high-power DC-to-DC converter. Switching power supplies are used to provide power in numerous products such as cell phones, camera, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), calculators, portable computers and similar types of electronic equipment. Switching power supply units include a circuit having an overcurrent protection function for preventing load circuit components from being broken, emitting smoke, or being ignited due to output overcurrent during short-circuiting of a load. The switching power supply circuits for performing overcurrent protection are provided with a device for detecting over current. The performance measures of switching power supply apparatuses include a harmonic characteristic and a power factor characteristic. The harmonic characteristic is a function for suppressing a harmonic current flowing from a switching power supply apparatus to an input power supply line thereof, and the upper limit of the harmonic current is defined so as not to affect other components. The power factor characteristic is the power factor viewed at the input from the switching power supply apparatus. For further details Click here

Solar Battery Module

The photovoltaic power generating system is considered a promising clean energy technique which can protect the global environment from environmental contamination due to combustion of fossil fuels. Solar batteries are utilized in various electronic equipment as a power supply substitute for dry batteries. Low power consumption electronic equipment such as electronic desktop calculators, watches, cameras, cellular phones and commercial radar detector, can be fully driven by the electromotive force of solar batteries, so that the equipment can operate semi-permanently without a need for battery replacement. A solar battery comprises a glass substrate as a front-side transparent protective member, a back-side protective member, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) resin filmsvas sealing layers arranged between the glass substrate and the back-side protective member, and solar cells such as silicon photovoltaic elements sealed by the EVA resin films. A photovoltaic module for directly converting solar energy to electrical energy has a layered body, in which a transparent electrode layer, a photovoltaic semiconductor layer and a rear surface electrode layer are laminated in this order on an insulating substrate, such as a glass substrate. Thin film solar batteries have the advantage of needing less amount of semiconductor material as compared with solar batteries using crystal wafers. A thin film solar battery is produced using a glass substrate or a flexible plastic or stainless steel film. The thin film solar battery is so constituted that a photoreflective electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer and a transparent electrode are laminated on a primary surface of the substrate. Solar cell panels are widely used in view of their energy efficiency and non-maintenance. The solar electric power generation system applied to housing includes a plurality of solar battery modules each composed of a plurality of solar cells. The system is constructed for example by arranging the solar battery modules on a roof of a building or the like and connecting the modules in series or parallel. For further details Click here

Sealed Lead Acid Battery

A lead acid battery is a battery which has a stable characteristic at a lower cost as a secondary battery and which is used widely as an electric power source of a movable type for use in a portable electronic apparatus, a starter for automobile or a golf cart and a stationary type for use in a back up electric source for computer. A lead-acid battery can be sealed by utilizing a so-called "oxygen cycle" wherein the oxygen gas generated from the positive plates at the end of charge is recombined by the negative plates. A sealed lead acid battery has a structure in which separators and plates are arranged in stack in sealed cells, and an electrolyte in the battery is retained without flowing in the pores the separators and both. Sealed lead-acid batteries in which oxygen gas generated at the positive electrode during charging of the battery is absorbed by the negative electrode are available in two types, a retainer type and a gel type. The advantages that are provided by sealed lead-acid cells and batteries in comparison to conventional, flooded lead-acid batteries are substantial and varied. The sealed lead acid battery has an advantageous feature of excellent liquid leakage proofness, requiring no water supplement and causing less self-discharge. The advantages that are provided by sealed lead-acid cells in comparison to conventional, flooded lead-acid batteries are substantial and varied. Sealed lead-acid technology thus offers substantial benefits by eliminating maintenance, expense, environmental and safety concerns. The sealed lead-acid stationary batteries used for industrial applications are comprised of from several to a large number of individual sealed lead-acid cells connected to one another to form a battery with the desired capacity and power requirements. Sealed lead-acid batteries are typically used in uninterruptible power supplies. The uninterruptible power source allows for the orderly shut-down of computers when there is a sudden interruption in the primary cycle source, such as during a power outage, and provides back-up power for communications networks. For further details Click here

Regulated Power Supply

Efficient power supplies are necessary for providing power to many types of electronic circuits. Power supplies are used in electronic devices to provide power to portions of the device's circuit at specific voltage levels. Regulated power supplies are required where the voltage levels must be tightly controlled for proper operation of the circuit. Power supplies are commonly used to provide DC power for electronic devices from either AC power or DC power at a different voltage. DC power supplies that receive DC power at a different voltage are sometimes known as power converters. Regulation of the DC output voltage refers to limiting changes or swings in the output voltage level. This is particularly important in many applications where small deviations from the design voltage level can affect the operation of the equipment being supported by such power supply. A common type of regulated power supply is a switching power supply, in which regulation is performed by a square wave signal having a duty cycle that changes depending on the voltage to be output. A direct-current regulated power supply is used for driving electronic devices such as a personal computer and a hand phone or electronic circuits with a high degree of precision and in accordance with specifications. A switching DC regulated power supply also referred to as a switching regulator is known as one of direct-current regulated power supplies. Power converters generally apply the DC input power to a switch circuit which is controlled to maintain the output voltage or current at a predetermined value. One of the advantages of using switches to convert the DC input voltage to a DC output voltage is that switches dissipate relatively little power because they are either closed or open. Many power converters also use a transformer having a primary winding connected in series with a switch. For further details Click here

Rechargeable Battery

Batteries and battery systems are becoming increasingly important for primary and secondary energy supply. A battery typically comprises a pair of electrodes, namely, an anode and a cathode, a battery separator, and an electrolyte. When a load is applied to the battery, electrons are generated through oxidation at the anode. The electrons thus generated pass through the load, then return to the battery at the cathode, where the cathode is reduced. Generally, batteries are divided into two groups: general batteries, which are non-recoverable once used and rechargeable batteries, which are recoverable. The non-rechargeable type is intended for one-time use and is discarded after the battery power. Rechargeable batteries are chemical cells capable of charging and discharging and are widely used as small-scale batteries for small-scale devices such as cell phones and notebook computers as well as large-scale batteries such as industrial power storage batteries and batteries for use in electric motor cars. Currently used rechargeable batteries include lead acid batteries, nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries, nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, and lithium-ion batteries. Rechargeable lead-acid batteries are a useful power source for starter motors for internal combustion engines. Rechargeable alkaline batteries are used in numerous consumer devices such as digital cameras, laptop computers, camcorders, and cellular phones. They are often configured into a sealed battery pack that is designed as an integral part of a specific device. Rechargeable alkaline batteries can also be configured as larger batteries that can be used, for example, in industrial, aerospace, and electric vehicle applications. Alkaline rechargeable batteries are batteries using alkaline electrolyte mainly composed of potassium hydroxide (KOH), and in almost all battery systems, the nickel positive electrode excellent in charge and discharge cycle performance is used. In the negative electrode, iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd) and others are used as active material. The lithium-type rechargeable batteries have the benefits of having a larger capacity, being light weight, having an extended life, providing high output power, and having a fast recharge cycle. Rechargeable batteries using lithium metal and lithium alloy as negative electrodes show superior energy density compared with lithium-ion rechargeable battery using a graphite negative electrode. For further details Click here

Power Rectifier

An electrical power converter is a power processing circuit that may have an input-output isolation transformer and generally operates to convert an input voltage waveform with a DC component into an output DC voltage waveform. Power converters commonly referred to as "rectifiers" transform AC to DC, for example, to supply power from an AC source to a DC load. Rectifiers are electrical devices that are particularly adapted to rectifying current that is converting alternating current to direct current. Power supply circuits typically include a rectifier circuit which converts an input alternating current (AC) input waveform to a direct current (DC) waveform. These rectifiers often pull harmonic currents from the source along with the desired fundamental signal. The harmonics impede the efficiency of power conversion and induce noise in load circuits. Power rectifiers have a variety of applications. For example, an important application of such rectifiers is in DC to DC voltage converters and power supplies for personal computers and other electronic devices and systems. Switched mode power supplies are clocked power supply units which chop a rectified, filtered mains voltage. Such switched mode power supplies are nowadays preferred to conventional power packs with power transformers for many cases of use since they have a better efficiency and require in particular less space. DC to DC power converters are power processing circuits which convert an unregulated input DC voltage to a regulated DC output voltage. Switch-mode DC-to-DC power converters typically include an inverter, a transformer having a primary winding coupled to the inverter, and a rectifying circuit coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer. The rectifying circuit rectifies the alternating voltage on the secondary winding to generate a desired DC output voltage. The most common rectifiers are semiconductor diodes, i.e., diodes which employ a PN semiconductor diode junction for rectification. For further details Click here

Power Inverter

An electrical power converter is a device used for processing electrical power from one form into another form that meets the requirements of an electrical system. Electrical power converters commonly are used to change alternating-current (AC) power to direct current (DC) power or vice versa, or to change one DC voltage level to another. A power converter that changes DC power to AC power is commonly referred to as a "power inverter." A power inverter converts DC to AC by passing a succession of variable amplitude DC pulses through a filter circuit. These DC pulses transport energy stored in a large capacitor, or other DC source, to a filter circuit. Power inverters are necessary in modem power systems for the new energy generating devices such as photovoltaic devices, micro-turbines, fuel cells, superconducting storage, etc., that generate AC or DC electricity that needs to be converted to a conditioned AC for feeding into the power grid or for direct connection to loads. Power inverters are used in a wide variety of mobile and fixed locations, including boats, recreational vehicles, trucks, automobiles, construction sites, factories, remote homes and cabins. Commonly, such inverters provide single phase AC power (120VAC or 230VAC) from a 12V or 24V battery commonly found in vehicles and boats. Three-phase, DC to AC power inverters are used in electric power distribution systems. These devices have a set of switches that are used to convert a dc voltage signal into discreetly displaced square waveforms. The waveforms are subsequently combined to produce a high quality sinusoidal output signal. For further details Click here

Power Distribution Unit (PDU)

Use of electrical energy is ubiquitous in almost every aspect of life. Power distribution systems or grids provide electrical energy to households, businesses, manufacturing facilities, hospitals, etc. Industrial power distribution systems commonly divide incoming power into a number of branch circuits. The branch circuits supply power to various equipment in the industrial facility. Circuit breakers are typically provided in each branch circuit to facilitate protecting equipment within the branch circuit. In the distribution of electric power, distribution blocks are often employed. These assemblies have widely been used for distributing incoming electrical power to a number of distinct circuits. Typically the block includes a connection for a larger conductor cable or bus and a plurality of tap connections for smaller conductors. The bare ends of the conductors are inserted in socket ports or holes and held in place typically by a clamp or binding screw threaded in a hole perpendicular to the socket receiving the conductor. Many types of power distribution units (PDUs) are available for distributing power to components in environments such as, for example, data centers, computer rooms, and communication centers. A power distribution unit comprises at least one distribution point for the power supply, and at least one female outlet on its side designed to receive a male connector of a cable of an electrical device, at least one circuit breaker comprising a respective push button for resetting it. Circuit breakers are designed to open and close a circuit by non-automatic means and to open the circuit automatically on a predetermined over-current without damage to itself when properly applied within its rating. The distribution point is electrically connected by means of a respective electrical cable to a manually resettable circuit breaker. A circuit breaker is connected by means of an electrical cable to at least one female outlet. Often an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) is utilized for the central power supply so that continuous, uninterrupted power can be supplied to the power distribution system and ultimately to electronic components. As can be appreciated, the disruption of power to the electronic components, such as rack mounted computer systems, can often be disastrous. For further details Click here

Power Converter

Power converters are devices that typically transform and/or condition power from one or more power sources to supply power to one or more loads. Electrical power is typically supplied in one of two forms: direct current (DC) power and alternating current (AC) power. There are often times when it is desirable to convert from one form of power to the other form. This is accomplished by using a power converter. Typically, a power converter is used for converting a power into a necessary or desirable power output tailored for a specific application. A power converter can convert power from AC to DC, DC to AC, AC to AC, or DC to DC. In this way, a power converter allows a device that uses one form or level of power to connect to a power source that supplies a different form or level of power. Power converters are widely used in electrical and electronic devices. Certain devices, such as notebook computer, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular telephones, and other portable consumer products, require power converters that provide low standby power consumption in light or no load conditions. In one form of power conversion, an alternating current (AC) input voltage is converted to a direct current (DC) output voltage. Such conversions are necessary to power DC devices from conventional AC power sources such as standard wall outlets and the like. DC to AC power converters are commonly used to produce AC power from a DC source, such as a battery. Such DC-to-AC power converters are typically found on boats or utility trucks, where they can be used to power tools, microwave ovens, computers or any other device that requires AC power to operate. A DC-DC converter switches a semiconductor switch device to convert a DC voltage, and conducts feedback control to maintain an output voltage supplied to a load at a certain value. A switched-mode power converter is an electronic power processing circuit that converts an input voltage waveform into an output voltage waveform. Switched-mode power converters are key components in many commercial and military systems for the conversion, control and conditioning of electrical power, and often govern performance and size of the end system. DC to DC switching power converters are commonly used to convert one available DC voltage to one or more other DC voltages. With some conventional DC to DC power converters, the different voltage outputs may be coupled off of a single transformer. For further details Click here

Power Controller

Power controllers provide circuit breaker functions such as protection of the load and wiring from overload conditions and in addition provide on/off control of the conduction of the load circuit. Power controllers may be used to protect an AC wire harness against damage if the power controller experiences a short circuit failure caused by overcurrent or short circuiting at a load. Solid state switching devices which may be variously referred to as solid state power controllers, solid state circuit breakers or solid state switches, offer many performance features which make them preferable to mechanical switching devices in numerous applications. In solid state electronic configurations, power controllers can be devised to provide for on/off control from a location remote from the load and associated with the load circuit by a low power control circuit, such power controllers being referred to as remote power controllers (RPCs). Present remote power controllers are available in two basic configurations respectively for AC and DC load circuits. Power controllers have been utilized in battery backed-up systems to switch in a backup battery in the event that a primary power supply fails. Power controllers are used in industrial applications for example, to supply power to machinery, manufacturing equipment, support systems such as heating and air conditioning, etc. A power controller is used for solenoid driving in the battery power system for vehicles. For further details Click here

Power Conditioner

Power supplies are available to meet the power demands. AC power, although highly controlled, still produces significant fluctuations, transients and electrical noise. The AC power that is provided by the electric utility for the home or business is often fraught with noise, distortions, and other electronic pollution due to its proximity to industrial equipment, street lights, transformers, elevators, radio stations and home appliances. The advent of sensitive electronic devices in the consumer market has created a need to protect such devices from spurious and potentially damaging electrical spikes. Consumer electronics, such as computers and televisions and their associated peripherals, contain microcircuit electronics which are readily damaged by out-of-specification electrical power. A power conditioner is a circuit that connects between a power supply and the network connecting the process devices and controller to create the impedance needed to allow communication and power to co-exist on the same pair of wires. Power conditioning circuits have long been used to protect sensitive load equipment from transients caused by lightning strikes, noise and other power line disturbances. AC power conditioning is most often provided through a separate power conditioning device, commonly referred to as a surge and spike protector. AC power conditioners protect sensitive circuits from voltage spikes caused by lightning, electrostatic discharge and power surges caused by power grid interruptions and other potentially dangerous live transients. Power conditioning circuits used in two-wire networks are commonly broken down into two categories, passive power conditioners and active power conditioners. Multi-outlet power conditioners provide high purity electrical power to multiple electronic devices powered using a single wall outlet. Such devices often contain surge protection circuits for protecting consumer electronics, such as computers, televisions and other audio/visual equipment, from damage resulting from random power surges and voltage spikes. Power conditioners also typically contain filtering elements for reducing AC power line noise. For further details Click here

Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) Battery

Alkaline rechargeable batteries are batteries using alkaline electrolyte mainly composed of potassium hydroxide (KOH), and in almost all battery systems, the nickel positive electrode excellent in charge and discharge cycle performance is used. In the negative electrode, iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd) and others are used as active material, but because of the long charge and discharge cycle life and high reliability of sealed batteries, the main stream of alkaline batteries was nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries using cadmium negative electrode. Nickel-cadmium batteries (NiCd) provide one of the few sources of rechargeable portable electric power. Nickel-cadmium batteries comprise a plurality of nickel-cadmium voltaic cells connected in series. The cadmium electrode is used as a cathode almost exclusively in nickel-cadmium storage batteries. The nickel oxide electrode serves as positive electrode and an aqueous KOH solution as electrolyte. Although a variety of rechargeable battery technologies have been developed, rechargeable nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries have several advantageous properties. Nickel-cadmium batteries have a relatively high capacity to weight ratio, a relatively flat voltage to percent of discharge curve, good performance at low temperatures, the capability of delivering high amperage currents for engine starting and similar purposes, and a relatively high recharge recycling capacity. NiCd cells may be hermetically sealed which permits operation in any position and in inaccessible locations. They are also fairly inexpensive relative to some other high performance battery technologies. While rechargeable NiCad batteries can be used to supply such clean power, NiCad batteries have a number of problems. In particular, they require periodic recharging in order to provide power.

Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery Alkaline storage batteries having a wide application in various portable appliances include nickel-cadmium (NiCd) storage batteries, nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) storage batteries and the like. Among them, the nickel-metal hydride storage batteries have recently been used widely as small-size sealed storage batteries, because they can be expected to have a higher capacity density. Nickel cadmium cells have long been the standard for high discharge applications such as power tools. However, increasing emphasis is being placed on nickel metal hydride electrochemical cells as replacements for nickel cadmium cells. NiMH cells avoid environmental concerns relating to cadmium and have improved energy density. A nickel-metal hydride storage battery is a secondary battery comprising a positive electrode formed from an active material composed mainly of nickel hydroxide and a negative electrode composed mainly of a hydrogen storage alloy. In general, nickel-metal hydride batteries comprise a negative electrode of hydrogen absorbing alloy, a positive electrode of nickel hydroxide, an alkaline electrolyte, a separator, etc. Nickel metal-hydride storage batteries have positive electrodes including an active material containing nickel hydroxide as a principal component and negative electrodes including a hydrogen-absorbing alloy as a principal material. Therefore, they have rapidly spread as secondary batteries having high energy densities and high reliability. A nickel positive electrode for use in a nickel-metal hydride storage cell can be either a sintered type or a paste type (nonsintered type). NiMH batteries are widely used in laptop computers, cellular phones, electrical vehicles (EV), hybride electric vehicles (HEV) and different tools. For further details Click here

Motorcycle Battery

A motorcycle battery in which recharging is performed by a chemical action so that it can be utilized repetitively as a power source is used as an energy source for a drive motor for a motorcycle or a power source for the starting of an internal combustion engine of a motorcycle or for a light or the like. Motorcycles are typically started by a kick starter or an electric starter. Motor vehicles such as motorcycles typically have a generator powered by the vehicle's engine to supply electricity for powering the lights, horn, etc. A storage battery such as a sealed lead acid battery is typically used to power a starting motor which starts the engine, in addition to powering the lights when running the engine is not desired. Starters for initiating internal combustion engines consist of an electrically powered motor which through gearing mechanisms rotates the crankshaft of an engine from rest up to a speed at which the engine will commence to operate on its own. The power for the starter is supplied by the motorcycle battery. The starter is designed to produce a high power output or torque over a short period of time without exceeding a specified temperature, so that the static inertia and friction inherent in the engine are quickly overcome. The battery is arranged in the central part of the cycle body. The main fuse is connected to the battery at one end and to the respective load circuits at the other end through wire harnesses. A motorcycle is provided with a plurality of switches on and in the vicinity of the handlebar so that operations such as actuating lights and/or horns may be easily done while driving. These switches are connected to respective electrical loads, such as headlights, taillights, flashing lights, turn signals, and ignition coil. In addition, a switch provided on the brake operating lever is connected to a stoplight. All such electrical systems are powered by the motorcycle storage battery. For further details Click here.

Mobile Phone Battery, Cell Phone Battery

Rechargeable batteries are utilized extensively in powering a variety of portable electronic devices. One such device is the cell phone where the battery functions to provide power to the various circuitry therein. The use of mobile phones has become more and more popular recently for the provision of fast and convenient communication. The power source of the mobile phone generally comes from a rechargeable battery. The cellular phone requires a battery pack which is easily detachable from the cellular phone for charging when the battery pack's power is exhausted. Typically, such phones employ NiMH batteries, Li-ion batteries, or Li-polymer batteries, as power supplies. When a battery runs out of electricity, the rechargeable battery is often removed from the housing of the mobile phone so that the battery can be recharged or replaced. Lithium ion secondary batteries are small and lightweight, and are hence used widely in laptop computers, cellular phones and many other electronic appliances, and the demand is increasing. This is because the weight energy density of the lithium ion secondary battery is higher than in the nickel-cadmium secondary battery (NiCd) and nickel mercury secondary battery (NiMH). A lithium ion battery is characterized by its anode and cathode active materials made of a substance capable of occluding and releasing lithium ions. a battery charger for a cellular phone charges a battery through a connection terminal at the rear of the battery in a state that the battery is only inserted into the battery charger or the cellular phone having the battery is inserted into the battery charger. Cellular phone battery packs include a memory device in addition to the battery cells to store important information about the battery in which it is embedded. For example, the memory device can include information about the battery such as the battery type used, and specifics concerning the charging regime to be employed. Moreover, it can store "fuel gauge" information to enable the cell phone to determine accurately the state of charge of the battery such as a measurement based on measured battery voltage. In addition, many rechargeable batteries incorporate a thermistor into a rechargeable battery to monitor the temperature of the battery during the charging process. Typical battery housings for cellular phones incorporate a plastic case or enclosure for holding the battery cells and often other electrical circuitry components necessary to build-up the complete battery structure to power the phone when the battery housing is engaged with the cellular telephone.

Medical Battery

Modern medical treatment facilities utilize a variety of relatively sophisticated electronic instruments in the course of patient diagnosis and treatment. Depending upon the medical condition, medical devices can be surgically implanted or connected externally to the patient receiving treatment. Physicians use medical devices alone or in combination with drug therapies to treat patient medical conditions. Implantable medical devices, such as implantable cardiac devices (ICDs) (e.g., pacemakers, cardioverters, and defibrillators), implantable neurostimulator devices, blood glucose monitoring/delivery devices, etc., are typically battery powered. The state of battery depletion can be monitored or estimated in order to determine the elective replacement (ER) and end-of-life (EOL) points, which enable a physician to schedule appropriate device replacement. Typically, a battery is placed in a case having an opening that exposes the battery terminal. The battery case is then connected to a medical device via the exposed battery terminal. The integrity of the connection between battery case and medical device is critical for proper function and safety. Very often, batteries are needed of a specific shape to make the best use of the space available in each device. For many of these devices, the batteries themselves should be small, flat, and lightweight. For further details Click here

Marine Battery

In many applications a battery is employed for powering electrical devices and this battery is charged by a generator driven by an internal combustion engine. A wide variety of vehicles including marine vessels incorporate such systems. Many different types of marine vessels rely on electric storage batteries as the power source for an auxiliary marine propulsion device. For example, trolling motors that are usually powered by a pair or more of marine batteries coupled to the motor either in series or in parallel depending on the requirements of the motor. These batteries are not normally connected to an alternator driven by the boat's main engine, and so nesed to be recharged after use from an outside power source. In marine vessel electrical systems, it is very important to protect the electrical storage battery from inadvertent and unexpected depletion. Unlike ground-based vehicles, such as automobiles, tractors, trucks, and motorcycles, a marine vessel with a depleted battery and an inability to start the engine of the marine vessel can be very inconvenient. For further details Click here

Lithium Ion Polymer Battery

As portable electronic devices, such as camcorders, mobile phones, notebook computers, and digital cameras, become smaller and more lightweight while at the same time becoming functionally more powerful, considerable research is being conducted into rechargeable lithium secondary batteries which have three times greater energy densities per unit weight and higher charging rates relative to conventional lead batteries, nickel-cadmium (Ni--Cd) batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and the like. A lithium secondary battery is generally configured to include an anode, a cathode, and a separator is interposed there between so as to prevent a short-circuit there between. An electrolyte is further included so as to provide a pathway for lithium ions between the electrodes. A lithium secondary battery generates electricity by lithium ions reciprocating between a cathode and an anode. The lithium secondary batteries are classified into lithium ion batteries and lithium polymer batteries according to the types of electrolytes. In the lithium ion battery, electricity is generated such that lithium ions move between a cathode and an anode. The lithium ion battery generally utilizes a cylindrical case or a rectangular case as a case for hermetically sealing the electrode assembly. Lithium ion polymer batteries are generally preferred over lithium ion batteries because of no risk of liquid electrolyte leakage and the capability of shaping it into any form, e.g., an ultra-thin battery. The lithium ion polymer batteries fabricated with a solid polymer electrolyte having a high ionic conductivity have advantages to solve the problems of the exudation of electrolyte solution and explosion, which have occurred in the lithium ion cell using liquid electrolyte. Lithium ion polymer batteries which utilize polymer electrolyte instead of the liquid electrolyte are free from problems of leakage, have an improved stability and have a reduced volume because the electrolyte is impregnated into a polymer matrix. In general, a lithium ion polymer battery includes an anode, a polymer electrolyte and a cathode. The components are selected to satisfy various conditions of the secondary battery such as lifetime, capacity, temperature characteristic, stability, etc. For further details Click here

Lithium Ion Battery

To meet the growing and diversifying needs of markets for portable electronic products such as mobile phones, camcorders and laptop computers, the demand for a rechargeable battery as a portable power supply is also increasing. Rechargeable batteries based upon lithium ion cells are attractive because they have inherently high capacities, high energies, and are operable over a useful temperature range. Lithium ion battery technology is becoming the standard for rechargeable energy storage systems. Lithium ion batteries are able to store up to three to four times as much electric energy as currently used rechargeable batteries. Lithium ion batteries are rechargeable and do not exhibit memory effect which is common in other rechargeable batteries. Memory effect is a condition that occurs in some rechargeable batteries when the battery is not fully discharged before recharging. The batteries are currently replacing many other traditional power sources such as lead acid batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, and nickel metal hydride batteries. A lithium ion rechargeable battery mainly comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an ion conducting layer interposed between the electrodes. An electrolyte containing ions of the metal is placed in contact with the anode and the cathode. During discharge of the cell, metal ions leave the anode, enter the electrolyte and are taken up in the active material of the cathode, resulting in the release of electrical energy. Lithium ion batteries can be sensitive to certain types of abuse, particularly overcharge abuse wherein the normal operating voltage is exceeded during recharge. To prevent over charging and over discharging, the battery control circuit must measure the charging current, the charging voltage, the discharging current, and the discharging voltage. For further details Click here

Lithium Battery

The demand for rechargeable lithium batteries' having a high energy density is increasing as the use of portable electronic instruments such as portable phones, camcorders, and notebook computers is increasing. Rechargeable lithium batteries use a material from or into which lithium ions are intercalated or deintercalated as positive and negative active materials. Lithium batteries, or batteries that contain metallic lithium, a lithium alloy, or a lithium ion, have relatively high energy and are used in many electrical devices. A lithium battery includes a cathode, an anode and an electrolytic solution providing a movement path of lithium ions between the cathode and the anode, and generates electric energy by oxidation and reduction when the lithium ions are intercalated into/deintercalated from the cathode and anode. Rechargeable lithium batteries can be classified into two categories, namely a lithium ion battery or a lithium ion polymer battery. The lithium secondary batteries are further classified as cylindrical type, prismatic type, and coin type batteries according to their shape. Lithium-ion electrochemical cells useful for electrical storage usually consist of a lithium anode and a cathode formed from an electrochemically active material that can take up ions of the metal. The lithium ion polymer battery uses a solid electrolyte such as a polymer, unlike the lithium ion battery that uses a liquid electrolyte. The lithium ion polymer battery therefore is lighter and has a smaller volume than the lithium ion battery. Furthermore, the lithium ion polymer battery is capable of being fabricated into various shapes. Lithium ion and lithium polymer batteries, however, cannot be overcharged without damaging the active materials. Therefore, careful monitoring and controls must be implemented to avoid any single cell from experiencing an over voltage due to excessive charging. For further details Click here

Lead-acid Battery

Rechargeable batteries are of great importance to many industrial sectors such as the electrical power industry and automotive industry. One class of such batteries is lead acid based batteries. The lead acid storage battery is generally a storage battery using lead dioxide in the positive electrode and lead in the negative electrode as active materials, and dilute sulfuric acid as an electrolyte. Lead-acid secondary batteries have been employed for some time for a variety of applications requiring general purpose electrochemical storage. The lead-acid battery in its various configurations is a time-honoured power source for diverse applications such as starting lighting ignition (SLI), uninterrupted power supply (UPS) and motive power. The advantages of lead-acid batteries include: low cost of manufacture, simplicity of design, reliability and relative safety when compared to other electrochemical systems. Lead-acid batteries are multi-cell structures with each cell containing a positive plate or electrode, a negative plate or electrode, and an electrolyte. Each plate consists of a grid of expanded metal having a layer of electrochemically active material formed thereon. Typically, a bank of batteries will be interconnected in a system configuration to provide the desired voltage and power for short term emergency situations, until the AC supply line is re-established or until a generator can provide the necessary power requirements. One type of recombinant battery, a valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) battery, typically includes an absorptive glass mat (AGM) separator composed of microglass fibers. Valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries rely upon internal gas recombination to minimize electrolyte loss over the life of the battery, thereby eliminating the need for re-watering. VRLA recombination batteries offer a number of advantages compared to flooded cell batteries. Valve regulated lead acid batteries have been increasingly deployed in outdoor telecommunications applications as a source of energy when a primary source of power is interrupted. For further details Click here.

Laptop Battery, Notebook Computer Battery Pack

Laptop or notebook computers are characterized in that the entire computing functionality is incorporated into a single package. A notebook computer includes an integral CPU, keyboard, mouse, hard drive, CD-ROM or DVD drive, rechargeable battery, and video output device (such as a LCD display), such components are powered by either an internal battery or a single AC power connection. As a power source for a notebook computer, a battery is an important element. Generally, in a laptop computer, a battery pack which includes a number of cylindrical lithium-ion secondary batteries within a plastic outer case having flat and rectangular shaped top and bottom is employed as a power source. The battery is installed in inside space of the laptop computer by a battery connecting apparatus. The battery connecting apparatus commonly includes battery housing, a base and a battery connector. The battery housing is used for receiving the battery therein. The battery connector is assembled with the base for electrically connecting the battery to a power supply circuit of the notebook computer. To reduce the size and weight of the electronic apparatus, increase in the capacity of the battery and reduction in the volume of the same have been required. Commonly used laptop rechargeable battery packs include lithium-ion battery (Li-ion), nickel-cadmium battery (NiCd) and nickel mercury secondary battery (NiMH). Lithium batteries, which are lightweight and have high energy density, are taking the initiative in the market as an energy source of typical portable information devices, such as notebook personal computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile phone terminals. This lithium secondary battery is advantageous in that it has high operating voltage and high energy density and can discharge a large current. The lithium ion secondary battery is based on a cell reaction by which lithium ion is intercalated between layers of a carbonaceous material, such as graphite, constituting the anode. Laptop battery packs are provided with a variety of protective functions for preventing damage to the battery caused by abnormal use such as overcharging, over discharging, short-circuiting between the positive and negative electrodes. A lithium ion rechargeable battery is normally provided with a battery protection circuit to prevent overcharging, over discharging, and so forth. Such battery protection circuit is generally unitized with the battery as part of battery pack configuration. For further details Click here.

High Voltage Power Supply

Many different power supplies have been developed over the years for various different applications. High voltage power supplies often are used in applications where a load connected to the power supply includes a significant inductive or capacitive component. A high voltage power supply is employed in devices such as a copier, laser printer, facsimile, and digital printer as a core part, which operates to instantly convert low voltage of 12 24V to high voltage of several hundreds volts (V), or to several thousand volts (kV) for use in temporarily inscribing images on a drum of the printer or copier. A widely used method for producing high voltage DC power is to convert the power from a low voltage power DC source to high voltage by a device known as an inverter. The low voltage DC power is converted to alternating current (AC) power by an oscillator circuit and then is transformed to high voltage AC power by a transformer. The AC power is converted to DC power by a rectifier and filtering circuit. For further details Click here

Hearing Aid Battery

Hearing aids are generally used by people whose hearing is impaired. In a hearing aid, acoustic input signals are acquired by a microphone, amplified in an amplification device, and the amplified signals are supplied to a speaker. The sound emitted from the speaker is partially fed back to the microphone, resulting in noticeable interference. By using a hearing aid, the user is able to hear sounds which otherwise would not be heard. Hearing aids have a battery compartment for placement of a battery power source for operating the hearing aid. The battery compartment includes a battery door for providing access to the battery compartment to exchange an old battery with a new battery, when the power level of the old battery drops below a useful level. Hearing aids primarily rely on button cells which are symmetrically rounded. These cells are circular in cross section with diameter and height. The cells are generally button-shaped with diameter greater than height thus referred to as "button cells." Hearing aids generally use zinc-air button batteries because of their inherent high-energy storage and convenience. The zinc-air battery is commercially available in several different sizes. All are pancake looking with the diameter several times the height. Typical zinc-air cells have holes in their casings to admit air. These holes permit oxygen to diffuse into the cell and also permit water vapor to escape. For further details Click here

Electrochemical Battery Cell

An electrochemical reaction is a chemical reaction that occurs between the electrode and electrolyte. A battery is made up of a plurality of electrochemical cells connected in series and/or in parallel and assembled together in a common container. An electrochemical cell is composed of electrodes and electrolyte. Electrochemical cells may be classified as either electrolysis cells or fuel cells. Electrolysis cells act as hydrogen generators by electrolytically decomposing water to produce hydrogen and oxygen gases. Fuel cells function by electrochemically reacting a fuel gas such as hydrogen with an oxidant gas such as air or oxygen to generate electricity. A battery pack consists of one or more electrochemical cells or batteries, wherein each cell typically includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte or other material for facilitating movement of ionic charge carriers between the negative electrode and positive electrode. Electrochemical batteries classically include pairs of oppositely charged plates, and an intervening electrolyte to convey ions from one plate to the other when the circuit through the battery is completed. Multicell batteries that are constructed in a broad range of electrochemical systems are typically packaged in cylindrical or prismatic housings. Individual cells are connected in series by conductive links to make the multi-cell batteries. Rechargeable lithium batteries are the result of recent advances in the field of electrochemical cells. The advantageous characteristics of such electrochemical cells include light weight, long service life, relatively high energy densities and high specific energies. Lithium ion polymer battery cells utilize electrode elements comprising flexible sheets of polymeric composition in which are dispersed finely-divided particulate materials capable of reversibly intercalating lithium ions during battery charge/discharge cycles. For further details Click here

Electrical Power Generator

Electrical generators convert mechanical energy to electricity. A typical generator set includes an engine, driven by a fuel such as gasoline, and a rotating shaft driven by the engine. The rotating shaft develops electric power, which is then used to power an electrical load. Electric power plants include hydroelectric power plants, thermal power plants, nuclear power plants and the like. These power plants generate electricity and deliver it to consumers through power transmission lines. A turbine power generator generates electric power by converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. The turbine power generator typically includes a stator and rotor to generate electrical power as the rotor turns within the stator. The rotor includes a set of permanent magnets and an armature. Synchronous power generators are commonly used by power utilities to produce electrical energy. Generators generally have a magnetic rotor that is surrounded by a stationary stator having conductive windings. Rotating magnetic field from the spinning rotor creates electric current in the armature windings in a stationary stator that surrounds the rotor. The current from these windings is output as electrical power from the generator. A single phase AC generator has a single armature winding on the stator, but this typically is used only for low power applications because of factors such as mechanical vibration and power pulsations. Typically, an individual electrical generator operates in a stand-by mode wherein the electrical power provided by a utility is monitored such that if the commercial electrical power from the utility fails, the engine of the electrical generator is automatically started causing the alternator to generate electrical power. Portable power supplies, such as portable power generator systems that incorporate a generator driven by an engine, are popular for many uses. The engine-driven generator produces raw AC power which is then converted to a higher quality AC power output. A controller adjusts the speed of the engine to regulate the AC power produced. The controller calculates a reference engine speed based upon an output signal from the current sensor and controls the engine such that the engine's speed generally matches the reference engine speed. For further details Click here

Electric Vehicle Battery

Due to concern for environmental damage associated with emissions from internal combustion engines, alternative means of propelling vehicles has received increased attention. The increasing demand to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions in present vehicles has led to the development of electric vehicles. Electronic vehicles are generally classified into an ordinary electric vehicle which uses only a motor as the drive source for running and a hybrid vehicle which uses both the engine and motor as its drive sources. Hybrid electric vehicles include an internal combustion engine and at least one electric motor powered by a battery array. In a parallel type hybrid electric vehicle, both the internal combustion engine and the electric motor are coupled to the drive train via mechanical means. An electrical powered vehicle typically includes an electric motor and drive train supported on a frame and enclosed in a body. A battery or bank of batteries are supported on the frame and connect to the electric motor to provide power thereto. Generally, the battery that provides the main power to an electric vehicle is one of the most important components that determine the quality of the vehicle. The range of electric vehicles is limited as the size of the battery array which can be installed on the vehicle is limited. As the battery for electric vehicle (EV) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), a lithium secondary battery has drawn attention in recent years for the high energy density. The lithium secondary battery uses a lithium compound as the active material of positive electrode and a carbon material as the negative electrode. This battery can give a long running distance covered per one charging operation, as compared with conventional lead-acid battery or metal-hydride battery. A typical electric vehicle is equipped with a battery management system (BMS) that manages all of the states of the battery by monitoring battery states. For further details Click here.

Electric Bicycle Battery

Bicycling is becoming an increasingly more popular form of recreation as well as a means of transportation. In recent years, various kinds of electric energy storing devices, such as a secondary battery and a capacitor have been widely used as a clean energy source for a vehicle. An electric bicycle is a bicycle which has a rechargeable battery and driving means powered by the rechargeable battery so that the electric bicycle can be actuated by the electrical power. Electric bicycles are usually driven by electric motors. Most modern electric bicycles use technologies such as rare earth magnets, pulse width modulated power electronic control and regenerative braking to improve efficiency. Electric bicycles are generally powered by rechargeable batteries. Batteries are usually lead acid batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, nickel metal hydride batteries or lithium ion batteries. For further details Click here

Digital Camera Battery

Today, digital imaging is a prevalent reality that affords a new way to capture photos using a solid-state image sensor instead of traditional film. Digital image sensors based on semiconductor technology, such as matrix sensors based on charge coupled devices (CCD) and complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology, now make it possible to provide a large variety of devices with built-in imaging functions. A digital camera is well-known and widely used, in which an image sensor is driven, a liquid crystal display panel displays an image, and image data is read and written. A digital camera is comprised of an imaging device, an A/D converter, an image processing circuit, an image memory, a diaphragm mechanism, a shutter mechanism, and so forth. A primary (non-rechargeable) battery or a secondary (rechargeable) battery is loaded into the digital camera, by which the above electrical circuit, the flash device, the electrical viewfinder and the like are driven. Rechargeable batteries have been widely used to provide electrical power for driving battery powered electronic appliances. A battery pack having a battery cell as a secondary battery capable of charging such as a lithium-ion battery, a nickel cadmium battery, a nickel hydrogen battery, etc. has been employed. Because of their high energy density, lithium ion secondary batteries are increasingly used in recent years as portable power sources for laptop computers, mobile phones, especially digital cameras. In the digital camera battery packs, a microcomputer or microcontroller that calculates the remaining capacity of the battery and communicates with the digital camera, a peripheral circuit of the microcomputer, a state detecting circuit of the battery cell necessary for calculating the remaining capacity of the battery by the microcomputer, and a nonvolatile memory in which data necessary for calculating the remaining capacity of the battery is stored are incorporated. Rechargeable batteries require an electronic charger for recharging depleted digital camera batteries. For further details Click here.

DC to DC Converter

A DC-DC converter is a small, light, and highly efficient DC power supply using semiconductor switching elements. Direct-current (DC) to direct-current (DC) converters are used to convert an input DC voltage to an output DC voltage. Such converters may step down (buck) or step up (boost) the input DC voltage. Due to their ability to receive low input voltages and consume low power, DC-DC converters have been widely used in all types of electronic products. A DC-to-DC converter provides the functions of regulating the voltage level from a DC input voltage, such as boost or buck voltage conversion, and of maintaining the regulated voltage at the desired level. DC to DC converters are widely used for battery-powered electronic equipment, renewable energy systems, and voltage regulator modules (VRM) to produce a regulated voltage or current derived from an unregulated power supply. In a computer system, due to the power supplies of different voltages for CPU, memory and hard disk drive, the DC to DC converter is required to regulate the power source voltage of the computer system to various supply voltages supplied to various operational units of the computer system. Dc-to-dc converters are generally protected against overheating by use of temperature sensors such as thermostats and thermistors. One kind of such converters is referred to as a fixed frequency converter, also known as pulse-width modulated (PWM) converter. A PWM converter includes voltage mode converters and current mode converters. A synchronous buck converter typically has a controller, driver, a pair of switches, and an LC filter coupled to the pair of switches. The controller provides a control signal to the driver which then drives the pair of switches. The driver alternately turns each switch ON and OFF thereby controlling inductor current and the output voltage of the DC to DC converter. For further details Click here

DC to AC Converter

An AC load can be powered from a DC source by using a converter to change DC to AC. A typical DC-to-AC inverter energized from a 12-volt DC input signal uses a single stage inverter circuit to produce a quasi-sine wave output signal. In DC to AC converters a direct current voltage is applied to a so-called half bridge with two power transistors connected in series. The power transistors are gated alternatingly conducting and generate at their connection point an alternating voltage for the load. DC-to-AC voltage converters have many uses, such as the supply of power to gas discharge lamps or, after rectifying and smoothing the AC voltage, supplying power to electronic circuits, motors, relays, magnetic valves, magnetic clutches, etc. DC-to-AC power converters are often used in uninterruptible power supplies. When the main power source fails and the uninterruptible power supply provides back-up AC power from the battery supply, the stored DC energy needs to be converted into AC power. For further details Click here.

Dc Power Supply

A number of power supply arrangements are presently commercially available to provide a precise output irrespective of the variations in AC input voltage and changes in the load. A power supply producing a regulated DC load current from an AC power source typically has a converter having input terminals adapted for connection to the AC source and output terminals adapted for connection to a load. DC power supplies employing an inverter may be used for, for example, an arc welder, an arc cutter, a plasma arc welder and an arc lamp. These apparatuses may be designed such that they can be driven from either one of two types of commercial AC power supplies one of which supplies a voltage of a magnitude half that of the other. DC power supplies energized by the AC power lines must convert the input AC voltage to a desired DC voltage level; this conversion can be accomplished in either an active manner or a passive manner. When an apparatus using a DC source as an operating power supply is operated by power supplied from a commercial power supply, an AC adapter for rectifying and smoothing voltage signals supplied from the commercial power supply and for outputting resultant voltage signals is used. This AC adapter is configured in such a way as to have a power supply transformer, a rectifier diode, and a smoothing capacitor. Thus, an output voltage thereof changes according to a variation in a load current or in a voltage of a commercial power supply. Most DC power supplies typically involve the use of a power transformer in order to step-down the voltage from the 110 VAC line source to a lower AC voltage, such as 24 VAC. DC flyback power supplies use a power transformer to convert a first DC potential to one or more second DC potentials. In a flyback type of power supply, power is first transferred to the power transformer via the primary winding, and, after conduction in the primary winding has ceased, the stored power is coupled out through the secondary winding to an output rectifier circuit for generating the desired output DC voltage level. Regulation of this output voltage level is accomplished by controlling the amount of energy stored in the magnetic field of the transformer during each cycle. For further details Click here.

Computer Power Supply

Computer systems have attained widespread use within many segments of today's society. A personal computer system can be classified as a desktop, floor standing, or portable notebook computer. In general, computers are provided with power supplies to supply them with the necessary direct currents. Since the power supply receives alternating current electrical power and converts the alternating current to direct current for operating the various electrical components, safety regulations require that the power supply be completely enclosed in a case to prevent access to potentially harmful high voltages. The computer power supply is a vital part in computer operating system and any abnormality in it may interrupt the operation process, and may even destroy the system device. Usually, a computer has only a single power supply. However, if the power supply cannot function during operation of the computer so that it cannot supply the computer with electric power, computer system failure or loss of files may result. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is well-known in the art as a device which accepts an electrical power input from the utility supply and supplies continuous, good quality electrical power to a computer. UPS systems can provide temporary power to the devices and systems so that the devices and systems can continue to operate despite the loss of the primary power source and thereby can reduce the likelihood that valuable data may be lost. For further details Click here.

Coin Cell Battery

Coin type batteries or coin cells are used in numerous applications to power electronic circuits. A coin cell battery generally refers to a battery with a wafer-shaped housing with conductive leads for powering a chip. The coin battery has two major surfaces respectively forming positive and negative electrodes. The positive electrode also extends to a circumferential edge of the disk-shape. The housing is usually plated with nickel or other metal. A coin cell typically comprises small, usually round structure having a top conducting surface that acts as a first polarity electrode contact and a bottom conductive surface which acts as a second polarity contact. Coin batteries that have a disk-shape are often employed in electronic equipments, such as computers, microprocessors, as additional power source or back up power source. The coin battery is mounted to a circuit board by a battery connector which comprises a housing defining a central cavity for receiving the coin battery. Conductive terminals for positive and negative electrodes of the battery are fixed to the housing and electrically connected to the circuit board. For further details Click here.

Camcorder Battery

Portable electronic devices such as a laptop computer, a camcorder, a mobile phone and a compact recorder are being quickly developed. Various types of batteries are now used as power sources for portable electronic devices. A digital camcorder is equipped with a rechargeable battery for supplying power. Such a rechargeable battery is made to join or separate from the main body of the camcorder by a coupler. Various types of rechargeable battery packs are known for use with video camcorders. Such battery packs comprise an insulated housing, at least one rechargeable battery permanently encased in the housing, and a structural mechanism for attaching the battery pack to an electronic device in such a manner that electrical energy may be continuously supplied from the battery to the camcorder. The vast majority of such battery packs use either Lithium cells, or nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal hydride cells. A nonaqueous electrolyte battery such as lithium ion secondary battery, i.e. a small-size large-capacity sealed battery. The nonaqueous electrolyte batteries for camcorders and video cameras are generally designed in rectangular shape. The battery packs may be provided with voltage control and protective circuitry for ensuring correct charging and discharging conditions to permit proper operation of the battery in conjunction with the digital camcorder. Battery packs for portable electronic devices are typically known as "smart" or "intelligent" battery packs. A smart battery is equipped with specialized hardware circuitry and software that provide present state, calculated and predicted data to a camcorder under software control. By adding electronic circuitry inside the battery packs, these smart batteries can report, for example, fuel gauge information as well as provide power management information so that the host can make more efficient use of battery energy and prolong battery life. Often digital camcorders give an indication of an amount of charge left in the battery. The charge indicator displays an indication of a percentage of useful power remaining compared to that the full charged battery. For further details Click here.

Button Cell Battery

Thin-profile batteries comprise batteries that have thickness dimensions which are less than a maximum linear dimension of its anode or cathode. One type of thin-profile battery is a button cell battery. Electrochemical cells of the button type are incorporated in many devices for producing electrical power. Button cell batteries are typically used in hearing aids and electronic watches, and, are thus small in size having a diameter which cam be less than half the width of a finger. Such batteries, because of their compact size, permit electronic devices to be built which themselves are very small or compact. When a higher voltage is needed in such devices, the batteries can be stacked or cascaded with one another to achieve a series electrical connection. The button cell comprises a case cup and a case cover, between which an electrically insulating plastic seal is arranged. Button cells generally have a flat-cylindrical or oval gastight case in which normally a plurality of positive and a plurality of negative electrodes with interposed separators as well as an electrolyte are arranged one above the other. The connections of the battery terminals to the electronic circuit are achieved by means of metal clamps, permanently fixed to the printed circuit or to the frame, and resiliently contacting one or other of the faces of the button cell or the edge of its case. Metal air cells are electrochemical cells where the oxygen in the air is the cathode material and a metal material is the anode material. In many instances the preferred anode material is zinc. Zinc-air cells are constructed of a zinc electrode and a catalyst or air electrode, with a separator positioned between the zinc electrode and the catalyst electrode, the cell containing electrolyte such as aqueous potassium hydroxide, which permits electrolyte ions to pass or be conducted through such separator but prevents electrode ions from migrating through such separator or membrane. For further details Click here.

Battery Tester

Rechargeable batteries are an important source of clean portable power in a wide variety of electrical applications, including automobiles, boats and electric vehicles. Automotive vehicles include a storage battery for operating electronics in the vehicle and using an electric starter to start the vehicle engine. A battery charging system is coupled to the engine and is powered by the engine when the vehicle is running. The charging system is used to charge the storage battery when the vehicle is operating. Lead-acid batteries are one form of rechargeable battery that is commonly used to start engines, propel electric vehicles, and to act as a source of back-up power when an external supply of electricity is interrupted. Because the lead-acid batteries can be depleted of power overtime, such as when they are not in use over a period of time, or when a light in a car is left on for an extended period of time, they need to be recharged and tested. In order to make optimum use of such a battery, it is very desirable to test the battery to determine various battery parameters such as state of charge, battery capacity, state of health, the existence of battery defects. Battery testers typically determine the condition of batteries, i.e., determine the internal resistance of a battery, by either a load test or a small-signal analysis of the battery. A typical electronic battery tester provides an output which is viewed by a user or technician. The data is used to make a determination regarding the condition and possible need for replacement of a storage battery. Electronic battery testers have become accepted in the marketplace. In addition to their convenience as hand-held instruments without heavy cables, they are safer because the small currents drawn avoid dangerous sparks. Electronic battery testers do not require the battery to be fully charged in order to test nor will electronic battery testers weaken an already low battery. For further details Click here

Battery Pack

Rechargeable batteries or secondary batteries are widely used to provide electrical power for driving battery powered electronic appliances. Battery powered electronic appliances may include, for example, digital video recorders, notebook computers, camcorders, digital cameras, cellular telephones, PDAs and other devices. Alkaline batteries for such appliances, such as nickel cadmium (NiCd) or nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, are well known. Recently, lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries with an organic electrolytic cell have gained popularity in high-end portable electronic devices because they exhibit high energy density, low temperature characteristics, and stable storage capability. Rechargeable batteries are generally used in forms of battery packs for the ease and efficiency of providing a series or a parallel connection for the cells as part of the pack, depending on the voltage provided by each cell and the power requirements of the device, thereby obviating the need for the device to provide the appropriate cell-to-cell contacts for accepting individual cells. A battery pack for a battery powered electrical device incorporates a plurality of battery modules which are always connected in series. The battery pack has an output terminal to output a total voltage of the battery modules connected in series to the outside of the battery pack. When the battery pack is attached to a device's main body, the battery pack supplies electric power for the device's main body through the output terminal, and drives the device's main body. Rechargeable battery packs require an electronic charger for recharging depleted batteries. A battery charger may be configured as internal charger circuit incorporated into the battery-powered appliance. An internal charger typically begins charging the battery whenever the device is powered by an alternating current (AC) source, and allows discharge of the battery when the AC source is removed. Battery packs for use as power sources in laptop computers have a battery charge displaying function and a battery protecting function. Power management systems such as a smart battery system are constituted in which data including the battery voltage and the battery charge are output to PC bodies through communication buses and the PC bodies control the battery packs. A battery pack for supplying a high voltage as high as several hundred volts is comprised of many cells connected in series. This pack is used usually for, for example, a hybrid vehicle, electric vehicle, or fuel battery block electric vehicle in order to reduce the wiring resistance loss and to reduce the size of switching elements. Electric powered and hybrid powered vehicles are becoming more common as alternatives to vehicles powered solely by internal combustion engines. Both electric and hybrid vehicles employ electric drive motors that are powered by an on-board, high voltage DC power supply. This power supply includes a rechargeable battery pack formed of plurality of battery modules connected in a closed series circuit, wherein each of the modules is formed from plurality of individual cells. Such a high voltage battery pack is provided with a voltage detection apparatus that detects the voltage of each cell for capacity calculation and protection of each cell. For further details Click here

Battery Holder

Many types of battery holders are commercially available for standardized battery sizes. A battery holder generally comprises a housing for accommodating a battery (or a plurality of batteries connected in serial and/or parallel), and a negative (-) side contact and a positive (+) side contact arranged in the housing. The battery holder is equipped with positive and negative electrodes that electrically and respectively engage with positive and negative terminals of the battery for routing the electricity from the battery to a power consuming device to which the electrodes of the holder are connected. The negative and positive side contacts are arranged so that they can be brought into contact with a negative (-) and positive (+) electrodes of a battery to extract from these contacts a battery voltage which is then supplied to a load circuit. A battery holder receives and retains a dry battery, such as "A", "AA", "1/2AA", and "AAA" size batteries, comprising a cylindrical body having a first flat end surface, serving as a negative terminal, and a second end surface from which a cylinder concentrically projects, serving as a positive terminal. A battery holder for a mobile phone generally comprises a hollow locating rod raised from the shell thereof, a cylindrical spring member mounted in the hollow locating rod, and lock means supported on the cylindrical spring member and adapted for securing the battery holder to the mobile phone. Battery holders are often lightweight brackets for holding a plurality of batteries in series or in parallel to provide a fixed voltage. In most commercial battery holders, batteries are installed from the sides and retained by resilient electrometric members on the side of the holder. Battery holders for real time clocks in desk top computers is installed on the main or other circuit boards of the computer by terminal tails which are inserted into the circuit boards and soldered to the appropriate electrical circuit of the boards. For further details Click here

Battery Connector

In many applications, batteries are coupled together in series to obtain the desired voltage to provide stand alone or emergency power, or to power electrical devices. Accordingly, many different types of electrical connectors have been developed for interconnecting the terminals of batteries so that the batteries can be electrically coupled together in series to provide the appropriate voltage to power the electrical device. The use of battery terminal connectors for electrically connecting a vehicle storage battery to electronic equipment mounted within the vehicle is well known. Typical connections from the battery to the vehicle electrical system are a pair of cables respectively attached at either a top post connection or a side screw connection. The cable assembly has connectors which clamp to the battery posts, providing an electrical and mechanical connection. Battery connectors are in common use in portable and small electrical apparatus, such as calculators, clocks, wristwatches, hearing aids, IC cards, to provide an electric current to electronic components mounted therein, such as a circuit board, LED, or other electronic devices. Typically, the electrical connection between the battery and the electronic component is made by a pair of stamped and formed metal contacts. Portable electronic products, such as mobile phones, personal digital assistant (PDA), notebook computer and digital camera, use rechargeable batteries. Battery chargers are ordinarily utilized in these products for supplying power. Battery connectors correspondingly serve as media between the electronic products and power. Such a battery connector is generally used by being connected to a subject substrate incorporated in an electronic device mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB). Terminal ends of contact members are exposed from a housing of the battery connector, and soldering portions project there from in flat form. A battery connector used in a cell phone or other portable apparatus typically comprises resilient electrical terminals that protrude beyond a mating face of a housing of the connector within which they are mounted. These terminals are biased into the housing when a battery is mounted in the apparatus and electrically connecting with the battery connector. For further details Click here.