Abstract:
This invention provides a device having a simple structure for measuring and displaying the remaining charge of a rechargeable or secondary cell accurately and quickly, and a method of measuring and displaying the remaining charges of a secondary cell. The device (1) comprises power feed means (6); cell holding means (7); terminal voltage measurement means (8); sampling means (9) for measuring the terminal voltage of the cell (2) while the power feed means (6) supplies a current to the cell; memory means (10) for storing a lookup table (100) representing a relationship between a specific zone group which is inherent to the kind of each of the cells (2) the remaining charge of which is to be measured, and is divided to represent the individual charges in the cell; arithmetic means (11) for sequentially comparing the measured voltage value with each specific voltage region of the lookup table and judging the residual capacity of the cell; and display means (5) responding to the output of the arithmetic means (11).
Abstract:
Program code is modified to execute correctly only when code and data memory accesses/fetches are synchronised, i.e. data and code accesses/fetches are routed to identical physical addresses in computer memory. This indirectly defeats the MMU attack, in which code and data memory accesses/fetches to the same logical address are routed to different physical addresses. The program code is modified such that one or more sections of the code ("repair targets") are deliberately broken so that the program code will not execute correctly, the repair targets being replaced at run time with correct code before the repair targets are executed.
Abstract:
A vacuum cleaner has a hose and wand assembly, onto which a floor tool may be attached. Power and signals are transmitted down electrical conductors in the hose. In order to permit free movement of the hose, the hose is divided into portions (2a, 2b) having a joint (17) therebetween. Conductors of one hose portion terminate in contact arms (19, 20, 21) in the joint (17). The contact arms are in sliding intimate contact with slip rings (22, 23, 24). The slip rings are connected to conductors of the other hose portion. Thus, the hose portions (2a, 2b) may rotate relative to one another without causing damage to the electrical connection along the hose.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a system for measuring the level of granular material in a container immersed in an aqueous medium, particularly, but not exclusively, for use as a measure of sanitizer level in spa and whirlpool halogenation systems. Electrodes fixed in the container wall are used to measure the electrical conductance along a path which is part filled with the granular material. Coils of wire are arranged such that the interrogating signal is coupled inductively to the sensor head. In this way the granule container can be made demountable, with no bare conductor material exposed to the aqueous medium. A separate reference circuit is used to measure the conductivity of the water in the system, and this signal is used to normalize the signal obtained from inside the container.
Abstract:
An electric vehicle power supply having first and second battery cell groups (24, 26) electrically connected in parallel with one another. Each battery cell group contains a plurality of electrically series-connected battery cell sub-groups (24: 30, 32, 34, 36; 26: 40, 42, 44, 46). Each battery cell sub-group contains a plurality of electrically parallel- connected battery cells (30: 30A, 30B; 32: 32A, 32B; 34: 34A, 34B; 36: 36A, 36B; 40: 40A, 40B; 42: 42A, 42B; 44: 44A, 44B; 46: 46A, 46B). Each battery cell group operates independently of the others, facilitating continued vehicle operation notwithstanding a failure of one or more of the other battery cell groups.
Abstract:
To provide a single universal charging apparatus, capable of charging at high speed and efficiency any type of secondary battery, and capable of charging secondary batteries at any arbitrary charging rate. In selecting the arbitrary amount of current from low current to high current while charging a variety of secondary batteries, the voltage and temperature of the battery are monitored, so that either at the point at which the rate of rise of the temperature of the battery exhibits an increase over the immediately previous rate of rise that exceeds a given reference value, or at the point at which the difference in change of battery voltage is decreased continuously for a preestablished amount of time, the charging of the battery is stopped.
Abstract:
A fan assembly (200) for generating an air flow within a room includes an impeller (22) and a motor (26) for driving the impeller to draw an air flow into the fan assembly, and a casing having a continuous interior passage (202) with a tangential air inlet (204) through which the air flow enters the interior passage and at least one air outlet (208) for emitting at least a portion of the air flow. The casing defines a bore (222) about which the interior passage (202) extends and through which air from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the air emitted from said at least one air outlet (208).
Abstract:
A fan assembly for generating an air flow within a room includes an impeller and a motor for driving the impeller to draw an air flow into the fan assembly, and a casing having a continuous interior passage with a tangential air inlet through which the air flow enters the interior passage and at least one air outlet for emitting at least a portion of the air flow. The casing defines a bore about which the interior passage extends and through which air from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the air emitted from said at least one air outlet.
Abstract:
A fan assembly for generating an air flow within a room includes an annular casing which defines an interior passage. The interior passage includes an air inlet, and houses, downstream from the air inlet, an impeller and a motor for driving the impeller to draw an air flow through the air inlet and into the fan assembly. The interior passage also has an air outlet from which at least a portion of the air flow is emitted from the fan assembly. The annular casing defines a bore about which the interior passage extends and through which a secondary air flow from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the air emitted from the air outlet.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a battery thermal management system for maintaining the temperature of a battery pack in a hybrid vehicle below a maximum operating temperature threshold. The system comprises a battery pack having a plurality of electronically linked cells and a supply air diffuser having a pattern of openings therein for diffusing exhausted air at a substantially uniform flow throughout the battery pack. The system further comprises sensors for monitoring the temperature of at least a portion of the cells, a fan comprising an inlet through which air is drawn in and an outlet in communication with at least the supply air diffuser, for exhausting air into the first diffuser to lower the temperature of the battery pack, and an electronic control unit in communication with the sensors and the fan for controlling operation of the fan based on temperature signals received from the sensors to maintain the temperature of the battery pack below a maximum operating temperature.