Patent Publication Number: US-2023163603-A1

Title: Battery charging and discharging device for a plurality of individual batteries

Description:
This disclosure is directed toward an apparatus for charging and discharging at least one of a plurality of individual rechargeable batteries, and a method for charging and discharging at least one of a plurality of individual rechargeable batteries. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Military communities are currently in the process of developing Conformal Wearable Batteries (CWB) designed as a safe, flexible and wearable power source to meet current and future needs of armed service members carrying portable/wearable systems, e.g., communication systems and weapons systems, into training and combat theatres. Additionally, not only warfighter-worn CWBs exist in ever increasing number in the field, but also other non-wearable device-specific rechargeable batteries associated with portable and field-operable electronic systems. 
     There exists a need for a portable rechargeable and dischargeable battery device capable of recharging CWB and non-CWB rechargeable batteries in the field using a common power supply and a dense, or high battery count per charging device, charging structure. 
     Additionally, there exists a need for portable in-the-field power that may be supplied by the portable rechargeable and dischargeable battery device when one or more batteries retained in the device are switched to deliver their corresponding battery power, (and may in consonant with battery power from other retained batteries), configured to deliver the consolidated battery power to an internal or an external electrical load. 
     In addition, there exists a need to configure the rechargeable battery charging device to have modular battery storage compartments or bays pre-configured to receive, retain and release any number of rechargeable batteries in any number of predetermined form factors or sizes. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     It should be appreciated that this Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     In one embodiment disclosed herein a battery charging and discharging device includes an enclosure defining an interior compartment, where the enclosure further includes an access opening configured to allow access to the interior compartment, a moveable cover configured to move between a closed position covering the access opening and to prevent access to the interior compartment, and an open position enabling access to the interior compartment, a battery storage compartment disposed within the interior compartment and configured to receive, retain and release a plurality of rechargeable batteries, and a releasable attachment device configured to releasably attach the enclosure to one of a movable object or a stationary fixture. 
     The above embodiment further includes a power management system disposed within the interior compartment further including a plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits each configured to switch between a battery charging mode configured to supply a charging current at a first time to a first rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment, and to provide the charging current at a second time to a second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment, and a battery power supplying mode configured to receive a stored battery power from at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment and configured to deliver the stored battery power to an external electrical load, and a battery charging monitoring circuit configured to monitor at least one battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries under the battery charging mode and provide a charging state visual indicator of the monitored battery charging mode associated with the at least one monitored battery, and to switch at least one of the plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits supplying the charging current between one of the first and the second rechargeable batteries. 
     In another embodiment disclosed herein a battery charging and discharging device includes an enclosure defining an interior compartment, the enclosure further including an access opening configured to allow access to the interior compartment, a moveable cover configured to move between a closed position covering the access opening and to prevent access to the interior compartment, and an open position enabling access to the interior compartment, a battery storage compartment disposed within the interior compartment and configured to receive a first battery storage bay module configured to receive, retain and release a first type of a plurality of rechargeable batteries and to receive a second rechargeable battery storage bay module configured to receive, retain and release a second type of the plurality of rechargeable batteries different from the first type of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and a releasable attachment device configured to releasably attach the enclosure to one of a movable object or a stationary fixture. 
     The above embodiment further includes a power management system disposed within the interior compartment further including a plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits each configured to switch between a battery charging mode configured to supply a charging current at a first time to a first rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment, and to provide the charging current at a second time to a second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment, and a battery power supplying mode configured to receive a stored rechargeable battery power from at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment and configured to deliver the stored rechargeable battery power to an external electrical load, and a battery charging monitoring circuit configured to monitor at least one battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries under the battery charging mode and provide a visual indicator of the monitored battery charging mode associated with the at least one battery, and to switch at least one of the plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits supplying the charging current between one of the first and the second rechargeable batteries. 
     In another embodiment disclosed herein a battery charging and discharging device includes a battery storage compartment configured to receive, retain and release a plurality of rechargeable batteries, and a power management system including a plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits each configured to switch between a battery charging mode configured to supply a charging current at a first time to a first rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment, and to provide the charging current at a second time to a second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment, and a battery power supplying mode configured to receive a stored rechargeable battery power from at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment and configured to deliver the stored rechargeable battery power to an external electrical load, and a battery charging monitoring circuit configured to monitor at least one battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries under the battery charging mode and provide a visual indicator of the monitored battery charging mode associated with the at least one battery, and to switch at least one of the plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits supplying the charging current between one of the first and the second rechargeable batteries. 
     In another embodiment disclosed herein a method of charging and distributing power between a plurality of rechargeable batteries includes providing a battery charging circuit configured to supply a charging current at a first time to a first rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and to provide the charging current at a second time to a second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, supplying the charging current at the first time to the first rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, switching, at the second time, the battery charging circuit to supply the charging current to the second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, providing a battery power supplying circuit configured to receive a stored rechargeable battery power from at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and to deliver the stored rechargeable battery power to an electrical load, and switching between one of supplying the charging current to one of the first rechargeable battery or the second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and receiving the stored battery power from the one of the first rechargeable battery or the second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries to enable delivery of the received stored battery power to the electrical load. 
     In another embodiment disclosed herein a method of charging and distributing power between a plurality of rechargeable batteries connected to a power management circuit includes providing a battery charging circuit configured to be connected to at least two of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, supplying, via the battery charging circuit, a charging current to a first rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, monitoring the first rechargeable battery while receiving the supplied charging current, detecting a charging fault in response to monitoring the first rechargeable battery receiving the supplied charging current, switching, in response to the detected charging fault of the first battery, the battery charging circuit to supply the charging current via to the second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, providing a battery discharge circuit configured to receive a stored rechargeable battery power from at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, detecting a first user input to cause the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries to discharge stored rechargeable battery power to an electrical load, and receiving a second input to cause the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries to receive, via the battery charging circuit, the charging current. 
     In another embodiment disclosed herein a method of charging and distributing power between a plurality of rechargeable batteries connected to a power management circuit includes supplying, via a battery charge and distribution circuit, a charging current to at least one of a plurality of rechargeable batteries, monitoring, via a monitoring circuit, the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries and the battery charge and distribution circuit concurrently with supplying the charging current, and at least one of 1) determining, by the monitoring circuit, a charging fault in the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and based on determining the charging fault in the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, switching the battery charge and distribution circuit to supply the charging current to another one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and 2) determining, by the monitoring circuit, a charging fault in the battery charge and distribution circuit, and based on determining the charging fault in the battery charge and distribution circuit, switching to another battery charge and distribution circuit to supply the charging current to the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries. 
     In another embodiment disclosed herein a method of charging and distributing power between a plurality of rechargeable batteries connected to a power management circuit including receiving, via a battery charge and distribution circuit, a discharge current from at least one of a plurality of rechargeable batteries, monitoring, via a monitoring circuit, the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries and the battery charge and distribution circuit concurrently receiving the discharge current, and at least one of 1) determining, by the monitoring circuit, a discharge fault in the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and based on determining the discharge fault in the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, switching the battery charge and distribution circuit to receive another discharge current from another of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and 2) determining, by the monitoring circuit, a discharge fault in the battery charge and distribution circuit, and based on determining the discharge fault in the battery charge and distribution circuit, switching to another battery charge and distribution circuit to receive the discharge current from the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments will be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, which are not necessarily drawing to scale and in which: 
         FIG.  1 A  illustrates a perspective view of a first embodiment of a battery charging and discharging device; 
         FIG.  1 B  illustrates a front view of the first embodiment of a battery charging and discharging device of  FIG.  1 A ; 
         FIG.  2 A  illustrates a perspective view of the first embodiment of a battery charging and discharging device of  FIGS.  1 A- 1 B  containing a plurality of batteries loaded within an internal compartment of an enclosure of the battery charging and discharging device; 
         FIG.  2 B  illustrates a front view of the first embodiment of a battery charging and discharging device of  FIGS.  1 A- 2 A  containing the plurality of batteries loaded within the internal compartment of the enclosure of the battery charging and discharging device; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates an environmental illustration of the battery charging and discharging device of  FIGS.  1 A- 2 B  containing the plurality of batteries loaded within the internal compartment of the enclosure of the battery charging and discharging device as affixed to an external surface of a moveable vehicle; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of  FIGS.  1 A- 2 B  containing a plurality of battery charging bays configured to store at least two different types of rechargeable batteries within the internal compartment of the enclosure of the battery charging and discharging device; 
         FIG.  5    illustrates a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of  FIG.  4    containing the plurality of battery charging bays configured to store at least two different types of rechargeable batteries within the internal compartment of the enclosure of the battery charging and discharging device; 
         FIG.  6    illustrates a perspective assembly view of the alternative embodiment of  FIGS.  4 - 5    containing the plurality of battery charging bays configured to store at least two different types of rechargeable batteries within the internal compartment of the enclosure of the battery charging and discharging device; 
         FIG.  7    illustrates a schematic diagram of the first and second embodiments of the charging and discharging device of  FIGS.  1 - 6    included an enclosure and at least one battery storage bay module; 
         FIG.  8 A  illustrates a front perspective view of a third embodiment of the charging and discharging device structure including a plurality of batteries stored therein similar to the second embodiment as illustrated in  FIGS.  4 - 6   ; 
         FIG.  8 B  illustrates a rear perspective view of the third embodiment of the charging and discharging device structure of  FIG.  8 A ; 
         FIG.  9    illustrates an environmental illustration of the battery charging and discharging structure of  FIGS.  8 A- 8 B  containing the plurality of batteries as affixed to an interior surface a moveable vehicle where the moveable vehicle similar to the moveable vehicle of  FIG.  3    and illustrating a partial interior view thereof; 
         FIG.  10    illustrates a schematic diagram of the third embodiment of the charging and discharging device of  FIGS.  8 A- 9    included an enclosure and at least one battery storage bay module; 
         FIG.  11    illustrates a schematic diagram of the power management system of the charging and discharging devices of  FIGS.  1 - 10   ; 
         FIG.  12    illustrates a logic flowchart diagram of a method of supplying a charging current to a plurality of batteries by either switching a battery charge/distribution circuit to supply the charging to another rechargeable battery of the plurality of batteries, or switching to another battery charge/distribution circuit to supply the charging current to a rechargeable battery; and 
         FIG.  13    illustrates a logic flowchart diagram of a method of supplying stored battery energy current from at least one battery of a plurality of batteries to an electrical load by either switching from a first battery charge/distribution circuit to another battery charge/distribution circuit, or switching from a first discharging rechargeable battery to another discharging rechargeable battery. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The embodiments describe herein are directed toward a device and methods for charging and discharging a plurality of rechargeable batteries in a dense form factor. The charging and discharging device may be configured to enable bi-directional AC-DC and DC-DC charging and discharging between an electrical source and a plurality of batteries that may include batteries conforming to the standard for Conformable Wearable Batteries (CWB) (MIL-PRF-32383/4A). The bi-directional nature of the power flow may be configured to both charge rechargeable batteries retained in the device or to act as a battery bank and provide stored power from the rechargeable battery array when connected to internal or external electrical loads relative to the charging and discharging device. 
     The charging and discharging device may be generally configured to include a plurality of slots/receptacles to hold rechargeable batteries and provide electrical contacts to interface with the external rechargeable battery contacts configured to both charge and discharge the batteries. 
     The charging and discharging device may be further configured to provide a power management system to support the charging and discharging of any batteries within the enclosure using a charging current type of, e.g., 110 VAC, 220 VAC, 480 VAC, 12 VDC, 24 VDC, 350 VDC nominal, 650 VDC nominal and 800 VDC nominal, wherein the power management system provides universal translation of both input and output power standards/protocols within current armed forces vehicle and power infrastructure fleets. 
     The power management system of the charging and discharging device further includes a cooling system configured to as at least one of an air-to-air heat exchanger, an air-to-liquid heat exchanger, and a heat pump-type refrigerant cooling system. 
     The charging and discharging device may be configured either as a weather-proof enclosure or a structure configured to be mounted within an existing weather-proof enclosure, either mobile or stationary, and may be configured in a size-based modular manner to charge or discharge batteries in a quantity of, e.g., 40-200 rechargeable batteries at a time, whether CWB or non-CWB batteries. 
     The charging and discharging device may be configured to be supported on a locking slide-out rack to maximize a quantity of batteries to be charged when attached, either externally to or internally within a moveable vehicle. The corresponding enclosure and power electronics of the charging and discharging device may also be qualified under MIL-STD  810 G, ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM GUIDELINES. 
     The following disclosure regarding the charging and discharging device and associated methods of operation generally describes the following three State Modes that may be used in combination or in the alternative to the embodiments described herein: a (1) Battery Charge Mode; a (2) Battery Hold or Standby Mode; and a (3) Offboard Power Mode. 
     (1) Battery Charge Mode 
     A Battery Charge Mode, as applied to any of the embodiment described herein, enables electrical power to flow from an external power source to a charging device, e.g., at least one rechargeable battery. The electrical power source may include AC or DC power formats, which within the charging device, may be identified, transformed, rectified and regulated into a predetermined format optimal to provide a charging current to each of the discrete battery charging circuits electrically connected to respective rechargeable batteries. Electrical power, as the charge current, may be supplied from an external power input source after being verified that a completed and safe connection has been made before closing contacts to allow the externally provided power to flow into any of the embodiments of charging device disclosed herein. Once the power management system of the disclosed device determines the incoming power and current type, and that a proper and safe connection has been made, the electrical contacts close and electrical power flows into the device to connected rechargeable batteries. After the power type has been identified, further intelligent circuits may boost, buck, rectify, regulate or otherwise modify the charging current to a predetermined input voltage and current type corresponding to the rechargeable batteries. This intelligent infrastructure selects the most efficient transformation to modify the input power to the desired charge current. 
     The power management system may be comprised of sister nodes operating in parallel under a master-less control algorithm. Each sister node is dedicated to charging either one battery or one array of batteries. Nodes are also capable of charging at least a second battery or at least a second array of batteries. These sister nodes operate in conjunction with each other to both switch between batteries receiving charging current and supplying stored energy and switch between charge and distribution circuits supplying charging current and receiving stored energy. 
     The power management system further determines and regulates a charge rate for each of the plurality of batteries inserted into the charging device under a charging state, (based on an overall level of energy available to the charge device), the quantity of batteries inserted into the charge device, the state of charge of each battery, (i.e., if charged with a low power demand, or uncharged with a high power demand), and the health status of each sister node. 
     The ability for sister nodes to be able to charge more than one battery or more than one array of batteries may be based on monitoring and detecting a failed or compromised performing node and notifying the power management system of the node&#39;s state such that the failed or compromised node may be temporarily or permanently electronically disconnected from the charging and discharging device or from the a local array of batteries with which it may be associated, while a neighboring or associated sister node takes over the charging operation for the failed/compromised battery or node that the initial battery or initial array was associated with. 
     The nodal redundancy prevents aging sister nodes that are working intermittently, inefficiently or not at all from receiving a partial charge from the charge device while the device may be remote from replacement parts and service operations. 
     In such a failed/compromised state, where a sister node has indicated an error in operation, a visual error indication is triggered reflecting the status of the charge device/or the particular node having the failed/compromised state. For example, a visual indication status may depict “still operational, but service soon” level of urgency, or depict a complete failure state. However, the overall capability and performance of the entire charging and discharging device would not be jeopardized in given the failure of a single, or even multiple nodes given the redundant nodal arrangement described above. 
     The relationship of a sister node to a battery within a charge array may be to monitor voltage, current, and power direction. This monitoring may detect spikes in current or voltage, detect under or over voltage/current conditions, and perform a rudimental battery health check, (e.g., in a pre-charging state), on a battery when it is inserted before charging may begin. The monitoring may be used to prevent a failed battery charge event, indicate that a battery cannot be charged due to an internal failure issue, halt charging of a damaged battery based on charging symptoms during a charging process that may not demonstrate any symptoms until the charging process is underway, and other battery charging safety metrics and measures. These results are communicated to an end user of the charge device via a visual indicator/indication that corresponds to each battery in the charge array. 
     (2) Battery Hold/Standby Mode 
     In the Battery Hold/Standby Mode, the charging and discharge device is neither providing nor accepting power where electrical contacts may be in an open state and charge monitoring circuitry may remain in an unpowered state. The Standby Mode may be configured to safely store batteries retained in the charging and discharging device by using energy to monitor them resulting in no reduction of a battery charge. An example of use in the Standby Mode may be where a charging and discharging device having plurality of completely charged rechargeable batteries that may be transported at a supply release point for subsequent retrieval. Continuing this example, the retrieval process might exchange one or more charging and discharging devices of fully charged batteries for a corresponding set of charging and discharging devices containing charge-depleted batteries. 
     (3) Offboard Power Mode 
     In the Offboard Power Mode, the charge device functions very similarly to the reverse of Charging Mode. For example, 1) the desired output power format may be configured/determined, 2) a safe and robust electrical connection has been made and confirmed, 3) the charge device verifies it has enough stored electrical energy to produce the desired output, and 4) contacts to the batteries close, and the charge device functions as a standalone power source. Error detection and safety verification in 2), above, is needed to determine the presence or absence of, e.g., a shorted input, or a scenario where there may not be enough batteries inserted with enough stored energy to effectively provide the requested power output to an electrical load. 
     Sister charge nodes control the power draw from the batteries keeping the current drawn within the safe operational parameters of the rechargeable batteries. Nodes behave again in parallel, with capability to pull power from one another or from another battery array should one battery or a first array of batteries fail or are compromised in performance. Communication may be master-less with the other nodes and the remainder of the intelligent power electronics within the charge device. Nodes feed power to the outbound power electronics which may boost, buck, and invert power to meet the desired output power. 
     A visual indicator may provide the user with a state of charge of the overall charge device. Intelligent outbound current monitoring enables the charge device to prevent an overcurrent condition on its internal hardware and/or the batteries inserted that supply the power. This logic/monitoring tracks at least one of voltage, voltage-sag, current, lead temperatures and may protect the charge device in a fault or overdraw situation. 
       FIG.  1 A  illustrates a perspective view of a first embodiment of a battery charging and discharging device  100 , and  FIG.  1 B  illustrates a front view of the first embodiment of the battery charging and discharging device  100  of  FIG.  1 A . 
     The battery charging and discharging device  100  includes a weather-proof enclosure  110  having an access opening  112  with a weather-seal  114  surrounding the perimeter of the access opening  112 . An interior compartment  116  may be further defined by the battery charging and discharging enclosure  100  configured to house an interior battery storage compartment  118  and an interior battery charging and discharging equipment storage compartment  119 . 
     The interior compartment  116  may be further configured to receive a battery storage bay  120  in at least a portion of the battery storage compartment  118 , wherein the battery storage bay  120  includes a plurality of battery storage bay support members  121  configured to individually receive and retain one or a plurality of rechargeable batteries  150  (later shown in  FIGS.  2 A- 2 B ). 
     The battery storage bay  120  may also include a charging state visual indicator  124  for each battery receptacle for the plurality of batteries that gives an indication of a charging state for an inserted battery, e.g., a Light Emitting Diode (LED) giving a red color for a low charge state, an amber color for an immediate charge state, a green color for a high charge state, and a blinking color for a completed charge state indicator. The charging and discharging device may use the indicator LED&#39;s in additional ways to communicate information to the end user regarding, for example, device performance, energy flow, and error state(s). 
     The battery storage bay  120  may also include a charging/discharging state indicator  126  for each battery receptacle for the plurality of batteries that gives a visual indication, e.g., via an LED, when an inserted battery in a charging mode is being charged or when the battery in a discharge mode is be being discharged to supply power to an internal or an external source. The charging/discharging state indicator  126  may be incorporated into the charging state visual indicator to provide a single indicator element while providing another different color, e.g., blue, to indicate a battery in a discharge state as differentiated from the battery charge state indication. The battery storage bay  120  may also include a charge/discharge state switch  128  that may be user accessible from the access opening  112  to allow a user to select at least one or a plurality of batteries from any batteries retained in the battery charging and discharging enclosure  110  to be in either a charging state or a discharging state. 
     A moveable cover  130  may be configured to move between an open position  132  enabling access to the access opening  112  and the interior compartment  116  therethrough, and a closed position  134  providing a weather-proof sealing of the interior compartment  116  by means of the moveable cover  130  fully engaging the weather-seal  114  around the perimeter of the access opening  112 . 
     The battery charging and discharging enclosure  110  may further include an external electrical connection  180  either attached to or protruding from the enclosure  110  configured to be electrically connected to at least an external power supply  182 , (see  FIGS.  7  and  10   ), and/or to at least one external electrical load  184 , (see  FIGS.  7  and  10   ). The external electrical connection may also include discrete electrical connections for each of the external power supply  182  and the external load  184  as external connection from power supply  180 A and an external connection to load  180 B as depicted in  FIGS.  7  and  10   . 
       FIG.  2 A  illustrates a perspective view and  FIG.  2 B  illustrates a front view of the first embodiment of the battery charging and discharging device  100  of  FIGS.  1 A- 1 B  containing a plurality of batteries  150  loaded within the interior compartment  116  of the enclosure  110  of the battery charging and discharging device  100 . A first rechargeable battery  152  may have a form factor similar to the remaining plurality of rechargeable batteries  150 . The first rechargeable battery  152  may be a type of battery referred to as a Conformable Wearable Battery (CWB) used by armed services members for supplying electrical energy to electrically powered tactical gear and weapon systems. The first rechargeable battery  152  may also include any other individually chargeable battery as differentiated from permanently pre-wired arrays of individual rechargeable batteries often referred to as battery packs. 
       FIG.  3    illustrates an environmental illustration of the battery charging and discharging device  100  of  FIGS.  1 A- 2 B  containing the plurality of batteries  150  loaded within the interior compartment  116  of the enclosure  110 , where the battery charging and discharging device  100  is illustrated as being affixed to an external surface  194  of a moveable vehicle  192  and connected via the external electrical connection  180  of  FIGS.  1 A and  2 A  to at least one of an electrical charging source provided by the moveable vehicle  192  and/or an external electrical load associated with the moveable vehicle  192 . 
     The battery charging and discharging enclosure  100  may be maintained on the external surface  194  of the moveable vehicle  192  by at least one portion of a releasable attachment device  140  affixed to the external surface of the enclosure  110  and a corresponding portion of the releasable attachment device  140  configured to be secured to the external surface  194  of the moveable vehicle  192 . The releasable attachment configuration of the battery charging and discharging enclosure  110  enables the removal of the battery charging and discharging device  100  from an attached object, whether moveable or stationary, to transport the battery charging and discharging device  100  independently to another moveable or stationary device. 
       FIG.  4    illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment from the embodiment disclosed in  FIGS.  1 A- 2 B  of a battery charging and discharging device  200  containing a plurality of battery charging bays  220 ,  222  within the internal compartment  116  of the enclosure  110  of the battery charging and discharging device  200 . The plurality of battery charging bays may include a first battery storage bay  220  having a plurality of battery storage bay support members  221  for receiving, retaining and releasing a first battery type, e.g., a “1U” (one-unit size) type battery form factor, and a second battery storage bay  222  having a plurality of battery storage bay support members  223  for receiving, retaining and releasing a second battery type, e.g., a “2U” (two-unit size) type battery form factor, and/or a third battery type, e.g., a “3U” (three-unit size) type battery form factor. 
       FIG.  5    illustrates a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of  FIG.  4    of the battery charging and discharging device  200  containing the first battery charging bay  220  and the second battery charging bay  222  configured to store at least two different types of rechargeable batteries within the internal compartment  116  of the enclosure of the battery charging and discharging device  200 . The alternative embodiment of the battery charging and discharging device  200  may be configured to store a plurality of a first form factor type of batteries, e.g.,  152  and  154  in the first battery charging bay  220 , and a plurality of a second form factor type of batteries, e.g.,  156 , and a plurality of a third form factor type of batteries, e.g.,  158 , in the second battery charging bay  222 . For example, any number of a single type or a plural types of batteries may be stored in either of the first  220  or second  222  battery charging bays. The purpose of having discrete battery storage charging bays may be to accommodate different needs of the users of the battery charging and discharging device  200 . The ability to change battery charging bays between missions or customers allows the same enclosure  110  to be used but to be tailored to specific battery-type recharging needs. 
       FIG.  6    illustrates a perspective assembly view of the alternative embodiment of  FIGS.  4 - 5    of the battery charging and discharging device  200  containing the plurality of battery charging bays,  220  and  222 , configured to store at least two different types of rechargeable batteries within the interior battery storage compartment  118  of the interior compartment  116  of the enclosure  110  of the battery charging and discharging device  200 . 
     For example, a first rechargeable battery  152  having a first form factor type  153 , e.g., 1U, and a second rechargeable battery  154  having the same first form factor type  153  in addition to a plurality of rechargeable batteries having the first form factor type  153  are inserted into the battery support members  221  of the battery storage bay  220  which may be retained within the interior battery storage compartment  118  of the enclosure  110 . 
     Furthermore, as an exemplary illustration, another form factor rechargeable battery  156  having a second form factor type  157 , e.g., 2U, and a third rechargeable battery  158  having a third form factor type  159  in addition to a plurality of rechargeable batteries having the second and third form factor types are inserted into the battery support members  223  of the battery storage bay  222  which may be retained within the interior battery storage compartment  118  of the enclosure  110 . 
       FIG.  7    illustrates a schematic diagram  700  of the first embodiment of the battery charging and discharging enclosure  100  of  FIGS.  1 A- 3   , and the second embodiment of the charging and discharging enclosure  200  of  FIGS.  4 - 6   , respectively, included in the enclosure  110  and at least one battery storage bay module, e.g., reference numbers  120 , or  220  and  222 . 
     Enclosure  110  includes an access opening  112  having a moveable cover  130  operable to provide a weather-proof seal  114  over the access opening  112  and the interior battery storage compartment  118 . A battery storage bay  120  in the first embodiment, and battery storage bay  220  in the second embodiment include a plurality of batteries  150  that may include a first form factor type  153  of battery, two of those first form factor type of batteries may include a first rechargeable battery  152  and a second rechargeable battery  154 . In the second embodiment, a second battery storage bay  222  may include a plurality of batteries  150  that may include a second form factor type  157  of batteries and may further include a third form factor type  159  of batteries. 
     Each of the battery storage bays as disclosed in the two above embodiments may further include a battery charging state visual indicator  124 , a battery charge/discharge state indicator  126  and battery charge/discharge state switch  128 . 
     The charging device enclosure  110  of the first  100  and second  200  embodiments of the battery charging and discharging devices further include a power management system  160  configured to supply an electrical charging current to at least a portion of each of the plurality of batteries in the battery storage bays  120 ,  220  and  222 , and configured to discharge stored electrical power from at least a portion of each of the plurality of batteries in the battery storage bays  120 ,  220  and  222 . 
     An external power supply  182  may be electrically connected to the charging device enclosure  110  via an electrical connection  180 , which may in the alternative be a discrete power supply electrical connection  180 A, that supplies power to a power/voltage sensing circuit  162 . The power/voltage sensing circuit  170  may receive different current and voltage types, e.g., 110 VAC, 220 VAC, 480 VAC, 12 VDC, 24 VDC, 350 VDC nominal, 650 VDC nominal and 800 VDC nominal, and convert these current and voltage types via the known use of transformers, voltage rectifiers and/or voltage regulators to a predetermined voltage amount and type required to supply a predetermined electrical charging current to any batteries in the battery storage bays  1210 ,  220 ,  222  of the enclosure  110 . 
     The power/voltage sensing circuit  162  may then supply the charging current to the charging supply network/bus  164  that distributes the charging current to each of a plurality of charge/distribution circuits  166  for supplying the charging current via at least one battery electrical connection  167  to each of the plurality of batteries  150  in the enclosure  110  that are selected or switched to be recharged. 
     A charge monitoring circuit  168  monitors each pair of charge/distribution circuit and corresponding battery to determine any battery failure and/or charge/distribution circuit failure during any battery charging or discharging state. The charge monitoring circuit  168  may be connected to the visual charge indicator  124  of each respective battery to visually indicate to an operator the failure or operational status of the respective rechargeable battery and charge/distribution circuit: e.g., a battery failure, a battery charge status, a charge/distribution circuit state status, and a charge/distribution circuit failure. 
     When a particular battery or plurality of batteries has been switched via the charge/discharge switch(es)  128  to discharged stored electrical energy, the charge/discharge control circuit  170  conducts the stored electrical energy to a distribution power network/bus  172  collecting the energy from each charge/distribution circuit  166  to a load supply circuit  174  that may then distribute the discharged stored electrical energy to at least one of an internal electrical load  176 , a cooling system  190  configured to cool the power management system  160 , and/or a master power switch  178 . The master power switch  178  may be engaged only when it may be safe to switch the stored electrical energy to the electrical connection  180  or a dedicated load connection  180 B to an external load  184 . 
     A releasable attachment device  140  may be connected to the enclosure  110  to connect the enclosure  110  to one of a movable object  142  or a stationary object  144 . 
       FIG.  8 A  illustrates a front perspective view of a third embodiment of a charging and discharging device  300  including a plurality of batteries  150  stored therein similar to the second embodiment as illustrated in  FIGS.  4 - 6   . 
     The charging and discharging device  300  includes an external structure  310  that may or may not be completely enclosed for applications not requiring weatherproofing of the plurality of batteries  150  and the power management system  160  from an environment. 
     The alternative embodiment of the battery charging and discharging device  300  may be configured to store a plurality of a first form factor type of batteries, e.g.,  152  and  154  in the first battery charging bay  320 , and a plurality of a second form factor type of batteries, e.g.,  156 , and a plurality of a third form factor type of batteries, e.g.,  158 , in the second battery charging bay  322 , similarly illustrated in  FIGS.  5  and  6   . For example, any number of a single type or a plural types of batteries may be stored in either of the first  320  or second  322  battery charging bays. 
       FIG.  8 B  illustrates a rear perspective view of the third embodiment of the charging and discharging device  300  of  FIG.  8 A  where a rear member  321  of the first battery charging bay  320  may be configured to support a discrete power management system  160  and related components on the back thereof for the plurality of batteries, e.g.,  152 ,  154 , in the battery storage bay  320 . Further, a rear member  323  of the second battery charging bay  322  may be configured to support a corresponding discrete power management system  160  and related components on the back thereof for the plurality of batteries, e.g.,  156 ,  158 , etc., in the battery storage bay  322 . This configuration may be also be applicable for the second embodiment of the battery charging and discharging enclosure  200  as disclosed in  FIGS.  4 - 6   , wherein each battery storage bay may be interchangeably independent from any adjacent battery storage bay during initial assembly and field servicing operations so as to not disrupt the adjacent battery storage bay. 
       FIG.  9    illustrates an environmental illustration of the battery charging and discharging device  300  of  FIGS.  8 A- 8 B  containing a plurality of batteries  150  as affixed to an interior surface  198  of an interior compartment  196  a moveable vehicle  192 , where the moveable vehicle  192  may be similar to the moveable vehicle of  FIG.  3   , where  FIG.  9    illustrates a partial interior view of the moveable vehicle  192  having its exterior body panels, roof and doors removed to more clearly illustrate the disposition of the battery charging and discharging device  300 . 
       FIG.  10    illustrates a schematic diagram  1000  of the third embodiment of the charging and discharging device  300  of  FIGS.  8 A- 9    included a battery storage compartment  118  and at least one battery storage bay module  320  and  322 . 
     The charging and discharging external structure  310  includes the access opening  112  and the interior battery storage compartment  118  similar to the first and second embodiments of  FIGS.  1 A- 6   . A battery storage bay  320  in the third embodiment includes a plurality of batteries  150  that may include a first form factor type  153  of battery, two of those first form factor type of batteries may include a first rechargeable battery  152  and a second rechargeable battery  154 . A second battery storage bay  322  may include a plurality of batteries  150  that may include a second form factor type  157  of batteries and may further include a third form factor type  159  of batteries. The multiple battery storage bay configuration of the third embodiment may be similar to the battery storage bays disclosed in the second embodiment as illustrated in  FIGS.  4 - 6   . 
     Each of the battery storage bays as disclosed in the two above embodiments may further include a battery charging state visual indicator  124 , a battery charge/discharge state indicator  126  and battery charge/discharge state switch  128 . 
     The charging and discharging external structure  310  of the third embodiment of the battery charging and discharging device  300  may further include at least one power management system  160  configured to supply an electrical charging current to at least a portion of each of the plurality of batteries  150  in the battery storage bays  320  and  322 , and configured to discharge stored electrical power from at least a portion of each of the plurality of batteries  150  in the battery storage bays  320  and  322 . 
     An external power supply  182  may be electrically connected to the charging and discharging device external structure  310  via an electrical connection  180 , which may be a discrete power supply electrical connection  180 A, that supplies power to a power/voltage sensing circuit  162 . The power/voltage sensing circuit  162  may receive different current and voltage types, e.g., 110 VAC, 220 VAC, 480 VAC, 12 VDC, 24 VDC, 350 VDC nominal, 650 VDC nominal and 800 VDC nominal, and convert the current and voltage types via the known use of transformers, voltage rectifiers and/or voltage regulators to a predetermined voltage amount and type required to supply a predetermined electrical charging current to any batteries in the battery storage bays  220 ,  222  in the enclosure  310 . 
     The power/voltage sensing circuit  162  may then supply the charging current to the charging supply network/bus  164  that distributes the charging current to each of a plurality of charge/distribution circuits  166  for supplying the charging current via at least one battery electrical connection  167  to each of the plurality of batteries in the external structure  310  that are selected or switched to be recharged. 
     A charge monitoring circuit  168  monitors each pair of charge/distribution circuit and corresponding battery to determine any battery or circuit failure or compromise in performance during a battery charging or discharging mode. The charge monitoring circuit  168  may be connected to the visual charge indicator  124  of each respective battery to visually indicate to an operator the failure or operational status of the respective rechargeable battery and charge/distribution circuit: e.g., a battery failure, a battery charge status, a charge/distribution circuit state status, and a charge/distribution circuit failure. 
     When a particular battery or plurality of batteries has been switched via the charge/discharge switch(es)  128  to discharged stored electrical energy, the charge/discharge control circuit  170  conducts the stored electrical energy to a distribution power network/bus  172  collecting the received battery energy from each charge/distribution circuit  166  to a load supply circuit  174  that may then distribute the discharged stored electrical energy to at least one of an internal electrical load  176 , a cooling system  190  configured to cool the power management system  160 , and/or a master power switch  178 . The master power switch  178  may be engaged only when a determination is made it is safe to switch the stored electrical energy to the electrical connection  180  or in the alternative a dedicated load connection  180 B to an external load  184 . 
     A releasable attachment device  140 , (as exemplary illustrated in  FIG.  3   ), may be connected to the external structure  310  configured to be connected to and removably attached to one of a movable object  142  or a stationary object  144 . 
       FIG.  11    illustrates a schematic diagram  1100  of the power management system  160  of the charging and discharging device embodiments  100 ,  200  and  300  as illustrated in  FIGS.  1 - 10   . 
     The power management system  160  may receive electrical power from an external power supply  182  via an electrical connection  180 , or a dedicated electrical connection  180 A, to a power/voltage sensing circuit  162  configured to convert a voltage amount and power type, (i.e., AC or DC), into a predetermined voltage output and power type required for recharging the plurality of batteries  150  in the charging and discharging enclosure  100 ,  200  or structure  300 . 
     The power/voltage sensing circuit  162  feeds the converted voltage and power type output to a charging supply network/bus  164  that distributes the electrical current to respective battery charge/discharge state switches  128  associated with each of a plurality of charge/distribution circuits  166 . The charge/discharge state switches  128  are controlled by a charge/discharge control circuit  170  configured to independently control each of the charge/discharge state switches  128  to either distribute an electrical current to a respective charge/distribution circuit  166 , or route stored electrical energy from a rechargeable battery via a respective charge/distribution circuit  166  to an electrical load. 
     Each charge/distribution circuit  166  includes at least two battery node connections, for example, a first battery node connection  167 A, and a second battery node connection  167 B. An alternate embodiment may provide for more the two battery node connections from a single charge/distribution circuit  166  where each of the more than two battery node connections are electrically connected to discrete rechargeable batteries in the battery storage bay(s), e.g.,  120 ,  220 ,  222 ,  320 , and  322 . 
     Each of the battery node electrical connections, e.g.,  167 A and  167 B, of each battery charge and distribution circuit  166  are connected to a battery node switch  169  controlled by a monitoring circuit  168 . The monitoring circuit  168  may be additionally connected to each of the battery node electrical connections configured to monitor both the rechargeable battery  150  and the associated charge/distribution circuit  166  to which it may be electrically connected to. 
     The monitoring circuit  168  monitors the rechargeable battery  150  to determine at least a charging or discharging state of the battery, a charging status of the battery, e.g., low, medium, high, and completed charging, and at least one of a battery health, a battery overload or a battery fault state. The monitoring circuit  168  may be further connected to a battery charging state visual indicator  124  and a battery charging/discharging state indicator  126  for each rechargeable battery  150  to provide a visual indication of a status of the monitored conditions. In an alternative embodiment, the battery charging state visual indicator  124  and the battery charging/discharging state indicator  126  may be consolidated to multipurpose single visual indicator that may be configured to visually differentiate each of the monitored conditions or operational modes to a user, e.g., via a multi-colored LED displaying a plurality of condition indicating colors in combination with further condition indicating pulsing or flashing colored LED displays. 
     The monitoring circuit  168  additionally monitors the charge/distribution circuit  166  at each of the battery node connections, e.g.,  167 A and  167 B, to determine the presence of and/or any discrepancies in the output charging current being output to the rechargeable batteries  150 , and to determine the presence and quality of any discharge current being received from the rechargeable batteries  150 . 
     The monitoring circuit  168 , based on detecting any anomaly in either a rechargeable battery  150  or within the charge/distribution circuit  166  itself, may cause an associated battery node switch  169  to connect to one or another of the battery node connections, e.g.,  167 A and  167 B, between the charge/distribution circuit  166  and one or another of the rechargeable batteries  150 . For example, if a fault is detected by the monitoring circuit  168  in charge/distribution circuit  166 C such that the charge/distribution circuit  166 C must be taken off-line, the monitoring circuit  168  may control the corresponding battery node switch  169  to switch a supplied charging current to rechargeable battery  150 B from charge/distribution circuit  166 B and begin supplying rechargeable battery  150 C via its second battery node connection, similar to battery node connection  167 B for charge/distribution circuit  166 C. 
     In a similar manner, if the monitoring circuit  168  detects that a rechargeable battery  150  has completed its charging routine and no longer needs any charging current, the monitoring circuit  168  may route the power via the battery nodes switches  169  to supply an available charging current via an available charge/distribution circuit  166 . For example, if rechargeable battery  150 Z has completed its charging cycle, then the battery node switch  169  associated with the charge/distribution circuit  166 Z may be switched so that the charging current may be supplied to rechargeable battery  150 A. Coincidently with the activation of the battery node switch  169  associated with the charge/distribution circuit  166 Z to accomplish this power redistribution, a plurality of battery nodes switches  169  may be simultaneously switched to index the recharging current from respective charge/distribution circuits  166  to rechargeable batteries determined by the monitoring circuit  168  to still be in a battery recharging cycle/state. 
     A charge/discharge control circuit  170  may be connected to battery charge/discharge state switches  128  for each combination of charge/distribution circuit  166  and respective rechargeable battery  150 . These charge/discharge state switches may be physically accessible to a user for each of the plurality of batteries on the enclosure  110  or external structure  310 , and may also be controlled by the charge/discharge control circuit  170  to allow for automatic selection and activation of each battery charge/discharge state switch  128 . 
     When the battery charge/discharge state switch  128  may be switched to supply electrical energy from one or more respective rechargeable batteries  150  through respective charge/distribution circuits  166 , the electrical energy may be supplied to the distribution power network/bus  172  and routed to a load supply circuit  174 . The load supply circuit  174 , as illustrated in  FIGS.  7  and  10   , may supply the received electrical energy to any internal electrical load  176 , e.g., a cooling system  190 , and/or supply the electrical energy through a master power switch  178  via an electrical connection  180 , e.g., a discrete external connection  180 A, to an external load  184 . The master power switch  178  may be a user operated switch that may only be operable when the monitoring circuit  168  has determined the electrical energy supplied by the respective rechargeable batteries may be compatible with and sufficient for the electrical demand of the external load. 
       FIG.  12    illustrates a logic flowchart diagram of a method  1200  of supplying a charging current to a plurality of batteries by either switching a battery charge/distribution circuit to supply the charging to another rechargeable battery of the plurality of batteries, or switching to another battery charge/distribution circuit to supply the charging current to a rechargeable battery. 
     The method starts with supplying, via the battery charging/distribution circuit, a charging current to a rechargeable battery of a plurality of rechargeable batteries  1202 . The method further includes monitoring the rechargeable battery and corresponding battery charge/distribution circuit while supplying charging current  1204 . The monitoring provides a charge monitoring indicator  1206  to a visual indicator device. 
     The method further includes determining if an input has been received to switch from a battery recharging mode to a battery discharging mode  1208 . If no battery discharging mode switch input has been received, then the method determines if a charging fault on either the monitored rechargeable battery and/or the corresponding battery charge/distribution circuit has been detected  1210 . If no charging fault has been detected for the monitored rechargeable battery and the corresponding battery charge/distribution circuit, the method reverts to the monitoring step at reference number  1204 . 
     If a charging fault has been detected for the monitored rechargeable battery and/or the corresponding battery charge/distribution circuit, the method provides a fault indicator  1212  at a visual indicator device. If a charging fault has been determined to be in battery, the method includes switching the battery charge/distribution circuit to supply the charging current to another rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries  1214 . Or in the alternative, if a charging fault has been determined to be in the battery charge/distribution circuit, the method includes switching to another battery charge/distribution circuit to supply the charging current to the rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries  1214 . Thereafter, the method reverts to the monitoring step at reference number  1204 . 
     If at the method step  1208  it has been determining that an input has been received to switch from a battery recharging mode to a battery discharging mode, the method provides a discharge indicator  1216  to a visual indicator device. The method further includes delivering stored battery power to the battery charging/distribution circuit configured to be delivered to an electrical load  1218 . 
     The method further includes determining if an input has been received to switch to a charging mode  1220 . If no such input to switch to the charging mode has been received  1220 , the method reverts to the method of delivering stored battery power  1218 . If such input to switch to the charging mode has been received  1220 , the method reverts to the method of supplying a charging current to a rechargeable battery of step  1202 . 
       FIG.  13    illustrates a logic flowchart diagram of a method  1300  of supplying stored battery energy current from at least one battery of a plurality of batteries to an electrical load by either switching from a first battery charge/distribution circuit to another battery charge/distribution circuit, or switching from a first discharging rechargeable battery to another discharging rechargeable battery. 
     The method starts with receiving, via a battery charging/distribution circuit, a discharge current from a rechargeable battery of a plurality of rechargeable batteries  1302 . The method further includes monitoring the rechargeable battery and corresponding battery charge/distribution circuit while receiving the discharge current  1304 . The monitoring provides a discharge monitoring indicator  1306  to a visual indicator device. 
     The method further includes determining if an input has been received to switch from a battery discharging mode to a battery charging mode  1308 . If no battery charging mode switch input has been received, then the method determines if a discharging fault on either the monitored rechargeable battery and/or the corresponding battery charge/distribution circuit has been detected  1310 . If no discharge fault has been detected for the monitored rechargeable battery and the corresponding battery charge/distribution circuit, the method reverts to the monitoring step at reference number  1304 . 
     If a discharge fault has been detected for the monitored rechargeable battery and/or the corresponding battery charge/distribution circuit, the method provides a discharge fault indicator  1312  at a visual indicator device. If the discharge fault has been determined to be in the battery, the method includes switching the battery charge/distribution circuit to distribute the discharging current from another rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries  1314 . Or in the alternative, if discharging fault has been determined to be in the battery charge/distribution circuit, the method includes switching to another battery charge/distribution circuit to receive the discharging current from the rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries  1314 . Thereafter, the method reverts to the monitoring step at reference number  1304 . 
     If at the method step  1308 , it has been determining that an input has been received to switch from a battery discharging mode to a battery charging mode, the method provides a discharge indicator  1316  to a visual indicator device. The method further includes delivering a charging current via the battery charging/distribution circuit configured to be delivered to the rechargeable battery  1318 . 
     The method further includes determining if an input has been received to switch to a discharging mode  1320 . If no such input to switch to the discharging mode has been received  1320 , the method reverts to the method of delivering a recharging current to the rechargeable battery  1318 . If such input to switch to the discharging mode has been received  1320 , the method reverts to the method of receiving a discharging current from at least one rechargeable battery of step  1302 . 
     A further embodiment of a battery charging and discharging device include includes an enclosure defining an interior compartment, where the enclosure further includes an access opening configured to allow access to the interior compartment, a moveable cover configured to move between a closed position covering the access opening and to prevent access to the interior compartment, and an open position enabling access to the interior compartment, a battery storage compartment disposed within the interior compartment and configured to receive, retain and release a plurality of rechargeable batteries, and a releasable attachment device configured to releasably attach the enclosure to one of a movable object or a stationary fixture. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further includes a power management system disposed within the interior compartment further including a plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits each configured to switch between a battery charging mode configured to supply a charging current at a first time to a first rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment, and to provide the charging current at a second time to a second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment, and a battery power supplying mode configured to receive a stored battery power from at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment and configured to deliver the stored battery power to an external electrical load, and a battery charging monitoring circuit configured to monitor at least one battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries under the battery charging mode and provide a charging state visual indicator of the monitored battery charging mode associated with the at least one monitored battery, and to switch at least one of the plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits supplying the charging current between one of the first and the second rechargeable batteries. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further includes the enclosure being configured to environmentally seal the interior compartment, and where the moveable cover may be configured to maintain the environmentally sealed interior compartment when the moveable cover may be in the closed position covering the access opening. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further includes the enclosure including a structural frame, and at least one removable panel configured to be attached to a portion of the structural frame. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further including the at least one removeable panel may be further comprised of a replaceable ballistic projectile resistant panel. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further includes the at least one removeable panel further including a spall liner configured to cover a portion of the interior compartment and configured to impede ballistic projectile fragments. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further including where the battery storage compartment further includes a retaining device configured to retain at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries within the battery storage compartment. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further including the retaining device configured to retain at least two of the plurality of rechargeable batteries within the battery storage compartment. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further including the retaining device includes the moveable cover configured to retain that at least two of the plurality of rechargeable batteries within the battery storage compartment when the moveable cover in the in closed position. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further including at least one of the plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits being further configured to provide a charging state visual indicator during the battery charging mode for at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further including each of the plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits may be configured to switch between the first and second rechargeable batteries of the plurality of rechargeable batteries to supply the charging current based on detecting a fault in at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further includes at least one of the plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits may be further configured to allow a selection between the battery charging mode and the battery power supplying mode for at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further includes at least one of the battery charge and distribution circuits may be further configured to provide a battery mode visual indicator corresponding to one of the battery charge mode and the battery power supply mode. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further including a power/voltage sensing circuit configured to sense an input power level from an external electrical source on an electrical connection and convert the input power level to a line charging level configured to provide the charging current compatible with at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further including an electrical connection configured to provide an electrically conductive path between the power management system and at least one of an external electrical source or an external electrical load. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further including the electrical connection includes a first electrically conductive path configured to receive an input power from the external electrical source, and a second electrically conductive path configured to output the stored rechargeable battery power to the external electrical load. 
     Another embodiment of a battery charging and discharging device includes an enclosure defining an interior compartment, the enclosure further comprising an access opening configured to allow access to the interior compartment, a moveable cover configured to move between a closed position covering the access opening and to prevent access to the interior compartment, and an open position enabling access to the interior compartment, a battery storage compartment disposed within the interior compartment and configured to receive a first battery storage bay module configured to receive, retain and release a first type of a plurality of rechargeable batteries and to receive a second rechargeable battery storage bay module configured to receive, retain and release a second type of the plurality of rechargeable batteries different from the first type of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and a releasable attachment device configured to releasably attach the enclosure to one of a movable object or a stationary fixture. 
     The embodiment of a battery charging and discharging device further includes a power management system disposed within the interior compartment further including a plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits each configured to switch between a battery charging mode configured to supply a charging current at a first time to a first rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment, and to provide the charging current at a second time to a second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment, and a battery power supplying mode configured to receive a stored rechargeable battery power from at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment and configured to deliver the stored rechargeable battery power to an external electrical load, and a battery charging monitoring circuit configured to monitor at least one battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries under the battery charging mode and provide a visual indicator of the monitored battery charging mode associated with the at least one battery, and to switch at least one of the plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits supplying the charging current between one of the first and the second rechargeable batteries. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further includes each of the plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits may be configured to switch between the first and second rechargeable batteries of the plurality of rechargeable batteries to supply the charging current based on detecting a fault in at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further includes at least one of the plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits may be further configured to allow a selection between the battery charging mode and the battery power supplying mode for at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further includes at least one of the battery charge and distribution circuits may be further configured to provide a battery mode visual indicator corresponding to one of the battery charge mode and the battery power supply mode. 
     Another embodiment of a battery charging and discharging device includes a battery storage compartment configured to receive, retain and release a plurality of rechargeable batteries, and a power management system including a plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits each configured to switch between a battery charging mode configured to supply a charging current at a first time to a first rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment, and to provide the charging current at a second time to a second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment, and a battery power supplying mode configured to receive a stored rechargeable battery power from at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment and configured to deliver the stored rechargeable battery power to an external electrical load, and a battery charging monitoring circuit configured to monitor at least one battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries under the battery charging mode and provide a visual indicator of the monitored battery charging mode associated with the at least one battery, and to switch at least one of the plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits supplying the charging current between one of the first and the second rechargeable batteries. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further includes the battery storage compartment may be configured to receive a first battery storage bay module configured to receive, retain and release a first type of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and to receive a second battery storage bay module configured to receive, retain and release a second type of the plurality of rechargeable batteries different from the first type of the plurality of rechargeable batteries. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further includes each of the plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits may be configured to switch between the first and second rechargeable batteries of the plurality of rechargeable batteries to supply the charging current based on detecting a fault in at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further includes at least one of the plurality of battery charge and distribution circuits may be further configured to allow a selection between the battery charging mode and the battery power supplying mode for at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries retained in the battery storage compartment. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further includes at least one of the battery charge and distribution circuits may be further configured to provide a battery mode visual indicator corresponding to one of the battery charge mode and the battery power supply mode. 
     The battery charging and discharging device further includes a releasable attachment device configured to releasably attach the battery charging and discharging device to one of a movable object or a stationary fixture. 
     Another embodiment of a method of charging and distributing power between a plurality of rechargeable batteries includes providing a battery charging circuit configured to supply a charging current at a first time to a first rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and to provide the charging current at a second time to a second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, supplying the charging current at the first time to the first rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, switching, at the second time, the battery charging circuit to supply the charging current to the second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, providing a battery power supplying circuit configured to receive a stored rechargeable battery power from at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and to deliver the stored rechargeable battery power to an electrical load; and switching between one of supplying the charging current to one of the first rechargeable battery or the second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and receiving the stored battery power from the one of the first rechargeable battery or the second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries to enable delivery of the received stored battery power to the electrical load. 
     The method further includes monitoring at least one of the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries while supplying the charging current, and providing, based on the monitoring, a charging state visual indicator of the at least one of the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries. 
     The method further includes monitoring at least one of the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries while supplying the charging current, detecting a fault when supplying the charging current to one of the first rechargeable battery or the second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, wherein the switching the battery charging circuit to supply the charging current to the other of the first rechargeable battery or the second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries may be responsive to the detected fault. 
     The method further includes providing a battery mode visual indicator configured to identify when at least one battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries may be one of being supplied with the charging current or delivering the stored battery power to the electrical load. 
     The method further includes providing a power/voltage sensing circuit configured to sense an input power level from an external electrical source on an electrical connection, and to convert the input power level to a line charging level configured to provide the charging current compatible with at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries. 
     The method further includes providing a first rechargeable battery storage bay module configured to receive, retain and release a first type of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and providing a second rechargeable battery storage bay module configured to receive, retain and release a second type of the plurality of rechargeable batteries different from the first type of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, wherein the first and second rechargeable battery storage bay modules are configured to at least one of connect with the battery charging circuit and the battery power supplying circuit, or incorporate a respective battery charging circuit and a battery power supplying circuit. 
     Another embodiment of a method of charging and distributing power between a plurality of rechargeable batteries connected to a power management circuit includes providing a battery charging circuit configured to be connected to at least two of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, supplying, via the battery charging circuit, a charging current to a first rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, monitoring the first rechargeable battery while receiving the supplied charging current, detecting a charging fault in response to monitoring the first rechargeable battery receiving the supplied charging current, switching, in response to the detected charging fault of the first battery, the battery charging circuit to supply the charging current via to the second rechargeable battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, providing a battery discharge circuit configured to receive a stored rechargeable battery power from at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, detecting a first user input to cause the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries to discharge stored rechargeable battery power to an electrical load, and receiving a second input to cause the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries to receive, via the battery charging circuit, the charging current. 
     The method of charging and distributing power further includes receiving each individual battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries independently of one another when connecting to the power management circuit, retaining each individual battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries when connected to the power management circuit, wherein each individual battery of the retained plurality of rechargeable batteries are configured to be supplied with the charging current and are configured to discharge a stored power therefrom independently of one another, and releasing each individual battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries independently of one another when disconnecting from the power management circuit. 
     The method of charging and distributing power further including connecting the battery charging circuit to more than two of the plurality of rechargeable batteries. 
     The method of charging and distributing power further includes distributing the stored rechargeable battery power from the at one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries to the electrical load. 
     The method of charging and distributing power further including receiving the stored rechargeable battery power from at least two of the plurality of rechargeable batteries and distributing the stored rechargeable battery power from the at least two of the plurality of rechargeable batteries to the electrical load. 
     The method of charging and distributing power further including detecting the first user input causes at least two of the plurality of rechargeable batteries to discharge stored rechargeable battery power to the electrical load. 
     The method of charging and distributing power further including detecting the first user input includes detecting a plurality number of user inputs corresponding to a respective plural number of the plurality of rechargeable batteries. 
     The method of charging and distributing power further including providing the charging current to one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries at a first time and discharging the stored rechargeable power from another one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries during the same first time. 
     Another embodiment of a method of charging and distributing power between a plurality of rechargeable batteries connected to a power management circuit includes supplying, via a battery charge and distribution circuit, a charging current to at least one of a plurality of rechargeable batteries, and monitoring, via a monitoring circuit, the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries and the battery charge and distribution circuit concurrently with supplying the charging current. 
     The method further includes at least one of determining, by the monitoring circuit, a charging fault in the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and based on determining the charging fault in the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, switching the battery charge and distribution circuit to supply the charging current to another one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and determining, by the monitoring circuit, a charging fault in the battery charge and distribution circuit, and based on determining the charging fault in the battery charge and distribution circuit, switching to another battery charge and distribution circuit to supply the charging current to the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries. 
     The method of charging and distributing power further includes providing a charge monitoring indicator to an indication device, the charge monitoring indicator configured to represent at least one of a state of charge indication and a fault indication of one of the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries and the battery charge and distribution circuit. 
     The method of charging and distributing power further includes determining if an input has been received configured to stop the supplying of charging current to the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries and to switch to receiving a distribution current from the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries. 
     Another embodiment of a method of charging and distributing power between a plurality of rechargeable batteries connected to a power management circuit includes receiving, via a battery charge and distribution circuit, a discharge current from at least one of a plurality of rechargeable batteries, and monitoring, via a monitoring circuit, the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries and the battery charge and distribution circuit concurrently receiving the discharge current. and 
     The method of charging and distributing power further includes at least one of determining, by the monitoring circuit, a discharge fault in the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and based on determining the discharge fault in the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, switching the battery charge and distribution circuit to receive another discharge current from another of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, and determining, by the monitoring circuit, a discharge fault in the battery charge and distribution circuit, and based on determining the discharge fault in the battery charge and distribution circuit, switching to another battery charge and distribution circuit to receive the discharge current from the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries. 
     The method of charging and distributing power further includes providing a discharge monitoring indicator to an indication device, the discharge monitoring indicator configured to represent at least one of a state of discharge indication and a discharge fault indication of one of the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries and the battery charge and distribution circuit. 
     The method of charging and distributing power further includes determining if an input has been received configured to stop the supplying of discharging current from the at least one of the plurality of rechargeable batteries and to switch to providing a charging current to the at least one of the plurality of batteries. 
     The embodiments disclosed herein provide a portable charging and discharge battery device configured to charge CWB and non-CWB rechargeable batteries in the field using a common power supply in a dense, or high battery count per charging device, charging structure that may be weather-proof and securely and removably attached to a stationary or movable object. 
     Additionally, the embodiments disclosed herein provide for portable in-the-field power that may be supplied by the portable charging and discharge battery device when one or more batteries retained in the device are switched to deliver their corresponding battery power, and may in consonant with battery power from other retained batteries, be configured to deliver the consolidated battery power to an internal or an external electrical load. 
     Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed herein provide a rechargeable battery charging device to have modular battery storage compartments or bays pre-configured to receive, retain and release any number of rechargeable batteries in any number of predetermined form factors or sizes. 
     The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific arrangements and configurations. However, the illustrative examples provided herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit embodiments of the disclosed subject matter to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the disclosure provided herein. The embodiments and arrangements were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and their practical applications. Various modifications may be used without departing from the scope or content of the disclosure and claims presented herein.