VST Charger 500 - The first Smart Charger for Apple's new Intelligent Batteries. Includes EMMpathy™, VST's smart-battery diagnostic that fixes smart batteries !
CONCORD, MA--- September 30, 1994 --- VST Power Systems shipped this week the VST Charger 500, a smart-charger for the Apple PowerBook 520, 520c, 540 and 540c intelligent batteries. The VST Charger 500 ships with EMMpathy™, VST's new smart-battery diagnostic that allows users to detect and correct corruption of a smart-battery's internal memory. The VST Charger 500, the only external charger available, not only implements the required Apple protocols for smart batteries, but also detects and corrects any problems with the battery, ensuring proper operation. The VST Charger 500 performs a test and full calibration on every charge or recondition cycle.
EMMpathy™ Smart-Battery Diagnostic Software
Each Apple smart battery contains an internal Energy Monitoring Module (EMM) that controls all charging and discharging criteria. EMMpathy, written by Billy Steinberg, detects and corrects memory corruption errors in the EMM which can occur if smart batteries are left for long periods in a discharged state. These errors render the battery unusable, and unchargeable in the PowerBook. EMMpathy performs a complete check of all internal memory. If invalid data is detected, a new Apple standard table is downloaded to the smart-battery. The VST Charger 500 and EMMpathy provide a quick, easy and complete remedy to users experiencing problems with existing smart batteries. As an InterNet user, you can download EMMpathy from one of the usual Mac ftp sites. This is a full featured copy of EMMpathy, not a demo or "lite" version.
Features
The VST Charger 500 "smart-charges" two intelligent batteries simultaneously in about an hour. Real time indication is provided for percent of charge, charge mode, discharge/recondition and recalibration. Any errors are reported immediately to the user, and include communication errors, charge errors, discharge errors and internal memory errors. The VST Charger 500 automatically fixes all internal battery errors, and EMMpathy fixes all memory corruption errors. Over-temperature detection and shut down is automatic, as well as automatic recalibration on recharge.
Technology
The VST Charger 500 uses an embedded microcontroller which communications with both batteries simultaneously. The microcontroller also manages all charging, discharging, reconditioning, error detection and correction, and error alerts. It also performs a thorough self test of all on-board electronics, power devices, safety devices and memory on each power up.
The special pricing that follows is available only to InterNet users for a limited time, and includes several new PowerBook 500 series compatible accessories!
