Bi-directional charging/integrated power management unit

A method of charging a plurality of media enhanced shopping carts, comprising:

• providing a conductive charge plate on a cart that is electrically coupled to a battery affixed to the cart, the battery operable to power one or more media enhancements of the cart;
• providing a charging unit comprising a conductive charge rail electrically coupled to a power supply and a cart guiding segment comprising one or more guide grooves for positioning the cart in the modular charging unit;
• positioning the cart in the guide grooves such that the conductive charge plate of the cart is in contact with the conductive charge rail of the modular charging unit;
• forming an electrical connection between the conductive charge plate of the cart and the conductive charge rail;
• determining at least one of voltage and temperature, and based on at least one of voltage and temperature, calculating a charging algorithm by which to conduct current through the charge rails;
• detecting a direction of the cart in the charging unit;
• and
• based on the direction of the cart in the charging unit, supplying current from the power supply through the conductive charge rail and the conductive charge plate of the cart, thereby charging the battery of the cart in a bi-directional fashion.

A method of charging a plurality of media enhanced shopping carts, comprising:

• providing a conductive charge plate on a cart that is electrically coupled to a battery affixed to the cart, the battery operable to power one or more media enhancements of the cart;
• providing a charging unit comprising a conductive charge rail electrically coupled to a power supply and a cart guiding segment comprising one or more guide grooves for positioning the cart in the modular charging unit;
• positioning the cart in the guide grooves such that the conductive charge plate of the cart is in contact with the conductive charge rail of the modular charging unit;
• forming an electrical connection between the conductive charge plate of the cart and the conductive charge rail;
• detecting a direction of the cart in the charging unit;
• based on the direction of the cart in the charging unit, supplying current from the power supply through the conductive charge rail and the conductive charge plate of the cart, thereby charging the battery of the cart in a bi-directional fashion;
• and
• detecting an error condition, and upon detection of an error condition, initiating remedial action.