Patents Examined by Duc M Pham
  • Patent number: 11964570
    Abstract: In a method for operating an electric vehicle, including an electrical drive device for driving the vehicle, a control device for controlling the driving of the vehicle, a first energy storage device for supplying the control device with a first DC voltage, a second energy storage device for supplying the drive device with a second DC voltage, and an energy supply unit providing an output DC voltage, the first energy storage device is connected to the energy supply unit via a converter device, the second energy storage device is connected to the energy supply unit, the converter device converts the output DC voltage into the first DC voltage, a first power flow from the first energy storage device to the second energy storage device is prevented and a second power flow from the second energy storage device to the first energy storage device is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jens Schäfer, Jan Becker, Gero Bockelmann, Matthias Hauck, Christian Schumann, Josef Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11962230
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling a DCDC converter, used for a hybrid electric vehicle and relating to the technical field of vehicle control. The method comprises: according to an output end current limit value and an actual voltage value, acquiring a first preset value corresponding to an input end power; according to the maximum discharge power of a high-voltage battery and the actual discharge power of an electric motor, acquiring a second preset value corresponding to the input end power; and determining the minimum value in the first preset value and the second preset value as an input end target power limit value. Multiple combination working conditions of sufficient or insufficient power sources at the input end are considered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: GREAT WALL MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Zhaolue Sun, Zepeng Li, Chao Qian, Haijun Song
  • Patent number: 11952132
    Abstract: A supplementary function module is for vehicles for the supplementation of a function module supplied with electrical power via a power supply bus. The supplementary function module is configured to be supplied with electrical power via the power supply bus. The supplementary function module has a controller configured to detect a voltage in the power supply bus, and to deactivate the supplementary function module based upon a first predefined voltage variation being detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: LUFTHANSA TECHNIK AG
    Inventor: Pawel Piotrowski
  • Patent number: 11950642
    Abstract: An article of apparel, system, and methods optionally include a textile material, a mobile device holder, coupled to the textile material, configured to secure a mobile device with respect to the article of apparel, and an electrical system. The electrical system includes an antenna, configured to communicatively couple with a primary antenna of the mobile device, positioned in relation to the holder, a power supply, coupled to the antenna, configured to output power based on a current as generated in the antenna when communicatively coupled with the primary antenna, a controller, coupled to the power supply, operable based on the power as output by the power supply, and a sensor, coupled to the textile material, communicatively coupled to the controller via a conductor, configured to detect a sensor condition and output a sensor signal when powered by the power output by the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikram Malhotra, Holli Pheil, Summer L. Schneider
  • Patent number: 11951841
    Abstract: Disclosed is an eco-friendly vehicle capable of conveniently canceling a protection mode when the protection mode is entered due to a voltage drop of a low-voltage battery, and a power management method therefor. A power management method for an electrified vehicle may comprise controlling, by a power management controller, an out-vehicle switch from a first mode for changing a locked state to a second mode for battery reset when there is a request for entry into a protection mode for a low-voltage battery from a BMS, and entering the protection mode when the out-vehicle switch is changed to the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Hui Un Son
  • Patent number: 11951855
    Abstract: A powertrain for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle applications with integrated three-phase AC charging featuring buck-boost operation and optional vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capability, along with corresponding methods and machine instruction sets for switch control. The powertrain can include of a three-phase current source converter (CSC) front-end with an associated input filter, a polarity inversion module, and in an embodiment, a dual-inverter motor drive. The dual-inverter drive is the source of both the back emf and requisite DC inductance for the CSC. A compact design is thus provided as no additional magnetics are required and the on-board cooling system required for traction mode can be re-deployed for charging and V2G mode. The powertrain is mode shifted between charging and V2G mode through an optional polarity inversion module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO ELEAPPOWER LTD.
    Inventors: Peter Lehn, Philippe Gray
  • Patent number: 11938828
    Abstract: Controlling the operation of one or more components in an electric vehicle, including: receiving, from one or more vehicle operation sensors, operation data including sensor data corresponding to a condition of one or more components of the vehicle; determining, using a trained model, whether the one or more components of the vehicle are operating in an acceptable manner; and generating a control signal to adjust operation of the one or more components of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SPARKCOGNITION, INC.
    Inventor: Syed Mohammad Amir Husain
  • Patent number: 11936220
    Abstract: Embodiments of this application provide an energy storage device and system as well as a power system, and relate to the technical field of a power grid. The energy storage device includes: at least two parallel-connected energy storage units, where each energy storage unit includes: a battery cluster and a power conversion system; and the battery cluster includes at least two cells; a direct-current side of the power conversion system is electrically connected to the battery cluster, an alternating-current side of the power conversion system is configured to electrically connect to an input side of an alternating-current combiner cabinet, and an output side of the alternating-current combiner cabinet is configured to electrically connect to an alternating-current side of a transformer. The energy storage device is configured to improve safety and reliability of the energy storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Chenling Zheng, Yanhua Lu, Jinbo Cai, Bingtuan Luo
  • Patent number: 11919420
    Abstract: A power supply system includes: an inter-load switch including a first switch and a second switch connected in series, a voltage generation unit, an electric storage device connected between the first switch and the second switch, a first state control unit configured to select a first state in which power is supplied from at least one of the voltage generation unit or the electric storage device to a first load and a second load, and a second state control unit configured to, when determining that a failure has occurred, select a second state in which power is supplied from the electric storage device to a load on a side of a no-failure-occurrence system in which no failure has occurred, by turning off a switch on a side of a failure-occurrence system in which a failure has occurred and turning on a switch on a side of the no-failure-occurrence system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsuo Morita
  • Patent number: 11912214
    Abstract: A wiring module includes a flexible substrate, a sensor component (temperature sensor), a connecting member (bus bar), and a holding part-equipped relay member, wherein the holding part-equipped relay member includes: a relay member main body including a base part (first main plate) that is to be fixed to the flexible substrate and the bus bar, and a holding part (first holding piece) that is continuous with the first main plate; a pedestal part (housing) that is to be held by the first holding piece so as to be displaceable in a direction toward or away from the first main plate, and that is to be fixed to a position of the flexible substrate where the temperature sensor is mounted; and a biasing member that has elastic force, that has one end held by the first main plate, and that biases the housing in the direction away from the first main plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Matsumura, Shinichi Takase, Hiroki Shimoda, Hideo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11897343
    Abstract: In earth leakage detection device, one end of coupling capacitor is connected to a current path of power storage unit connected to load in a state of being insulated from the ground. Voltage output unit generates a periodically changing periodic voltage, and applies the periodic voltage to the other end of coupling capacitor via first resistor. Second resistor and third resistor are connected in series between a node between coupling capacitor and first resistor and a predetermined fixed potential. Voltage measurement unit measures a voltage at a voltage dividing point between second resistor and third resistor. Earth leakage determination unit determines presence or absence of an earth leakage between the current path of power storage unit and the ground based on the measured voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masato Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11888398
    Abstract: A power conversion system for mobile power generation and support is configured to be adaptable to different, time-varying mission requirements, system statuses, environmental contexts, and for different power sources and power loads. Adaptability includes real-time, on-the-fly adaptation from DC-to-AC, AC-to-DC, AC-to-AC, and DC-to-DC conversion; adaptations from buck conversion to boost conversation; and from current source conversion mode to voltage source conversion mode. In an embodiment, individual internal power stages for one or more power electronics building blocks are equipped with multiple internal current routing switches/contactors. Current flow may be dynamically re-routed along different current paths associated with an H-bridge of each power stage. Alternative current routings allow for the introduction or removal of inductors at critical points along the current path. Such on-the-fly current rerouting, at the power transistor level, enables the adaptability of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited
    Inventors: Zhi Zhou, Steven Mankevich
  • Patent number: 11888439
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for determining a characteristic curve for a photovoltaic (PV) string of a photovoltaic system having an inverter which is connected to the photovoltaic string and to a power supply network. The photovoltaic string includes a series connection of a plurality of photovoltaic modules, in which series connection at least one of the photovoltaic modules is integrated into the series connection of the photovoltaic modules via a DC/DC converter. The at least one DC/DC converter operates the photovoltaic module assigned thereto in a first operating mode M1 at a maximum power point by varying, over time, a conversion ratio of output voltage (UOut) to input voltage (UIn), and operates the photovoltaic module in a second operating mode M2 with a conversion ratio of output voltage (UOut) to input voltage (UIn) that is constant over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Michael Viotto, Markus Hopf, Bernhard Schropp
  • Patent number: 11888314
    Abstract: Techniques for distributing electrical power to a plurality of electrical loads can include coupling an existing group of electrical loads to a common power source through a load management system, measuring an aggregate group current drawn by at least the existing group of electrical loads and comparing the measured aggregate group current to an aggregate group current threshold value. When the measured aggregate group current exceeds the aggregate group current threshold value, increase a number of subgroups of the existing group, using subgroups that are formed without requiring information about individual current associated with the individual electrical loads, sequentially apply power to individual subgroups during non-overlapping time periods, sequentially measure at least a corresponding current drawn by the individual subgroups while power is applied to the subgroups, and sequentially comparing the measured current to a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Ergotron, Inc.
    Inventor: William Dale Tischer
  • Patent number: 11881742
    Abstract: Electrical systems for providing uninterruptible power to a critical load. One electrical system includes a ring bus, multiple power blocks including one or more generators electrically coupled to the ring bus, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) electrically coupled to the ring bus. In some aspects, the electrical system includes a UPS switchgear electrically coupled between the ring bus and the UPSs. In other aspects, the UPSs are electrically coupled together in parallel. Another electrical system includes a utility switchgear, UPS blocks electrically coupled together in parallel and electrically coupled to the utility switchgear via transformers, low voltage (LV) power blocks electrically coupled to the UPS blocks, and medium voltage (MV) switchgear electrically coupled to the UPS blocks via transformers. Each of the LV power blocks include one or more generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: INERTECH IP LLC
    Inventors: Jakob Carnemark, Robert S. Stone
  • Patent number: 11881788
    Abstract: In a DC/DC converter, in first power transmission in which power is transmitted from a first DC power source to a second DC power source, on/off drive of a positive electrode-side switching element and a negative electrode-side switching element is stopped in a third bridge circuit on the power-receiving side. When a power transmission amount by the first power transmission is smaller than a first reference value, a control circuit lowers the switching frequency of the switching elements of a first bridge circuit and a second bridge circuit on the power-transmitting side and a fourth bridge circuit on the power-receiving side, compared with when the power transmission amount is equal to or greater than the first reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Itogawa, Yu Kawai, Takeshi Amimoto, Yusuke Higaki, Tomoaki Kimura
  • Patent number: 11870365
    Abstract: An AC generation circuit is attached to a secondary battery, and includes a circuit configured to generate an alternating current at both ends of the secondary battery, a current limiting element connected between a positive electrode side of the circuit and a positive element of the secondary battery and/or between a negative electrode side of the circuit and a negative electrode of the secondary battery, and a capacitor connected in parallel to the current limiting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasumichi Onuki
  • Patent number: 11865933
    Abstract: An energy conversion device is provided, including a motor coil (11), a bridge arm converter (12), and a bidirectional bridge arm (13). The bridge arm converter (12) is connected to the motor coil (11) and the bidirectional bridge arm (13). The motor coil (11), the bridge arm converter (12), and the bidirectional bridge arm (13) are all connected to an external charging port (10). Both the bridge arm converter (12) and the bidirectional bridge arm (13) are connected to an external battery 200. The motor coil (11), the bridge arm converter (12), and the external charging port (10) form a DC charging circuit for charging the external battery 200. The motor coil (11), the bridge arm converter (12), the bidirectional bridge arm (13), and the external charging port (10) form an AC charging circuit for charging the external battery (200). The motor coil (11), the bridge arm converter (12), and the external battery (200) form a motor drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Jingcui Teng, Yu Liu, Shulin Liang, Chao Wang, Hongbin Luo
  • Patent number: 11865925
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an electric energy store (1), to an electric energy store (1), and to a device, having an electric energy storage module (18), a switch unit (4), and a first and second connection (5, 7). The method has the following steps which follow one another chronologically: in a first step, a signal of a sensor of the electric energy store (1) is evaluated; in a second step, a critical state of the electric energy store (1) is ascertained; in a third step, an electrically conductive connection between the electric energy storage module (18) and the first and second connection (5, 7) is interrupted in the charge direction by means of the switch unit (4), while simultaneously the electrically conductive connection between the electric energy storage module (18) and the first and second connection (5, 7) remains connected in the discharge direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Weber, Joerg Schneider, Peter Kohn, Sabine Arnold, Thomas Barabas
  • Patent number: 11863059
    Abstract: A “Versatile Power Stack Unit” (VPSU) for controlling electrical devices such as motors for electric vehicles is disclosed. The VPSU uses a DC/DC buck-boost converter that generates output voltage. By varying the voltage according to need, the system can maintain a Pulse-Width Modulation duty cycle of 50% without introducing any ripple current or voltage into the batteries or system, while minimizing losses due to internal resistance. Any number of VPSUs can be connected one to the other in order to provide the voltage and current needed to power the electrical device. Not only does the VPSU minimize ripple current and losses due to internal resistance, but it enables recharging at low voltage and according to the needs of small numbers of batteries with minimal temperature rise during the charging, thereby extending battery lifetime and improving battery performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: REDLER TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventor: Yesaiahu Redler