Patents Examined by Duc M Pham
  • Patent number: 11465513
    Abstract: A power distribution unit includes a housing, a main contactor in a main cavity of the housing, and a pre-charge assembly in a secondary cavity of the housing. The main contactor includes first and second fixed contacts and a movable contact configured to electrically connect the first and second fixed contacts in a mated position. The main contactor includes a coil assembly energized to move the movable contact. The pre-charge assembly includes a pre-charge resistor and a pre-charge switch coupled to the pre-charge resistor. The power distribution unit includes a controller received in the housing. The controller includes a main contactor driver for powering the main contactor and a pre-charge driver for powering the pre-charge switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventors: Roger Lee Thrush, William A. Russell, Jr., Pedram Gharghabi, Amadeu Luiz Fazani Cavallieri, Albert Yong Lee, Dinesh L. Hemnani, Bruce Toepfer
  • Patent number: 11465530
    Abstract: A battery regenerative strength control method for an electric vehicle is provided. The method includes: in an initial stage, gradually adjusting a current regenerative strength; in a real-time adjustment stage, dynamically adjusting the current regenerative strength; calculating a corrected regenerative strength according to a historical data when a current time point reaches at least one correction check point; and comparing the corrected regenerative strength with the current regenerative strength to decide whether to update the current regenerative strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: ACER INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Chin-Yi Tsai
  • Patent number: 11453290
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices of an electrical vehicle are provided that recognize a catastrophic power system fault with one or more drive power sources of the vehicle and in response driving to an identified safe ejection location, ejecting the faulty drive power sources, and driving to a safe parked location or outside a predetermined safe range. Upon reaching the safe ejection location, the driver or vehicle can evaluate the location using imaging sensors to determine whether the location is free of objects, animals, or people. If not, the vehicle may autonomously drive or be driven to another safe ejection location. After detecting and prior to ejecting the faulty drive power sources, the vehicle may send warning messages, including information about the power system fault, to at least one device or third party. After ejection, the vehicle may be driven to a safe parked location or outside a predetermined safe range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: NIO Technology (Anhui) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Adam H. Ing
  • Patent number: 11451073
    Abstract: A control arrangement for a high-voltage battery in a motor vehicle, encompasses at least a high-voltage battery having an electric first connection in order to provide a first supply voltage for a motor vehicle as well as a control unit for the high-voltage battery which, in the control arrangement of the motor vehicle, is connected exclusively to the high-voltage battery via an electric second connection in order to provide a second supply voltage for the control unit, whereby the second connection comprises a switching element that can be switched by the control unit in order to establish and disconnect the second connection. Moreover, a method for operating a control arrangement for a high-voltage battery in a motor vehicle is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Florian Quantmeyer, Florian Kühnlenz
  • Patent number: 11447026
    Abstract: A charging system for a vehicle and a battery charging stop method thereof may provide a charging system for a vehicle and a battery charging stop method thereof, which may stop the charging of a battery upon failure of a current sensor applied to a three-phase coils of a motor configured for driving a vehicle, preventing the occurrence of the torque caused by operation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Sang Kyu Lee, Jin Gyu Lim, Seung Myun Chung
  • Patent number: 11451085
    Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system or other power system includes a primary power source and a fuel cell and battery system as a backup power source. The fuel cell and battery backup system(s) are integrated into the primary power source to reduce the required power components and to provide high-quality power conditioning for the UPS system. A control system receives and analyzes data from the primary power source, as well as from the fuel cell and battery backup systems, to perform advanced power management and sharing, manage transitions, export power to the grid, and manage boil-off losses at the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Suresh Baddam Reddy, David Michael Milam
  • Patent number: 11444482
    Abstract: An electromagnetic contactor (15) is connected between an AC power supply (1) and a load (18), and is turned on during bypass power feeding. A control device (20) turns on a switch (14) and turns off the electromagnetic contactor (15) when an inverter (10) has a failure during inverter power feeding. The electromagnetic contactor (15) is turned on when a contact is closed by excitation of a coil according to a control signal from the control device (20). The electromagnetic contactor (15) has a manual switch that can close the contact by being pressed from outside. An uninterruptible power supply device (100) includes a pressing force applying mechanism (22, 26, 27) that applies a pressing force to the manual switch, and a control circuit (24, 28) that operates the pressing force applying mechanism when there occurs a failure that the electromagnetic contactor (15) cannot be turned on regardless of the control signal from the control device (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroki Shigeta
  • Patent number: 11413971
    Abstract: Provided are a power supply circuit and a motor control device configured to suppress complexity in management of the power supply circuit. A switching unit acquires identification information that is information corresponding to a type of a torque sensor. Based on the acquired identification information, the switching unit outputs either a reference voltage or a power supply voltage as a standard voltage. A voltage application unit applies to the torque sensor an operation voltage in accordance with a type of the torque sensor based on the power supply voltage or the reference voltage that is the standard voltage of the voltage application unit and that is applied by the switching unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Kozuka, Masato Oda
  • Patent number: 11404902
    Abstract: A converter assembly including a source connection system including a primary source connection, and a plurality of secondary source connections, a load connection system including a load connection, a secondary source bus bar system, a switch system including a plurality of switch units each connected electrically between a corresponding secondary source connection and the secondary source bus bar system, and at least one converter module including a DC link and a secondary source side converter. Each switch unit of the switch system includes a first switch and a second switch connected in parallel, wherein the first switch has a higher switching speed than the second switch, and the second switch has a lower conduction losses than the first switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventor: Esa-Kai Paatero
  • Patent number: 11404874
    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: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Ergotron, Inc.
    Inventor: William Dale Tischer
  • Patent number: 11398793
    Abstract: An electric traction machine, a motor vehicle, and a method for controlling dissipated heat in the electrical power plant of the motor vehicle are described herein. The power plant is supplied with a current, where, in order to provide a predetermined amount of dissipated heat, a ratio between a field-forming and a torque-forming current deviating from an optimum ratio for a respective operating point of the power plant is prescribed. The predetermined dissipated heat is provided by a power plant embodied as a magnet-less three-phase alternator while a rotor current flowing through a rotor of the three-phase alternator is adjusted, the field-forming and the torque-forming currents being prescribed such that acoustic interference signals of the three-phase alternator are minimized by the ratio, and the rotor current is adjusted such that the predetermined dissipated heat is provided by a combination of the rotor current and the ratio minimizing the interference signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Daniel Engelhardt, Jovan Knezevic, Hajo Meinert, Thomas Prosser
  • Patent number: 11390136
    Abstract: An air conditioning system, a vehicle and a method of controlling the vehicle with a vehicle air conditioning system are provided. The vehicle air conditioning system has a refrigeration circuit having a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator in sequential fluid communication, with a valve assembly and a battery chiller positioned for parallel flow with the evaporator. A cooling circuit in the vehicle has a chiller. A controller is configured to, in response to a temperature of the evaporator being less than a first predetermined value and the compressor operating at a predetermined speed, open the valve assembly to divert a portion of refrigerant through the chiller and away from the evaporator. The refrigerant may be diverted, for example, to raise the temperature of the evaporator and/or prevent cycling of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mary Bellino, Nicholas David Moore, Joseph George, Rohan Shrivastava
  • Patent number: 11368041
    Abstract: If a wire is broken at a connecting portion 5a, the connection with a positive electrode wiring 4a is broken and a second discharge circuit 11 is lost. However, a first discharge resistor 6 is connected to a positive electrode wiring 4a, and a first discharge circuit 9 is maintained. If a wire is broken at a connecting portion 5b, the connection with a negative electrode wiring 4b is broken and the second discharge circuit 11 is lost. However, the switching element 7 is connected to the negative electrode wiring 4b via a board wiring 3 and a relay wiring 21, and the first discharge circuit 9 is maintained. If a wire is broken at a connecting portion 5c, the connection with the first discharge resistor 6 is broken and the first discharge circuit 9 is lost, but the second discharge circuit 11 is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Funazaki, Ryosuke Yokoyama, Shinichirou Hida
  • Patent number: 11362596
    Abstract: In a system and method for operating a system having a rectifier which is suppliable from an electric AC-voltage supply network, an inverter which feeds an electric motor, and a DC/DC converter which is connected to an energy accumulator, the DC-voltage side connection of the inverter is connected to the DC-voltage side connection of the rectifier, in particular, the electric motor is supplied from the AC-voltage side connection of the inverter, a first DC-voltage side connection of the DC/DC converter is connected to the DC-voltage side connection of the rectifier, in particular, the DC-voltage side connection of the inverter and the first DC-voltage side connection of the DC/DC converter are connected in parallel, the DC/DC converter has a housing in which a device for current acquisition is situated, which acquires either the current, in particular network phase currents, flowing into the rectifier at the AC-voltage side connection of the rectifier, or the current emerging from the rectifier at the DC-volt
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Josef Schmidt, Matthias Hauck, Jochen Weber
  • Patent number: 11362597
    Abstract: The present power control device includes an inverter, a step-up/down converter, a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a control device. The step-up/down converter includes an upper arm and a lower arm that are switching elements, and a reactor that has a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the first capacitor, and the second end being connected between the upper arm and the lower arm. The control device is configured to fix the lower arm in an off state and control the upper arm such that the upper arm switches at a predetermined duty ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobukatsu Yamaguchi, Yuta Nakamura, Takami Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11355903
    Abstract: A distributed energy resources compartment for an electrical panel is pre-wired for installation of a photovoltaic system for a residence. The compartment is mounted on a back plate in the interior of an electrical cabinet. A pre-wired connection within the compartment is configured to connect to a solar circuit breaker within the electrical cabinet, connected as a back-feed circuit breaker to an electrical panel. An opening on a backside of the compartment adjacent to the back plate of the electrical cabinet, is configured to receive connections within the compartment from a solar inverter, through the back plate of the electrical cabinet when the solar inverter is mounted to the back plate of the electrical cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Phillips
  • Patent number: 11342785
    Abstract: There are provided a power supplying system, an electronic apparatus, and a power supplying method capable of surely preventing an abnormal end even in a case where supply of external power is disconnected in an apparatus having no battery with a valid voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Fuyuhiko Maeda
  • Patent number: 11342791
    Abstract: Electrochromic windows powered by wireless power transmission and powering other devices by wireless power transmission are described along with wireless power transmission networks that incorporate these electrochromic windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert T. Rozbicki, Dhairya Shrivastava, Erich R. Klawuhn, Stephen Clark Brown, Yuyang Ying
  • Patent number: 11336115
    Abstract: An apparatus provides homeowner selectable full or partial back-up power of a residential photovoltaic system to power critical loads during a utility power outage. A single split-bus electrical panel with a first panel section supplies utility power to non-critical loads and a second panel section supplies photovoltaic power to critical loads. A mechanical interlock in contact with interlocked circuit breakers of the first panel, prevents them from both being simultaneously on. A patch panel associated with the split-bus electrical panel enables an installer to selectively connect factory installed connections to either: connect the second panel section to utility power via a microgrid interconnection device when the second panel section is at least partially powered by back-up photovoltaic power, or connect the first panel section through one of the interlocked circuit breakers to utility power via the microgrid interconnection device to provide both panel sections with full back-up photovoltaic power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Phillips
  • Patent number: 11329499
    Abstract: A power system including a battery, a first port, a first converter, a second port, a second converter, a switch, a power controller, and a control unit is provided. The first port is electrically connected to the battery through a first charging/discharging path. The second port is electrically connected to the battery through a second charging/discharging path and is electrically connected to the first port through a third charging/discharging path. The first converter and the second converter are disposed on the first charging/discharging path and the second charging/discharging path respectively. The switch is disposed on the third charging/discharging path. The power controller is electrically connected to the first port and the second port for forming a power transmission mode with an external device. The control unit is configured to control the first converter, the second converter, and the switch according to the power transmission mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Chia-Yu Liu, Yii-Lin Wu, Kian-Ming Chee, Kai-Chun Liang