Patents Examined by Jared Fureman
  • Patent number: 11876462
    Abstract: A method for storing new harvestable energy with excess or unutilized energy includes providing an object configured to be transitioned between at least a depleted energy state and a stored energy state. Obtained excess or unutilized energy which is utilized to transition the object to the stored energy state. At least a portion of this stored energy is harvested for use when the object is released from the stored energy state and transitions towards the depleted energy state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: KEY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: George Eckerdt
  • Patent number: 11876467
    Abstract: An inverter is electrically connected between a traction battery and a switch bank. The inverter includes a plurality of pairs of series connected power semiconductor devices. Each of the pairs is electrically connected in parallel with the traction battery to define a phase leg, and each of the power semiconductor devices has a body diode in parallel therewith. The inverter also includes a plurality of diodes connected in parallel with the power semiconductor devices such that only one of the power semiconductor devices of each of the pairs has one of the diodes connected in parallel therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kun Zhuge, Baoming Ge, Lihua Chen
  • Patent number: 11876508
    Abstract: A switch device includes a switching element that connects/disconnects a current path from a power supply terminal to a ground terminal via a load, and an overcurrent protection circuit that limits output current flowing in the switching element to be an overcurrent limit value or less. When an output short circuit of the load is detected, the overcurrent protection circuit decreases the overcurrent limit value to be lower as a power supply voltage is higher. In addition, the switch device preferably includes a switching element that connects/disconnects a current path from a power supply terminal to a ground terminal via a load, an intermittent control unit that intermittently drives the switching element when an abnormality is detected, and an output voltage monitoring portion that disables the intermittent control unit until an output voltage applied to the load reaches its target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Takuma
  • Patent number: 11876400
    Abstract: A backup power-supply device including a control unit is provided. In a case where a main power supply is normal when an ignition is turned on, the control unit controls to turn on or off a charging circuit to charge a capacitor from the main power supply so that a voltage of the capacitor becomes constant at a target voltage and turns off the discharging circuit to stop discharging from the capacitor to a first electronic device. In a case where an abnormality occurs in the main power supply when the ignition is turned on, the control unit turns off the charging circuit to stop charging from the main power supply to the capacitor and turns on the discharging circuit to perform discharging from the capacitor to the first electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Kazumi
  • Patent number: 11876365
    Abstract: A switching module a method for connecting a load to a DC network are disclosed. The switching module includes a first module connection, a second module connection, a third module connection, a first electronic switch connected between the first module connection and the second module connection, and a second electronic switch connected between the second module connection and the third module connection. The two electronic switches are connected in anti-series between the first module connection and the third module connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Karsten Handt
  • Patent number: 11876387
    Abstract: A power transmitter for wireless power transfer includes a control and communications unit configured to provide power control signals to a power supply external to the power transmitter for controlling a power level of a power signal configured for transmission to a power receiver, the power supply configured to configure a direct current (DC) power based on the power control signals. The power transmitter further includes an inverter circuit configured to receive the DC power from the power supply external to the power transmitter and convert the input power to a power signal. The power transmitter further includes a coil formed of wound Litz wire and including at least one layer, the coil defining, at least, a top face and shielding comprising a ferrite core and defining a cavity, the cavity configured such that the ferrite core substantially surrounds all but the top face of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: NuCurrent, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Green, Andrew Kovacs, Mark Melone, Md Nazmul Alam
  • 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: 11870244
    Abstract: A CMTI circuit includes a first detector that receives one or more output signals from an oscillator and a first enable signal and generates a first detection signal when the received output signals are determined to be substantially not oscillating at a first time. The CMTI circuit further includes a first activation signal generator that generates a first activation signal in response to the first detection signal to resume oscillation of the output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Wookang Jin
  • Patent number: 11865934
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the technical field of vehicles, and provides an electric vehicle and an integrated controller and an integrated control system therefor. The integrated controller includes: a first control chip, including a first core and a second core, where the first core is configured to control an electronic control module to drive a motor, and the second core is used as a vehicle controller; and a second control chip, configured to control an on-board charging module, so that an external AC power supply realizes AC charging for a power battery, or the power battery realizes AC discharging to an external load through an AC charging and discharging port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Caifang Guo, Pengfei Yao, Axi Qi
  • Patent number: 11870335
    Abstract: A wireless power transfer (WPT) system regulation method and system for implementing zero voltage switching (ZVS) in a wide power range are provided. The method includes: determining, according to a topology structure of a WPT system and based on a linear state equation, a phase -shift angle boundary and a switching frequency boundary of an inverter that meet ZVS; fixing a switching frequency at a resonance frequency of the WPT system, and determining, in a phase -shift manner, a phase-shift range and a corresponding first voltage output range for implementing ZVS; determining a frequency variation range of a frequency modulation method; determining an optimal switching frequency based on corresponding switching frequencies and phase-shift angles that meet ZVS at different expected output voltages of the WPT system; determining a second voltage output range for implementing ZVS at the optimal switching frequency; and regulating the WPT system by using different regulation methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Beijing Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Junjun Deng, Zhenpo Wang, Na Fu, Shuo Wang
  • 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: 11870238
    Abstract: A protection apparatus includes an interface, a protection switch, a direct current bus, and a controller. The apparatus is connected to at least two photovoltaic units via the interface, the at least two photovoltaic units are coupled to the direct current bus inside the apparatus to form at least two branches, and each branch is connected to at least one photovoltaic unit. The protection switch is configured to disconnect all or some of the photovoltaic units from the direct current bus, to enable a maximum of three photovoltaic units to be directly connected in parallel. According to the apparatus, a photovoltaic unit and a line are protected with a low power loss when a photovoltaic power generation system is faulty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Huawei Digital Power Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiufeng Zhang, Yanzhong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11870298
    Abstract: A traffic signal back-up system assembly is provided for supplying traffic signals and other traffic control devices with electrical energy if the primary supply of electrical energy from the utility company is interrupted or disconnected. With the use of a lithium-ion battery bank, this assembly can store enough electrical energy to power a traffic signal for several days without restoration of the primary source of electrical energy. This assembly can be installed inside, on, or apart from the traffic signal control box as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: VIRIDI PARENTE, INC.
    Inventors: Noah Podolefsky, Benjamin Lombardi
  • 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: 11862416
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hybrid DC circuit breaker, wherein the hybrid DC circuit breaker comprises: a mechanical switch connected in a first current branch; and a semiconductor switch and a forced resonant injection circuit connected in a second current branch, wherein the forced resonant injection circuit comprises a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the forced resonant injection circuit is connected to one end of the semiconductor switch, and the second terminal of the forced resonant injection circuit and the other end of the semiconductor switch are connected to two ends of the mechanical switch; wherein, when the mechanical switch is in a process of switching off, the semiconductor switch is controlled to be switched on, and at the same time the forced resonant injection circuit is controlled to inject to the mechanical switch a gradually increasing injection current in a direction opposite to that of a current in the mechanical switch, so that the current in the mechan
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Eaton Electrical Ltd.
    Inventor: Martin Bernardus Johannes Leusenkamp
  • Patent number: 11858354
    Abstract: An emergency disconnect circuit for use with a high-voltage (HV) bus of a battery electric system, e.g., aboard a mobile system, includes a pyrotechnic switch and a manual switch. The pyrotechnic switch configured irreversibly opens in response to an electronic triggering signal to disconnect an HV battery pack from the HV bus in a first manner. The manual switch is arranged on a low-voltage (LV) bus in series with and between the pyrotechnic switch and an LV power supply. Transition of the manual switch from an open position to a closed position connects the LV power supply to the pyrotechnic switch. This causes the LV power supply to discharge the triggering signal to the pyrotechnic switch. When used aboard a mobile system, an electronic monitoring unit generates the triggering signal in a second manner in response to a threshold impact event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Li-Pen John Ho, Calvin Goodman, Rajesh Nagappala
  • Patent number: 11862959
    Abstract: A system includes a first USB Type-C Power Delivery (USB-C/PD) port and a control circuit operatively coupled to the first USB-C/PD port. The control circuit is configured to determine whether a short circuit condition has occurred based on a first threshold voltage. The control circuit is also configured to turn off a ground isolation switch when short circuit condition occurs. The control circuit is further configured to determine a whether a voltage on a ground line is less than a second threshold voltage. The control circuit is further configured to turn on the ground isolation switch when the voltage on the ground line is less than the second threshold voltage. The control circuit may perform one or more error recovery operations after turning on the ground isolation switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Arun Khamesra, Hariom Rai, Pulkit Shah
  • Patent number: 11858647
    Abstract: Method and system for managing hydrogen fuel in hydrogen fuel cell-powered aircraft is disclosed. The method identifies unused hydrogen fuel in a fuel tank of the aircraft. Determines an amount of the unused hydrogen fuel in the fuel tank of the aircraft. Transfers the amount of the unused hydrogen fuel from the fuel tank of the aircraft into a hydrogen fuel cell of the aircraft and converts the amount of the unused hydrogen fuel into electricity via the hydrogen fuel cell of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ZeroAvia, Inc.
    Inventors: Valery Miftakhov, Gabriel Devault
  • Patent number: 11862984
    Abstract: An antenna for a wireless power receiver system includes a receiver coil, the receiver coil configured to receive one or both of wireless power signals and repeated wireless power signals and provide the wireless power signals to a rectifier of the wireless power receiver system. The antenna further includes an internal repeater coil, the internal repeater coil configured to receive the wireless power signals and transmit the wireless power signals to the receiver coil as the repeated wireless power signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: NuCurrent, Inc.
    Inventor: Md. Nazmul Alam
  • Patent number: 11862960
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit includes a first diode, a second diode, an ESD clamp circuit and a first conductive structure on a backside of a semiconductor wafer, and being coupled to the first voltage supply. The first diode is in the semiconductor wafer, and coupled between an IO pad and a first node. The second diode is in the semiconductor wafer, coupled to the first diode and coupled between the IO pad and a second node. The ESD clamp circuit is in the semiconductor wafer, coupled between the first node and the second node, and further coupled to the first and second diode. The ESD clamp circuit includes a first signal tap region in the semiconductor wafer that is coupled to a first voltage supply. The first diode is coupled to and configured to share the first signal tap region with the ESD clamp circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Hung Yeh, Wun-Jie Lin, Jam-Wem Lee