Patents Examined by Joel Barnett
  • Patent number: 11431197
    Abstract: A PCB for wireless power transfer includes an antenna and the antenna includes a coil. A method for manufacturing the PCB includes providing a prefabricated PCB, the prefabricated PCB including a PCB design and a first area and providing a first sheet of a conductive metal for the first area. The method includes applying an etch resistant coating on a coil area within the first area and laser cutting the first sheet within the coil area, based on a laser cutting path for a first plurality of turns for a first layer of the coil, the first geometry configured wireless power transfer. The method further includes substantially exposing the first sheet to an etching solution, the etching solution substantially removing first portions of the conductive metal from the substrate to define, at least, first turn gaps between at least two of the first plurality of turns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: NuCurrent, Inc.
    Inventor: Oleg Los
  • Patent number: 11413985
    Abstract: A diagnosis system includes: a charging control part that controls, upon connection between a vehicle and a charger provided at an outside of the vehicle, charging from the charger to a secondary battery provided on the vehicle; and a derivation part that derives a degradation degree of the secondary battery based on a change amount of a charging rate of the secondary battery and an integration value of a charging current of the secondary battery, wherein the charging control part determines, based on a remaining time until a next departure time of the vehicle, whether specific charging in which a charging pause period is provided in a middle of a charging time of the secondary battery is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taisuke Tsurutani, Taisuke Kurachi, Yuuki Ohno
  • Patent number: 11413973
    Abstract: An electrical energy system includes fuel cells and a battery, as well as a DC converter arranged between the fuel cell and the high-voltage battery, wherein the DC converter is a buck-boost converter, having two series-connected semiconductor switches in one of its two current pathways, between which an inductance is connected, which joins the two current pathways of the DC converter. A related method for operating an electrical energy system for a motor vehicle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Martin Breu, Maximilian Schiedermeier
  • Patent number: 11413986
    Abstract: Provided is an information providing system capable of promoting reuse of secondary batteries. An information providing system includes a supplementing target device and a server. The supplementing target device includes: a power calculating unit configured to calculate maximum required power; an air temperature acquiring unit configured to acquire past air temperature data; and a supplementing target information requesting unit configured to transmit, to the server, supplementing target information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuichi Kazuno, Yukiko Onoue, Tsubasa Uchida
  • Patent number: 11411438
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, provided is a wireless power transmission device comprising a plurality of power transmission antennas, a geomagnetic sensor, a processor, and a communications circuit, wherein the processor is configured to: set a coordinate system on the basis of geomagnetic sensing information from the geomagnetic sensor; control such that, for charging an electronic device, a first RF wave is formed under a first transmission condition through the plurality of power transmission antennas; receive, from the electronic device and through the communications circuit, first information on a change in the position or location, or both, of the electronic device; at least on the basis of the first information, confirm the position or location, or both, of the electronic device in the coordinate system after the change of the electronic device; and control such that a second RF wave is formed under a second transmission condition through the plurality of power transmission antennas, wherein the se
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyungwoo Lee, Gongbo Moon, Sungkweon Park
  • Patent number: 11404919
    Abstract: A modular wireless power transfer system includes a first wireless transmission system and one or more secondary wireless transmission systems. The first wireless transmission system is configured to receive input power from an input power source, generate AC wireless signals, and couple with one or more other antennas. Each of the one or more secondary wireless transmission systems includes a secondary transmission antenna, the secondary transmission antenna configured to couple with one or more of another secondary transmission antenna, the first transmission antenna, one or more receiver antennas, or combinations thereof. The one or more secondary wireless transmission systems are configured to receive the AC wireless signals from one or more of the first wireless transmission system, another secondary wireless transmission system, or combinations thereof and repeat the AC wireless signals to one or more of the secondary transmission antennas, the one or more receiver antennas, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: NuCurrent, Inc.
    Inventors: Alberto Peralta, Md. Nazmul Alam
  • Patent number: 11383614
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a combustion engine configured to output mechanical power and an electric machine coupled to the engine and configured to convert the mechanical power to electrical power. The vehicle also includes a battery to exchange electrical power with the electric machine. The vehicle further includes a controller programmed to receive user inputs indicative of a desired storage duration and a storage location and monitor a battery state of charge (SOC) while the vehicle is stored. The controller is also programmed to prompt a remote user to approve an engine auto-start in response to the SOC depleting to less than a predetermined threshold during storage, and to auto-start the engine to generate power to recharge the battery in response to remote user approval. The controller is further programmed to inhibit the auto-start of the engine in response to the vehicle being stored in an enclosed storage location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Ciccone, Timothy Baxendale, Rian Edman
  • Patent number: 11374436
    Abstract: A multi-port laser device used to create multiple laser induced plasma filaments positioned in a useful position in spatial relationship to another filament or filaments, such as interconnecting with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: GLENN LANE FAMILY LIMITED LIABILITY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
    Inventor: Glenn E. Lane
  • Patent number: 11355966
    Abstract: An example system charges an electronic device using wirelessly transmitted radio-frequency power (RF) waves. The system includes the electronic device with one or more movable arms. At least one movable arm includes a receiving antenna element. The system further includes a charging pad that includes a housing. The housing includes at least one guiding contour on a surface that is configured for align a position of the electronic device on the surface of the housing. The charging pad further includes transmitting antenna elements that are selectively activated to transmit radio-frequency power waves to the receiving antenna element of the electronic device. The system also includes a transmitter controller integrated circuit (IC) configured to selectively activate a respective transmitting antenna element of the transmitting antenna elements. Activating the respective transmitting antenna element causes transmission of the radio-frequency power waves to the receiving antenna element of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: ENERGOUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard Muryanto, Yunhong Liu, Gabriel Joseph Cohn
  • Patent number: 11345254
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery and a controller. The controller is programmed to executed a parameter estimation strategy for the battery during time intervals when the current flowing through the battery is sufficiently dynamic. During periods of generally constant current, the parameters are derived from the last valid parameters from the parameter estimation strategy. During periods of generally constant current in which a battery temperature and/or a state of charge of the battery changes by a predetermined amount, the parameters are derived from historical parameter values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xu Wang, John Paul Gibeau
  • Patent number: 11349342
    Abstract: A wireless power receiver includes one or more tunable capacitors in parallel with an inductor. The wireless power receiver adapted to receive an induced voltage input at the inductor due to a magnetic field generated by a wireless power transmitter. The rectifier has an output with a rectified voltage and a rectified current. A controller has a first input for receiving a signal representative of the rectified voltage and a first output for supplying an adjustment signal to the tunable capacitor. The controller includes a processor coupled to the first input and is configured to operate on the signal representative of rectified voltage to produce a desired capacitance value for capacitor and provide the adjustment signal determined so as to adjust a capacitance value of capacitor to the desired capacitance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: WITRICITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Oguz Atasoy, Karl Twelker, Kylee Devro Sealy
  • Patent number: 11328889
    Abstract: A circuit breaker for interrupting a direct current, in particular in a power supply system in a vehicle having a main current path that includes a switch, and having a reed relay for detecting an electric current flow across the main current path. The switch is coupled to the reed relay. Also, a use of a circuit breaker is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Ellenberger & Poensgen GmbH
    Inventors: Hendrik-Christian Koepf, Ernst-Dieter Wilkening
  • Patent number: 11325481
    Abstract: Discloses embodiments disclosed relate to a cover assembly adapted to be mounted on a service plug socket of a high voltage battery. The assembly includes a brace member including a nesting feature to engage the service plug socket and a first opening for receiving a locking device, and a clamping member, slidably attached to the brace member to move between an open position and a closed position, the clamping member including a second opening for receiving the locking device. The clamping member and the brace member define a cavity, configured to receive the service plug socket, that reduces in size as the clamping member slides from the open position to the closed position. When the service plug socket is inserted in the cavity and the cover assembly is closed, the nesting feature engages with the service plug socket to prevent separation of the cover assembly from the service plug socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeff M. Collins
  • Patent number: 11322989
    Abstract: A wireless energy emission device includes: a receiving antenna array, a signal processing module, and an emitting antenna array; wherein the receiving antenna array includes at least two receiving antennas for receiving a positioning signal emitted by a target device to be powered; the signal processing module is configured to determine an emission parameter according to a phase difference between positioning signals received by any two of the receiving antennas and position information of the emitting antenna array; and the emitting antenna array is configured to emit an energy supply signal to the target device to be powered according to the emission parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xianqi Lin, Yajun Pan, Shujun Wei, Jian Bai, Tuyou Yuan
  • Patent number: 11312247
    Abstract: The power supply device includes a plurality of boost converters connected in parallel to boost and supply power from the power storage device, and a control device for controlling each of the boost converters. When the electronic control unit 50 cannot operate the plurality of boost converters by the feedback control, the control device operates only one of the plurality of boost converters by the feed forward control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shohei Oi, Mamoru Tochitani
  • Patent number: 11312263
    Abstract: A method for controlling an operation of a fuel cell of a fuel cell vehicle is provided. The method includes detecting a state of charge (SOC) of a high voltage battery and determining whether the detected SOC of the high voltage battery is within or beyond a preset range from a minimum recommended SOC to a maximum recommended SOC. Power generation of the fuel cell is performed or stopped by comparing a required current of the vehicle with a preset current value required to enter a fuel-cell stop mode in which the power generation of the fuel cell is stopped and a preset current value required to release the fuel-cell stop mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Seung Yoon Lee, Jeong Kyu Park, Sae Byeok Seung, Byoung Hoon Choi, Sang Chul Yeom
  • Patent number: 11309738
    Abstract: In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a method and apparatus for demodulating an amplitude-modulated wireless power signal is presented. A method of receiving an amplitude modulated component of a wireless power transmission signal according to some embodiments includes receiving an input signal, wherein the input signal is based on an amplitude modulated wireless power signal; and applying an offset to the input signal to receive the amplitude modulated component. A demodulator according to some embodiments can include a first voltage-to-current converter that receives an input signal related to an amplitude modulated wireless power signal; a second voltage-to-current converter that receives an offset signal; and a summing node that adjusts a first current produced by the first voltage-to-current converter by a second current produced by the second voltage-to-current converter to produce an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Integrated Device Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yue Wang, Lijie Zhao
  • Patent number: 11303126
    Abstract: The power output system contains a power supply having a supply line and a return line, and controls the flow of electricity to a load based on the temperature of the power supply. It does so via a control circuit, containing a temperature sensor and a switching circuit, connected between the power supply and the load. While the power supply remains relatively cool, the system allows power to flow to the load. When the power supply exceeds a certain threshold, however, the system disconnects the power supply from the load connection and connects it to the return line, bypassing the load and stopping the flow of electricity. Once the power supply has cooled sufficiently, the system reverses the process and reconnects the power supply to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Inventor: Michael Lee Staver
  • Patent number: 11283381
    Abstract: A working machine includes: a first generator having: a rotor to be rotated by power from a PTO shaft; a rotor coil provided to the rotor; and a stator coil to generate electricity when magnetizing current is applied to the rotor coil; a working device to be operated by the electricity generated by the first generator; and a converter device to convert surplus electricity not consumed by the working device into the magnetizing current to be applied to the rotor coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Kawane, Sumio Yagyu, Takao Nakagawa, Yukifumi Yamanaka, Go Takaki
  • Patent number: 11283260
    Abstract: A method and a system for controlling a distributed power generation system are disclosed. The distributed power generation system includes N sub isolated three-port converters and N independent distributed DC power sources in a one-to-one correspondence to the N sub isolated three-port converters, N is a natural number greater than 1; an input-port of each of the sub isolated three-port converters is connected to the corresponding distributed DC power source, bidirectional-ports of the sub isolated three-port converters are connected in parallel to build a low voltage DC bus, and output-ports of the sub isolated three-port converters are connected in series and connected to a medium voltage DC distribution network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Kai Sun, Yangjun Lu, Hongfei Wu