Patents Examined by Manuel Hernandez
  • Patent number: 10495695
    Abstract: An abnormality detecting device detects abnormalities in a system including a plurality of battery assemblies each having a plurality of cells connected in series, and includes: a connecting component configured to connect and disconnect adjacent two of the battery assemblies; and a detachment detector configured to detect whether or not the connecting component has been detached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Daichi Hashimoto, Takashi Nakazawa, Haruhiko Sekino
  • Patent number: 10498145
    Abstract: A method manages an electrical energy storage battery comprising first and second branches in parallel and each having N storage elements in series. The method includes providing a non-dissipative balancing device for balancing electrical voltages at terminals of the storage elements. The device includes N+1 switching elements of a first type to electrically connect, in parallel, two storage elements belonging to first and second branches at a same stage, and 2N switching elements of a second type to electrically connect, in parallel, two storage elements belonging to first and second branches at adjacent stages. The method also includes choosing only a portion of the storage elements of the first branch, choosing only a portion of the storage elements of the second branch, and controlling the switching elements so as to electrically connect to one another, in parallel, the selected storage elements of the first and second branches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Laurent Gagneur, Ana-Lucia Driemeyer-Franco, Christophe Forgez
  • Patent number: 10461554
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell system and a process for operating the same, the system having at least two fuel electrodes for receiving electrodeposited metal fuel; at least one oxidant electrode spaced apart from the fuel electrode; at least one charging electrode; an ionically conductive medium communicating the electrodes of the electrochemical cell system for conducting ions to support electrochemical reactions at the fuel, oxidant, and charging electrodes; and, one or more controllers configured to operate the cell system in discharging and charging modes and monitor a state of charge for each fuel electrode. The controllers may assign each fuel electrode in a discharging unit having a state-of-charge meeting a predetermined depletion criteria from the discharging unit to the charging unit, and each fuel electrode in the charging unit having a state-of-charge meeting a predetermined loading criteria from the charging unit to the discharging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: NANTENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Cody A. Friesen, Joel Hayes, Sergey Puzhaev, Ramkumar Krishnan, Todd Trimble
  • Patent number: 10457149
    Abstract: A power reception unit includes a resonance circuit for contactlessly receiving electric power output from power transmission units. Each of the power transmission units is configured to be able to form a plurality of resonance circuits having circuit configurations different from each other. A communication unit transmits information about a configuration of the resonance circuit of the power reception unit to a communication unit. A power supply ECU controls the power transmission units such that a resonance circuit of the plurality of resonance circuits which has a circuit configuration identical to that of the resonance circuit of the power reception unit is formed in the power transmission units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 10414276
    Abstract: A system for recharging a hybrid vehicle is provided with two motors and supplies commercial electricity to neutral points of the motors when a connection of a recharging stand is detected, forms an electricity loop through the neutral points of the first motor and the second motor according to a phase of the commercial electricity, and carries out a recharging mode by detecting at least a voltage of a DC link capacitor in a voltage converter, a voltage of a smoothing capacitor, and a battery voltage. According to the system, a current control value or a voltage control value is selected according to the recharging mode in order to recharge a battery based on the current control value or the voltage control value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hong-seok Song, Ki-young Jang, Junghong Joo
  • Patent number: 10406924
    Abstract: A portable power electronic switching apparatus may include an input end high-voltage connector, a DC-DC converter circuit, an input end transfer switch, a first inverter circuit, a direct-current output end high-voltage connector, an alternating-current output end high-voltage connector, and a conversion controller, where the input end high-voltage connector may be connected to an input end of the DC-DC converter circuit, an output end of the DC-DC converter circuit may be separately connected to an input end of the first inverter circuit and the direct-current output end high-voltage connector by using the input end transfer switch. An output end of the first inverter circuit may be connected to the alternating-current output end high-voltage connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: BORDRIN MOTOR CORPORATION, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaobo Sun, Zhiwei Zhang
  • Patent number: 10355496
    Abstract: For each battery sub-module in a plurality of battery sub-modules, a voltage associated with a cell in that battery sub-module is received wherein each battery sub-module in the plurality of battery sub-modules includes a plurality of cells. A battery sub-module is selected based at least in part on the received voltages and a set of one or more loads, which draws power from the selected battery sub-module and is not powered by any other battery sub-module in the plurality of battery sub-modules, is configured so that the set of loads at least temporarily does not draw power from the selected battery sub-module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Furman, Lewis Romeo Hom
  • Patent number: 10345385
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for estimating a state of a battery system such as a current-limited state of power and/or a voltage-limited state of power using a battery system model incorporating a nonlinear resistance element. Parameters of elements included in a battery cell model associated with a nonlinear resistance of a battery cell may be directly parameterized and used in connection with state estimation methods. By accounting for the nonlinear effect, embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods may increase available battery power utilized in connection with battery system control and/or management decisions over a larger window of operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC.
    Inventors: Charles W Wampler, Mark W Verbrugge, Brian J Koch, Patricia M Laskowsky
  • Patent number: 10340709
    Abstract: A method for rapidly recharging a military or a non-military device having an electric battery is provided. The method includes recharging the military or non-military device and the recharging includes delivering coolant to the military or non-military device to cool the electric battery. A military device, a non-military non-vehicular device, a mobile charging station and a stationary charging station are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Lightening Energy
    Inventors: Christopher K. Dyer, Michael L. Epstein, Duncan Culver
  • Patent number: 10340721
    Abstract: A wireless charging device includes a transmitter configured to transmit a power signal for wireless charging, a circuit board including at least one component configured to control an operation of the transmitter, a shielding plate configured to block an electrical interference between the transmitter and the circuit board, and a connector configured to penetrate through the circuit board and the shielding plate so as to electrically connect the transmitter with the at least one component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Young Kil Song
  • Patent number: 10293700
    Abstract: A method includes: detecting a position of a moving, wireless charging-capable vehicle which travels over a primary coil of a wireless charging system operable to wirelessly charge the vehicle via a secondary coil installed in the vehicle; controlling the plurality of cross-coil junction units such that electric current flows through one or both of the top coil and the bottom coil in a manner which produces a first angle of magnetic flux for optimally wirelessly charging the vehicle given a position of the primary coil in relation to the detected position of the vehicle; and when a switching time occurs, controlling the plurality of cross-coil junction units to change the flow of electric current through one or both of the top coil and the bottom coil in a manner which produces a second angle of magnetic flux for optimally wirelessly charging the vehicle given the position of the primary coil in relation to an updated position of the vehicle as the vehicle traverses the primary coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc, Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Bilal Javaid, Allan Lewis, John Robb, Mohammad Naserian
  • Patent number: 10256649
    Abstract: A jump-starting arrangement is provided for a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle has an engine control unit and a starter for an internal-combustion engine. The motor vehicle is equipped with at least two partial onboard power systems, which are mutually coupled by way of at least one electric separator element. Each partial onboard power system, respectively, is equipped with at least one rechargeable electric energy accumulator. The two partial onboard power systems each have a jump-starting base, and the respective jump-starting bases are galvanically separated from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hartmut Proebstle, Holger Witt
  • Patent number: 10252625
    Abstract: An electrical power supply system includes a battery of cells, the battery including an ammeter configured to measure battery current flowing through the battery, and at least one voltage sensor configured to measure voltage at terminals of a cell. An electronic control unit is configured to deliver a maximum permissible electrical power setpoint. The control unit is configured to calculate a maximum permissible electrical power associated with a cell by taking the minimum of at least two values, including a first electrical power and a second electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: RENAULT S.A.S.
    Inventors: Antoine Saint-Marcoux, Do-Hieu Trinh, Yves Le Vourch, Thomas Peuchant
  • Patent number: 10250043
    Abstract: A battery pack system module may include a module bypass switch for allowing charge current to bypass the battery pack system module. A charge switch and a discharge switch may be coupled with the module bypass switch. When other battery pack system modules are coupled in series with the module, balancing between modules may be achieved by allowing charge current to bypass the unbalanced modules and charge other modules. For example, when an unbalanced module is at a higher level of charge than other modules, a charge switch and a discharge switch in the unbalanced module de-activate and a module bypass switch activates to allow charge current to rapidly bring other modules into balance. The discharge switch and the charge switch allow the charging current to bypass the unbalanced module creating little or no additional heat dissipation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Southwest Electronic Energy Corporation
    Inventors: David Allen White, Claude Leonard Benckenstein, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10245956
    Abstract: A discharge control device controls a discharge bypass circuit for discharging a charge in a capacitor provided in a drive device for a motor that rotates wheels of a vehicle at time of a collision of the vehicle. The discharge control device includes a control circuit that makes the discharge bypass circuit start discharge if an induced voltage by the motor surpasses a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: KEIHIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryutaro Minesawa
  • Patent number: 10230076
    Abstract: A stationary electric power system including a low profile secondary battery that includes a battery body including an electric power generating element accommodated in an exterior package member. The low profile secondary battery includes a spacer disposed between the battery body and other battery body when the other battery body is stacked on the battery body. The spacer fixes the battery body in a predetermined position. The battery body and the spacer are connected with each other through an elastic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuichi Amagai, Naoto Todoroki, Michinori Ikezoe, Toshiyuki Motohashi, Tomio Nagashima
  • Patent number: 10218192
    Abstract: An electronic device and a power adapter are provided. The power adapter comprises a power circuit, a main control circuit, a potential adjustment circuit, a current detection circuit, a voltage detection circuit and an output switch circuit. When a conventional charging or a quick charging is performed on the battery in the electronic device, the main control circuit determines whether the output current of the power adapter is greater than a current threshold according to the current detecting signal and determines whether the output voltage of the power adapter is greater than a voltage threshold according to the voltage detecting signal; if the output current of the power adapter is greater than the current threshold and/or the output voltage of the power adapter is greater than the voltage threshold, the main control circuit controls the output switch circuit to turn off the direct current output of the power adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Jialiang Zhang, Kewei Wu, Jun Zhang, Fuchun Liao, Nianfeng Liu, Yuanxiang Hu
  • Patent number: 10205327
    Abstract: A battery system includes: a plurality of battery banks connected in parallel with each other; and a distribution controller coupled to the battery banks and configured to: receive a command comprising a target charging/discharging amount; determine a priority order between the battery banks based on a state of charge (SOC) and a state of health (SOH) of each of the battery banks; select at least some of the battery banks to be charged or discharged according to the target charging/discharging amount based on the priority order; and perform a charging or discharging on the at least some of the battery banks according to the target charging/discharging amount so that others of the battery banks are paused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Okui
  • Patent number: 10193400
    Abstract: A method for detecting induction coil alignment error in resonant induction wireless power apparatus includes an eddy current coil array superimposed upon the primary induction coil, a switching device for each eddy current coil, a voltage detector such as a low power rectifier connected to the secondary induction coil, an analog-to-digital converter, primary and secondary side micro-controllers, and, in a vehicle charging embodiment, a vehicle operator interface. During coil alignment, the primary side induction coil operates at low power. Eddy current flows in an eddy current coil only if the associated switching device is switched on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Momentum Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Richard Long, Andrew William Daga
  • Patent number: 10186865
    Abstract: An intelligent charging device has a control unit and multiple power strips respectively connected to and simultaneously charging multiple sets of digital devices. Each power strip has a relay connected to the control unit. When acquiring load signals of the power strips and a maximum load threshold, the control unit performs a charging schedule configuration to generate a charging demand sequence, and then calculates a charging time for each charging schedule of a charging cycle according to the charging demand sequence and the load signals of the multiple power strips for charging time allocation and instructs each power strip to charge for a corresponding charging time in a corresponding charging schedule, thereby allowing the power strip with the maximum charging demand to charge first and achieving the goal of efficiency charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: AVER INFORMATION INC.
    Inventors: Jui-Hsuan Chiang, Lien-Kai Chou, Chao-Hung Chang, Chi-Fa Hsu