Patents Examined by Michael J Warmflash
  • Patent number: 11967837
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for transferring electrical power between an electrical power system of a vehicle and another device. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a wireless transfer unit electrically coupled with a high voltage system of a vehicle and configured to enable wireless bidirectional power exchange between the high voltage system and an auxiliary device. The high voltage system is operable to power a drivetrain of the vehicle and the auxiliary device is separate from the vehicle and configured to at least one of provide electric power to and receive power from the high voltage system. A transfer control unit is configured to communicate with the wireless transfer unit and control at least one parameter specifying a transfer of electrical power between the high voltage system and the auxiliary device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Kenneth Hortop
  • Patent number: 11966243
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for power factor adjustment in a waveguide circuit or a transmission line circuit. In this invention, it is shown that, in a waveguide circuit or a transmission line circuit, the power supplied by the source and the impedance can be adjusted by controlling the amount of the phase change of the signal when it propagates through the (equivalent) transmission line once the medium, the structure, and the load of the waveguide circuit or the transmission line circuit are chosen. It is also shown that, by choosing an appropriate frequency, transmission line, and load, one can achieve the negative power factor of the (equivalent) transmission line circuit, and also make the power delivered from the source be lesser than that consumed at the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: PHASETOWN, LLC
    Inventors: Won Don Lee, Hijung Chai
  • Patent number: 11951851
    Abstract: A method of testing an impedance-sensitive system with a switching device, wherein the method comprises: switching the disconnecting device into the on-state configured to permit transmission of energy via the coil; implementing a first measurement with the impedance-sensitive system; switching the disconnecting device into the off-state configured to permit damping of the external positioning signal that couples into the coil so as to reduce the undesirable oscillations of the coil; implementing a second measurement with the impedance-sensitive system; performing a comparison of the first measurement and the second measurement; performing a verification of the comparison with a target specification; and displaying a correct function and/or a malfunction depending on the verification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: BRUSA Elektronik AG
    Inventors: Lukas Böhler, Adrian Immler, Richard Knuchel, Pirmin Bader
  • Patent number: 11951843
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply device converts power from high voltage to low voltage by selectively connecting a predetermined power storage element group to a low voltage electric load from a high voltage power supply formed by connecting power storage elements in series. A leakage current from the high voltage power supply is measured during the dead time period when the power storage element group is not connected to the low voltage electric load. When the value exceeds a predetermined value, the connection between the power storage element group and the low-voltage electric load is interrupted, so that electric shock is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: IMASEN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Makio, Koichi Yamanoue
  • Patent number: 11954948
    Abstract: A vehicle communication interface cable includes a vehicle connector having a connector body and configured to connect to a diagnostic port of a vehicle, a vehicle communication interface connector having a connector body and configured to connect to a vehicle communication interface, a flexible cable portion having one or more conductors and extending between the vehicle connector and the vehicle communication interface connector, and a battery module comprising a housing for a battery. The battery module is integrated with the cable portion and a pair of battery wires extend from the housing to the vehicle communication interface connector to provide power to a vehicle communication interface from a battery within the housing when the vehicle communication interface connector is connected to the vehicle communication interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Opus IVS, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Herron, Mark W. Wine
  • Patent number: 11949243
    Abstract: A method implemented by a wireless charging receiver (RX) includes detecting, by the wireless charging RX, that a voltage potential of an output of a rectifier of the wireless charging RX has met a boost mode threshold; placing, by the wireless charging RX, the rectifier into a boost mode; and detecting, by the wireless charging RX, that the voltage potential of the output of the rectifier of the wireless charging RX has met a specified threshold, and based thereon, negotiating, by the wireless charging RX with a wireless charging transmitter (TX), to initiate a power transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS DESIGN AND APPLICATION S.R.O.
    Inventor: Michal Toula
  • Patent number: 11949229
    Abstract: A wireless transmitter coordinates changes in the transmitter's input or output voltages with changes in the transmitter's operating frequency to counteract the transmitter's output power changes while changing the voltages. When the voltages are being increased, the output frequency is moved away from the resonant frequency. Consequently, the output power increase due to the increased voltages is restrained by the frequency change. Before or after the voltage increase, increased output power can be obtained by changing the output frequency while the input and output voltages are held constant or near constant. Some embodiments follow similar procedures when reducing the transmitter's input or output voltages. Calibration is performed before power transfer to determine suitable voltage and frequency profiles for voltage change operations. Other features are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics America Inc.
    Inventors: Gustavo Mehas, Nicholaus Smith, Tao Qi, Jiangjian Huang
  • Patent number: 11949259
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply device converts power from high voltage to low voltage by selectively connecting a predetermined power storage element group to a low voltage electric load from a high voltage power supply formed by connecting power storage elements in series. A leakage resistance from the high voltage power supply to the ground is measured when the high voltage circuit is cut by the cutoff means placed between the high voltage power supply and the high-voltage load device. When the value less than a predetermined value, the connection between the high voltage power supply and the high-voltage load device is interrupted, so that electric shock is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: IMASEN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Makio, Koichi Yamanoue
  • Patent number: 11945313
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply device converts power from high voltage to low voltage by selectively connecting a predetermined power storage element group to a low voltage electric load from a high voltage power supply formed by connecting power storage elements in series. A leakage resistance from the high voltage power supply to the ground is measured when the high voltage circuit is cut by the cutoff means placed between the high voltage power supply and the high-voltage load device. When the value less than a predetermined value, the connection between the high voltage power supply and the low-voltage load device is interrupted, so that electric shock is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: IMASEN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Makio, Koichi Yamanoue
  • Patent number: 11938875
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for wireless power transfer in a vehicle. A wireless power transfer system can include a high-frequency alternating current (HFAC) inverter electrically coupled to the power source and a transmitter to wirelessly transmit a HFAC power signal to at least one device of a vehicle, such as sensors (e.g., LiDAR, GPS etc.) and cameras. The HFAC power signal provides wireless power and a data signal to the at least one device of a vehicle. The wireless power transfer system can eliminate the need for cabling and wires to provide power to the device. Wireless power transfer can include use or a data modulation circuit and a pulse current source to inject a pulse current to the HFAC power signal as superimposed data. System configurations can power a plurality of devices. Systems can includes a plurality of HFAC inverters and transmitters to power multiple sets of devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Yanghe Liu, Chungchih Chou, Hiroshi Ukegawa, Qunfang Wu, Mengqi Wang, Weiyang Zhou
  • Patent number: 11943009
    Abstract: A communication barrier arrangement includes a first driver having a first interface for receiving signals from a first device destined for a second device, an isolation barrier including a first transformer for signal transfer and having a primary winding connected to the first driver and a secondary winding, a second driver connected to the secondary winding and having a first connection terminal for output of the signals towards the second device, a first signal conditioner having a second connection terminal for receiving the signals from the second driver and a second interface for delivering them to the second device and a protection circuit including a resistor in parallel with a first capacitor, the protection circuit being connected between the first and second connection terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventors: Ulf Hansson, Thomas Keul, Johan Wennerberg
  • Patent number: 11942813
    Abstract: When a module controller of a battery system detects an abnormality of a battery module, the module controller selects the battery module without stopping the battery module. After that, the module controller compares a current value of a current supplied to a load, with a total value of rated currents of all battery modules that are normal and that are supplying power to the load. When the current value of the current supplied to the load is greater than the total value of the rated currents of the battery modules, the module controller performs a control to stop all the battery modules. When the current value of the current supplied to the load is less than or equal to the total value of the rated currents of all the battery modules that are supplying power to the load, the module controller performs a control to stop the abnormal battery module and not to stop the normal battery modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Suzuki, Michiya Mori
  • Patent number: 11935692
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for wireless charging are disclosed. A wireless charging device has a plurality of charging cells provided on a first surface and a processor configured to provide a charging current to a first charging coil in a surface of the wireless charging device, determine that an impedance of a resonant circuit has varied from a threshold or setpoint impedance, and restore the threshold or setpoint impedance by modifying frequency of the charging current. The resonant circuit may include the first charging coil. A method for operating the wireless charging device includes providing a charging current to a first charging coil in a surface of the wireless charging device, determining that an impedance of a resonant circuit has varied from a threshold or setpoint impedance, and restoring the threshold or setpoint impedance by modifying frequency of the charging current. The resonant circuit may include the charging coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: AIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters
  • Patent number: 11936199
    Abstract: Polyphase wireless power transfer systems are provided. The transfer system may be used for charging hybrid and electric vehicles. The systems are capable of transferring over 50 KW over an air gap of 15 cm. The systems use a rotating magnetic field to transfer power. The system may comprise transmitter coil assembly. The coil assembly may be one or more layers. The system may employ either unipolar or bipolar coils. The transmitter also comprises compensating capacitance connected in series with at least one coil for each phase. A value of the compensating capacitance for each phase is determined such that the transmitter has at least two independently excitable resonant modes at a resonant frequency. The transmitter is compatible with a plurality of different receivers including three-phase, single phase with a circular coil and single phase with DD coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Jason L. Pries, Veda Prakash Galigekere, Gui-Jia Su
  • Patent number: 11929198
    Abstract: A magnetic structure in a power converter includes at least two multilayer boards, such as a primary board containing the primary windings and some auxiliary windings, and a secondary board containing the secondary windings and some auxiliary windings. The primary and secondary boards are on top of each other. On the layer on the primary board adjacent to the secondary board, is a dual function shield to reduce the total common mode noise in the converter towards zero. The controlled dual function shield can be placed on the secondary board on the layer adjacent to the primary board, and in some embodiments can be placed on both primary and secondary board on the layers adjacent to the other board. The embodiments herein offer a very good solution for cost reduction of the planar transformers and offers an avenue for total elimination of the common mode noise in a power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Rompower Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Ionel Jitaru
  • Patent number: 11919406
    Abstract: Power transfer system for supplying electric power to a battery of an electric vehicle including a control architecture capable of controlling the transmission of electric power to a battery of said electric vehicle and, at the same time, capable of providing fast responsive control functionalities. In a further aspect, the application relates to a method for controlling a power transfer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ABB E-MOBILITY B.V.
    Inventors: Fabio Tombelli, Pawel Blaszczyk, Marco Lega, Oscar Apeldoorn
  • Patent number: 11909222
    Abstract: A device for a wireless power transfer system includes a housing and a conductor wire forming a coil arranged in the housing. The coil has a first topology. The conductor wire is rearrangeable such that the coil is given a second topology instead of the first topology. The first topology and the second topology are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ningbo Geely Automobile Rese arch & Dev. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexander Berggren, Gabriel Samuelsson
  • Patent number: 11901745
    Abstract: The power transmitter (101) providing power to a power receiver (105) comprises a communicator (309) communicating with the power receiver (105) and a negotiator (305) negotiating a guaranteed power level with the power receiver (105) prior to a power transfer phase. The guaranteed power level is a minimum power level guaranteed by the power transmitter (101) throughout the power transfer phase. During the power transfer phase, a determiner (307) dynamically determines an available power level based on the prevailing operating parameters. The available power level is one that can currently be provided but is not guaranteed. The power controller (309) is arranged to, during the power transfer phase, increase the power level above the guaranteed minimum level in response to power control messages, and to reduce the power level regardless of the power control messages in response to a detection that the power level exceeds the available power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Andries Van Wageningen, Antonius Adraan Maria Staring
  • Patent number: 11892863
    Abstract: An electronic device for simulating load currents when testing a tow-vehicle brake controller is described. The electronic device utilizes current monitoring circuitry to measure a current of an input signal from the tow vehicle. The electronic device also includes a series of resistors that are arranged in parallel on the input signal as wells a series of switches (e.g., relays or transistors) that can activate and deactivate each one of the resistors. Microcontroller circuitry within the electronic device controls the series of switches based on the measured current of the input signal, and, by extension, controls the series of resistors applied to the input signal. In so doing, the electronic device is able to simulate a desired load current on the tow-vehicle brake controller being tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Inventors: Ian R. Vinci, Peter Vinci
  • Patent number: 11890949
    Abstract: In a communication system, a control unit and driver units are connected in a daisy chain; each unit includes a corresponding insulated communication circuit, respectively. The control unit measures a communication delay time between the control unit and each driver unit from a response time to transmission of a pulse signal performed to each driver unit during a measurement period. Then, based on each communication delay time, the control unit transmits a shift time to each driver unit for equalizing the timing of signals output by the driver units. When each driver unit receives, from the control unit, an instruction instructing each driver unit to output a signal, each driver unit outputs the signal when the shift time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, MIRISE Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Hyoungjun Na, Yoshikazu Furuta, Shigeki Otsuka, Takasuke Ito, Tomohiro Nezuka