Patents Examined by Richard V. Muralidar
  • Patent number: 11489345
    Abstract: A controller includes: a transmission terminal, operable for transmitting a clock signal transmitted by an external device, and also operable for receiving electric power supplied by a power source to enable the controller to generate a voltage signal; a processing unit, coupled to the transmission terminal, operable for performing a logical operation on the voltage signal and generating an indication signal based on the clock signal, the indication signal includes a rectangular wave signal having a first level and a second level; and a feedback unit, coupled to the processing unit, operable for providing a configuration signal indicating a type of the charging cable when the indication signal is changed from a second level to a first level. The transmission terminal transmits the configuration signal to the external device, to enable the external device to identify the type of the charging cable based on the configuration signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: O2Micro Inc.
    Inventors: Mingfeng Wang, Xinsheng Peng
  • Patent number: 11482867
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a charging system. The charging system may be implemented within an independent charging station or within an autonomous vehicle. Boolean charging can be used to obtain the desired charge or discharge voltage for charging an autonomous vehicle at a charging station. By combining a subset of a sequence of batteries arrays that differ in voltage by powers of two in series, where each battery array may include multiple batteries or battery cells, a voltage may be obtained which is equal to the sum of the voltages across each battery array. This voltage may be used in turn to charge additional batteries or battery arrays. The process may be repeated until the desired amount of battery arrays has been charged and the desired voltage has been achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: HADAL, INC.
    Inventor: Richard J. Rikoski
  • Patent number: 11456606
    Abstract: A system for charging in-ear device battery packages includes a housing with a lid and a body, and a hinge system attaching the lid to the body. A charging unit is shaped to fit in the body, and includes a battery. One or more slots are disposed in the body that are exposed when the lid is open. The one or more slots are shaped to receive one or more of the in-ear device battery packages, and charge the one or more in-ear device battery packages with energy stored in the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Iyo Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Rugolo, Haden Cory
  • Patent number: 11444479
    Abstract: A power bank system includes a packaging container and a power bank. The packaging container defines an internal cavity and has an external receiving surface. The power bank has a battery, a primary coil, and a sensor. The power bank is positioned within the internal cavity such that the primary coil and the sensor are disposed proximate to an opposing side of the external receiving surface. The external receiving surface is configured to receive a portable device. The power bank is configured to deliver power from the battery to the portable device wirelessly via the primary coil and though the external receiving surface in response to the sensor detecting the portable device being positioned proximate the external receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: RFA Brands LLC
    Inventors: Roman Ferber, Jorge Carrillo
  • Patent number: 11437836
    Abstract: A battery device includes a power storage unit, a signal input unit to which a security signal is input, and a switching unit that enables or disables an electrical connection of the power storage unit to an electric power input/output terminal according to a signal input to the signal input unit, and when a release signal that is one type of the security signal is input to the signal input unit, the switching unit enables an electrical connection of the power storage unit to the electric power input/output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Maruno
  • Patent number: 11437763
    Abstract: An electric aircraft charging connector, including a direct current pin and/or an alternating current pin. The connector including a ground pin, the ground pin providing a grounded connection. The connector also including a resistance sensor, the resistance sensor electrically connected to the direct current pin and/or the alternating current pin, and the ground pin, the resistance sensor configured to measure a resistance datum, the resistance datum including: a first resistance, the first resistance comprising a measurement of resistance between the direct current pin and the ground pin; and a second resistance, the second resistance comprising a measurement of resistance between the alternating current pin and the ground pin. The connector also including a controller, the controller configured to: receive the resistance datum from the resistance sensor; and compare the resistance datum to a threshold resistance datum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventor: Herman Wiegman
  • Patent number: 11420531
    Abstract: A battery station, for use by at least one mobile robot, includes a battery charging unit configured to perform at least one of: holding at least one battery, and charging at least one battery. A battery load/unload position is configured to facilitate loading and unloading of a battery to and from a mobile robot. A battery handling mechanism is configured to operate on a reaching range, comprising at least one of the following: (i) the battery of the mobile robot positioned in the battery load/unload position, and (ii) the battery charging unit. A localization element is configured to at least one of detect and locate at least one of: at least one battery of the mobile robot, wherein the mobile robot is positioned in the battery load/unload position, and/or at least one battery positioned in the battery charging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: STARSHIP TECHNOLOGIES OÜ
    Inventors: Lauri Väin, Viljar Valdek, Märt Liivik, Henri Lend, Sergii Kharagorgiiev, Markus Järve, Henrik Herranen, Ahti Heinla, Veigo Evard, Tommy Biene
  • Patent number: 11413978
    Abstract: A charging system incorporates at least one motor; conductive charging arms rotatably coupled to the motor; a controller coupled to the motor and configured to rotate the conductive charging arms; and a sensor configured to sense the presence of a powered device and provide a signal to notify the controller of the presence of the powered device. In response to receiving the signal, the controller controls the motor to rotate the conductive arms to positions of electrical charging contact with the powered device. The powered device can be a drone powered by a rechargeable battery. The positions of electrical charging contact include electrical connections to terminals of the rechargeable battery. The charging system may also incorporate the feature of the motor having a stepper motor coupled to each of the conductive arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: MICHIGAN AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Will Johnson
  • Patent number: 11404910
    Abstract: A multi-cell inductive wireless power transfer system includes multiple transmitting elements. Each transmitting element includes one or more transmitting windings and one or more transmitting magnetic cores. The multi-cell inductive wireless power transfer system also includes multiple receiving elements. The transmitting elements are separated from the receiving elements by an air gap. Each receiving element includes one or more receiving windings and one or more receiving magnetic cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Boris S. Jacobson, Sara L. Makowiec, Mark S. Langelier, Michael F. Janik, George E. Anderson
  • Patent number: 11394233
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device, in particular a power bank (20), comprising: at least one port (24) for connecting the device to a terminal (10); at least one memory (22) for storing useful data; at least one rechargeable battery (26) for supplying a charging current to the terminal; at least one computer unit (21); wherein the computer unit (21) is configured, in particular programmed, a) to send an authentication request (Req1) to the terminal (10); and b) to receive a response (Res1) to the authentication request (Req1), wherein the charging current is interrupted within a charging interval (L1, L2, L3) or the charging interval (L1, L2, L3) is not initialized if successful authentication is not carried out by means of the authentication request and response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Charging Energy Partner GmbH
    Inventor: Marc Christian Lenhof
  • Patent number: 11387676
    Abstract: A system comprising includes a wireless power receiver generating a rectified voltage. A low dropout regulator (LDO) generates a first regulated output voltage from the rectified voltage, during a first phase. A first switch couples the first regulated output voltage to a voltage output node during the first phase. During a second phase, the LDO generates a second regulated output voltage from the rectified voltage. A switching regulator generates a third regulated output voltage during the second phase. A second switch couples the third regulated output voltage to the voltage output node during the second phase. During a third phase, the LDO is disabled, while the switching regulator continues to generate the third regulated output voltage. The first switch opens during the third phase while the second switch remains closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Eng Jye Ng, Chee Weng Cheong, Huiqiao He
  • Patent number: 11380460
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for use in a vehicle powered by a battery comprises an inner tube having an onboard charging cable associated with a charging of the battery disposed therein and an outer tube surrounding the inner tube. A refrigerant configured to cool the onboard charging cable flows through a flow path formed between the inner tube and the outer tube. A first connector is coupled to a first end of the outer tube. The first connector is in fluid communication with the flow path formed between the inner tube and the outer tube and further includes an opening for receiving a portion of the inner tube. The inner tube is securely coupled to the first connector at a joint therebetween to establish a position of the inner tube relative to the outer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: James Tasiopoulos, Dale Rife, Dale Filhart
  • Patent number: 11377275
    Abstract: A multifunction cup lid used for engaging with a corresponding cup body of a cup includes a charging member for receiving a suitable earphone to charge the earphone, and a cap adapted to receive the charging member therein so that the earphone can be taken out of or put in the multifunction cup lid via opening or closing the charging member. The present structure can receive and charge the earphone via providing with the charging member, thereby users can use the cup with the multifunction cup lid to achieve the purpose of carrying one object with a variety of functions to further reduce the carrying burden and strengthen the convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Shenzhen Doageas Technology Co., ltd.
    Inventor: Jian Zheng
  • Patent number: 11368087
    Abstract: A bidirectional DC/DC converter and an energy storage system are provided. The bidirectional DC/DC converter includes: a first half-bridge circuit, a second half-bridge circuit, an inductor circuit, an inductor current detection circuit, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to: according to an operating mode, determine one of the first and second half-bridge circuits as a target half-bridge circuit; determine a target switch circuit and a freewheeling switch circuit; control the target switch circuit to be turned on and off periodically; control the freewheeling switch circuit to be turned off when the target switch circuit is turned on; control the freewheeling switch circuit to be turned on when the target switch circuit is turned off; and when an amplitude of a current flowing through the inductor circuit is less than or equal to a preset threshold value, control the freewheeling switch circuit to be turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: ECOFLOW INC.
    Inventors: Lei Wang, Xi Chen
  • Patent number: 11342108
    Abstract: Techniques regarding one or more NFC antennas that can comprise vertically stacked coils of electrically conductive material are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise an apparatus, which can comprise can a first substrate layer that can comprise a first coil of electrically conductive material that can be wound in a first direction. The apparatus can also comprise a second substrate layer that can comprise a second coil of electrically conductive material that can be wound in a second direction opposite the first direction. The first substrate layer can be stacked onto the second substrate layer. Also, the first coil of electrically conductive material can be operably coupled to the second coil of electrically conductive material through an interconnection via to form an NFC antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bo Wen, Bing Dang, Rajeev Narayanan
  • Patent number: 11342778
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing including an inner space, a hole formed through the housing to the internal space, a stylus pen insertable into the internal space through the hole, wherein the stylus pen includes a first wireless communication circuit and a wireless charging receiver circuit, a wireless charging transmitter circuit positioned inside the housing and configured to provide charging to the wireless charging receiver circuit when the stylus pen is inserted into the inner space, a second wireless communication circuit positioned inside the housing, at least one processor operatively connected to the wireless charging transmitter circuit and the second wireless communication circuit, and at least one memory operatively connected to the at least one processor, wherein when executed, cause the at least one processor to detect whether the stylus pen is inserted into the inner space, start to provide charging for a first duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byunghoon Kang, Joohoon Lee, Changbyung Park, Jongwu Baek, Hyunsuk Choi
  • Patent number: 11332265
    Abstract: A portable device for holding and carrying an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) includes a body. The body includes a first holding member configured to hold the UAV and having a shape matching a shape of the UAV. The portable device also includes a charging board disposed in the body. The portable device also includes a first charging station disposed in the first holding member and configured to electrically connect with the charging board for charging the UAV. The portable device further includes at least one second charging station disposed on the body and configured to electrically connect with the charging board for charging at least one battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaokai Guo, Hongxiang Qu, Tao Peng
  • Patent number: 11322958
    Abstract: Disclosed is a charging station including a case, a rear hole elongated vertically on a rear surface of the case, a plug protruding to a rear side of the case for vertically sliding along the rear hole, a terminal provided at the case and allowing a moving robot to be docked thereto, and a moving mechanism for moving the terminal between a hidden position at which the terminal is located in the case and a docking position at which the terminal is protruding to a front side of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Seungjong Park, Sunghee Han, Jinwon Kang, Jaeyoung Kim, Yousook Eun
  • Patent number: 11316370
    Abstract: This disclosure describes apparatuses and methods related to a rechargeable roller panel system. A rechargeable roller panel assembly may comprise a rechargeable control system that rotates a winding tube to wind and unwind a panel. An end cap is provided at a lateral end of the winding tube. The end cap comprises a magnetic break-away electrical connector exposed from the exterior of the end cap. An internal electrical connector is internally electrically connected to the magnetic break-away electrical connector. A recharge system electrical connector for the rechargeable control system is connected to the internal electrical connector such that the rechargeable control system may be recharged by an external recharging system connected via the magnetic break-away electrical connector. The roller panel system further includes a set of brackets to mount the end cap to a support structure and the roller panel assembly to the end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: U.S. SCREEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dan Poirier, Ryan Gustafson
  • Patent number: 11303136
    Abstract: A cell-mounted application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) system for a vehicle includes a battery pack having multiple individual battery cells. An individual cell-mounted application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is in communication with each of the individual battery cells, with the ASIC drawing power for operation directly from the individual battery cell. A battery control unit is in communication with the ASIC. A central electronics control unit is in communication with the ASIC. The ASIC communicates wirelessly with the battery control unit and the central electronics control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Brian J. Koch, Pablo Valencia, Jr., Alok Warey