Patents Examined by Terrence R. Willoughby
  • Patent number: 11967860
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable mediums include detecting and eliminating a three-phase without neutral short-circuit in a load supplied by a power converter. After detecting the short circuit, the current at an output conductor for one of the three-phases is stopped and then resumed after a sufficient amount of current causes a downstream protection device of the faulty load to trip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daniel Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 11967836
    Abstract: Metal object detection may be performed in a wireless power system by monitoring the 5th or other order harmonic current of a dual-frequency power transmitter driven by a voltage-fed inverter with square-wave output. While power transfer is maintained by tuning at the fundamental frequency, the transmitter circuit is tuned simultaneously at the 5th order frequency or other harmonic frequencies to increase or decrease the flow of the harmonic current for when a metal object is present. The receiver circuit may include a notch filter to filter out the 5th order frequency. With the dual-frequency tuning configuration, the presence of a metal object causes a significant drop of the increase in the harmonic current at the transmitter side while the receiver behaves as an open circuit with no effect on power transfer. The harmonic tuning circuit may be switched off as necessary to leave only the fundamental frequency for power transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Aiguo Patrick Hu, Bo Long, Qi Zhu, Wynand Malan, Patrin Illenberger, Andrew R Connell
  • Patent number: 11958421
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first electrical component, a second electrical component, and a brake line. At least part of an electrical connection between the first electrical component and the second electrical component is defined by the brake line. The electrical connection may be a secondary electrical connection for rerouting an electrical path. The brake line may include first and second tubular conductive structures for defining first and second electrical connections. A repeater may be used to retransmit a data signal along the brake line. A nonconductive layer may be disposed on a tubular conductive structure of the brake line. A controller may switch operation of the brake line between an electrical power transmission mode and a data signal transmission mode. A controller may be operable determine a connected state or a disconnected state of the brake using the electrical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Mario Tippelhofer
  • Patent number: 11945318
    Abstract: The power supply apparatus includes a power transmission apparatus configured to transmit power to a power reception apparatus of the vehicle by non-contact and a processor configured to control the power transmission apparatus, detect a pickup/dropoff operation at the vehicle when power is being supplied by non-contact from the power supply apparatus to the vehicle, and detect a number of surrounding vehicles being supplied with power by non-contact in a predetermined range at surroundings of the power supply apparatus. The processor is configured to decrease power transmitted from the power transmission apparatus to the power reception apparatus when detecting a pickup/dropoff operation, and determine an amount of decrease of the transmitted power based on the number of surrounding vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daiki Yokoyama, Toshiya Hashimoto, Shuntaro Okazaki, Shogo Tsuge, Kazuhisa Matsuda
  • Patent number: 11942792
    Abstract: A method for operating a wireless charging transmitter includes switching, by the wireless charging transmitter, an operating mode of a full bridge inverter of the wireless charging transmitter from a first mode to a second mode; and changing, by the wireless charging transmitter, an operating point of the wireless charging transmitter from a first operating point associated with the first mode to a second operating point associated with the second mode, the second operating point being selected to dampen a change in a rectifier voltage of a wireless charging receiver inductively coupled to the wireless charging transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific PTE Ltd.
    Inventors: Wenhe Zhao, Robin Tanzania
  • Patent number: 11919407
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for detecting foreign objects. In one aspect an apparatus for detecting a presence of an object is provided. The apparatus includes a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency. The resonant circuit includes a sense circuit including an electrically conductive structure. The apparatus further includes a coupling circuit coupled to the sense circuit. The apparatus further includes a detection circuit coupled to the sense circuit via the coupling circuit. The detection circuit is configured to detect the presence of the object in response to detecting a difference between a measured characteristic that depends on a frequency at which the resonant circuit is resonating and a corresponding characteristic that depends on the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit. The coupling circuit is configured to reduce a variation of the resonant frequency by the detection circuit in the absence of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Hanspeter Widmer, Markus Bittner, Lukas Sieber, Marcel Fischer
  • Patent number: 11897359
    Abstract: An electric power system includes a vehicle, a vehicle management server, an AC charging stand, a DC charging stand, and a charging stand management server. During AC charging and AC discharging, the AC charging stand is connected to the vehicle. An amount of charging power during AC charging and an amount of discharging power during AC discharging are calculated by the vehicle. The vehicle measures electric power before power conversion by an on-board charger, and calculates an amount of charging power and an amount of discharging power. An amount of charging power during DC charging and an amount of discharging power during DC discharging are calculated by the DC charging stand. The DC charging stand measures electric power before power conversion by a charger, and calculates an amount of charging power and an amount of discharging power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeki Kinomura
  • Patent number: 11891001
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply system, being mounted on a vehicle, includes: a main power supply system including a main low-voltage power supply and a normal load; and a backup power supply system including a backup low-voltage power supply and an emergency important load and connected to the main power supply system. A backup power supply control device of the backup power supply system is configured to execute a backup low-voltage power supply state estimation processing, and output a signal indicating that the backup low-voltage power supply is in a state allowing supplying electric power for operating the emergency important load based on an estimation result of the backup low-voltage power supply state estimation processing, in a case in which the state of the vehicle does not satisfy a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki Toyooka, Yuhei Matsuo, Hayahito Ukai, Yasuhiro Ikeda, Hironori Deno
  • Patent number: 11870250
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to methods for connecting power devices prior to deployment in a photovoltaic installation, for cost savings and easy deployment. Some embodiments disclosed herein include manufacturing a chain of power devices already coupled by conductors, and providing a mechanical assembly for convenient storage and deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ilan Yoscovich, Tzachi Glovinsky, Ofir Bieber
  • Patent number: 11858401
    Abstract: A system for electrically powering a semi-trailer dump system includes a DC-to-DC voltage converter configured to receive input DC voltage from a battery bank and output increased DC voltage, an energy storage element configured to receive the increased DC voltage from the DC-to-DC voltage converter, a controller configured to receive DC power from the energy storage element and convert the DC power into AC power, and a motor configured to receive AC power from the controller, the motor being mechanically connectable to a pump for controlling the dumping system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventor: Rustee Stubbs
  • Patent number: 11850954
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle and associated inverter configured for powering two different types of external loads include first and second phase/line legs combined with a first neutral leg coupled to a vehicle chassis, and a second floating neutral leg that is not coupled to the vehicle chassis. The first/second phase legs and first neutral leg are coupled to a first receptacle configured to receive a corresponding plug to power a first load, such as a power tool or accessory. The first/second phase legs and the second neutral leg are coupled to a second receptacle configured to receive a corresponding plug to power a second load, such as a home or building having an earth grounding electrode. The inverter may include an isolation transformer between the loads and the traction battery, and/or may be configured to provide single phase, split-phase, or three-phase power for either or both of the neutral connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xi Lu, Krishna Prasad Bhat, Ke Zou, Chingchi Chen, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 11851011
    Abstract: A method for automatically reducing the power consumed by devices from a power source having a limited amount of power. The method includes determining with a control system which of the devices is consuming the power. The method further includes identifying a candidate device among the devices to tentatively control to reduce the power consumed by the candidate device. The method further includes accessing a power control model, where the power control model includes pairings of the candidate device with complementary devices among the devices, and where the devices in each of the pairings consume the power in a related pattern. The method further includes controlling the candidate device to reduce the power consumed thereby only when each of the complementary devices in each of the pairings in the power control model are determined to be in a non-power consuming state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Ledden, Robert P. Macias
  • Patent number: 11843258
    Abstract: Described herein are active rectification methods and systems for a rectifier of a wireless power system. Exemplary methods can include detecting, by a zero-crossing detector, one or more zero-crossings of a current at an input of the rectifier and determining a first delay time based on at least one wireless power system parameter and the zero-crossings. The methods can include generating first and second control signals for first and second switches of the rectifier, respectively, based on the first delay time; inserting a first dead time between the first control signal and the second control signal; and providing the first and second control signals to the first and second switches, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventor: Milisav Danilovic
  • Patent number: 11831167
    Abstract: A persistent DC circuit breaker provides a persistent single or dual DC voltage for a power distribution circuit coupled to a power panel. A control mechanism ensures a constant and consistent DC power output from the persistent DC circuit breaker. The persistent DC circuit breaker can replace an AC circuit breaker to convert an AC power panel into a co-existing AC and DC power panel or an entire DC power panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Entrantech Inc.
    Inventor: Kong-Chen Chen
  • Patent number: 11817720
    Abstract: Transmitter assemblies and methods for making and using the same. The transmitter assembly can be used for magnetic power transfer. The transmitter assembly can include a primary inductor configured to produce an electromagnetic field. The transmitter assembly can include a back shield unit including a primary back shield that has a first surface proximal to the primary inductor and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The primary back shield is at least partially made of a ferromagnetic material and has a property that is non-uniformly distributed from a center region of the primary back shield to an outer perimeter region of the primary back shield. The property includes a thickness, a magnetic property, or a combination thereof. When used in wireless charging, the transmitter assembly results in improved coupling factor, misalignment tolerance, efficiency, magnetic emissions and z-height coupling distance of a magnetic power transfer profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: HEVO INC.
    Inventors: Urner Anwer, Kerim Colak, Jeremy McCool, Firat Uner, Dhaval Palsana, Seunghoon Jeong
  • Patent number: 11801387
    Abstract: A system for omni-orientational wireless energy transfer is described. A transmitter unit has a transmitter resonator with a coil that is configured to be coupled to a power supply to wirelessly transmit power to a receiver unit. A receiver unit has a receiver resonator with a coil coupled to a device load. At least one of the resonators is a non-planar resonator that spans a non-degenerate two-dimensional surface having at least one concave portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Stark, Edward Burke
  • Patent number: 11777331
    Abstract: This application provides a motor control unit, an electric drive system, a powertrain. A first terminal of a power transmission interface of the motor control unit is connected to a first input terminal of an inverter circuit by using a first direct current switch, and a second terminal of the power transmission interface is connected to a first terminal of a switch circuit. The switch circuit includes three switch branches, where first terminals of the three switch branches are connected to the first terminal of the switch circuit, second terminals of the three switch branches are respectively connected to one-phase output terminals of the inverter circuit, and each switch branch includes a controllable switch. The input terminal of the inverter circuit is connected to a power battery pack by using a second direct current switch. Using the motor control unit reduces a volume and hardware costs, and improves applicability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: HUAWEI DIGITAL POWER TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xueliang Zhang, Yang Cheng
  • Patent number: 11770017
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improved wireless recharging efficiency and decreased processing requirements are described. A plurality of duty cycle/input voltage pairs are stored in a recharger, corresponding to three subsets: a first subset corresponding to a constant minimum input voltage and an increasing duty cycle; a second subset corresponding to a constant duty cycle and an increasing input voltage; and a third subset corresponding to a maximum input voltage and an increasing duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Otteson, Charles M. Nowell, Jr., Michael J. Hage
  • Patent number: 11750136
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus for furnishing short-term peak loads for an electrical drive system, encompassing an AC voltage source and a DC voltage source; a rectifier and a DC voltage conductor section being arranged between the AC voltage source and a connector configuration for electrical connection of the electrical drive system; the rectifier being connected on the input side to the AC voltage source and on the output side to the DC voltage conductor section; the DC voltage source being connected to the DC voltage conductor section in order to transfer electrical energy wherein the DC voltage source is a battery reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Intrasys Gmbh Innovative Transportsysteme
    Inventors: Tobias Hollmer, Robert Sterff
  • Patent number: 11735962
    Abstract: A wireless charging system having a power transmitter may wirelessly transfer power to a power receiver. Shield saturation, such as saturation of a ferrite structure, in the wireless power receiver may occur under some operating conditions. Saturation can lead to disruptive oscillations in power transfer. The power transmitting may include control circuitry for detecting and mitigating saturation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Adam L. Schwartz, Alireza Safaee, Stephen C. Terry, Zhiyuan Hu