Patents Examined by Vincent Q. Nguyen
  • Method for determining micro short circuit of lithium ion secondary battery
    Patent number: 11480627
    Abstract: Provided is a method for determining a micro short circuit of a lithium ion secondary battery which is capable of determining the presence or absence of a micro short circuit of the lithium ion secondary battery in a short time. A relaxation process after the interruption of a discharging current or a charging current is analyzed and a voltage fluctuation component due to micro short circuit is separated and used in the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pu Qian, Hiroshi Sakai
  • Apparatus and method for measuring temperature of battery
    Patent number: 11480474
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring temperature of a battery, which may effectively measure a temperature of a secondary battery. The apparatus measures a temperature of a secondary battery at an integrated circuit board configured to contact an electrode lead of the secondary battery, and includes a lead connector mounted on the integrated circuit board and configured such that the electrode lead is connected thereto, a temperature sensor mounted on the integrated circuit board and configured to receive an operation power from the secondary battery as a first terminal provided at one end thereof among a plurality of terminals included therein is in direct contact with the lead connector, and a calculating unit electrically connected to the temperature sensor and configured to measure the temperature of the secondary battery based on an electric signal measured by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Inventor: Geun-Hoe Huh
  • Apparatus and method for real-time scheduling for suppressing battery aging in satellite system
    Patent number: 11480617
    Abstract: A real-time scheduling apparatus and method for suppressing battery aging of a satellite system are disclosed. A real-time scheduling method for suppressing battery aging of a satellite system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include acquiring task information including a request period and an execution time of each of a plurality of tasks which is performed in the satellite system; determining an execution limit range and an execution order for each of the plurality of tasks which satisfies a predetermined real-time constraint based on the task information; and determining an optimal execution timing within the execution limit range of each of the plurality of tasks, based on the execution order and consumed current information of each of the plurality of tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: AJOU UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY—ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Hoeseok Yang, Seongik Jang
  • Capacitive sensor and method of manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 11482999
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor includes: a substrate that is in the form of a sheet; and a sensor electrode that is capacitive and disposed on a frontside of the substrate. The sensor electrode is a conductive fabric made by applying a metal plating on a mesh fabric that is woven of a plurality of warps and a plurality of wefts and that has openings each formed by two adjacent warps among the plurality of warps and two adjacent wefts among the plurality of wefts. An area defined by a maximum outside diameter of a warp or weft is smaller than an area of an opening space of each of the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD., SEIREN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru Takahara, Toshinori Sasaji
  • Battery pack maintenance system
    Patent number: 11474153
    Abstract: A battery pack maintenance system includes maintenance circuitry, image input circuitry, a display, and user input circuitry. The maintenance circuitry is configured to perform a maintenance operation on a battery pack having a plurality of batteries. The image input circuitry is configured to receive an image of the battery pack. The display is configured to display the image. The user input circuitry is configured to receive a battery selection user input identifying a selected battery of the battery pack. The maintenance circuitry is configured to associate the battery selection user input with a maintenance operation performed on the selected battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: MIDTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew John Salo, III, Bryan Paul Roland
  • Series redundant capacitive sensing device
    Patent number: 11467199
    Abstract: A device for capacitive detection of an object with respect to a detection surface, including: at least one capacitive detection electrode, and detection electronics including at least one item of measurement electronic equipment, for: polarizing the at least one detection electrode at an alternating excitation potential (VG), different from a ground potential; measuring a measurement signal relative to an electrode-object capacitance; and the detection electronics also includes, for the measurement electronics, at least two separate calculation modules, operating in parallel, and supplying two independent detection signals for one and the same measurement signal originating from the measurement electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: FOGALE NANOTECH
    Inventors: Christian Neel, Didier Roziere
  • Diagnostic apparatus for secondary battery and SOC unevenness detection method
    Patent number: 11469456
    Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus for a secondary battery includes a control device. The control device acquires an electricity storage amount that is the amount of electricity stored in the secondary battery, and V/K indicating the magnitude of change in OCV of the secondary battery with respect to temperature change of the secondary battery. The control device determines whether or not an SOC unevenness occurs in an electrode surface of the secondary battery by using the acquired electricity storage amount and V/K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryo Kanada, Kenji Takahashi
  • Systems and methods for detecting battery system swelling in information handling systems
    Patent number: 11466972
    Abstract: Systems and methods may be implemented separately from (and external to) a battery system to detect swollen battery system components within a chassis enclosure of the information handling system, without any physical contact with the battery cells or battery system, and without requiring premature opening of the information handling system chassis enclosure to inspect for battery system swelling. A system user may be automatically warned of detected battery system swelling and/or battery system charging may be automatically terminated upon detected battery system swelling so that information handling system failure and/or system service costs that would otherwise be expended to repair damage caused by swollen battery system components may be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Shao-Szu Ho, Shih-Chang Hu, Wen-Yung Chang, Chin-Yuan Chiang
  • Battery pack
    Patent number: 11467212
    Abstract: A battery pack including first and second battery contactors respectively having first ends electrically connected to positive and negative electrode terminals of a battery; first and second charging contactors respectively having first ends electrically connected to second ends of the first and second battery contactors; a second power connector of a charger having first and second output terminals respectively electrically connected to the first and second input terminals being connected to the first power connector; and a control unit configured to, when a charger is connected and a charging request is received, control the first and second charging contactors to both be in a turn-on state or a turn-off state at the same time, and diagnosing a fault of each of the first charging contactor and the second charging contactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventor: Sang-Hyeok Ham
  • Battery electromechanical switching device diagnostics system and methods
    Patent number: 11460503
    Abstract: An electrical system comprising a battery system and a control system is disclosed. The battery system may comprise a first switching device, a first battery electrically coupled in series with the first switching device, a second battery electrically coupled in parallel with the first switching device and the first battery when the first switching device is in a closed position, and a second switching device coupled in series with a load. The control system may be configured to perform diagnostics on the battery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Mark R. Johnson, Michael R. Blemberg, Ronald J. Dulle, Steven G. Rinaldo, Zhihong Jin, Douglas G. Grimsley
  • Battery module testing
    Patent number: 11460512
    Abstract: Testing of a battery module can be conducted using monitoring electronics attached to the battery module. Stimulus can be applied to the battery module and removed. After removal of the stimulus, the monitoring electronics can collect signals from the monitoring electronics reflecting parameters of the battery module as it relaxes back to a non-stimulated state. The stimulus can be provided by test equipment or by components of a system in which the battery module, having attached monitoring electronics, is implemented. The monitoring electronics attached to the battery module can provide autonomous recording of signals associated with the battery module that can provide data regarding the status of the battery module or one or more batteries contained in the battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventor: Shane O'Mahony
  • Insulation detection circuit, detection method and battery management system
    Patent number: 11448683
    Abstract: A circuit includes: an isolation power module, a first and second sampling modules, a first and second sampling points, a processor. A first terminal of the first sampling module is connected to a positive electrode of a battery pack and first terminal of a positive switch module, a second terminal of the first sampling module is connected to a negative electrode of the battery pack and a first terminal of the negative switch module, a third terminal of the first sampling module is connected to a first reference voltage end; a first terminal of the second sampling module is connected to a second terminal of the positive switch module and a positive electrode of the isolation power module, a second terminal of the second sampling module is connected to a second terminal of the negative switch module and a negative electrode of the isolation power module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Baohai Du, Le Chu, Jiayu Yu, Qiandeng Li
  • Power conversion device, motor control system, and parameter setting method therefor
    Patent number: 11451182
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes an AC conversion unit; a detector that detects an output current, a DC voltage, and a temperature; an I/O unit; and a control unit. The control unit includes a motor control unit that controls the AC conversion unit; an operation instruction/parameter setting unit that converts an operation instruction and a parameter; an information management unit; an I/O control unit; and a detection unit that acquires data of the detector. The operation instruction/parameter setting unit outputs the set parameter and characteristic data to the information management unit, which acquires parameter information associated with the operation instruction and parameter information for an operation instruction change quantity required for adjustment from an information server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yusuke Arao
  • Massively parallel DNA sequencing apparatus
    Patent number: 11448639
    Abstract: A DNA or genome sequencing structure is disclosed. The structure includes an electrode pair, each electrode having a tip-shaped end, the electrodes separated by a nanogap defined by facing tip-shaped ends; at least one conductive island deposited at or near each tip-shaped end; and a biomolecule having two ends, each end attached to the conductive islands in the electrode pair such that one biomolecule bridges over the nanogap in the electrode pair, wherein nucleotide interactions with the biomolecule provides electronic monitoring of DNA or genome sequencing without the use of a fluorescing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Roswell Biotechnologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chulmin Choi, Sungho Jin, Paul W. Mola, Barry L. Merriman
  • HEV robust algorithms for magnetic speed sensor for engine applications
    Patent number: 11442121
    Abstract: Magnetic field sensors and sensing methods are provided. A magnetic sensor module is configured to measure a magnetic field whose magnitude oscillates between a first extrema and a second extrema. The magnetic sensor module includes a magnetic sensor configured to generate measurement values in response to sensing the magnetic field, and a sensor circuit. The sensor circuit is configured to generate a measurement signal based on the measurement values, adjust an offset of the measurement signal according to an offset update algorithm and a first characteristic of the measurement signal, generate a pulsed output signal having pulses that are generated based on the adjusted measurement signal crossing the switching threshold, and selectively enable and disable the offset update algorithm based on a second characteristic of the measurement signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventors: Simone Fontanesi, Klaus Grambichler, Tobias Werth
  • Signal measurement apparatus and signal measurement method
    Patent number: 11435380
    Abstract: A signal measurement apparatus and signal measurement method are provided. The measurement apparatus includes a compensation signal generating circuit configured to generate a target compensation signal that reduces a carrier frequency component in a voltage signal that is input into an amplifier based on an output signal of the amplifier, and the amplifier amplifies the voltage signal to which the target compensation signal is applied, wherein the compensation signal generating circuit is configured to determine a signal value of a subsequent compensation signal based on a signal value of the output signal of the amplifier amplified by applying a previous compensation signal, when determining the target compensation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jongpal Kim
  • Battery formation/testing
    Patent number: 11435404
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling a current of a battery cell during formation and/or testing are described. A current sensor is used to measure the current of the battery cell, which is used as a feedback signal for controlling the current to achieve a target current. The transfer function of the current sensor is used to improve the accuracy of the current measurement. Because the transfer function can be regularly determined during formation/testing, a lower-cost current sensor with relatively poor temperature coefficient may be used. Any change in the gain of the current sensor may be detected by the transfer function determination and corrected for. Therefore, high current control accuracy may be achieved at lower cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Shaoli Ye, Gina M Kelso, David J. Lath, William Michael James Holland, John Jude O'Donnell
  • Battery control device, control method, computer-readable storage medium storing program, and vehicle
    Patent number: 11424490
    Abstract: A battery control device that controls a connection between a battery and a load includes a first switch inserted between the battery and the load, a bypass circuit between the battery and the load, which is connected in parallel to the first switch and includes a second switch on the battery side, a diode unit composed of two diodes, and a third switch that are connected in series, an instruction unit that instructs the first, second, and third switches to open or close, an acquisition unit that acquires voltages of both ends of the second and third switches, respectively, and a diagnosis unit that diagnoses whether the first switch operates normally based on open or closed states of the switches and the voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei Takahashi, Haruyuki Onoda
  • System and method for detecting failures in a battery management system for a vehicle battery
    Patent number: 11422193
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to a method and system for detecting failures in a cell measuring circuit for a vehicle battery including a plurality of battery cells. First the method includes determining a cell voltage of each of the plurality of cells by the respective cell measuring circuit. Next, the method includes performing cell balancing to balance a cell voltage for the plurality of cells and the cell balancing times are compared to determine if there are deviating cell balancing times, and if there is an identifiable pattern in the cell balancing times which can provide an indication of a failure in any of the cell measuring circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Sören Hansen, Nicklas Leuchovius, Louise Almquist, Pierre-Marie Heussaff
  • Exposed wire-bonding for sensing liquid and water in electronic devices
    Patent number: 11422104
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing defining an internal volume and a pressure sensor assembly disposed in the internal volume and in communication with an ambient environment. The pressure sensor assembly can include a structure at least partially enclosing a sensor volume, a pressure sensor affixed to a die disposed in the sensor volume, and an exposed moisture detection conductor positioned in the sensor volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Caleb C. Han, Brad G. Boozer, David MacNeil, Gregory B. Arndt, Patrick E. O'Brien, Roham Solasi, Tongbi T. Jiang, Ashwin Balasubramanian, William S. Lee, Manoj K. Bhattacharyya, Jiahui Liang, James G. Horiuchi, Savas Gider