Patents by Inventor Susumu Segawa

Susumu Segawa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9935472
    Abstract: A battery pack is disclosed. In one aspect, the battery pack includes a battery unit including a plurality of main battery cells and an additional battery cell. The battery pack also includes a battery management system (BMS) configured to receive voltage information about the battery unit and control charging and discharging of the battery unit. The BMS includes at least one voltage measuring terminal configured to receive main voltage information about the main battery cell and an analog to digital converting terminal configured to receive additional voltage information about the additional battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bong-Young Kim, Susumu Segawa, Hidaka Takao
  • Publication number: 20160156204
    Abstract: A battery pack is disclosed. In one aspect, the battery pack includes a battery unit including a plurality of main battery cells and an additional battery cell. The battery pack also includes a battery management system (BMS) configured to receive voltage information about the battery unit and control charging and discharging of the battery unit. The BMS includes at least one voltage measuring terminal configured to receive main voltage information about the main battery cell and an analog to digital converting terminal configured to receive additional voltage information about the additional battery cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Bong-Young Kim, Susumu Segawa, Hidaka Takao
  • Patent number: 9257852
    Abstract: A battery pack includes at least one battery cell, a microcomputer having a first voltage measuring terminal, a second voltage measuring terminal, and a reference voltage output terminal, the microcomputer being configured to control recharge and discharge of the at least one battery cell by detecting an abnormality of a reference voltage at the reference voltage output terminal in accordance with first and second voltages at respective first and second voltage measuring terminals, a voltage distribution unit connected between the reference voltage output terminal and a ground, the voltage distribution unit being configured to distribute voltage and to output to the microcomputer a medium voltage as the first voltage, and a voltage measuring unit connected between the reference voltage output terminal and the ground, the voltage measuring unit being configured to output to the microcomputer a forwarding direction voltage of a diode as the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin-Wan Kim, Susumu Segawa, Se-Sub Sim
  • Patent number: 9252623
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a secondary battery; and a protection device including: a measurement unit coupled to the secondary battery and configured to measure a temperature and a voltage of the secondary battery; a temperature estimation unit coupled to the measurement unit and configured to estimate a future temperature of the secondary battery; and a charging/discharging unit coupled to the secondary battery and configured to adjust a current or an input voltage applied to the secondary battery based on the future temperature and the voltage of the secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Se-Sub Sim, Susumu Segawa, Masami Omagari, Yong-Dai Lee, Jin-Wan Kim
  • Patent number: 9088163
    Abstract: A secondary battery pack is described that is rechargeable and has a large capacity. The secondary pack has multiple battery units and at least one controller. Each battery unit of the battery pack includes a cell unit and a cell balancing system. In one embodiment, the cell balancing system has at least three detachable connections for connecting the cell balancing system to the cell unit, the controller or to other cell balancing units. The connections allow the cell balancing systems to be detached from the battery units and reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Se-Sub Sim, Susumu Segawa, Eui-Jeong Hwang, Jong-Woon Yang, Han-Seok Yun, Beom-Gyu Kim, Jin-Wan Kim
  • Patent number: 9088052
    Abstract: A battery multi-series system and a communication method thereof. The battery multi-series system includes a master battery management system managing a battery; and a block master battery management system connected to the master battery management system and receiving data from at least one slave battery management system and storing the received data, wherein the master battery management system receives data periodically from the block master battery management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sesub Sim, Jongwoon Yang, Susumu Segawa, Tetsuya Okada, Euijeong Hwang, Hanseok Yun, Beomgyu Kim, Jinwan Kim
  • Patent number: 9077196
    Abstract: A battery pack and a power generation circuit in the battery pack are disclosed. The battery pack includes a battery cell unit including battery cells connected in series, a charge/discharge switch connected between the battery cell unit and charge/discharge terminals, a charge/discharge controller controlling the charge/discharge switch to charge or discharge the battery cell unit, and a voltage converter electrically connected in parallel to the charge/discharge switch and dropping a voltage of the battery cell unit, and outputting the dropped voltage as power of the charge/discharge controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Se-Sub Sim, Susumu Segawa, Masami Omagari, Jin-Wan Kim, Young-Shin Cho
  • Patent number: 9070908
    Abstract: A battery system includes a rack having a plurality of battery tray positions, a battery tray in a corresponding battery tray position among the battery tray positions, and a system management unit electrically coupled to the battery tray. Each of the battery tray positions is associated with position information, and the battery tray has an identifier. The system management unit is configured to receive and store the position information and the identifier, and to determine the corresponding battery tray position of the battery tray in accordance with the identifier and the position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Se-Sub Sim, Eui-Jeong Hwang, Susumu Segawa, Jong-Woon Yang, Han-Seok Yun
  • Patent number: 9024583
    Abstract: An analog switch and a battery pack using the same are provided. The analog switch can compensate for temperature dependence of voltages measured from a battery cell before applying the measured voltages to an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter. In an embodiment of the analog switch, a first diode is coupled in a backward direction from a flying capacitor, which is coupled to the A/D converter, to correspond to a second diode packaged therewith as a single set. The first diode is positioned in a battery cell voltage input path to store battery cell voltage values in the flying capacitor, while the second diode suppresses a temperature-related difference caused by the first diode to voltages measured from the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jongwoon Yang, Susumu Segawa, Euijeong Hwang, Beomgyu Kim, Jinwan Kim, Hanseok Yun
  • Patent number: 9017835
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes a protection circuit module (PCM) electrically connected to a bare cell. The bare cell is wrapped with a first sheet, a water permeable second sheet placed on the first sheet, and a submergence label placed between the first sheet and the water permeable second sheet. The submergence label indicates if the bare cell has been exposed to moisture. The label sheet further has a stacking structure, wherein the second sheet is placed on top of the first sheet and the submergence label is interposed between the first sheet and the second sheet. Accordingly, it is possible to determine whether a user has disassembled, modified, or reused the battery and it is possible to easily verify whether or not the secondary battery has been submerged in a liquid due to a user's carelessness or mistake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Se-Sub Sim, Susumu Segawa, Eui-Jeong Hwang, Jong-Woon Yang, Han-Seok Yun, Beom-Gyu Kim, Jin-Wan Kim
  • Patent number: 8994333
    Abstract: A battery pack including a plurality of battery cells and a method of controlling the battery pack are provided. The method includes: permanently cutting off charging and discharging paths of the battery pack; and discharging one or more of the battery cells when a condition of which satisfies a reference condition. Therefore, state of the battery pack changes from its failure state to a stable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Wan Kim, Susumu Segawa, Eui-Jeong Hwang, Se-Sub Sim, Jong-Woon Yang, Han-Seok Yun, Beom-Gyu Kim
  • Patent number: 8949056
    Abstract: A battery management system and a battery pack. The battery management system includes a micro computer unit including an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to measure a battery voltage, a voltage generation unit to generate a power voltage of the ADC by using the battery voltage, a voltage measuring unit to measure the power voltage, and an error calibration unit to measure a variation of the power voltage, measured by the voltage measuring unit, by using a reference power voltage, and calibrate the battery voltage, measured by the ADC, by using the measured variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jongwoon Yang, Susumu Segawa
  • Patent number: 8907597
    Abstract: A battery pack includes: a first battery cell group including at least one high capacity battery cell; and a second battery cell group including at least one high output battery cell and being coupled in parallel to the first battery cell group, wherein the high output battery cell is configured to output a greater current than the high capacity battery cell, the high capacity battery cell is configured to store a greater amount of electric energy compared to the high output battery cell, and the battery pack is configured to operate in one of operational modes including: a high capacity mode for outputting electric energy stored in the first battery cell group; a high output mode for outputting electric energy stored in the second battery cell group; and a mutual charge mode for charging the first battery cell group or the second battery cell group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Wan Kim, Jong-Woon Yang, Susumu Segawa, Eui-Jeong Hwang, Se-Sub Sim, Han-Seok Yun, Beom-Gyu Kim
  • Patent number: 8872477
    Abstract: A battery pack and a method of operating the battery pack are disclosed. The battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells and is configured to open a terminal of the battery if an open circuit is detected in a line connecting battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jongwoon Yang, Euijeong Hwang, Susumu Segawa, Jinwan Kim, Hanseok Yun, Beomgyu Kim
  • Patent number: 8865328
    Abstract: A battery pack is disclosed. The battery pack has an analog front end which senses if a failure occurs in a microcontroller, and interrupts charging and discharging of the battery in response to the failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Beom-Gyu Kim, Susumu Segawa, Eui-Jeong Hwang, Se-Sub Sim, Jong-Woon Yang, Han-Seok Yun, Jin-Wan Kim
  • Patent number: 8860374
    Abstract: A control circuit for a secondary battery is disclosed. The control circuit comprising a measuring unit electrically connected with a single connection to a current carrying line for charging and discharging the battery, wherein the measuring unit is configured to generate a voltage value corresponding to current in the current carrying line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hanseok Yun, Susumu Segawa, Testuya Okada, Euijeong Hwang, Sesub Sim, Jongwoon Yang, Beomgyu Kim, Jinwan Kim
  • Patent number: 8854007
    Abstract: A protection circuit of a battery pack capable of detecting the error of a charging device from the battery pack. The protection circuit of the battery pack having a battery cell charged by a charging device, the protection circuit including a charge switch coupled to a high current path (HCP), the charge switch disposed between the battery cell and the charging device charging the battery cell and a controller sensing a voltage or a current of the charging device during a charge stop period stopping a charging of the battery cell and determining whether an error of the charging device occurs according to the voltage or the current of the charging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Wan Kim, Susumu Segawa, Eui-Jeong Hwang, Se-Sub Sim, Jong-Woon Yang, Han-Seok Yun, Beom-Gyu Kim
  • Patent number: 8810067
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus is disclosed. The power supply apparatus includes a rechargeable battery and a battery management system (BMS) for managing charging and discharging of the battery. The power supply apparatus is configured to supply an operating power to the BMS from an external power of an external power source when the external power source is in a normal state and is capable of supplying the external power to a load through the power supply apparatus. The power supply apparatus is further configured to supply the operating power to the BMS from electric energy stored in the battery when the external power source is in a state different from the normal state and not capable of supplying the external power to the load through the power supply apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Beom-Gyu Kim, Susumu Segawa, Eui-Jeong Hwang, Se-Sub Sim, Jong-Woon Yang, Han-Seok Yun, Jin-Wan Kim
  • Patent number: 8802257
    Abstract: A battery pack and a driving method thereof. The battery pack includes a battery cell; a charge switch and a discharge switch installed in a charge/discharge line of a battery cell; and a microcontroller to sense and store voltages of the battery cell, to compare the voltages of the battery cell before and after the microcontroller is reset, and to controls the charge switch and the discharge switch based on the sensed voltages of the battery cell such that the microcontroller turns off only one of the charge switch and the discharge switch when there is a change between the voltages of the battery cell before and after the microcontroller is reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinwan Kim, Jongwoon Yang, Susumu Segawa, Tetsuya Okada, Euijeong Hwang, Sesub Sim, Hanseok Yun, Beomgyu Kim
  • Patent number: 8803478
    Abstract: A battery pack is provided. The battery pack includes first battery cells, a second battery cell coupled to one of the first battery cells, a voltage sensing and balancing circuit for measuring voltages of the first battery cells and for maintaining voltage balance between the first battery cells, a controller that includes an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter, and an analog switch for measuring a voltage value of the second battery cell and for transferring the measured voltage value to the A/D converter. The controller is for controlling charging and discharging of the first and second battery cells. The analog switch includes a flying capacitor, a first switch unit for transferring a voltage between the second battery cell and the flying capacitor, a second switch unit for transferring a voltage of the flying capacitor to the A/D converter, and a first diode for protecting a voltage source from a surge current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jongwoon Yang, Susumu Segawa