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: 8723479
    Abstract: A battery pack, a charger, and a charging system. The battery pack includes a rechargeable battery, and a protection circuit to control charging and discharging of the battery, wherein the protection circuit includes a micom to output an operating state signal representing an operating state of the micom and a malfunction transferring unit to transfer information on whether the battery is malfunctioning based on the operating state signal. Accordingly, when an error is detected by the protection circuit of the battery pack, charging is stopped, and thus the battery pack may be stably charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 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
  • Publication number: 20140084873
    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: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Se-Sub Sim, Susumu Segawa, Masami Omagari, Yong-Dai Lee, Jin-Wan Kim
  • Publication number: 20140055095
    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: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin-Wan KIM, Susumu SEGAWA, Se-Sub SIM
  • Patent number: 8618773
    Abstract: A charging control method for a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells in which a full charge voltage value is initially set as a first voltage value. The charging control method includes: charging the plurality of battery cells to the first voltage value in an initial charge mode; and resetting the full charge voltage value to a second voltage value less than the first voltage value in a subsequent charge mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jongwoon Yang, Susumu Segawa, Tetsuya Okada, Inkyu Park
  • Publication number: 20130221924
    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: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Se-Sub Sim, Susumu Segawa, Masami Omagari, Jin-Wan Kim, Young-Shin Cho
  • Patent number: 8513922
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery cell, a charge-blocking unit, a voltage sensing and balancing circuit, and a microcomputer, the microcomputer including a controller that detects at least one selected from the group of abnormal analog-to-digital conversion, abnormal voltage, and abnormal temperature of the battery cell, the controller outputting a charge control signal to the charge-blocking unit to inhibit charging of the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Woon Yang, Susumu Segawa, In-Kyu Park, Tetsuya Okada, Jin-Wan Kim
  • Patent number: 8498764
    Abstract: An electric vehicle and a method of controlling the electric vehicle are disclosed. In one embodiment, the electric vehicle includes i) a battery configured to provide electric energy to the motor, ii) a remaining energy-amount detector configured to detect a remaining energy-amount of the battery and iii) a manipulation unit configured to receive target information from a user. The vehicle also includes a guide information generator configured to generate driving guide information based at least in part on the remaining energy-amount of the battery and the target information and a display unit configured to display the driving guide information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-Seok Yun, Susumu Segawa, Eui-Jeong Hwang, Se-Sub Sim, Jong-Woon Yang, Beom-Gyu Kim, Jin-Wan Kim
  • Patent number: 8487588
    Abstract: A battery pack is disclosed that includes a plurality of battery cells and a plurality of temperature sensors. Each of the temperature sensors is for sensing a temperature of a corresponding one or more of the battery cells to generate a temperature signal, and the temperature sensors are divided into groups of temperature sensors. A plurality of A/D converters is provided, and each of the A/D converters is coupled to a corresponding one of the groups of temperature sensors to convert the temperature signal into a digital signal. An identification signal module is coupled to the A/D converters for applying different identification signals to the plurality of A/D converters, respectively. A controller is coupled to the A/D converters for receiving the identification signals and the temperature signal, and for identifying a temperature of each of the battery cells through the identification signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hanseok Yun, Susumu Segawa, Tetsuya Okada, Euijeong Hwang, Sesub Sim, Beomgyu Kim, Jinwan Kim
  • Publication number: 20120228946
    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: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Se-Sub Sim, Eui-Jeong Hwang, Susumu Segawa, Jong-Woon Yang, Han-Seok Yun
  • Patent number: 8217628
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery including a positive electrode and a negative electrode, a switching module including a charge switching device and a discharge switching device, the charge switching device and discharge switching device being electrically connected to a high current path of the battery, a battery management unit (BMU) electrically connected to the switching module, the BMU being configured to adjust a limit value for a charging current supplied by the charge switching device and to set a magnitude of the charging current supplied by the charge switching device to be equal to or less than the adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jongwoon Yang, Susumu Segawa, Sesub Sim
  • Publication number: 20120158338
    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: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jongwoon Yang, Susumu Segawa
  • Publication number: 20120139548
    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: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Jongwoon Yang, Susumu Segawa
  • Publication number: 20120056598
    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: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Jin-Wan Kim, Susumu Segawa, Eui-Jeong Hwang, Se-Sub Sim, Jong-Woon Yang, Han-Seok Yun, Beom-Gyu Kim
  • Publication number: 20120056586
    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: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: 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
  • Publication number: 20120032639
    Abstract: A battery pack, a charger, and a charging system. The battery pack includes a rechargeable battery, and a protection circuit to control charging and discharging of the battery, wherein the protection circuit includes a micom to output an operating state signal representing an operating state of the micom and a malfunction transferring unit to transfer information on whether the battery is malfunctioning based on the operating state signal. Accordingly, when an error is detected by the protection circuit of the battery pack, charging is stopped, and thus the battery pack may be stably charged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: 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
  • Publication number: 20120029744
    Abstract: An electric vehicle and a method of controlling the electric vehicle are disclosed. In one embodiment, the electric vehicle includes i) a battery configured to provide electric energy to the motor, ii) a remaining energy-amount detector configured to detect a remaining energy-amount of the battery and iii) a manipulation unit configured to receive target information from a user. The vehicle also includes a guide information generator configured to generate driving guide information based at least in part on the remaining energy-amount of the battery and the target information and a display unit configured to display the driving guide information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-Seok Yun, Susumu Segawa, Eui-Jeong Hwang, Se-Sub Sim, Jong-Woon Yang, Beom-Gyu Kim, Jin-Wan Kim
  • Publication number: 20120025963
    Abstract: A vehicle using a motor, and a method of controlling the vehicle. The vehicle includes a battery for providing electric energy to the motor, a remaining energy-amount detector for detecting an amount of remaining energy of the battery, a distance calculator for calculating an available moving distance of the vehicle corresponding to the amount of remaining energy and a weight applied to the vehicle, and a display unit for displaying the available moving distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Han-Seok Yun, Susumu Segawa, Eui-Jeong Hwang, Se-Sub Sim, Jong-Woon Yang, Beom-Gyu Kim, Jin-Wan Kim
  • Publication number: 20120025615
    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: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Beom-Gyu Kim, Susumu Segawa, Eui-Jeong Hwang, Se-Sub Sim, Jong-Woon Yang, Han-Seok Yun, Jin-Wan Kim
  • Publication number: 20120025744
    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: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Jin-Wan Kim, Jong-Woon Yang, Susumu Segawa, Eui-Jeong Hwang, Se-Sub Sim, Han-Seok Yun, Beom-Gyu Kim
  • Publication number: 20110305926
    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: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: 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