Charging Station For Electrically Powered Vehicle Patents (Class 320/109)
  • Patent number: 11618331
    Abstract: A proximity detection system for facilitating charging of electric aircraft. The proximity detection system includes at least a computing device. The at least a computing device is configured to receive a detection datum from at least a sensor, determine a proximal element as a function of the detection datum, and communicate a notification as a function of the proximal element to at least one of the electric aircraft and a charging structure. The detection datum includes information on at least one of the electric aircraft and the charging structure. The proximal element includes information on a spacing between the electric aircraft and the charging structure. A proximity detection method for facilitating charging of an electric aircraft is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventor: Herman Wiegman
  • Patent number: 11618332
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to methods and systems for charging an electric vehicle. A charging system may be used to charge the energy storage devices of an electric vehicle by using the power generation or regeneration systems or devices of the vehicle. The vehicle may access the charging system by positioning one or more wheels of the vehicle adjacent to, or on top of, one or more drive rollers of the charging system. The driver rollers may be rotatably coupled to one or more motors. A controller may control operation of the charging system, including the charging of the vehicle, by causing the motor to cause the drive rollers to rotate. The wheels of the vehicle may rotate in response to rotation of the drive rollers, causing power generation or regeneration systems of the vehicle to generate energy to store in an energy storage device of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventor: Anthony Macaluso
  • Patent number: 11621558
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electrical energy supply device having usage units, wherein each usage unit is designed to generate or to buffer electrical energy. The disclosure proposes that the energy supply device carries out an energy exchange through a busbar assembly, wherein busbars of the busbar assembly form a busbar matrix, and in the energy supply device the usage units are divided up into strands and in each strand the usage units are hooked up in a series circuit and the series circuit is connected across a DC voltage converter to one strand end of the strand and each strand end of the strand is connected across a respective galvanically separable switching unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Hinterberger, Berthold Hellenthal, André Blum
  • Patent number: 11613184
    Abstract: A system for disabling an electric vehicle during charging, including an energy storage device, the energy storage device attached to an electric vehicle. T The system including a charging port, wherein the charging port is configured to engage with a charging connector, the charging port disposed on the electric vehicle and electrically connected to the energy storage device. The system also including a presence sensor, the presence sensor communicatively connected to the charging port, the presence sensor configured to detect whether the charging connector is engaged with the charging port. Additionally, the system including an interlock component, the interlock component configured to disable the electric vehicle when the charging connector is engaged with the charging port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventor: Herman Wiegman
  • Patent number: 11613250
    Abstract: A system, method, infrastructure, and vehicle for supporting automated valet parking are provided. The automated valet parking method may include: establishing, by a vehicle, a communication with an infrastructure facility; receiving, by the vehicle, a target position and a guide route from the infrastructure facility after the communication is established; performing, by the vehicle, an autonomous driving based on the guide route; and parking, by the vehicle, at the target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Dae Gil Cho
  • Patent number: 11611102
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a high-efficiency working method for a battery energy storage system at low temperature. In the present invention, combined operation of two kinds of batteries is taken as an example to build an energy storage system framework at low temperature. A lithium iron phosphate battery and a lithium titanate battery are selected for combined operation to achieve complementary advantages of the two kinds of batteries; then, an energy storage system model for combined operation of the two kinds of batteries with the consideration of an impact of temperature on charging/discharging efficiency of the batteries is built; and finally, an optimal dispatching solution for a battery energy storage system composed of the lithium titanate battery and the lithium iron phosphate battery at low temperature is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: SOUTHEAST UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Haohui Ding, Qinran Hu, Xiangjun Quan, Xiaobo Dou, Zaijun Wu
  • Patent number: 11607966
    Abstract: A control device for a mobile body is equipped with a charging and electrical power supplying unit including a first smoothing capacitor positioned on a connector side and a second smoothing capacitor positioned on a battery side, and a control unit configured to control the charging and electrical power supplying unit. When the battery is charged using electrical power supplied from the electrical power source device, the control unit completes precharging a first smoothing capacitor and a second smoothing capacitor using electrical power supplied from the battery, before the electrical power from the electrical power source device starts to be supplied to the charging and electrical power supplying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuteru Yano, Shinichi Yokoyama, Masahiko Sato, Tomoki Nakahara
  • Patent number: 11607971
    Abstract: A method for scheduling EV battery swap based on IoV, in which the roadside units regard battery-swap station clusters with a high degree of potential cooperation as a whole, and gather them into a single battery swap area; taking a service rate of a cluster of swap stations as an assessment target, and mainly examining a service capability, a service quality, and location information of each of swap station nodes themselves, and a current state of those electric vehicles that require to swap battery; providing a solution of the best joint actions for the overall electric vehicles to maintain the overall service balance of every swap station and improve a long-term performance of Internet of Vehicles. According to the invention, a battery of the electric vehicles can be swapped as soon as possible, and every battery swap station can maintain business balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Harbin Engineering University
    Inventors: Tong Wang, Guangxin Yang, Yu Wang, Shan Gao, Liwei Chen
  • Patent number: 11607969
    Abstract: A vehicle charging method includes, among other things, electrically connecting a first vehicle to a grid source, electrically connecting the first vehicle to a second vehicle, and charging a traction battery of the first vehicle using electricity from the second vehicle and electricity from the grid source. A vehicle charging system includes, among other things, a traction battery of a first vehicle, and a charger that is used to charge the traction battery using electricity from a grid source, electricity from a second vehicle, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Barker, Kevin Mackenzie
  • Patent number: 11605828
    Abstract: A fuel cell system that can improve an operating efficiency while minimizing an increase in cost for a configuration is provided. A fuel cell system (10) includes a fuel cell stack (11), an air pump (13), and an electric power control unit (15). The air pump (13) is connected to an output terminal of the fuel cell stack (11). The air pump (13) is configured to supply air as an oxidizing agent gas to the fuel cell stack (11). The electric power control unit (15) includes a first circuit unit (31) and a second circuit unit (32). The first circuit unit (31) is connected to the output terminal of the fuel cell stack (11) and is configured to perform step-up electric power conversion on an input from the fuel cell stack (11). The second circuit unit (32) is configured to perform bidirectional electric power conversion for stepping-up an input from the fuel cell stack (11) and for stepping-down an output to the air pump (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryota Kitamoto
  • Patent number: 11605954
    Abstract: An example direct current fast charger (DCFC) for providing asymmetrical charging power to electric vehicles can include a first power module having a rectifier and control electronics, and a second power module having a rectifier and control electronics. The first power module can be configured to receive a request to charge a battery of an electric vehicle (EV) at a specified charge rate; determine that the specified charge rate exceeds a maximum charge rate of the first power module; request additional power from the second power module; when the second power module has available power to donate, receive donated power from the second power module; and charge the battery of the EV at an increased charge rate that exceeds the maximum charge rate of the first power module, the increased charge rate including a maximum power output of the first power module increased by the donated power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings LLC.
    Inventors: Adam Mandel-Senft, Sue-Ling Huynh, John Deniston, Danny Curzon
  • Patent number: 11601005
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) includes: a battery, a hybrid starter generator (HSG) starting an engine, and a controller that identifies a state of charge (SOC) of the battery upon when a reverse gear input is detected, determines whether to charge the battery by the HSG based on the identified SOC of the battery. In particular, the controller controls battery charging in a charging control mode based on a SOC level of the battery when it is determined that the HSG needs to charge the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sung Hoon Choi, Young Un Kim, Yu Hyun Sung, Jeong Min Shin, Dong Jin Nam
  • Patent number: 11597286
    Abstract: This specification describes a charging apparatus for use in an electric vehicle charging system which comprises an AC charging circuit connected to an AC power source, a DC charging circuit connected to a DC power source or the AC power source, the charging apparatus comprising: a first switch; a second switch; and a charging cable comprising a plurality of power lines, wherein each of the first switch and the second switch comprises a plurality of poles and a plurality of sets of contacts, wherein the plurality of poles corresponds to the plurality of power lines of the charging cable, the first switch is configured to move the plurality of poles of the first switch between a first position wherein the plurality of power lines of the charging cable is connected to a first set of contacts of the first switch connected to the AC charging circuit, and a second position wherein the plurality of power lines of the charging cable is not connected to the first set of contacts of the first switch connected to the A
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: ENTRUST SMART HOME MICROGRID LTD
    Inventor: Xiongwei Liu
  • Patent number: 11594902
    Abstract: Techniques are described for managing operations of a wireless-power-transmitting device, capable of operating in multiple radio-frequency (RF) bands. An example integrated circuit includes (i) an interface to couple with a power amplifier, (ii) an encryption block configured to authorize wireless-power-receiving devices, and (iii) a processing subsystem. The processing subsystem is configured to determine, using the encryption block, that multiple wireless-power-receiving devices are authorized to receive wirelessly-delivered power at multiple distinct frequencies. And after determining that the multiple wireless-power-receiving devices are authorized to receive wirelessly-delivered power, the processing subsystem provides multiple input signals, including signals having different respective frequencies, to the power amplifiers via the interface, to be amplified such that, when the amplified signals are sent to antennas, the antennas transmit RF signals to multiple receivers at multiple frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Energous Corporation
    Inventors: Cesar Johnston, Brian Bosso
  • Patent number: 11590855
    Abstract: A vehicle battery charging system includes a battery charger for charging a battery module of a vehicle. A first coolant circuit conveys a first cooling fluid therethrough. The first coolant circuit includes a chiller unit separate from the vehicle. The chiller unit and the first cooling fluid exchange heat therebetween. A second coolant circuit conveys a second cooling fluid therethrough. The second coolant circuit includes a battery module. The battery module and the second cooling fluid exchange heat therebetween. A heat exchanger exchanges heat between the first cooling fluid and the second cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventor: Ian Wainwright
  • Patent number: 11590857
    Abstract: The present application discloses a charging method, an apparatus, a device, a medium, a battery management system and a charging pile. The method includes: acquiring a charging demand parameter set by a user; calculating, according to the charging demand parameter and acquired actual operation state information of a battery, a target charging scheme for charging the battery; transmitting, according to the target charging scheme, a first charging request to a charging device, so that the charging device charges the battery according to the first charging request. According to the charging method, the apparatus, the device, medium, the battery management system and the charging pile provided in the embodiments of the present application, personalized smart charging can be achieved for different users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Jian Ruan, Shichao Li, Yanhua Lu, Yizhen Hou, Wei Zhang
  • Patent number: 11594777
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dual energy storage system that includes a lithium ion battery electrically coupled in parallel with a lead acid battery, where the lithium ion battery and the lead-acid battery are electrically coupled to a vehicle bus, where the lithium ion battery open circuit voltage (OCV) partially matches the lead-acid battery OCV such that the lead-acid battery OCV at 100% of the lead-acid battery state of charge (SOC) is about equal to the lithium ion battery OCV at 50% of the lithium ion battery SOC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Daniel B. Le, David R. Boone
  • Patent number: 11584252
    Abstract: Systems and methods for chaining data between electric vehicles and electric vehicle stations are disclosed. In an example, an electric vehicle can share a charging profile with a charging station, and the charging station can share collective charging data with the electric vehicle. The collective charging data can include charging profile data electric vehicles which have previously charged at the charging station. Based on the shared data both the electric vehicle and the charging station can perform one or more functions based on the shared data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Boris Hernan Polania Castro
  • Patent number: 11588661
    Abstract: Battery management systems with dual CAN messaging. In at least one embodiment of a battery management system (BMS) of the present disclosure, the BMS comprises at least two, dual, controller area network (CAN) transceivers, wherein a first CAN transceiver is for a vehicle bus and a second CAN transceiver is for a charger bus, and a computer program operable to communicate with the two, dual, CAN transceivers to toggle back and forth between vehicle intended, and charger intended, messaging states to improve battery operating efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Green Cubes Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Cooper, Raghuram Devanur Chandrashekhariah, Scott Hullinger
  • Patent number: 11577620
    Abstract: An information calculation system acquires a battery load history of a secondary battery that has been used. The information calculation system calculates first degradation states of a plurality of battery constituent elements of the secondary battery, based on the battery load history acquired and a plurality of degradation factors related to each of the battery constituent elements. The information calculation system acquires estimated load information on a load that is estimated to act on the secondary battery when the secondary battery is used in a future application. The information calculation system calculates future second degradation states of the plurality of battery constituent elements of the secondary battery when the secondary battery is used in the future application, based on the first degradation states related to the battery constituent elements calculated, the estimated load information acquired, and the plurality of degradation factors related to the battery constituent elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuta Shimonishi, Shuhei Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11577619
    Abstract: A charging station assembly capable of generating and delivering a conditioned airflow while charging a battery of a vehicle. The temperature and flow rate of this conditioned airflow may be controlled based on the ambient conditions and battery status. The conditioned airflow may be directed toward an outside heat exchanger of a refrigerant system of the vehicle to enhance capacity. The conditioned airflow may also be routed to a battery pack for direct cooling or heating through additional ventilation system. In hot ambient conditions, the charging station provides cool air to facilitate battery cooling. In cold ambient conditions, the charging station provides hot air to facilitate battery heating. This charging station assembly shifts the load from the vehicle refrigerant system to the charging system, thereby improving battery thermal management capability, while eliminating the need for an oversized refrigerant system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Jing He, Henry Huang
  • Patent number: 11579021
    Abstract: A charging device for charging a mobile device using a charging component includes a power connector and a thermal monitoring device. The power connector includes a housing having an end wall between a front and a rear. The housing includes power contact channels with power contacts received therein. The thermal monitoring device is coupled to the end wall of the housing. The thermal monitoring device includes a substrate, a mating connector mounted to the substrate, and a temperature sensor mounted to the substrate. The temperature sensor is electrically connected to the mating connector being positioned in close proximity with at least one of the power contacts such that the temperature sensor is in thermal communication with the power contact for monitoring the temperature of the power contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GmbH
    Inventors: Christopher George Daily, Matthew Edward Mostoller, Edward John Howard
  • Patent number: 11577623
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for predicting battery usage habits and battery discharge tendencies. The system includes a battery sensor that senses a state of charge (SOC) of a battery and a controller hat calculates battery power generation amount during driving time of a vehicle and battery consumption during parking time of the vehicle based on information sensed by the battery sensor. A storage unit for stores the battery power generation amount, the battery consumption, time at which the vehicle is tuned on/off, and time at which the controller enters a sleep/wake-up state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Yura Corporation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun Wook Kim, Hyun Young Kim, Chan Young Jung
  • Patent number: 11581759
    Abstract: A power reception apparatus performs device authentication on a power transmission apparatus, and performs control to request first power of the power transmission apparatus in a case where the power transmission apparatus fails the device authentication and to request second power higher than the first power of the power transmission apparatus in a case where the power transmission apparatus successfully passes the device authentication. In addition, the power reception apparatus sets a setting to permit requesting the second power of a power transmission apparatus which does not have a function for responding to the device authentication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Wataru Tachiwa
  • Patent number: 11577621
    Abstract: A robot apparatus for establishing a charging connection between a charging device and an energy storage unit of a motor vehicle, having a movement unit, by which the robot apparatus is movable in relation to the charging device and the motor vehicle, having a receptacle device, by which a charging element of the charging device can be received, can be coupled to a coupling element of the energy storage unit and subsequently released, and having a detection unit, by which a position of the coupling element on the motor vehicle is ascertainable, wherein the robot apparatus is connectable by a support device to the motor vehicle, whereby a force is transmittable from the robot apparatus to the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Matthias Brendel, Dietrich Engelhart
  • Patent number: 11575275
    Abstract: Systems and methods for charging electric vehicles and for quantitative and qualitative load balancing of electrical demand are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Charge Fusion Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Ambroziak, Carson C. K. Fincham
  • Patent number: 11575268
    Abstract: A charging pad according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include an input terminal connected to a high-priority charging pad; an output terminal connected to a low-priority charging pad; a charging unit configured to charge a robot positioned on the charging pad in accordance with a preset operating state; and a control unit configured to switch an operating state of the charging unit from an operation stop state to an operation standby state when a status signal for the high-priority charging pad is received from the input terminal. The control unit is configured to output the status signal for the charging pad through the output terminal when occupation of the charging unit by the robot is detected in the operation standby state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: NAVER LABS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kay Park, Minsu Kim, Jaehun Han, Joonho Seo
  • Patent number: 11565602
    Abstract: A charging system for autonomous transport vehicles including at least one charging contact disposed on each pick floor level of a storage and retrieval system, each of the at least one charging contact being located at a transfer station, at least one power supply configured to supply power to the at least one charging contact, and a controller in communication with the transfer station and being configured to communicate information relating to a transfer of items between the transfer station and a predetermined one of the autonomous transport vehicles and to apply power from the power supply to the at least one charging contact for charging the predetermined autonomous transport vehicle corresponding to the transfer and located at the transfer station, wherein the controller is configured to supply power to the charging contacts simultaneously with the predetermined autonomous transport vehicle exchanging items related to the transfer at the transfer station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: SYMBOLIC LLC
    Inventors: Robert Sullivan, Dmitry Vasilyev
  • Patent number: 11568162
    Abstract: In a method for charging an electric device by a service rendering system, a controller of the service rendering system receives an image captured by an image sensor and processes the image to identify a label in the image as corresponding to the electric device. The controller obtains a service point location encoded in the label, where the service point location includes a location relative to a location of the label. The controller obtains service information included in the label, where the service request includes a charging service, and the charging service includes a description of an electric charging input of the electric device. The controller calculates a label position of the label using the image of the label and calculates a service point position using the service point location and the label position, where the service point position includes the electric charging input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: TP Lab, Inc.
    Inventors: Chi Fai Ho, Augustine Junda Ho
  • Patent number: 11563338
    Abstract: Systems and methods for charging electric vehicles and for quantitative and qualitative load balancing of electrical demand are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Charge Fusion Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Ambroziak, Carson C. K. Fincham
  • Patent number: 11554682
    Abstract: A charging apparatus for charging a battery of an electrically operable vehicle includes a plug element, a base element, and adjusting facility. The plug element is connectable to a corresponding, vehicle-side plug element of the motor vehicle and via which electrical energy is transferrable to the motor vehicle so as to charge the battery. The base element is connected to a current source and provides electrical energy from the current source for the plug element. Via the adjusting facility the plug element is movable relative to the base element in order to connect the plug element to the vehicle-side plug element, and via which an electrical connection is provided between the base element and the plug element. The adjusting facility has an overload protection via which the base element is electrically separated from the plug element in the event of a predetermined mechanical maximal load being exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alexander Ewald, Bernhard Hoess
  • Patent number: 11554684
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for aggregating and assigning power capacity for charging electric vehicles and providing power to other loads. The systems include a DC bus system used to harmonize and combine power drawn from grid connections having different electrical characteristics such as different voltages or phase levels and from other devices such as energy storage systems and generators at the site. Using the systems and methods can help enable utility customer sites to providing electric vehicle charging, especially for multiple electric vehicles, where the sites would otherwise not have sufficient power to do so without significant and expensive service upgrades and modifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: AMPLY POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan M. Chow, Victor Shao
  • Patent number: 11554680
    Abstract: An intermediate circuit is equipped with a first terminal connection, which includes a neutral conductor connection, and with a first and a second intermediate circuit capacitor and a diode circuit. The intermediate circuit has configuration switches which in a first state connect the intermediate circuit capacitors to one another in series and in a second state connect the intermediate circuit capacitors to one another in parallel. The configuration switches are each designed as changeover switches, which bypass the diode circuit in the first state, wherein the neutral conductor connection is connected to the diode circuit. A vehicle-based charging circuit, which includes the intermediate circuit and a rectifier circuit, is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventors: Veit Wagenseil, Werner Lex, Walter Schrod
  • Patent number: 11548398
    Abstract: A cable assembly includes a cable having a first end and a second end. The cable has an electric conductor and a cooling conduit, each of which extends from the first end to the second end. The cooling conduit is adapted to convey a fluid that cools the electric conductor. The cable assembly includes a leak detection module to detect a leak of the fluid from the cooling conduit. The leak detection module includes a power source to generate an input voltage signal which is applied at a first node contact with the fluid. The leak detection module includes a controller to monitor an output voltage signal at the first node and to detect a leak of the fluid from the cooling conduit based on the output voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Pascal-Andre Fortin, Martin Sukup, Tim Murphy, Chuen Chou, Aria Tedjarati
  • Patent number: 11552509
    Abstract: A position alignment method performed by a ground assembly for wireless power transfer includes measuring, through at least one low frequency (“LF”) receiver of the ground assembly, a first magnetic flux density for a magnetic field emitted from at least one LF transmitter of a vehicle assembly; measuring, through the at least one LF receiver, a second magnetic flux density for a magnetic field emitted from the at least one LF transmitter; configuring a received signal measurement based on a comparison result of the first magnetic flux density and the second magnetic flux density; and providing the configured received signal measurement to a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Yong Seong, Min Byeong Lee
  • Patent number: 11552507
    Abstract: An example operation includes one or more of wirelessly notifying, via a charging station, at least one transport of a group of identified transports of a needed amount of energy stored in the at least one transport prior to the at least one transport being connected to the charging station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Norman Lu
  • Patent number: 11552503
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a terminal device and a charging control method. The terminal device includes a receiving coil, a wireless charging module, an inverter circuit and a transmitting coil. The receiving coil is configured to receive a wireless charging signal. The wireless charging module is configured to perform a wireless charging to a battery based on the wireless charging signal received by the receiving coil. The inverter circuit is configured to generate an alternating current signal based on a power supply voltage provided by the battery. The transmitting coil is configured to transmit a wireless charging signal to the outside based on the alternating current signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Shiming Wan
  • Patent number: 11541765
    Abstract: A system for charging one or more batteries of a vehicle may include a charging box mounted to a vehicle to facilitate connection to a charge coupler from under the vehicle. The charge coupler may be configured to provide an electrical connection between an electrical power source and the charging box. A vehicle including the charging box may maneuver to a position above the charge coupler, after which electrical contacts of the charging box and the charge coupler may be brought into contact with one another. The charge coupler and/or the charging box may be configured to provide electrical communication between the electrical power source and the one or more batteries, so that the electrical power source may charge one or more of the batteries. Thereafter, the electrical contacts may be separated from one another, and the vehicle may maneuver away from the charge coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Emrys Booth, Moritz Boecker, Kyle Matthew Foley, Da Liu, Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Robert Alan Ng
  • Patent number: 11541771
    Abstract: A power receiving and feeding apparatus is provided which includes a connector coupled to a power receiving and feeding outlet of an electric motor vehicle, a connector moving unit that moves the connector in a lateral direction and a vertical direction, and a position determination unit that determines a position of the power receiving and feeding outlet of the electric motor vehicle based on a position information of the electric motor vehicle and a vehicle information of the electric motor vehicle. The connector moving unit is caused to move the connector at a position higher than a predetermined height in the lateral direction and then in the vertical direction to align the connector to the position of the power receiving and feeding outlet so as to couple the connector to the power receiving and feeding outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kei Machida
  • Patent number: 11535114
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and devices for controlling charging of vehicles, to avoid charging during charge-adverse time periods or during charge restriction events. This can advantageously reduce cost to vehicles owners, and or provide access to reward incentives. Further, power distribution entities (utility providers) advantageously have increased control over power distribution to avoid over-burdening of power distribution infrastructure. Further, systems and methods for determining or inferring whether a vehicle is connected to a charge station are described, which can be used to inform automatic restriction of vehicle charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Geotab Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Christopher Mallia, Christopher Joseph Mendes, Matthew Stevens, Young Seok Shin, Michael Douglas McLean
  • Patent number: 11535111
    Abstract: This invention relates to a mobile charging unit (1), particularly for one or more electric vehicles (4), of the type including rechargeable batteries (41), comprising a mobile charging vehicle (2), and a charging apparatus (3), installed on said charging vehicle (2), having, in turn: an energy accumulation group (5), equipped with accumulators (51) for containing energy for charging said electric vehicles (4); an inverter (6), connected to said accumulators (51), comprising a DC-AC-DC converter (62) to convert the direct current coming from said accumulators (51) into alternating current, wherein said inverter (6) is connectable to an alternating current network (9) and is adapted to transform the alternating current of said alternating current network (9) into direct current for charging said accumulators (51); and an internal control system (7), connected to said inverter (6), adapted to control the operation of said inverter (6); said charging apparatus (3) is characterised in that said inverter (6) furth
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: E-GAP S.R.L.
    Inventor: Eugenio De Blasio
  • Patent number: 11536774
    Abstract: A communication device is provided with: a first communication part that is connected to an energy storage device or a power supply related apparatus and communicates with the energy storage device or the power supply related apparatus; an acquisition part that acquires information including a state of the energy storage device or the power supply related apparatus on the basis of a set timing; a change acceptance part that accepts a change in the timing and changes the timing; and a transmission part that transmits, at a timing after the change, the information acquired by the acquisition part to a first apparatus by using a second communication part communicatively connected to the first apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Keita Nakai, Hitoshi Matsushima, Tomikatsu Uchihori, Tetsuro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11535120
    Abstract: A vehicle control device mounted on a vehicle includes a power storage device, a drive device configured to be driven by electric power from the power storage device, a system main relay attached to a power line between the power storage device and the drive device, and a charge circuit connected to a side of the drive device through the system main relay of the power line, in which the vehicle control device is configured to turn off the system main relay and prohibit reactivation of the system in a power shortage of the power storage device. The vehicle control device is configured to permit the system main relay to be turned on in a case where charging of the power storage device using the charge circuit is requested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaru Kimura
  • Patent number: 11531951
    Abstract: The location detection unit detects a destination location for delivery of an item by a drone. The release determination unit determines whether the drone transporting the item can release and place the item at the destination. Upon determination that the release and placement is not possible, a standby airspace determination unit determines a standby airspace within which the drone waits. The wait-time determination unit determines a wait-time for the drone in the determined standby airspace. The wait-time determination unit determines a wait-time by which the drone can arrive at a next destination by a scheduled arrival time following departure of the drone departs after standby. The standby instruction unit issues to the drone an instruction related to the standby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi Yamada, Ken Koumoto, Hidetoshi Ebara, Youhei Oono, Yuichiro Segawa, Yukiko Nakamura, Shinya Hanano
  • Patent number: 11529874
    Abstract: A charging rescue system and method for all-electric vehicles comprises: a rescue vehicle APP, a charging rescue vehicle, a rescued vehicle APP, and a rescue platform. The rescue vehicle APP comprises a user module, an order module, a monitoring module, and a communication module. The charging rescue vehicle comprises a controller, a GPS device, a direct current battery charger, an alternating current battery charger, and a measuring module. The rescued vehicle APP comprises a user module, an order module, a payment module, and a communication module. The rescue platform comprises an access module, an order execution module, a vehicle selection module, a rescue vehicle monitoring module, a bill management module, and a user authentication module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: HUNAN SCIENTOP AUTOMATIC EQUIPMENT SHARES CO., LTD
    Inventors: Deng Hu, Xuekun Yu, Shen Wang
  • Patent number: 11524798
    Abstract: A ducted fan unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) docking station is provided. The docking station comprises: a guide sized to receive a ducted fan UAV; and a housing communicatively coupled to the guide. The housing comprises: a storage assembly comprising: at least one compartment sized to store the UAV; and at least one dampening system coupled to the at least one storage compartment for cushioning the UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Inventor: Armin Strobel
  • Patent number: 11524590
    Abstract: An electric vehicle charging system includes logic collocated with an electric service panel to monitor a total present electric current consumption value for all electric consumers below a point in the service panel; a first input to receive the present electric current consumption value from the logic collocated with the service panel, and to compare the present electric current consumption value with a maximum current capacity value for the service panel; a second input to receive electric current from the service panel; an output to supply electric charging power to at least one electric vehicle; and logic to set an electric charging current drawn from the service panel through the second input and provided to the electric vehicle charging output to a value less than a difference between the maximum current capacity for the service panel and a sum of the present electric current consumption value and the current consumption value of a largest expected electric consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: CHARGEPOINT, INC.
    Inventor: James A. Billmaier
  • Patent number: 11524598
    Abstract: A vehicle control device is configured to perform timer charging, using preset start time and end time. The vehicle control device starts the timer charging of a battery mounted in a vehicle upon arrival of the start time, and ends the timer charging upon arrival of the end time. During the timer charging, power is supplied to the vehicle from a power supply device outside the vehicle through a charging cable. The vehicle control device is configured to: suspend the timer charging when the charging cable is disconnected during the timer charging; resume the suspended timer charging when predetermined resume conditions are met, the predetermined resume conditions including a condition in which the charging cable is reconnected after the timer charging is suspended and before the end time; and end) the suspended timer charging without waiting for the end time when the resume conditions are not met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuka Niikawa, Yamato Niwa
  • Patent number: 11524596
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a monitoring system, a base station, and a control method of drones. The drone includes a battery that supplies electric power for the drone and that connects with a charging connector. The base station includes a charging device, and the charging device includes a power supply connector, a power supply, and a power controller. The power supply connector is used for connecting to the charging connector. The power supply provides electric power. The power controller is coupled to the power supply and the power supply connector. The power controller is used to determine the battery specification of the battery and charge the battery from the power supply according to the battery specification. Thereby, the charging efficiency can be improved and the charging abnormality can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Coretronic Intelligent Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: Hsu-Chih Cheng, Ying-Chieh Chen, Chi-Tong Hsieh, I-Ta Yang
  • Patent number: 11528343
    Abstract: Systems and methods for charging vehicles. In some embodiments, a system includes at least one mobile device and a utility network management center (“NMC”). The at least one mobile device is configured as an electronic utility device and includes a network interface card (“NIC”). The at least one mobile device is also associated with a utility billing account and at least one utility commodity meter. The utility NMC is configured to communicate with the at least one mobile device and the at least one utility commodity meter over a network, locate the at least one mobile device, and monitor a state of the at least one utility commodity meter. The utility NMC is also configured to determine a usage of a commodity based on the state of the at least one utility commodity meter, and bill the utility billing account associated with the mobile device for the usage of the commodity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: ITRON NETWORKED SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Raj Vaswani, George Flammer, James Pace, Jay Ramasastry, Donald L. Reeves, III, Brian Matsuo