For Battery Pack Patents (Class 320/112)
  • Patent number: 11906595
    Abstract: Provided is a battery pack adapted to be removably mounted on a movable machine, the battery pack including: a rechargeable battery unit; a detector secured to the battery unit to detect the motion of the battery unit; a memory device; a processing device configured to record a history of motion information detected by the detector in the memory device; and an interface configured to output the motion information recorded in the memory device to the outside of the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Patent number: 11876193
    Abstract: A battery system includes a plurality of battery modules, each of the battery modules has an assembled battery, which includes a plurality of battery cells connected in series, a monitoring unit that monitors the assembled battery, and an external member that is electrically connected to the monitoring unit. The monitoring unit of each of the battery modules has a generation unit that generates, based on an electric signal input from the external member, an identification information item on the corresponding one of the battery modules, the identification information items of the respective battery modules being different from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoto Yamashita, Masahiko Ito, Masakazu Kouda, Hisanaga Onishi
  • Patent number: 11872476
    Abstract: A control pad assembly for an input device includes a bracket with a support having a bearing surface, a button cap configured to pivot relative to the bracket, the button cap including a peripheral lip and a pivot member configured to abut against the bearing surface of the support, and a return mechanism configured to bias the button cap towards the bracket. The return mechanism includes a hub portion positioned at least partially between the button cap and the bracket, and at least a first spring having a fixed end connected to the hub portion and a free end that is configured to deflect relative to the fixed end, the free end being coupled to a first portion of the peripheral lip of the button cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Scott K. Duncan, Livius Chebeleu, Alexander Wroblewski
  • Patent number: 11876392
    Abstract: A USB Type C sensor is disclosed for use with an alarm system for monitoring a chargeable electrical device having a USB Type C port. A sensor comprises a first cable having a USB Type C plug receivable in the USB Type C port. A second cable has a second USB plug receivable in a power source. A third cable has an alarm plug receivable in an alarm receptacle for the alarm system, in use. A housing is operatively connected to the first, second and third cables. A sensor circuit is in the housing and electrically connects the second USB plug to the USB Type C plug to charge a chargeable electrical device to be monitored. A switch circuit monitors a configuration channel of the USB Type C port to determine if the first cable is connected to the chargeable electrical device and responsive thereto controls a switch electrically connected to the alarm plug so that the alarm system monitors status of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Se-Kure Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Adams, Emily Craig
  • Patent number: 11870088
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for improving the rigidity or stiffness of an electronic device chassis or housing using a structural secondary battery. The structural secondary battery includes a compression skin disposed about one or more secondary storage cells. The compression skin exerts a compressive force of at least 0.5 atmospheres on the one or more secondary storage cells. A structural member is bonded to the compression skin. The structural member includes a relatively thin (e.g. 0.1 mm or less), rigid (e.g., Young's Modulus of at least 300 GPa), member, such as a sapphire crystal. The structural member may then be bonded or otherwise detachably or non-detachably affixed to an aperture formed in the electronic device chassis or housing. The bonding of the structural member to the electronic device chassis or housing beneficially improves the stiffness of the chassis or housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Juha Paavola, Naoki Matsumura, Mikko Makinen
  • Patent number: 11870279
    Abstract: A device charging system including a battery module and a central charging station. The battery module is configured to supply a type of power to at least one load device. The battery module has an identifier. The central charging station is in communication with the battery module. The central charging station includes an electronic processor configured to: receive the identifier from the battery module, determine if the identifier is stored in a memory of the central charging station, charge the battery module when the battery module is coupled to the central charging station when the identifier is stored in the memory, and generate an alert if the identifier is not stored in memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Nelson Bonilla, John Brower, Jason Walker, Nicole Gay, Matthew Samojeden, Shadi Alex AbuGhazaleh
  • Patent number: 11850956
    Abstract: An electric compact tractor powered by a plurality of lithium ion battery modules housed in a battery pack. A pair of electrical bus bars connect the plurality of lithium ion battery modules in the battery pack, and extend from the battery pack to electric motors for traction drive, implement drive and steering. A low voltage control circuit may be used for turning on the plurality of lithium ion battery modules in the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Vikas V. Jadhav, Sudip Kandke, Gaurav Dusane, Subhabrata Gupta, Bhupesh Agrawal, Saravanan Stallin, Navneet Garg
  • Patent number: 11848429
    Abstract: A semiconductor device in which a circuit and a battery are efficiently stored is provided. In the semiconductor device, a first transistor, a second transistor, and a secondary battery are provided over one substrate. A channel region of the second transistor includes an oxide semiconductor. The secondary battery includes a solid electrolyte, and can be fabricated by a semiconductor manufacturing process. The substrate may be a semiconductor substrate or a flexible substrate. The secondary battery has a function of being wirelessly charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junpei Momo, Kazutaka Kuriki, Hiromichi Godo, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11833921
    Abstract: A battery assessment station for an electric vehicle (EV) battery includes an impedance spectroscopy device that applies an electrical signal at a set of frequencies and measures the impedance response of the battery. A battery analyzer determines a battery parameter, such as remaining useful life or state-of-health, based on the impedance response. A fleet management system manages a fleet of EVs according to their determined battery parameters. For example, the fleet management system applies operational rules regarding the use or charging of the EVs in order to respond to battery degradation and improve battery life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth Ramon Ferguson
  • Patent number: 11831035
    Abstract: A battery pack and a method for connecting a battery pack to an electronic device to power to the electronic device (e.g., a headlamp, a flashlight, a flood light, a drill, a driver, etc.). The battery pack includes a generally cylindrical housing defined by an arcuate sidewall extending between a first end surface and a second end surface and defining an interior cavity configured to support at least one battery cell (e.g., a lithium-ion battery cell). The battery pack includes a first insertion alignment member engageable with a first battery alignment member of the electronic device in order to facilitate insertion into a receiving portion of the electronic device in a first direction and a second insertion alignment member engageable with a second battery alignment member of another electronic device in order to facilitate insertion into a receiving portion of the other electronic device in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Steven T. Sommerfeld, Benjamin D. Gall, Hui Shu Beldon Liu
  • Patent number: 11811258
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for offsetting parasitic energy losses of a battery energy storage system (BESS). A method may include determining, by one or more processors of a renewable energy power plant coupled to an energy grid, a condition is satisfied; and responsive to the determination, adjusting, by the one or more processors, a state of a switch from a first state configured to couple a second BESS with a renewable energy source (RES) to a second state configured to couple the second BESS with the BESS. The RES configured to charge the T-BESS when the switch is in the first state and the T-BESS configured to send energy to the devices to satisfy energy requirements of the devices when the switch is in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: 8ME NOVA, LLC
    Inventors: Nadim Kanan, Lukas Hansen
  • Patent number: 11799305
    Abstract: A system for charging a rechargeable power tool battery pack. The system includes a housing having a first port, a second port, and a power bus. The first port is configured to receive at least one selected from a power supply and a charging module. The second port is configured to receive the other of the at least one selected from the power supply and the charging module. Wherein the power supply is configured to supply a charging voltage, and wherein the charging module includes a battery receptacle configured to receive the rechargeable power tool battery pack, the rechargeable power tool battery pack having a first battery characteristic. The power bus is within the housing. The power bus is configured to provide an electrical connection between the first port and the second port and distribute the charging voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Donald J. Truettner, Babacar J. Diop, Kyle C. Fassbender
  • Patent number: 11791640
    Abstract: Rapid degradation an off-leakage current in an overdischarged state is prevented. In order to prevent an overdischarged state, a control circuit with low leakage current includes a transistor using an oxide semiconductor, whereby the characteristics of the secondary battery are retained. In addition, a system in which a control signal generation circuit is also integrated is formed. With this system structure, the control circuit enters a low-power consumption mode in accordance with the circuit operation after an overdischarge is detected. When recovering from an overdischarged state, the control circuit enters a normally-operating mode in accordance with the voltage increase when charging is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Munehiro Kozuma, Takayuki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11757142
    Abstract: A battery module of the present invention is adaptable to be utilized in various configurations including and not limited to an overlapping battery cell packaging configuration and a vertical stack battery cell packaging configuration used in an automotive and non-automotive applications. The battery module has a plurality of battery heatsink assemblies with the cells disposed therebetween. A plurality of rods extend through the each heatsink assemblies to secure the heatsink assemblies and the cell with one another to form the battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: EnerDel, Inc.
    Inventors: Derrick S. Buck, Robert N. Fattig, Bruce J. Silk
  • Patent number: 11742154
    Abstract: This electricity storage module includes: a plurality of electricity storage device; a device holder; a first external output terminal and a second external output terminal which are configured to be electrically connected to the plurality of electricity storage devices; and a terminal holder having one end portion and another end portion, the one end portion being configured to have the first external output terminal attached thereto, the other end portion being configured to have the second external output terminal attached thereto. The first external output terminal includes a coupling terminal part protruding to an outer side of a terminal holder in a direction in which the first external output terminal and the second external output terminal are arranged. The second external output terminal includes an external connection terminal part capable of being connected to an external terminal or the coupling terminal part on an inner side of the terminal holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Tashiro, Toshiaki Shimizu, Yuji Sonoda, Masahiro Nakaji
  • Patent number: 11735781
    Abstract: A charge and discharge control device that controls charging and discharging of a battery module in which a plurality of cell blocks, each including one or more unit cells, are connected in parallel to one another. A controller of the charge and discharge control device controls a current flowing through each of the cell blocks based on at least one of a current load of each of the cell blocks or a parameter relating to the current load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobukatsu Sugiyama, Yumi Fujita, Tomokazu Morita, Ena Ishii
  • Patent number: 11721987
    Abstract: A battery charger in one aspect of the present disclosure includes a first attachment portion, a second attachment portion, a first converter, a second converter, a fan, a first control circuit, a second control circuit, and a signal output circuit. The first control circuit (i) controls the first converter and (ii) transmits a command to drive the fan in response to a first drive condition being fulfilled. The second control circuit (i) controls the second converter and (ii) transmits a command to drive the fan in response to a second drive condition being fulfilled. The signal output circuit outputs a drive signal in response to the first control circuit and/or the second control circuit transmitting the command(s) to drive the fan. The fan feeds a cooling air flow to the first convertor and the second converter in response to receiving the drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yushi Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 11722062
    Abstract: A power supply device, an electronic apparatus, and a power supply method are provided. The power supply device comprises a first buck circuit used to convert, if a single battery cell in N cells connected in series has a voltage lower than a shutdown voltage of an electronic apparatus, a total voltage of the N cells into a power supply voltage of the electronic apparatus, such that the power supply voltage is higher than or equal to the shutdown voltage, N being an integer greater than or equal to 2; and a first power supply channel used to supply power to a system of the electronic apparatus according to the power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Jialiang Zhang, Hongbin Xie, Jun Zhang
  • Patent number: 11705751
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure include a power system comprising a power-supply device having an output, the power-supply device being configured to provide output power to the output of the power-supply device, and control circuitry configured to receive voltage information indicative of a voltage of a battery, determine that the voltage of the battery is above a first voltage threshold, activate a shutdown signal responsive to determining that the voltage of the battery is above the first voltage threshold, determine that the voltage of the battery is below a second voltage threshold, the second voltage threshold being less than the first voltage threshold, control the power-supply device to disable the output power to the output of the power-supply device responsive to determining that the voltage of the battery is below the second voltage threshold and that the shutdown signal is activated, and control the power-supply device to provide the output power to the output of the power-supply device responsive to de
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xia Wei, Chenlei Bao, Tongfei Zhang, Jingli Liu
  • Patent number: 11705741
    Abstract: Described herein is a battery system that allows a battery pack to operate in different modes at different times. Each of the different modes may provide its own set of functionality that affects how the battery pack operates and/or reacts to external input signals. A mode may change how the battery pack discharges power by, for example, altering whether terminals are enabled or disabled. A mode may change how the battery pack's hardware operates by, for example, disabling or enabling portions of the battery pack's hardware. A mode may change what battery-related services are provided by the battery pack and available to an end user by, for example, enabling or disabling the sending of battery status information from the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Inventus Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick James Trippel, William Tenorio, Ilyas Ayub, Tom Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11695289
    Abstract: An adapter comprises an input port being coupleable with a single-voltage output interface of a single-voltage battery pack or a multi-voltage output interface of a multi-voltage battery pack, an output port electrically connected to the input port and being coupleable with a single-voltage input interface of a first power tool or a multi-voltage input interface of a second power tool, a switching mechanism being switchable between a first state and a second state. When the switching mechanism is in the first state, the input port is coupled with the single-voltage output interface and the output port is coupled with the multi-voltage input interface of the second power tool, when the switching mechanism is in the second state, the input port is coupled with the multi-voltage output interface and the output port is coupled with the single-voltage input interface of the first power tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Globe (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Lei Huang, Xinzhong Guo, An Yan
  • Patent number: 11686873
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a new submerged buoy data acquisition system, including a battery compartment, a main control processor, a GPS receiver, a gigabit Ethernet interface module, and a plurality of data acquisition boards, where the GPS receiver is connected to the main control processor, and the main control processor is connected to a host computer by using the gigabit Ethernet interface module; the data acquisition board includes a hydrophone sensor, a front-end drive circuit, an AD conversion circuit, a clock module, a DA conversion circuit, an FPGA, an ARM processor, and a storage module; the hydrophone sensor is connected to the AD conversion circuit by using the front-end drive circuit, the AD conversion circuit is connected to the FPGA, the FPGA is connected to the ARM processor, the storage module is connected to the ARM processor, the DA conversion circuit is connected to the FPGA and the clock module, the clock module is connected to the FPGA, and the ARM processor is connected to the ma
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignees: The First Institute of Oceanography, SOA, Xi'an Hong Lu Yang Electrical Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guangming Kan, Zili Chen, Baohua Liu, Yanliang Pei, Yanhong Lian
  • Patent number: 11682910
    Abstract: A method for conducting an operation including a power tool battery pack. The battery pack can include a housing, a first cell supported by the housing and having a voltage, and a second cell supported by the housing and having a voltage. The battery pack also can be connectable to a power tool and be operable to supply power to operate the power tool. The method can include discharging one of the first cell and the second cell until the voltage of the one of the first cell and the second cell is substantially equal to the voltage of the other of the first cell and the second cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Todd W. Johnson, Dennis J. Grzybowski, Mark A. Kubale, Jay J. Rosenbecker, Karl F. Scheucher, Gary D. Meyer, Jeffrey M. Zeiler, Kevin L. Glasgow
  • Patent number: 11648656
    Abstract: An electric handheld working machine includes: a housing including: a motor as a drive source of a working unit; an operating handle; and attaching members provided on an outer surface of the housing and configured to attach a battery to supply electric power to the motor. The attaching members includes: a connecting terminal connected to the battery; a step provided above the connecting terminal and configured to function as a drainage path to drain drops of water to sides; and openings formed in the sides of the attaching members to communicate with the drainage path. The openings communicate with a cooling air flow path configured to allow cooing air to flow through a gap between a back surface of the battery attached to the attaching members and the outer surface between the attaching member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: YAMABIKO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kunio Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11646585
    Abstract: USB charger apparatus and chargeable electronic devices are presented in which the device and charger use USB cable data lines to establish a bidirectional communications connection, and the charger provides charger capability information to a master controller of the electronic device via the communications connection. The device controller preferentially selects a fastest charging match between the charger capability information and device charging capability information, and sends configuration information through the communications connection to set the power supply level of the charger. The charger communicates power supply status information to the electronic device, and the device can reconfigure the charger power supply level accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Tao Wang, Jiachuan Zhang, Junjie Mai, Yingling Sun
  • Patent number: 11641040
    Abstract: A battery pack having improved heat dissipation performance is provided. A battery pack includes battery cells; a module accommodating the battery cells and including heat dissipation members located between neighboring battery cells of the battery cells; and a duct to supply the module with coolant or absorb coolant from the module, and each of the heat dissipation members has a first region and a second region opposite to the first region, the first region having a smaller height than the second region to establish a path of the coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong Wook Yoon
  • Patent number: 11637337
    Abstract: The invention relates to rechargeable battery (1) having at least one cell (3) for storing electrical energy and at least one heating device (2) for heating or controlling the temperature of the cell (3), said heating device (2) comprising a single-layer or multi-layer film (4, 9) with at least one heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Miba eMobility GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Gaigg, Roland Hintringer
  • Patent number: 11624348
    Abstract: A pitch energy module comprising one or more ultracapacitors storing electrical energy for a wind turbine emergency pitch energy event. The pitch energy module replaces at least one battery within a battery housing of a wind turbine and interfaces with the existing battery wiring harness to communicate with a control system of the wind turbine. The pitch energy module is installed without further modification to the battery housing or the battery wiring harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Richardson Electronics, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeremy Winston Wilks, John Raymond Curran, Brian Christopher Gumino
  • Patent number: 11611124
    Abstract: A battery pack having a battery housing that defines a cavity for receiving a plurality of battery cells. The battery pack cavity is sealed from the air outside the battery pack housing to prevent water and other contaminants from reaching the plurality of battery cells. The battery pack may include a sealing material to create a seal between an upper housing and a lower housing of the battery housing. The battery pack also include a sealing material to create a seal around a terminal block of the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Stanton, Matthew J. Velderman, Daniel J. White, Kevin Alston
  • Patent number: 11605838
    Abstract: A battery pack to be used in motorized furniture is provided. The battery pack includes a plurality of polymer cells. The plurality of polymer cells is connected such that a threshold voltage is achieved. The battery pack also includes a motherboard coupled to the plurality of polymer cells. The motherboard is configured to monitor and regulate each cell in the plurality of cells, as well as the entire plurality of cells as a whole. The motherboard is further configured to regulate power flow throughout the plurality of cells such that more than two motors may operate at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Era Nouveau, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Justin Peper, John S. Contreras
  • Patent number: 11601002
    Abstract: This invention discloses an electrical energy transmission apparatus. The electrical energy transmission apparatus includes an input component which is connected to a direct current (DC) energy storage component, an output component which comprises an alternating current (AC) device interface used to connect an AC device, and an adapter component which transfers electrical energy from the input component to the output component. The adapter component comprises a DC driving unit and an AC driving unit. The DC driving unit converts energy of the DC energy storage component into a DC power. The AC driving unit converts energy of the DC energy storage component into an AC power. At least one of the DC driving unit and the AC driving unit is connected to the AC device interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: POSITEC POWER TOOLS (SUZHOU) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhendong Gao, Guoliang Mu, Fangshi Liu
  • Patent number: 11588216
    Abstract: One or more external connectors of a conformal wearable battery (CWB) may be controlled to reduce a voltage potential supplied to the connectors when exposed to a conductive liquid. The connectors may be uniform serial bus (USB) connectors or other connectors. One or more unused terminals of the one or more connectors may be pulled to a voltage potential and then monitored for a change in voltage. When the change in voltage satisfies a voltage threshold, the voltage potential supplied to the one or more connectors may be reduced and/or interrupted. The change in voltage may be evaluated against the voltage threshold alone or may be evaluated against the voltage threshold and a time threshold relating to a time after the voltage satisfied the voltage threshold. Based on the voltage threshold having been met, the voltage supplied to the connector may be reduced or stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Inventus Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. VanCamp, John Seo, King Moy, Christopher M. Reinke
  • Patent number: 11563241
    Abstract: A battery module is disclosed having a plurality of battery cells and internal relay controllably coupled to an internal module controller, said controller having a plurality of programmed states. Transitions between programmed states are disclosed responsive to a secure command message, and responsive to a monitored operating condition. Passive and active states are disclosed. A modular battery pack is disclosed consisting of a plurality of modules connected in parallel, which can be individually and independently activated and deactivated responsive to a secure command message. Methods are provided for authentication of command messages and for authentication of the command message source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Inventor: Dennis Palatov
  • Patent number: 11552475
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling power flow to and from an energy storage system are provided. One implementation relates to an energy storage system comprising an energy storage device, an inverter configured to control a flow of power out of the energy storage device, a rectifier configured to control the flow of power into the energy storage device and one or more controllers. The one or more controllers may be configured to determine a schedule of a plurality of time periods based on historical price data. Each of the plurality of time periods may be associated with one of a state of charging, discharging, or idle. The one or more controllers may be configured to control the inverter and the rectifier based on the determined schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc.
    Inventor: Yunxin Ni
  • Patent number: 11548397
    Abstract: A three-state contactor for an electrical system having a battery pack and voltage bus rail includes first and second pairs of electrical terminals. The first pair of terminals is separated by a first circuit gap in a first circuit path extending between the bus rail and an electrode terminal of the battery pack. The second pair of terminals is separated by a second circuit gap in a second circuit path extending between the bus rail and electrode terminal. A contactor arm, in response to a corresponding switch activation signal, translates in an orthogonal direction with respect to its longitudinal axis between a first ON state position, an OFF position, and a second ON position to close the first circuit gap, open both circuit gaps, or close the second circuit gap, respectively. A multi-pack battery system and an electric powertrain may use the contactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Heydel, Christopher Schlaupitz
  • Patent number: 11539091
    Abstract: A battery module includes a housing, at least one cell stack inside the housing, a tightening assembly and a thermal conductive element. The tightening assembly includes first and second plugin members. The first plugin member has a first stopping portion and a first bolt portion connected with the first stopping portion, and the first bolt portion is tapered from the first stopping portion. The second plugin member has a second stopping portion and a second bolt portion connected with the second stopping portion, and the second bolt portion is tapered from the second stopping portion. The first and second plugin members are detachably inserted into the battery module from two opposing sides of the cell stack. The thermal conductive element tightens the cell stack to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Chein-Chung Sun, Chih-Ting Chen
  • Patent number: 11527348
    Abstract: Charging devices according to embodiments of the present technology may include a housing including an input configured to receive power from a power source and provide power to internal components of the charging device. The charging devices may include a ferrite. The ferrite may be coupled with electrical ground. The charging devices may also include a conductive coil seated in the ferrite. The conductive coil may be configured to generate an electromagnetic field from an AC signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Alin Theodor Iacob
  • Patent number: 11527883
    Abstract: A battery protection apparatus power protection apparatus is configured to protect an electrochemical cell connected to a load, and includes a protection IC, a switching transistor group, and a sampling resistor. The protection IC includes two power input terminals respectively connected to positive and negative electrodes of the electrochemical cell, and an operational amplifier, where the operational amplifier includes a positive input pin, a negative input pin, and an output pin. The switching transistor group is connected between the negative electrode of the electrochemical cell and the load, and is configured to control turn-on and turn-off of a charge and discharge circuit of the electrochemical cell. The sampling detection resistor Rs is serially connected between the sampling circuit detection terminal and the output pin, where the main circuit detection terminal is connected to the positive input pin, and the sampling circuit detection terminal is connected to the negative input pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xinyu Liu, Yanding Liu, Ce Liu, Pinghua Wang, Yong Cao
  • Patent number: 11519970
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a server cabinet power backup system and a testing method thereof. In a self-test process of the power backup unit, the battery management module may be configured to: control the battery pack to supply power to the self-test resistor to discharge the battery pack, control the battery pack to be charged after the battery pack is discharged, and collect a charge and discharge parameter of the battery pack, and the battery management module may be further configured to: determine attenuation performance of the power backup unit according to the charge and discharge parameter of the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: BEIJING BAIDU NETCOM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaobin Li, Xiaozhong Li, Bin Yi, Binghua Zhang
  • Patent number: 11502363
    Abstract: A battery pack assembly made up of a battery stack case housing a plurality of battery cells abutting each other is provided for powering a vehicle, such as an electric/hybrid vehicle, and/or a vehicle's electrical components. Each battery cell may be oriented such that their respective terminals alternate in polarity. The respective terminals of each battery cell may be shaped that the terminals frictionally engage a corresponding terminal connector on either side of the battery stack case, and disengage from a corresponding terminal easily. This allows individual battery cells to be replaced/removed without having to remove the entire battery stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA INC.
    Inventor: Eric J. Karr
  • Patent number: 11489214
    Abstract: This disclosure details exemplary battery pack designs for use in electrified vehicles. An exemplary battery pack may incorporate one or more temperature regulated current shunts for measuring current flow into and out of battery cells of the battery pack. The temperature of the current shunt can be regulated by a liquid cooling system associated with the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Poirier, Daniel Paul Roberts
  • Patent number: 11471018
    Abstract: A method of charging a rechargeable battery includes positioning a rail of the rechargeable battery into a groove defined by a housing of a battery charger, and positioning a switch between an ON position and an OFF position. The switch is positioned in the ON position when the rechargeable battery is connected to the charger and in the OFF position when the rechargeable battery is disconnected from the charger. The housing includes a barrier extending across the groove to prevent movement of the switch to the ON position when the rechargeable battery is disconnected from the charger. The method further includes conducting electrical current to the rechargeable battery through an electrical connection interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: Joseph T. Gierer
  • Patent number: 11469477
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention relates to a coupling structure of a battery pack, and the objective of the present invention is to provide a battery pack which can stably and easily fix a bus bar. To this end, provided is a battery pack comprising: a base defining the entire bottom surface; a battery module installed on the base; a module fixing part positioned around a side surface and an upper surface of the battery module and coupled to the base; a first bus bar fixing part coupled to the module fixing part; a bus bar disposed on the first bus bar fixing part and electrically connectable to the battery module; and a second bus bar fixing part installed to cover the bus bar and fixed to the first bus bar fixing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Doo Sung Jeon, Wun Seok Jeong, Dong Jin Park
  • Patent number: 11451127
    Abstract: A driver circuit includes an input node to receive an input signal for conversion at the output node of a converter, a driver node to provide to a switching power circuit stage in the converter a pulse-width modulated drive signal having an active time, first and second active time generation paths, and a selector circuit coupled to the first and second active time generation paths. The circuit is operable selectively in a first and a second operational mode wherein the driver node receives the pulse-width modulated drive signal having a first active time value generated in the first active time generation path, or a second active time value generated in the second active time generation path. The second active time generation path includes an active time generator network to provide a second active time value with the second active time value adaptively variable to match the first active time value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Marco Borghese, Simone Bellisai
  • Patent number: 11444469
    Abstract: In order to improve safety while suppressing a decrease in efficiency of an equalizing process between a plurality of cells, controller executes an equalizing process between a plurality of cells by controlling a plurality of discharge circuits based on voltages of the plurality of cells measured by voltage measurement unit. Anomaly determination circuit determines whether or not the voltage of each of cells measured by voltage measurement unit is within a normal range. Controller includes, for each first cycle, a first discharge suspension period during which the voltages of the plurality of cells are measured without an influence of the equalizing process during execution of the equalizing process between the plurality of cells and includes, for each second cycle longer than the first cycle, a second discharge suspension period during which a determination result according to anomaly determination circuit is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Nakayama, Hidetsugu Mukae, Yousuke Nakagawa, Masanori Ito
  • Patent number: 11398743
    Abstract: A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is connected to a rectifier, and is composed of a (+) terminal formed by connecting a plurality of (+) terminals of a plurality of battery modules, a (+) output terminal connected to a (+) input terminal of the rectifier, a BMS configured to control charging or discharging of the battery pack, and a current path forming unit disposed between the (+) terminal and the (+) output terminal and configured to form a current path between the (+) terminal and the (+) output terminal according to the control by the BMS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: LG Energy Solution, Ltd.
    Inventors: Se Min Kim, Yong Min Jo, Jun Young Bang
  • Patent number: 11394339
    Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure is a power-supply apparatus to supply an electric power to an electric working machine including a trigger switch, a motor, and a tool. The power-supply apparatus includes a connection detector, a trigger detector, and a signal outputter. In response to (i) the connection detector detecting connection of the electric working machine to the power-supply apparatus, and also to (ii) the trigger detector detecting an ON state of the trigger switch, the signal outputter outputs, to the electric working machine, a discharge prohibition signal prohibiting supply of the electric power to the motor, until an OFF state of the trigger switch is detected once by the trigger detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi Katayama, Hitoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11372050
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for estimating a state of charge of a secondary battery. The apparatus includes a sensor unit configured to measure a voltage and a current of the secondary battery in a predetermined cycle, and a control unit operably coupled to the sensor unit. The control unit is configured to estimate the state of charge of the secondary battery in the predetermined cycle based on the voltage and the current measured by the sensor unit. The control unit is further configured to determine an operating state of the secondary battery as any one of a linear operating state and a non-linear operating state based on a threshold voltage and the measured voltage, and then determine first process noise indicating inaccuracy of a current integration model and second process noise indicating inaccuracy of an equivalent circuit model according to the determined operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventors: Young-Jin Kim, Sun-Young Cha
  • Patent number: 11362526
    Abstract: A method of controlling a battery including a first control circuit and a plurality of modules arranged in series between a first terminal and a second terminal, each module of the plurality of modules including electric cells and switches coupling the electric cells and a second switch control circuit, the battery further including at least one first data transmission bus coupling the first control circuit to each second control circuit. The first control circuit includes a memory-having, for each electric cell, an identifier of said each electric cells and a priority level for connection of said each electric cell with other electric cells among priority levels stored therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives
    Inventors: Sylvain Bacquet, Eric Fernandez, Léandro Cassarino, Ghislain Despesse, Yan Lopez, Rémy Thomas
  • Patent number: 11355805
    Abstract: Provided is a battery pack having an improved temperature control performance. The battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules including at least one secondary battery therein and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, and a bridge member including a heat conductive material and configured to receive heat generated from at least one battery module by being disposed in contact with at least two battery modules among the plurality of battery modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventor: Jin-Kyu Lee