With Charging Patents (Class 320/128)
  • Patent number: 10215811
    Abstract: An electronic circuit and method for measuring currents during charging and discharging of a secondary battery are disclosed having a secondary battery, at least one shunt for determining the electrical current during charging and/or discharging of the secondary battery by measuring the voltage drop over the shunt, a switchable electrical load, two connectors for connecting a preferably switchable power supply to the electronic circuit for charging the secondary battery and a voltage measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Braun GMBH
    Inventors: Ferdinand Hermann, Torsten Klemm
  • Patent number: 10205335
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a storage battery management device includes a chargeable/dischargeable capacity table, a controller, and a communication controller. The chargeable/dischargeable capacity table stores therein in advance a chargeable/dischargeable capacity corresponding to a temperature, a state of charge (SOC), a required charge rate or discharge rate, and a battery degradation rate of a secondary battery. The controller calculates an actual chargeable/dischargeable capacity by referring to the chargeable/dischargeable capacity table based on the temperature, the SOC, the required charge rate or discharge rate, and the battery degradation rate of the secondary battery. The communication controller informs a host device about the chargeable/dischargeable capacity of the secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yasuji Sakata, Mami Mizutani, Takenori Kobayashi, Tomohiro Toyosaki
  • Patent number: 10183590
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling a battery are disclosed. Systems can include a battery having an output voltage and an output current when delivering power, a load driven by power delivered from the battery, battery output voltage and current sensing circuits, and processing circuitry coupled to the battery output voltage and current sensing circuits. The processing circuitry may implement a recurrent neural network for battery state estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: FARADAY&FUTURE INC.
    Inventors: Larry Way-Jay Juang, Xu Yan, Mayank Sikaria, Ruxiu Zhao, Phillip John Weicker, Anil Paryani
  • Patent number: 10181801
    Abstract: A switching power converter is provided that transitions between output voltage modes over a delay period using at least one of an adaptive resistor and an adaptive reference voltage circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: DIALOG SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventors: Jianming Yao, Weihai Huang, Honglai Wang
  • Patent number: 10147980
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for managing a battery comprising a plurality of battery cells, wherein a maximum value of a current that can be delivered by the battery is adjusted on the basis of a frequency distribution (44) of a root mean square current delivered by the battery. The invention further relates to a battery management system and a computer program for carrying out said method as well as to a motor vehicle comprising a battery which includes a battery management system of said type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Stimm, Andreas Lemke, Benjamin Mangold, Christian Korn, Thomas Dufaux
  • Patent number: 10148096
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a system that includes a first device which is a wireless power transmitter or mobile device and a power adapter external to the first device. The power adapter is configured to receive a control signal and to control a DC output voltage of the power adapter based upon the control signal. The first device is configured to send the control signal to the power adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: MEDIATEK Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Vladimir A. Muratov, Anand Satyamoorthy
  • Patent number: 10148107
    Abstract: A universal serial bus charger comprises a universal serial bus connector for providing a connection to a voltage source. An output voltage connector provides a charging voltage to a connected battery. A switching voltage regulator generates the charging voltage responsive to the voltage source. Control circuitry monitors an actual charging current applied to the connected battery and provides a programmed current signal enabling the actual charging current to operate at a programmed level if the actual charging current does not exceed a programmed charging current level. The control circuitry provides a charging current limit signal enabling the actual charging current to operate at a predetermined charge current limit if the actual charging current exceeds the programmed charging current level. PWM control circuitry generates switching control signals to control operation of the switching voltage regulator responsive to the control circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: INTERSIL AMERICAS LLC
    Inventor: Chuck Wong
  • Patent number: 10137796
    Abstract: A control system for an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) is provided, the control system comprises: a central controller configured to receive an ancillary service order from a power grid and distribute the ancillary service order to one or more local controllers periodically; and the one or more local controllers configured to control a plurality of electric vehicle supply devices based on the distributed ancillary service order in real time. The method controlling the electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Xing Huang, Rongrong Yu, Yao Chen, Hector Zelaya De La Parra
  • Patent number: 10141759
    Abstract: A battery fuel gauge apparatus comprises a protection device coupled to a battery pack, a current mirror device, wherein a first terminal of the current mirror device is connected to a first terminal of the protection device through a first switch and a second terminal of the current mirror device is connected to a second terminal of the protection device through a second switch, a sensing device coupled to the current mirror device, a transistor coupled to the sensing device and an operational amplifier comprising a first input coupled to the protection device, a second input coupled to the current mirror device and an output coupled to the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Justin Shi
  • Patent number: 10128471
    Abstract: To provide a technique for a battery-packaging material made of a film-form laminate in which at least a base material layer, an adhesive layer, a metal layer, and a sealant layer are laminated successively, wherein: electrolytic solution resistance is further improved by including a polyester film in the base material layer; cracks and pinholes are less likely to be created at the time of forming the polyester-film-including base material layer; and formability is improved. This battery-packaging material is made of a laminate in which at least a base material layer, an adhesive layer, a metal layer, and a sealant layer are laminated successively, wherein: the base material layer includes a polyester film; and the metal layer is an aluminum foil in which the 0.2% proof stress at the time of performing a tensile test in a direction parallel to the rolling direction is from 55 to 140 N/mm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsuko Takahagi, Hirohisa Akita, Sumito Nishida, Rikiya Yamashita
  • Patent number: 10128546
    Abstract: A battery pack according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a battery monitoring integrated circuit (BMIC) associated with a grouping of battery cells, a calibration microcontroller configured to store battery data associated with the grouping of battery cells, a main microcontroller; and a data transmission node establishing a shared path for communicating both a status signal from the BMIC and the battery data from the calibration microcontroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Wand, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, Richard Mo, Graham L. Briggs
  • Patent number: 10122205
    Abstract: A system for increasing the life of a battery cell by limiting the charging of the battery to less than full charge in response to a predicted electricity draw of a connected device being less than the full capacity of the battery before a predicted recharge will occur. The current draw of the connected device may be affected by the amount of time before a next recharge and environmental factors. The system may further comprise one or more sensors to gather data pertaining to environmental conditions that may be used in the calculation of a charge termination value. The charge termination value is an amount of charge to power the device for a duration of time at least until a predicted recharge begins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Matsumura, Andrew W. Keates, Krishnan Ravichandran
  • Patent number: 10122193
    Abstract: A portable device is provided. The portable device includes a battery unit, a charger circuit, a detecting unit and a processing unit. The charger circuit provides a charging current to charge the battery unit according to an input power and adjusts the charging current to a charging value according to a first control signal. The detecting unit detects and obtains an instantaneous operating current, an instantaneous charging current and a system temperature in the portable device. The processing unit provides the first control signal according to the instantaneous operating current, the instantaneous charging current and the system temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: HTC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shih-Ping Lin
  • Patent number: 10112620
    Abstract: An electronic control unit of a drive assist apparatus acquires electric power source identification information for identifying a source of an electric power currently charged in a battery and electric power amount information representing an electric power amount corresponding to the source from an electric power acquisition unit, thereby recognizing a battery remaining amount SOCrg representing a green electric power, a battery remaining amount SOCj representing a privately generated green electric power, and a battery remaining amount SOCrs representing a non-green electric power. The unit presents travelable ranges each formed by connecting a group of maximum reachable points to which a PHV can reach by using each of a battery total remaining amount SOCr and the battery remaining amounts SOCrg, SOCj, and SOCrs to a user (driver) by using an information presentation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Matsumoto, Kentaro Takahashi, Masato Endo
  • Patent number: 10110145
    Abstract: A DC-to-AC converter including six phase modules and two capacitors, a transformer with a three-phase primary winding and with two three phase secondary windings, each phase module receiving a DC voltage from a DC voltage bus and capable of transmitting an AC current, and including a transistor, able to modulate the output voltage according to five intensity levels, the first capacitance connected between the positive portion and the midpoint of the DC voltage bus, the second capacitance connected between the negative portion and the midpoint of the DC voltage bus, the first, second and third phase module are linked by their output to a different phase of the first secondary winding. The fourth, fifth and sixth phase module are each linked by their output to a different phase of the second secondary winding of the transformer, the primary winding of the transformer is linked to an electrical power supply network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Nicolas Lapassat, Stéphane Quiniou
  • Patent number: 10110038
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a mobile terminal and a rapid charging method, where the mobile terminal includes a microprocessor configured to detect voltage of a battery core thereof upon detecting that the USB interface is connected with the DC-charging power source adaptor, if the voltage of the battery core is in a range [S1, S2] delimited by preset DC-charging thresholds, to calculate a target charging voltage value Vout from the voltage of the battery core, the maximum terminal voltage supported by the battery as well as at least one of a resistance value on a charging line, a resistance value on a circuit board of the mobile terminal, an inner resistance of the battery, and to send the target charging voltage value Vout to the DC-charging power source adaptor to control the DC-charging power source adaptor to output charging voltage to DC-charge the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignees: HISENSE MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., HISENSE USA CORPORATION, HISENSE INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chunqian Li, Yaling Huang, Yufeng Zhao, Naifeng Zhang, Wenjuan Du
  • Patent number: 10110032
    Abstract: A charge control circuit includes: a charge current control circuit configured to receive an input voltage at a first node, output a sensing current to a second node, and turn on a power transistor; a comparator configured to compare a voltage level of the second node with a voltage level of a third node, wherein the third node receives a charging current from the power transistor; a current mirror configured to generate a mirror current corresponding to the sensing current; and an amplifier configured to receive a first feedback voltage based on the mirror current, and amplify a difference between the first feedback voltage and a reference voltage to generate a switch control signal, wherein in response to the switch control signal and a plurality of control signals, the charge current control circuit is configured to decrease the sensing current and turn on the power transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae Hwang Kong, Sun Kyu Lee, Sung Yong Lee, Dae Yong Kim, Sang Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 10102594
    Abstract: Mandatory and optional consumption points are identified to support management of power allocation. A mandatory consumption point is a consumption point required to function at a given time and an optional consumption point is a discretionary consumption point. The energy required for mandatory consumption points to complete their designated functions is calculated. An energy quota is designated for power allocation to the optional consumption points in response to the mandatory consumption point calculation, and the identification of available energy. Energy required for optional consumption points to complete their designated functions is calculated. The optional consumption points are dynamically prioritized and power is allocated to the optional consumption points responsive to this prioritization and with respect to the designated energy quota.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Barry A. Kritt, Sarbajit K. Rakshit
  • Patent number: 10094677
    Abstract: There is provided a route guidance apparatus including a route search unit which searches for at least one route, to a predetermined destination, which is to be traveled by an electric vehicle propelled by electric power stored in a secondary battery provided within the vehicle, and a power consumption calculation unit which calculates power consumption of the electric vehicle when a route to a destination, which was searched for by the route search unit, is traveled by the electric vehicle, based on information on electric power to be consumed when the electric vehicle travels and geographical information relating to the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihito Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 10090550
    Abstract: A redox flow battery. The redox flow battery has a plurality of cells stacked on each other and three or more conductive terminals. The redox flow battery is able to vary a charge voltage and a discharge voltage by switching control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: STANDARD ENERGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bumhee Cho, Bugi Kim, Kihyun Kim, Damdam Choi, Wontae Kim, Sujeong Lee, Dayoung Kim
  • Patent number: 10084208
    Abstract: A lead-acid battery, including: a positive electrode plate; a negative electrode plate; an electrolyte solution; and a container having a cell chamber in which the positive electrode plate, the negative electrode plate and the electrolyte solution are accommodated. A concentration of Ba sulfate contained in a negative electrode material of the negative electrode plate is 1.0 mass % or more, and a Na concentration in the electrolyte solution is 0.04 mol/L or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Kyo
  • Patent number: 10079502
    Abstract: A power management system for dispensers is described. The system includes a controller connected to a lower power zero net voltage (ZNV) power source. A power rectification circuit (PRC) converts ZNV power to higher voltage direct current (HVDC) power. An energy storage system connected to the HVDC power source receives and stores HVDC power within the energy storage system which is selectively provided to a dispenser motor load connected to the energy storage system. The system provides an effective solution to the problem of transferring power from a low power battery source on a disposable product to a dispenser as well as providing a system that minimizes corrosion at the electrical interface between the disposable product and the dispenser particularly in higher humidity environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Smart Wave Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Zosimadis, Paul Waterhouse
  • Patent number: 10073509
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a multi-input power system and a power management system. The multi-input power system is configured to combine a first power signal with a second power signal, and output a combined power signal. The power management system is configured to manage the combined power signal. The electronic device supports a standard of USB (Universal Serial Bus) Type-C Power Delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: QUANTA COMPUTER INC.
    Inventor: Chun-Fong Lin
  • Patent number: 10069312
    Abstract: A charging discharging apparatus is applied to two super capacitor modules. The charging discharging apparatus includes a control unit, a first switch unit, a second switch unit, a third switch unit, a fourth switch unit, a first charging switch unit, a second charging switch unit and a charging unit. When an input power apparatus sends an input power to the charging discharging apparatus, the charging discharging apparatus enters a charging mode, so that the super capacitor module having the lower voltage is charged until the voltages of the two super capacitor modules are equal, and then the two super capacitor modules are charged simultaneously in parallel. When the input power apparatus stops sending the input power to the charging discharging apparatus, the two super capacitor modules discharge in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: AVALUE TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Bar-Chung Hwang
  • Patent number: 10065518
    Abstract: An off-board charging device disposed to electrically charge an electric energy storage system via an electrical charging system on-board a vehicle is described. This includes an electric machine electrically connected to the electric energy storage system and is disposed to supply propulsion effort to the vehicle. A method for controlling the off-board charging device includes determining severity of a drive cycle that occurs prior to a charging event for the electric energy storage system. A charging profile is determined based upon the severity of the drive cycle. A controller commands operation of the off-board charging device based upon the charging profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Russell K. Steele, Peter Kung Chiang, Brandon R. Jones
  • Patent number: 10066794
    Abstract: A charging process of a rechargeable lighting device is controlled by a software algorithm and a microcontroller configured within the rechargeable lighting device which has first and the second charging contacts located on its exterior and the charging circuit is turned on when a cradle detection circuit detects that at least one of the charging contacts engages an electrical contact when the rechargeable lighting device is inserted into a charging cradle. The charging process begins with a charge-current which is constant and a battery charge-voltage which rises up to a nominal battery charge-voltage. The rechargeable lighting device recovers to a preselected condition through use of a power interruption avoidance algorithm configured within the microcontroller when there is a loss of power to the microcontroller of less than a preselected amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: MAG INSTRUMENT, INC
    Inventors: Anthony Maglica, Benny M Osorio, Stacey H West
  • Patent number: 10069327
    Abstract: An electronic device and a method for charging a battery of the electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a housing; a battery disposed within the housing; a first interface electrically or electromagnetically connected to a first external power source; a second interface electrically or electromagnetically connected to a second external power source; and a circuit electrically connected to the battery, the first interface, and the second interface, wherein the circuit changes a first voltage output from the first interface based on a second voltage output from the second interface, changes a first current output from the first interface based on a second current output from the second interface, and charges the battery based on the changed first current and second current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Myungkee Lee, Joohan Kim, Jinman Kim, Hoyeon Kim, Chulhyung Yang, Jiwoo Lee
  • Patent number: 10061334
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes an output transistor controlled by an error amplifier, first and second resistors connected in series between an output terminal and a ground terminal via a first node, third and fourth resistors connected in series between a load voltage monitoring terminal and the ground terminal via a second node, and a fifth resistor and a switching transistor connected in series between the first node and the ground terminal. When a voltage which is supplied to a load connected to the output terminal drops due to a parasitic resistance, a voltage at the second node falls below that of the first node. The switching transistor, then, turns on to connect the fifth resistor in parallel to the second resistor to lower the voltage at the first node. Feedback of this voltage to the error amplifier raises the voltage at the output terminal to a desired value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: ABLIC INC.
    Inventor: Teruo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10056763
    Abstract: A system for charging at least one battery may include a power and data communication bus including a plurality of AC and DC power lines and data communication lines, and a plurality of modular ports coupled thereto. Charging power modules and an inverter module(s) may be coupled to respective modular ports of the power and data communication bus. A central controller may be configured to communicate with the charging power modules and the inverter module(s) through the data communication lines, identify the charging power modules and the inverter module(s) coupled to the modular ports, along with respective functions and power ratings associated therewith, and selectively control the charging power modules and the inverter module(s) based upon their identified functions and power ratings to charge the at least one battery via the DC power lines and provide AC power back to the AC source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Advanced Charging Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Nasser Hasan Kutkut
  • Patent number: 10046655
    Abstract: The battery charger (C) for electric vehicles comprises a voltage converter (DC/DC CONV), a power factor correction circuit (PFC) connected upstream of the voltage converter (DC/DC CONV), a controller circuit (PFC CNTR) operatively connected to the correction circuit (PFC) and suitable for piloting the correction circuit (PFC) for the correction of the power factor in the battery charger (C), a retroaction line (L) connected to the output of the voltage converter (DC/DC CONV) and to an input of the controller circuit (PFC CNTR), wherein the controller circuit (PFC CNTR) is suitable for varying the output voltage (VPFC) of the correction circuit (PFC) within a predefined voltage interval and according to the output voltage (VDCOUT) of the voltage converter (DC/DC CONV), in order to let the voltage converter (DC/DC CONV) operate as much as possible around the point of maximum efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Meta System S.p.A.
    Inventor: Cesare Lasagni
  • Patent number: 10048083
    Abstract: A vehicle information providing device has a history information accumulation unit configured to sequentially acquire at least one of driving location information, power consumption information and charging facility information from an in-vehicle device of a vehicle having at least an electric motor as a traveling drive source and accumulate the at least one information as driving history information, an input unit configured to input at least a departure point and a destination point, a planned route acquisition unit configured to acquire a planned route from the departure point to the destination point, and a map memory configured to store a control map in which a route of section and a characteristic value are associated with each other on a basis of the driving history information accumulated in the history information accumulation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Inoue, Daisuke Saito, Toshiro Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 10044217
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a mobile terminal, a DC-charging power source adaptor, and a rapid charging method, which are proposed for a power source adaptor outputting dynamically adjustable voltage, where core voltage of a battery is divided into several intervals, and further in a segmented constant-current-like charging mode, a volt value of charging voltage output by the power source adaptor is adjusted dynamically according to the interval in which the core voltage of the battery in the mobile terminal while the battery is being charged lies, and the battery is DC-charged directly using the charging voltage output by the power source adaptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignees: HISENSE MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., HISENSE USA CORPORATION, HISENSE INTERNATIONAL CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Yaling Huang, Chunqian Li, Naifeng Zhang, Wenjuan Du
  • Patent number: 10040178
    Abstract: To provide a power tool and a rotary impact tool capable of suppressing transmission of vibration to a circuit board and so on from a drive portion connecting to a motor as a vibration generation source. An impact wrench includes a motor housing which houses a motor or a grip housing, a battery holding housing connecting to the motor housing or the grip housing through an elastic body and a control circuit board housed in the battery holding housing for controlling the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kondo, Tokuo Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 10036781
    Abstract: A method for assessing the health of a lithium battery comprising: a first step of recharging the battery at constant current, until the voltage at its terminals reaches a limit value; a second step of recharging the battery at constant voltage equal to the limit value, until the charging current drops below a threshold value, a plurality of measurements of the charging current being acquired during the second recharging step; and a step of estimating the state of health of the battery from at least one parameter of the second step of recharging at constant voltage, such as the parameter expressing the decrease of an exponential function interpolating charging current measurements, the energy supplied to the battery during the second step of recharging at constant voltage or the duration of the step of charging at constant voltage. A battery management system comprising an apparatus for implementing the method is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Universite de Bordeaux, Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Vinassa, Akram Eddahech, Olivier Briat
  • Patent number: 10033216
    Abstract: An initial charging method for a lithium-ion battery according to this embodiment includes preparing a cell having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte and charging the cell by using voltages based on the amount of change in a capacity of the cell per unit voltage as a specified voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohide Sumi, Yoshio Matsuyama, Yosuke Shimura
  • Patent number: 10014129
    Abstract: The invention is related to an apparatus comprising a switch configured to variably connect a device circuit of an electronic device to a battery, a cutout control circuit connected to the switch and comprising a supply power input and a cutout activation input, wherein the cutout control circuit is configured to turn the switch on when a supply voltage is connected to the supply power input. The invention is further related to a drug delivery device for delivering at least one drug agent comprising an apparatus of the aforementioned kind, a charging connector for a drug delivery device of the aforementioned kind and a method for manufacturing a drug delivery device of the aforementioned kind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Barry Yates, Aidan Michael O'Hare
  • Patent number: 10003209
    Abstract: [PROBLEM] To provide a technology of effectively using supplied electric power through adjustment of a charge schedule period of an EV. [SOLVING MEANS] A charge period adjusting apparatus according to embodiments includes an acquiring section and a control section. The acquiring section is configured to acquire a power supply schedule amount of an electric system including a charger connected during charge of an electric vehicle. The control section is configured to set a charge period such that the electric vehicle is charged by the charger in a time frame in which the power supply schedule amount acquired by the acquiring section exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Yamaguchi, Kazuya Irisawa, Mitsuyoshi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 9991707
    Abstract: Aggregate load controllers and associated methods are described. According to one aspect, a method of operating an aggregate load controller includes using an aggregate load controller having an initial state, applying a stimulus to a plurality of thermostatic controllers which are configured to control a plurality of respective thermostatic loads which receive electrical energy from an electrical utility to operate in a plurality of different operational modes, accessing data regarding a response of the thermostatic loads as a result of the applied stimulus, using the data regarding the response, determining a value of at least one design parameter of the aggregate load controller, and using the determined value of the at least one design parameter, configuring the aggregate load controller to control amounts of the electrical energy which are utilized by the thermostatic loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventor: David P. Chassin
  • Patent number: 9985445
    Abstract: To suppress an increase in the number of components in a charging/discharging control device and a battery apparatus which perform charging/discharging of a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series. A first charging/discharging control circuit receives an overdischarge signal generated based on the turning OFF of a discharging control switch therein and generates a power-down signal, based on the overdischarge signal to power-down a first battery voltage monitoring circuit. A second charging/discharging control circuit receives the power-down signal therein and power-down a second battery voltage monitoring circuit, based on the power-down signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: ABLIC INC.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Saito
  • Patent number: 9985471
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a mobile terminal and a method for controlling a battery thereof, wherein the mobile terminal includes: a main battery configured to supply power to the mobile terminal, a standby battery and a control device. Wherein the control device is configured to switch on the standby battery to supply power to the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal loses the enough power provided to the mobile terminal by the main battery. With the disclosure, a mobile terminal is allowed to be powered by a standby battery when a main battery fails to supply power, which avoids the inconvenience caused by lower battery power and improves the user experience of the mobile terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: ZTE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Anan Jin
  • Patent number: 9966853
    Abstract: The present disclosure eliminates the unwanted conduction of the body diode of the low side switch or the unwanted conduction of the low side switch in coupled phases of DC-DC converters operating in DCM to increase efficiency. Specifically, in one implementation, by detecting strong or weak coupling, the present disclosure eliminates body diode conduction in strong coupling by turning on the low side switch and eliminates negative body diode current in weak coupling by turning off the low side switch. Further, for multiphase switching DC-DC converters with coupled inductors operating at light load (i.e., in DCM), when a high side switch of a first phase is turned on, the body diode of a low side switch of a second phase is adaptively bypassed if needed, blocked by specific design, or prevented from conducting by reducing forward voltage across the body diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Justin Michael Burkhart, Brett A. Miwa
  • Patent number: 9964447
    Abstract: This patent specification relates to a wall switch that comprises a docking station and a user-removable wall-switch head unit. In some embodiments, the docking station is configured to receive the user-removable wall-switch head unit, and configured to be permanently connected to a wall and coupled to high-power voltage wires. In some embodiments, the user-removable wall-switch head unit is configured to be user-insertable into said docking station and user-removable therefrom such that the user is not exposed to high-voltage connections when inserting or removing. In some embodiments, the wall switch controller further comprises inputs and outputs and circuitry for switchably controlling household line current power to a household electrical fixture. In some embodiments, the wall switch controller further comprises an occupancy sensor, a temperature sensor, or a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Anthony M. Fadell, Matthew L. Rogers, Yoky Matsuoka, David Sloo, Maxime Veron, Isabel I. Guenette, Shigefumi Honjo
  • Patent number: 9948086
    Abstract: An electrical installation includes a circuit-breaker having a breaking capacity PdC and a tripping current Is, an ammeter measuring the current, and a DC voltage source comprising batteries connected in parallel and connected in series with the circuit-breaker. The sum of the short-circuit currents of the batteries connected in parallel is higher than the breaking capacity PdC of the circuit-breaker. A plurality of the batteries each includes a respective switch capable of opening a connection between the battery of the same and the circuit-breaker. The electrical installation also includes a control circuit to detect that the current passing through the circuit-breaker is higher than the tripping current Is and to control the opening of a plurality of the switches in order to apply, through the circuit-breaker, a current higher than the tripping current Is of the same and lower than the breaking capacity PdC of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Daniel Chatroux, Sebastien Carcouet, Julien Dauchy
  • Patent number: 9948124
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamic current limiting control the charge current for charging a battery of a device by determining the difference between the maximum supply current of an external supply source and the device current of the device in operation as it varies over time. Accordingly, the battery may be charged faster, using a charge current that, combined with the device current of the device in operation, does not exceed the maximum supply current of the external supply source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Bernhard Lewis Haberland
  • Patent number: 9941804
    Abstract: A power supply system having an adapter and a converter is provided. The adapter includes a first inputting terminal coupled to a first power and a first outputting terminal coupled to a first loading device. The converter includes a detecting controller, a second inputting terminal coupled to the detecting controller, a second outputting terminal, and a third outputting terminal. The second outputting terminal and the third outputting terminal are coupled in parallel to the detecting controller. The third outputting terminal is coupled to the position between the first inputting terminal and the first outputting terminal of the adapter through external connection. The second inputting terminal is coupled to a second power, and a second loading device is coupled to the second outputting terminal. The detecting controller drives the second power supply to the first loading device according to the power supply status of the first power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: CYBER POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Pei-Yung Lin, Hong-Lun Wang, Cheng-Yang Su
  • Patent number: 9938011
    Abstract: A method of harvesting and managing energy from air currents, by small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) having a plurality of powered and unpowered rotors, to increase the aircraft's flight time, especially where the mission requires extensive hovering and loitering, is provided. Conventional powered rotors create lift for the aircraft. Unpowered rotors can either be: 1) Free-wheeling rotors which increase the plan form area of aircraft as they rotate, increasing lift, and reducing the power draw on the battery, and/or 2) Rotors connected to micro-generators, which serve as a brake on the unpowered rotors, create electrical power to charge the aircraft batteries or directly power the aircraft's electronics. The invention's folding rotor arm design results in a compact package that is easily transported by a single user (man portable). The aircraft can be removed from its protective tube, unfolded and launched for flight in less than a minute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventors: Scott B. Rollefstad, John P. Waszczak
  • Patent number: 9917451
    Abstract: A battery pack and a controlling method thereof are disclosed. In one aspect, the battery pack includes a charge/discharge control switch connected between the battery cell and a terminal of the battery pack and configured to control charge and discharge current of the battery cell. The battery pack also includes a battery management system configured to generate an operating signal to control the charge/discharge control switch, wherein the operating signal comprises a first operating signal having a varying level or a second operating signal having a constant level. The battery pack further includes a monitoring unit configured to control an on/off state of the charge/discharge control switch based at least in part the operating signal received from the battery management system, and a blocking unit configured to turn off the charge/discharge control switch based at least in part a blocking signal received from the battery management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae-Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 9917448
    Abstract: A battery module architecture including a plurality of battery cells coupled electrically in series and having a combined battery potential proportional to the combined sum of the battery cells is controlled by microcontroller to balance battery cell voltages by a battery cell voltage balancer having a discharging circuit and a plurality of differential conductive connections each respectively coupled to positive and negative terminals of one of the battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Elitise LLC
    Inventors: Kagum G. Zakharyan, Sergei N. Begliarov, Spiro Poulis
  • Patent number: 9910946
    Abstract: Disclosed is an overcurrent simulation method when a nail penetrates a secondary battery and a recording medium storing the program. The overcurrent simulation method according to the present disclosure constructs a safety device and a secondary battery equivalent circuit, and produces a nail penetration effect by changing a resistance value. In this instance, various current simulations may be obtained by changing a first metal sheet and a second metal sheet included in the safety device, and a resistance value limiting an overcurrent may be calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Se-Wook Seo, Dal-Mo Kang, Seung-Hun Jung
  • Patent number: 9913049
    Abstract: An exemplary method of compensating for a circuit offset error to a measure of a battery voltage of a rechargeable battery of an electronic device is described wherein the battery powers an electronic circuitry of the device and the electronic circuitry introduces the circuit offset error to the measure of the battery voltage. A corresponding electronic device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Jonas Högberg, Sahba Aazami