Time Control Patents (Class 320/155)
  • Patent number: 11938828
    Abstract: Controlling the operation of one or more components in an electric vehicle, including: receiving, from one or more vehicle operation sensors, operation data including sensor data corresponding to a condition of one or more components of the vehicle; determining, using a trained model, whether the one or more components of the vehicle are operating in an acceptable manner; and generating a control signal to adjust operation of the one or more components of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SPARKCOGNITION, INC.
    Inventor: Syed Mohammad Amir Husain
  • Patent number: 11904722
    Abstract: A server includes a processor configured to: acquire a starting time representing a time when a user starts to use a moving object including a rechargeable secondary battery; estimate a charging completion time by which a required amount of power is charged to the moving object; determine whether or not charging of the moving object is completed by the starting time based on the starting time and the charging completion time; and switch a charging mode of charging the moving object performed by a charging device from a usual charging mode to a rapid charging mode in a case where the charging of the moving object is not completed by the starting time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Sugimoto, Kotoru Sato, Kumiko Katsumata, Shun Ota, Takahiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11848570
    Abstract: A Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) system may transfer power, without mechanical contact, underwater between a transmitter device and a receiver device or multiple receiver devices in long ranges (>1 meters). An exemplary embodiment may employ focused acoustic sound wave to transfer wireless power underwater over long distances. An embodiment may include a transmitter and receiving device with onboard electronics that effectively power a target electronic system or battery storage device with minimal power losses during transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Technical Systems Integration, Inc.
    Inventors: Gong Zhou, Adrian Hernandez, Casey Durr
  • Patent number: 11840885
    Abstract: A method for detecting an obstacle opposing the movement of a screen in a home automation closure or sun protection system includes an electromechanical actuator driving movement of the screen. The electromechanical actuator includes a torque support, a housing, an output shaft, and an electric motor including a stator and a rotor. The system includes a winding shaft rotating the screen and a connecting accessory between the electromechanical actuator's output shaft and the winding shaft. The method includes: determining an angular displacement value of the rotor with respect to the stator; determining angular displacement of the winding shaft relative to the housing or torque support of the electromechanical actuator; determining angular deformation of the kinematic chain between the electric motor and the winding shaft by comparing these two angular displacements; and determining the presence of an obstacle to screen movement from an angular deformation exceeding a predefined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: SOMFY ACTIVITES SA
    Inventors: Arnaud Darlot, Eric Lagarde, Frédéric Maraval, Héléna Robert
  • Patent number: 11833915
    Abstract: An FCV includes an FC system and a battery. The FC system includes an FC stack and a boost converter that adjusts output from the FC stack. When a prescribed operation to carry out external charging with a power supply outside the vehicle is not performed for a prescribed time period after system stop (Ready-off) of the FCV under such a condition that an SOC of the battery is lower than a threshold value at the time of system stop, an FDC-ECU controls the boost converter to carry out FC charging by the FC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 11817739
    Abstract: A rechargeable lithium-ion battery system includes a cell pack comprising a plurality of battery cells, a charger connection configured to connect to a battery charger to supply a charge current to recharge the plurality of battery cells, and a safety switch positioned between the cell pack and the charger connection and operable to divert charge current from the battery charger through a cell recovery charger to the cell pack. The cell recovery charger is configured to deliver a reduced charge current to the cell pack that is less than the charge current supplied by the charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Aleksandar Lazarov, Ron Hogedoorn
  • Patent number: 11796602
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining driver characterization data based on sensor data from one or more sensors onboard a vehicle. The sensor data is captured during a time period that includes multiple discharging operations and multiple recharging operations of a battery of the vehicle. The method also includes providing the driver characterization data as input to a trained model to generate a model output. The model output includes a classification that associates the driver characterization data with a driver type profile. The method also includes generating an alert responsive to a charge of the battery deviating from an expected charge of the battery. The expected charge is based on the classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SPARKCOGNITION, INC.
    Inventor: Sridhar Sudarsan
  • Patent number: 11800332
    Abstract: A method, device, and system for managing a fleet of vehicles is disclosed. The method includes providing a telematics device for an electric vehicle of the fleet of vehicles, the telematics device being capable of obtaining data from the electric vehicle; using the telematics device to identify the electric vehicle based on the data obtained from the electric vehicle; providing a data definition set for the electric vehicle to the telematics device; and using the telematics device and the data definition set to determine whether the electric vehicle is in a vehicle mode based on the data obtained from the electric vehicle and the data definition set. The vehicle mode of the electric vehicle can be at least one of a charging mode, a driving mode, and a parked mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Geotab Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Mendes, Alexander K. Koch, Michael Giannikouris
  • Patent number: 11735940
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method for charging silver-zinc rechargeable batteries and an apparatus for practicing the charging method. The recharging apparatus includes recharging management circuitry; and one or more of a silver-zinc cell, a host device or a charging base that includes the recharging management circuitry. The recharging management circuitry provides means for regulating recharging of the silver-zinc cell, diagnostics for evaluating battery function, and safety measures that prevent damage to the apparatus caused by charging batteries composed of materials that are not suited for the charging method (e.g., non-silver-zinc batteries).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: RIOT ENERGY INC.
    Inventors: Reza Pourdarvish, Troy W. Renken, Timothy W. Powers
  • Patent number: 11728667
    Abstract: Systems and processes are provided to detect a deeply discharged rechargeable battery. A process includes initiating a processor operative to perform a function within a battery-operated device, determining a first output voltage of a battery, charging the battery with a battery charger for a duration of time between three and seven seconds in response to the first output voltage being less than a cutoff voltage, rebooting the battery-operated device, determining a second output voltage of the battery, providing a user prompt indicative of battery fault in response to the second output voltage being less than the cutoff voltage, and shutting down the battery-operated device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventors: Arun PK, Yashwanth Melwanki
  • Patent number: 11697357
    Abstract: A battery management system of a vehicle includes a first controller configured to control a power-on (IG ON) state and a power-off (IG OFF) state of the plurality of controllers, and a second controller including a real time clock (RTC) and configured to be woken up by directly receiving power from the secondary battery in every preset time period during a preset time calculated based on a count value provided from the RTC when a power-off state is started by the first controller and to monitor states of the main battery and the secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sung Il Lee, Min Su Kang, Ki Seung Baek
  • Patent number: 11671146
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present description concerns a method wherein a duration of a periodic step of activation of a near-field communication circuit of a first device is calibrated according to a time interval between an activation of the circuit and a reception, by the first device, of a message transmitted by a second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventor: Alexandre Tramoni
  • Patent number: 11668757
    Abstract: A portable power bank including a rechargeable battery and/or a remote server may detect loss of capacity in the power bank battery. The power bank and/or remote server determines a nominal capacity of the power bank, and an actual capacity of the power bank, the actual capacity being less than the nominal capacity. The power bank and/or remote server compares the actual capacity to the nominal capacity to determine a health value of the power bank battery. When the power bank battery health value is at or below a threshold value, the power bank and/or remote server transmits an indication of the health value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jordan Todorov Bourilkov, Sergio Coronado Hortal, Francisco Jose Restrepo, John Rotondo
  • Patent number: 11609260
    Abstract: In a method for inspecting the insulation property of a secondary battery by connecting an external DC power supply to the secondary battery charged with an initial charge amount and evaluating the insulation property of the secondary battery based on a converging state of a power-supply current, when a charge amount at which an inclination of a tangent to a charge amount—battery voltage curve representing a relationship between the charge amount and a battery voltage of the secondary battery is smallest is assumed as a minimum-inclination charge amount, and the inclination of the tangent at the minimum-inclination charge amount is assumed as a minimum inclination (?L), the initial charge amount is selected from a range of the charge amount in which the inclination is two or more times the minimum inclination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Prime Planet Energy & Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Toshinori Okura
  • Patent number: 11597252
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle and method for heating a passenger cabin of an electrified vehicle that may include an internal combustion engine in addition to an electric machine and a traction battery for supplying the electric machine control an electric heating element to store thermal energy while the vehicle is connected to an external power source that is also used to charge the traction battery, and to extract stored thermal energy during operation of the vehicle with the electric heating element turned off to extend the electric driving range of the vehicle while also providing heat to the passenger cabin. The electric heating element may positioned and controlled to heat one or more elements directly by mechanical contact, or indirectly by heating a circulating liquid coolant to a temperature above a current or anticipated external ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Zenner, Daniel Benjamin Kok, Timothy Noah Blatchley, Mark G. Smith
  • Patent number: 11545844
    Abstract: A method of charging an electric vehicle includes receiving data indicative of the power source system voltage during charging, determining a maximum voltage limit of the power source, and setting the maximum voltage limit as the limiting voltage of the power source. The maximum voltage limit may be the maximum permissible value of the system voltage during the charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Proterra Operating Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Gerber, Seamus T. McGrath, Kevin J. Siniard, Roger A. Innes
  • Patent number: 11539226
    Abstract: A charging circuit includes: an interface; a plurality of charging management components connected to the interface in parallel; and a plurality of battery packs, wherein each of the plurality of battery packs includes a battery or a plurality of batteries connected in series with each other, the plurality of battery packs are connected in series with the plurality of charging management components, respectively, and the plurality of battery packs are connected in parallel; wherein the plurality of charging management components are electrically connected with each other to adjust, through signal interaction between the plurality of charging management components, a charging current that is input to each of the battery packs, such that a time period of a maximum charging current for each battery pack is different from a time period of a maximum charging current for another battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Changyu Sun
  • Patent number: 11394224
    Abstract: Systems and processes are provided to detect a deeply discharged rechargeable battery. A process includes initiating a processor operative to perform a function within a battery-operated device, determining a first output voltage of a battery, charging the battery with a battery charger for a duration of time between three and seven seconds in response to the first output voltage being less than a cutoff voltage, rebooting the battery-operated device, determining a second output voltage of the battery, providing a user prompt indicative of battery fault in response to the second output voltage being less than the cutoff voltage, and shutting down the battery-operated device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Sling Media Pvt. Ltd.
    Inventors: Arun PK, Yashwanth Melwanki
  • Patent number: 11368036
    Abstract: One example discloses a power management circuit, including: an ultrasonic transmitter configured to generate an ultrasonic signal having a set of transmitted ultrasonic signal attributes; an ultrasonic receiver configured to detect the ultrasonic signal having a set of received ultrasonic signal attributes; wherein the power management circuit is configured to cause a device to be operated at a first power level and a second power level; and a proximity detection circuit configured to transition the device from the first power level to the second power level in response to a preselected difference between the transmitted set of ultrasonic signal attributes and the received set of ultrasonic signal attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Ferdinand Jacob Sluijs, Jozef Thomas Martinus van Beek, James Raymond Spehar
  • Patent number: 11338692
    Abstract: A system for determining a state-of-charge (SOC) of an electric vehicle includes a housing that is supportable within the electric vehicle, one or more sensors supported by the housing, and a processor. The one or more sensors are configured to determine one or more values related to the electric vehicle, respectively. Each value of the one or more values represents a state of the electric vehicle or a state of an environment in which the electric vehicle is located. The processor is configured to estimate an SOC of the electric vehicle based on the one or more determined values related to the electric vehicle. The device also includes a wireless communication interface configured to transmit data representative of the estimated SOC of the electric vehicle and/or data representative of the one or more values related to the electric vehicle to the processor or to another processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Inventors: Matthew David Press, Joel Seth Browning
  • Patent number: 11316893
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method for identifying malicious activity, the method being executable by a supervisory electronic device. The method comprises accessing, a log to retrieve usage information associated with at least a portion of the plurality of electronic devices; analyzing the usage information to identify a subset of electronic devices; analyzing a list of network resources accessed; executing, by the supervisory electronic device a polling robot, the polling robot configured to: transmit to each of the list of network resources a ping message, the ping message having a first pre-determined format having been generated based on the malicious activity; analyzing, the response message; responsive to the response message having a second pre-determined format, the second pre-determined format having been identified based on the pre-determined type of malicious activity: determining that an associated network resource having generated the response message is associated with malicious activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: YANDEX EUROPE AG
    Inventors: Borlyk Lidzhievich Buvaev, Sergey Vyacheslavovich Statyev, Aleksandr Sergeevich Dubikovsky
  • Patent number: 11292350
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a charging inlet, a power storage device, a charging device, and an output device. The charging inlet is compatible with both an alternating-current charging connector and a direct-current charging connector. The charging device is configured to charge the power storage device with at least one of an alternating-current power which are input from the charging inlet and a direct-current power which are input from the charging inlet. The output device is configured to output a notification signal for notifying whether the charging device is compatible with alternating-current charging. The alternating-current is charging of the power storage device with the alternating-current power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 11289921
    Abstract: An integrated battery energy storage system and method for integrating electric vehicle battery packs into an integrated battery energy storage system are disclosed. The integrated battery energy system includes: a plurality of electric vehicle battery packs coupled in a series/parallel arrangement, the series/parallel arrangement including a plurality of series strings of electric vehicle battery packs, each of the plurality of series strings of electric vehicle battery packs includes at least two of the plurality of electric vehicle battery packs coupled in series; and wherein the plurality of series strings of electric vehicle battery packs are connected in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: B2U STORAGE SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Freeman Stoflet Hall, Michael Joseph Stern
  • Patent number: 11285823
    Abstract: A wireless charging device for a vehicle includes a mounting unit, a power transmitter, a position detector, and a controller. The mounting unit is to be mounted with a mobile device. The power transmitter wirelessly transmits electric power to a power receiver of the mobile device. The position detector detects a position of the power receiver of the mobile device mounted on the mounting unit. The controller switches between charging modes including a normal mode of allowing charging if the power receiver is positioned in a standard region of the mounting unit, and enlargement modes of allowing the charging also if the power receiver is positioned in an enlarged region outside the standard region. The enlargement modes include a standard current mode in which a standard current is outputted to the power transmitter, and an increased current mode in which a current larger than the standard current is outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuma Kato, Fumiyuki Moriya, Masakazu Yoshino
  • Patent number: 11240586
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and device for synchronously playing audio are provided. The method includes: acquiring status information of a Bluetooth controller in the first audio playing device, and determining native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device based on the status information; estimating, based on the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device and offset data of the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device relative to native Bluetooth time of a second audio playing device or native Bluetooth time of an audio providing device, absolute time of the second audio playing device or absolute time of the audio providing device; and playing an audio signal provided by the audio providing device synchronously with the second audio playing device based on the estimated absolute time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: SHENZHEN GOODIX TECHNOLOGY CO LTD.
    Inventor: Ke Yan
  • Patent number: 11192461
    Abstract: An energy conversion arrangement configured to convert chemical energy into electrical energy. The energy conversion arrangement comprises plural cell groups 30, 32, 34, 36, each cell group being configured to convert chemical energy into electrical energy. The energy conversion arrangement also comprises at least one measurement arrangement 38, 40, 42, 44, 46 configured to make measurements at each of the plural cell groups 30, 32, 34, 36. Each energy conversion arrangement is configured to determine a condition of at least one of: each of the plural cell groups; and the energy conversion arrangement. The condition is determined in dependence on the measurements made at each cell group and a model of each cell group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: DUKOSI LIMITED
    Inventors: Gordon Povey, Joel Sylvester
  • Patent number: 11131717
    Abstract: Described methods and systems provide in-situ leakage current testing of battery cells in battery packs even while these packs operate. Specifically, an external electrical current is discontinued through a tested battery cell using a node controller, to which the tested battery cell is independently connected. Changes in the open circuit voltage (OCV) are then detected by the node controller for a set period time. Any voltage change, associated with taking the tested cell offline, is compensated by one or more other cells in the battery pack. The overall pack current and voltage remains substantially unchanged (based on the application demands), while the in-situ leakage current testing is initiated, performed, and/or completed. The OCV changes are then used to determine the leakage current of the tested cell and, in some examples, to determine the state of health of this cell and/or adjust the operating parameters of this cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Element Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Rainer Johannes Fasching, Georgy Zerkalov, Arnaud Devie, Seth Marshall Kahn, Anthony John Stratakos, Corrado Cammi, Anderson Rennie John, Yoosok Saw
  • Patent number: 11127991
    Abstract: A rapid charging method and a system for a mobile terminal are provided, which are capable of increasing charging current and dissipating heat. The method includes communicating a controller of the mobile terminal with the charging accessory through a Type-C interface after the mobile terminal detects that the charger is connected to an electric power supply; turning on a load switch by the controller, so that the microcontroller controls a first charging integrated circuit (IC) to start charging, and the controller controls a second charging IC of the mobile terminal to start charging; and stopping charging of the second charging IC of the mobile terminal, and charging the first charging IC of the charging accessory until power of the battery is full when a charging current gradually decreases to a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: HuiZhou TCL Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhan Gu
  • Patent number: 11056903
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided to include a battery and a processor. The processor is configured to identify whether an external power source for charging the battery is connected, identify a voltage of the battery when connection of the external power source is identified, determine a charge start time based on time when the connection of the external power source is identified, determine a charge end time based on situation information of the electronic device, determine a charge stop time of the battery based on the charge start time, the charge end time and the voltage of the battery when a difference between the charge start time and the charge end time satisfies a designated threshold, and divide a period between the charge start time and the charge end time into a first charge section, a charge stop section and a second charge section based on the charge stop time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chaehoon Lim, Myunghoon Kwak, Yongsang Yun
  • Patent number: 10994629
    Abstract: An electric vehicle reservation charging system is provided. The system includes a communication controller that receives charging and discharging reservation setting information and power rate information. A vehicle controller determines a preset charging profile based on an entry of a preset minimum cost charging mode using the charging and discharging reservation setting information and the power rate information. A charging state control is performed based on an optimal charging state profile and an optimal charging power profile that are preset based on the charging profile. A charger then perform a power control for charging or discharging to correspond to a target charging discharging power command determined by the charging state control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hyun-Sup Kim, In-Seok Park
  • Patent number: 10944295
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wireless power transmitting apparatus using an ultrasonic wave. The transmitting apparatus includes a communication interface configured to perform wireless communication with at least one receiving apparatus, a transducer configured to generate an ultrasonic signal and transmit the generated ultrasonic signal to the at least one receiving apparatus, and a processor configured, in response to a charging request being received from the at least one receiving apparatus via the communication interface, to identify a charging priority and direction of the at least one receiving apparatus, and to control the transducer to generate the ultrasonic signal for charging power of the at least one receiving apparatus and transmit the generated ultrasonic signal to the at least one receiving apparatus based on the charging priority and the direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman, Mohammad Anwarul Hoque, Mohammad Tawhidul Islam Chowdhury, Faisal Khan, Kazy Fayeen Shariar, Sardar Muhammad Monzurur Rahman
  • Patent number: 10913365
    Abstract: A second power conversion device converts electric power supplied from a power source connected to an input side of the second power conversion device, to supply the converted electric power to a first power storage device. A first contactor is closed, such that a smoothing capacitor is charged with electric power stored in the first power storage device. A controller controls a first power conversion device to cause the first power conversion device to perform power conversion of electric power stored in the smoothing capacitor and to supply the converted electric power to a power generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kosuke Tokito
  • Patent number: 10903664
    Abstract: A control device for selectively controlling a power supply from a power source via at least one of a first output and a second output. The control device including at least one processor and at least one memory storing at least one portion of computer program code, the processor being configured to cause the control device to obtain an indication of at least the following parameters: a charge level of the power source, power need from the first output, a power need from the second output; and selectively adjust the power supply via the first output and via the second output from the power source in dependence of the parameters. A power supply arrangement includes the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: SAVOX COMMUNICATION OY AB (LTD)
    Inventor: Daniel Patrick Hackl
  • Patent number: 10901047
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electric storage system including an electric storage device and an electronic control unit, and to a detection method of looseness in a fastening part thereof. The electronic control unit is configured to detect electric resistance between a first terminal and a second terminal that are present in a current path of the electric storage device. The electronic control unit is also configured to detect looseness of fastening in a fastening part that is present between the first terminal and the second terminal in the current path, when a periodic variation degree of the electric resistance (for example, the number of times that a variation amount of the electric resistance that is periodically acquired exceeds a threshold) is large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Tashiro
  • Patent number: 10734812
    Abstract: A renewable power system according to the exemplary embodiment includes a renewable power plant (121), a controllable plant (123) and an energy management system (128) which keeps an energy schedule within a certain tolerance in the next k (an integer greater than or equal to 1) steps by using a method that includes an optimization algorithm for a total power output shape within a step, and schedule changing algorithm for changing the energy schedule after the next k steps to keep a needed capacity of the plant regarding power and energy small. By keeping the energy schedule within a certain range for a renewable power plant combined with controllable plant, it is possible to keep the needed power and energy capacity of controllable plant small and to guarantee favorable total power output shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexander Viehweider, Koji Kudo
  • Patent number: 10604144
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle are disclosed. The method includes: determining whether an uphill section is present on a driving route; calculating a regenerative braking amount at a downhill section following the uphill section; determining whether a state of charge (SOC) of a low voltage battery is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value at the time of entering the uphill section; determining whether an SOC of a high voltage battery is equal to or greater than a second predetermined value when the SOC of the low voltage battery is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value; and controlling the MHSG to generate auxiliary torque corresponding to the regenerative braking amount at the downhill section when the SOC of the high voltage battery is equal to or greater than the second predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hwa Yong Jang
  • Patent number: 10514423
    Abstract: A monitoring device for an energy storage device mounted on a vehicle includes: a memory; and a processor, wherein the memory is configured to store at least one of data on an estimated value of a parking-time discharge current, which the energy storage device discharges during parking, and data for calculating the estimated value of the parking-time discharge current. The processor is configured to perform first SOC estimation processing in which an SOC of the energy storage device is estimated by integrating estimated values of the parking-time discharge current based on the data stored in the memory when the vehicle is in a parking state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventor: Takeyuki Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 10464432
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a power receiving device, a power storage device, and an electronic control unit. A power receiving unit is configured to contactlessly receive electric power from a power transmitting unit of a power transmission device located outside the vehicle. The electronic control unit configured to set a charge start time at which the power storage device starts being charged, and start charging the power storage device with electric power received by the power receiving device irrespective of the charge start time, when the vehicle starts moving before the charge start time, from the condition where the position of the power receiving unit is adjusted relative to the power transmitting unit, and the vehicle is brought back into the condition where the position of the power receiving unit is adjusted relative to the power transmitting unit, within a predetermined time subsequent to start of movement of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoya Katanoda
  • Patent number: 10363918
    Abstract: A method for controlling torque reduction of a hybrid vehicle includes: determining a discharging torque control factor of a motor and a charging torque control factor of the motor based on a current state of charge of a battery that supplies electric power to the motor and a threshold state of charge of the battery; calculating a torque of the motor corresponding to driving torque reduction request of a traction control system (TCS) based on a discharging limit torque of the motor that the discharging torque control factor is reflected in and a charging limit torque of the motor that the charging torque control factor is reflected in; and calculating a torque of the engine corresponding to the driving torque reduction request based on the calculated torque of the motor and a request torque of the traction control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Do Hee Kim, Teh Hwan Cho, Gwang Il Du
  • Patent number: 10291073
    Abstract: Devices and methods for controlling a power supply of a wireless power transmitter based on the request of a wireless power receiver are disclosed. One embodiment provides a wireless power receiver. The wireless power receiver includes a power receiver circuit configured to receive power from a wireless power transmitter at a level sufficient to power or charge a load. The wireless power receiver also includes a processor circuit configured to adjust a level of the received power being provided to the load based on a change in a level of received power to be requested to the wireless power transmitter. The processor circuit is further configured send to the wireless power transmitter the request to change the level of the received power to a first different level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Colby Trudeau, Scott Walter, Zhen Ning Low, Joseph Najib Maalouf, Curtis Gong, Sumukh Ashok Shevde
  • Patent number: 10224732
    Abstract: A portable information handling system battery module has a self-contained housing having a battery charger, integrated rechargeable batteries and plural ports to transfer power, such as USB Type C ports having bi-directional power transfer capability. A cable couples first battery module port to a portable information handling system port to provide power to the portable information handling system and accept power from the portable information handling system. Plural additional battery modules daisy chain to the first battery module to accept power from and provide power to the portable information handling system. Power transfer is coordinated with communications through the ports, such as by a USB power transfer protocol supported at the information handling system and each battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Mohammed K. Hijazi, Merle J. Wood, III, Matthew J. McGowan
  • Patent number: 10141781
    Abstract: A contactless power transfer system includes a power transmission device and a power receiving device. A second electronic control unit of the power transmission device is configured to determine whether a series of manipulations including severing connection between the power transmission device and the power supply via the power supply cable, and then connecting the power transmission device with the power supply again via the power supply cable, are performed. The second electronic control unit is configured to send a predetermined signal to the power receiving device when the second electronic control unit determines that the series of manipulations are performed. A first electronic control unit of the power receiving device is configured to generate a command for start of power transmission to the power transmission device, irrespective of the time schedule, when the first electronic control unit receives the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoya Katanoda, Junji Inoue, Yuki Tsunekawa, Yuji Abe
  • Patent number: 10125780
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a backup battery for a magnetic bearing centrifugal compressor. The method includes: establishing threshold voltage values applicable to the battery backup battery level; monitoring the actual voltage of the battery backup; comparing the actual voltage of the battery backup to the threshold voltage; initiating a soft shutdown of the magnetic bearing centrifugal compressor if the magnetic bearing centrifugal compressor is operating and the actual voltage is below the threshold voltage for a defined period of time; preventing the magnetic bearing centrifugal compressor from starting if the magnetic bearing centrifugal compressor is not operating and the actual voltage is below the threshold voltage; or allowing the magnetic bearing centrifugal compressor to continue operation or begin operation if the actual voltage is greater than the threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Jeb W. Schreiber, Ajit W. Kane
  • Patent number: 10072799
    Abstract: A hydrogen filling method for a fuel cell vehicle includes filling a hydrogen tank of the fuel cell vehicle with hydrogen using a hydrogen dispenser by sequentially using a low-pressure storage tank of the fuel cell vehicle, a medium-pressure storage tank of the fuel cell vehicle, and a high-pressure storage tank of the fuel cell vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Young Woo Jung
  • Patent number: 10025277
    Abstract: A system configured to receive and automatically analyze various types of information, including, without limitation, information from energy generators, information from non-generation resources, information on the facility status, information on user behavior, information on user's short-term energy needs (e.g. over-ride any algorithm due to immediate charging need), information on renewable generation, including, without limitation, solar, wind, biomass and/or hydro, and information on environmental conditions including, without limitation, barometric pressure, temperature, ambient light intensity, humidity, air speed, and air quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Electric Motor Werks, Inc.
    Inventors: Valery Miftakhov, Alexander Gurzhi, Chris Edgette, Alan White
  • Patent number: 9970992
    Abstract: A state estimation device includes: a voltage detecting unit that detects voltages of energy storage devices; and an estimating unit that estimates a charge amount difference between at least two of the energy storage devices. At a reference time point T0 during constant current charging, the estimating unit performs: specific voltage setting for setting, as a specific voltage V0, a voltage of a low-voltage energy storage device at the reference time point T0; time obtaining for obtaining a time point at which a voltage of a high-voltage energy storage device reaches the specific voltage V0; and charge amount difference estimating for estimating the charge amount difference between the at least two energy storage devices based on the reference time point T0, the time point obtained in the time obtaining process, and a current flowing through the plurality of energy storage devices during the constant current charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi Sejima
  • Patent number: 9952290
    Abstract: The present disclosures relates to an apparatus and a method for detecting power abnormality of an engine-type forklift truck, and the apparatus for detecting power abnormality of an engine-type forklift truck includes: a power supply unit including a pair of batteries so as to supply power to an electric device included in an engine-type forklift truck; an engine control unit (ECU) which receives power from the power supply unit; an equalizer which is provided between the power supply unit and the ECU so as to maintain a voltage balance between the pair of batteries and adjust a voltage of power supplied to the ECU; and an abnormality detecting unit which compares a voltage input from the pair of batteries with a voltage input from any one of the pair of batteries, and detects abnormality in the voltage balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: DOOSAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Pyung Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 9941717
    Abstract: Provided is a battery device having high overcurrent detection current accuracy that suppresses increases in a resistance value of a charge/discharge path and in a manufacturing cost. A first charge/discharge control device is configured to monitor a charge/discharge current with a voltage generated across both ends of a charge/discharge control switch, and a second charge/discharge control device is configured to monitor the charge/discharge current with a voltage generated across both ends of a current sensing resistor. A field effect transistor forming the charge/discharge control switch is selected based on a desired ON resistance value. The charge/discharge control switch of the first charge/discharge control device includes a field effect transistor having the desired ON resistance value, and a charge/discharge control switch of the second charge/discharge control device includes a field effect transistor having an ON resistance value other than the desired ON resistance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fumihiko Maetani
  • Patent number: 9899710
    Abstract: A method for producing a battery includes providing a battery having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte that includes a solvent and a salt. The capacity of the negative electrode is less than that of the positive electrode and the negative electrode includes an active material having an average potential versus a lithium reference electrode of greater than approximately 0.2 volts. The method also includes applying an initial charge to the battery at a voltage that is greater than a fully charged voltage of the battery for a sufficient amount of time to cause at least a portion of the solvent to undergo a reduction reaction. The step of applying an initial charge to the battery acts to increase the irreversible capacity loss of the battery during the initial charge and provides the battery with enhanced tolerance to deep discharge conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Erik R. Scott, Gaurav Jain
  • Patent number: 9866025
    Abstract: The invention substantially relates to a method, wherein operational control parameters and/or control limits, which are to be conveyed using communications technology, are determined on the operator side for each of the distributed storage devices in such a way that a specific cost function is minimal for all of the distributed storage devices on the basis of locally measured variables determined at the respective storage device and transmitted to the operator and on the basis of installation-dependent control limits stored locally in each case and which are also transmitted to the operator, and wherein the operational control parameters and/or control limits, which are to be conveyed using communications technology, are transmitted from the operator side to the corresponding distributed storage devices and implemented there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Caterva GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Winter, Kolja Eger, Roland Gersch, Joerg Heuer