With Detection Of Current Or Voltage Amplitude Patents (Class 320/162)
  • Patent number: 11205805
    Abstract: A test device for an electrochemical cell is arranged inside the electrochemical cell in such a way that it is in electrical contact with two current-carrying electrodes of the electrochemical cell. The test device includes a switching device having at least one cathode and one anode partial electrode which are adjacently arranged, but with a space thereinbetween. In an initial state, the switching device is opened such that electrical current cannot flow between the partial electrodes. The switching device is closed in a short-circuit state by bridging the space between the partial electrodes such that an electrical current can flow between the current-carrying electrodes of the electrochemical cell and through the partial electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Juliane Kluge, Simon Lux, Sebastian Scharner
  • Patent number: 11196281
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide for circuit. In at least some examples, the circuit includes a controller, a current source, a switch, and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The controller includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having an input and an output, a first register, and a second register coupled to the output of the ADC. The switch is coupled between an output of the current source and a first node and has a control terminal coupled to the controller. The first node is coupled to the input of the ADC and is configured to couple to a resistor. The DAC has an input coupled to the controller and an output configured to couple to a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Mustapha El Markhi, Rohit Bhan, Thomas Vermeer, Daniel Mavencamp
  • Patent number: 11177675
    Abstract: A charging control device is equipped with a state of charge detection unit adapted to detect a state of charge of a secondary battery, a storage unit adapted to store a charging pattern in which the state of charge and a charging current are associated, and a charging control unit adapted to change the charging pattern in accordance with the state of charge of the secondary battery when charging is initiated, and to control the charging current in accordance with the charging pattern after having been changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Abe, Naoya Okada, Hiroki Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 11151552
    Abstract: A method and system provided for a single-action with which the customer places an order and receives goods by the single action of connecting an electrical vehicle (EV) to a charging station according to the business terms associated with this invention, the affiliated organizations that purchase or support the operation of the invention participate in a business “franchise” operation whereby all affiliated organizations increase their revenues as the volume of EV charging events increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventors: Paul S. Levy, Edward Butler, John C. Thomas
  • Patent number: 11133701
    Abstract: An apparatus for charging and mutual charging a combination of intelligent devices. The apparatus comprises a main device and an accessory device. The main device comprises a first control module and a first switch for switching on and off a first charging port. The accessory device comprises a second control module and a second switch for switching on and off a second charging port. The first control module is electrically connected to the second control module to realize mutual charging between intelligent devices. During outdoor use, one device when running out of power is automatically charged by another device until the combination of devices is completely out of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: HuiZhou TCL Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chulong Sheng, Wentao Huang, Xiongcai Wu
  • Patent number: 11101675
    Abstract: A power system for audio device comprises a mobile terminal and an audio device, wherein the mobile terminal including a first control unit, a battery, a first energy management unit configured to power the mobile terminal, a first power switch and a first port; the audio device including a second control unit, a second energy management unit configured to power the audio device, a second power switch, a second port matching with the first port and a third port; energy provided by an external power supply transmitting to the second power switch, the second port, the first port and the first energy management unit via the third port; the third port being connected to the second energy management unit and configured to transmit energy to the second energy management unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: QINGDAO GOERTEK TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Honggang Zhou, Jinguo Zhang
  • Patent number: 11094971
    Abstract: A method for battery binding that is to be implemented by a service end electronic device includes obtaining a carrier identifier corresponding to a carrier device. The method further includes sending the carrier identifier to a battery device via near-field communication for storage in the battery device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: KWANG YANG MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Liang-Chi Wang, Chung-Jui Hung, Yuh-Rey Chen, Po-Yu Chuang, Jen-Chiun Lin, Te-Chuan Liu
  • Patent number: 11095135
    Abstract: Dynamic battery discharge at an information handling system during battery charge, such as to support increased power use associated with processor turbo mode, is managed by setting a reduced maximum charge current dynamically during constant voltage charging so that battery voltage droop from discharge does not result in command of an excessive charge current after the discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Richard Christopher Thompson, Yan Ning, Chia-Liang Lin
  • Patent number: 11088403
    Abstract: A method for preventing swelling of a battery cell in advance by counting a time while a temperature and a cell voltage of the battery cell are maintained equal to or greater than respective reference values, and by dropping a charging voltage to lower the temperature and the cell voltage of the battery cell, when the time is a reference time or longer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventor: Seung Jin Noh
  • Patent number: 11079823
    Abstract: The present application relates to providing auxiliary port function distinction by illuminating a first light emitting diode around a data transfer capable port wherein the first light emitting diode is illuminated in a first color, illuminating a second light emitting diode around a charge only port, receiving a first data connection request at the charge only port, illuminating the first light emitting diode a second color in response to the data connection request, receiving a second data connection request at the data transfer capable port, initiating a data connection handshake between a device connected to the data transfer capable port and a processor in response to the second data connection request, and illuminating the first light emitting diode the second color in response to the initiation of the data connection handshake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Kristin Medin, Timothy O'Hara, Dean Knight, Matthew Wallace, Kenneth Carden
  • Patent number: 11081897
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for control of power charge/discharge from energy storage system. The invention also provides for power monitoring and management, including power management for a variable generator. An intelligent charge system may include a premise sensor, a variable generator sensor, one or more energy storage units, and a controller, which may receive information about the power demand, power provided by an electricity provider, and charge/discharge information from an energy storage unit. The information received may all be time synchronized in relation to a time based reference. The controller may provide instructions to an energy storage unit at a rapid rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Stem, Inc.
    Inventor: Stacey Reineccius
  • Patent number: 11018514
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a connector that receives power supplied from a power supply apparatus, a charging unit that charges a battery using power received from the power supply apparatus, and a testing unit that tests a power supply capability of the power supply apparatus by passing current supplied from the power supply apparatus to a load unit in a state where receiving power from the power supply apparatus is limited by the charging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuya Kaechi
  • Patent number: 11007875
    Abstract: A communication device comprises a connector to which a communication line is to be connected for sending and receiving a control signal concerning charge control between a transportation apparatus and a charging apparatus, a modem outputting a modulated signal obtained by modulating information to be sent and demodulating the modulated signal input, and a first internal communication line and a second internal communication line each being connected to the connector and the modem, the first internal communication line and the second internal communication line respectively being for sending the modulated signal and being for receiving the modulated signal, and sends and receives the modulated signal by superposing the modulated signal on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Kodama, Ryo Okada, Takeshi Hagihara, Kazuhiko Nii, Koji Saotome, Shuta Fukuda
  • Patent number: 10988045
    Abstract: A method for detecting charging current curves for electric vehicles at charging stations. In the method, a charging current curve is captured at a charging station, and the charging current curve is stored together with a vehicle identification of the charging vehicle. For each respective vehicle identification, a charging current curve at a plurality of charging stations is stored, and for the respective vehicle identification, a present charging current curve can be compared with the stored charging current curves at the plurality of charging stations. In the event of a deviation of the present charging current curve from the stored charging current curves at the plurality of charging stations which is greater than a threshold, a signal is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: innogy SE
    Inventors: Srdan Skrbic, Jürgen Waffner
  • Patent number: 10990116
    Abstract: There is provided a power management device including a load current control unit that sets an upper limit on a load current received from a connected feeding device and controls the load current on the basis of the upper limit, and a determination unit that, when the load current control unit has reset the upper limit to a higher value, determines if the upper limit has exceeded a current capacity of the feeding device on the basis of a voltage drop level of an input voltage. The load current control unit resets the upper limit in increments or decrements of a predetermined value, and the load current control unit, when the determination unit has determined that the upper limit had exceeded the current capacity of the feeding device, controls the load current by resetting the upper limit to a value not exceeding the current capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hidekazu Nakai
  • Patent number: 10992170
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus and a power supplying method thereof are provided. The power supply apparatus includes a power switch and a supplied power generator. The power switch respectively receives a first power and a second power through a first switch and a second switch. The supplied power generator converts the first power or the second power to generate a supplied power. When the supplied power generator judges the first power being cut off, during a first time period, the first switch is cut off and a voltage converting operation of the supplied power generator is stopped. During a second time period, the second switch is turned on, and the voltage converting operation of the supplied power generator is restarted after the second switch being turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Wiwynn Corporation
    Inventor: Kuan-Wei Hsu
  • Patent number: 10985644
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) comprises a regulator circuit, a bootstrap control circuit, and a gate driver that drives a transistor pair in buck or boost mode to switch current through an inductor. The IC has a VIN terminal coupled to receive a voltage generated from an AC power source, a STR terminal coupled to receive a voltage from a stored power source (e.g., a capacitor bank), and a HSB terminal that is capacitively coupled to the inductor. When bucking or boosting, the regulator circuit generates VDD supply voltage from the stored power source, supplies the VDD supply voltage onto the bootstrap control circuit, and the bootstrap control circuit generates a gate driver supply voltage that is supplied to the gate driver circuit. When not bucking or boosting, voltage on the HSB terminal is maintained between a voltage threshold from the AC power source without draining the stored power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc.
    Inventors: Thuc Huu Lam, Khanh Quang Dinh, Tung Van Nguyen, Hue Khac Trinh
  • Patent number: 10976794
    Abstract: A power supply for a synchronized appliance is disclosed and includes a first energy store having a first energy storage capacity, a processor powered by energy from the first energy store, and a second energy store having a second energy storage capacity greater than the first energy storage capacity. The processor initiates charging of the second energy store after a delay beginning at a time of receipt of a charge of predefined level from the first energy store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Paul Robotham, Levent Taspek
  • Patent number: 10965145
    Abstract: A charge control device for controlling charging of a secondary battery by using a current limit function of an external power supply includes: a charge control element arranged to be connected in series between the external power supply and the secondary battery; a constant current control unit configured to control an output current of the charge control element to be constant; a constant voltage control unit configured to control an output voltage of the charge control element to be constant; and an ON state setting unit configured to set the charge control element to an ON state, wherein the charge control element includes a control terminal to which a control signal for controlling the output current and the output voltage is input, and is composed of a single output element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Suzuki, Takafumi Goto, Kensuke Kuroda
  • Patent number: 10948524
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a relay-welding detection device and method, the device and method capable of determining, whether a relay is welded, by using an analog-digital converter (ADC). Another relay-welding detection device according to the present invention comprises: a first ADC for measuring a voltage of a relay input terminal; a second ADC for measuring a voltage of a relay output terminal; and a CPU for comparing the voltage of the relay input terminal with the voltage of the relay output terminal and determining whether the relay is welded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Bumyoul Kim
  • Patent number: 10933760
    Abstract: A vehicle is configured to be selectively connected to any one of a plurality of pieces of power equipment. The vehicle includes a power storage device, and a controller configured to control charge to the power storage device from the power equipment, and discharge from the power storage device to the power equipment. When power equipment connected to fee vehicle has been installed at a preregistered location, the controller permits discharge to that power equipment. When the power equipment connected to the vehicle has been installed at the preregistered location, the controller prohibits discharge to that power equipment unless a user performs operation of permitting discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 10938075
    Abstract: A battery safety evaluation apparatus as an aspect of the present invention includes an estimator, a calculator, and an evaluator. The estimator estimates an estimation value of an inner state parameter of a battery to be evaluated on the basis of data of its voltage and current measured in charging or discharging it. The calculator calculates an index regarding swelling risk of the battery on the basis of first reference data. The evaluator evaluates, on the basis of the index, a battery swelling risk of the battery to evaluate safety of the battery. The battery is a secondary battery. The first reference data is reference data considered to correspond to the battery from the reference data on the basis of estimation value. The reference data indicates at least one of relationships between a positive electrode capacity, a negative electrode capacity and an SOC deviation of a secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yumi Fujita, Tomokazu Morita, Nobukatsu Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10931120
    Abstract: An electronic power control circuit includes a power conditioner circuit (120, 130) having a charging input line (116), a battery-related line (133) of the power conditioner circuit (120, 130), and a power voltage output line (137); and an anti-crash loop mechanism (170) coupled to the battery-related line (133) and to the power voltage output line (137) of the power conditioner circuit (120, 130), the anti-crash loop mechanism (170) having a control output line (172, PWGOOD) to be selectively active and inactive in response to voltage levels over time on the battery-related line (133) and on the power voltage output line (137) of the power conditioner circuit (120, 130).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jean-Yves Carré, Pasi Juha Matias Palojärvi
  • Patent number: 10910859
    Abstract: A smart cell, comprising: a positive terminal; a negative terminal; a switching circuit which is arranged to select between a first switching state in which an energy storage device is connected between the positive terminal and the negative terminal and a second switching state in which bypasses said energy storage device; and an inductor provided between the positive terminal and the negative terminal. The inductor provides a means by which to monitor current changes in the rest of the circuit. The inductor can thus be used to detect current changes as seen by the smart cell and this sensed information can be used to control the smart cell, e.g. to control an energy source (energy storage device) that forms part of the smart cell. As the inductor is part of the smart cell, it forms part of a decentralized controller strategy to regulate the state of charge of cells within a larger system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: OXFORD UNIVERSITY INNOVATION LTD
    Inventors: Damien Frost, David Howey
  • Patent number: 10877355
    Abstract: An accessory attachable to and detachable from an image pickup apparatus includes a first connector connectable to the image pickup apparatus, a second connector connectable to the image pickup apparatus, and an accessory controller configured to communicate with the image pickup apparatus. The accessory controller, in an initial setting after the accessory is attached to the image pickup apparatus, sends a first detection signal to the image pickup apparatus via the first connector and receives, in response to a second detection signal for detecting that the second connector is attached to the image pickup apparatus, a third detection signal from the image pickup apparatus via the second connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Chishima, Fumihiko Aikawa
  • Patent number: 10845398
    Abstract: Interface circuits that may utilize a limited number of pins to detect a presence of an accessory, determine whether the accessory can provide or receive power, communicate with the accessory regarding at least that transfer of power, and transfer power accordingly. One example may provide detection circuitry for a host that may detect the presence of a pull-down resistor on a data pin of an accessory. The pull-down may indicate that a power consuming accessory has been connected. This example may detect the presence of power on a power pin. The presence of the power on the power pin may indicate that a power providing accessory has been connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Thompson, Parin Patel, Alan C. Cooney, Alexei E. Kosut, Glen A. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 10819136
    Abstract: A vehicle includes first loads, a power source, and a processor coupled to the power source. Each of the first loads is configured to generate a fault signal indicative of an occurrence of an action performed by said first load to mitigate a voltage transient event. The processor is configured to, in response to a second different load being electrically coupled to the power source: control a voltage available within the power source based on calibration parameters; and in response to receiving the fault signal, adjust at least one of the calibration parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Francis Judge, Jeff Raymond Mohr, John G. Fraser, James Brian Keyse
  • Patent number: 10816997
    Abstract: A grid to vehicle system is described. In some examples, the system selectively controls one or more electric vehicles connected to an electric grid based on conditions associated with the electric grid. For example, the system may control charging operations of the electric vehicles based on load balancing conditions associated with the electric grid, based on cost conditions associated with electric power provided by the electric grid, and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: RECARGO, INC.
    Inventors: Forrest North, Armen Petrosian, Lucas Mansfield
  • Patent number: 10778079
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) comprises a regulator circuit, a bootstrap control circuit, and a gate driver that drives a transistor pair in buck or boost mode to switch current through an inductor. The IC has a VIN terminal coupled to receive a voltage generated from an AC power source, a STR terminal coupled to receive a voltage from a stored power source (e.g., a capacitor bank), and a HSB terminal that is capacitively coupled to the inductor. When bucking or boosting, the regulator circuit generates VDD supply voltage from the stored power source, supplies the VDD supply voltage onto the bootstrap control circuit, and the bootstrap control circuit generates a gate driver supply voltage that is supplied to the gate driver circuit. When not bucking or boosting, voltage on the HSB terminal is maintained between a voltage threshold from the AC power source without draining the stored power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc.
    Inventors: Thuc Huu Lam, Khanh Quang Dinh, Tung Van Nguyen, Hue Khac Trinh
  • Patent number: 10749353
    Abstract: An electric power tool that receives driving power from a rechargeable battery includes loads and a control circuit that controls supply of the driving power from the rechargeable battery to the loads. The control circuit sets and stores for each of the loads a reference voltage value of the rechargeable battery used for stopping or issuing a notification in order to obviate over-discharging of the rechargeable battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Tsuruta, Masaki Ikeda, Tatsuya Miwa
  • Patent number: 10746805
    Abstract: A control method of monitoring deterioration of a battery of a vehicle, may include determining, by a controller, whether an entry condition of allowing an entry to a deterioration monitoring mode of the battery is satisfied; setting, by the controller, a deterioration monitoring condition when the entry condition of allowing the entry to the deterioration monitoring mode of the battery is satisfied; performing, by the controller, charging of the battery after the setting of the deterioration monitoring condition is completed; and stopping, by the controller, the charging and determining a deterioration rate of the battery when a first state of charge (SOC) value of the battery is greater than a predetermined first reference value as a result of the performing the charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hyun Soo Park
  • Patent number: 10734630
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a secondary battery. The secondary battery includes an electrode assembly built in a can, a positive electrode tab of the electrode assembly connected to a cap coupled to an upper end of the can, wherein the positive electrode tab having at least one bent portion, a negative electrode tab, and a buffer member inserted into the bent portion of the positive electrode tab. Thus, excessive bending of the positive electrode tab is prevented by the buffer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Han Mo Yang, Duk Hyun Ryu, Jung Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 10717361
    Abstract: A plug-in hybrid work vehicle includes a first battery charged from an on-board electric generator, a second battery charged from an external electric power source, a charging switch, a DC-to-DC converter, a voltage determination unit, and a charging control unit. During charging from the external electric power source, the charging control unit charges the second battery from the external electric power source when the voltage determination unit determines that the voltage of the first battery exceeds a reference voltage value necessary for starting an engine, and charges the first battery from the external electric power source via the DC-to-DC converter and the like, in preference to charging of the second battery, when the voltage determination unit determines that the voltage of the first battery is equal to or lower than the reference voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Nishinaka, Yukifumi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 10720621
    Abstract: A battery module has a cell unit including battery cells and a battery monitoring element attached to the cell unit. The battery cells are arranged in a first direction. The battery cell includes pressure release section for releasing a pressure in the battery cell. The cell unit has side surfaces including at least one internal pressure release section surface which is a surface where the internal pressure release section is disposed. The battery monitoring element is disposed on a non internal pressure release section surface which is different from the internal pressure release section surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Shogo Tsuruta, Masamitsu Tononishi, Ryutaro Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 10714962
    Abstract: A driving device is easily handled at the start and end of charging. A housing cup which includes a bottom surface portion on which at least one driving device including a power-receiving device is placed and a side face portion extending outward from the peripheral edge portion of the bottom surface portion and is formed so that an upper peripheral edge portion of the side face portion is an opening portion, and a magnetic field formation device which is configured to generate a variable magnetic field at a housing region surrounded by the bottom surface portion and the side face portion to allow the power-receiving device to receive power irrespective of the direction and position of the power-receiving device are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nam Tung Vu, Takezo Hatanaka, Taiki Sueyoshi, Masami Inoue, Hisashi Tsuda
  • Patent number: 10673260
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a charging system for a portable electronic device. The charging system includes a first bidirectional switching converter connected to a first power port of the portable electronic device, a low-voltage subsystem in the portable electronic device, and a high-voltage subsystem in the portable electronic device and a second bidirectional switching converter connected to a second power port of the portable electronic device, the low-voltage subsystem, and the high-voltage subsystem. The charging system also includes a control circuit that operates the first and second bidirectional switching converters to provide and receive power through the first and second power ports and convert an input voltage received through the first or second power port into a set of output voltages for charging an internal battery in the portable electronic device and powering the low-voltage subsystem and the high-voltage subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Greening, Kamran M. Hasan, Edrick C. G. Wong
  • Patent number: 10666063
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a charging method, a charging device and a terminal. The charging method includes: when detecting that a battery is charged with a trickle current, acquiring a voltage of the battery; determining a preset voltage range to which the voltage belongs; acquiring a charging current corresponding to the preset voltage range; and charging the battery according to the charging current. During a process that the battery is charged with the trickle current, the battery may be charged with a different charging current when the voltage of the battery belongs to a different voltage range, thereby improving the flexibility of a trickle current charge phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Qiang Zhang, Fanhong Kong, Fuchun Liao
  • Patent number: 10587139
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a battery, the apparatus configured to measure a current usage of a battery, generate a concentration limitation condition on a material in an active material of the battery based on a characteristic of the active battery, and control a usage of the battery based on the current usage and the concentration limitation condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Duk Jin Oh, Tae Won Song, Jinho Kim, Ju Wan Lim
  • Patent number: 10574078
    Abstract: A charging system is configured to charge a charging target group including electronic devices which are stacked in a row and include their respective secondary batteries. A first receiver is configured to acquire, from the electronic devices, pieces of battery information representing remaining capacities of the secondary batteries, respectively. The second receiver is configured to obtain, from the electronic devices, pieces of position information representing positions of the electronic devices in the charging target group, respectively. The determining processor is configured to determine respective priorities of the electronic devices according to the pieces of battery information and the pieces of position information based on a judgment condition. The charge controller is configured to control charging of each of the electronic devices so that the electronic devices are charged according to the respective priorities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Matsukawa, Akira Kawamoto, Hiroyuki Koda, Tatsuaki Amemura
  • Patent number: 10539684
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus having a battery and being operable in at least one of a plurality of power supply forms including the battery and an external power source, the apparatus comprising: a power control unit configured to determine the power supply form; and a control unit configured to control an operation of the radiation imaging apparatus, wherein in accordance with the power supply form, the control unit switches between a first obtaining mode of obtaining offset correction data after imaging of an object for each imaging of the object and a second obtaining mode of obtaining offset correction data obtained in advance before imaging of an object is done, and the control unit switches to the first obtaining mode if power is supplied from the battery and switches to the second obtaining mode if power is supplied from the external power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Asai, Toshikazu Tamura
  • Patent number: 10511181
    Abstract: A charging device and a handheld electronic device both with adaptive current limiting protection are provided. Both of the charging device and the handheld electronic device have a connection interface and an adaptive current limiting protection circuit comprising an impedance unit, a switch, and a control unit. The control unit is electrically coupled to the switch, the impedance unit, and an electrical path connected to a power pin of the connection interface. The control unit stores a plurality of voltage values and a plurality of different corresponding current limit values. The control unit is configured to measure the voltage of the electrical path to obtain a measured voltage, and the control unit is further configured to measure the voltage across the impedance unit to calculate a current value. When the current value reaches the current limit value corresponding to the measured voltage, the control unit turns off the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: CYBER POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Chin-Ching Chang, Heng-Chuan Chen
  • Patent number: 10498154
    Abstract: Provided is an electric power system, including: a battery, connected to an ACG and an electric load, and capable of charge by electric power generated by the ACG and discharge to the electric load; and an ECU, setting an SOC target value of the battery for each driving cycle, and controlling the charge and discharge of the battery so that the SOC of the battery becomes the SOC target value. The ECU sets the SOC target value in a normal mode when a starting SOC value in the most recent past driving cycle is lower than an ending SOC value, and sets the SOC target value in a degeneration suppression mode when the starting SOC value is greater than the ending SOC value continuously for two most recent driving cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Namiki, Yuki Koizumi
  • Patent number: 10483777
    Abstract: An auxiliary power supply device includes: a plurality of channels of auxiliary power supplies; a charging circuit; and an auxiliary power supply switching circuit disposed between the charging circuit and positive electrode terminals of the plurality of channels of auxiliary power supplies and configured to switch one channel of auxiliary power supply connected to the charging circuit among the plurality of channels of auxiliary power supplies and to simultaneously switch one channel of auxiliary power supply connected to a power supply destination so as not to match the channel of auxiliary power supply connected to the charging circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fumihiko Satou, Toyoki Sugiyama, Masataka Okuda, Hidefumi Kamikawa
  • Patent number: 10468893
    Abstract: A USB charging method adopted by an electronic source device and an electronic sink device electrically connected thereto through USB interface is present. The method comprises following steps: receiving a Discover Identity ACK from the sink device after connection; determining if the sink device is recorded in a protect list according to the Discover Identity ACK; adjusting voltage/current combinations which is to provide to the sink device according to a best working voltage of the sink device if the sink device is recorded in the protect list; transmitting the adjusted voltage/current combinations to the sink device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Tien-He Chen, Shou-Chieh Lin
  • Patent number: 10447087
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission apparatus for high efficiency energy charging, includes a resonator configured to transmit power, and a power supply unit configured to supply power to the resonator. The apparatus further includes a first switching unit configured to connect the resonator to the power supply unit, and disconnect the resonator from the power supply unit, and a controller configured to control the first switching unit based on an amount of current flowing into the resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Dankook University
    Inventors: Ui Kun Kwon, Sang Joon Kim, Seung Keun Yoon, Yeong Seok Ko, Shi Hong Park
  • Patent number: 10424923
    Abstract: An energy storage system includes: a grid tie unit comprising at least one DC/AC converter; and multiple pods connected to the grid tie unit, each pod including: a number of cells; and a power electronics unit, wherein the cells are floating relative to the system and are galvanically isolated therefrom. The multiple pods may be organized into packs, with a pack including a thermal management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehmet Ozbek, Brandon Pierquet, Andrew David Baglino
  • Patent number: 10381936
    Abstract: The flyback converter generally has a capacitive divider operatively connectable to a voltage source for receiving an input voltage, the capacitive divider having a plurality of capacitive devices connected in series from one another; a transformer having a plurality of primary windings inductively coupled to at least one secondary winding, each one of the primary windings of the transformer being connected in parallel to a corresponding one of the capacitive devices of the capacitive divider via a switching device, each of the at least one secondary winding being connected to a forwardly biased and capacitive circuit connectable to an output load; and a controller connected to each one of the switching devices for operating the flyback converter to power the output load with the voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Silanna Asia Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Sheikh Mohammad Ahsanuzzaman, Seyed-Behzad Mahdavikhah-Mehrabad, Aleksandar Radic, Aleksandar Prodic
  • Patent number: 10333318
    Abstract: In electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), interruption of charging due to overheating is prevented by adjusting the pulse duty cycle on the control pilot conductor communicating the maximum allowed current level to the electric vehicle, the adjustment being performed whenever the EVSE temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature below the maximum operating temperature as a function of the approach of the temperature to the maximum operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Webasto Charging Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert Joseph Flack
  • Patent number: 10326288
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the voltage-controlled deactivation of battery cells (22) within a battery module (34, 38) or a battery pack (48) and for the voltage-controlled deactivation of electronic components (40, 52.1-52.8, 54) which are electrically connected to the battery cells and which are supplied with power by the battery cells. If a voltage falls below a threshold in the battery cells (22), supply lines (44, 46, 68, 70) to the electronic components (40, 52.1-52.8, 54) are automatically interrupted and/or battery cells (22) of the battery modules (34, 38) are separated from the main current circuit of the battery or of a battery pack (48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Steil
  • Patent number: 10300904
    Abstract: A motive power system includes a first energy storage, a second energy storage, an actuator, an internal combustion engine, a power transmission circuit, and circuitry. At least the actuator drives a load in a charge-depleting mode using a first energy supplied from the first energy storage and/or the second energy storage according to a second charge rate. At least the internal combustion engine drives the load in a charge-sustaining mode using a second energy that is lower than the first energy and that is supplied to the actuator from the first energy storage and/or the second energy storage according to a first charge rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daijiro Takizawa, Hirokazu Oguma