Having Solid-state Control Device Patents (Class 320/163)
  • Publication number: 20100326456
    Abstract: A rechargeable type callus removal instrument is disclosed, that includes a main body having a flaring tube shape with one side opened. The instrument can include a callus storage fitted around the motor shaft of an internal motor that rotates with rotation of the motor shaft, thereby collecting calluses separated from a user's foot therein. A filing cap can cover an upper surface of the callus storage for removing calluses on the user's foot while rotating with the callus storage in contact with a callus surface of the foot. A guide member can be included to assist with forming an exterior barrier such that the calluses being removed by the filing cap are collected in the callus storage without scattering about to the outside. The callus removal instrument enables callus removal using a rotational force of a motor through electric recharging with an improved portability while preventing water infiltration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventor: Jae Hyun Song
  • Publication number: 20100315042
    Abstract: An intelligent lithium-battery-activating charging device is connectable between a charging power source and an application electrical device and contains an internal circuit that builds up a charging/discharging mode to correspond the charging power source to a lithium battery accommodated in the application electrical device. After a short time period of charging, which is short enough that the voltage detection circuit inside the application electrical device cannot properly respond, a time period of discharging follows and then discharging is stopped, so that the detection performed by the voltage detection circuit is delayed until the cycles of short time period charging and discharging are completed. If the detection shows the battery is not fully charged, then the charging operation starts again. During the charging process, ions are moved in one direction in one moment and then reversed in the next moment so that built up of deposition on electrodes can be avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventor: PEI-LUN WEI
  • Publication number: 20100308776
    Abstract: A charger for lithium battery pack has a voltage input terminal, a current control module and a voltage output terminal including a voltage-rising module and a voltage-detecting module connected with the voltage-rising module and the voltage input terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: CHERVON LIMITED
    Inventors: Dezhong Yang, Nanfei Wu
  • Patent number: 7847519
    Abstract: A battery protector with internal impedance compensation comprises: a logic circuit and delay module, an overcharge comparator, and an over-discharge comparator. The overcharge comparator has a positive terminal connected with a first adjustable reference signal and the over-discharge comparator has a negative terminal connected with a second adjustable reference signal and both of the other terminals of comparator are fed by the same partial voltage of the same voltage divider, which has two terminals, respectively, connected with the two electrodes of the battery. The first adjustable reference signal and the second adjustable reference are varied with the charging current or discharging current and the internal impedance of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Neotec Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang-Yu Ho
  • Patent number: 7847516
    Abstract: A circuit and method for detecting absent battery condition in a linear charger apply a detecting signal onto an output terminal of the charger and monitor the output terminal to receive a detected signal. The capacitance at the output terminal is significantly different between the presence and absence of a battery connected to the output terminal, and it is thus available to determine from the detected signal, if no battery is connected to the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Nien-Hui Kung, Kwan-Jen Chu
  • Patent number: 7843173
    Abstract: A charger includes input terminals whereto positive and negative voltages from a power source unit are applied, output terminals generating an output charging a secondary battery, upon being applied with the voltage from the input terminals via positive and negative power source lines, a first field effect type transistor and a second field effect type transistor having a region between a drain and a source inserted in at least one of the positive and negative power source lines, and having a first parasitic diode with a polarity reverse against charge current, and a second parasitic diode with a polarity forward direction with charge current respectively, a first detection circuit and a second detection circuit having series connections of a plurality of resistors inserted between the positive and negative power source lines, the first circuit is between the input terminals and the first transistor, and the second circuit is between the first transistor and the second transistor, and a charge control unit su
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masami Okada
  • Publication number: 20100295515
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an integrated PMOS transistor and Schottky diode, comprising a PMOS transistor which includes a gate, a source, a drain and a channel region between the source and drain, wherein the source, drain and channel region are formed in a substrate, and a parasitic diode is formed between the drain and the channel region; and a Schottky diode formed in the substrate and connected in reverse series with the parasitic diode, the Schottky diode having one end connected with the parasitic diode and the other end connected with the source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Kuo-Chin Chiu, Chih-Feng Huang
  • Patent number: 7830120
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a battery protection circuit for protecting a plurality of batteries connected in series. The battery protection circuit includes: a controller for monitoring the batteries and outputting control signals based on predetermined conditions associated with the batteries; a first N-channel MOSFET and a second N-channel MOSFET coupled in a common-drain configuration in a low-side path, wherein at least one of the first and second N-channel MOSFETs turns off in response to the control signal received from the controller when at least one of the predetermined conditions is detected; and a gate protection circuit for preventing gate-to-source voltages of the first and second N-channel MOSFETs from exceeding a predetermined gate-to-source voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Nexergy, Inc.
    Inventor: Randolph A. Ibrahim
  • Publication number: 20100277132
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes an inductor, a capacitor, an output voltage detection circuit, and a synchronous rectification circuit including a rectifier-side synchronous rectifier element and a commutator-side synchronous rectifier element. The commutator-side synchronous rectifier element is turned on so as to pass a current through a closed loop composed of the commutator-side synchronous rectifier element, the inductor, and a second secondary battery. The characteristic evaluation of the second secondary battery is performed on the basis of the decrease in a detection voltage Vout of an output voltage Vo. As a result, it is possible to determine the effective capacity or characteristic degradation state of the second secondary battery with a circuit to charge the second secondary battery without using a dedicated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi HARA, Takayoshi NISHIYAMA, Koichi UEKI
  • Patent number: 7825635
    Abstract: A computer system, including a system unit having at least one device; a battery unit which supplies power to the system unit; a charging unit which charges the battery unit at a predetermined charging speed; a user input unit which receives a user input related to a charging speed of the battery unit; and a controller which controls the charging unit to charge the battery unit at the charging speed according to the user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Je-geol Kim
  • Patent number: 7821227
    Abstract: An electronic disconnect switch module (12) in a motor vehicle has one or more pairs of high-current, high-side solid state switch devices (30A, 30B, 32A, and 32B). The source terminal of one device of each pair is connected to vehicle load circuits (27), the source terminal of the other device of each pair is connected to the vehicle battery bank (16), and the drain terminals of the devices of each pair are connected in common. The module also has a microcontroller (34) that interfaces the switch devices with the vehicle electrical system. Four feature groups are provided: Vehicle Electrical System Protection, Battery Charge Control, Battery Disconnect, and Battery Monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Clayton M. Howell, John D. Jervis, H. Edward Kelwaski
  • Publication number: 20100264882
    Abstract: Circuits and methods for battery charging are disclosed. In one embodiment, the battery charging circuit comprises an AC to DC converter, a charging control switch, and a charger controller. The AC to DC converter provides a charging power to a battery pack. The charging control switch is coupled between the AC to DC converter and the battery pack. The charging control switch transfers the charging power to the battery pack. The charger controller detects a battery status of the battery pack and controls the charging control switch to charge the battery pack in a continuous charging mode or a pulse charging mode according to the battery status. The charger controller also controls the AC to DC converter to regulate the charging power according to the battery status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: O2MICRO, INC.
    Inventors: Alexandru Hartular, Eftimie Caraghiorghiopol, Dan Simion
  • Patent number: 7816892
    Abstract: A battery charger for charging a battery through controlling a charging regulation circuit is provided. The battery charger includes a constant voltage mode controller, a current sensing unit, and a reference voltage generator. The constant voltage mode controller is for comparing a battery voltage of the battery with a first reference voltage to generate a regulation signal, and utilizing the regulation signal to control the charging regulation circuit to regulate a charging current applied to the battery. The current sensing unit is for monitoring the charging current to generate an error signal. The reference voltage generator is for setting the first reference voltage according to the error signal. By adding a voltage generator to the battery charger, the overshoot charging current will be reduced and the mode transition will become smooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventor: Pi-Fen Chen
  • Publication number: 20100253285
    Abstract: A battery pack includes one or a plurality of secondary batteries that are connected with each other; a positive pole terminal and a negative pole terminal to which external equipment is connected; a variable resistance portion which is connected between a positive pole of the secondary battery and the positive pole terminal or between a negative pole of the secondary battery and the negative pole terminal and resistance values of which are changed; a battery voltage measuring portion for measuring the voltage of the secondary battery; and a controlling portion for controlling the resistance value of the variable resistance portion based on the measurement result of the battery voltage measuring portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsukasa Takahashi, Bunya Sato
  • Publication number: 20100244784
    Abstract: A circuit for charging a battery may include a switch operable for conducting a current flowing through the switch, and a first amplifier coupled to the switch and operable for adjusting the current according to an amount of power dissipation associated with the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Guoxing LI, Xin DONG
  • Publication number: 20100231178
    Abstract: The power supply device contains a first auxiliary device and a first rectifier connected to a DC voltage source; a second auxiliary device that receives electric power via the first rectifier; a first DC/DC converter that uses the DC voltage source as an input source; an electricity storage device connected to an output terminal of the first DC/DC converter; and second DC/DC having an output terminal connected to the first rectifier, which uses the electricity storage device as an input source. When the DC voltage source has output voltage higher than a predetermined value, electric power is fed from the DC voltage source to the second auxiliary device and the electricity storage device is put on charge by the first DC/DC converter. When the output voltage gets lower than the predetermined value, the second DC/DC converter starts to operate, preventing decrease in voltage to be applied to the second auxiliary device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Handa, Koji Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7786698
    Abstract: A method of charging a battery includes applying a charging current from a semiconductor device to the battery during a first battery charging time period. The method also includes measuring a charging voltage level at the battery during the first battery charging time period. During a non-charging voltage measurement time interval, the method includes temporarily stopping application of the charging current from the semiconductor device to the battery and measuring a non-charging voltage level at the battery while the charging current is not being applied to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sigmatel, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Felder, Russell A. Schultz
  • Patent number: 7786706
    Abstract: A method for charging a rechargeable battery by using a charge power supply that charges the rechargeable battery at constant voltage is provided. A pulse charge operation is performed at a charge process start. The charge process is stopped when current in the pulse charge operation is not greater than a predetermined value and it is determined that the rechargeable battery is in a full-charge state. On the other hand, the rechargeable battery is charged at constant voltage when the current in the pulse charge operation is greater than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamashita, Tomoya Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20100213902
    Abstract: A system for charging a high voltage battery that includes a low DC voltage battery, a DC-to-AC converting circuit, a controller, a AC-to-DC converting circuit and a high DC voltage battery. The low voltage battery outputs a low DC voltage signal. The DC-to-AC converting circuit receives the low DC voltage signal to convert into a chopped DC voltage signal. The DC-to-AC converter outputs a high AC voltage signal corresponding to the chopped DC voltage signal. The controller controls a duty cycle of the chopped DC voltage signal. The AC-to-DC converting circuit converts the high AC voltage signal into a high DC voltage signal. The high voltage battery charges using the high DC voltage signal. A method for charging a high voltage battery is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Gary A. Oliveira, Curt D. Gilmore
  • Patent number: 7772805
    Abstract: A charge/discharge protection circuit that protects a secondary battery from overcharge, over-discharge, charge over-current, and discharge over-current is disclosed. The charge/discharge protection circuit includes an overcharge detection circuit, an over-discharge detection circuit, a charge over-current detection circuit, a discharge over-current detection circuit, a charge control FET that is turned off when overcharge is detected and when charge over-current is detected, a discharge control FET that is turned off when over-discharge is detected and when discharge over-current is detected, and a charger connection recovery circuit that controls on/off operations of the discharge control FET. When connection with a charger is established at a time over-discharge is detected and the discharge control FET is turned off, the discharge control FET is forcefully turned on after a first predetermined time elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norifumi Yamamoto, Akihiko Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20100194354
    Abstract: A charging monitor has: a switch that is disposed between a load section having a storage battery and an external AC power supply supplying a current to the load section via a plurality of lines and interrupts the supply of the current from the external AC power supply to the load section; a current detection circuit that outputs a detection signal corresponding to a difference in level between currents flowing through the lines; a suppression circuit that suppresses a DC component contained in the detection signal; a filter circuit that filters a plurality of frequency components contained in the detection signal so that attenuation increases as a frequency becomes high; a rectifier smoothing circuit that rectifies and smoothens an output signal obtained when the detection signal passes through the filter circuit and the suppression circuit; and an electric leakage determination circuit that detects an electric leakage and shuts off the switch when the level of the signal smoothened by the rectifier smoothin
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Gotou, Hiroaki Koshin, Hiroshi Ooya
  • Publication number: 20100181968
    Abstract: A battery charger with an overvoltage protection circuitry is electrically coupled to a power source and a battery. The battery charger with the overvoltage protection circuitry includes a switching circuit. The switching circuit comprises a first switching element, a second switching element, a Zener diode, and a resistor. The first switching element includes a first terminal coupled to the power source, a control terminal, and a second terminal coupled to the battery. The second switching element includes a first terminal coupled to the control terminal of the first switching element, a control terminal, and a second terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first switching element. The Zener diode includes a cathode coupled to the control terminal of the second switching element and an anode grounded. The resistor includes a first terminal coupled to the control terminal of the first switching element and a second terminal grounded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: CHIH-YUAN KUO
  • Publication number: 20100181967
    Abstract: The present invention relates to battery chargers. A first controller can be configured to set, when a first power supply is coupled to a first port, a current produced by a variable current source at a safe rate to charge a battery. An ammeter can be configured to measure, when the battery is coupled to a second port, the current flowing into the battery. The first controller can be configured to increase, after a passing of a quantifiable amount of time, the current produced by the variable current source by a quantifiable amount of current. The first controller can be configured to continue iteratively to increase, after the passing of the quantifiable amount of time, the current produced by the variable current source by the quantifiable amount of current until the safe rate is near or at a highest safe rate to charge the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Chun-Sheng Huang, Hann-Wen Lin
  • Patent number: 7759907
    Abstract: A battery charger for an electronic device receives current limited power from an external power source, such as a Universal Serial Bus power interface. The battery charger can linearly regulate a charging current to an internal battery and limit the charging current so as not to demand current in excess of what the external power source can provide. A bi-directional pass element coupled between a system power terminal and the internal battery controls the charging current and effectively isolates the internal battery from a system load during charging of the battery while providing a low impedance path from the internal battery to the system load during discharging of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsemi Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce R. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 7759906
    Abstract: A battery charger for an electronic device receives current limited power from an external power source, such as a Universal Serial Bus power interface. The battery charger can linearly regulate a charging current to an internal battery and limit the charging current so as not to demand current in excess of what the external power source can provide. A bi-directional pass element coupled between a system power terminal and the internal battery controls the charging current and effectively isolates the internal battery from a system load during charging of the battery while providing a low impedance path from the internal battery to the system load during discharging of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Microsemi Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce R. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 7759905
    Abstract: A linear battery chargers is disclosed which comprises a current generator, a current detector, an operational amplifier, and a multiplexing device. The current generator provides current to charge a battery module, and the current is detected and transformed to a detected voltage by the current detector. The operational amplifier has an output terminal coupled to a control terminal of the current generator. In a constant current charge mode, the multiplexing device couples a first reference voltage and the detected voltage to first and second input terminals of the operational amplifier, respectively. The current generated by the current generator is maintained at a constant current level. In a constant voltage charge mode, the multiplexing device couples a second reference voltage and the voltage level of the battery module to the first and second input terminals of the operational amplifier, respectively. The voltage level of the battery module gradually approaches a constant voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Via Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Chih-Min Liu
  • Publication number: 20100171469
    Abstract: A charging circuit includes a current mirror block configured to charge a load in response to a control voltage applied thereto, and a charge controller configured to generate the control voltage in response to comparison result values obtained by comparing a current sensing value and a voltage sensing value of the current mirror block with respective reference values. The comparison result value are applied to the gates of MOS transistors connected in series. The charge controller is configured to switch a charge mode from a constant current charge mode to a constant voltage charge mode when the charge state of the load reaches a predetermined state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventors: Ho-Jung Ju, Jung-Woo Ha, Jin-Sub Choi
  • Publication number: 20100171468
    Abstract: The present invention provides charger protection circuitry for a rechargeable battery, and a method of protecting a charger cable during charging of a rechargeable battery. A switch controller is used to turn a switch element on and off in dependence on a direction of current flow through the charger protection circuitry during charging and otherwise. If current is flowing in the first direction the switch controller turns on the switch element such that the auxiliary current tripping element is bypassed, whereby the main current tripping element controls interruption of current flow. If instead current is flowing in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the switch controller turns off the switch element, whereby the auxiliary current tripping element is connected into the current flow path to control interruption of current flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: PG Drives Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Peter Brereton, Matthew Bennett
  • Publication number: 20100148729
    Abstract: A system and method for battery protection. In some aspects, a battery pack includes a housing, a cell supported by the housing, a circuit supported by the housing and operable to control a function of the battery pack, and a heat sink in heat transfer relationship with the circuit and operable to dissipate heat from the circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Todd W. Johnson, Dennis J. Grzybowski, Mark A. Kubale, Jay J. Rosenbecker, Karl F. Scheucher, Gary D. Meyer, Jeffrey M. Zeiler, Kevin L. Glasgow
  • Patent number: 7733061
    Abstract: Current control circuitry for controlling current supplied from a source, that may be a current-constrained source, to a load and a battery. A current limit control circuit limits current supplied by the source to the load in accord with a programmed current limit. Load current is measured, and an input charger control circuit controls magnitude of current to the battery based on the difference between measured load current and battery current programmed to be supplied to the battery, such that the sum of load current and battery current is maintained within the programmed current limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Roger A. Zemke, David B. Bell, Samuel Nork, Trevor Barcelo
  • Publication number: 20100127670
    Abstract: A charger including a regulator, a controller and a compensation-adjusting unit for accurately charging to a battery device is provided. The regulator provides a charging current to the battery device. The controller is coupled to the regulator for controlling the charging current. The compensation-adjusting unit is coupled to the regulator and the battery device for receiving a first reference voltage. In a first operation mode, the compensation-adjusting unit outputs the first reference voltage to the regulator. In a second operation mode, the controller instructs the regulator to transiently generate a first charging current and a second charging current. Responsive to the first and the second charging currents, the output voltage of the battery device presents a first output voltage and a second output voltage. The compensation-adjusting unit pre-estimates a parasitic resistance of the battery device by detecting the first and the second output voltage, thus compensating the first reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: FARADAY TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Ke-Horng Chen, Hong-Wei Huang, Chia-Hsiang Lin, Hsing-Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 7719235
    Abstract: Provided is a charge/discharge protection circuit, which has a simple circuit configuration using a double-throw semiconductor switching device and is capable of recovering from a state where charging/discharging is inhibited with the double-throw semiconductor switching device being turned off. The charge/discharge protection circuit includes a charge/discharge control circuit which is provided with a second terminal for detecting which one of a charger and a load is connected to an external terminal. The second terminal has a first resistor and a first switch connected in series between a power source, and has a second resistor and a second switch connected in series between a ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Sano, Atsushi Sakurai, Toshiyuki Koike
  • Publication number: 20100117602
    Abstract: A secondary battery protection circuit has: a first switch that permits or inhibits charging of a secondary battery by switching a charge conductor between a conducting and a non-conducting state; a voltage detection portion that monitors the voltage of the secondary battery to output an error signal when the voltage is an overvoltage; and a first current path that has one end connected to the positive-side conductor and the other end connected to the negative-side conductor, and through which a current corresponding to the supplied electric power passes. The first current path, other than during charging of the secondary battery, is kept in a non-conducting state and, when the error signal is outputted while the first current path is in a conducting state, is irreversibly brought into a non-conducting state by a current of a predetermined amount or more passing therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Ryoji MATSUI, Kazuhito Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7710076
    Abstract: A back-gate voltage generator circuit generating a back-gate voltage of a four-terminal back gate switching MOSFET for charge and discharge control is disclosed. The back-gate voltage generator circuit includes first and second n-type MOSFETs connected in series through a common source electrode. A voltage at the common source electrode of the first and second n-type MOSFETS connected in series serves as the back-gate voltage of the four-terminal back gate switching MOSFET, and the back-gate voltage is used as a reference voltage for generating signals for controlling the first and second n-type MOSFETS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Goto
  • Patent number: 7696725
    Abstract: A monitoring circuit for accurately monitoring a voltage level from each of a plurality of battery cells of a battery pack includes an analog to digital converter (ADC) and a processor. The ADC is configured to accept an analog voltage signal from each of the plurality of battery cells and convert each analog voltage signal to a digital signal representative of an accurate voltage level of each battery cell. The processor receives such signals and provides a safety alert signal based on at least one of the signals. The ADC resolution may be adjustable. A balancing circuit provides a balancing signal if at least two of the digital signals indicate a voltage difference between two cells is greater than a battery cell balance threshold. An electronic device including such monitoring and balancing circuits is also provided. Various methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: O2Micro International Limited
    Inventors: Liusheng Liu, Guoxing Li
  • Patent number: 7692410
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a rate of charge/discharge, C rate, or state of charge, SOC, of a battery having unknown characteristics comprises a circuit for applying at least a two-pulse current load to said battery. A change in voltage, ?V, resulting from the application of the second or a subsequent pulse is used to determine the C rate of the battery as a function of ?V. An Open Circuit Voltage, OCV, of the battery a time interval after the completion of the application of the second or subsequent pulse is used to determine the SOC of the battery as a function of OCV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: National University of Ireland
    Inventors: Martin Coleman, Chi Kwan Lee, William Gerard Hurley, Chunbo Zhu
  • Patent number: 7692406
    Abstract: A circuit is provided for controlling a battery-charger device with a closed-loop architecture. The circuit includes sensing means for sensing an operative quantity of the device, control means, and driving means. The control means alternately controls the sensing means to track the operative quantity during a tracking phase and to hold the operative quantity during a holding phase. The driving means provides a regulation signal that regulates the operative quantity based on a comparison between the operative quantity sensed by the sensing means and a reference value. The control means causes the driving means to hold the regulation signal during at least part of each of the holding phases. Also provided is a method of controlling a battery-charger device with a closed-loop architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics SA, STMicroelectronics Design Application GmbH
    Inventors: David Chesnau, Giacomo Mercadante, Patrizia Milazzo, Christopher Bernard
  • Patent number: 7692394
    Abstract: A motor current control method is provided to reduce voltage and current spikes within a spindle motor and a power supply. Subsequently, the amount of current applied to the spindle motor is monitored. In addition, an apparatus for limiting motor power is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Christopher L. Hill, Garry E. Korbel
  • Patent number: 7683584
    Abstract: A power source switching apparatus is provided. The example power source switching apparatus may include a voltage adjuster outputting a first power source voltage having a voltage level, corresponding to the output voltage of a battery, during an external power source mode where the battery is being charged, the first power source voltage based at least in part on the external power source and the output voltage of the battery, a controller outputting a first control signal and a second control signal, the first control signal enabled if the battery is operating in the external power source mode and the second control signal is enabled if the battery is not operating in the external power source mode, a first switch outputting the first power source voltage if the first control signal is enabled and a second switch outputting the output voltage of the battery if the second control signal is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong-Sang Choi
  • Patent number: 7675262
    Abstract: Disclosed is a voltage regulator having input terminals for connection to a voltage supply, output terminals for supplying power to a circuit at a predetermined maximum supply voltage, and a voltage regulator circuit connecting the input and output terminals. The voltage regulator circuit has a first supply path connecting first input and output terminals, a second supply path connecting the other input and output terminals, and an active component arranged between the first input and output terminals. A feedback control loop connected to a control terminal of the active component is arranged to sense the voltage on the output side of the active component and, when the voltage is above the maximum supply voltage, limit the output voltage to the maximum supply voltage, and, when the voltage is below the maximum supply voltage, signal the active component to pass power from the input terminals to the output terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventor: David Harry Broughton
  • Publication number: 20100052624
    Abstract: A charging path includes a charging switch for transferring a charging current from an input terminal to an output terminal. The charging path further includes a first enable terminal coupled to the charging switch. The first enable terminal receives a first enable signal to control the charging switch to operate in either a first mode, a second mode, or a third mode, based on a status of the output terminal. More specifically, in the first mode, the charging switch is fully turned off. In the second mode, an equivalent resistance of the charging switch is determined by a control terminal of the charging switch. In the third mode, the charging switch is turned off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Guoxing LI, Ruichao TANG, Chutao ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20100045146
    Abstract: A system for generating electrical energy from the movement of the stroller includes: a wheel; a gear reduction system operationally coupled between the wheel and a motor such that rotation of the wheel causes the motor to generate electrical energy; a power storage device operationally coupled to the motor for storing the electrical energy produced by the motor; and a control system. The control system includes: a switching device operationally coupled between the motor and the power storage device; and a microcontroller operationally coupled to the switching device and configured to control the state of the switching device. The microcontroller controls the switching device to close to allow the electrical energy generated by the motor to flow into and charge the power storage device, and the microcontroller controls the switching device to open to prevent the electrical energy from flowing to the power storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: THORLEY INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Henry F. Thorne
  • Patent number: 7667435
    Abstract: A secondary battery protection circuit may include an over voltage detector circuit configured to monitor a voltage level of an associated cell of a rechargeable battery and provide an output signal to a switch in response to a comparison of the voltage level of the cell to an over voltage threshold level. The switch may be coupled between the rechargeable battery and a DC power source and capable of moving between conducting and non-conducting states. The switch may also be responsive to the output signal to protect the rechargeable battery if the voltage level of said cell is greater than the over voltage threshold level for a time interval less than or equal to a transient time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: O2Micro International Limited
    Inventor: Bruce S. Denning
  • Patent number: 7663345
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter for generating a stable output voltage and being applicable to a transient load fluctuation. The DC-DC converter detects an input current, and compares the input current with a rated current of an external power supply. The DC-DC converter controls a positive charging current that is supplied to a secondary battery in accordance with a consumption current of a load so that the input current does not exceed the rated current. The DC-DC converter further controls a negative charging current that is supplied from the secondary battery to the load when the load requires an input current exceeding the rated current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited
    Inventors: Hidekiyo Ozawa, Takashi Matsumoto, Takahiro Yoshino
  • Publication number: 20100033139
    Abstract: A power adapter includes a charging unit configured to charge a rechargeable battery, a sensing unit configured to detect the voltage of the rechargeable battery, a switch unit connected between the external power source and the charging unit, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to compare the detected voltage with a fully-charged reference voltage which is provided for indicating the rechargeable battery is fully-charged during the charging process, and control the switch unit to turn on if the detected voltage is lower than the fully-charged reference voltage and control the switch unit to turn off if the detected voltage is equal to or higher than the fully-charged reference voltage. When the switch unit is turned on, the charging unit charges the rechargeable battery. When the switch unit is turned off, the charging unit stops charging the rechargeable battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD, HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: WEI-PENG AN
  • Patent number: 7649343
    Abstract: Electrical connection between a charging device and a secondary battery is checked during a wait time in which a charge mode of the charging device is selected. When the electrical connection is not successfully established, a charge current is not supplied from the charging device to the secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiko Kamatani
  • Publication number: 20090302802
    Abstract: Lower order control devices control plural battery cells configuring plural battery modules. An input terminal of the low order control device in the highest potential, an output terminal of the low order control device in the lowest potential, and a high order control device are connected by isolating units, photocouplers. Diodes which prevent a discharge current of the battery cells in the battery modules are disposed between the output terminal of the low order control device and the battery cells in the battery module on the low potential side. Terminals related to input/output of a signal are electrically connected without isolating among the plural low order control devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Hideki Miyazaki, Akihiko Emori, Akihiko Kudo, Tauyoshi Kai
  • Publication number: 20090289605
    Abstract: Disclosed a charge-controlling semiconductor integrated circuit comprising: a current-controlling MOS transistor connected between a voltage input terminal and an output terminal and controls flowing current; a substratum voltage switching circuit connected between the voltage input/output terminal and a substratum to which an input/output voltage is applied; and a voltage comparison circuit to compare the input/output voltage, wherein the charge-controlling semiconductor integrated circuit controls the substratum voltage switching circuit based on an output of the voltage comparison circuit, the voltage comparison circuit includes an intentional offset in a first potential direction, and in a preceding stage of a first input terminal of the voltage comparison circuit, a level shift circuit to shift the output voltage to an opposite potential direction is provided, and to a second input terminal of the voltage comparison circuit, the input voltage is input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: Mitsumi Electric Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro TAKAHASHI, Daisuke Suzuki, Yoshihiro Motoichi, Gentaro Kurokawa
  • Publication number: 20090284223
    Abstract: Lower order control devices control plural battery cells configuring plural battery modules. An input terminal of the low order control device in the highest potential, an output terminal of the low order control device in the lowest potential, and a high order control device are connected by isolating units, photocouplers. Diodes which prevent a discharge current of the battery cells in the battery modules are disposed between the output terminal of the low order control device and the battery cells in the battery module on the low potential side. Terminals related to input/output of a signal are electrically connected without isolating among the plural low order control devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Hideki Miyazaki, Akihiko Emori, Akihiko Kudo, Tsuyoshi Kai
  • Publication number: 20090278509
    Abstract: A control system is adapted to control an internal combustion engine, which has a battery for electric start operation and a mechanical starter for manual start operation. The control system includes a transformer configured to generate a high voltage output for providing a spark, and a power regulation circuit having an input adapted to receive the high voltage output and generate a low voltage supply. A battery charging circuit includes a switching element adapted to receive the low voltage supply and operatively couple the low voltage supply to the battery to charge the battery. The battery charging circuit includes a disconnecting circuitry diode operatively coupled to the switching element so that if a voltage level of the battery falls below a predetermined value, the disconnecting circuitry diode turns off the transistor to electrically disconnect the battery from the low voltage supply and disable the electric start operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: SAMUEL BOYLES, Trent A. Cook