By Voltage Patents (Class 340/636.15)
  • Patent number: 11961979
    Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of charging that is less likely to cause deterioration of a power storage device is provided. The amount of a charging current is adjusted in accordance with the ambient temperature. Charging under low-temperature environments is performed with a reduced charging current. When the ambient temperature is too low or too high, the charging is stopped. Measurement of the ambient temperature is performed with a memory element using an oxide semiconductor. The use of a memory element using an oxide semiconductor enables measurement of the ambient temperature and retention of the temperature information to be performed at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ikeda, Munehiro Kozuma, Takanori Matsuzaki, Ryota Tajima, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11955792
    Abstract: A method for protecting at least a part of a network segment of an electrical power distribution network has: detecting voltage dips at the intermediate feeding devices of the line arrangements by the voltage dip detection devices; generating and feeding an electrical signal into the line arrangement by the signal generating device at each intermediate feeding device at which one of the voltage dips is detected, the electrical signals having frequencies different from a network frequency of the network segment; receiving the electrical signals via the line arrangements by the receiving devices of the line protection devices; detecting electrical faults on the line arrangement using the electrical signals received by the triggering device of the respective line protection device; and triggering the disconnecting device of the line protection device of the line arrangement, where an electric fault is detected, by the triggering device so that the line arrangement is electrically disconnected from the further el
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Wolfram Heckmann, Philipp STRAUß
  • Patent number: 11936228
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a battery charger for charging a connected battery pack. The battery charger is capable of determining an impedance characteristic value of the battery pack and adjusting a charging scheme, including an initial and/or subsequent charging rates for the battery pack based on the determined impedance characteristic value. The present disclosure is also directed to a method of charging a battery pack. The method includes determining an impedance characteristic value of the battery pack and adjusting a charging scheme, including an initial and/or subsequent charging rates for the battery pack based on the determined impedance characteristic value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: William Rigdon, Lisa M. King, Bhanuprasad V. Gorti, Brian K. Wohltmann, Hussein M. Nosair, Michael Muilwyk
  • Patent number: 11870289
    Abstract: A method for charging a traction battery includes obtaining a battery parameter of the traction battery that includes a state of charge and/or an open-circuit voltage, and, during a charging process of the traction battery, controlling the traction battery to discharge or stop being charged in response to the battery parameter changing by a parameter gap value. The parameter gap value is a first preset parameter gap value in a scenario in which the battery parameter of the traction battery is in a first parameter interval, and is a second preset parameter gap value in a scenario in which the battery parameter of the traction battery is in a second parameter interval. The first preset parameter gap value is greater than the second preset parameter gap value, and the battery parameter in the first parameter interval is less than the battery parameter in the second parameter interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Shan Huang, Shichao Li, Haili Li, Wei Zhao, Zhen Lin
  • Patent number: 11870294
    Abstract: A portable power pack having a housing, a rechargeable lithium battery positioned in the housing, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a wireless charging coil, a light emitting diode (LED) flash light, a universal serial bus (USB) port, a direct current (DC) port, and a power management circuit. The LCD can be positioned on the housing and configured to display a status of the portable power pack. The wireless charging coil can be positioned in or on the housing and configured to wirelessly couple with an external wireless charging coil of an external device through electromagnetic induction in accordance with, for example, the Qi wireless power transfer standard. The USB port supplies a charging current to charge a portable electronic device, while the DC port supplies a starting current to jump start an engine of a vehicle that is electrically coupled with an external battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Schumacher Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Brian F. Butler, Linh Nguyen, Patrick Clarke, Shenzhong Zhu, Xiao Ping Chen
  • Patent number: 11837075
    Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for processing alarm signals are presented. In some embodiments, a mobile device may be registered with a security system that is installed at a premises. Subsequently, an alarm trigger associated with the security system may be received. Based on receiving the alarm trigger, the location of the mobile device may be determined. A response to the alarm trigger then may be determined based on the location of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: James Poder, Bill Horrocks
  • Patent number: 11791581
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a battery connector includes: power terminals configured to be coupled to a load having an input capacitance; power pins electrically coupled to the power terminals; a charge pin, the charge pin being longer than each of the power pins; and an antispark circuit electrically interposed between the charge pin and the power terminals, the antispark circuit including: a dissipation circuit configured to charge the input capacitance of the load in response to a battery being coupled to the charge pin; and a delay circuit configured to delay charging of the input capacitance of the load for a predetermined duration after the battery is coupled to the charge pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Brown, Kynn J. Schulte
  • Patent number: 11789088
    Abstract: A BMU, which is a battery management unit, includes a current measuring unit that measures a current charged to and discharged from a battery; a voltage measuring unit that measures a voltage of the battery during measurement of the current by the current measuring unit; a BPF processing unit that extracts a component in a prescribed frequency band, of the current measured by the current measuring unit; a BPF processing unit that extracts a component in the prescribed frequency band, of the voltage measured by the voltage measuring unit; and an impedance calculating unit that calculates an impedance of the battery using the extracted current component and voltage component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: PRIME PLANET ENERGY & SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Yasuharu Tanaka, Hiroya Murao, Ryuji Nagata
  • Patent number: 11770090
    Abstract: An interconnected inverter system includes an inverter circuit that converts DC power from a DC power supply into AC power and provides AC power to an AC power line, a voltage sensor that detects a voltage of DC power on a DC power supply side of the inverter circuit, a DC current sensor that detects a current of DC power on the DC power supply side of the inverter circuit, and a motor ECU that controls the inverter circuit. The motor ECU calculates actual power of AC power provided from the inverter circuit by using a product of a voltage value detected by the voltage sensor and a current value detected by the DC current sensor and controls the inverter circuit such that calculated actual power follows a power command value from outside of the interconnected inverter system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhito Hayashi, Ikuhiro Nakamura, Kojiro Asakawa
  • Patent number: 11691537
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electric forklift and a method of driving the same which are capable of increasing a lifespan of a battery, and the electric forklift includes: a traveling motor which operates a wheel; a working machine motor which operates a working machine; a control unit which controls the operations of the traveling motor and the working machine motor based on an output control signal inputted from the outside; a battery which supplies electric power to the traveling motor, the working machine motor, and the control unit; and a temperature detecting unit which detects a temperature of the battery, in which the control unit controls an operation of at least one of the traveling motor and the working machine motor based on a detected temperature from the temperature detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: DOOSAN INDUSTRIAL VEHICLE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jin Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 11618342
    Abstract: A vehicle battery controlling apparatus is provided and includes a sensor that senses a SOC of a battery connected to a switch among a plurality of batteries and a controller that controls the on/off of the switch based on a first result of determining whether a vehicle enters a fuel-cut section and a second result of comparing the SOC of the battery with at least one or more predetermined reference values. The apparatus improves fuel efficiency by increasing energy regeneration, and improves battery durability by minimizing battery SOC in a non-regeneration section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Dae Kwang Kim, Young Ho Jung, Sang Jae Han, Sung Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 11607972
    Abstract: A system includes a terminal and a power supply assembly. The terminal includes a user interface configured to receive user input for generating a first input signal or a second input signal. The power supply assembly includes a communication interface configured to receive the first input signal or the second input signal from the terminal, a power supply configured to power an unmanned vehicle, and a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the power supply. The power supply circuit is configured to switch the power supply between a plurality of operational modes in response to the first input signal, or display a level of charge or remaining capacity of the power supply in response to the second input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tao Zhao
  • Patent number: 11545022
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image display apparatus and a method thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Gwanhui Seo, Sangjin Ahn, Sanghyun Baek
  • Patent number: 11536773
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an ADC, a multiplexer, a voltage reference circuit, an analog circuit, and a digital circuit. The ADC has a signal input, a reference input, and an output. The multiplexer has signal inputs and a signal output coupled to the signal input of the ADC. The voltage reference circuit has an output coupled to the reference input of the ADC, a first strain sensor coupled to a first signal input of the multiplexer, a second strain sensor coupled to a second signal input of the multiplexer, and a temperature sensor. The analog circuit has an input coupled to a battery, and an output coupled to a fourth signal input of the multiplexer. The digital circuit is coupled to the output of the ADC and stores correction parameters for correcting a converted battery voltage value from the ADC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jose Antonio Vieira Formenti, Michael Szelong, Takao Oshida, Tobias Bernhard Fritz, Vishnu Ravinuthula
  • Patent number: 11511062
    Abstract: A fluid supply warning and communication system including a digital regulator in fluid tight engagement with a primary fluid reservoir. A method of using the fluid supply warning and communication system by flowing a fluid from a primary fluid reservoir to an end use appliance and detecting flow rate and pressure of the fluid with a digital regulator. A gas supply warning and communication system including an oxygen flow monitor that monitors SpO2, flow rate, pulse rate, and battery levels. A method of using the gas supply warning and communication system by flowing oxygen from a primary gas reservoir to an end use appliance, and measuring SpO2, flow rate, pulse rate, tank status, and battery levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Advanced Interactive Response Systems LLC
    Inventor: Valerie A. Obenchain
  • Patent number: 11515720
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is provided with a real-time clock (RTC), a battery that supplies power to the RTC, a power source unit that charges the battery, a display unit that displays a screen for setting date and time of the RTC, on a basis of an output voltage of the battery, and a control unit that performs control so as to charge the battery on the basis of the setting of the date and time of the RTC via the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Hirano
  • Patent number: 11495991
    Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided that includes a storage module including a capacitor module configured to store electrical energy and a storage controller operatively connected to the capacitor module. The storage controller is configured to provide the capacitor module electrical energy when the stored electrical energy of the capacitor module is less than a stored electrical energy threshold. The vehicle control system also includes a computer operatively connected to the storage controller, wherein the computer is configured to determine when a supplied voltage is less than a voltage threshold and initiate a shift-by-wire actuator when the supplied voltage is less than voltage threshold using the stored electrical energy in the capacitor module to actuate the shift-by-wire actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: DUS OPERATING INC.
    Inventor: McKenzie Russell Alt
  • Patent number: 11489354
    Abstract: A method of detecting false state information reported by a battery unit, wherein the battery unit comprises a monitoring system configured to monitor and report state information of the battery unit. A log of state information reported by the battery unit is inspected in order to determine whether or not there is a change in state information which is inconsistent with normal operation of the battery unit. If there is a change in state information which is inconsistent with normal operation of the battery unit, then it is determined that the battery unit has reported false state information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: TANKTWO OY
    Inventors: Heikki Juva, Paavo Helenius, Timo Rissanen, Juha Tuomola
  • Patent number: 11462777
    Abstract: The inspection device includes a charging unit and an inspection unit, and detects the connection anomaly by retrieving a first cell voltage at the early stage of start of the constant-current charging and a second cell voltage at a stage where the charging has progressed to determine deviations from the average value of all the cell groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Envision AESC Japan Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiro Yonekura, Eriko Kuribayashi, Nobuhiro Takamoto
  • Patent number: 11442340
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus to which an external apparatus is detachably attachable includes a controlling unit configured to make a vibration device vibrate by using a vibration parameter corresponding to a type of the external apparatus to be attached to the electronic apparatus, the vibration device being provided on at least one of the electronic apparatus and the external apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsuto Noda, Shinga Nakashima, Akira Watanabe, Takazumi Seo, Kohei Uemura, Toshihiro Ogawa, Hiroshi Toriumi
  • Patent number: 11427173
    Abstract: A control unit for controlling an upstream braking actuator for generating upstream pressure and a downstream braking actuator for controlling braking pressures of four wheels using the upstream pressure is configured to, when a braking pressure of any wheel cannot be reduced, perform backup control so that the target upstream pressure becomes the target braking pressure of the relevant wheel, and is configured to, when performing anti-skid control in a situation where automatic braking and backup control are being performed, control the target upstream pressure such that the target upstream pressure becomes a target upstream pressure for the automatic braking when the target upstream pressure is the target braking pressure for the relevant wheel, and such that the target upstream pressure becomes the target braking pressure for the anti-skid of the relevant wheel when the target upstream pressure is not the target braking pressure of the relevant wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junya Shindo
  • Patent number: 11422601
    Abstract: The measured capacity of a rechargeable battery provides the full charge capacity of the battery, but does not reflect degradation of the battery capacity between measurements. Embodiments initiate a first measurement of a rechargeable battery capacity. Parameters of use of the rechargeable battery are monitored, such as the depth and number of discharge cycles of the battery. Until a second capacity measurement is initiated, a battery capacity correction factor is generated based on the monitored parameters of the use of the rechargeable battery. During this interval until the second measurement, a remaining available capacity of the rechargeable battery is reported based on an adjustment of the first capacity measurement using the generated correction factor. The correction factor for a particular battery may be based on learned battery degradation for a large number of batteries and also based on events and conditions of use of that particular battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Nikhil Manohar Vichare, Michael Nechay, Richard C. Thompson, Tyler Ryan Cox
  • Patent number: 11397211
    Abstract: An acquiring method and device of residual energy of a power battery are provided. The acquiring method includes: acquiring an available capacity of a first type of cells and an available capacity of a second type of cells; determining a minimum available capacity as an available capacity of the power battery; determining available energy of the first type of cells according to the available capacity of the power battery, a current temperature, and a quantity of cells of the first type of cells; determining available energy of the second type of cells according to the available capacity of the power battery, a current temperature, and a quantity of cells of the second type of cells; and determining the sum of the available energy of the first type of cells and the available energy of the second type of cells as a quantity of residual energy of the power battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventor: Guangyu Xu
  • Patent number: 11363133
    Abstract: A method of an electronic device that includes a power source is disclosed. The method determines a health of the power source, a temperature of the power source, and a state of charge of the power source. The method then sets a performance state cap for the electronic device based on at least the health of the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Cyril De La Cropte De Chanterac, David M. Demuro, John Ananny, Karen Eckert, Michael Eng, Nicholas W. Ruhter, Stephen D. Sterz
  • Patent number: 11316364
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an LED straight light including a light tube with two pins at both ends, an LED installed in the light tube and a driving circuit. The driving circuit includes a mains branch and a signal branch. The mains branch is coupled to the pins at one end of the light tube for transmitting power to the LED for power supply. The signal branch is coupled to the pins at the other end of the light tube for transmitting external driving signals to control the on/off of the mains branch. The LED straight light of the present disclosure is powered by two ends, one of the two ends supplies power to the LED through the mains branch, and the other end receives driving signals to control the on/off of the mains branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: CH LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Zhou, Jizhong Pu
  • Patent number: 11307263
    Abstract: An ESS SOH prediction method includes: a capacity virtual division step of virtually dividing a capacity of a measurement target ESS that is to predict an SOH into two or more capacity ranges; each capacity range-dependent charging/discharging cycle data measurement step of measuring charging/discharging cycle data of each capacity range divided in the capacity virtual division step; and a measurement target ESS SOH prediction step of predicting an SOH of a measurement target ESS based on charging/discharging cycle data of each actual ESS measured in the each capacity range-dependent charging/discharging cycle data measurement step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventors: Dae Sik Chung, Jee Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 11302166
    Abstract: A smoke detector with an emitter and a receiver defining an angular distance there between less than 90°, the angular distance between the emitter and the receiver generating a back scatter effect, and a method of operating the smoke detector are provided. The smoke detector includes a housing defining a chamber for receiving ambient materials, an emitter configured to emit light (ex. infrared light or any light in the visible spectrum, such as blue light) into the chamber, a receiver configured to receive light reflected from the ambient materials in the chamber and generate output signals, and a controller configured to receive output signals from the receiver and determine whether a current condition of the chamber indicates a need to trigger an alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Vipul H. Patel
  • Patent number: 11126232
    Abstract: In some examples, a control unit is configured to consider battery heat. The control unit is adapted to provide power from a battery to a system during a peak power mode that includes peak power and off-peak power, and consider heat balance in the battery during the peak power mode by providing peak power so that heat of the battery corresponds to a reference condition heat of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Matsumura, Andy Keates, Brian Fritz
  • Patent number: 10859636
    Abstract: A method of operating an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system can be provided by activating an idle state for a UPS module included in the UPS system and providing a UPS module test input to the UPS module in the idle state. A UPS module test response can be provided from the UPS module in the idle state, to the UPS module test input. The UPS module test response can be compared to a predetermined UPS module test response and the UPS module can be identified as a potentially faulty UPS module responsive to determining that the UPS module test response varies from the predetermined UPS module test response by more than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Charles Sebald, George Arthur Navarro, Gavin Girish Saldanha
  • Patent number: 10855106
    Abstract: One example of a system includes a DC powered monitoring device and a battery backup power supply. The DC powered monitoring device is to monitor the status of an information technology (IT) enclosure environmental infrastructure. The monitoring device is to receive main DC power and backup DC power. The monitoring device is to operate using the backup DC power in response to a loss of the main DC power. The battery backup power supply is to provide the backup DC power to the monitoring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventor: Charles W. Cochran
  • Patent number: 10820046
    Abstract: A system and method for using a controllable appliance to report an inoperable state of a controlling device. The appliance is caused to repeatedly determine, at a first predetermined timed interval, if a wireless notification signal, repeatedly transmitted by the controlling device at a second predetermined timed interval, has been received from the controlling device. When the wireless notification signal has not been received from the controlling device within the first predetermined timed interval, the appliance is caused to issue a status notification that the controlling device is in an inoperable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Gerben Meijer, Patrick H. Hayes
  • Patent number: 10809135
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a substrate, a coil unit comprising a coil disposed on a specified area of the substrate and configured to transmit or receive a signal, a first terminal, a second terminal, and a temperature sensor configured to detect temperature. The temperature sensor has a wire form and is disposed between the first terminal and the second terminal along at least part of a peripheral area of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung Bum Choi, Joo Hyun Kim, Soo Hyun Park, Doo Sun Yoon, Min Woo Yoo, Jong Chul Choi
  • Patent number: 10570620
    Abstract: The disclosure herein discloses a rebar tying tool that ties plural rebars using a wire. The rebar tying tool includes a housing and a twisting motor, and may include a twisting mechanism that twists the wire around the plural rebars by the twisting motor. The twisting mechanism may include a screw shaft, a gripping member that grips the wire in cooperation with rotation of the screw shaft, a first reduction mechanism that reduces and transmits rotation of the twisting motor to a relay shaft, and a second reduction mechanism that reduces and transmits rotation of the relay shaft to the screw shaft. The first reduction mechanism may be a coaxial reduction mechanism, and the second reduction mechanism may be a parallel-axis reduction mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tadasuke Matsuno
  • Patent number: 10560041
    Abstract: An electric motor system includes an electric motor, an electric brake, a power line, and a driver. The electric brake is integrated with the electric motor and configured to generate braking force against the drive force. The driver is integrated with the electric motor and the electric brake. The power line connects the electric brake to an electric power source via the driver to supply electric power to the electric brake. The driver includes a first circuit and a conduction bypath. The first circuit connects the electric brake to the power source such that electric power is supplied to the electric brake and disconnects the electric brake from the electric power source. Electric power is to be supplied to the electric brake from the electric power source through the conduction bypath even when the first circuit disconnects the electric brake from the electric power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventor: Heiji Kaneda
  • Patent number: 10560083
    Abstract: A control device for connecting between two portions of an electrical power supply line. The device includes a bipolar transistor including a wide bandgap semiconductor material and having its emitter connected to one portion of the power supply line, its collector connected to another portion of the power supply line, and the device also including control connected to the base of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN ELECTRICAL & POWER
    Inventors: Cedric Balpe, Tony Lhommeau
  • Patent number: 10551444
    Abstract: A method of operating an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system can be provided by activating an idle state for a UPS module included in the UPS system and providing a UPS module test input to the UPS module in the idle state. A UPS module test response can be provided from the UPS module in the idle state, to the UPS module test input. The UPS module test response can be compared to a predetermined UPS module test response and the UPS module can be identified as a potentially faulty UPS module responsive to determining that the UPS module test response varies from the predetermined UPS module test response by more than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Robert Charles Sebald, George Arthur Navarro, Gavin Girish Saldanha
  • Patent number: 9866023
    Abstract: An inverter apparatus includes an input stage receiving DC electric power from a DC power generator for loading a DC voltage link, a DC/AC converter connected to the DC voltage link and feeding AC electric power into a power grid. The apparatus further includes a bidirectional connection for loading a battery out of the DC voltage link and for loading the DC voltage link out of the battery, and a controller operating the DC/AC converter and the bidirectional connection. The controller receives present values of relevant parameters of the battery including working data at least related to a state of charge and safety data indicating a safety state of the battery from a battery monitoring unit. The controller, in operating the bidirectional connection, considers the working data and is commanded by the safety data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Florian Ellerkamp, Aleksandra-Sasa Bukvic-Schaefer, Klaus Rigbers, Claus Allert
  • Patent number: 9548519
    Abstract: A new data sensor for industrial lead-acid batteries monitors current, voltage, and battery temperature. It comes in a compact, easy-to-install, lost-cost mechanical clamping package with minimal firmware and low cost of ownership. It includes a cable guide configured to restrict the movement of a cable positioned within the cable guide, an electrical power pin configured to pierce the cable positioned within the cable guide to provide an electrical connection to the cable, a tri-axis Hall Effect sensor configured to sense a current flowing through the cable positioned within the cable guide, and a clamping structure configured to clamp the cable positioned within the cable guide and prevent movement of the cable relative to the tri-axis Hall Effect sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: NergySense, LLC
    Inventor: James R Wade
  • Patent number: 9478116
    Abstract: A method with a warning function includes: determining whether an electronic device is in a first preset state, wherein, the first preset state of the electronic device can be a state that the electronic device is being charged or a state in which the temperature of the electronic device is greater than a preset temperature; determining, when the electronic device is in the first preset state, whether the electronic device is contacted by a user via a sensing unit; controlling, when the electronic device is contacted by the user, a timer to record a contact duration; determining whether the contact duration recorded by the timer is greater than a first preset time; and controlling, when the contact duration is greater than the first preset time, a prompt unit to generate a warning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mao-Fang Zhu
  • Patent number: 9411020
    Abstract: A battery pack and a method of controlling the battery pack are disclosed. In one embodiment, the battery pack includes a battery, a monitoring unit configured to monitor a voltage of the battery and provide a monitoring result, a memory storing a full-charge capacity (FCC) of the battery, and a controller configured to update the stored FCC when the monitoring result satisfies predetermined conditions during a falling period of the voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seong-Pyo Hong
  • Patent number: 9374862
    Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit for driving a vehicle lamp, comprising a dummy load. Multiple unidirectional conduction electronic components are coupled to the dummy, operable for conducting a current path to enable a current to flow through the dummy load. Each of multiple LED strings is coupled to each of the multiple unidirectional conduction electronic components, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Inventor: Chih-Yuan Huang
  • Patent number: 9203249
    Abstract: A battery pack for electric power tool is provided with a battery and a control circuit. The circuit includes a condition satisfaction determination unit, a continuation satisfaction determination unit, and a sleep-mode transition unit. The condition satisfaction determination unit determines whether each of at least one predetermined sleep-mode transition condition is satisfied, and determines whether an all-condition satisfaction state is present, which is a state wherein all of the at least one sleep-mode transition condition are satisfied. The continuation satisfaction determination unit determines whether the all-condition satisfaction state has continued for a predetermined period of time when the condition satisfaction determination unit determines that the all-condition satisfaction state is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafumi Noda, Hitoshi Suzuki, Hisakazu Okabayashi
  • Patent number: 9024768
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and infusion pump assembly for determining a first rate-of-change force reading that corresponds to the delivery of a first dose of an infusible fluid via an infusion pump assembly. At least a second rate-of-change force reading is determined that corresponds to the delivery of at least a second dose of the infusible fluid via the infusion pump assembly. An average rate-of-change force reading is determined based, at least in part upon the first rate-of-change force reading and the at least a second rate-of-change force reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Marc A. Mandro, Robert J. Bryant
  • Patent number: 9026254
    Abstract: In a multi-sensing, wirelessly communicating learning thermostat that uses power-harvesting to charge an internal battery, methods are disclosed for ensuring that the battery does not become depleted or damaged while at the same time ensuring selected levels of thermostat functionality. Battery charge status is monitored to determine whether the present rate of power usage needs to be stemmed. If the present rate of power usage needs to be stemmed, then a progression of performance levels and/or functionalities are scaled back according to a predetermined progressive power conservation algorithm. In a less preferred embodiment, there is a simple progressive shutdown of functionalities turned off in sequence until the desired amount of discharge stemming is reached. Battery charge preservation measures are also described for cases when an interruption of external supply power used to recharge the battery is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Adam Warren, Grant M. Erickson, Andrea Mucignat, Edwin H. Satterthwaite, Jr., Joseph Adam Ruff, Joseph E. Palmer, Shigefumi Honjo
  • Patent number: 8988047
    Abstract: A method of pulse charging a secondary electrochemical storage cell is provided. The secondary cell includes a negative electrode comprising an alkaline metal; a positive electrode comprising at least one transition metal halide; a molten salt electrolyte comprising alkaline metal haloaluminate; and a solid electrolyte partitioning the positive electrode from the negative electrode, such that a first surface of the solid electrolyte is in contact with the positive electrode, and a second surface of the solid electrolyte is in contact with the negative electrode. The method of charging includes polarizing the cell by applying a polarizing voltage greater than about 0.1 V above the cell's rest potential for a first predetermined period of time; depolarizing the cell for a second predetermined period of time; and repeating the polarizing and depolarizing steps until a charging end-point is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Alan Bartling, Michael Alan Vallance, Richard Louis Hart, David Charles Bogdan, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150042480
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates the use of an electronic device. The electronic device may be a keyboard, a mouse, a trackpad, a remote control, a mobile phone, a wireless phone, a toy, a portable media player, a game controller, and/or a camera. During operation, the system monitors a state-of-charge of a battery used to power the electronic device. Next, the system calculates a charge threshold associated with a low-battery warning for the battery based on the monitored state-of-charge. If the state-of-charge of the battery reaches the charge threshold, the system generates the low-battery warning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Liquan Tan, Wing Kong Low, Alda Y. Luong
  • Publication number: 20140340232
    Abstract: An electronic device with a battery displays a label for indicating different power levels of the battery. The label comprises a plurality of columns. Each of the columns is capable of being illuminated. A number of the columns lighted correspond to a corresponding the power levels in a one-to-one relationship. The electronic device comprises a detection module, storage, an acquiring module, a check module, and a display module. The detection module detects the current voltage of the battery at regular intervals and stores the information in the storage. The acquiring module acquires a previous detected voltage from the storage. The check module checks whether the current voltage is a fluctuated voltage. The display displays the label with the numbers of the lighted columns corresponding to the power level which contains the previous detected voltage when the current voltage is a fluctuated voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: JUN-JUAN GAO, XIAO-WEI YANG, YANG WANG, CHUN-CHING CHEN
  • Patent number: 8842017
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for displaying the lifecycle of a surge protection device, and more particularly to a device and method for displaying the lifecycle of a surge protection device, which detects an increase in leakage current according to a deterioration in performance of the surge protection device in order to provide notice of a replacement time for the surge protection device. According to the present invention, it is possible to for a user to provide notice of a replacement time by displaying the lifecycle of a surge protection device (SPD) to the outside. Additionally, as another effect of the present invention, it is possible to confirm an amount of leakage current flowing into the ground of the SPD and whether the SPD is properly installed on a ground line by using a current and ground state detecting sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Sungjin Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myung Wook Lee, Young Jun Lee, Sei Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 8816868
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates the use of an electronic device. The electronic device may be a keyboard, a mouse, a trackpad, a remote control, a mobile phone, a wireless phone, a toy, a portable media player, a game controller, and/or a camera. During operation, the system monitors a state-of-charge of a battery used to power the electronic device. Next, the system calculates a charge threshold associated with a low-battery warning for the battery based on the monitored state-of-charge. If the state-of-charge of the battery reaches the charge threshold, the system generates the low-battery warning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Liquan Tan, Wing Kong Low, Alda Y. Luong
  • Patent number: 8797172
    Abstract: A battery powered transmitter is provided with a battery status circuit that determines an output voltage level associated with the battery. The battery status circuit is provided with multiple voltage reference thresholds. One or more visual voltage status indicators are electrically coupled with the battery status circuit. The battery status circuit actuates a visual voltage status indicator when the battery status circuit determines the voltage output level of the battery to be within a first output range. One or more additional visual voltage status indicators may be actuated when the battery status circuit determines the voltage output level of the battery to be within other output ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Controlled Entry Distributors, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley C. Kofford