Patents Assigned to Qnovo Inc.
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Patent number: 9702940Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to applying a current pulse to the terminals of the battery during a charge, measuring a voltage at the terminals of the battery, selecting a relationship of an open circuit voltage to an amount of charge in the battery using data which is representative of a state of health of the battery, calculating an open circuit voltage of the battery using the voltage measured at the terminals of the battery, a current applied to or removed from the battery and an impedance of the battery, and determining a state of charge of the battery using (i) the calculated open circuit voltage and (ii) the relationship of the open circuit voltage to the amount of charge.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2015Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Qnovo Inc.Inventors: Nadim Maluf, Dania Ghantous, Fred Berkowitz, Christina Peabody
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Patent number: 9647472Abstract: Circuitry and methods to “capture”, recover, store and/or use electrical energy output and/or generated by the battery/cell as discharge signals of a charging sequence/operation. Such electrical energy may then be “reused” by the charging circuitry or system and/or in the system powered by the battery/cell and/or external to the charging circuitry or battery/cell. The energy output and/or generated by the battery/cell in response to discharge signals of a charging sequence/operation may (1) supply energy to the associated system being powered by the battery, (2) supply charge current to the same battery/cell or another battery/cell, (3) supply charge to one or more cells in a multiple cell battery pack that are at a lower voltage than the other cells, (4) store the charge in a different charge storing device (e.g., a capacitor and/or second battery), and/or (5) heat a battery/cell to improve charging performance.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Qnovo Inc.Inventors: Fred Berkowitz, Nadim Maluf, Dania Ghantous
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Patent number: 9500713Abstract: A system and technique for determining a state of charge (SOC) of a battery having at least two terminals and at least one silicon-based anode, or other anode materials exhibiting hysteretic voltage-SOC dependence such as tin-based anodes (whether partial or full dependence). The system and technique determines whether the battery is in a charge mode or a discharge mode of operation, measures a terminal voltage of the battery, and determines the SOC of the battery using (a) a first predetermined relationship between (i) the terminal voltage of the battery and (ii) the SOC of the battery when the battery is in a charge mode, and (b) a second predetermined relationship between (i) the terminal voltage of the battery and (ii) the SOC of the battery when the battery is in a discharge mode. In one embodiment, the terminal voltage is an equilibrium voltage of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2014Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Qnovo Inc.Inventors: Dania Ghantous, Christina Peabody, Nadim Maluf, Fred Berkowitz, Miroslav Zmrzli, David Bruce Koons
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Patent number: 9461492Abstract: A system and method to charge a battery during a charging cycle having a plurality of portions. The method comprises generating a first charge signal during the first portion of the charging cycle, wherein the first charge signal is based on a charge-time parameter. The charge-time parameter correlates a charge time period of the charging cycle to (i) a state of charge of the battery and/or (ii) a charge storage level corresponding to an amount of usage time of the battery. The method further includes applying the first charge signal to the battery during the first portion of the charging cycle, and, in response thereto, charging the battery to provide a state of charge and/or (ii) a charge storage level corresponding to an amount of usage in or within the charge time period of the charge-time parameter.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: Qnovo Inc.Inventors: Fred Berkowitz, Dania Ghantous, Christina Peabody
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Patent number: 9385555Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of a change in terminal voltage of the battery/cell. In another aspect, the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of partial and/or full relaxation time of the battery/cell. In yet another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to determine whether the data which is representative of partial and/or full relaxation time exceeds a predetermined range and/or is greater than a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2015Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: Qnovo Inc.Inventors: Dania Ghantous, Nadim Maluf, Fred Berkowitz
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Patent number: 9373972Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of a change in terminal voltage of the battery/cell. In another aspect, the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of partial and/or full relaxation time of the battery/cell. In yet another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to determine whether the data which is representative of partial and/or full relaxation time exceeds a predetermined range and/or is greater than a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2015Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Qnovo Inc.Inventors: Dania Ghantous, Nadim Maluf, Fred Berkowitz
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Patent number: 9142994Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to applying a charge pulse to the terminals of the battery during a charging operation, measure a plurality of voltages of the battery which are in response to the first charge pulse, determine a charge pulse voltage (CPV) of the battery, wherein the charge pulse voltage is a peak voltage which is in response to the first charge pulse, determine whether the CPV of the battery is within a predetermined range or greater than a predetermined upper limit value and adapt one or more characteristics of a charge packet if the CPV is outside the predetermined range or is greater than a predetermined upper limit value.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2012Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Qnovo, Inc.Inventors: Fred Berkowitz, Dania Ghantous, Nadim Maluf, Christina Peabody
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Patent number: 9121910Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to determining data which is representative of the state of health, or a change therein, of the battery using the data which is representative of (i) the relaxation time of the battery and/or (ii) the overpotential of the battery. In another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adapt one or more characteristics of a charge signal using data which is representative of the state of health, or a change therein, of the battery. In yet another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to determine a state of charge of the battery using data which is representative of the state of health, or a change therein, of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2012Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: Qnovo Inc.Inventors: Nadim Maluf, Dania Ghantous, Fred Berkowitz, Christina Peabody
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Patent number: 9063018Abstract: Techniques and circuitry, in one embodiment, determine a temperature of a battery by applying a calibration packet to the battery's terminals and at the battery's first SOC, wherein the calibration packet includes a first pulse (charge or discharge) which temporally precedes a rest period. In one embodiment, measurement circuitry measures a first terminal voltage at a time immediately prior to or at a beginning of the first pulse of the calibration packet, and a second terminal voltage, in response to the calibration packet, at a time during the partial relaxation time period of a battery. Control circuitry determines a partial relaxation time voltage (VPRT) at the battery's first SOC using the first and second terminal voltages and determines a temperature of the battery by correlating the VPRT at the first SOC to a temperature of the battery at the battery's current SOH.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2012Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: Qnovo Inc.Inventors: Dania Ghantous, Fred Berkowitz, Christina Peabody, Nadim Maluf
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Patent number: 9035621Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adapt the charging of a battery using data which is representative of an overpotential or relaxation time (full or partial) of the battery. In another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to calculate data which is representative of an overpotential or relaxation time (full or partial) of the battery. In yet another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to calculate data which is representative of a state of charge of the battery using an overpotential or relaxation time (full or partial) of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2014Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Qnovo Inc.Inventors: Fred Berkowitz, Nadim Maluf, Dania Ghantous
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Patent number: 9035623Abstract: Circuitry and techniques to measure, at the battery's terminals, characteristic(s) of the charging signal applied to the battery/cell during the recharging operation and, in response to feedback data which indicates the charging signal is out-of-specification, control or instruct the charging circuitry to adjust characteristic(s) of the recharging signal (e.g., the amplitude of the voltage of and/or current applied to or removed from the battery during the charging operation). For example, a rechargeable battery pack comprising a battery, and controllable switch(es), a current meter and voltmeter, all of which are fixed to the battery. Control circuitry generates control signal(s) to adjust a current and/or voltage of the charging signal using the feedback data from the current meter and/or voltmeter, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2013Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Qnovo Inc.Inventors: Fred Berkowitz, Nadim Maluf, Mark Gurries, Miroslav Zmrzli, David Bruce Koons
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Publication number: 20150077044Abstract: Circuitry and methods to “capture”, recover, store and/or use electrical energy output and/or generated by the battery/cell as discharge signals of a charging sequence/operation. Such electrical energy may then be “reused” by the charging circuitry or system and/or in the system powered by the battery/cell and/or external to the charging circuitry or battery/cell. The energy output and/or generated by the battery/cell in response to discharge signals of a charging sequence/operation may (1) supply energy to the associated system being powered by the battery, (2) supply charge current to the same battery/cell or another battery/cell, (3) supply charge to one or more cells in a multiple cell battery pack that are at a lower voltage than the other cells, (4) store the charge in a different charge storing device (e.g., a capacitor and/or second battery), and/or (5) heat a battery/cell to improve charging performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Applicant: Qnovo Inc.Inventors: Fred Berkowitz, Nadim Maluf, Dania Ghantous
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Patent number: 8975874Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of a change in terminal voltage of the battery/cell. In another aspect, the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of a partial relaxation time of the battery/cell. In yet another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of an overpotential or full relaxation time of the battery/cell. In another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of a state of charge and/or data which is representative of a state of health of the battery/cell.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2014Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Qnovo Inc.Inventors: Fred Berkowitz, Nadim Maluf, Dania Ghantous
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Patent number: 8970178Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to applying a current pulse to the terminals of the battery during a charge, measuring a voltage at the terminals of the battery, determining a relationship of an open circuit voltage to an amount of charge in the battery using data which is representative of a state of health of the battery, calculating an open circuit voltage of the battery using the voltage measured at the terminals of the battery, a current applied to or removed from the battery and an impedance of the battery, and determining a state of charge of the battery using (i) the calculated open circuit voltage and (ii) the relationship of the open circuit voltage to the amount of charge.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2012Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Qnovo Inc.Inventors: Fred Berkowitz, Dania Ghantous, Nadim Maluf, Christina Peabody
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Patent number: 8907631Abstract: A system to recharge a battery including a first current-voltage source to generate a first signal, a second current-voltage source to generate a second signal, a first inductor-capacitor circuit to generate the first DC current-voltage signal using the first signal, a second inductor-capacitor circuit to generate the second DC current-voltage signal using the second signal, wherein the first and second inductor-capacitor circuits are spaced apart by a predetermined distance. The system also includes a temperature sensor adapted to generate temperature data during the charging operation, and control circuitry configured to: (i) determine whether the first temperature data is out-of-specification, and (ii) generate one or more control signals to adjust the first and second DC current-voltage signals, in response to the first temperature data being out-of-specification.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2013Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Qnovo Inc.Inventors: Mark Nathan Gurries, Fred Berkowitz, Nadim Maluf, David Bruce Koons, Miroslav Zmrzli
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Patent number: 8901886Abstract: The present inventions, in certain aspects, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to charge a battery the method comprises (i) charging the battery via a charging sequence, wherein charging the battery includes: (a) applying a plurality of charge signals, and (b) applying one or more discharge signals wherein, in response thereto, the battery outputs electrical energy. In certain embodiments, the electrical energy output by the battery in response to the discharge signals is stored (for example, in a capacitor and/or second battery). The present inventions are also directed to, among other things, an apparatus to charge a battery comprising charging circuitry including: (i) a current source to generate a plurality of charge signals, and (ii) a current sink to generate one or more discharge signals, wherein, in response thereto, the battery outputs electrical energy.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2011Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Qnovo Inc.Inventors: Fred Berkowitz, Nadim Maluf, Dania Ghantous
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Patent number: 8791669Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to determine the state of charge of a battery/cell using data which is representative of a partial relaxation time of the battery/cell. In another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to determine the state of charge of a battery/cell using data which is representative of an overpotential or full relaxation time of the battery/cell. In yet another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of a state of charge of the battery/cell.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2011Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Qnovo Inc.Inventors: Dania Ghantous, Fred Berkowitz, Nadim Maluf
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Publication number: 20140139192Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of a change in terminal voltage of the battery/cell. In another aspect, the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of a partial relaxation time of the battery/cell. In yet another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of an overpotential or full relaxation time of the battery/cell. In another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of a state of charge and/or data which is representative of a state of health of the battery/cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2014Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: Qnovo Inc.Inventors: Fred Berkowitz, Nadim Maluf, Dania Ghantous
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Patent number: 8638070Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of a change in terminal voltage of the battery/cell. In another aspect, the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of a partial relaxation time of the battery/cell. In yet another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of an overpotential or full relaxation time of the battery/cell. In another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of a state of charge of the battery/cell.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2011Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Qnovo Inc.Inventors: Nadim Maluf, Dania Ghantous, Fred Berkowitz
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Publication number: 20140021959Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to determining data which is representative of the state of health, or a change therein, of the battery using the data which is representative of (i) the relaxation time of the battery and/or (ii) the overpotential of the battery. In another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adapt one or more characteristics of a charge signal using data which is representative of the state of health, or a change therein, of the battery. In yet another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to determine a state of charge of the battery using data which is representative of the state of health, or a change therein, of the battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2012Publication date: January 23, 2014Applicant: Qnovo Inc.Inventors: Nadim Maluf, Dania Ghantous, Fred Berkowitz, Christina Peabody