Patents Examined by Ahmed H Omar
  • Patent number: 10958088
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a plurality of ports, a battery, a control circuit configured to control charging of the battery using power from a plurality of charging devices connected to the plurality of ports, a charging circuit configured to charge the battery using power supplied from the plurality of charging devices, and a plurality of communication circuits configured to communicate with the plurality of charging devices. The control circuit is configured to be electrically connected with the plurality of communication circuits and the charging circuit and set charging power level of each of the plurality of charging devices and battery charging power capacity of the charging circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myung Hoon Kwak, Hyun Joong Yoon, Jung Hun Han, Yong Sang Yun
  • Patent number: 10944295
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wireless power transmitting apparatus using an ultrasonic wave. The transmitting apparatus includes a communication interface configured to perform wireless communication with at least one receiving apparatus, a transducer configured to generate an ultrasonic signal and transmit the generated ultrasonic signal to the at least one receiving apparatus, and a processor configured, in response to a charging request being received from the at least one receiving apparatus via the communication interface, to identify a charging priority and direction of the at least one receiving apparatus, and to control the transducer to generate the ultrasonic signal for charging power of the at least one receiving apparatus and transmit the generated ultrasonic signal to the at least one receiving apparatus based on the charging priority and the direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman, Mohammad Anwarul Hoque, Mohammad Tawhidul Islam Chowdhury, Faisal Khan, Kazy Fayeen Shariar, Sardar Muhammad Monzurur Rahman
  • Patent number: 10938251
    Abstract: A wireless power system may include an electronic device and a removable case. The electronic device and removable case may include wireless charging coils that are inductively coupled when the electronic device and the removable case are physically coupled. In a first mode, while the removable case is inductively coupled to the electronic device and the electronic device is not connected to a wired power source, a coil in the removable case transmits wireless power signals to the electronic device. In a second mode, while the removable case is inductively coupled to the electronic device and the electronic device is connected to a wired power source, the coil in the removable case receives wireless power signals from the electronic device. In a third mode, the removable case receives wireless power with a first coil and transmits wireless power to the electronic device with a second coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Arash Mehrabi, Gianpaolo Lisi, Zaki Moussaoui
  • Patent number: 10938252
    Abstract: A wireless power transmitting device transmits wireless power signals to a wireless power receiving device. To detect foreign objects, the wireless power transmitting device has an array of temperature sensors. The array of temperature sensors may include temperature sensor components such as temperature sensitive thin-film resistors or other temperature sensitive components. A temperature sensor may have thin-film resistors formed on opposing sides of a substrate. The thin-film resistors may be formed from meandered metal traces to reduce eddy current formation during operation of the wireless power transmitting device. Signal paths coupling control circuitry on the wireless power transmitting device to the array of temperature sensors may be configured to extend along columns of the temperature sensors without running along each row of the temperature sensors, thereby reducing eddy currents from loops of signal routing lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: J. Stephen Smith, Siddharth Seth, Douglas J. Adams, Michael A. Cretella
  • Patent number: 10938151
    Abstract: Methods and devices for wired charging and communication with a wearable device are described. In one embodiment, a symmetrical contact interface comprises a first contact pad and a second contact pad, and particular wired circuitry is coupled to the first and second contact pads to enable charging as well as receive and transmit communications via the contact pads as part of various device states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Jiang Tham, Nicholas Larson, Peter Brook, Russell Douglas Patton, Miran Alhaideri, Zhihao Hong
  • Patent number: 10926653
    Abstract: A traction battery charging arrangement for charging a traction battery of a motor vehicle. The charging arrangement has a charging station, which has a charging plug or producing an electrical charging connection to the traction battery of the motor vehicle. The charging arrangement furthermore has an electrical safety loop, which has a loop-current source, at least one actuable loop break contact and at least one loop-current sensor. A charging-current control switches off the charging current when the loop-current sensor does not detect a loop current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventors: Jakob Brömauer, Thomas Wischnack, Steve Zander, Raoul Heyne, Karsten Hähre
  • Patent number: 10926655
    Abstract: A charging pile includes a power system and a charging terminal. The power system includes a first power unit, a second power unit, a power control unit, and a heat sink. The first power unit is connected to the second power unit, and the first power unit and the second power unit have same output voltages and same output currents. The power control unit is configured to control the output voltages and the output currents of the two power units. The charging terminal includes a charging control module, a direct-current distribution unit, and a charging plug. The charging plug is configured to connect to a to-be-charged battery and charge the to-be-charged battery. The direct-current distribution unit is configured to allocate a power supply to the charging plug. The charging control module is configured to bill and display the charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nanhai Li, Zhen Qin, Hongbing Wang, Quanfu Shi, Yongjin Lin
  • Patent number: 10930984
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed at a method and system for recharging batteries for wireless electronic devices. According to one embodiment, a battery charging and monitoring system is disclosed. The system includes a host machine providing a plurality of charging slots and a plurality of wireless devices coupled to and powered by a plurality of batteries. The host machine is adapted to communicate with the plurality of wireless devices through a plurality of wireless links to monitor the plurality of batteries coupled to the wireless devices. According to another embodiment, an electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device is adapted to couple with at least a rechargeable battery and to negotiate with the rechargeable battery for an agreed range of power parameters. The electronic device is further adapted to accept power from and to provide power to the rechargeable battery at the agreed range of power parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Harold Aaron Ludtke
  • Patent number: 10910849
    Abstract: A charging method includes the following operations: charging an auxiliary power source and at least one charging power source simultaneously, in which a power demand of the auxiliary power source is a first consideration, and a power demand of the at least one charging power source is a second consideration; detecting an auxiliary current value of the auxiliary power source and a total charging current value of the at least one charging power source; and stopping charging the auxiliary power source when a sum of the auxiliary current value and the total charging current value is greater than a current threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: AVER INFORMATION INC.
    Inventors: Jay Paul Lyons, Cheng-Che Hsieh, Chi-Fa Hsu, Chao-Hung Chang, Lien-Kai Chou
  • Patent number: 10910850
    Abstract: An energy storage apparatus. The energy storage apparatus includes an energy storage, wherein the energy storage is connected to at least one energy source, wherein the energy storage is configured to store energy from the at least one energy source; a power supplier, wherein the power supplier is connected to an external load, wherein the power supplier is configured to provide energy from the energy storage to the external load; and a distribution regulator, wherein the distribution regulator is configured, in real-time, to operate the energy storage apparatus in a reduced power mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: NOVA LUMOS LTD.
    Inventors: Rafael Boneh, Nir Marom, David Vortman, Nir Nitzani
  • Patent number: 10889186
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension arrangement includes a mounting member, a trailing arm pivotably coupled to the mounting member, an axle assembly coupled to the trailing arm moveable in a vertical direction, an air spring arrangement biasing the trailing arm from the vehicle frame assembly, and a charging arrangement having a first portion operably coupled with the second end of the trailing arm such the first portion is fixed for vertical movement with the trailing arm, and a second portion that is operably coupled with the vehicle frame assembly such that the second portion is fixed for vertical movement with the vehicle frame assembly, wherein the charging arrangement is configured to generate an electrical charge when the first portion of the charging arrangement moves relative to the second portion of the charging arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: SAF-HOLLAND, Inc.
    Inventor: Randy L. Schutt
  • Patent number: 10886753
    Abstract: A battery controller includes a first driving pin, a second driving pin and a third driving pin. The first driving pin is coupled to a charge switch and is operable for turning on the charge switch to enable a battery pack to be charged by a power source. The second driving pin is coupled to a first discharge switch and is operable for turning on the first discharge switch to enable the battery pack to power a first load. The third driving pin is coupled to a second discharge switch and is operable for turning on the second discharge switch to enable the battery pack to power a second load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: O2Micro Inc.
    Inventor: Guoxing Li
  • Patent number: 10875415
    Abstract: When batteries of a plurality of electric autonomous moving bodies are charged, a plurality of electric autonomous moving bodies are aligned in a serial state, a second connection means of one of the electric autonomous moving bodies that are adjacent to each other in a direction in which the electric autonomous moving bodies are aligned and a first connection means of the other one of the electric autonomous moving bodies that are adjacent to each other are electrically connected to each other, and the first connection means of the electric autonomous moving body that is the closest to the charger unit and the connection means of the charger unit are electrically connected to each other. In this case, power is supplied from the charger unit to each of the electric autonomous moving bodies, thereby charging the batteries of the plurality of electric autonomous moving bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayuki Itoh
  • Patent number: 10871521
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting a state of charge (SOC) is provided. The method includes: acquiring state data of a battery cell in a case where the battery cell meets a preset standing condition; determining, when a length of voltage data in the state data is greater than a first preset length and less than a second preset length, and a change value of the voltage data in the state data is greater than a preset change threshold, a first set of pending parameters of a predetermined near-steady-state battery model according to the state data; predicting, according to the first set of pending parameters, a second set of pending parameters of the predetermined near-steady-state battery model; calculating an estimated steady-state OCV value according to the second set of pending parameters; and determining a SOC correction value corresponding to the estimated steady-state OCV value to correct current SOC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Jian Ruan, Shichao Li, Mingshu Du, Shenzhi Tang, Yanhua Lu, Wei Zhang
  • Patent number: 10873189
    Abstract: A system, a method, and a device for controlling charging of batteries in electronic articles, and more particularly for controlling charging of batteries in electronic cigarettes. In one embodiment, a charging system for an electronic cigarette can comprise a pack that can comprise a pack battery electrically coupled to an ultra-capacitor. The pack battery can be configured to charge the ultra-capacitor. The charging system can further comprise an electronic circuitry configured to temporarily or non-fixedly couple the pack to an electronic cigarette battery. The ultra-capacitor can be configured to charge the electronic cigarette battery at an accelerated rate as compared to a rate at which the pack battery alone can charge the electronic cigarette battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Fontem Holdings 4 B.V.
    Inventor: Ramon Alarcon
  • Patent number: 10862325
    Abstract: A battery charging method and apparatus are provided. A setting value of charging control information is determined based on an overpotential value and a voltage value of a battery and is applied in the charging control information, and a voltage applied to charge the battery is controlled based on the charging control information that applies the setting value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ju Wan Lim, YoungJae Kim, Duk Jin Oh, Young Hun Sung
  • Patent number: 10854935
    Abstract: When the temperature of a battery is below a prescribed temperature during execution of a lithium deposition suppression control, an ECU executes a temperature raising control for raising the temperature of the battery by repeating charging and discharging of the battery. The temperature raising control is a control for: when the magnitude of a target current is below a first threshold value that is greater than 0, prohibiting charging of the battery by restricting an allowable charging power to 0, while discharging the battery; and when the magnitude of an allowable current exceeds a second threshold value, resuming charging of the battery by canceling restriction on the allowable charging power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Kiyohito Machida, Yoshihiro Uchida, Takuhiro Ohtani
  • Patent number: 10843583
    Abstract: A method for carrying out a charging operation for a vehicle at a charging station includes detecting a request for a charging operation on an electronic communication device and determining position data that indicates the position of the communication device. The method also includes determining whether a wireless connection exists between the communication device and the vehicle, where the wireless connection is based on a short-distance communication method with a nominal range. The method additionally includes determining a number of possible charging stations and/or a number of possible vehicles subject to the position data and nominal range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jens Berger, Enrique Marcial-Simon
  • Patent number: 10843584
    Abstract: A connector arrangement for charging an electric vehicle includes a first connector disposed adjacent a slide surface and having a pin extending from the first connector. A second connector has a second connector body and is moveable along the slide surface by a linkage mechanism. A socket extends through the second connector body between two opposed openings, and at least one sensor is associated with the second connector body. The at least one sensor provides information indicative of a location of the second connector body on the slide surface to the linkage mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Gregory A. Cole, William J. Eakins, Martin Krucinski, Sangeun Choi, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge
  • Patent number: 10836273
    Abstract: At an electronic device that is coupled to a set of circuits configured to supply electricity to respective on-board charging systems of one or more electric vehicles: detecting activation of a first electric vehicle charging connection; in response to detecting the activation of the first electric vehicle charging connection, obtaining a first communication signal through the first electric vehicle charging connection; decoding the first communication signal to extract a respective vehicle identifier corresponding to an on-board charging system of a first electric vehicle that is connected to the set of circuits through the first electric charging connection; configuring a first charging mode for the on-board charging system of the first electric vehicle in accordance with the respective vehicle identifier; and enabling charging of the first electric vehicle through the first electric vehicle charging connection in accordance with the first charging mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: HUMMINGBIRDEV
    Inventor: Zhengmao Zhu