Patents Examined by Alexis B Pacheco
  • Patent number: 11247578
    Abstract: Electric charging stations with docking management and methods of use are disclosed herein. An example system can include a base station providing electrical power, a charging interface configured to couple with a charging port of a vehicle and a cradle of the base station, a controller associated with at least one of the base station, the charging interface, or combinations thereof, the controller configured to execute a docking ruleset to determine when a docking failure occurs between the charging interface and the cradle of the base station and execute a remediating action in response to the docking failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Melatti, Dale F. Jordan, III, Thomas Jorda
  • Patent number: 11237607
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface configured to connect with a plurality of external devices and supply an electric power to each of the external devices connected with the interface, the plurality of external devices including a first device having a battery and a second device, and a controller configured to, when the first device and the second device are connected with the interface, determine whether the first device satisfies a first condition concerning charging of the battery of the first device, and in response to determining that the first device satisfies the first condition, make a specific ratio of an electric power to be supplied to the first device via the interface to an electric power to be supplied to the second device via the interface larger than when it is determined that the first device does not satisfy the first condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsunori Sakai, Hajime Usami
  • Patent number: 11233411
    Abstract: A carry case for an electronics-enabled eyewear device has incorporated therein electronic components for connection to the eyewear device while storing the eyewear device. The case comprises a rigid frame structure defining an openable holding space for the pair of smart glasses, and a compressible shock-resistant protective cover on the frame structure. The exterior of the case may be predominantly defined by the shock resistant protective cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Andrew Steger, Tiffany Ming Tsao, Qiaokun Huang
  • Patent number: 11225171
    Abstract: A method for charging a starter battery of a vehicle is disclosed, wherein the vehicle has at least one movable opening element and a motor unit, which is coupled to the opening element and is operable in a motor-powered drive mode to drive the opening element and in a generator mode to generate an electrical voltage, said method comprising: detecting the generator mode of the motor unit using the electrical voltage generated by the motor unit, comparing the generated electrical voltage with a specified voltage value, and establishing an electrical connection from the motor unit to the starter battery to charge the starter battery, if the generated electrical voltage is greater than the voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Inventor: Erwin Kessler
  • Patent number: 11218004
    Abstract: An arrangement having a multifunctional connection for energy storage cells or energy consumers provides at least one device for charge equalization and/or a measuring device for measuring an electrical voltage of energy storage cells or energy consumers; an electrical bridging element between two electrically insulated conductors; and a trigger circuit for activating the bridging element. One of the two electrical conductors is connected or is connectable to a first pole in an electrically conductive manner, and the other electrical conductor is connected or connectable in an electrically conductive manner to a second pole of the energy storage cell or of the energy consumer. The device for charge equalization and/or the measuring device is connected to the electrical connection of the bridging element. The electrical connection can thus be used simultaneously for triggering the bridging element and for the charge measurement and/or the charge equalization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesllschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Vincent Lorentz, Martin Maerz, Martin Wenger
  • Patent number: 11208002
    Abstract: A method for controlling charging of a high voltage power grid structure of a vehicle is provided. The method includes measuring battery voltage of a vehicle and transmitting the measured voltage to a first charger. Output voltage of the first charger is matched with the transmitted voltage and provided to a charging controller via communication between the charging controller and the first charging port to which the first charger is coupled. The vehicle is then charged by connecting a high-voltage relay to be connected to a first charging port to which the first charger is coupled. The process is repeated while the vehicle is being charged between the charging controller and a second charger by connecting to a second charging port to which a second charger is coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jeong-Ha Noh
  • Patent number: 11208000
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle comprising a power storage device; a connecting portion configured to be connectable with an external power source; a converter configured to be connected with the connecting portion and with the power storage device; and a control device configured to control the converter. When the external power source is connected with the connecting portion, the control device performs charging control to control the converter, such that electric power from the external power source is subjected to voltage conversion and is then supplied to the power storage device. On completion of charging of the power storage device, the control device starts a system by using electric power from the power storage device after disconnection of the converter from the external power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuya Ando, Takeaki Suzuki, Shinsuke Iwasaki, Miki Sugita, Yuko Asano
  • Patent number: 11203268
    Abstract: A method and associated system for selecting a charging station for a subject vehicle is described, and includes determining a state of charge of an on-vehicle DC power source arranged to supply electric power to a propulsion system for the subject vehicle. A travel route to a destination point is determined, and locations of a plurality of charging stations proximal to the travel route are identified. Desired states and corresponding weighting factors for a plurality of user-selectable parameters are determined, and a sorting routine is executed to rank the plurality of charging stations proximal to the travel route based upon the desired states and corresponding weighting factors for the plurality of user-selectable parameters and the state of charge of the on-vehicle DC power source. One of the charging stations is selected based upon the ranking, and a charging reservation is scheduled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kausalya Singuru, Donald K. Grimm, Bakhtiar B. Litkouhi
  • Patent number: 11201486
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a battery control device includes a charge and discharge circuit and a processor. The processor determines, based on an information regarding a secondary battery electrically connected to the charge and discharge circuit, whether or not a diagnosis implementation condition is satisfied; controls the charge and discharge circuit to charge the secondary battery only after discharging or charging up to a charging-start SOC if the diagnosis implementation condition is satisfied; acquires measurement data of a voltage and a current of the secondary battery while charging; estimates an internal state parameter of the secondary battery based on the measurement data; and diagnoses a deterioration state of the secondary battery based on the internal state parameter of the secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yumi Fujita, Tomokazu Morita, Nobukatsu Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 11196080
    Abstract: An electrical combination. The combination comprises a hand held power tool, a battery pack and a controller. The battery pack includes a battery pack housing connectable to and supportable by the hand held power tool, a plurality of battery cells supported by the battery pack housing, each of the plurality of battery cells having a lithium-based chemistry, being individually tapped and having an individual state of charge. A communication path is provided by a battery pack sense terminal and a power tool sense terminal. The controller is operable to monitor a state of charge of a number of battery cells less than the plurality of battery cells and to generate a signal based on the monitored state of charge of the number of battery cells less than the plurality of battery cells, the signal being operable to control the operation of the hand held power tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Todd W. Johnson, Jay J. Rosenbecker, Gary D. Meyer, Jeffrey M. Zeiler, Kevin L. Glasgow, Jonathan A. Zick, Jeffrey M. Brozek, Karl F. Scheucher
  • Patent number: 11192462
    Abstract: The application relates to a charging station for electric vehicles, comprising a cable holding device with a cable guided over a first deflection unit and a second deflection unit having two ends for holding two charging cables. The first end of the rope is connected to a first charging cable of the charging station and the further end of the rope is connected to a further charging cable of the charging station. At least one weight element is operatively connected to the rope in such a way that the charging cables in an unused condition of the charging cables are held so that there is a distance between a ground surface and each part of the charging cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: innogy SE
    Inventors: Thorbjörn Siaenen, Christian Müller-Winterberg, Jürgen Waffner
  • Patent number: 11186202
    Abstract: In a power supply device, a battery switching unit is a circuit capable of switching a series-connected relay, a parallel-connected relay, a parallel-connected relay, and a parallel-connected relay to switch to a series circuit connecting a first battery and a second battery in series or a parallel circuit connecting the first battery and the second battery in parallel. When charging the first battery and the second battery, a controller controls the battery switching unit to switch to a parallel circuit, controls the parallel-connected relay based on voltages applied to a first cathode terminal and a first anode terminal, and further controls the parallel-connected relay based on voltages applied to a second cathode terminal and a second anode terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Sugimura, Mitsuaki Morimoto, Kazuya Tsubaki, Eiichiro Oishi
  • Patent number: 11177700
    Abstract: The disclosure involves wireless electric power sharing between vehicles. A first vehicle sends a charging request, wherein the first vehicle is at least partially powered by a first on-board rechargeable electricity storage. The first vehicle receives a response to the charging request from a second vehicle which is at least partially powered by a second on-board rechargeable electricity storage, and a communication channel is established between the first and second vehicles. The first on-board rechargeable electricity storage is charged using energy stored in the second on-board rechargeable electricity storage and wirelessly transferred from the second vehicle to the first vehicle. The charging is controlled with information exchanged between the first and second vehicles over the communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Si Bin Fan, Ge Liang, Hao Sheng, Hai Dong Zhang, Jinfan Zhu
  • Patent number: 11173799
    Abstract: A method for guiding a motor vehicle into a charging position at an inductive charging station. When the charging position is being approached, a control device of the motor vehicle determines a relative position of the motor vehicle with respect to the charging position at least up to a first distance from the charging station by way of a first location-determining device and, starting from a second distance from the charging station up to the charging position by way of a second location-determining device. The control device estimates the relative position at least in a transition region between the first distance and the second distance on the basis of the motor vehicle's own movement, by way of an odometry device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: CPT Group GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Bartz, Thomas Roehrl
  • Patent number: 11167652
    Abstract: A primary coil unit is configured for electromagnetically coupling with a secondary coil unit. The primary coil unit includes a primary coil and a primary ferrite, where the primary coil is movably supported relative to the primary ferrite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Josef Krammer
  • Patent number: 11167662
    Abstract: A method for operating an electrical energy storage device for a motor vehicle, which energy storage device includes an energy storage unit, which has an energy storage unit voltage during normal operation, and which, during a charging process, is charged by electrical energy provided at a charging connection point at a charging voltage that is lower than the energy storage unit voltage. Based on the energy storage unit voltage and the charging voltage, the energy storage unit is divided into a plurality of energy storage subunits, at least one of which has an energy storage subunit voltage that corresponds to the charging voltage and is electrically connected to the charging connection point for the at least partial charging of the energy storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Roman Strasser, Johann Scherer
  • Patent number: 11161425
    Abstract: Power equipment for electric vehicles (2), comprising: a first electrical connector (3) connected to an electric power supply grid; a second electrical connector (4) connected to a battery of the vehicle (2) and configured to mechanically couple to the first electrical connector (3); actuating means (9) of said first connector (3) for actuating the first connector (3) between a first condition in which it is removed from the second connector (4) to a second condition in which it is coupled to the second connector (4) to determine a passage of current from the electric grid to said battery; and a support body (10) of said actuating means (9), said first connector (3) and said actuating means (9) in the first condition being contained in the volume defined by said support body (10), said support body (10) has a support base (11) configured to be fastened to a parking surface of the vehicle (2) and underneath the vehicle (2) itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Dazetechnology S.R.L.
    Inventors: Andrea Daminelli, Giacomo Zenoni
  • Patent number: 11152815
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a solar home system that may be used for the following purposes in the household: lighting, mobile phone and other electronic device charging through Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports, receiving television signal through digital TV signal, receiving internet information through the wireless network signal and powering electronics through an inverter. The present invention is very beneficial for households who do not have access to electricity from the electricity grid, households that have unreliable access to electricity, or households that choose not to utilize electricity directly from the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: THE KGS GROUP LLC
    Inventor: Marielle Damara Fillit
  • Patent number: 11142087
    Abstract: A system to recharge an electric vehicle in which the rechargeable battery within the electric vehicle. The rechargeable battery is disengaged from electric vehicle, removed, and a replacement rechargeable battery is placed within the electric vehicle. In this manner, the electric vehicle is fully charged without having to wait at a charging station. An added feature is the easy disconnect of the rechargeable battery from the electric vehicle using an electromagnet connector for the electrical connection. The electromagnet is selectively powered by a secondary battery and adapted to disconnect the releasable electrical connector from the rechargeable battery when said electromagnet is not activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Inventor: Mark Ellery Ogram
  • Patent number: 11135929
    Abstract: New systems, methods and media for simultaneous energy and data transfer are provided. In some aspects of the invention, an energy and data receiver is provided, which may be used to receive data and energy simultaneously, in a unified manner. Energy and information transfer media, which may be included within such a receiver unit, are also provided. New electrochemical battery recharging, refurbishment and replacement techniques are also provided. In some aspects of the invention, small, fungible battery elements with external contacts may be delivered to a tank comprising contacts. The cells may be delivered to the tank bridging contacts within the tank, powering an appliance. Density differentials, maneuvering protocols and variable contacts between the elements may aid in placing them in selected circuit orders, and in removing them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventor: Christopher V. Beckman