Patents Examined by Alexis Pacheco
  • Patent number: 9948137
    Abstract: A system extracts power from a typical high voltage (200-500 vdc) grid tie solar system and deliver it to a low voltage (12-24 vdc) battery bank. This product parallel connects in between an existing grid tie solar array, and an existing grid tie inverter, transforming the voltage down, and acting as a charge controller, engaging and disengaging as necessary to keep the low voltage battery bank at a high state of charge. This system enables the grid tie PV array to have a second use as the energy source for a low DC voltage off grid system. This system, when combined with standard low DC voltage grid inter-active off grid inverter/charger, and a battery bank, forms a complete off grid system, while allowing the host grid tie system to function normally when the grid is on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Rick Smith
  • Patent number: 9941726
    Abstract: In some examples, a circuit is configured to receive an input signal and deliver, based on the input signal, a charging current to a capacitor. The circuit may be further configured to receive an output voltage that indicates a charge on the capacitor. The circuit may be further configured to determine that the output voltage is shorted to a reference ground. The circuit may be further configured to reduce, based on determining that the output voltage is shorted to the reference ground, the charging current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Xiaowu Gong, Yong Siang Teo
  • Patent number: 9941705
    Abstract: The present invention provides various electric receiver arrangements included in clothing pieces that require electric current to perform tasks, such as warming, cooling and displaying. Suitable wireless sound power transmission techniques like pocket forming are used to provide the clothing pieces with wireless power. In some embodiments, receivers may include at least one sensor connected to at least one rectifier and one power converter. In other embodiments, receivers including a plurality of sensors, a plurality of rectifiers or a plurality of power converters may be provided, In addition, receivers may include communications components which may allow for communication to various electronic equipment including transmitters for controlling the temperature circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: ENERGOUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael A. Leabman
  • Patent number: 9941712
    Abstract: An electrical storage system includes a relay switching between an on state where an electrical storage device (10) is connected to a load and an off state where connection of the electrical storage device with the load is interrupted; a controller controlling an on-off state of the relay; and a current interruption circuit (60) interrupting energization of the electrical storage device. The current interruption circuit includes an alarm circuit (63) outputting an alarm signal indicating that any one electrical storage block is in an overcharged state by comparing a voltage value of each electrical storage block with a threshold; a latch circuit (64) retaining the alarm signal; a transistor (66) causing the relay to switch from the on state to the off state upon reception of an output signal of the latch circuit; and a power supply circuit (63d) generating electric power for operating the latch circuit using electric power of the electrical storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiji Kaita, Yuji Nishi, Yukinari Tanabe, Hiromasa Tanaka, Motoi Ito
  • Patent number: 9937807
    Abstract: The battery charger comprises: two output terminals (BS1, BS2) between which a battery (102) is designed to be connected; two input terminals (BE1, BE2) designed to be connected to an electrical network (110); two inductors (L.A, L.C) respectively connected to the first input terminal (BE1) and to the second input terminal (BE2); two switching arms (BA, BC) for respectively connecting the inductors (LA, LC) selectively to the first output terminal (BS1) and to the second output terminal (BS2); a control device (120) designed for controlling the switching arms (BA, BC) so as to draw from the electrical network (110) a mains current (iR) in phase with the mains voltage (uR). The battery charger further comprises: a smoothing capacitor (C) connected to the second output terminal (BS2); and a connection device (112) for connecting the smoothing capacitor (C) to the second input terminal (BE2). The control device (120) is further designed to control at least the second switching arm (B.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes de Controle Moteur
    Inventors: Luis de Sousa, Bruno Condamin, Boris Bouchez, Pierre-Alexandre Chauvenet, Benedicte Silvestre
  • Patent number: 9929573
    Abstract: A battery system includes multiple battery cells having multiple cell voltages, and a balancing module. The battery module coupled to multiple battery cells and configured to specify a first voltage threshold according to an amount of a charging current supplied to the battery cells in constant current charging mode, and to initiate a balance check of the battery cells if the first voltage threshold is not satisfied by a cell voltage of the plurality of cell voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: O2Micro Inc
    Inventor: Xiaofei Gong
  • Patent number: 9929674
    Abstract: A power supply system for a vehicle includes a power storage device, a direct current inlet, charging relays, a voltage sensor, and an electronic control unit. After system main relays and the charging relays are turned on to charge the power storage device from a power supply outside the vehicle, the electronic control unit is configured to finish the charging from the power supply outside the vehicle. At this time, in a case where an OFF control is performed on the charging relays and the voltage sensor detects a voltage equal to or more than a determination value, the electronic control unit is configured to set the voltage sensor to a state where no voltage is applied thereto from the power storage device, and to execute a voltage sensor check to check whether or not the voltage sensor detects the voltage equal to or more than the determination value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Kojima
  • Patent number: 9923393
    Abstract: An energy storage and power supply system includes a body having a first end and an opposing second end, a battery pack disposed within the body, a first connector disposed at the first end of the body and electrically coupled to the battery pack, the first connector including a male connector configured to receive electrical power to charge the battery pack, a second connector disposed at the opposing second end of the body and electrically coupled to the battery pack, the second connector including a female connector configured to provide a power output from the battery pack, and a collar slidably coupled to the opposing second end of the body and movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The collar is configured to engage with and thereby retain an accessory when selectively reoriented into the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Goal Zero LLC
    Inventors: Robert E. Workman, Norman Krantz, Henry J. Howell, Fred Lillywhite, Jaremy Butler, Walker Ford, Keyvan Vasefi, Sterling Robison, Michael Roner
  • Patent number: 9923392
    Abstract: A power charger includes a case; a battery housed in the case; a power connection port housed in the case; a battery control module operatively connecting the battery with the power connection port; a power button operatively connected to actuate the battery control module between a first mode in which electrical current can flow from the battery to the power connection port, and a second mode in which electrical current can flow from the power connection port to the battery; and at least one LED operatively connected to be energized by the battery control module for illuminating the power button according to a battery charge level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: HALO2CLOUD, LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Daniel Weinstein, Garold C. Miller
  • Patent number: 9916071
    Abstract: Systems of a vehicle for sharing vehicle controls are provided. One system includes an on-board computer that is part of the vehicle and communications circuity having connection to the on-board computer. The communications circuitry is configured to interface with a wireless network for accessing the Internet. The on-board computer is configured to execute instructions for enabling wireless connection to portable devices that enter the vehicle and are provided with access to said wireless connection. Vehicle electronics are interfaced with one or more vehicle systems and the on-board computer. The on-board computer is configured to provide access to at least one graphical user interface to the portable device via the wireless connection. The at least one graphical user interface includes input options that enable control for features of a vehicle system of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Emerging Automotive, LLC
    Inventors: Angel A. Penilla, Albert S. Penilla
  • Patent number: 9910811
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a hot swap circuit is disclosed. The hot swap circuit includes a capacitor in parallel with an input line to a power system. The hot swap circuit also includes a switch in parallel with the input line to the power system and coupled to the capacitor. The hot swap circuit further includes circuitry configured to pre-charge the capacitor to a first voltage while the switch is open. The switch is operable to cause the capacitor to be charged from the first voltage to a second voltage when the switch is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yang Li, Michael Robert Grant, Jessica Leigh Kiefer, Kan Chiu Seto
  • Patent number: 9910099
    Abstract: A controller of a battery monitoring apparatus, said controller calculating the amount of heat generated inside a battery on the basis of information about the electric current which flows out of or flows into the battery. Furthermore, the controller calculates the amount of heat discharged from the surface of the battery, said amount being calculated on the basis of temperature information about at least one from among the surface of the battery and a substance in the vicinity of the battery. In addition, the controller calculates the temperature inside the battery on the basis of information about the amount of heat generated, and information about the amount of heat discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuruki Okada, Sho Shiraga, Toshihiro Wada, Shoji Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 9908423
    Abstract: A system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a slidable bar, a connecting bar attached to the slidable bar and a charging device carried by the connecting bar and movable with the slidable bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher W. Bell, Frank Kallio
  • Patent number: 9908427
    Abstract: A first and second charging equipment for charging electric vehicles share a current capacity. A controller coupled with the first and second charging equipment limits a total amount of current drawn through the first charging equipment and the second charging equipment to not exceed the current capacity. The controller communicates a first and second current limit to the first and second charging equipment respectively to cause a first and second electric vehicle to limit their current draw to not exceed the first and second current limit respectively. A sum of current to be drawn at the first and second current limit does not exceed the current capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: CHARGEPOINT, INC.
    Inventors: David Baxter, Carl F. Hagenmaier, Jr., Milton T. Tormey, Richard Lowenthal
  • Patent number: 9869105
    Abstract: A wheel guide for a vehicle charging station includes front and back sides, and a top extending between the front and back sides. The top defines an aperture sized to circumscribe a wireless transmitter of the charging station. The wheel guide further includes a pair of spaced apart wheel slots recessed into the top. Each wheel slot includes an entrance defined in the front side and a pair of longitudinal walls extending from the entrance toward the back side. At least a portion of each of the walls is configured such that a slope of the wall is shallowest at the entrance and becomes increasingly vertical in a direction towards the back side to guide a wheel of a vehicle towards a centerline of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Leann Vernon, Derek Hartl, Raymond C. Siciak
  • Patent number: 9864012
    Abstract: This invention pertains to determining the proper discharge level of lithium sulfur, as well as to determine the state of charge and remaining capacity of battery cells. In particular, this invention provides for a method for determining the charge and/or discharge level of a lithium sulfur cell. Also, this invention provides for a method for determining the capacity of a battery cell charge and/or discharge level of lithium sulfur cell. Further, this invention provides a method for determining the impedance of a lithium sulfur battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: NOHMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Surya Sekhar Moganty, Vladimir Fabre, Xiaojing Zhu
  • Patent number: 9866054
    Abstract: An charging control device includes: one or more slave groups including a plurality of slaves for charging or discharging a battery; and a master configured to transmit, to the one or more slave groups, a control signal for controlling operations of the one or more slave groups, and select one of a plurality of slaves included in each of the one or more slave groups as an alternative master, wherein the alternative master is a slave capable of performing some or all of all functions of the master.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: LSIS Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Seong Joon Lee
  • Patent number: 9859740
    Abstract: An adapter, a portable electronic device and a charge control method thereof are provided. The adapter includes a connector and a controller. The connector includes a first terminal. The controller is electrically connected to the connector and determines whether to enter a quick charge mode according to a control signal from the connector. In the quick charge mod, the controller receives a charge control signal from the first terminal. The charge control signal has a plurality of pulses, and encoding information is formed by the plurality of pulses. The adapter is controlled by the controller according to the encoding information so as to provide a quick charge voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: uPI Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Li-Lun Chi
  • Patent number: 9847656
    Abstract: There are provided an energy storage system and a method for driving the energy storage system, which can exactly measure discharge current by calculating measurement times of the discharge current according to the frequency of the discharge current. An energy storage system includes a battery rack, a battery management system configured to control charging and discharging of the battery rack, and a power conversion system configured to supply discharge current of the battery rack as an alternating current having a frequency to the battery management system. The battery management system is further configured to calculate measurement times of the discharge current, measure the discharge current at the calculated measurement times, and control the charging and discharging of the battery rack based on the measured discharge currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Min Ha
  • Patent number: 9846198
    Abstract: A battery management system includes a control unit having a first micro controller arranged on the low-voltage side of the control unit, and a second micro controller arranged on the high-voltage side of the control unit. The system further includes a plurality of first voltage measuring units respectively assigned to a battery module of the battery, and a first communication connection for transmitting voltage values from the first voltage measuring units to the first micro controller. The system also has a plurality of second voltage measuring units and a second communication connection for transmitting voltage values from the second voltage measuring units to the second micro controller. The first or the second voltage measuring units are configured as min/max measuring units such that they detect a minimum and a maximum voltage value of the battery cells in the battery modules, and dismiss voltage measurement values in between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Stefan Butzmann