Patents Examined by Arun C Williams
  • Patent number: 11329490
    Abstract: A management device includes a manager configured to manage power stored in a secondary battery provided to a user for stationary use and execute a power exchange business, the power exchange business being performed by connecting the secondary battery to a power network, and a deriver configured to derive return information for returning part of a profit obtained through the power exchange business to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Iori Kanamori, Kentaro Nagoshi
  • Patent number: 11316355
    Abstract: A charging locker includes a charging locker frame defining a locker stack compartment and an adjacent wiring and access compartment. A plurality of lockers are located within the locker stack compartment. A plurality of locker doors are provided which correspond to the plurality of lockers, and selectively individually provide access to interiors of respective lockers from a front of the charging locker. The charging locker also includes a wiring and access compartment door selectively providing access to an interior of the wiring and access compartment from the front of the charging locker. The wiring and access compartment is configured to extend in a vertical direction and is horizontally adjacent to each of the lockers located within the locker stack compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Bretford Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Cary Maguire, Caleb Durante, Mike Dombrowski
  • Patent number: 11314281
    Abstract: A head-mounted display includes a display unit, a head support, a power storage device, and one or more receiving coils. The head support is coupled to the display unit and configured to engage a head of a user for supporting the display unit thereon. The power storage device is coupled to the display unit for storing power to be supplied to the display unit. The one or more receiving coils are coupled to the head support for inductively charging the power storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Fletcher R. Rothkopf, James W. VanDyke, Grant H. Mulliken
  • Patent number: 11313912
    Abstract: A method of estimating a maximum power limit of a battery cell at a specified prediction time using an improved RC equivalent circuit battery model and based on the battery cell's state of charge (SOC), temperature, and state of health (SOH). The method includes determining the battery cell's peak and continuous current limits, predicting a peak voltage after the specified prediction time based on the peak current limit, determining buffer values for the predicted peak voltage and the temperature of various battery components, setting a maximum current limit based on the buffer values, predicting a maximum voltage after the specified prediction time based on the maximum current limit, and determining a maximum power limit based on the predicted maximum voltage and the maximum current limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: KARMA AUTOMOTIVE LLC
    Inventors: Jing Hong, Suvrat Ramasubramanian, Ali Jokar
  • Patent number: 11309627
    Abstract: Provided is a wireless charging loop antenna. The wireless charging loop antenna includes an extracorporal planar loop antenna and an intracorporal planar loop antenna. The intracorporal planar loop antenna is disposed inside a body, and the extracorporal planar loop antenna is disposed on a skin outside the body. The extracorporal planar loop antenna includes an extracorporal antenna substrate, an extracorporal loop radiation patch, paired connection radiation patches and a patch capacitor. The extracorporal loop radiation patch is provided with at least one extracorporal radiation patch gap. The patch capacitor is disposed at one of the at least one extracorporal radiation patch gap. The extracorporal loop radiation patch and the paired connection radiation patches form a circuit. The extracorporal loop radiation patch, the paired connection radiation patches and the patch capacitor are all on a same surface of the extracorporal antenna substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: XI'AN JIAOTONG-LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Eng Gee Lim, Jingchen Wang, Zhao Wang, Mark Paul Leach, Yi Huang
  • Patent number: 11309723
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles for a portable power case are disclosed. The portable power case is comprised of at least one battery and at least one PCB. The portable power case is operable to supply power to a transceiver. The portable power case is operable to be charged using a DC power source (e.g., solar panel, wind turbine, water turbine). A plurality of portable power cases, DC power sources, and transceivers are operable to form a mesh network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: LAT ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Laura Thiel, Giancarlo Urzi, Carlos Cid
  • Patent number: 11303137
    Abstract: A battery system comprising multiple battery packs. A battery pack of the battery packs includes a battery, voltage sense circuitry, a control circuit, a control switch and current regulation circuitry. The voltage sense circuitry senses a battery voltage of the battery and an input voltage of the battery pack. The control circuit is coupled to the sense circuitry and is operable for adjusting a level of a reference signal based on attribute data associated with the battery pack and a difference between the battery voltage and the input voltage. The control switch is operable for passing a battery current flowing through the battery. The current regulation circuitry is coupled to the control circuit and the control switch, and is operable for controlling the control switch to regulate the battery current according to the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: O2Micro Inc.
    Inventor: Guoxing Li
  • Patent number: 11296531
    Abstract: A charging apparatus, a charging system, and a charging control method are provided. The charging apparatus includes: a transforming element and output interfaces, and further includes a charging control element and a maximum output power control element. The charging control element is connected with the maximum output power control element, and the charging control element identifies a target charging mode selected by a user and sends the target charging mode to the maximum output power control element. The maximum output power control element is connected with the transforming element, and the maximum output power control element determines a target maximum output power corresponding to the target charging mode according to a pre-saved correspondence relationship between each charging mode and each maximum output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignees: Gree Electric Appliances (Wuhan) Co., LTD., Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai
    Inventors: Pengfei Xu, Guihua Yin, Ping Yang, Zhen Liu, Long Zhang
  • Patent number: 11289928
    Abstract: Embodiments herein described a replaceable recharge cartridge that is coupled between a charge port of a robot and a charging station. Instead of mating the charging station directly to the charge port in the robot, the recharge cartridge can instead be inserted into the charge port and serves as an interface between the robot and the charging station. As such, the wear and tear occurs on the recharge cartridge rather than the charge port of the robot. In one embodiment, the recharge cartridge is magnetically attached to the charge port for easy installation and removal. The recharge cartridge includes a ferrous slug that is attracted to a permanent magnetic disposed in the charge port. The magnetic attraction between the permanent magnetic and the ferrous slug aligns and connects the recharge cartridge to the charge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Anthony Brady
  • Patent number: 11285830
    Abstract: A charging cable including a rectifier, a first connector element, and a second connector element. The first connector element is designed for connection to a vehicle-external energy source and the second connector element is designed for connection to a charging socket of a motor vehicle with an electrical traction energy accumulator. An alternating current supplied at the first connector element is convertible by the rectifier into a direct current deliverable at the second connector element. The first connector element is detachably fastened on the charging cable via an interface of the charging cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Sami Robert Zaki
  • Patent number: 11283131
    Abstract: The application describes systems and methods for a modular portable power plant system including a first module having a first bank of one or more batteries and a second module that is detachably connectable to the first module. The second module includes a first DC to AC power inverter that is in electrical communications with the first bank of one or more batteries. The first module can be configured to house a first bank of one or more batteries arranged in a first configuration or a second configuration such that the first module includes a reconfigurable battery rack assembly arranged to be reconfigurable to provide support for a first battery set in the first configuration and a second battery set in the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Inventor: Christopher Paul Carroll
  • Patent number: 11276889
    Abstract: A device for capturing operating data of a motor-driven tool includes a capture and/or evaluation device, an operating data memory, and/or a communication interface. These components draw electric power from an electrochemical energy store during operation. An operating mode control device operates the components at a temperature above a temperature limit value in a normal temperature operating mode and at a temperature equal to or below the temperature limit value in a low temperature operating mode different from the normal mode, wherein less electric power is drawn in the low temperature operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co., KG
    Inventors: Kay-Steffen Gurr, Andre Vaas
  • Patent number: 11247549
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame, an electric motor coupled to the frame and configured to selectively receive power from at least one battery pack and operable in a first operation mode and a second operation mode that is different from the first operation mode. A wheel assembly is coupled to the frame and driven by the motor. A control device is operable by a user to control operation of the vehicle. The control device is moveable between a first position relative to the frame corresponding to a riding configuration in which a user is able to operate the control device while seated on a seat on the frame, and a second position relative to the frame corresponding to a walking configuration in which a user is able to operate the control device while walking adjacent the vehicle. Movement of the control device from the second position to the first position triggers conversion from operation of the motor in the second operation mode to operation of the motor in the first operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan H. Peloquin, Jr., Daniel J. White, Matthew J. Velderman, Andrew E. Seman, Jr., Christopher Lemieux, Harry Zhong
  • Patent number: 11251638
    Abstract: A method for charging aluminum batteries includes performing a first charging procedure for the aluminum battery until the voltage of the aluminum battery reaches a set value. The first charging procedure at least includes a first constant-current charging using a first constant current to charge an aluminum battery in a first stage. The range of the first constant current is from 5 C to 100 C, and C (C-rate) refers to a unit of the capacity of the aluminum battery. When the voltage of the aluminum battery reaches the set value, a first constant-voltage charging uses a first constant voltage to charge the aluminum battery. According to the charging current provided by the first constant voltage to the aluminum battery or the charge time for the aluminum battery charged by the first constant voltage, a determination is made to stop the charging process on the aluminum battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Sheng-Cheng Chiu, Chien-Chih Chiang, Ping-I Pan, Chang-Chung Yang
  • Patent number: 11245137
    Abstract: A control apparatus (2000) includes a control unit (2020). The control unit (2020) causes a charging apparatus (20) to perform charging of a lithium ion secondary battery (10), by controlling the charging apparatus (20). First, the control unit (2020) causes the charging apparatus (20) to perform the charging of the lithium ion secondary battery (10), until a voltage of the lithium ion secondary battery (10) becomes a predetermined voltage. Thereafter, the control unit (2020) causes the charging apparatus (2) to suspend the charging of the lithium ion secondary battery (10), until a predetermined time elapses. Therefore, the control unit (2020) causes the charging apparatus (20) to further perform the charging of the lithium ion secondary battery (10), after the suspending. The predetermined time is a time t [minute] that satisfies “t??A+B*x+C*y.” x[g/cm2] represents weight per unit area of a negative electrode of the lithium ion secondary battery (10). y [g/cm3] is density of the negative electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: ENVISION AESC JAPAN LTD.
    Inventor: Hideaki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11245279
    Abstract: A charge-discharge control circuit includes a positive power-supply terminal; a negative power-supply terminal; a charge-discharge discrimination circuit which discriminates a discharging state in which a discharging current flows and a charging state in which a charging current flows based on a voltage at a charge-discharge path and a preset charge-discharge discrimination voltage; and a control circuit which turns on a discharge control FET and a charge control FET in a charge-inhibition state and the discharging state or turns off the charge control FET in the charge-inhibition state and the charging state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: ABLIC INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi Abe, Fumihiko Maetani
  • Patent number: 11239684
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a first connection unit, a second connection unit, and a control unit. The control unit determines whether a first external device is connected to the first connection unit, and controls the electronic device to prevent charging of a battery connected to the first external device with power supplied from a second external device connected to the second connection unit, in a case where the first external device is connected to the first connection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kento Inai
  • Patent number: 11230205
    Abstract: A power storage unit is configured with a plurality of cell strings (St1, St2, St3), where the cell strings are parallel-connected, and each cell string (St1, St2, St3) is constituted by a plurality of series-connected cells (E111 to E1nn, E211 to E2nn, E311 to E3nn). Voltage detector (111 to 13n) detects a voltage of each of the plurality of cell strings (St1, St2, St3). A plurality of switches (S1, S2, S3) are respectively inserted in the plurality of cell strings (St1, St2, St3). Management unit (20) performs, in a non-running state of vehicle (2) that power supply system (1) is mounted on, an equalization process to equalize a voltage and/or capacity between the plurality of cell strings (St1, St2, St3) by turning on at least two of the plurality of switches (S1, S2, S3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chikara Ohmori
  • Patent number: 11225157
    Abstract: An enclosure that contains a NEMA 14-50 plug (or equivalent) and a 50 Ampere circuit breaker that will be wired directly to the main electrical panel of a home without any modifications to the electrical panel, designed primarily for speedy home electric charging. The invention does not require the use of an electrician or building permits and is portable between locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Inventors: Robert Michael Milanes, Edward Milanes
  • Patent number: 11211661
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a rechargeable battery for a light electric vehicle. More specifically, this disclosure describes a rechargeable battery and a rechargeable battery holster that may be used to removably couple the rechargeable battery to a light electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Neutron Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Durkee, Andrew Titus