Patents Examined by Arun Williams
  • Patent number: 9758046
    Abstract: A smart charging system for charging a plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) includes an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) configured to supply electrical power to the PEV through a smart charging module coupled to the EVSE. The smart charging module comprises an electronic circuitry which includes a processor. The electronic circuitry includes electronic components structured to receive electrical power from the EVSE, and supply the electrical power to the PEV. The electronic circuitry is configured to measure a charging parameter of the PEV. The electronic circuitry is further structured to emulate a pulse width modulated signal generated by the EVSE. The smart charging module can also include a first coupler structured to be removably couple to the EVSE and a second coupler structured to be removably coupled to the PEV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Harper, Daniel S. Dobrzynski
  • Patent number: 9762085
    Abstract: A system and method for charging a chargeable device is provided. The system can include a wireless charger including a wireless power transmitter d configured to generate a wireless charging field in at least one charging region. The wireless charger further includes a transceiver configured to communicate with the chargeable device. The wireless charger further includes a controller configured to facilitate avoidance of cross connection of the chargeable device with the wireless charger and at least one other wireless charger by initiating a disconnection of a communication link between the wireless charger and the chargeable device based at least in part on a comparison of a detected power level of the wireless charger to a predetermined level indicative of saturation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: William Henry Von Novak, III, Ali Abdullah Shareef, Mike Yung-Ho Tsai
  • Patent number: 9743863
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a power supply to a device, including an inductive rechargeable power supply for a data monitoring and management system in which a high frequency magnetic field is generated to provide power supply to a rechargeable power source such as a battery of a transmitter unit in the data monitoring and management system are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.
    Inventor: Lei He
  • Patent number: 9748535
    Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure relate to battery packs and/or holsters and, more particular, to an external battery pack and/or holster for mobile electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: mophie, inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Huang, Matthew Brand
  • Patent number: 9748792
    Abstract: A wireless charging system includes a wireless charger includes a power transmission part and a controller, the power transmission part being configured to transmit power to a portable terminal having a power-receiving part in a non-contact manner, the controller being configured to control power transmission performed by the power transmission part and to control a stop of the power transmission; and an in-vehicle wireless communication device having an antenna configured to perform wireless communication with an electronic key of an occupant of the vehicle, wherein the wireless charger is communicably connected to predetermined equipment which is provided to the vehicle, and when wireless communication between the in-vehicle wireless communication device and the electronic key is performed, the controller stops power transmission performed by the power transmission part in a case where a predetermined signal which is transmitted from the predetermined equipment is received before the antenna is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kanahara, Masayuki Yamazaki, Toshihiro Kojima, Shigenori Hiruta
  • Patent number: 9748776
    Abstract: An apparatus for transferring energy from cell to cell of a battery, wherein each cell is connected to its individual electrical motor/alternator through an electronic module, and wherein each motor/alternator is mechanically connected to a common flywheel. The electrical motor/alternator preferably is an electrical motor that provides rotational work and generates power when being driven by an external source of rotational kinetic energy or by an external source of rotational power. The common flywheel stores rotational kinetic energy. Cells of the battery provide various torque on the flywheel or on the shaft driving the flywheel. Cells with higher than average output current will provide higher than average torque, thus providing higher than average kinetic energy input to the flywheel, while cells with lower than average output current will provide lower than average torque, or will provide negative torque, the motor/alternator acting then as an alternator recharging the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SOCPRA SCIENCES ET GENIE S.E.C.
    Inventors: Maxime Dubois, Philippe Beauchamp, Rami Jarjour
  • Patent number: 9742208
    Abstract: A charging case for a plurality of headsets is disclosed. Each headset includes two headphone units connected together in opposing relationship along a diametric axis by a headband. Each headset contains a battery and a charge receiving circuit coupled to the battery. The charging case comprises a portable, cylindrically shaped carrying case and a charging station contained in the carrying case. The charging station includes a plurality of charging receptacles and a charge distribution circuit. The charging receptacles are disposed in a circular pattern about a center area and are configured to support the headsets, respectively, in an orientation where the diametric axes of the headsets are positioned radially in the circular pattern. The distribution circuit distributes electricity to the charging receptacles. At each receptacle electricity is transferred to the charge receiving circuit of a headset when the headset is in the receptacle, to charge the battery of the headset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Headphone Events, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Kenneth Stratton, Roy Elliott Whitson, III, Michael Varanka
  • Patent number: 9742206
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery system includes: a first battery pack; and a second battery pack in a daisy chain connection with the first battery pack to form a communication path, the second battery pack consuming a larger power for communication than a power consumed in the first battery pack for communication. A power consumed in the second battery pack for an additional process other than communication is smaller than power consumed in the first battery pack for the additional process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yousuke Ohtsuki, Yasuo Okuda, Kazuaki Okamoto, Yuuki Hirata
  • Patent number: 9731611
    Abstract: A vehicle capable of being externally charged, in which a vehicle-mounted power storage device is charged using electric power supplied from a charging cable external to the vehicle, an ECU executes a smart verification process for communicating with an electronic key located within a prescribed verification range and verifying whether the electronic key is an authorized user's key or not, when it is detected that a user has operated a switch for locking the charging cable. When smart verification is impossible, the ECU executes a noise suppression process caused by external charging, and executes the smart verification process during the noise suppression process. When it is determined by the smart verification process during the noise suppression process that smart verification is possible, the ECU switches a state of a lock mechanism of the charging cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koichi Kojima
  • Patent number: 9735598
    Abstract: A recharge method and an electronic device using the recharge method are provided. The recharge method includes: determining, at an electronic device, whether a charger coupled with the electronic device has an adjustable output voltage; controlling, at the electronic device, the charger to recharge a battery of the electronic device in a first recharge mode in which the battery is recharged with a optimum recharge voltage if the charger has an adjustable output voltage; and controlling, at the electronic device, the charger to recharge the battery in a second recharge mode in which the battery is recharged with a constant recharge voltage if the recharger has a constant output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignees: HONGFUJIN PRECISION ELECTRONICS (ZHENGZHOU) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yu-Jing Wen
  • Patent number: 9735665
    Abstract: A circuit for use in a power converter includes a control circuit coupled to detect whether an electrical energy source is coupled to an input of the power converter. A switch is coupled to the control circuit, and is coupled to transfer energy from the input of the power converter to an output of the power converter during a first operating mode. The control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in the first operating mode when the electrical energy source is coupled to the input of the power converter. The control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a second operating mode when the electrical energy source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter to drive the switch to discharge a capacitance coupled between input terminals of the power converter to a threshold voltage in less than a maximum period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, David Kung, Raymond Kenneth Orr, David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Patent number: 9733657
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to control a power system with an energy generator and a hybrid energy storage system. The system includes two or more energy storage system, each with different energy storage capacity and energy discharge capacity. The system includes developing data for one or more control variables refined from expert knowledge, trials and tests; providing the control variables to a fuzzy logic controller with a rule base and membership functions; and controlling the energy generator and the hybrid energy storage system using the fuzzy logic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Yanzhu Ye, Ratnesh Sharma
  • Patent number: 9728999
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for a first device to wirelessly charge a second device. When in a first charging mode, the first device has a first chargeable radius as a charging radius thereof. An external power source is provided to the first device. In response to the external power source providing power to the first device, the first device changes from the first charging mode to a second charging mode. In response to the first device changing to the second charging mode, the charging radius of the first device changes from the first chargeable radius to a second chargeable radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: David T W. Chao, Yao-Huan Chung, Tarek El-Houshy, Eddie H N. Tseng, Yen P. Wang
  • Patent number: 9728993
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes a plurality of interconnected battery cells which are connected to at least one pole connection of the battery by at least one circuit element such that the plurality of interconnected battery cells can be electrically decoupled from the at least one pole connection. A control circuit for monitoring and controlling the battery comprises at least one first cell monitoring device and at least one second cell monitoring device which are configured to detect operational parameters of at least one battery cell of the plurality of interconnected battery cells and to guide the operational parameters to a control device. The at least one first cell monitoring device is connected to a first control device by a first interface, and the at least one second cell monitoring device is connected to a second control device by a second interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Stefan Butzmann
  • Patent number: 9718368
    Abstract: There is provided a charging device for a vehicle, which carries out timer charging in which the charging device, is set in a standby state without charging until charging start time comes when the charging start time is set. The charging device includes a charger that charges an electrical storage device of the vehicle with electric power supplied from a device outside the vehicle, a cable lock mechanism (260) that locks a charging cable in a state where the charging cable is connected to an inlet, and an electronic control unit (170) that determines whether to carry out timer charging or carry out instant charging without carrying out the timer charging on the basis of a state of a switch associated with operation of the cable lock mechanism (260).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomokazu Masuda
  • Patent number: 9722440
    Abstract: An object holder adapted to hold a wide variety of objects including beverage holders such as cups, bottles, mugs, and tumblers; electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets; remote controls; eating and writing utensils; and books. The device preferably includes a base, an upright extending upward from the base, and a receiver near the top of the upright. The receiver preferably includes an object holder which is preferably made detachable so that it may be washed in a dishwasher. The height of the receiver with respect to the base is adjustable in the present invention. The rotation of the receiver with respect to the base is preferably also made adjustable. The adjustment mechanism may preferably be activated using only one hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Brian Scott Webb
  • Patent number: 9720045
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for estimating a SOC of a secondary battery containing a blended cathode material. The SOC estimating apparatus estimates a SOC of a secondary battery including a cathode having a blended cathode material containing a first cathode material and a second cathode material with different operating voltage ranges, an anode having an anode material, and a separator for separating the cathode from the anode, and the apparatus includes a sensor configured to measure a discharge inception voltage and a final discharge voltage when the secondary battery is discharged for a predetermined time, and a control unit configured to estimate SOC of the secondary battery corresponding to the measured discharge inception voltage and the measured final discharge voltage by using a predetermined relationship between the discharge inception voltage and the final discharge voltage and the SOC of the secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Won-Tae Joe, Sun-Young Cha, Geun-Chang Chung
  • Patent number: 9714984
    Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a deterioration may include a battery pack, a state information sensing unit configured to sense a state of the battery pack to generate state information, a conversion operation unit configured to convert into an open circuit voltage (OCV) using the generated state information and estimate a state of charge (SOC) using the converted OCV, a first SOH estimation operation unit configured to estimate a first state of charge (SOH) using the estimated SOC, a battery aging factor calculation unit configured to calculate a battery aging factor using the estimated SOC, a second SOH operation unit configured to apply the calculated battery aging factor to a preset lookup table to calculate a second SOH, and a filtering unit configured to filter the first SOH and the second SOH to generate a final SOH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tae-Kwon Kim
  • Patent number: 9711824
    Abstract: A secondary battery that has an electrode active material mainly composed of a low-molecular-weight multi-electron organic compound that has two or more electrons to be involved in a battery electrode reaction, and a solvent for an electrolyte solution that contains a sulfone compound. Apart of the electrode active material is dissolved in and reacted with the electrolyte solution at the first charge and discharge, thereby oligomerizing a part of the electrode active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignees: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., CARLIT HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Onoue, Masaharu Sato, Eiji Kokubu, Kazumi Chiba, Kazato Yanada, Toshiyuki Kiryu, Teruhisa Takada, Hidehisa Mokudai, Toru Sukigara
  • Patent number: 9711980
    Abstract: A charging device for one or more input modules for a touch-screen device is described. The charging device comprises a charging mechanism and portions which are shaped to receive an input module. The charging mechanism comprises a power input and a power output. The power input is configured to receive power from an external power source and the power input is configured to provide power to one or more input modules which are attached to the charging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen E Hodges, Stuart Taylor, John Franciscus Marie Helmes