Patents Examined by David Shiao
  • Patent number: 10291054
    Abstract: On a start of a fuel cell system, (i) when the temperature of a high-voltage secondary battery obtained from a temperature sensor is higher than a predetermined reference value, a controller of the fuel cell system is configured to set an output voltage on a step-down side of a DC-DC converter to a higher voltage than a voltage of a low-voltage secondary battery and subsequently start an FC auxiliary machine using electric power from the high-voltage secondary battery. (ii) When the temperature of the high-voltage secondary battery obtained from the temperature sensor is equal to or lower than the predetermined reference value, on the other hand, the controller of the fuel cell system is configured to set the output voltage on the step-down side of the DC-DC converter to a lower voltage than the voltage of the low-voltage secondary battery and subsequently start the FC auxiliary machine using the electric power from the high-voltage secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takao Watanabe, Akihiro Kamiya, Kenji Umayahara
  • Patent number: 10256654
    Abstract: On a start of a fuel cell system, (i) when the temperature of a high-voltage secondary battery obtained from a temperature sensor is higher than a predetermined reference value, a controller of the fuel cell system is configured to set an output voltage on a step-down side of a DC-DC converter to a higher voltage than a voltage of a low-voltage secondary battery and subsequently start an FC auxiliary machine using electric power from the high-voltage secondary battery. (ii) When the temperature of the high-voltage secondary battery obtained from the temperature sensor is equal to or lower than the predetermined reference value, on the other hand, the controller of the fuel cell system is configured to set the output voltage on the step-down side of the DC-DC converter to a lower voltage than the voltage of the low-voltage secondary battery and subsequently start the FC auxiliary machine using the electric power from the high-voltage secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takao Watanabe, Akihiro Kamiya, Kenji Umayahara
  • Patent number: 10250040
    Abstract: A data center operable using only electric power based on renewable energy. The data center includes at least one device driven by the electric power, a storage battery for storing the electric power, and a controller for switching the operating mode of the device over the course of time on the basis of predicted values for the amount of electric power generated using renewable energy, the amount of electric power stored in the storage battery, and the amount of electric power consumed by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Izuru Narita
  • Patent number: 10232722
    Abstract: A system includes energy modules that output power to an energy management bus based on load demands. An energy module includes energy cells enclosed within a module housing that provide power to the energy management bus and rotation assemblies attached on opposite ends of the module housing that provide rotational movement for the energy module. The energy module includes a local controller that controls power output from the energy cells to the energy management bus, engages a self-driving mode in response to receiving a disconnection signal from a central controller, and controls movement of the energy module in the self-driving mode to a predetermined location via the first rotation assembly and the second rotation assembly. The central controller receives a current module status from the energy modules and controls a configuration of the energy modules providing power to the energy management bus based on the current module status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Masanori Ishigaki
  • Patent number: 10211672
    Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a UPS comprising a plurality of DC busses configured to receive DC power from a converter, the plurality of DC busses including a positive DC bus configured to maintain a positive DC voltage level, a mid-point DC bus, and a negative DC bus configured to maintain a negative DC voltage level, a 3-level inverter coupled to the plurality of DC busses and configured to convert the DC power from the plurality of DC buses into output AC power, and a controller configured to monitor the positive and negative DC voltage levels, identify an imbalance between the positive and negative DC voltage levels, and selectively control, based on the imbalance, the 3-level inverter to operate in a 2-level mode of operation and a 3-level mode of operation to transfer energy between the positive and negative DC busses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jonas Sonsby Mouridsen
  • Patent number: 10211679
    Abstract: A system using a hybrid source of energy supply scheme is disclosed. The system includes a first circuit configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic waves, where the first circuit is configured to operate in one of a plurality of operation modes, where the plurality of operation modes includes a normal operation mode, an energy harvesting mode, and a sleep mode. The system further includes a second circuit coupled to the first circuit and configured in one of the plurality of operation modes. The second circuit includes at least one of a receiver or a transmitter, and a third circuit coupled to the first circuit and the second circuit. The third circuit configured to the normal operation mode when the first circuit is configured in the normal operation mode and the second circuit is configured in a normal operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: SPATIALLINK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Qiang Li, Ming Yu Lin
  • Patent number: 10204751
    Abstract: A method automatically parameterizes bay controllers and/or protective devices of a switching arrangement. The method includes automatically detecting the topology of the switching arrangement on the basis of topology information, and automatically determining interlocking and/or enabling conditions for at least one device on the basis of the topology. Communication connections for the at least one device are automatically specified while taking into account the interlocking and/or enabling conditions determined for this device. The at least one device is parameterized with the interlocking and/or enabling conditions and the communication connections and the topology determined for this device, so that interlocking or enabling of a switching action in the at least one device is controllable during the operation of the switching arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Chochole, Dieter Kramer, Jan Moeller, Markus Wache
  • Patent number: 10203707
    Abstract: A solid-state switch, comprising at least one switch controller. At least one switch having a first terminal coupled to a power source, a second terminal coupled to the power source and a control terminal coupled to the switch controller and configured to selectively conduct and block current flow from the first terminal to the second terminal. At least one power converter coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal and configured to convert power from the power source from a first voltage level to a second voltage level and to provide power at the second voltage level to the switch controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: TRIUNE IP, LLC
    Inventors: Ross E. Teggatz, Eric C. Blackall
  • Patent number: 10193360
    Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) includes a first battery set and a second battery set. The UPS includes a charging circuit to charge the battery sets using alternating current (AC) power. The UPS includes a slot receptive to insertion of different types of output modules that each include an inverter to convert direct current (DC) power from the first and second battery sets, including a first type that connects the first and second battery sets in parallel and a second type that connects the battery first and second sets in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT LP
    Inventors: Abhishek Banerjee, Hai Ngoc Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10189370
    Abstract: An electrical source control apparatus has a selecting device for selecting one switching element from at least two switching elements each of which constitutes predetermined arm element whose switching state should be changed to perform the electrical power conversion, when the electrical power converter performs the electrical power conversion with either one of the first and the second electricity storage apparatuses; and a controlling device for controlling the electrical power converter to change a switching state of the selected one switching element while keeping a switching state of another one switching element in an ON state, the selecting device newly selects the one switching element to reduce a difference between temperatures of the at least two switching elements each of which constitutes predetermined arm element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yusuke Seo
  • Patent number: 10187117
    Abstract: Provided is a receiving circuit that operates in a power supply system different from a transmitting circuit outputting a transmission signal and receives the transmission signal through an AC coupling device where a primary coil through which the transmission signal flows and a secondary coil having a center tap to which a specified voltage is supplied from an external terminal are magnetically coupled, which includes a pulse width amplifier circuit that holds pulse signals appearing at both ends of the secondary coil for a specified period of time and outputs them as hold signals, respectively, and a differential amplifier that compares a voltage of the hold signal and a voltage of the hold signal and outputs a comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Shunichi Kaeriyama, Kouichi Yamaguchi, Koichi Nose
  • Patent number: 10177604
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for controlling wireless power transfer systems. A wireless power transfer system includes a transmitter driven by a power source and a transmit controller, wherein the transmitter is configured to control delivery of wireless power, and a receiver inductively coupled to the transmitter, the receiver configured to receive the wireless power from the transmitter and deliver the received wireless power to a load. The receiver includes receiver electronics configured to determine a Thevenin equivalent impedance of the wireless power transfer system, determine a Thevenin equivalent source voltage of the wireless power transfer system, and control, based on the determined Thevenin equivalent impedance and the determined Thevenin equivalent source voltage, an ideal source voltage of the receiver to vary the amount of the wireless power transferred from the transmitter to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: Ethan Falk Petersen
  • Patent number: 10170939
    Abstract: A foreign object detector detects a metallic foreign object between a first resonator and a second resonator which is composed of a parallel resonant circuit including a coil and a capacitor. The foreign object detector includes the first resonator; an oscillator circuit capable of oscillating at a first frequency (f1) which is lower than a resonant frequency (fr) of the second resonator and at a second frequency (f2) which is higher than the resonant frequency (fr); and a measurement circuit to measure changes in input impedance of the first resonator. The measurement circuit detects a metallic foreign object between the first resonator and the second resonator based on: changes in input impedance of the first resonator as measured by the measurement circuit while the oscillator circuit is oscillating at the first frequency f1; and changes in input impedance of the first resonator as measured by the measurement circuit while the oscillator circuit is oscillating at the second frequency f2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Asanuma, Atsushi Yamamoto, Hiroshi Yamamoto, Hiroshi Kanno
  • Patent number: 10158253
    Abstract: The present invention is mainly directed to providing a wireless power relay device and a wireless power transmission system, which are capable of reinforcing a relay coil in which a high voltage is induced among a plurality of relay coils, thereby preventing the relay coil from being damaged due to the induction of the high voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: LS CABLE & SYSTEM LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Han You, Young-Sun Kim, Un-Kyu Park
  • Patent number: 10158252
    Abstract: The present invention is mainly directed to providing a wireless power relay device and a wireless power transmission device, which are capable of arranging a relay coil having higher transmission efficiency in a transmission-efficiency reducing section having lower transmission efficiency than those of a plurality of relay coils, thereby preventing power transmission efficiency from sharply decreasing in the transmission-efficiency reducing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: LS CABLE & SYSTEM LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Han You, Young-Sun Kim, Un-Kyu Park
  • Patent number: 10153659
    Abstract: An uninterruptible power control method includes the steps of: reading a detection result from a motion sensor of an electronic device, determining whether the detection result meets a movement condition, and turning on a power supply path of a sub-battery module of the electronic device when the detection result meets the movement condition. The electronic device is powered by a primary battery module in normal state, and the sub-battery module is built in the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: GETAC TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Wen-Huan Yu
  • Patent number: 10148447
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a circuit for delivering electrical power from a direct current voltage source to an electronic system. The circuit may include a power injection circuit that injects a first portion of the power from a supply voltage of the source to a first data line and a second portion of the power from the supply voltage to a second data line. The power injection circuit may include first and second conductive paths from the supply voltage to the first and second data lines having first and second inductances, respectively, as well as a third conductive path between the first and second data lines having a third inductance greater than the first and second inductances. A conductive support structure may carry return current from the electronic system to the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventors: Abhilash Rajagopal, Kevin White, Leland W. Lew, Paul A. Baker
  • Patent number: 10135300
    Abstract: A non-contact power reception apparatus comprises a power reception coil which receives AC power supplied from a power transmission apparatus in a non-contact manner; a diode full-wave rectifier circuit which inputs AC power from a resonance circuit to first and second input ends and outputs DC power between an output end and a reference potential end; a common mode filter which comprises first and second coils wound around a common magnetic body in parallel in the same direction for only the same number of turns, connects one end of the first coil with the output end of the diode full-wave rectifier circuit and connects one end of the second coil with the reference potential end; a smoothing capacitor connected between the other end of the first coil of the common mode filter and the other end of the second coil; and a load connected with the smoothing capacitor in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Kanagawa, Masakazu Kato
  • Patent number: 10122222
    Abstract: An improved wireless transmission system for transferring power over a distance. The system includes a transmitter generating a magnetic field and a receiver for inducing a voltage in response to the magnetic field. In some embodiments, the transmitter can include a plurality of transmitter resonators configured to transmit wireless power to the receiver. The transmitter resonators can be disposed on a flexible substrate adapted to conform to a patient. In one embodiment, the polarities of magnetic flux received by the receiver can be measured and communicated to the transmitter, which can adjust polarities of the transmitter resonators to optimize power transfer. Methods of use are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: John Freddy Hansen, Ethan Petersen
  • Patent number: 10096951
    Abstract: A method and system for contraband detection is provided that allows for the determining whether devices are authorized to receive power from an outlet. A power adapter and/or an outlet authenticate a device when it is connected to the outlet through the power adapter. On the basis of this authentication, a determination is made whether the devices are to receive power from the outlet. If the device is authorized, the outlet is activated, transitioning from inactive state (where no power is relayed through the outlet) to an active state (where power is relayed through the outlet).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen L. Hodge