Patents Examined by David V Henze-Gongola
  • Patent number: 11865941
    Abstract: Provided is a battery management system of an electric vehicle suitable for a sharing service. A battery management system 100 includes: an electric vehicle 2 capable of travelling by driving a motor with an exchangeable battery 1; a battery station 3 capable of charging the battery 1 by adjusting a charging speed; and a management server 4 connected to the electric vehicle 2 and the battery station 3 through a communication network. The management server 4 quantitatively evaluates exchangeability of the battery 1 stored in the battery station 3, on the basis of at least a position of the electric vehicle 2 and a battery remaining amount of the battery 1 mounted on the electric vehicle 2, determines the charging speed of the battery 1 of the battery station 3, on the basis of an evaluation value of the exchangeability of the battery 1, and transmits control information relevant to the determined charging speed, to the battery station 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: RESC, LTD.
    Inventor: Daisuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11858372
    Abstract: A method is provided for processing a predetermined computing task by a distributed, vehicle-based computing system. By a server device, the computing task is divided into several data packets with respective computing data for a respective part of the computing task. The method includes that at least one motor vehicle is determined, which currently is in a predetermined ready state, and, in case it is in the predetermined ready state, the server device transmits to the motor vehicle at least one of the data packets and the motor vehicle processes the respective computing data of the at least one transmitted data packet. The vehicle generates a respective computing result related to the data packet and transmits this computing result to the server device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Hauschild, Joachim Kolling, James Kugler, David Martin
  • Patent number: 11862808
    Abstract: The vehicle battery pack exchange system herein described charges renters for the time use interval, the energy needed to recharge the battery pack, and the battery wear their use has caused. Data on battery wear accelerating stress parameters such as current, voltage, temperature, and state of charge is collected for battery packs rented to vehicle users. Wear rates are estimated from the collected data. Drivers are displayed information to adapt their driving to battery wear rates. Renters are charged for battery pack usage time, energy supplied by the rental station, and battery wear providing battery owners a secure return on their investment. This system accommodates both short term and sustained long term rentals. Long term rental of one or more battery pack modules for local use gives convenience and low costs while short term rentals of multiple modules provide unlimited range via swapping exhausted packs for recharged units during extended travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventor: Goodwyn George Reeves
  • Patent number: 11839066
    Abstract: A battery charger and a method of operating a battery charger. The charger may include a housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet; a charging circuit operable to output a charging current to charge a battery couplable to the battery charger; a tubular heat sink; and a fan operable to cause air flow from the air inlet to the air outlet and along the heat sink. The charger may include a first switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to a power source when the battery engages the charger; and a second switch operable to electrically connect the charging circuit to a battery terminal after the charger terminal is electrically connected to the battery terminal. The charging current or a fan speed may be adjusted based on at least one of the temperature of the charger or a temperature of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Donald J. Truettner, Jeffrey M. Brozek, Steven T. Sommerfeld, Cameron R. Schulz
  • Patent number: 11827118
    Abstract: The present systems, devices, and methods relate to managing vehicle battery charging. Payment for charging is preauthorized, and a receipt for preauthorization is sent from a payment management device to a user device when the user device has access to internet or cellular communications. This preauthorization receipt is later sent from the user device to a charge station where internet or cellular communication is not available, to enable charging of the vehicle battery at the charge station. Another receipt is sent from the charge station to the user device after charging of the vehicle, indicating a payment amount for actual energy used to charge the battery. Later, when the user device has access to cellular or internet communications, the user device sends the receipt indicating payment amount for actual energy used to the payment management device, for final payment balancing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Geotab Inc.
    Inventor: Ulf Bjorkengren
  • Patent number: 11824394
    Abstract: There are provided a battery management apparatus, a battery management method and a battery pack. The battery management apparatus generates a first data set including a first current value, a first voltage value and a first temperature value indicating a current, a voltage and a temperature of a battery. The battery management apparatus generates a second data set from the first data set using an error generator. The battery management apparatus determines a first candidate value, a second candidate value and a third candidate value for a state of charge (SOC) respectively from the first current value, the first data set and the second data set. The control unit updates a correction value when a second difference value between the first candidate value and the third candidate value is smaller than a first difference value between the first candidate value and the second candidate value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventor: Bo-Mi Lim
  • Patent number: 11824383
    Abstract: A multi-functional, portable device for use in situations where electricity is not available or convenient is disclosed. A portable safety device includes a power charger and air compressor that may safely jump start a vehicle and recharge portable electronic devices, such as phones and laptop computers, as well as inflate vehicle tires or other inflatable objects, when a standard external power source is not convenient. It may also be used for providing an emergency light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Bollinger Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Garold C. Miller, Nathan Daniel Weinstein, Troy Starkey, Michael Silva
  • Patent number: 11820249
    Abstract: A computing system can facilitate cooperation between a utility and a fleet of vehicles. The system can receive a charging requirement from a vehicle. The charging requirement can be based on an available power output capacity of a battery pack of the vehicle. The system can receive solar ramp data from a utility. The solar ramp data can be based on an anticipated power output of a solar energy source. The system can determine a charge plan based on the charging requirement and the solar ramp data and specify a timing of charging or discharging the vehicle. The system can transmit the charge plan to the vehicle. The system can receive load data from the vehicle based on supply or consumption of power by the vehicle and the charge plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sean Batir, Adam Langton, Henry Pease
  • Patent number: 11813955
    Abstract: A system for a safety feature for charging an electric aircraft is presented. The system includes a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a sensor datum from an electric aircraft. The system further includes a computing device, wherein the computing device is configured to receive the sensor datum, authenticate the electric aircraft, generate a charging instruction set as a function of the sensor datum, wherein the charging instruction set comprises a safety lock instruction, and transmit the charging instruction set to a charging connector. The system further includes a charging connector, wherein the charging connector is configured to connect to an electric aircraft port of the electric aircraft and perform the charging instruction set on the electric aircraft set as a function of the electric aircraft port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventor: Herman Wiegman
  • Patent number: 11817722
    Abstract: A traffic queue having at least one charging lane including a plurality of ground-side wireless charging assemblies installed in the ground and spaced to permit at least two vehicles to be simultaneously charged by wireless power transfer is used to charge electric vehicles. During charging, the vehicle is aligned with a first ground-side wireless charging assembly in the at least one charging lane and charged using the first ground-side wireless charging assembly in a first charging session. The vehicle is then advanced to a second ground-side wireless charging assembly and aligned with the second ground-side wireless charging assembly and charged using the second ground-side wireless charging assembly in a second charging session. A time-ordered sequence of messaging is provided between the first and second ground-side wireless charging assemblies and a vehicle-side wireless charging assembly to control providing power and billing for the first and second charging sessions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: InductEV Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Wolgemuth, Anthony W. Calabro
  • Patent number: 11807121
    Abstract: A power distribution system includes a charging station, a plurality of power socket assemblies, and at least one power line. The charging station includes a charging station control module. The plurality of power socket assemblies are operable to supply power to a vehicle. The at least one power line electrically connects the charging station to each of the plurality of power socket assemblies. The charging station is configured to supply power to any one of the plurality of power socket assemblies through the at least one power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Xiang Zhao, Ningjian Huang, John P. Spicer
  • Patent number: 11802919
    Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include illustrative systems for remotely testing continuity of electrical wiring, electrical vehicle charging systems, and charge couplers for electrical vehicle charging systems. In an illustrative embodiment, a system for remotely testing continuity of electrical wiring includes a signal generator configured to generate a signal having a predetermined frequency. A controlled impedance network is configured to attenuate the signal. The controlled impedance network is electrically connectable toward a first end of electrical wiring that terminates at a termination at the first end and that is electrically connectable at a second end to the signal generator to carry the signal. A signal detector is configured to detect the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle R. Underhill, Steven E. Schulz, Silva Hiti, Tyler J. Erikson
  • Patent number: 11784491
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining supply requirements for charging a plurality of vehicles are described. Based on real-world data for a plurality of vehicles, operation of comparable battery-powered vehicles is simulated. Energy consumption by the vehicles and energy replenishable to the vehicles is simulated, to determine power supply requirements or charge station requirements for candidate charge sites. Feasibility of implementing battery powered vehicles is assessed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Geotab Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Ewing, Hani Hawari
  • Patent number: 11776684
    Abstract: A medical device and method are provided. The medical device includes a battery, a charge bank configured to store supplemental energy, memory to store program instructions, and device operational circuitry. The device operational circuitry identifies an energy demand (ED) action to be performed by the device operational circuitry in connection with at least one of monitoring a medical characteristic of interest (COI), treating the medical COI, or wirelessly communicating with a separate device. The device operational circuitry obtains an energy consumption estimate for an amount of energy to be consumed by the device operational circuitry in connection with performing the ED action and dispatches a charge instruction to charge the charge bank from the battery with supplemental energy. The device operational circuitry supplies the supplemental energy to the device operational circuitry for performing the ED action in connection with the at least one of monitoring, treating or communicating operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc
    Inventors: Jeffery Crook, Perry Li, Robert J. Williams
  • Patent number: 11764415
    Abstract: A method for charging a battery includes: determining a first charging section, in which a current charging rate of the battery is located, from among a plurality of charging sections predetermined based on a functional relation between a state of charge of the battery and an open circuit voltage of an anode of the battery; and charging the battery for the first charging section with a first charging rate corresponding to the first charging section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Seok Hong, Jeong Kuk Shon, Young-Gyoon Ryu
  • Patent number: 11752889
    Abstract: An example operation includes one or more of directing, by a server, a transport to provide charge to a stationary energy source when a grid demand is above a threshold, and directing, by the server, one or more other transports to retrieve a portion of the provided charge from the stationary energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Inventors: Norman Lu, Maximilian Parness
  • Patent number: 11752890
    Abstract: The disclosed apparatus may include a collar for charging a personal mobility vehicle via a dock. In some embodiments, the collar may be fitted with a charging connector that interfaces with a dock that charges the personal mobility vehicle when the personal mobility vehicle is docked. In one embodiment, the collar and a corresponding receiving element in the dock may be shaped such that the collar fits securely in the receiving element without requiring mechanical action by the collar or receiving element and only requiring a user to push the personal mobility vehicle straight into the dock. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Lyft, Inc.
    Inventors: Yannik Harpin, Alexander Timothy Dixon, Marie-Pierre Gendron, Carl Germain, Rochus Emanuel Jacob, Kelly Erin Johnson, Carlos Henrique Petzl Lorenz, Nicholaus Ian Lubinski, Timothy Rex Martin, Christopher Paul Merrill, Cyril Francis Meyer, III, Jacqueline Tandler, Griffin Samuel Valentine Thomson
  • Patent number: 11742668
    Abstract: A microgrid system that supports EV charging. The microgrid system powers the load with one or more renewable energy sources (for example, solar, wind), battery storage, in combination with optional access to limited utility power and automatically-controlled generator power as a backup. The system can deliver clean uninterrupted power. The system provides flexibility to support the export of power for net metering, gross metering or peer-peer trading, as permitted by local regulations. The system includes a main storage sub-system and an optional secondary storage that may be brought online and increased or decreased as needed, and optimized based on guidance provided by the microgrid controller. The system also includes modules that decide how to optimally use the energy from the various sources, in order to maximize renewable energy usage, minimize the cost of electricity, while maximizing the life of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Hygge Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Sundara Raju Giridhar Bangalore, Rajagopalan Krishnamurthy
  • Patent number: 11740294
    Abstract: A method of repairing a used battery pack from an electric vehicle include removing the battery pack from the vehicle. Battery tests are performed on at least some of the plurality of batteries and a battery test result for each of the batteries tested are obtained and stored in a database. A plurality of replacement batteries are tested and test results for each of the replacement batteries are stored in the database. The battery test results from the database are retrieved and used to create a refurbished battery pack. An apparatus includes a database for storing test results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: MIDTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Patent number: 11731519
    Abstract: The application relates to an electrical vehicle charging system for charging an electrical vehicle with a DC current, including a charger, an air conditioning device and a control device, whereby the charger is configured for delivering the DC current to the electrical vehicle, the air conditioning device is configured for heating and/or cooling the charging system, the air conditioning device and/or the charger emits a noise, and the control device is configured for controlling delivery of the DC current according to the noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventor: Wiebe Zoon