Patents Examined by David V Henze-Gongola
  • Patent number: 11724615
    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: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: RESC, LTD.
    Inventor: Daisuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11728665
    Abstract: In some examples, a control unit is configured to adjust charge termination voltage of a rechargeable energy storage device. The control unit is adapted to charge the rechargeable energy storage device to a charge termination voltage where the rechargeable energy storage device has capacity to support peak load but comes close to a system shutdown voltage after supporting peak load. The control unit is also adapted to increase the charge termination voltage if a voltage of the rechargeable energy storage device is near a system shutdown voltage after supporting peak load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Matsumura, Simon N. Peffers, Steven Lloyd, Michael T. Crocker, Aaron Gorius
  • Patent number: 11718194
    Abstract: Various systems are provided for charging electric vehicles. The systems may include a power transformation module in electrical communication with a power supply, any number of charge nodes in electrical communication with the power transformation module via one or more power distribution lines, and any number of charge transfer devices, each in electrical communication with a power system of an electric vehicle. A charge node of a charge pad may be connected to a contact pad of a charge transfer device to transfer power from the charge node, through the charge transfer device, to the vehicle power system to thereby charge the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Jaro Fleet Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Josef Miler
  • Patent number: 11722177
    Abstract: An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a controller; one or more receiving circuits coupled to the controller, each receiving circuit configured to receive incoming RF signals from a receiver, the receiver transmitting a communication signal that identifies a location of the receiver; a plurality of transmitting circuits coupled to the controller, each transmitting circuit configured to generate outgoing RF signals based upon the incoming RF signals; and a plurality of antenna elements, the plurality of antenna elements including at least some dedicated antenna elements. In some embodiments, the controller is configured to: (i) select a first configuration of at least some of the dedicated antenna elements to be coupled to the receiving circuits, and (ii) select, based on the location, a second configuration of at least some of the plurality of antenna elements to be coupled to the plurality of transmitting circuits to transmit the outgoing RF signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Energous Corporation
    Inventor: Michael A. Leabman
  • Patent number: 11721989
    Abstract: A portable charger capable of jump starting a 12 V car battery includes a charger battery, a jump start circuit operatively electrically connected with the charger battery and with an ignition power outlet, and a microcontroller for coordinating safety functions to establish or interrupt the operative electrical connection of the jump start circuit with the ignition power outlet. The ignition power outlet comprises a positive power socket, a negative power socket, a positive sensing socket and a negative sensing socket. The sensing sockets are electrically isolated from the power sockets, and the microcontroller senses voltage across the sensing sockets and is configured to interrupt the operative electrical connection of the jump start circuit to the ignition power outlet until proper voltage is sensed across the sensing sockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Bollinger Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Garold C. Miller, Nathan Daniel Weinstein
  • Patent number: 11710987
    Abstract: An example method is performed at a near-field charging pad with a processor, a power-transferring element, a signature-signal-receiving circuit, and the processor of the near-field charging pad is in communication with a data source that includes predefined signature signals that each identify one of (i) a wireless power receiver, (ii) an object other than a wireless power receiver, and (iii) a combination of a wireless power receiver and an object other than a wireless power receiver. The method includes: after sending a plurality of test radio frequency (RF) power transmission signals, detecting, using the signature-signal-receiving circuit, respective amounts of reflected power; generating, based on variations in the respective amounts of reflected power, a signature signal; and determining whether (i) an authorized wireless power receiver is present on the near-field charging pad and/or (ii) an object other than a wireless power receiver is present on the near-field charging pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Energous Corporation
    Inventors: Cesar Johnston, Deepak Jain, Erik Heinke, Alister Hosseini, Sean Nicolson
  • Patent number: 11708001
    Abstract: An example operation includes one or more of receiving, by a server, an energy transfer request from a charging station, determining, by the server, a current priority level of the at least one transport within an accessible range of the charging station, and responsive to the current priority level being below a threshold, sending an instruction to the at least one transport to transfer energy to the charging station based on the energy transfer request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Norman Lu
  • Patent number: 11705760
    Abstract: A wireless electrical energy transmission system is provided. The system comprises a wireless transmission base configured to wirelessly transmit electrical energy or data via near field magnetic coupling to a receiving antenna configured within an electronic device. The wireless electrical energy transmission system is configured with at least one transmitting antenna and a transmitting electrical circuit positioned within the transmission base. The transmission base is configured so that at least one electronic device can be wirelessly electrically charged or powered by positioning the at least one device external and adjacent to the transmission base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: NuCurrent, Inc.
    Inventors: Alberto Peralta, Md. Nazmul Alam, Jacob D. Babcock, Vinit Singh, Christine A. Frysz
  • Patent number: 11701977
    Abstract: A charging apparatus for a vehicle where a terminal (1, FIG. 2) is connected to at least one kerbside power/data unit (9) to provide a power (4) and a data connection (5) to the power/data unit (9), the power/data unit (9) being connected to a nearby vehicle (17) to provide power to charge the vehicle (17) and receive data from the vehicle (17). The fact that the kerbside power/data unit (9) can charge a vehicle (17) using power supplied from a terminal (1, FIG. 2) and can transmit data from the vehicle (17) to the terminal (1, FIG. 2) provides the power and data requirements for connected autonomous vehicles at a kerbside location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Connected Kerb Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas Alexander Dobie, Stephen James Richardson
  • Patent number: 11685282
    Abstract: A controller may, after receiving indication that an electric utility provider will reduce power supplied during an upcoming period of time, increase a cost of charge energy for vehicles that charge at a rate at least equal to a threshold rate during the upcoming period of time. The controller may also decrease the cost of charge energy for vehicles that avoid charging or charge at a rate less than the threshold rate during the upcoming period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Farshad Harirchi, Ryan O'Gorman, David McCreadie, Devang Bhalchandra Dave
  • Patent number: 11685283
    Abstract: An example operation includes one or more of determining, via a transport, a state of charge of a storage unit of the transport, determining, via the transport, an environment at a location, determining, via the transport, a status of a charging station at the location including at least one of a location energy cost and a location power level and providing, via the transport, a needed amount of energy to the charging station at the location based on the status of the charging station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Norman Lu
  • Patent number: 11685281
    Abstract: A system for integrating electric loads into the utility electric grid in a cost-effective, emissions-minimizing way. The system generates and implements a computer-readable series of instructions for one or more of starting and stopping electrical device charging or operation powering of an electrical device's duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: FlexCharging, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Grunkemeyer, Laura McCarty
  • Patent number: 11685550
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a recharging station including a landing pad, a rechargeable component coupled to the landing pad, and a power delivery unit configured to deliver power from a power supply unit or power storage unit to the recharging component. Rechargeable component includes a plurality of charging units placed at predetermined spacings from one another. The plurality of charging units allows for the electric aircraft to land in any orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Jake Pill, Cole William Hanson
  • Patent number: 11689042
    Abstract: Example implementations include obtaining charging power from a power source, obtaining a charging command, activating a trickle current to a battery, entering a first charging state in response to a condition that a voltage of the battery does not satisfy a deep discharge threshold, and entering a second charging state in response to a condition that a voltage of the battery satisfies a deep discharge threshold. Example implementations can further include supplying the trickle current in a burst to the battery in response to a condition that the voltage of the battery does not satisfy a fuel gauge threshold, upon entering the second charging state. Example implementations can further include supplying the trickle current continuously to the battery in response to a condition that the voltage of the battery satisfies the fuel gauge threshold, upon entering the second charging state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics America Inc.
    Inventors: Zhigang Liang, Byongho Park, Mehul Shah
  • Patent number: 11674490
    Abstract: A battery booster for jumpstarting a vehicle having an external battery. The battery booster may include a processor, a set of terminal connectors, a power supply, and a power-management circuit. The set of terminal connectors may be configured to couple with the external battery or an engine that is electrically coupled with the external battery. The power supply may include a lithium battery configured to supply a starting current to jump start an engine. The external battery may have a first nominal voltage, while the lithium battery may have a second nominal voltage that is greater than the first nominal voltage. The power-management circuit operatively coupled with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to transfer power selectively between the external battery and the power supply. The processor is configured to perform a pre-charge function and/or a back-feed function via the power-management circuit, which may employ a pulse width modulation (PWM) driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Schumacher Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Clarke, John S. Whiting, Brian F. Butler
  • Patent number: 11660974
    Abstract: A charging fee management method for electric vehicles for use in a charging device is provided, wherein the charging device can be operated in a plurality of operation modes. First, a charging request for charging an electric vehicle is received. Then, the charging device is controlled to perform a charging process for the electric vehicle according to the charging request, and calculate a charging fee for the charging process, wherein the charging fee is calculated based on charging data during the respective operation mode of the charging device and a respective charging method for each operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: NOODOE CORPORATION
    Inventors: John C. Wang, Yi-An Hou, Chun-Hung Kung, Chia-Wei Hu
  • Patent number: 11648845
    Abstract: The user can readily determine a battery station where a battery exchange can be performed without fail. A management server searches a battery station that suits a battery configuration of an electric vehicle operated by each user according to management information on the battery configuration thereof, and to transmit a guidance screen for guiding the user to the searched battery station to the terminal device carried by the user. In particular, the user is guided to a station where the number of fully charged battery devices in a battery exchanger is equal to or greater than the number of battery devices used by the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Ebisu, Toshiya Zaitsu, Hiroki Shinohara, Masashi Takemura, Kenichiro Shibasaki, Koji Aoto
  • Patent number: 11648847
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for remote charging of work vehicles using recharge vehicles. A recharge vehicle is equipped with power storage that has a sufficient capacity for propelling the recharge vehicle between a charging station (used for charging the recharge vehicle) and a work location (of the work vehicle) and also for charging the work vehicle at the work location. In some examples, the charging of the work vehicle and even the connection between the vehicles are formed while the work vehicle continues to operate. This approach helps to maximize the operating time of the work vehicle. Furthermore, this approach relaxes the charge rate requirement for charging the recharge vehicle and also for charging the work vehicle as well as the location of the charging station (for charging the recharge vehicle). In some examples, work vehicles and/or recharge vehicles are autonomous vehicles and use vehicle-to-vehicle coordination features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: DIMAAG-AI, Inc.
    Inventors: Fuk Ho Pius Ng, Ian Wright
  • Patent number: 11628735
    Abstract: A charge head is connected to a charge inlet of an electric vehicle to supply an electric charge to recharge the battery of the vehicle. The charge head is attached to a connecting device that moves the charge head to the charge inlet. Multiple light detectors are provided on the charge head to sense light emitted from the vehicle. The system then uses a difference in the amount of light received by different light detectors to determine a direction to move the charge head toward the charge inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Gregory A. Cole, Sree Shankar, Daniel T. Lasko, Harshang Shah
  • Patent number: 11614063
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system including a computer programmed to actuate a plurality of drones to first establish one or more electrical connections therebetween and then to provide a jump start to a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Douglas Raymond Martin, Kenneth James Miller