Patents Examined by Drew A. Dunn
  • Patent number: 11177672
    Abstract: The described technology relates to a battery pack and a data transmission method for the battery pack. In one embodiment, the battery pack includes a battery comprising at least one battery cell and a controller configured to check a state of the battery and generate a battery state signal corresponding to the state of the battery. The battery pack also includes a switch circuit configured to operate based on the battery state signal and a resistor circuit configured to be electrically connected to a reference node through the switch circuit. The switch circuit is configured to make or break electrical connection between the resistor circuit and the reference node based on the battery state signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Inhye No, Kumyul Hwang
  • Patent number: 11173775
    Abstract: A vehicle having a traction battery with at least one cell includes a controller coupled to the traction battery and programmed to modify traction battery current in response to a difference between a lithium plating parameter target value and a lithium plating parameter actual value to reduce the difference. The lithium plating parameter or indicator may be based on a differential open circuit voltage of a battery cell, or a ratio of differential voltage of the at least one cell as a function of time to cell charging rate of the at least one cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chuan He, Xu Wang, Haiyan Chen
  • Patent number: 11171509
    Abstract: Adaptive charging networks in accordance with embodiments of the invention enable the optimization of electric design of charging networks for electric vehicles. One embodiment includes an electrical supply; a plurality of adaptive charging stations; wherein at least one adaptive charging station distributes power to at least one other adaptive charging station; wherein at least one adaptive charging station is configured to communicate capacity information to a controller; and wherein the controller is configured to control the distribution of power to the plurality of adaptive charging stations based upon the capacity information received from at least one adaptive charging station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: George S. Lee, Steven H. Low
  • Patent number: 11161421
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for generating and storing electrical energy for a partially or fully electric vehicle having a motor/generator, the system includes an auxiliary power device configured to generate electrical energy by converting non-electrical energy into electrical energy. The system includes a transmitter connected to the auxiliary power device and configured to wirelessly transmit the electrical energy generated by the auxiliary power device. The system includes a battery configured to store electrical energy and power the motor/generator to propel the vehicle. The system includes a receiver connected to the battery and configured to receive electrical energy and charge the battery. The system includes a power bus configured to wirelessly receive the generated electrical energy from the transmitter and transmit the generated electrical energy to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Chi-Ming Wang, Ercan M. Dede
  • Patent number: 11148534
    Abstract: A cooling unit for a charging column includes a heat exchanger with first connections and second connections and that is set up for cooling a closed secondary coolant circuit of the charging column if the first connections are fluidically connected to a common primary coolant circuit of the electric filling station and the second connections are fluidically connected to the secondary coolant circuit. Also described herein is a corresponding charging column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventors: Volker Reber, David Köhler, Stefan Götz
  • Patent number: 11152803
    Abstract: A battery charger detection system is provided. The battery charger detection system includes a battery charger, an indicator, and a controller. The controller detects an initial electrical coupling of the battery charger to a battery and measures a first voltage of the battery upon the electrical coupling. The controller further measures a second voltage of the battery and actuates the indicator in response to both a continued electrical coupling between the battery charger and the battery and the second voltage being less than or equal to the first voltage after a predetermined length of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: CLUB CAR, LLC
    Inventor: Robert H. Edwards
  • Patent number: 11121562
    Abstract: A system for managing automated charging, the automated charging management system is provided. The system comprises a charging cord management device, a charging cord connector, a power supply, a device, a first charging cord, and a second charging cord. The charging cord management device is configured to locate the power supply. The charging cord management device is configured to align the second charging cord and the charging cord connector with the power supply. The charging cord connector is configured to be in contact with the power supply without user interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventor: Jeff W H Li
  • Patent number: 11121573
    Abstract: A power converter can be implemented as a series of power conversion stages, including a wireless power conversion stage. In typical embodiments, the power converter receives power directly from mains voltage and outputs power to a battery within an electronic device. A transmitter side of the power converter converts alternating current received from a power source (e.g., mains voltage) to an alternating current suitable for applying to a primary coil of the wireless power conversion stage of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: InHwan Oh, Zaki Moussaoui, Rohan Dayal, Bharat K. Patel, Manisha P. Pandya, Weihong Qiu, Malhar V. Bhatt
  • Patent number: 11121574
    Abstract: An electronic device which is wirelessly charged through an external power transmitting device includes a conductive pattern in which a current is induced depending on a power signal transmitted by the external power transmitting device, an adjustment circuit that configured to generate a voltage signal using the current, a load configured to be charged through the voltage signal, and a control circuit electrically connected with the conductive pattern, the adjustment circuit, and the load. Upon recognizing the external power transmitting device, the control circuit is configured to generate a power control signal including information about intensity of the power signal and to transmit the power control signal to the external power transmitting device through the conductive pattern, and the conductive pattern is configured to receive the power signal, the intensity of which is changed depending on the power control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Mi Ha, Jung Oh Sung, Kwan Bae Son, Jung Min Lee, Jae Mu Ha
  • Patent number: 11121560
    Abstract: Techniques of charging electronic devices involve directing electrical power from a first device to the battery of a second device in response to the first device being in a first state, and directing electrical power from the second device to the battery of the first device in response to the first device being in a second state. For example, in response to a connection being established between a first device (e.g., a tablet computer) and a second device (e.g., a monitor), a charger of the first device detects a state of charge of the battery of the first device and a state of charge of the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Toshak Singhal, Willis Calkins
  • Patent number: 11114880
    Abstract: There is provided a technique that includes: a first transistor used as an input, which is installed on a path through which a current to be regulated flows; a second transistor used as an output, which is connected to the first transistor to form a current mirror circuit; a resistor installed on a path of a current flowing through the second transistor; a stabilizing circuit configured to match an operating point of the second transistor with an operating point of the first transistor; and a transistor controller configured to regulate a voltage to be supplied to a control terminal of the first transistor according to a current detection signal that corresponds to a voltage drop across the resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Kondo
  • Patent number: 11101683
    Abstract: A sheath attached to a body having a raised portion and a surrounding bottom portion, the raised portion has a first closed end, a second open end and the surrounding bottom portion surrounds at least a portion of the raised portion which extends above an outer surface of a body which has an inner surface, an outer surface and a fourth opening between the inner and outer surface, the raised portion receives a female connector having an operative end, a cord end and a cord; the operative end is retained in the second open end of the raised portion and the cord end of the female connector is retained in the first closed end of the raised portion to provide the female connector in a flat position with the operative end being operable and above the outer surface of the body, the cord connects the female connector and a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Inventor: Li Zhijian
  • Patent number: 11101681
    Abstract: A power converter arrangement, for feeding a plurality of energy stores of electrically driven vehicles has a transformer having a first multiphase winding and a plurality of second multiphase windings. The first winding is embodied to be connected to a power supply system, in particular to a medium-voltage power supply system, and the second windings are each connected to a first connection of an associated power converter. The invention also presents an installation having such a power converter arrangement, wherein the transformer is arranged in a weatherproof enclosure and at least a plurality of power converters form parts of respective charging stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: SEMIKRON ELEKTRONIK GmbH & CO KG
    Inventor: Bernhard Kalkmann
  • Patent number: 11101667
    Abstract: An energy storage apparatus includes: an energy storage device; a voltage dropper configured to drop a charge voltage for the energy storage device; a current switcher connected in parallel with the voltage dropper; a voltage detection unit configured to detect a voltage of the energy storage device; and a controller. When the voltage of the energy storage device exceeds a predetermined value, the controller causes the current switcher to switch a path of a charge current to the energy storage device to a path through the voltage dropper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventor: Takeyuki Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 11095138
    Abstract: A battery charger includes a housing and a plurality of charging ports coupled to the housing. Each charging port is configured to connect a battery pack to the battery charger. The battery charger also includes a charging circuit positioned within the housing and electrically coupled to the plurality of charging ports. The charging circuit is operable to charge the battery packs connected to the plurality of charging ports in series. The battery charger further includes a skip switch coupled to the charging circuit. The skip switch is operable to skip a battery pack currently being charged and advance to another battery pack connected to the battery charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Schneider, James S. Hull, Jay Rosenbecker, Cole A. Conrad
  • Patent number: 11082093
    Abstract: A communication apparatus includes communication means for performing radio communication with a partner apparatus, and supply means for wirelessly supplying power to the partner apparatus. The communication apparatus acquires information on a communication circuit for radio communication in the partner apparatus, and controls the supply means so as to determine an amount of power to be supplied per unit time depending on the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masashi Hamada
  • Patent number: 11072253
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a power circuit for power supply in an electrically driven vehicle. The power circuit includes a direct voltage connection, an electrical traction drive, and a DC/AC converter. The converter includes an alternating voltage side connected to the traction drive. A DC/DC converter of the power circuit includes two converter sides. The first converter side is connected to a direct voltage side of the DC/AC converter via a coupling point. The direct voltage connection is likewise connected to the coupling point. The disclosure further relates to a stationary energy supply system designed to be complementary and to connect to the power circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Pfeilschifter, Martin Brüll, Hans-Peter Feustel, Klaus Mühlbauer, Thomas Röhrl, Edmund Schirmer, Martin Spornraft, Matthias Töns
  • Patent number: 11063461
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a mobile phone APP control-based energy-saving charger, including a bridge rectifier circuit, a switch control circuit, a high-frequency transformer, and a low-voltage output circuit that are sequentially connected in series. The charger further includes: an electronic switch connected in series between the bridge rectifier circuit and the switch control circuit, an APP signal demodulation circuit for demodulating a mobile phone-side APP control signal and outputting a power-off control signal, an isolating drive circuit for isolating the control signal, and a power-on self-holding circuit connected to the isolating drive circuit and a control end of the electronic switch, where the power-on self-holding circuit controls on and off of the electronic switch according to the isolated control signal and provides a short-time ON level to the control end of the electronic switch at the beginning of power-on of the charger so as to keep the electronic switch on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Inventor: Xueshi Dai
  • Patent number: 11056920
    Abstract: A portable device including a secondary battery, a plurality of driving components driven by charged power of the secondary battery, a charging unit configured to charge the secondary battery by an input of outside power supplied from outside of the portable device, a plurality of transformation units each configured to output the charged power of the secondary battery at a driving voltage of a corresponding one of the plurality of driving components, a detection unit configured to detect the input of the outside power to the charging unit, and a switching controller configured to switch a state of one of the plurality of transformation units from an operation state to a stopped state responsive to detecting the input of the outside power to the charging unit causing only the corresponding one of the plurality of driving components to stop operation during charging of the secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takezo Hatanaka, Hisashi Tsuda
  • Patent number: 11031792
    Abstract: There are provided control systems and methods for charging batteries. For instance, there is provided a system for charging at least two batteries. The system can include a set of hardware associated with the at least two batteries, and the at least two batteries can be connected in series. Each battery from the at least two batteries can be associated with a subset of the set of hardware, and one subset of the set of hardware can be configured to control an associated battery independently from another subset of the set of hardware and its associated battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventor: Robert Gregory Wagoner