Patents Examined by Drew A. Dunn
  • Battery state-of-charge estimation
    Patent number: 10690725
    Abstract: A battery pack management system adjusts the relative state-of-charge of respective battery blocks in a battery pack to equalize (i.e., align, balance or otherwise make similar) the peak battery block voltages (i.e., maximum or “upper peak” battery block voltages when the battery pack is being charged and/or minimum or “lower peak” battery block voltages when the battery is being discharged). Upon detecting an anomalous battery block that exhibits outlier upper and lower peak voltages, the battery pack management system adjusts the relative state of charge of respective battery blocks to center their respective upper and lower peak voltages between operating limits, thus maximizing the operating margin of the battery pack as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: ATIEVA, INC.
    Inventors: Steven Diamond, Gabriel Risk, Stanley Hu, Albert Shih-Young Liu, Martin Helliwell
  • Energy storage system with improved operating time and operation method thereof
    Patent number: 10693304
    Abstract: Provided are a system and a method which allow an improved operating time of an energy storage system in a power system by reflecting a state of charge of a battery and a state of the power system on a control of an amount of charging power or discharging power of the energy storage system. The system includes: a battery configured to charge or discharge power; a battery monitor configured to monitor a state of the battery; a power system monitor configured to monitor a state of a power system; and a charge/discharge controller configured to control an amount of charging power or an amount of discharging power of the battery using a state of charge of the battery detected by the battery monitor and the state of the power system detected by the power system monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Yonsei University
    Inventors: Jung-Wook Park, Jinah Noh, SeokJu Kang, Seoung Uk Jeon
  • Systems, methods, and apparatus implementing hybrid symmetric and asymmetric control for soft switching in wireless power transfer applications
    Patent number: 10680457
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses implementing hybrid symmetric and asymmetric control for soft switching in wireless power transfer applications are provided. An apparatus for wirelessly transferring charging power is provided. The apparatus comprises a wireless power coupler. The apparatus comprises driver circuit. The apparatus comprises a control unit configured to instruct a driver circuit to drive the wireless power coupler with a first voltage waveform when transferring wireless charging power less than a first amount. The first voltage waveform includes a positive portion having a first duration and a negative portion having the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Felix Weidner, Martin Pavlovsky
  • Systems and methods for battery impendance matching to facilitate improved battery charging
    Patent number: 10673257
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing a homopolar generator charger with an integral rechargeable battery. A method is provided for converting rotational kinetic energy to electrical energy for charging one or more battery cells. The method can include rotating, by a shaft, a rotor in a magnetic flux field to generate current, wherein the rotor comprises an electrically conductive portion having an inner diameter conductive connection surface and an outer diameter conductive connection surface, and wherein a voltage potential is induced between the inner and outer diameter connection surfaces upon rotation in the magnetic flux field. The method can also include selectively coupling the generated current from the rotating rotor to terminals of the one or more battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Premergy, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Edward Botts
  • Battery charger for electric vehicles
    Patent number: 10661662
    Abstract: The battery charger (1) for electric vehicles comprises a container (2), a first power unit (3) housed inside said container (2), connectable at input to an external power supply line (L) and connectable at output to a battery (B) of an electric vehicle (V), and an electronic control unit (4) housed inside the container (2) and operatively connected to the first power unit (3), and a second power unit (6) housed inside the container (2), operatively connected to the electronic control unit (4), connectable at input to at least an external power supply line (L) and connectable at output to the battery (B) of the electric vehicle (V).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Meta System S.p.A.
    Inventor: Cesare Lasagni
  • Wireless interrogation and wireless charging of electronic devices
    Patent number: 10637300
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, wireless chargers combined with wireless interrogators. The wireless chargers can transmit power wirelessly, while also wirelessly interrogating a nearby transponder, such as an RFID tag. The wireless chargers with wireless interrogators can also be programmable to allow user-implemented rules operable in response to an interrogation. Such rules can impose restrictions upon whether wireless charging is allowed to take place. Such rules can also be used to select a power-transmitting protocol that is particularly suited for the electronic device being charged. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Power Forward, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel B. Jakubowski
  • Deployable vehicle inductive charging assembly
    Patent number: 10625612
    Abstract: A charge plate receiver assembly for an electric vehicle includes an inductive charge plate receiver and a swing arm pivotally secured to a mounting surface. The charge plate receiver is pivotally secured to the swing arm such that the charge plate receiver travels along an arc defined by a length of the swing arm when the assembly moves between a retracted position and a deployed position. When retracted, the charge plate receiver may retract into a cavity, defined by under-body components. The charge plate receiver has a planar surface and the planar surface is generally perpendicular to a horizontal plane of the vehicle in the retracted position and parallel with the horizontal plane of the vehicle in the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Michael Cyr, Raymond C. Siciak, Michael Reibling
  • Charging apparatus of mobile terminal
    Patent number: 10622821
    Abstract: A charging apparatus for a mobile terminal includes: a control chip connected with the USB interface; a current detection circuit connected with the power supply circuit; a voltage detection circuit connected with the power supply circuit; an analog to digital converter (ADC) connected with the current detection circuit, the voltage detection circuit, and the control chip respectively, the current detection circuit and the voltage detection circuit are configured to provide the control chip with the current value of the current output current and the voltage value of the current output voltage respectively through the ADC; a power adjusting circuit connected with the control chip and the power supply circuit respectively, configured to adjust an output power of the power supply circuit based on the control of the control chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Shebiao Chen, Jun Zhang
  • Apparatus for charging and discharging battery
    Patent number: 10615611
    Abstract: A battery charging and discharging apparatus includes power converters connected in series and configured to convert respective output voltages of batteries corresponding to the power converters. Each of the power converters may include direct current to direct current (DC/DC) converters connected in parallel. The apparatus may further include a controller configured to control magnitudes of respective output voltages of the power converters based on respective states of the batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan University
    Inventors: Jinyong Jeon, Taejung Yeo, Seong Chon Choi, Soon Ryung Lee, Bong Yeon Choi
  • System and method for wireless charging
    Patent number: 10615625
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for wireless charging. The system includes an intelligent management device and a wireless charging transmitter. The intelligent management device is configured to: receive a wireless charging request from the mobile terminal; generate a wireless charging instruction according to the first location information of the mobile terminal and the charging location information of the wireless charging transmitter; and send the wireless charging instruction to the wireless charging transmitter. The wireless charging transmitter is configured to: receive the wireless charging instruction; determine a transmitting direction according to the direction information in the wireless charging instruction; and transmit a wireless energy wave in the transmitting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhijie Li, Wei Sun, Dan Zhu
  • Battery pack having a supplemental power supply
    Patent number: 10608291
    Abstract: A battery system is described. The battery system includes a power controller having sensors monitoring the state of predetermined sections of battery modules within battery packs and sends signals to a switching network to connect a bi-directional DC/DC converter to a first predetermined group of battery modules of the plurality of predetermined groups of battery modules at a first instant of time responsive to a first measurement of a first predetermined section of battery modules, and a second predetermined section of battery modules of the plurality of predetermined groups of battery modules at a second instant of time responsive to a second measurement of a second predetermined group of battery modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Spiers New Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Junger, Bryan Schultz
  • Charge controller for a battery in a vehicle
    Patent number: 10604018
    Abstract: A method for charging a battery of a vehicle uses a battery charging station that provides an electric current at a first DC voltage. The electric current that is output by the battery charging station at the first DC voltage is supplied to a charger of the vehicle, The electric current at the first DC voltage is converted within the charger into a second electric current at a second DC voltage that is required for charging the battery of the vehicle, and then is supplied to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Daniel Spesser
  • Lithium ion secondary battery charging control method and charging mechanism
    Patent number: 10587014
    Abstract: A charging control method and a charging mechanism for a lithium ion secondary battery are provided that can determine the life of the lithium ion secondary battery with more accuracy and a simple configuration. A charging control method for a lithium ion secondary battery calculates an integrated value of the number of charged times. The method includes: adding a predetermined value to the integrated value of the number of charged times of the lithium ion secondary battery if both a residual voltage that is a voltage value of the lithium ion secondary battery before the beginning of charging and an elapsed time from the time of the previous charging of the lithium ion secondary battery are not less than predetermined values; and estimating the life of the lithium ion secondary battery based on the integrated value of the number of charged times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: MAXELL HOLDINGS, LTD.
    Inventor: Keiichi Tanii
  • Apparatus and method for charging electric vehicle via plural chargers
    Patent number: 10576834
    Abstract: A method for controlling plural chargers equipped in a vehicle includes: recognizing a plurality of chargers, each configured to charge at least one battery supplying the vehicle with electric power, via an in-vehicle network; receiving an identification and at least one parameter from each recognized charger, which are delivered via the in-vehicle network; generating plural instructions, each instruction for each recognized charger in response to receiving the identification and the at least one parameter; and delivering the plural instructions to the plurality of recognized chargers via the in-vehicle network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jae Won Lee, Soung Han Noh, Jae Hyeon Park, Heuk Jin Lee
  • Battery switching system
    Patent number: 10581259
    Abstract: A battery switching system for a vehicle controls a first battery device and a second battery device, which provide power to a vehicular load. The system includes multiple switch circuits and a battery control module. The switch circuits are operable for electrically coupling and decoupling each of the first battery device and the second battery device to the load and electrically coupling and decoupling the first battery device from the second battery device. Each of the switch circuits is operable in a closed state and an open state. The battery control module operates the switch circuits based predetermined conditions to form a first electrical path to electrically couple the first and second battery devices, a second electrical path to electrically couple the second battery device and the vehicular load, or a third electrical path to electrically couple the first battery device and the vehicular load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Asif Al Rasheed, Adam Gilley
  • Battery pack active thermal management system
    Patent number: 10581251
    Abstract: A battery pack having an active thermal management system for use with a hybrid vehicle is provided. The active thermal management system is self-contained within a housing of the battery pack and includes a thermal channel configured to provide fluid communication between an interior of the housing and an exterior of the housing of the battery pack; a set of thermoelectric devices configured to transfer heat from battery cells of the battery pack to the thermal channel; an insulator arranged between the battery cells and the thermal channel; a device configured to control fluid flow via the thermal channel; and a controller configured to control the device to actively control heat transfer from the interior of the housing to the exterior of the housing of the battery pack to maintain the battery pack at a desired temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Oliver Gross, Dan Pannunzio, Steven L Clark, Roger Cortina
  • Mobile terminal including wireless charging coil and magnetic sheet having inwardly receding portion
    Patent number: 10574090
    Abstract: A mobile terminal is provided with a housing having a rectangular shape in a plan view of the housing defined by two short sides along a lateral direction and two long sides along a longitudinal direction. A camera, a battery, and a circuit board are included in the housing. A wireless charging coil is arranged in the housing and includes a winding portion and two leg portions. A sheet is arranged in the housing. The sheet has a rectangular shape including four edges and four corner portions, wherein each pair of adjacent edges forms a virtual corner, each corner portion is receded inwardly from its corresponding virtual corner by a receding distance, and one of four receding distances is greater than other three of the four receding distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Sovereign Peak Ventures, LLC
    Inventors: Yoshio Koyanagi, Koichi Yamamoto, Takanori Hirobe, Hiroyuki Uejima, Kenichiro Tabata, Shuichiro Yamaguchi, Munenori Fujimura, Akio Hidaka, Takumi Naruse
  • Method for controlling storage battery system
    Patent number: 10566795
    Abstract: A storage battery system control method includes at least the following steps. Respective current SOC (state of charge) values of the large capacity storage battery system and the high power storage battery system are acquired. Electrical power, which is required to operate the frequency control service for the purpose of suppressing frequency fluctuations, to the large capacity storage battery system and the high power storage battery system, in accordance with the respective SOC values. The respectively allocated electrical power is charged or discharged by driving the large capacity storage battery system, or alternatively, the high power storage battery system, or alternatively, the large capacity storage battery system and the high power storage battery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignees: Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc., NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Shibata, Youko Kimura, Yoichiro Tashiro, Masataka Kurokawa
  • Power adapter, electronic equipment, battery charging system and method
    Patent number: 10554067
    Abstract: A power adapter, an electronic equipment, a battery charging system and a battery charging method are provided. The power adapter include a communication interface and charges via the communication interface a battery of the electronic equipment; during charging a battery, the power adapter is configured to: first charge the battery in a regular charging mode; when an output current value of the power adapter falls within a regular current range for a predefined time period, send a quick charge inquiry instruction to the electronic equipment; after receiving a quick charge command sent by the electronic equipment, adjust an output voltage according to battery voltage information fed back by the electronic equipment; and if the output voltage meets a quick charge voltage requirement predefined, adjust an output current and the output voltage according to a quick charge mode so as to charge the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Jialiang Zhang, Fuchun Liao, Yuanxiang Hu, Liangcai Peng, Fengshuo Liu, Kewei Wu
  • Electric vehicle overhead charging system and method of use
    Patent number: 10532663
    Abstract: Techniques for electric vehicle systems, and in particular to an electric vehicle emergency charging system and method of use. In one embodiment, a system for charging a moving electric vehicle is provided, the system comprising: an electrical storage unit disposed on the electric vehicle; a charging panel in electrical communication with the electrical storage unit; a vehicle controller that determines if the electrical storage unit requires charging and configured to determine if an overhead power source is available to charge the electrical storage unit; wherein the charging panel receives the charge from the overhead power source and charges the electrical storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher P. Ricci