Patents Examined by Dru Parries
  • Patent number: 9579989
    Abstract: A battery arrangement for a motor vehicle, includes a plurality of battery modules, each of the battery modules having a plurality of battery cells and being coupled to a control unit, and a high voltage lead wire for electrical coupling being provided between all adjacent battery modules, the control units each being designed to exchange data via the high voltage lead wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Jörg Schmidt, Michael Hinterberger, Reuf Avdic, Erdal Acikgoez, Diana Stöckert
  • Patent number: 9583943
    Abstract: A power supply system comprises a path switching means that switches a power supply path between power generation equipment and a load so that at least a part of output power of each power generation equipment is supplied to another power generation equipment during a power failure or power instability in the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Kitaji
  • Patent number: 9553339
    Abstract: A security architecture, a battery, and a motor vehicle that has a corresponding battery are configured to be used to combine battery packs of a lower security integrity level into a battery system that has a higher security integrity level. The security architecture is for at least two batteries and each battery includes at least one electrochemical cell. The at least two batteries are each combined with at least one data processing unit to form a respective module. The security architecture is configured such that input signals of at least one second module are processed by the at least one data processing unit of at least one first module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Frank Stimm, Andreas Heyl
  • Patent number: 9543828
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are low-noise multi-output power supply circuits and methods. In one embodiment, a method of controlling a low-noise multi-output power supply circuit, can include: (i) detecting operation states of each of a plurality of switch mode power supplies; (ii) generating a frequency modulation signal to control an operating frequency of a switch mode power supply to be substantially equal to a main frequency signal when the switch mode power supply is detected to operate in a heavy-load steady state; and (iii) controlling the operating frequency of the switch mode power supply to be independent of the main frequency signal when the switch mode power supply is detected to operate in a light-load or a dynamic state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventor: Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 9538382
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein include a transmitter that transmits a power transmission signal (e.g., radio frequency (RF) signal waves) to create a three-dimensional pocket of energy. At least one receiver can be connected to or integrated into electronic devices and receive power from the pocket of energy. A wireless power network may include a plurality of wireless power transmitters each with an embedded wireless power transmitter manager, including a wireless power manager application. The wireless power network may include a plurality of client devices with wireless power receivers. Wireless power receivers may include a power receiver application configured to communicate with the wireless power manager application. The wireless power manager application may include a device database where information about the wireless power network may be stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Energous Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas Bell, Michael Leabman
  • Patent number: 9536656
    Abstract: Example embodiments of the systems and methods of reduction of parasitic losses in a wireless power system disclosed herein provide a practical means of accurately estimating parasitic losses in a wireless power transfer system irrespective of coupling. Such systems and methods may be used to generate an equation which predicts parasitic losses in a wireless power system. In an offset case, in which the transmitter and receiver are not directly coupled, losses associated with the recirculating current in the primary LC tank dominate the loss, and the transmitted power may be better estimated by measuring the power inputs, power outputs, and injected losses in a controlled environment; making a mathematical fit to an equation, which from the various power measurements and injected loss, predicts the expected transmitter losses; and then, in an operational environment, using the equation to predict parasitic losses based on the power inputs, power outputs and expected loss equation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Eric Gregory Oettinger, Vladimir Alexander Muratov, Ravindra Krishna Patil, Kalyan Siddabattula, William Ford Waters, III
  • Patent number: 9537354
    Abstract: A system and method for smart registration of wireless power receivers within a wireless power network is disclosed. Each wireless power device may include a universally unique identifier (UUID). Each wireless power device bought by a customer may be registered, at the time of purchase or later. The registry may be stored in an energy domain service, where energy domain service may be one or more cloud-based servers. The method for smart registration may include the steps of detecting a customer device; establishing a connection with a wireless power receiver to read its UUID; sending wireless power transmitter manager's UUID and wireless power receiver's UUID to energy domain service; inspecting wireless power transmitter manager registry; verifying wireless power receiver registry; authorizing power transfer to wireless power receiver; and reporting energy consumption for subsequent billing of customer depending on billing policy of wireless power transmitter manager specified within registry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Energous Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas Bell, Michael A. Leabman
  • Patent number: 9537480
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided, which includes a fixing unit, a detection unit and a control unit. The fixing unit is adapted to maintain a position of the electronic device relative to a user when the user uses the electronic device. The detection unit is adapted to detect a spatial parameter of the electronic device being moved in a space. The control unit is adapted to obtain the spatial parameter, determine whether the spatial parameter matches a predetermined parameter condition, and control the electronic device to switch from a first operation mode to a second operation mode when the spatial parameter matches the predetermined parameter condition, wherein the first operation mode is different from the second operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lvming Lin
  • Patent number: 9530556
    Abstract: A method of configuring windings in an inductive charging pad array by using capacitors for impedance control and configuring windings to reduce the stray magnetic fields produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: DET International Holding Limited
    Inventors: Marco Antonio Davila, Ionel Jitaru
  • Patent number: 9531293
    Abstract: A circuit for an energy collection system is provided that includes one or more strings that are configured to couple to an electrical load. Each of the one or more strings comprises one or more string members that are coupled to each other in series. Each of the one or more string members comprises (i) a connection to receive an output from an energy output device, and (ii) an inverter configured to convert the output of the energy output device into alternating current (AC) energy. The circuit includes a controller that controls the output that is provided by the one or more strings by controlling the individual string member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Sinewatts, Inc.
    Inventor: Shibashis Bhowmik
  • Patent number: 9520874
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a static transfer switch to eliminate transformer inrush current in the presence of residual flux. The method includes: detecting an interrupt of electric power at an output terminal of the static transfer switch; controlling amplitude of voltage at the output terminal using phase fired control of one or more silicon controlled rectifiers interposed between a voltage source and the output terminal, where the amplitude of voltage is set at a value less than a peak value of the sinusoidal waveform; and increasing the amplitude of voltage at the output terminal incrementally until the amplitude reaches a peak value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventors: Terry D. Bush, James M. Miller
  • Patent number: 9502906
    Abstract: A relay unit electrically opens and closes between a power supply and a power-consuming device. The relay unit includes electronic components in a housing including a case and a cover, the electronic components including a resistor, a first relay connected in series with the resistor, and a second relay, the second relay connecting the power supply and the power-consuming device through an external connection terminal and being connected in parallel with the resistor and the first relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuichi Hashimoto, Keisuke Yano
  • Patent number: 9487091
    Abstract: A method of adjusting the power absorbed by at least one vehicle powered by at least one electrical energy storage unit and one electrical network on the ground providing the vehicle with at least one inrush current necessary for starting up the vehicle, includes adjusting the inrush current, before and at least during the starting-up of the vehicle, to a constant mean value and keeping variations of the inrush current around the mean value to a minimum by controlling at least one variable supply of compensating energy from the energy storage unit of the vehicle. A computer for implementing the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens S.A.S.
    Inventors: Xavier Bavard, Eric Chattot, Said El Fassi, Jean-Noel Verhille
  • Patent number: 9481332
    Abstract: A power system for an aircraft is disclosed. The power system comprises a power panel, at least one power rail coupled to the power panel, wherein the power rail is integrated with a mounting rail for the passenger service unit, and at least one universal serial bus (USB) port coupled to the power panel and mounted in the passenger service unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Donald B. Lee
  • Patent number: 9478985
    Abstract: A method of providing electrical power using a split bus configuration includes receiving a first direct current at a positive bus of a split bus, where the first direct current originates from a first fuel cell segment. A second direct current is received at a negative bus of the split bus, where the second direct current originates from a second fuel cell segment. A third direct current is also received at the split bus such that a combined direct current is formed including the first direct current, the second direct current, and the third direct current. The third direct current originates from an alternative direct current (DC) source. The combined direct current is provided to an inverter such that an alternating current is generated for a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arne Watson Ballantine, Ramesh Srinivasan, Stuart Aaron, Peter Light, Josh Richman, Ranganathan Gurunathan, Chad Pearson
  • Patent number: 9472549
    Abstract: A cascoded power semiconductor circuit has a clamp circuit between the source and gate of a gallium nitride or silicon carbide FET to provide avalanche protection for the cascode MOSFET transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Matthias Rose, Jan Sonsky, Philip Rutter
  • Patent number: 9467007
    Abstract: First power load apparatuses that use power from a power storage apparatus when a total power consumption amount of all of the plurality of power load apparatuses is greater than or equal to a threshold, and second power load apparatuses not included among the first power load apparatuses are included. A power gateway apparatus stops the supply of power from a power supply system to the first power load apparatuses and performs power supply from the power storage apparatus to the first power load apparatuses when a sum of a total power consumption amount of the second power load apparatuses and a total power consumption amount of the first power load apparatuses exceeds a threshold indicating a maximum value of the system power consumption amount. The power gateway apparatus supplies power from the power generation apparatus to the first power load apparatuses with priority to power from the power network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Yoshinaga
  • Patent number: 9459674
    Abstract: A power integration module includes a first input connector, a second input connector, an output connector, a switch unit, a determining unit. The first input connector and the second input connector are electrically connected to a first power supply and a second power supply of a power supply module. The output connector is electrically connected to an electrical load. The switch unit is coupled between the first input connector, the second input connector and the output connector. When the switch unit is turned on, the first input power supply and the second input power supply are integrated in parallel and outputted to the output connector to the electrical load. Moreover, an electronic device with a plurality of power integration modules is provided. Thus, the wrong connection is prevented and the condition that the power supplies of different electrical parameters are connected in parallel is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Yi-Peng Lin, Kuan-Kun Tang, Pei-Jung Lin
  • Patent number: 9449756
    Abstract: An electromagnetic connector well suited for use in harsh environments. The connector used an E-core or C-core magnetic members for coupling power such as from a backplane to a module mounted on the backplane and using I-cores for coupling signals to and from the module. Separation of the power and signaling allows optimization of each coupling without compromise in performance of each function. Use of I-cores for signal coupling provides efficient use of space, with the use of E-cores or C-cores providing maximum power coupling to the module in a minimum space. Various aspects of exemplary embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Bedrock Automation Platforms Inc.
    Inventors: James Calvin, Albert Rooyakkers
  • Patent number: 9444289
    Abstract: This specification provides a wireless power system capable of changing a resonant frequency and a resonant frequency changing method thereof. To this end, a wireless power receiver according to one exemplary embodiment includes a power receiving unit having a receiving side resonant circuit provided with at least one inductor and at least one capacitor, and configured to receive a wireless power signal, the wireless power signal being generated based on a resonance phenomenon between the receiving side resonant circuit and a transmitting side resonant circuit of a wireless power transmitter, and a power reception control unit configured to control the power receiving unit to change a connection between the at least one inductor and the at least one capacitor so as to change a resonant frequency corresponding to the wireless power signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yongcheol Park, Seonghun Lee, Taewook Kwon, Jeongkyo Seo, Jaesung Lee