Patents Examined by Dung V Bui
  • Patent number: 10179517
    Abstract: A module system is configured for establishing a plurality of variants of a charging device of a vehicle and includes a first module type with a first interface and a second interface; multiple variants of a second module type, each having a first interface and a second interface, wherein the variants have different second interfaces; multiple variants of a third module type, each having a first interface and a second interface, wherein the variants have different second interfaces; wherein the first interface of the second module type is configured for coupling with the first interface of the first module type, wherein the first interface of the third module type is configured for coupling with the second interface of the first module type, and wherein the charging socket can be constructed from a coupling of a variant of the second module type, the first module type, and a variant of the third module type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Michael Toth
  • Patent number: 10177579
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery management system for transmitting a secondary protection signal and a diagnosis signal using a small number of insulation elements. N battery management units included in the battery management system transmit at least two pieces of data via one communication line through time division. N data signals transmitted from the N battery management units are transmitted in a sequential order or are mixed to one signal and transmitted to an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Ju-Hyun Kang, Yasuhito Eguchi, Shoji Tanina
  • Patent number: 10101401
    Abstract: An energy storage device management method for deciding an SOC estimated value includes: preparing first and second SOC estimation methods for estimating an SOC; and employing a predetermined value as the SOC estimated value when a first SOC region and a second SOC region are different. V-SOC correlation between a voltage and the state of charge of the energy storage device is sectioned into a plurality of SOC regions. The first SOC region is the SOC region that the SOC estimated by the first SOC estimation method belongs to, and the second SOC region is the SOC region that the SOC estimated by the second SOC estimation method belongs to. The predetermined value is set to a value close to a boundary value on a side close to the first SOC region of boundary values sectioning the second SOC region, or a value between the boundary value and an intermediate value of the second SOC region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Sejima, Takeyuki Shiraishi, Yoshihiko Mizuta
  • Patent number: 10075007
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that manages use of a battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system operates a charging circuit for converting an input voltage from a power source into a set of output voltages for charging the battery and powering a low-voltage subsystem and a high-voltage subsystem in the portable electronic device. Upon detecting the input voltage from the power source and a low-voltage state in the battery during operation of the charging circuit, the system uses a first inductor group in the charging circuit to down-convert the input voltage to a target voltage of the battery that is lower than a voltage requirement of the high-voltage subsystem. The system also uses a second inductor group in the charging circuit to up-convert the target voltage to power the high-voltage subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jamie Langlinais, Mark A. Yoshimoto, Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 10074876
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for balancing out states of charge of a battery which has a number of N battery cells. In order to balance out the individual states of charge (SOCn) of the n=1 to N cells, the state of charge of at least one cell is changed to a target state of charge (SOCtarget,n) which depends on the discharge depth (DODk) of the cell having the lowest capacity (Capk) according to the equation SOCtarget,n=1?DODk/Capn, Capn being the capacity of the nth cell to be changed. Advantageously, the method is suitable for optimizing the voltage or the energy content of a battery that is constituted of a plurality of cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Andre Boehm, Frank Schindler
  • Patent number: 10044214
    Abstract: A battery charger can include a charger controller configured to determine a total charge time that characterizes a time needed to charge a battery, the total charge time being based on a received state of charge (SOC) of the battery that characterizes a present SOC of the battery. The charger controller can also be configured to determine a charging start time for the battery based on a predetermined full charge time and the total charge time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Yevgen Barsukov
  • Patent number: 10027152
    Abstract: A charging device including a charging base and at least one hook portion is provided. The charging base has a receiving chamber for receiving a battery. The receiving chamber includes a first sidewall. The first sidewall has a first side and a second side opposing the first side. The hook portion is disposed on the first sidewall, positioned proximate to the first side of the first sidewall, and adapted to fix the battery in place. When the battery begins to rotate under an applied force and therefore disconnect from the hook portion, the fulcrum of the rotating battery is positioned proximate to the second side of the first sidewall. The battery can be firmly inserted into the charging device. It is easy to insert and take out the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: GETAC TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tzu-Chiu Huang
  • Patent number: 9939868
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for managing charging and power status for portable devices are disclosed. The systems, devices and methods of the present invention comprise determining existing battery level and charge status of a device, comparing the battery level and charge status with predicted battery usage of tasks associated with calendar events scheduled to take place before the next charge, and transmitting an alert to one or more devices when a threshold likelihood that the battery level will not be sufficient for the predicted battery usage is exceeded. The present invention advantageously displays available power based on time available for certain tasks, and manages device power and resources by modifying and/or transferring tasks from a device having a battery level below a threshold level to one or more other devices with a higher battery levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventors: Gary Stephen Shuster, David Goldsmith
  • Patent number: 9917468
    Abstract: A wearable charging apparatus configured for charging of a wearable device while the wearable device is in an operative position, such as on the wrist of the user the wearable charging apparatus includes a front housing portion, a rear charging portion, a coupling member and a charge system. The wearable device is positionable between the front housing portion and the rear charging portion. The front portion has a battery and the rear charging portion has a wearable charge coil that is placed in operable position relative to the wearable device and configured to electrically communicate with a coil within the body of the wearable device and coupled to a wearable battery therewith, to, in turn, transfer power from the battery within the cavity to the wearable battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Alberto R. Cavallaro, David A. Winkler
  • Patent number: 9851411
    Abstract: Kelvin (4-wire) connecting cables are routinely used when performing dynamic measurements (i.e., measurements with time-varying signals) on electrochemical cells and batteries. Current-carrying and voltage-sensing conductor pairs within such cables comprise distributed-parameter two-wire transmission lines which may extend several meters in length. As with all such transmission lines, internally reflected waves can oscillate back and forth at high frequency (hf) whenever the lines are not terminated in their characteristic impedances. Such hf reflected waves, by interacting with measuring circuitry, can seriously degrade low-frequency measurement accuracy. Apparatus is disclosed herein that suppresses hf reflected waves oscillating on Kelvin connecting cables during dynamic measurements of cells and batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Inventor: Keith S. Champlin
  • Patent number: 9827871
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable storage medium to dynamically manage heat in an electric energy storage system, such as a battery pack or ultra-capacitor pack system in an electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Inventor: Robert Del Core
  • Patent number: 9831681
    Abstract: A power reception apparatus includes a plurality of power extraction coils that extract power from a coil being a power supply source, a switch that selects one of the plurality of the power extraction coils and connects the selected power extraction coil to a battery, and a controller that senses a charging state of the battery and changes over the switch. The plurality of the power extraction coils are different from each other in terms of a diameter, the number of turns, or a distance from the coil being the power supply source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Satoshi Shimokawa
  • Patent number: 9825482
    Abstract: Provided is an electromagnetic booster for wireless charging, comprising a magnet part having a magnetic sheet (10) and a coil part (20) disposed on the magnetic sheet, wherein the magnetic sheet is composed of a first magnetic sheet (11) member located at an edge portion and a second magnetic sheet member (12) located in a center portion on the same plane, wherein the first magnetic sheet member and the second magnetic sheet member have different permeability rates from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Soon Young Hyun, Seok Bae, Don Chul Choi, So Yeon Kim, Ji Yeon Song, Jai Hoon Yeom, Nam Yang Lee, Hyung Eui Lee
  • Patent number: 9819207
    Abstract: Provided is an all solid state battery system with a high energy density. The all solid state battery system comprises an all solid state battery, and a discharging control unit that controls discharging of the all solid state battery, a cathode active material layer contains a cathode active material particle, and a sulfide solid electrolyte particle, and a ratio (T/t) of an actual thickness “T” of the cathode active material layer to an effective thickness “t” of the cathode active material layer which is calculated by the following Expression satisfies a relationship of 0.01?T/t?0.15; t=V/i×?? (in which, V represents an operation voltage width (V), i represents a current density (mA/cm2) during discharging, and ?? represents effective Li ion conductivity (S/cm) of the cathode active material layer).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Kato, Takamasa Ohtomo
  • Patent number: 9809183
    Abstract: A self-contained automotive battery booster system for boosting depleted automotive batteries when no external power source is available is provided, the self-contained automotive battery booster system having an integral power source; means for connecting the self-contained automotive battery booster system to an automotive battery; circuitry to ensure the safety of the user, the self-contained automotive battery booster system and the depleted automotive battery; and circuitry to allow the user to control the flow of electricity from the integral power source to the depleted automotive battery. The circuitry to ensure the safety of the user, the self-contained automotive battery booster system and the depleted automotive battery can include various warning indicators such as horns and LEDs and can prevent the activation of the self-contained automotive battery booster system in certain situations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Darryl Weflen
  • Patent number: 9806549
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an accessory device usable with a portable electronic device and an aerosol delivery device. The accessory device may include a case configured to receive the portable electronic device and the aerosol delivery device therein. Further, the accessory device may include an interface that provides an electrical connection and/or a data connection between the aerosol delivery device and the portable electronic device. Thereby, the portable electronic device may charge the aerosol delivery device or vice versa and/or data may be exchanged therebetween. A related method and a computer program product are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Liberti, Quentin Paul Guenther, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9796280
    Abstract: Provided are a wireless charging system and methodology including a charging station, an application, and a server configured and operating to facilitate wireless vehicle charging. The charging station includes a charging unit for transferring power, a control unit, and a communication unit. The application is accessible through a mobile device and capable of communicating with the charging station. The server is capable of communicating with the charging station and the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: HEVO Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Ryan McCool, Steven Clark Monks
  • Patent number: 9753089
    Abstract: A battery cell monitoring system includes multiple battery monitoring circuits, each connected to a corresponding battery cell, and a microcomputer for controlling the monitoring circuits. The battery monitoring circuits include a data output circuit that outputs a data signal corresponding to the monitoring results for the battery cell monitored thereby and a multiplexer that outputs either the monitoring results received from the data output circuit or monitoring results received from another battery monitoring circuit. The battery cell monitoring circuit includes a flip-flop circuit receiving a clock signal and the signal output from the multiplexer which is latched in synchronization with the clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Atsuhisa Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9748785
    Abstract: A storage status adjusting circuit includes a first switching unit configured to switch between energy accumulation in a first coil and energy release from the first coil to any one of electric storage devices in a first assembled electric storage device having a plurality of the electric storage devices, a second switching unit configured to switch between energy accumulation in a second coil and energy release from the second coil to any one of the electric storage devices in a second assembled electric storage device having a plurality of the electric storage devices, and a changing unit configured to change a potential difference between both ends of the first coil and a potential difference between both ends of the second coil based on storage statuses of the first assembled electric storage device and the second assembled electric storage device, when energy is accumulated in the first coil and the second coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Masami Takai
  • Patent number: 9731612
    Abstract: The energy conversion system comprises a primary and a secondary modules. The primary module includes input terminals, a primary winding, and a primary capacitor connected to the primary winding and the input terminals. The secondary module includes output terminals, a secondary winding and a secondary capacitor connected to the secondary winding and the output terminals. A current is induced in the secondary winding when the primary and secondary windings are magnetically coupled, the current received between the input terminals flowing through the primary winding. The secondary module comprises a secondary switch electrically connected to the secondary capacitor and the secondary winding, and means for controlling the secondary switch, between a first configuration wherein the current induced in the secondary winding flows up to the output terminals, and a second configuration wherein said induced current flows in a closed loop through the secondary winding and the secondary capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Yann Herriot, Dimitrios Ladas, Lionel Dorbais