Patents Examined by Esayas Yeshaw
  • Patent number: 10141844
    Abstract: The present disclosure shows ways to use multiple “integrated voltage regulator (IVR) units” to offer IVRs that can cover a wide range of specifications without having to design separate IVRs for different specifications. Instead of designing separate IVRs and paying for separate mask sets for IVRs targeting different specifications (e.g., different design and mask sets for 1 A IVR, 5 A IVR), the disclosed embodiments present ways to design and fabricate large numbers of the same unit IVRs (e.g., 1 A IVR) and decide how many of them to use post-fabrication to deliver different current specifications (e.g., use five 1 A unit IVRs for 5 A, use ten 1 A unit IVRs for 10 A). These disclosed embodiments reduce the mask cost of fabricating IVRs for different specifications and reduce design time by focusing on a single unit IVR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Lion Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Hanh-Phuc Le, John Crossley, Wonyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 10141744
    Abstract: Systems and methods for regulating a short circuit current associated with an energy storage system are provided. In one embodiment, an energy storage system can include an energy storage device and a switching power supply coupled to the energy storage device. The energy storage system can further include one or more cables configured to couple the energy storage device to the switching power supply, and a magnetic framework positioned proximate the one or more cables. The magnetic framework can include one or more magnetic structures and can span at least a portion of the length of the cables. The one or more cables are positioned in a physical arrangement that, in conjunction with the magnetic framework, facilitates a selected inductance between the cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Gregory Wagoner, Harold Robert Schnetzka, Wayne Allen Schulz, Douglas Austin, Abiyu Negede
  • Patent number: 10141786
    Abstract: In a power receiving device, a module including a power receiving unit, a transformer, a filter circuit and a rectifier circuit includes a coil and a capacitor. An alternating-current power supply unit is configured to be able to supply alternating current to the power receiving device on a side closer to the power receiving unit than a relay. A vehicle electronic control unit is configured to, when alternating current is supplied from the alternating-current power supply unit in a case where the relay is turned off, detect whether there is an abnormality in at least one of the coil or the capacitor on the basis of a detected value of a current sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Kamikihara, Shinji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 10135260
    Abstract: A wireless power transmitter is provided that includes a power conversion unit configured to form a wireless power signal for power transmission, and a power transmission control unit. The power transmission control unit is configured to control the power conversion unit to receive a first packet from a first wireless power receiver and a second packet from a second wireless power receiver in the same time slot, detect a collision between the first packet and the second packet, and control the power conversion unit to receive at least one of the first packet from the first wireless power receiver and the second packet from the second wireless power receiver in at least one time slot if the collision is detected at the same time slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaesung Lee, Yongcheol Park, Jun Lee
  • Patent number: 10131245
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle has a battery pack comprising series-connected battery units providing a main voltage. To supply a lower voltage bus equally from all battery units, a plurality of DC/DC converters are powered by respective units and have their outputs in parallel. A central module has an outer loop controller generating a target current to regulate the bus voltage to a predetermined voltage and has an allocator distributing the target current into a plurality of allocated current commands according to respective states of charge of the battery units. A plurality of local controllers each adjusts a current of a respective DC/DC converter. Each local controller receives a respective allocated current command as a respective feedforward control variable. Each local controller uses an error between the bus voltage and the predetermined voltage to be integrated as a respective feedback control variable only when the error is above a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Hand, III, Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Patent number: 10135250
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for balancing electrical generation and electrical demand in an electrical power system. In various embodiments, a controller may receive priority designations associated with a plurality of loads and inertia of a plurality of electrical generators. A trigger event analysis subsystem may detect a trigger event based on electrical conditions at a plurality of nodes within the electrical power system. A topology detection subsystem may identify a first subset of the plurality of nodes at which electrical conditions reflect the first trigger event and may associate those nodes in an electrical island. An electrical balancing system and control system may be configured to determine and eliminate an imbalance between electrical generation and electrical demand based on the combined inertia of the subset of the plurality of electrical generators and the plurality of priority designations associated with the subset of the plurality of loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott M. Manson
  • Patent number: 10122217
    Abstract: Systems and methods for in-band communication across a wireless power interface from a load device to a source device. The load device selectively modifies the timing of switches within a voltage rectifier coupled to an output of a receive coil within the load device that receives power from a transmit coil within the source device. The source device detects changes in the power transfer (or in the relative timing of a voltage or a current) as digital information received from the load device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Hrinya, Parin Patel
  • Patent number: 10122415
    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. The transmitter can locate the at least one receiver in a three-dimensional space using a communication medium (e.g., Bluetooth technology). The transmitter generates a waveform to create a pocket of energy around each of the at least one receiver. The transmitter uses an algorithm to direct, focus, and control the waveform in three dimensions. The receiver can convert the transmission signals (e.g., RF signals) into electricity for powering an electronic device. Accordingly, the embodiments for wireless power transmission can allow powering and charging a plurality of electrical devices without wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Energous Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas Bell, Michael A. Leabman
  • Patent number: 10110075
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relates to providing devices, a system and method for controlling wireless power transfer across an inductive power coupling. The system, particularly, relates to enabling selection of a wireless power outlet of a multi-outlet power transmission surface closest to the location of a power receiver connected to an electric load and placed upon the surface. Accordingly, the multi-outlet power transmission surface comprising two sub-systems, a power transmission system and a signal transfer system, each operable independently and continuously. Further, the signal transfer system controls the activation of wireless power, configured to analyze the signal-quality of each detected communication signal received from a power receiver and thereby to identify the wireless power outlet closest to the location of the power receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: POWERMAT TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Ian Podkamien, Amir Salhuv
  • Patent number: 10110047
    Abstract: A wireless charging transmission device, including a wireless charging transmission circuit module (1.0), a high-frequency alternating-current power transmission line (1.1) and a transmission coil module (1.2), wherein the wireless charging transmission circuit module (1.0) is installed in an energy conversion part shell (1.4), the transmission coil module (1.2) is installed in an energy transmission part shell (1.5), and the wireless charging transmission circuit module (1.0) is electrically connected to the transmission coil module (1.2) via the high-frequency alternating-current power transmission line (1.1), so that the energy of the wireless charging transmission circuit module (1.0) is transmitted to the transmission coil module (1.2) at a very high frequency. The wireless charging transmission device can reduce the heat amount in a wireless charging region and nearby regions significantly and make a wireless charger small in size and extremely thin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Inventors: Yitao Xing, Shouguan Chen
  • Patent number: 10110058
    Abstract: A power conversion device and a method for preventing abnormal shutdown thereof are provided. The method includes: providing a power conversion device including a main power supply and a standby power supply electrically connected to the main power supply. The standby power supply is configured to provide an operational voltage for microcontrollers of the main power supply; performing a monitoring procedure for monitoring the operational voltage when the power conversion device entering a non-standby mode and the standby power supply is inactivated; and forcing the standby power supply to activate before the operational voltage is lower than a preset compensation voltage, such that an abnormal shutdown condition of the power conversion device while the operational power is equal to or lower than the preset compensating voltage is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: CHICONY POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ti-Te Chen, Chao-Yi Huang, Kuo-Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 10097001
    Abstract: Disclosed is a power control system for a plurality of energy storage devices, including: a first converter configured to perform a voltage conversion, the first converter having one end connected to a first power system and another end connected to a direct current (DC) linker; a second converter configured to perform a voltage conversion, the second converter having one end connected to a second power system and another end connected to the DC linker; a first energy storage device configured to store electric energy; a direct current-to-direct current (DC-DC) converter configured to perform a voltage conversion, the DC-DC converter having one end connected to the first energy storage device and another end connected to the DC linker; a second energy storage device connected to the DC linker and configured to store electric energy, and a control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Yonsei University
    Inventors: Kyeon Hur, Jaewoong Shim
  • Patent number: 10084319
    Abstract: A method of controlling power transfer in a power system including a main bus, having a first and second bus sections, the first bus section connectable to the second bus section, first and second power generating units connectable to the first and second bus sections, a first and second drive systems connectable to the first and second bus sections, a central energy storage system, and a control system. The first and second drive systems include first and second bi-directional power converters connectable to the central energy storage system, and wherein the control system is arranged to control the first bi-directional power converter to transfer power from the first drive system to the central energy storage system, and to control the second bi-directional power converter to transfer power from the central energy storage system to the second drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: John Olav Lindtjørn, Frank Wendt
  • Patent number: 10084311
    Abstract: A voltage generator includes a first voltage generation unit and a second voltage generation unit suitable for generating a second power supply voltage using a first power supply voltage, and being selectively driven, and a control signal generation unit suitable for activating the first voltage generation unit until the second power supply voltage reaches a specific level and activating the second voltage generation unit after the second power supply voltage reaches the specific level. The first voltage generation unit has less driving ability than the second voltage generation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Young-Sub Yuk
  • Patent number: 10079485
    Abstract: A power generation system is provided. The system includes a prime mover for transforming a first energy to a second energy. The system also includes an induction generator operatively coupled to the prime mover and configured to generate electrical power using the second energy. The system further includes an inverter electrically coupled to the induction generator for controlling a terminal voltage of the induction generator during a grid-loss condition. The system also includes a power dissipating device operatively coupled to the inverter for dissipating power generated by the induction generator during the grid-loss condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Amol Rajaram Kolwalkar, Arvind Kumar Tiwari, Rajendra Naik, Sanjay Vijayaraghavan
  • Patent number: 10079509
    Abstract: A wireless transmitter wirelessly charges/powers a wireless receiver. The transmitter performs an analog ping to tentatively detect a device. During an energizing phase of the analog ping, the transmitter applies power pulses to a resonant circuit within the transmitter, where, after application of the power pulses, the resonant circuit enters a free-resonance state of a resonating phase of the analog ping that follows the energizing phase. During the resonating phase, while the resonant circuit is in the free-resonance state, the transmitter samples voltage within the resonant circuit to generate one or more voltage-level samples. The transmitter processes the voltage-level samples to tentatively detect the device. If a device is tentatively detected then the transmitter performs a digital ping to definitively determine whether the device is present. If definitively detected then the transmitter wirelessly charges/powers the wireless receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Dechang Wang, Changhao Shi, Li Wang
  • Patent number: 10065514
    Abstract: A power transfer system includes a power reception coil arranged on a bottom surface of a vehicle, a plurality of members arranged along the bottom surface, a plurality of temperature detectors arranged around the power reception coil, and a controller that causes the power to be transmitted from a power transmission coil to decrease when a detection temperature of any of the plurality of temperature detectors is equal to or higher than a prescribed threshold, the prescribed value being set lower for a temperature detector of the plurality of temperature detectors provided closer to a member having a lower heat resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroaki Yuasa
  • Patent number: 10065508
    Abstract: System (17) for managing a supply voltage (B+A) of an onboard electrical network of a motor vehicle comprises a device (2, 4, 9, 16) for regulating the supply voltage and a device (10, 11) for protecting the onboard electrical network against overvoltages, the two devices together controlling an excitation of an alternator supplying the onboard electrical network. According to the invention, the protection device is separate from the regulating device. An overvoltage signal (OVD) generated by the protection device (11) and controlling the excitation has priority over an excitation signal (EXC) generated by the regulating device. The regulating device and the protection device can be in the form of two separate electronic blocks on separate substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Pierre Tisserand, Pierre Chassard, Laurent De Lamarre, Thibault Arrou
  • Patent number: 10069309
    Abstract: A power supply system comprises a first power supply including a first converter for providing a first output voltage and a first micro-controller coupled to a first switch. The first switch is coupled to a common share bus. A second power supply includes a second converter for providing a second output voltage and a second micro-controller coupled to a second switch. The second switch is also coupled to the common share bus. The first micro-controller is configured to receive a first control signal designating the first power supply to be either a master power supply or a slave power supply and the second micro-controller is configured to receive a second control signal designating the second power supply to be either the master power supply or the slave power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark A. Muccini, Lei Wang
  • Patent number: 10063061
    Abstract: A method for feeding electric power into an electric supply network by means of a wind park comprising several wind turbines. The method comprises the steps of feeding the electric power at a network connection point, recording at least one network state parameter at the network connection point by means of a park control unit, checking the supply network for the presence of a transient process and sending, and/or sending at an increased clock rate, the values measured by the park control unit and/or the control values determined by the park control unit to the wind turbines, once the presence of a transient process has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Bartsch