Patents Examined by Jas Sanghera
  • Patent number: 11762029
    Abstract: An insulation resistance detection apparatus includes: a first switch connected to a high potential side of a battery assembly including plural battery cells connected in series; a second switch connected to a low potential side of the battery assembly; a detection resistor; a controller configured to turn on one of the first switch and the second switch and turn off the other of the first switch and the second switch to form a series connection circuit including the battery assembly, an insulation resistor of the battery assembly, and the detection resistor, and calculate insulation resistance based on a voltage applied to the detection resistor, in which the first switch is connected between two battery cells on the high potential side among the plural battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Atsushi Izutani, Yoshihiro Nakao
  • Patent number: 11754633
    Abstract: Determining an energy storage device plan includes determining a benefit gradient associated with charging or discharging of an energy storage. It further includes determining, using an energy storage lifetime model, a cost gradient associated with a degradation of the energy storage due to charging or discharging. It further includes applying a threshold to the benefit gradient and the cost gradient. It further includes facilitating charging or discharging of the energy storage based at least in part on the threshold being met or exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Lunar Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Conrad Xavier Murphy
  • Patent number: 11747303
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a magnetic sensor includes a first sensor part. The first sensor part includes a first magnetic member, a first counter magnetic member, and a first magnetic element. A direction from the first magnetic member to the first counter magnetic member is along a first direction. The first magnetic element includes one or a plurality of first extending portions. A first portion of the first extending portion overlaps the first magnetic member in a second direction crossing the first direction. A first counter portion of the first extending portion overlaps the first counter magnetic member in the second direction. A first direction length along the first direction of the first extending portion is longer than a third direction length along a third direction of the first extending portion. The third direction crosses a plane including the first direction and the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hitoshi Iwasaki, Satoshi Shirotori, Akira Kikitsu, Yoshihiro Higashi
  • Patent number: 11747402
    Abstract: An automotive battery draw monitor for monitoring the parasitic draw on an automotive battery. The invention uses a shunt and a multi-meter to measure the voltage drop between the negative battery terminal and the negative battery cable. The invention is contained within a housing and powered via a power cable that connects the multi-meter to the positive terminal of the battery. The invention is grounded using a ground wire connected to the shunt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventor: Austin N. Watts
  • Patent number: 11742681
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, devices, and methods for analyzing health of vehicle batteries. Vehicle batteries tend to degrade over time. The described systems, devices, and methods quantify this degradation (or quantify remaining health of the battery) by comparing average energy used to charge or discharge the battery by a charge level unit to a nominal quantity of energy used to charge or discharge a battery in optimal health by a charge level unit. Charge data for previous charge events of the vehicle battery can be used in the calculation, and can be filtered by identifying qualified charge events based on at least one of a number of metrics. Usage data for previous usage events of the vehicle battery can be used in the calculation, and can be filtered by identifying qualified usage events or subgroups of usage event based on at least one of a number of metrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Geotab Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Prem Mehta
  • Patent number: 11726114
    Abstract: A current sensor element includes a resistance section, a first electrically conductive connection section connected to a first end of the resistance section and having a first voltage measurement contact, and a second electrically conductive connection section connected to a second end of the resistance section and having a second voltage measurement contact and a third voltage measurement contact. The first electrically conductive connection section and the second electrically conductive connection section are connectable to feed a current to be measured through the resistance section. The first voltage measurement contact, the second voltage measurement contact, and the third voltage measurement contact are arranged in a way that a first resistance between the first voltage measurement contact and the second voltage measurement contact is smaller than a second resistance between the first voltage measurement contact and the third voltage measurement contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Jens Gruendler
  • Patent number: 11721848
    Abstract: A self-discharge inspection method for a power storage device having a property that while the power storage device is pressed under a first load and charged with a first device voltage, in which a device voltage decreases when a load is reduced from the first load, includes detecting the first device voltage of the power storage device pressed under the first load and charged, continuously applying a power-supply voltage equal to the first device voltage from an external power supply, detecting a power-supply current flowing to the power storage device, determining a self-discharge state of the power storage device based on the detected power-supply current, and reducing the load applied to the power storage device from the first load by a load reduction amount before the power-supply current stabilizes after start of the voltage continuously applying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: PRIME PLANET ENERGY & SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Toshinori Okura, Ruri Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11714134
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for predicting a state of a battery are provided. The apparatus includes a data measuring unit that measures information about the battery and outputs first data, a data producing unit that reflects a change in available capacity of the battery based on at least a portion of the first data to calculate a corrected state of charge and processes the first data based on the corrected state of charge to generate second data, and outputs the second data, and a battery state estimating unit that estimates state information of the battery based on the second data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Sungwoo Jo, Tae Moon Roh, Sun Kyu Jung
  • Patent number: 11714135
    Abstract: A method for determining the capacity of at least one lithium-ion cell, in particular of at least one high-voltage battery, during open circuit voltage aging, uses at least one distinct point in a voltage curve and/or in at least one open circuit voltage of the Li-ion cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dorothea Kalin, Christian Röttinger
  • Patent number: 11714137
    Abstract: An electronic device includes: a first processor; a load that operates with power supplied by a rechargeable battery; and a first sensor that obtains information on an output voltage of the rechargeable battery. The first processor determines whether the rechargeable battery is in a low usage state with regard to power supply by the rechargeable battery. Based on the information obtained by the first sensor, the first processor determines a degree of decrease in the output voltage over a period of time during which the rechargeable battery is determined to be in the low usage state. Based on the determined degree of decrease, the first processor detects a deterioration of the rechargeable battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Tsuyoshi Minami
  • Patent number: 11693057
    Abstract: A testing device and method may be implemented for improved detection of leaks in batteries used in portable electronic devices. The leak testing device may use two high voltage electrodes to detect ionized air leaks. The first high voltage electrode may be configured as a test voltage, and the second high voltage electrode may be configured as a reference voltage. The first high voltage electrode and the second high voltage electrode may be configured as current limitation resistors. The leak testing device may include a processor that measures the first high voltage electrode and the second high voltage electrode. The leak testing device may include a display that is configured to display a difference between readings of the first high voltage electrode and the second high voltage electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: ATEQ Corporation
    Inventors: Jean Luc Regef, Guy D. Dewailly
  • Patent number: 11693143
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for detecting objects behind an opaque surface. An exemplary device for detecting objects behind an opaque surface, comprising a housing configured to hold a plurality of components of the device; one or more sensors, coupled to the housing, configured to collect sensor data of an object behind the opaque surface, where the one or more sensors include one or more capacitive sensors attached to an exterior surface of the housing; a controller, residing inside the housing, configured to process the sensor data collected by the one or more sensors; an at least one printed circuit board, residing inside the housing, configured to hold the controller and the plurality of components of the device; and a display configured to convey information about a detected object to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Zircon Corporation
    Inventor: Chien-Hsu Chen
  • Patent number: 11689039
    Abstract: A method for state-of-charge monitoring of an AC battery, in which the battery includes a central controller having a scheduler, measuring sensors and at least two battery modules. The at least two battery modules each have at least one energy storage element and at least two power semiconductor switches, which connect the respective battery module in series or in parallel or in bypass with another battery module. The battery is controlled by the central controller, and a respective switching state of the at least two battery modules is preset by the scheduler. The state-of-charge monitoring is implemented by a control program within the scheduler. During operation of the battery, a state of each individual energy storage element is monitored by virtue of a respective current flow at a respective energy storage element being determined using continued evaluation of measured values of preset battery parameters which are detected by measuring sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventors: Eduard Specht, Jan Kacetl, Tomas Kacetl, Malte Jaensch, Daniel Simon, Stefan Götz
  • Patent number: 11686777
    Abstract: A power source control system for a vehicle is provided, which includes a traction motor, the system including a first battery that is a bipolar battery and is to be used as a power source for the traction motor; a second battery that is a bipolar battery different from the first battery; a mirror current generator circuit configured to generate a mirror current based on a current flowing through the first battery; a mirror current supply source circuit configured to cause the mirror current to flow through the second battery; and a diagnostic circuit configured to perform degradation diagnosis on the second battery on a basis of at least one of a voltage or a temperature of the second battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Ichiki, Hiroshi Abe, Hiroshi Kusano
  • Patent number: 11686776
    Abstract: A prediction method of battery health includes: obtaining an environment temperature, and a discharge capacity and an operating parameter of a battery; determining an estimated operating parameter in a preset temperature at the discharge capacity according to the environment temperature, the discharge capacity and the operating parameter; determining an estimated capacity of the battery according to the estimated operating parameter; and determining a health level of the battery according to the estimated capacity of the battery and a reference capacity, at the discharge capacity of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yaoyi Tseng
  • Patent number: 11681240
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a photoconductor, an exposure device, a developing device, a toner concentration sensor, a supply motor, and a processor. The exposure device exposes the photoconductor based on image data. The developing device forms a toner image on the photoconductor with toner supplied from a toner cartridge. The toner concentration sensor detects a toner concentration in the developing device. The supply motor supplies the toner from the toner cartridge to the developing device based on the toner concentration. The processor detects a toner container supply abnormality based on a toner supply rate and a print rate of the image data, the toner supply rate being calculated based on a pixel count value that is an integrated value of pixel values of the image data and a supply motor count value that is an integrated value of drive times of the supply motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hisanobu Ajima
  • Patent number: 11680990
    Abstract: A system and method of estimating the state of health of an all-solid-state battery are provided to detect the amount of hydrogen sulfide that is generated in all-solid-state battery cells and using the amount as a factor for estimating the state of health of the battery. The method of estimating a state of health (SOH) of an all-solid-state battery includes detecting whether hydrogen sulfide is generated in each cell of the all-solid-state battery, and estimating the state of health of the all-solid-state battery corresponding to an amount or an increase rate of generated hydrogen sulfide based on data prepared in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Yong Sub Yoon, Hajime Tsuchiya, Yuki Sasaki, Hironari Takase
  • Patent number: 11680993
    Abstract: A current monitor for a transmission line having powered active components is provided. A current monitor includes: a housing configured to be coupled to a transmission line, an inductive current sensor in the housing configured to measure a value of the current on the transmission line to generate a sensor signal, a power source, and a sensor signal conversion circuit in the housing configured to receive power from the power source and to generate a current output signal based on the sensor signal, the current output signal having a natively useful form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: LINDSEY MANUFACTURING CO.
    Inventors: Keith E. Lindsey, John McCall, An-Chyun Wang
  • Patent number: 11675017
    Abstract: A method for determining an internal-resistance based state-of-health of a battery in a device includes determining the internal-resistance based state-of-health of the battery using a hybrid state-of-health model including a physical ageing model and a correction model by (i) determining, based on an electrochemical battery model, a physical state-of-health according to one or more operating parameters of the battery using the physical ageing model, (ii) mapping operating features derived from the one or more operating parameters onto a correction parameter using the correction model that includes a data-based configuration, and (iii) applying the correction parameter to the physical state of health to determine the internal-resistance based state-of-health. The method further includes determining a modeled battery voltage, and determining a characteristic of the modeled battery voltage using an adaptation model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Kroener, Christian Simonis, Tobias Huelsing
  • Patent number: 11675018
    Abstract: A portable battery detection device includes a battery data receiving module for receiving battery data, a temperature measurement module for measuring battery temperature, a gas measurement module for measuring discharged gas, an insulation resistance measurement module for measuring insulation resistance, a serial impedance measurement module for measuring serial impedance, a data acquisition module for receiving various data sent by the temperature measurement module and the gas measurement module, an electric meter module for measuring DC voltage, current, and impedance, the data integration module for receiving data transmitted by the battery data receiving module, the electric meter module, and the insulation resistance measurement module, and then integrating the data to the processor module, and the processor module for using data received from the data integration module, the data acquisition module, and the serial impedance measurement module to transmit data, control, and manage the operation of th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHUNG SHAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Dao-Qin Lin, Wei-Min Hsiao, Shih-Chang Tseng, Chih-Hsien Chung, Gwo-Huei You, Kuo-Kuang Jen