Patents Examined by Jerry D Robbins
  • Patent number: 10749435
    Abstract: A DC/DC converter system includes a bidirectional DC/DC converter converting between voltage levels at first and second ports and a control system for controlling the DC/DC converter. The bidirectional DC/DC converter includes a first conversion stage connected to the first port and a second conversion stage interfaced with the first conversion stage and connected to the second port. The control system includes outer and inner control loops. The outer control loop compares a command for one of a voltage level, a current level or power at one of the first and second ports to an actual value of voltage level, current level or power level and outputs an interface current command based on the comparison. The inner control loop compares the interface current command to an actual interface current at an interface of the first and second conversion stages, and controls a switching signal duty value based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: DYNAPOWER COMPANY LLC
    Inventors: Apurva Somani, Xiaorong Xia, Anup Thapa, Gysler Castelino
  • Patent number: 10727551
    Abstract: A liquid temperature controlling system is used to circulate a temperature controlled liquid between the liquid temperature controlling system and a battery to produce a temperature controlled battery. The battery and the liquid temperature controlling system are detachably coupled at least while the temperature controlled liquid is circulated. The temperature controlled liquid is removed from the temperature controlled battery. The battery and the liquid temperature controlling system are decoupled after the temperature controlled liquid is removed. A charger is used to charge the temperature controlled battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: WISK AERO LLC
    Inventors: Thomas P. Muniz, John Melack
  • Patent number: 10714951
    Abstract: Embodiments describe a wireless charging device including: a housing having a charging surface and first and second walls that define an interior cavity; a transmitter coil arrangement disposed within the interior cavity, an interconnection structure positioned within the interior cavity below the transmitter coil arrangement, the interconnection structure including a plurality of packaged electrical components mounted on the interconnection structure and configured to operate the plurality of transmitter coils during wireless power transfer, where the plurality of packaged electrical components is located below the transmitter coil arrangement; and a frame comprising a plurality of openings positioned corresponding to the plurality of packaged electrical components, each opening providing space within which a respective packaged electrical device is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Graham, Demetrios B. Karanikos, Darshan R. Kasar, Paul J. Thompson, Eric S. Jol, Grant S. Haug, Karl Ruben F. Larsson
  • Patent number: 10714986
    Abstract: A system for intelligent initiation of an inductive charging process. In accordance with an embodiment, the system comprises a receiver coil or receiver associated with a mobile device, and provided as a separable or after-market accessory for use with the mobile device. When the mobile device is placed in proximity to a base unit having one or more charger coils, the charger coil is used to inductively generate a current in the receiver coil or receiver associated with the mobile device, to charge or power the mobile device. The base unit and mobile device communicate with each other prior to and/or during charging or powering to determine a protocol to be used to charge or power the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Mojo Mobility, Inc.
    Inventor: Afshin Partovi
  • Patent number: 10714964
    Abstract: A method of charging a battery of a computing device includes determining an amount of charge remaining in a battery coupled to the computing device. The method further includes, in response to a determination that the amount of charge remaining in the battery has decreased more than a first predetermined percentage since connection to a power source during a first predetermined amount of time, adjusting a power state of at least one power consuming circuit of the computing device other than the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Lee Atkinson
  • Patent number: 10714957
    Abstract: A charge state control system and device for controlling charge sent to a consumer device is disclosed. A software application is provided on a consumer device. A separate hardware device comprises a microprocessor; a transistor relay circuit which is controlled by the microprocessor to open or close a relay; and a connector for connection with the consumer device. The software application is configured to receive an input from a user, determine a battery level of the consumer device and communicate with the hardware device to instruct the microprocessor to open or close the relay depending upon the battery level and the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Inventors: Mazen Obeid, Jeffrey Anthony Rossi, Jason de Sousa
  • Patent number: 10703211
    Abstract: Various techniques described herein relate to battery packs of electric vehicles, batteries, and battery charging systems. Batteries may comprise a plurality of battery modules, wherein each battery module may be provided with one or more battery cells, and the plurality of battery modules may be connected in series when providing electric power output. Battery charging systems described herein may comprise a charging circuit that connects a plurality of battery modules in series, and may be used for charging the plurality of battery modules in the battery in series. Additional charging circuits may be connected respectively to the plurality of battery modules, and the additional charging circuits may be used for charging at least one battery module in the plurality of battery modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Inventor: Chi-Sheng Chuang
  • Patent number: 10707541
    Abstract: Lithium-ion battery charging method for correcting and compensating voltage, when it is charged to limited charge voltage of the battery, the battery stops charging, or start charging by constant-voltage charging and won't stop charging until the charging current is lower than 50%-99.99% of the current before constant-voltage charging; the limited charge voltage of the battery positive and negative electrodes is set as 3U0?US?USO; the battery would be rapidly charged and charged close to saturation, and have better cycle life than the battery charged by constant-current and constant-voltage charging method of the same charging rate; or with the same cycle frequency, the battery charged with the charging method of the present invention would have larger discharge capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU FULLRIVER BATTERY NEW TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shengcheng Tang, Shihua Zeng, Li Li, Shiming Yi
  • Patent number: 10682915
    Abstract: A method is provided for charging an electrical energy store on an electric vehicle at a socket providing a power supply, particularly a single-phase 230 V or 120 V domestic socket. The charging current used to charge the electrical energy store after failure and subsequent restoration of the power supply is automatically reduced over the charging current prior to failure of the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Hofer, Detlef Von Reusner
  • Patent number: 10680274
    Abstract: A clamping device for an electrochemical cell stack is provided. The clamping device can include a first plate and a second plate. The second plate can be positionable relative to the first plate such that a space between the first plate and the second plate can be sized to receive an electrochemical cell stack. The device also can include a coupling member coupling the first plate to the second plate. At least one of the first and second plates can be movable away from the other plate. The coupling member can have a first end portion and a second end portion. The device further can include an elastic member disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Enevate Corporation
    Inventors: Genis Turon Teixidor, Stephen W. Schank, Benjamin Yong Park, Rabih Bachir Zaouk
  • Patent number: 10666065
    Abstract: An approach is provided that determines that power from at least one battery cell in a multi-battery cell configuration is not required to power the device based on a power requirement of the device. The approach then regulates voltages from the battery cells so that first set of the battery cells is shunted (0 v) and a second set of the battery cells is regulated with the voltage being set to one or more voltage levels to satisfy the power requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: John S. Crowe, Gary D. Cudak, Jennifer J. Lee-Baron, Nathan J. Peterson, Amy L. Rose, Bryan L. Young
  • Patent number: 10663526
    Abstract: A battery management terminal is for a secondary battery mounted on a device. The battery management terminal includes a second electronic control unit and an inform unit. The second electronic control unit is configured to, at the time when the secondary battery is replaced, acquire a historical information of an evaluation value of the secondary battery before replacement from the first electronic control unit. The second electronic control unit is configured to determine required characteristics required of a replacement secondary battery on the basis of the historical information of the evaluation value. The inform unit is configured to inform the required characteristics determined by the second electronic control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryo Kanada
  • Patent number: 10661663
    Abstract: A battery system includes a battery module, a thermal management system, and a battery system controller. The controller is configured to receive data indicative of first operational conditions of the battery module and of second operational conditions of the thermal management system, determine a desired change to the first operational conditions of the battery module by determining an amount of power available to the thermal management system and to the battery module from one or more power sources, and to enable, to effect the desired change to the first operational conditions, the one or more power sources to provide a first quantity of power to the thermal management system and a second quantity of power to the battery module, and the thermal management system to heat or to cool the battery module to a calculated extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Zhenli Zhang, Zhihong H. Jin, Perry M. Wyatt
  • Patent number: 10661669
    Abstract: A charging station for an electric vehicle includes a passive alignment mechanism that includes a longitudinal translation stage that allows motion in a longitudinal direction, a charging plug connected to the passive alignment mechanism, and a releasable connector. The releasable connector resists motion of the longitudinal translation stage in a connected position when a magnitude of an external force applied in the longitudinal direction is below a threshold. The releasable connector moves from the connected position to a released position to allow motion of the longitudinal translation stage when the magnitude of the external force applied in the longitudinal direction is above the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew M. Torok, Foster D. Collins, William M. Price
  • Patent number: 10658878
    Abstract: A wireless power transmitting device transmits wireless power signals to a wireless power receiving device. The wireless power receiving device has a rectifier and a wireless power receiving coil that receives wireless power signals. The wireless power transmitting device uses a layer of coils to transmit the wireless power signals. A dielectric layer in the wireless power transmitting device defines a charging surface that receives the wireless power receiving device. A layer of temperature sensors is interposed between the layer of coils and the dielectric layer. Control circuitry in the wireless power transmitting device uses temperature information from the temperature sensors to determine whether a foreign object such as a coin is present on the charging surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: J. Stephen Smith, Behrooz Shahsavari, Jacob E. Mattingley, Joseph C. Doll, Steven P. Hotelling, Siddharth Seth, Douglas J. Adams, Michael A. Cretella
  • Patent number: 10656211
    Abstract: A method of predicting time for charging a battery of an eco-friendly vehicle can include: measuring a temperature and a voltage of the battery using one or more sensors; comparing the measured temperature and voltage with pre-stored data values; identifying a charging step among a plurality of charging steps; calculating a charging current value and a cutoff voltage value according to the identified charging step; and calculating an expected charging time by adding a second time to the expected charging time when a first time is greater than the second time or by adding the first time to the expected charging time when the second time is greater than the first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Dong Gil Ha, Woo Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 10658854
    Abstract: A quick charging method, a power adapter and a mobile terminal are provided. The method is applied to the power adapter, the power adapter is coupled to the mobile terminal through a USB interface, a power line in the USB interface is used by the power adapter to charge the mobile terminal, a data line in the USB interface is used by the power source adapter to conduct a bidirectional communication with the mobile terminal, and the power adapter supports a common charging mode and a quick charging mode, charging current of the quick charging mode is greater than that of the common charging mode. The method includes: conducting a bidirectional communication with the mobile terminal to determine to charge the mobile terminal in the quick charging mode; and adjusting charging current to charging current corresponding to the quick charging mode to charge the mobile terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Jialiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10651664
    Abstract: A battery pack charger system including a case configured to store and transport a plurality of battery packs, and a charging system coupled to an outside of the case. The case may include a housing and a lid. The charging system may include a plate member and a plurality of chargers. The plurality of chargers may be arranged in parallel with respect to each other on the plate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventor: Oleksiy P. Sergyeyenko
  • Patent number: 10637270
    Abstract: A battery charging circuit for charging a battery is provided. The battery charging circuit includes a control module and a charging mode adjusting module. The charging mode adjusting module adjusts a charging mode according to a voltage value or a current value or an internal resistor of the battery. The charging mode adjusting module includes a charging unit and a detecting unit. The charging unit provides a charging current or a charging voltage to charge the battery. The detecting unit is electrically connected to the charging unit to detect the voltage value or the current value or the internal resistor of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chih-Ning Chen
  • Patent number: 10637263
    Abstract: One or more exemplary embodiments comprise an inductive charging system for charging a rechargeable battery for a handheld appliance, said inductive charging system comprising: (a) an inductive charging shell comprising a power transmitter, a printed circuit board (PCB), at least one charging shell magnet, and a power supply cord; and (b) a handheld appliance comprising a handpiece, wherein within said handpiece is disposed a rechargeable battery, at least one handpiece magnet adapted to attract to the at least one charging shell magnet, and at least one power receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: GOBY
    Inventor: Benjamin Goldberg