Patents Examined by Jerry D Robbins
  • Patent number: 10396417
    Abstract: A battery arrangement for a gas turbine engine, the battery arrangement comprising: a wall of the gas turbine engine; a thermal battery coupled to the wall and arranged to receive thermal energy from gas of the gas turbine engine; and charging circuitry configured to supply electrical energy to the thermal battery to recharge the thermal battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew Bollman
  • Patent number: 10389158
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (100) for charging an electrical energy store (B) from a three-phase AC voltage source (U1, U2, U3), said device having: —a converter device (20) electrically connected to the AC voltage source (U1, U2, U3) and with three half-bridges (H1, H2, H3), each having two series-connected switches (S1, S2; S3, S4; S5, S6), wherein an inductor (L1, L2, L3) is connected electrically between a respective node point of two switches (S1 . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Bertram Schillinger
  • Patent number: 10377255
    Abstract: According to some implementations, an apparatus for transmitting charging power wirelessly to a load is provided. The apparatus comprises at least one ferrite structure comprising a first ferrite portion, a second ferrite portion comprising at least a first ferrite leg, a second ferrite leg, and a third ferrite leg, each physically separated from the first ferrite portion by a first distance, and a third ferrite portion positioned between the second ferrite leg and the first ferrite portion and physically contacting the second ferrite leg. The at least one ferrite structure further comprises a coil wound around the second ferrite leg and configured to generate an alternating current under influence of an alternating magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Mickel Bipin Budhia, Chang-Yu Huang, Nicholas Athol Keeling, Michael Le Gallais Kissin, Jonathan Beaver
  • Patent number: 10377257
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted charging device (12) includes a vehicle-mounted battery (18), a vehicle-mounted electronic control unit (30) and a modem startup control unit. The vehicle-mounted battery is charged with power supplied from external charging equipment via a charging cable (16). The vehicle-mounted electronic control unit is configured to perform charging communication, relating to charging of the vehicle-mounted battery, with the external charging equipment using an in-band modem (32). The modem startup control unit starts up the in-band modem when the vehicle-mounted electronic control unit performs the charging communication, and that stops a startup of the in-band modem when the vehicle-mounted electronic control unit does not perform the charging communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroya Ando, Ryuichi Kamaga, Nobuyuki Nakagawa, Yuta Ochiai, Yukihiro Miyashita, Takeshi Hagihara, Yoshikazu Isoyama
  • Patent number: 10377265
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for smart electric vehicle charging and a mediator device for the same. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a signal, at a first connector, indicative of a charging capacity of a charging station, from the charging station, and providing a signal indicative of a second charging capacity at a second connector to an electrical vehicle, wherein the second charging capacity is determined based on optimization data received from an optimization service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Matthew D. Wytock, Kurt Adelberger, Wolf-Dietrich Weber, Olga Irzak
  • Patent number: 10377264
    Abstract: A vehicle conductive charge port is configured to conductively transfer charging current from an external source to the vehicle for charging a traction battery of the vehicle. A cooling system is configured to cool the charge port depending on a temperature of the charge port. The cooling system may use coolant and/or air to cool the charge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Juan Lopez, Nondo G. Basoukeas
  • Patent number: 10295608
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for determining whether a battery or battery system has encountered a thermal failure and/or end of service life condition. The battery monitoring system is configured to generate a plurality of alarms based on the occurrence of a number of conditions in the battery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Phoenix Broadband Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph D Rocci, Michael Louis Quelly, Walter Michael Wilczewski
  • Patent number: 10286795
    Abstract: A charging device for an electric vehicle includes a wireless power receiving device which receives high-frequency AC power in a non-contact state, a wired power receiving device connected to an external power source for low-frequency AC power, a rectifier which rectifies AC power, an electric power converter which is positioned at a rear part of the rectifier, and an power receiving device switching switch which switches electric power in such a way that any of electric power of both electric power receiving devices is outputted to the rectifier. A high-frequency filter, which removes a high-frequency component, is provided between the rectifier and the electric power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sadayuki Matsumoto, Takuya Yabumoto, Takayoshi Nagai, Yoshitaka Onishi
  • Patent number: 10274980
    Abstract: A power supply includes power circuitry configured to provide DC power to a separate load, and wireless communication circuitry for wirelessly communicating with an external control device such as a smart phone. A controller is configured to (1) conduct communications with the external control device via the wireless communication circuitry to receive configuration parameters, and (2) incorporate the configuration parameters into a control scheme for operation of the power supply. The power supply may be used with an LED lamp including a series of LEDs, and the configuration parameters establish desired operating characteristics including selection of constant-current or constant-voltage operation, and/or parameters for a dimming curve applied in dimming operation of the LED lamp. The power supply may be used in other applications including battery charging applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Bel Fuse (Macao Commercial Offshore) Limited
    Inventor: Mark Jutras
  • Patent number: 10236554
    Abstract: A trickle-charged RFID device includes a main antenna receiving wireless interrogator signals from one or more RFID readers, a power harvester connected with the main antenna to obtain power from the wireless interrogator signals, and an intermediate storage device connected to the power harvester to collect trickle flows of unused power harvested from wireless interrogator signals received by the RFID device that lack an inquiry for the device. The RFID device further includes a primary storage device, into which the intermediate storage device discharges its collection of trickle flows of unused power when the collection reaches a predetermined threshold level, which recharges power lost from the main storage device. The intermediate storage device can include one or more capacitors including super-capacitors, and the main storage device can include a rechargeable battery, such that the effective life of the main storage device is extended from the collected trickle flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: INTERMEC, INC.
    Inventors: H. Sprague Ackley, Pavel Nikitin
  • Patent number: 10230252
    Abstract: A method and system for charging a battery is provided. A group charging policy specifying a conditional charging behavior for charging a battery of a computing device is stored in a memory of the computing device. The computing device is coupled to a power source. Battery status data is received, via a communications interface of the device, for each of at least one other computing device coupled to the power source. A power draw rate for charging the battery of the computing device is throttled according to the group charging policy and the battery status data of the computing device and the at least one other computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gad Noor, Michael A Ramputi, Jonathan Stok, Doron Yogev, Yoseff Mordechi Zlotnick, Michael Robustelli
  • Patent number: 10209319
    Abstract: A battery system includes a chargeable and dischargeable secondary battery and a controller that estimates the deterioration state or the charge state of the secondary battery. When estimating the deterioration state or the charge state, the controller uses an average ion concentration between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The average ion concentration varies depending on an electric current flowing through the secondary battery. The average ion concentration between the electrodes can be calculated with a computing expression that includes a surface pressure of the secondary battery as a variable. The surface pressure of the secondary battery can be detected by a pressure sensor. The surface pressure of the secondary battery can also be estimated from an electric current flowing through the secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kaiya, Kenji Takahashi, Yuji Nishi, Hiroki Tashiro
  • Patent number: 10181736
    Abstract: A method for operating a circuit for charging and discharging a capacitive actuator. The circuit has a series circuit of first and second power transistors with respective parallel-connected diodes connected between the potentials of a supply voltage source. The node between the power transistors is connected via a coil to the capacitive actuator. For charging the actuator, the first power transistor, which connects the capacitive actuator to the positive potential, is periodically turned on during a prescribed time and turned off when a first prescribed threshold value is reached by the current through the actuator, until a lower threshold value is reached by the current. If the actuator current no longer reaches the first prescribed threshold value then the first power transistor is turned off after a time that corresponds to the maximum value reached by the actuator current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Haggenmiller, Raul Lucian Alimareanu Torok, Emilian Gheorghe Lukic
  • Patent number: 10164452
    Abstract: The battery pack including a battery group in which a plurality of secondary batteries are connected in series; a detector that detects a charging and discharging current value flowing in the battery group and a voltage value of the battery group in a time-division manner by switching between the current value and the voltage value using an electronic circuit; and a controller/operator that performs operation and control using the current value and the voltage value detected by the detector. In the battery pack, the detector detects current values before and after the voltage value of the battery group is detected, and the controller/operator determines that the voltage value of the battery group is influenced by the peak discharge power when at least one of the current values exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hisanori Amasaki, Naoto Matsuda, Hisashi Kameyama
  • Patent number: 10162401
    Abstract: Approaches and related devices monitor the condition of a battery via voltage measurement during routine recharging instances. An approach includes supplying a charging current to the battery during each of a plurality of routine charging instances. The charging current is increased by a measured or predetermined amount during a current pulse portion of each of the routine charging instances. A resulting change in a battery voltage of the battery during the current pulse portion of each of the routine charging instances is measured. An impedance-indicative value of the battery is determined for each of the routine charging instances based on the change in the battery voltage during the current pulse portion. The impedance-indicative value is stored in a memory device for each of the routine charging instances. A condition of the battery is estimated based on one or more changes in the impedance-indicative values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wieslaw Brys, Eric Bernard Jones, Richard Alan Goloski, Kevin John Trenholme
  • Patent number: 10158280
    Abstract: A charging-voltage generating unit generates voltage which charges a charge storage element from one input signal. An output-voltage generating unit generates voltage referenced to a signal output reference terminal and output at a signal output terminal from another input signal. A charging-voltage output terminal and first terminals of a first switching element and the charge storage element are connected at a first point. A charging-voltage output reference terminal is connected with a second terminal of the first switching element at a second point. An output-voltage output terminal, a first terminal of a second switching element, and the signal output terminal are connected at a third point. The output-voltage output reference terminal, a signal output reference terminal, and second terminals of the second switching element and the charge storage element are connected at a fourth point. The second and third points are interconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuichi Nagai
  • Patent number: 10143235
    Abstract: A portable, personal storage and carrying case for an e-liquid e-cigarette PV in which the case is adapted to lock the PV securely in a charging position; and when the PV is locked in the charging position, then electrical charging contacts on the PV are in direct or indirect engagement with electrical charging contacts in the case that are connected to a power source, such as a rechargeable battery, in the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: BEYOND TWENTY LTD.
    Inventors: Kaveh Memari, Adrian Bennett, Ian Murison, Stephen Marsh
  • Patent number: 10130228
    Abstract: Provided are a wirelessly charged robot cleaner in a robot cleaning system and a controlling method thereof. The wirelessly charged robot may include a target resonator to receive a resonance power through energy-coupling with a source resonator of a wireless power transmitter, a wireless power receiving unit to convert the received resonance power into a rated voltage, and a battery controller to check a remaining capacity of the battery based on a scope of a predetermined area to be cleaned, and to charge, using the rated voltage, the battery based on the remaining capacity of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nam Yun Kim, Eun Seok Park, Sang Wook Kwon, Young Tack Hong, Young Ho Ryu
  • Patent number: 10131235
    Abstract: A method operates a charging connection device for electric vehicles, the charging connection device including a housing inside which at least one temperature sensor constantly senses at least one temperature value. As an essential feature, the maximum permissible charging current is reduced to a specific value greater than zero if a first threshold temperature of a first temperature value is exceeded and the charging process is interrupted if the first threshold temperature has been continuously exceeded by the end of a first interval or when the at least one temperature value exceeds a second threshold temperature of the at least one temperature value. The proposed method of operating a charging connection device for electric vehicles provides for greater availability, better fault tolerance of the charging connection device while ensuring lower production costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: KEBA AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Weidinger
  • Patent number: 10135274
    Abstract: A charging circuit for charging a battery of an electronic device includes a first switch having one side connected to an interface into which external power is input, a second switch having one side connected to the other side of the first switch, a third switch having one side connected to the other side of the second switch, a fourth switch having one side connected to the other side of the third switch, a flying capacitor located between the other side of the first switch and the other side of the third switch, an inductor having one side connected to the other side of the second switch, and a control circuit for controlling a charging function of the battery by controlling on/off of the first switch, the second switch, the third switch and the fourth switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kisun Lee