Patents Examined by Johali Torres Ruiz
  • Patent number: 11979046
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a vehicle main body having an end surface and a compartment; a first electrical component which is arranged within the compartment, and to which a voltage that is more than or equal to a predetermined value is applied during traveling; and a second electrical component which is arranged within the compartment, and to which a voltage that is less than the predetermined value is applied during traveling or no voltage is applied during traveling. A first main body portion of the first electrical component and a second main body portion of the second electrical component are arranged such that a first end surface is located closer to a vehicle center than a second end surface in a vehicle front-back direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji Murasato
  • Patent number: 11936223
    Abstract: A battery polarity determination circuit includes a battery accommodating unit including a first contact and a second contact to be in contact with respective electrode terminals of a battery, a control device that is connected via a resistor to a voltage lead-out point at which a voltage of the battery is led out and determines a polarity of the battery, a connection switching circuit capable of switching between a first connection state and a second connection state, and a diode having a cathode to be connected to a voltage read-in point at which the resistor and the control device are connected to each other, and an anode to be grounded, wherein the control device determines the polarity of the battery based on a voltage at the voltage read-in point according to the connection state of the connection switching circuit, and a forward voltage of the diode is set so that the voltage at the voltage read-in point is not less than a lower limit value of an absolute maximum rating of the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: FDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Kitamura, Yasunari Mizoguchi, Takashi Kanou
  • Patent number: 11926229
    Abstract: If sensed a connector as being connected to an inlet, an ECU performs pre-charging of a capacitor. When pre-charging of the capacitor is completed, the ECU closes a relay, and controls a U-phase boost chopper circuit to boost a voltage of the capacitor. The ECU closes relays if the voltage is boosted to a second target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshihiko Minamii
  • Patent number: 11926233
    Abstract: A vehicle control device configured to control supply of electric power generated by a solar panel mounted on a vehicle includes a supply destination setting unit configured to set, based on a condition of the vehicle, a target device that is a destination for the supply of the electric power generated by the solar panel, a target setting unit configured to set, depending on the target device set by the supply destination setting unit, target output electric power to be output from the solar panel to the target device, and a power controller configured to control the electric power to be supplied from the solar panel to the target device based on the target output electric power set by the target setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuma Miyamoto, Masahiro Takahashi, Akinori Kawamura, Taisuke Hayashi, Takashi Fukai, Kohki Ohkoshi
  • Patent number: 11909242
    Abstract: The invention discloses a high-voltage driver switch system and switching method. The system includes a main control chip module and an energy storage capacitor connected with a battery pack, a drive circuit module, a pre-charge circuit and a charge circuit for charging the energy storage capacitor. The pre-charge circuit is connected with the main control chip module and has a current limit resistor, so as to pre-charge the energy storage capacitor under the control of the main control chip module. The charge circuit is connected with the main control chip module and has an electronic switch module which includes two ends connected respectively with the battery pack and the energy storage capacitor, the battery pack charges the energy storage capacitor when switched-on. The invention reduces the instantaneous start-up current and avoids a high current impact caused by charging the energy storage capacitor by the battery pack directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Globe (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Zefeng Wei, Biao Li
  • Patent number: 11904708
    Abstract: This application is directed to an apparatus for providing electrical charge to a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a driven mass, a generator, a charger, a hardware controller, and a communication circuit. The driven mass rotates in response to a kinetic energy of the vehicle and is coupled to a shaft such that rotation of the driven mass causes the shaft to rotate. The driven mass exists in one of (1) an extended position and (2) a retracted position. The generator generates an electrical output based on a mechanical input coupled to the shaft such that rotation of the shaft causes the mechanical input to rotate. The charger is electrically coupled to the generator and: receives the electrical output, generates a charge output based on the electrical output, and conveys the charge output to the vehicle. The controller controls whether the driven mass is in the extended position or the retracted position in response to a signal received from the communication circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: Anthony Macaluso
  • Patent number: 11897354
    Abstract: Provided in this disclosure is a standardized provisioning for an electrical vehicle charging station. A center pad is configured to be moved and placed on a horizontal surface at a desired location. A central junction box is formed in the center pad for receiving a power conduit stub-up and a communications conduit stub-up. The power and communications conduit stub-ups extend vertically above the horizontal surface. A plurality of outer junction boxes are formed in the center pad, each configured to provide a power connection and a communication connection to a respective plurality of electrical charging dispensers. A plurality of raceways extend through the center pad from the central junction box to each of the respective outer junction boxes to provide passageways for the power and communications connections between the stub-ups and the plurality of electrical charging dispensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: ULLMAN ELECTRIC & TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Phillip Soroky, Thomas Grabowski, Michael Roach
  • Patent number: 11865940
    Abstract: An adaptive electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) unit provides intelligent control to vary the EVSE load placed upon the local electric connection based upon real time load measurements of both the overall premises load and the specific capacities and requirements of the EVSE. The EVSE unit includes a current power transformer at the main service entry point to capture real time power level at the meter. Additional real time current measurements are available within unit to measure the real time output power on the AC legs going to a vehicle. The unit is configured to a controller module which measure and controls the pilot signal output based on a comparison of the power level at the meter with the power level at the EVSE unit against the desired or required power output to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: POWERTREE SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Stacey Reineccius, John C. Sellers
  • Patent number: 11837411
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to methods and systems for a battery configured to store a first energy in a chemical form of the battery at a battery voltage level; an electrical load configured to draw an electrical current from the battery in response to an energy requirement of the electrical load, wherein the battery voltage level is configured to decrease in response to the electrical current being drawn from the battery by the electrical load; and a capacitor module in electrical communication with the battery and configured to store a second energy as an electric field of the capacitor module at a capacitor voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventor: Anthony Macaluso
  • Patent number: 11824380
    Abstract: A DC charging circuit for an electric vehicle includes a neutral-point clamped (NPC) rectifier and a DC/DC buck converter. The NPC rectifier is configured to convert three-phase AC power to a first DC voltage at a rectifier output stage. The DC/DC buck converter includes a first DC stage coupled to the rectifier output stage, and a second DC stage configured to be coupled to the electric vehicle. The DC/DC buck converter is configured to convert the first DC voltage to a second DC voltage to be supplied to the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Fei Xu, Ahmed Elasser, Silvio Colombi, Kum Kang Huh
  • Patent number: 11787305
    Abstract: Techniques for estimating a vehicle state of charge (“SoC”) are disclosed. A computing device may determine a first instance of connectivity between the computing device and an electric vehicle and determine a first location of the computing device associated with the first instance of connectivity. The computing device may detect completion of a first trip of the electric vehicle, wherein the first trip reflects movement of the electric vehicle from the first location to a second location, and determine a first distance traveled by the electric vehicle during the first trip based on the first location and the second location. The computing device may select the electric vehicle for charging using the determined first instance of connectivity between the computing device and the electric vehicle, estimate a SoC of the selected electric vehicle using the determined first distance, and transmit the estimated SoC to a charging station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Enel X Way S.R.L.
    Inventors: Daniel Feldman, Amanpreet Kaur
  • Patent number: 11777328
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein may generate and transmit power waves that, as result of their physical waveform characteristics (e.g., frequency, amplitude, phase, gain, direction), converge at a predetermined location in a transmission field to generate a pocket of energy. Receivers associated with an electronic device being powered by the wireless charging system, may extract energy from these pockets of energy and then convert that energy into usable electric power for the electronic device associated with a receiver. The pockets of energy may manifest as a three-dimensional field (e.g., transmission field) where energy may be harvested by a receiver positioned within or nearby the pocket of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Energous Corporation
    Inventor: Michael A. Leabman
  • Patent number: 11770018
    Abstract: A method for charging a storage device, such as a capacitor or a supercapacitor, with energy from an energy harvester and using a voltage converter having a coldstart voltage convertor and a main voltage converter is provided. After charging a buffer capacitor with the coldstart voltage converter up to the first voltage V1, the method repetitively performs steps of a) charging the buffer capacitor with the main voltage converter up to a voltage V2>V1, followed by transferring charges from the buffer capacitor to the storage device, b) stopping transferring charges to the storage device when the voltage of the buffer capacitor is below a third voltage value V3, with V1<V3<V2. The steps a) to b) are repeated until the storage device has reached a storage reference voltage value Vst-ref with V1<Vst-ref<V3. A power management integrated circuit for charging a storage device according to the method is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: E-PEAS S.A.
    Inventors: Julien De Vos, Geoffroy Gosset, Cedric Hocquet, Francois Stas
  • Patent number: 11764600
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery assembly has a first battery unit with a first terminal and a second terminal; a second battery unit which is serially connected to the first battery unit and which has a first terminal and a second terminal; and a differential amplifier with an inverting input, a non-inverting input, and an output at which an amplified difference between the signal at the inverting input and the signal at the non-inverting input is produced. The non-inverting input of the differential amplifier is connected to the second terminal of the first battery unit and to the first terminal of the second battery unit. The inverting input of the differential amplifier is coupled to the first terminal of the first battery unit and to the second terminal of the second battery unit. The output of the differential amplifier is connected to the second terminal of the second battery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Steffen Rothe
  • Patent number: 11731524
    Abstract: A system for matching a plurality of electrically powered vehicles to a plurality of available mobile chargers includes a computerized server device programmed to monitor optimization inputs related to the plurality of available mobile chargers, monitor optimization inputs related to the plurality of electrically powered vehicles operated by a plurality of customers, determine a lowest-cost-based ranked listing of matched charger and vehicle pairings for each of the plurality of customers based upon the optimization inputs related to the plurality of available chargers and the optimization inputs related to the plurality of the electrically powered vehicles, present the ranked listing of matched charger and vehicle pairings to each of the customers, monitor selection by each of the plurality of customers of a desired charger for the customer from the ranked listing, and direct each of the plurality of customers to the desired charger for the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alan B. Martin, Matthew C. Kirklin, Charles E. Freese, V, Margarita M. Mann, William H. Pettit
  • Patent number: 11735940
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method for charging silver-zinc rechargeable batteries and an apparatus for practicing the charging method. The recharging apparatus includes recharging management circuitry; and one or more of a silver-zinc cell, a host device or a charging base that includes the recharging management circuitry. The recharging management circuitry provides means for regulating recharging of the silver-zinc cell, diagnostics for evaluating battery function, and safety measures that prevent damage to the apparatus caused by charging batteries composed of materials that are not suited for the charging method (e.g., non-silver-zinc batteries).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: RIOT ENERGY INC.
    Inventors: Reza Pourdarvish, Troy W. Renken, Timothy W. Powers
  • Patent number: 11708000
    Abstract: In an aspect, a system for recharging an electric vehicle. A system includes a recharging component. A recharging component includes a ventilation system. A system includes a sensor configured to detect a plurality of data from the recharging component. A sensor is configured to generate an environment datum as a function of the plurality of data. A system includes a control pilot. A control pilot is in electronic communication with a sensor. A control pilots is configured to receive an environment datum from a sensor. A control pilot is configured to generate a ventilation requirement datum from an environment datum. A control pilot is configured to command a recharging component to perform a ventilation process. A system includes a pilot display. A pilot display is coupled to an electric vehicle. A pilot display is configured to display a ventilation requirement datum to a pilot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventor: Herman Wiegman
  • Patent number: 11641572
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to methods and systems for provisioning mobile electric vehicles with various operational settings data transmitted over the air. A vehicle or its components may operate according to operational settings corresponding to operational settings data included in the vehicle components. A server that is remote to the vehicle may comprise operational settings data and may transmit operational settings data to the vehicle. The server may transmit operational settings data automatically, such as on a periodic basis, in response to a request, such as from a user or from a vehicle component or anytime new or updated operational settings data are available for the vehicle or its components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Inventor: Anthony Macaluso
  • Patent number: 11628736
    Abstract: The solar charging system according to the present embodiment includes a solar panel, a drive battery, an auxiliary system including one or more devices, and a controller that controls where to supply power generated by the solar panel. The controller determines whether the solar panel can generate power, and, upon determining that the solar panel can generate power, supplies the power from the solar panel to the auxiliary system to derive the power generated by the solar panel. Upon detecting a fact that the power generated by the solar panel is equal to or greater than a first power, the controller further supplies the power from the solar panel to the drive battery to charge the drive battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuma Miyamoto, Satoshi Shizuka, Akinori Kawamura, Takashi Fukai, Masahiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11631988
    Abstract: A system comprising a high voltage (HV) bank section using energy storage devices arranged into one or more banks, an inductive device coupling the HV bank to a service voltage (SV) bank section and load through a charging circuit charging the SV bank from a more fully charged bank until the charging bank is depleted, and a switch switching, from the depleted bank to the other bank to charge the SV bank. The charging circuit then charging the depleted bank by a power supply as the other HV bank charges the SV bank. A supervisory controller controls the switch to repeat discharging and charging between the two banks for a defined period. The energy storage devices may be supercapacitors capable of storing energy on the order of 1 to 10 MegaJoules, and the inductive device may be a high-inductance, toroidal multifilar inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Richard H. Sherratt and Susan B. Sherratt Revocable Trust Fund
    Inventor: Brian Elfman