Patents Examined by John T Trischler
  • Patent number: 11231465
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device and method for controlling discharge by calculating a slope of a discharge profile of a battery having a lithium-based cathode material and a silicon-based anode cell material, counting a frequency the slope is equal to or smaller than a preset slope value and adjusting a final discharge voltage in response to the counted frequency being above a predetermined frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Hyuk Song, Suk In Noh, Eun Kyung Kim, Joo Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 11233416
    Abstract: A charging method is provided. The method includes the following. After a mobile terminal recognizes a type of a power adapter, the mobile terminal transmits indication information to the power adapter. The indication information is configured to indicate that the mobile terminal has recognized the type of the power adapter and instruct the power adapter to activate a quick charging process. The power adapter then negotiates with the mobile terminal via the quick charging process to determine charging parameters, and charges a battery of the mobile terminal in a multi-stage constant current mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Chen Tian, Jialiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 11225156
    Abstract: A thermal protection system includes an electrical circuit and a thermal switch. The electrical circuit transmits an electrical signal between a charge source and a charge receiver during a charging process. The thermal switch is placed in-line with the electrical circuit. The thermal switch opens above a threshold temperature to block transmission of the electrical signal. Blocking the transmission of the electrical signal causes the charging process to stop. In further examples, the charge source includes and electric vehicle charging system and the charge receiver includes an electric vehicle. In further examples, the electrical signal is required for compliance with one or more electric vehicle charging standards implemented by the electric vehicle charging system and the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen Ham Miller, Paul Guerra, Pascal-Andre Fortin, Frank Spiteri
  • Patent number: 11223212
    Abstract: A battery control device that controls a battery assembly includes a first determining unit that determines whether a voltage difference between minimum and maximum values of OCVs of battery cells constituting the battery assembly and having an SOC-OCV characteristic curve including a flat region is equal to or larger than a predetermined voltage value, a second determining unit that determines whether the OCV of each battery cell is lower than a lower-limit voltage of the flat region, or is equal to or higher than the lower-limit voltage and lower than an upper-limit voltage, or is higher than the upper-limit voltage, a controller that executes control selected from SOC raising control, SOC lowering control, and SOC keeping control of the battery cells, based on determination results of the first and second determining units, and a processor that homogenizes the SOCs of the battery cells controlled by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki Akaishi, Yuhki Shiozumi
  • Patent number: 11218012
    Abstract: An ECU performs processing including the steps of: obtaining a battery temperature TB when a battery is being charged; setting a first target value of the charging current; obtaining an SOC; setting a second target value of the charging current; setting a determined target value and performing current control according to a lower one of the first target value and the second target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Kusumi
  • Patent number: 11211803
    Abstract: A system and associated method are described for balancing an electrical parameter associated with stored electric power in a multi-cell battery. A cell charge balancing system determines a first plurality of the electrical parameters associated with respective ones of the plurality of cells, a plurality of first charge parameters associated with the cells, and a first quality index. A second plurality of the electrical parameters are determined, and second charge parameters are determined to determine a second quality index. The first and second quality indices are compared, and a cell charge balancing routine controls the balancing system based upon the first quality index when the first quality index is greater than the second quality index. The cell charge balancing routine controls the cell charge balancing system based upon the second quality index when the first quality index is less than the second quality index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Justin Bunnell, Garrett M. Seeman, Joseph Cho
  • Patent number: 11205806
    Abstract: A battery module equalization apparatus includes a plurality of slave controllers each electrically connected to the plurality of battery modules to measure voltage values of the plurality of battery modules, and having a slave charging/discharging channel through which the current that charges and discharges each battery module flows, and a master controller that receives the voltage value of each battery module from the plurality of slave controllers, selects at least one of the plurality of slave controllers based on the received voltage value, and transmits a CHARGE or DISCHARGE command to the at least one selected slave controller, and having a master charging/discharging channel through which the charging current supplied to the at least one slave controller and the discharging current supplied from the at least one slave controller flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Chang-Hyun Sung, Sang-Hoon Lee, Yean-Sik Choi
  • Patent number: 11201477
    Abstract: An electric device includes a first rechargeable battery and a second rechargeable battery that is lower, in a full charge voltage, than the first rechargeable battery; a first power source circuit that steps down a voltage output by the first rechargeable battery to a first voltage and outputs the first voltage; and a second power source circuit that steps down a voltage output by the second rechargeable battery to a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage and outputs the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainmnt Inc.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Ohashi
  • Patent number: 11201478
    Abstract: A management device manages an electricity storage module having: a first cell module and a second cell module each including a plurality of cells connected in series; and a conductive connection member for connecting the first cell module and the second cell module in series. A voltage detection circuit is connected to the nodes of the respective cells through voltage detection lines to detect the voltage of each of the cells and the voltage at both ends of the connection member. A control circuit distinguishes between and recognizes the voltage of each of the cells and the voltage at both ends of the connection member, which are detected by the voltage detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junya Yano, Tomonori Kunimitsu
  • Patent number: 11190035
    Abstract: A device for charging a portable electronic device includes a housing having a first surface configured to adhere to the portable electronic device, and a cable having an end that is configured to connect to a power source. The cable may have another end that is connected to an inductive charging component and/or another connector of a cable that connects to a charging port of the portable electronic device. A battery of the portable electronic device is capable of being charged when either the connector of the cable is connected to the charging port of the portable electronic device or the other end of the cable is connected to the power source or via the inductive charging component. The housing defines a cavity configured to store the cable within the cavity when the cable is not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Inventor: Adeeb Sobh
  • Patent number: 11190026
    Abstract: A 12 volt automotive battery system includes a first battery coupled to an electrical system, and the first battery includes a first battery chemistry. Further, the 12 volt automotive battery system includes a second battery coupled in parallel with the first battery and selectively coupled to the electrical system via a bi-stable relay. The second battery includes a second battery chemistry that has a higher coulombic efficiency than the first battery chemistry. Additionally, the bi-stable relay couples the second battery to the electrical system during regenerative braking to enable the second battery to capture a majority of the power generated during regenerative braking. Furthermore, the bi-stable relay maintains a coupling of the second battery to the electrical system when the vehicle transitions from a key-on position to a key-off position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Daniel B. Le, Perry M. Wyatt
  • Patent number: 11190036
    Abstract: A power supply device and a power supply control method with which charging and electric power supply can be continued efficiently, and a charge capacity can be added is disclosed. A power supply device including: plural battery units replaceably connected to a battery connection part, an output unit for outputting electric power from the battery unit to a load, and a control unit for controlling connection of the plural battery units with respect to the output unit, wherein the control unit selects a battery unit having a remaining charge amount that is smallest among the plural battery units and equal to or greater than a first predetermined amount, and connects the selected battery unit to the output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: MIRAI-LABO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshio Hiratsuka
  • Patent number: 11186198
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the health of a vehicle battery. A method includes determining an initial amp-hour value for a vehicle battery of a vehicle. The method also includes measuring a net integrated amp-hour value added into the vehicle battery during a first time period. The method further includes determining that the initial amp-hour value plus the net integrated amp-hour value is greater than a threshold percentage of a rated capacity of the vehicle battery. And the method still further includes responsively providing an alert to a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hanyang B. Chen, Michael J. Irby, Jeff Raymond Mohr, Anthony Hartman
  • Patent number: 11183865
    Abstract: A wireless charging mousepad structure and processes are provided. The processes include providing a bottom seat and disposing a first cloth on the bottom seat, bonding the first cloth to the bottom seat through a first glue, embedding a coil layer into the first glue, disposing a second glue on a second cloth, laminating the second glue on the coil layer, and embedding the coil layer in the first glue and the second glue by heat pressing. Thereby, the wireless charging mousepad is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: HADES-GAMING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hung-Jen Chou
  • Patent number: 11177669
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method of equalizing a battery module supplies an equalization current to a battery module which is diagnosed to have abnormality via an equalization current supply circuit when an abnormality is generated in a state of charge (SoC) of one or more battery modules, and equalize the SoC of the one or more battery modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventor: Chang Hyun Sung
  • Patent number: 11153819
    Abstract: A battery controller buffers a higher voltage provided by a primary cell in order to charge a secondary cell that operates at a lower voltage. The battery controller includes a storage device that is charged by the primary cell. When the voltage of the storage device reaches a threshold, the battery controller conducts the stored charge into the secondary cell while isolating the secondary cell from the primary cell. The secondary cell, when charged, powers a node that operates with a low voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: ITRON NETWORKED SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Bruce Edwards
  • Patent number: 11145913
    Abstract: A contact function-equipped multichannel charge/discharge power supply has: first and second charge/discharge probes respectively connected to positive and negative electrodes of secondary batteries and first and second voltage-measurement probes, respectively connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the batteries; and charge/discharge means each provided for each of the batteries and each connected to a pair of the first and second charge/discharge probes. The power supply includes: trays each having a right-angled-quadrilateral shape in plan view, in which the batteries are arranged longitudinally and laterally at predetermined intervals; and substrates each having the charge/discharge means provided along the batteries arranged in each line in one direction, wherein the substrates are each provided with the first and/or second charge/discharge probes corresponding to the batteries arranged in each line in the one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: SOFTENERGY CONTROLS INC.
    Inventor: Yuji Sato
  • Patent number: 11146084
    Abstract: A power sensing and indication circuit includes a first device connector for charging a first device and having a first pin and a second pin, the first pin of the first device connector being connected to an output voltage port of a controller. The power sensing and indication circuit includes a first amplifier. The first amplifier has an inverting input port, a non-inverting input port and an output port. The power sensing and indication circuit includes a first set of multiple photodiodes for emitting light of a first color and a second set of multiple photodiodes for emitting light of a second color. The power sensing and indication circuit includes at least one of a transistor or a digital circuit to cause the first set of multiple diodes to emit light of the first color or the second set of multiple photodiodes to emit light of the second color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Superior Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: George Chen, Samuel Sentosa, David Su
  • Patent number: 11136008
    Abstract: Methods and associated systems for managing a battery-exchange station are provided. The method includes (1) receiving, from a server, demand information for the battery-exchange station corresponding to a first time period; and (2) forming a charging plan for a plurality of batteries positioned in the battery-exchange station corresponding to the first time period based on a first instruction set stored in the battery-exchange station and the demand information corresponding to the first time period. The first instruction set includes one or more charging rules and information indicative of assigning the one or more charging rules to each of the batteries positioned in the battery-exchange station. The charging plan comprises one or more assigned charging rules for each of the batteries positioned in the battery-exchange station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
    Inventors: Yun-Chun Lai, Sheng-Chin Chuang, I-Fen Shih, Chien-Chung Chen
  • Patent number: 11133686
    Abstract: A battery management device includes a detection circuit, a charge control circuit, and a discharge control circuit. The detection circuit is configured to output a first control signal and a second control signal according to a volume of a rechargeable battery. The charge control circuit is electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery and the detection circuit, and configured to open a charge loop of the rechargeable battery according to the first control signal. The discharge control circuit is electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery and the detection circuit, and configured to close a discharge path of the rechargeable battery according to the second control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Kai-Chun Liang, Wei-Chen Tu, Hsiang-Jui Hung, Xiao-Feng Zhou, Wen-Hsiang Yang