Patents Examined by M'baye Diao
  • Patent number: 11705740
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of cells and a control module. The control module is configured to acquire internal resistance of each of the plurality of cells, acquire a terminal voltage of each of the plurality of cells in real time in a case where the plurality of cells are charged with a constant current, determine an electromotive force of each of the plurality of cells based on the internal resistance of each of the plurality of cells and a charging current and the terminal voltage, determine a target cell from the plurality of cells based on the electromotive force of each of the plurality of cells, and perform charging balancing management on the target cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Nanjing Chervon Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jianan Liu
  • Patent number: 11699910
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and systems that enable battery state estimation. The techniques and systems may be used to determine a shut-down voltage for a battery of an electronic device. Additionally or alternatively, the techniques and systems may be used to determine a state-of-charge of the battery, which may be determined relative to the shut-down voltage. The techniques and systems use current or expected conditions at the battery to estimate the battery state. These techniques can allow the electronic device to dynamically set a shut-down voltage, rather than using a fixed shut-down voltage over the life of the electronic device. The dynamically set shut-down voltage can provide a low margin, and therefore a greater portion of battery capacity, when operating in good conditions and provide a relatively large margin that is sufficient for poor conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Arnold R. Feldman, Dennis Gee-Wai Yee
  • Patent number: 11695294
    Abstract: A power regulation apparatus includes a first switch and a switch control signal generation unit including a first transconductance unit including a first input terminal for receiving a first voltage from a first terminal of the first switch, a second input terminal for receiving a second voltage from a second terminal of the first switch, and an output terminal for being connected to a first node, a node voltage generation unit connected to the first node and configured to generate a node voltage signal at the first node, and a second transconductance unit including a first input terminal for receiving a current characterization signal characterizing a current flowing through the first switch, a second input terminal for being connected to the first node so as to receive the node voltage signal, and an output terminal for being connected to a control terminal of the first switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: NuVolta Technologies (Hefei) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junhe Zhang, Fuchun Zhan, Juan Li, Kunxu Zhu, Zhiying Chen
  • Patent number: 11685267
    Abstract: A battery cell with a galvanic cell, a first semiconductor switching element, a first cell connector electrically coupled directly to a first potential connector of the galvanic cell, and a second cell connector electrically coupled to a second potential connector of the galvanic cell via the first semiconductor switching element. The battery cell further has a third cell connector electrically coupled to the second potential connector of the galvanic cell, a second semiconductor switching element, and a fourth cell connector electrically coupled to the first potential connector of the galvanic cell via the second semiconductor switching element. A third semiconductor switching element is connected between the third cell connector and the fourth cell connector which primarily serves to switch individual battery cells out of the system regardless of the (activation or deactivation) state of the predecessor as well as successor cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Hinterberger, Christoph Terbrack, Christian Endisch, Julia Stöttner
  • Patent number: 11689061
    Abstract: A contactless battery system includes a sealable dustproof and waterproof case that houses a battery unit and at least one wireless power transmission coupler connected to the battery unit. The at least one wireless power transmission coupler is disposed with respect to at least one face of the sealable case to enable magnetic inductive signaling for charging, discharging, and communication with the battery. Without physical contacts, the battery is inherently safe since voltage and current are not available to the touch. The lack of physical contacts also means that contact wear is eliminated and the battery modules have the benefit of inherent galvanic isolation. Since the battery system is sealed, internal intrusion detection systems may be used to detect improper attempts at battery changes or attacks on the electronics containing the usage and charging records in an attempt to increase the battery unit's value on the secondary battery market.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: InductEV Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew W. Daga, Matthew L. Ward, Francis J. McMahon
  • Patent number: 11682797
    Abstract: This disclosure details exemplary battery pack designs for use in electrified vehicles. Exemplary battery packs may include a sense lead assembly having a circuit board that is centrally mounted between first and second wiring members (e.g., flat flexibles cables or flat printed circuits). The circuit board establishes a suitable mounting surface for incorporating sense lead fuses into the sense lead assembly. The centralized sense lead fuses provide for simple and reliable servicing of the battery array in response to battery overcurrent conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Francisco Fernandez-Galindo, Daniel Paul Roberts, Vedat Haydin
  • Patent number: 11673482
    Abstract: A method for charging a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle, comprising: providing the high-voltage battery having a nominal battery voltage; providing a charging station outputting a DC charging voltage less than the nominal battery voltage; draining current between a first battery terminal and a protective earth terminal such that the voltage between the first battery terminal and the protective earth terminal essentially matches with the voltage between a first charging terminal and the protective earth terminal, and boosting the voltage at a second charging terminal of the charging station to match the charging voltage with the nominal battery voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignees: PREH GMBH, BRUSA ELEKTRONIK AG
    Inventors: Marc Neitz, Alexander Matthias, Axel Krause, Andreas Kruspan, Marc Hanselmann, Hannes Hobi, Rudolf Meusburger
  • Patent number: 11670809
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments, one or more systems, one or more methods, and/or one or more processes: may determine that a rechargeable cell of multiple rechargeable cells has reached a top of charge voltage value; in response to determining that the rechargeable cell has reached the top of charge voltage value, may provide an electrical charge current, associated with a charge current value, to the rechargeable cell; may determine a temperature value associated with the rechargeable cell; may determine a charge current termination value based at least on the temperature value; while the charge current value is not at and is not below the charge current termination value: may determine the temperature value associated with the rechargeable cell; and may determine the charge current termination value based at least on the temperature value; and may cease providing the electrical charge current to the rechargeable cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Richard Christopher Thompson, Shao Szu Ho, Wen-Yung Chang
  • Patent number: 11667203
    Abstract: A handheld device for jump starting a vehicle engine includes a rechargeable lithium ion battery pack (32) and a microcontroller (1). The lithium ion battery is coupled to a power output port of the device through a power switch circuit (15) actuated by the microcontroller. A vehicle battery isolation sensor (12) connected in circuit with positive and negative polarity outputs detects the presence of a vehicle battery (72) connected between the positive and negative polarity outputs. A reverse polarity sensor (10) connected in circuit with the positive and negative polarity outputs detects the polarity of a vehicle battery connected between the positive and negative polarity outputs, such that the microcontroller will enable power to be delivered from the lithium ion power pack to the output port only when a good battery is connected to the output port and only when the battery is connected with proper polarity of positive and negative terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: The NOCO Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Lewis Nook, William Knight Nook, James Richard Stanfield, Derek Michael Underhill
  • Patent number: 11662391
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for dynamic adjustments to battery parameters using battery metrics. The device may be configured to determine a first value indicative of a battery voltage output during a first time interval, determine a second value indicative of a temperature during the first time interval, and determine a first acceleration factor for the battery during the first time interval based at least in part on the first value and the second value. The device may determine an adjusted number of charge cycles completed during the first time interval using the first acceleration factor, determine a total adjusted number of charge cycles of the battery, determine that the total adjusted number of charge cycles is equal to or greater than a first threshold, and cause the first maximum output voltage value to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, inc.
    Inventors: Ramez Nachman, Don Brunnett, Bryan Holmdahl, Benjamin Thomas Gaide
  • Patent number: 11659812
    Abstract: A pet water dispenser may include a water tank having an upper opening, a pump, a water supply pipe connected to the pump to transfer water, and a water supply hole formed in a water supply plate communicating with the water supply pipe. A removable inner assembly may include the pump, the water supply pipe, and the water supply plate, and may further include a wireless power receiver to receive power from a wireless power transmitter, which may include a plurality of partially overlapping coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyunsun Yoo, Jaehung Chun, Yousook Eun, Joogyeom Kim, Sungkyung Kim, Myongsun Kim
  • Patent number: 11658370
    Abstract: A safety protection device for a battery test system includes a system device, an alternating current changeover switch and a direct current changeover switch. The system device is coupled to a load device. One terminal of the AC changeover switch is coupled to an AC source, the other terminal of the AC changeover switch is coupled to the system device. One terminal of the DC changeover switch is coupled to a battery pack, the other terminal of the DC changeover switch is coupled to the system device. The system device detects in real time a plurality of sets of detection information of the battery pack, performs a plurality of determinations on the plurality of sets of detection information to obtain a plurality of sets of determination information. The system device respectively switches the AC changeover switch and DC changeover switch according to the plurality of sets of determination information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHUNG SHAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Wei-Min Hsiao, Chih-Hsien Chung, Gwo-Huei You, Kuo-Kuang Jen
  • Patent number: 11656653
    Abstract: A wireless energy transfer system includes an electronic device having at least two members, each housing at least a portion of the electronic device pivotably coupled via a number of hinges. A hinge member is disposed proximate at least some of the number of hinges. At least one receiver coil may be disposed in, on, or about the hinge member. Removing the receiver coil from the members housing the electronic device advantageously permits thinning of the members and a beneficial reduction in height of the electronic device. A power supply may include a number of power supply coils disposed in, on, or about a power supply member. Some or all of the power supply coils may wirelessly couple to the at least one receiver coil via an electromagnetic field and transfer energy to the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed proximate the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Rittenhouse
  • Patent number: 11646599
    Abstract: In a power supply system and a method for controlling the same, at least one battery from among a plurality of batteries is designated as a charging-side battery, and the remaining batteries are designated as discharging-side batteries. Next, the difference in current between the current flowing from the discharging-side batteries and the current flowing into the charging-side battery is determined on the basis of currents measured by a plurality of current measuring instruments. Next, the transformation rate of a voltage transformer connected to the discharging-side batteries is determined on the basis of the determined difference in current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsuyasu Ino
  • Patent number: 11646589
    Abstract: A battery system includes a plurality of battery cell packs arranged in layers selectively connected in series and parallel by a control system controlling a plurality of switches. Each of the battery cell packs includes a plurality of battery cells. A plurality of first switches and a plurality of second switches are controlled by a control system to connect the battery cell packs in response to a desired current output of the battery system and/or a desired voltage output of the battery system irrespective of individual battery cell or battery cell pack voltages or currents associated with state of charge or operational performance. The control system controls the switches to selectively connect the battery cell pack(s) to the output connections in parallel and/or series to provide redundancy and reduce output voltage/current fluctuation otherwise associated with state of charge or underperforming battery cells/packs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Philip Stauss, Johann Kirchhoffer, Sebastian Schneider
  • Patent number: 11644806
    Abstract: Techniques are described for implementing automated control systems to control operations of target physical systems and/or their components (e.g., a fuel cell, wind turbine, HVAC unit, etc.), such as based at least in part on models of their dynamic non-linear behaviors that are generated by gathering and analyzing information about their operations under varying conditions. The techniques may include, for each of multiple levels of inputs to the system/component and/or other factors, injecting a corresponding signal input into the system/component, and using active sensors to collect time changes of the responses to these pulses. Information about the inputs and the responses is used to generate an incremental parametric model representing the internal state and behavioral dynamics of the system/component, which is further used to control additional ongoing operations of the system/component (e.g., to control whether and how much output is produced in a current or future time period).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Veritone Alpha, Inc.
    Inventors: Wolf Kohn, Xiaofeng Zhang, Girish Thirukkurungudi Sekar
  • Patent number: 11641124
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic device configured to be charged with an adapter. The electronic device includes an energy storage unit, a charging unit and a switch unit. The charging unit is configured to receive a bus voltage and output a charging voltage to charge the energy storage unit. The switch unit is electrically coupled in parallel to the charging unit. When the electronic device is coupled to the adapter through a bus interface, the electronic device receives the bus voltage from the adapter, receives a communication signal from the adapter, and selectively turns on or off the switch unit according to the communication signal, and when the electronic device operates in a direct charging mode, the switch unit is turned on to form a direct charging path, to charge the energy storage unit by using the bus voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Tsung-Han Wu, Wei-Gen Chung, Yi-Ming Huang, Chien-Chung Lo
  • Patent number: 11641043
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an electric energy storage device which includes four energy units with a substantially same voltage value. Each energy unit is provided with a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The electric energy storage device comprises a socket with eight independently arranged electrode terminals that are connected with the four energy units. The disclosure also provides an electric tool system using the electric energy storage device. The electric tool is provided with plugs that may be connected with the four energy units in different states, allowing the electric energy storage device to output multiple voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Globe (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chuanjun Liu, An Yan
  • Patent number: 11637436
    Abstract: The utility model refers to an automobile start-up adapter, wherein it comprises a shell and a circuit board provided inside the shell. The shell is provided with an input terminal for electrically connecting with an output terminal of a lithium battery of a power tool and an output terminal for electrically connecting with a clamp. The input terminal and the output terminal are communicated through a circuit board, and a voltage identification circuit and a voltage conversion circuit are provided on the circuit board. The automobile start-up adapter of the utility model can use the lithium battery of the hand-held electric tool to supply power for the emergency start-up of the automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Inventor: Jiasheng Wu
  • Patent number: 11637347
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an electric energy storage device which includes four energy units with a substantially same voltage value. Each energy unit is provided with a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The electric energy storage device comprises a socket with eight independently arranged electrode terminals that are connected with the four energy units. The disclosure also provides an electric tool system using the electric energy storage device. The electric tool is provided with plugs that may be connected with the four energy units in different states, allowing the electric energy storage device to output multiple voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Globe (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chuanjun Liu, An Yan