Patents Examined by Patrick J Assouad
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Patent number: 7710068Abstract: A power supply control apparatus for controlling an electric generator of a vehicle limits the rate of change of a power supply voltage to a predetermined variation rate range, when the change is caused by operations to control the charge condition of the vehicle battery, and controls the generated power to match the drive torque applied by the engine to the generator. When the electrical load demand changes, the generated power is controlled to limit a resultant momentary change in the power supply voltage caused by an engine response delay, while minimizing a resultant momentary amount of engine speed variation.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Keisuke Tani, Kazuyoshi Obayashi, Takashi Senda, Yukihiro Yamashita, Daisuke Kuroda
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Patent number: 7705563Abstract: A charging control semiconductor integrated circuit used in a charging apparatus for a secondary battery includes first and second terminals. The first terminal is configured to output a control signal to a first charging transistor in the charging apparatus. The second terminal is configured to output a control signal to a second charging transistor in the charging apparatus. Further, the first and second charging transistors are separately controlled on the basis of a voltage across the first charging transistor, a voltage across the second charging transistor, and a voltage of the secondary battery.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2007Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Tohru Ibaraki
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Patent number: 7705567Abstract: A capacitor power source 1 including a plurality of capacitors comprises: an inflection-point voltage detection circuit (11) for detecting the inflection-point voltage of the capacitor based on a set voltage Vbot; an overvoltage detection circuit (12) for detecting the overvoltage Vful of the capacitor; and an initialization circuit (13) for putting charging current of the capacitor into bypass operation using initialization voltage Vini when an initialization mode is selected, wherein charging/discharging control is performed such that a discharging stop signal is generated based on a detection signal of the inflection-point voltage of any one of the plurality of capacitors, a charging stop signal is generated based on a detection signal of the overvoltage of any one of the plurality of capacitors, and an end signal of the initialization charging is generated based on a plurality of bypass operation signals.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2007Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Power Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: Michio Okamura, Atsushi Shimizu
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Patent number: 7701169Abstract: The present invention relates to a lithium secondary battery with a built-in protective circuit, which includes battery case (1), a battery core (2) and electrolyte. According to the present invention, a built-in protective circuit module (4) is provided to act as the connection between terminals of positive and negative electrodes (21 and 22) and output ends of positive and negative electrodes (31 and 32) inside the battery. The battery of the present invention has the advantages of safe and reliable protection against short-circuit, over-charge, over-discharge and over-current in the application, and therefore it is reliable power supply for the portable electronic appliances such as mobile phones and the like.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: BYD Company LimitedInventors: Chuanfu Wang, Yueqing Yan, Haishan Yang
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Patent number: 7692407Abstract: A technology for charging the battery of a terminal device with efficiency. In a wireless game controller, a charge control unit supplies electric power from an external power supply to a battery. A communication management unit receives a drive request signal to a vibrating motor. A motor control unit supplies a drive current to the vibrating motor in accordance with the drive request signal. The charge control unit performs charge control for the battery in a first mode when the communication management unit does not receive the drive request signal, and performs charge control for the battery in a second mode when the communication management unit does receive the drive request signal. The charge control unit performs the charge control for the battery in the first mode using a charging current higher than that in the second mode.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.Inventor: Tetsufumi Nozawa
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Patent number: 7692409Abstract: A generator controller, in its various embodiments, displays genset fault messages, a genset elapsed time hour meter, service countdown reminder, monitors battery voltage changes over multiple periods of time to establish and display the “battery level,” uses the “battery level” to automatically start and stop the genset, and accepts multiple run requests from AC loads such as HVAC systems, and incorporates safety or other start inhibit features.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Acutra, Inc.Inventors: Scott R. Schaper, Richard L. Proctor, Donald P. Aupperle
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Patent number: 7688035Abstract: A portable device includes a battery, electronic circuitry, and a peak current provider that provides a peak current to the electronic circuitry. Power is supplied to the portable device by connecting a battery to a peak current provider, charging the peak current provider, and supplying a current from the battery to electronic circuitry of the portable device, when a current required by the electronic circuitry is less than or equal to a preset value, and disconnecting the battery from the peak current provider and supplying a current from the peak current provider to the electronic circuitry, when a current required by the electronic circuitry is greater than the preset value.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2006Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Sang-Woo Kim
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Patent number: 7688021Abstract: In at least some embodiments, a system comprises a load and a fuel cell coupled to said load, the fuel cell being configured to provide a constant power level to said load. The system further comprises a battery coupled to said load and configured to provide power in excess of said constant power level to said load, if needed by said load.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2005Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Joseph F. Freiman, Thomas P. Sawyers
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Patent number: 7688038Abstract: A battery charging apparatus connects secondary batteries of the battery pack, plurality of charge terminals and two discharge terminals to form plurality charge paths and a discharge path, which has a main switch provided on the discharge path, a main controller connecting the battery pack and the main switch, plurality of sub switches provided on the charge paths, plurality of sub controllers connecting secondary batteries of the battery pack and corresponding sub switches, a thermal controller connecting the main controller and a temperature switch. The temperature switch connects the sub switches. The main controller and sub controllers monitor charge state and discharge state of the battery pack to set the main switch and sub switches cut off the discharge path and the charge paths. The thermal controller monitors temperature of the battery pack and main switch to set the main switch and the sub switches cut off the discharge path and the charge paths.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2007Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hsien-Hung Chen, Nan-Sheng Chang, Chia-Han Chan, Yu-Lee Tseng
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Patent number: 7683570Abstract: An apparatus including a rechargeable battery pack installed in an electric vehicle, the rechargeable battery pack coupled to a power supply, the power supply operable to provide a charge voltage to perform charging operations on the battery pack, a heating element to heat a fluid to be circulated through the rechargeable battery pack, a comparator circuit to compare a battery voltage of the rechargeable battery pack to a line source voltage, the comparator circuit operable to compare the battery voltage to the line source voltage and to provide an output signal when the battery voltage is less than a line voltage offset value, and a control circuit coupled to receive the output signal of the comparator, and to couple the line source voltage to the power supply, an to bypass the heating element if the comparator is not providing the output signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2007Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventors: Jean-Pierre Krauer, Jeffrey Brian Straubel, Troy Adam Nergaard, Ian Craven, Arthur Joseph Hebert
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Patent number: 7683572Abstract: A battery charging cradle and mobile electronic device include a battery charging cradle incorporating a primary coil which induces an AC magnetic flux to a specific portion of a planar, top plate of the cradle, and a rechargeable battery incorporated inside a bottom plate and charged by electric power which is induced to a secondary coil being electromagnetically coupled to the primary coil. The battery charging cradle has a positioning portion, so that the mobile electronic device is placed in a predetermined position by means of the positioning portion, the primary coil is electromagnetically coupled to the secondary coil, and thus the rechargeable battery incorporated in the mobile electronic device is charged.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2007Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shoichi Toya
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Patent number: 7683584Abstract: A power source switching apparatus is provided. The example power source switching apparatus may include a voltage adjuster outputting a first power source voltage having a voltage level, corresponding to the output voltage of a battery, during an external power source mode where the battery is being charged, the first power source voltage based at least in part on the external power source and the output voltage of the battery, a controller outputting a first control signal and a second control signal, the first control signal enabled if the battery is operating in the external power source mode and the second control signal is enabled if the battery is not operating in the external power source mode, a first switch outputting the first power source voltage if the first control signal is enabled and a second switch outputting the output voltage of the battery if the second control signal is enabled.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2006Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jong-Sang Choi
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Patent number: 7683585Abstract: A trailer battery charge system for an electrical connection device between a vehicle and a trailer. The trailer battery charge system generally includes a first switching device that allows current to flow to an electrical terminal associated with a trailer battery of the trailer. A voltage sensor generates a voltage signal based on a voltage at the electrical terminal associated with the trailer battery. A control module controls the first switching device to charge the trailer battery based on the voltage signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2007Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Yazaki North America, Inc.Inventors: Brian E. Johnson, Kang Li
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Patent number: 7683573Abstract: A portable information handling system powered through a docking station charges an internal battery based on available power sensed at the docking station and communicated to a charger of the information handling system. A dock sensor on the information handling system selectively interfaces a local power sensor if the information handling system is not docked or a docking station sensor if the information handling system is docked. Available power sensed at the docking station is communicated to a battery charger of the information handling system by a differential wire pair interfaced through a docking connector.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2007Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: Ayedin Nikazm, Andrew T. Sultenfuss, Merle Wood
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Patent number: 7683582Abstract: A system and method of controlling temperature of a vehicle power source. The method includes determining a representative temperature of the power source, determining an ambient zone in which the power source is operating, determining a thermal control action based on the representative temperature and the ambient zone, and adjusting the temperature of the power source based on the thermal control action.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2005Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Douglas Zhu, William David Treharne
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Patent number: 7671561Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed at a method and system for recharging batteries for wireless electronic devices. According to one embodiment, a host machine for recharging rechargeable batteries for wireless devices is disclosed. The host machine includes a plurality of wireless devices coupled to and powered by a first plurality of rechargeable batteries and a plurality of charging slots configured to couple with a second plurality of rechargeable batteries. The host machine is adapted to provide power to charge the second plurality of rechargeable batteries and to hold in standby a third plurality of rechargeable batteries comprising the second plurality of rechargeable batteries that have been fully charged. According to an embodiment, the host machine is further adapted to join a network of host machines and to share the batteries in standby with each other.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2007Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Aaron Ludtke
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Patent number: 7671565Abstract: A system and method links batteries in parallel to conductors using wire bonds that act as fuses in the event of an overcurrent condition in a battery. To protect the wire bonds in the case of a larger overcurrent condition, a fuse may be added in series to the parallel batteries.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2006Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey B Straubel, David Lyons, Eugene Berdichevsky, Scott Kohn, Ryan Teixeira
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Patent number: 7667432Abstract: A system and method interconnects battery packs using a flexible bus bar to prevent vibration from breaking or damaging the connections therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2006Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventors: Dorian West, Eugene Berdichevsky, Scott Kohn
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Patent number: 7663374Abstract: An electrical apparatus includes a body for consuming power; a battery for supplying power to the body, wherein the body is capable of detecting an installation of the battery into the body, correlating the installation of the battery to a current real-time date, and displaying the date on which the battery was first installed in the body; and a display of a full charge capacity of the battery, the full charge capacity being calculated by comparing an actual present capacity of the battery to an estimated present capacity of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2002Date of Patent: February 16, 2010Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Shigefumi Odaohhara, Masaki Kobayashi, Takeshi Matsumoto
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Patent number: 7663346Abstract: A battery charger for charging a battery through controlling a charging regulation circuit is provided. The battery charger includes a current sensing unit and an operational amplifier. The current sensing unit monitors a charging current applied to the battery when the battery charger operates under a constant current mode, thereby generating a first regulation signal to the charging regulation circuit. The operational amplifier compares a battery voltage of the battery with a first reference voltage to generate a comparison result. When the battery charger operates under the constant current mode, the comparison result controls a charging mode transition from the constant current mode to a constant voltage mode. When the battery charger operates under the constant voltage mode, the comparison result acts as a second regulation signal to control the charging regulation circuit.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2008Date of Patent: February 16, 2010Assignee: Mediatek Inc.Inventors: Ying-Chung Wang, Pi-Fen Chen