Patents Examined by Ramy Ramadan
-
Patent number: 8120322Abstract: The present invention relates to a charge equalization apparatus, in which series-connected batteries are divided into modules having certain sizes, and intra-module charge equalization and inter-module charge equalization are simultaneously performed, thus improving charge equalization performance and reducing the circuit size.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2008Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignees: SK Energy Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and TechnologyInventors: Joong Hui Lee, Soo Yeup Jang, Jeon Keun Oh, Gun Woo Moon, Chong Eun Kim, Hong Sun Park, Chol Ho Kim
-
Patent number: 8120328Abstract: A charging system of the present invention is a charging system for charging a battery mounted on a portable telephone 100, and includes a charging control unit 174 that performs supply and control of the charging electric current and the charging voltage to the battery, a device temperature monitoring unit 170 that monitors the device temperature inside the portable telephone 100, and a battery temperature monitoring unit 172 that monitors the battery temperature of the battery. The charging control unit 174 controls the charging electric current to be supplied to the battery according to the device temperature monitored by the device temperature monitoring unit 170 and controls the charging voltage to be supplied to the battery according to the battery temperature monitored by the battery temperature monitoring unit 172.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: NEC CorporationInventor: Yasutaka Eto
-
Patent number: 8120332Abstract: The present invention is a method for transmitting a RFID signal while conserving battery power of a circuit. The method comprises charging a capacitor using a battery. The battery is in electrical communication with a resistor and the resistor is in electrical communication with a capacitor and a load switch. The load switch is in electrical communication with an enabler and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is in electrical communication with a radiofrequency component. The load switch is closed, allowing power drawn from the capacitor to flow to the radiofrequency component.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2011Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Joseph Balardeta, Scott Denton
-
Patent number: 8120316Abstract: A wireless charging system charging an electronic device wirelessly via electromagnetic induction between a number of transmitting coils formed in the wireless charging system and a receiving coil formed in the electronic device. The wireless charging system selects the transmitting coil aligned with the receiving coil most accurately for transmitting electromagnetic energy in order to improving the energy conversion efficiency between the transmitting coil and the receiving coil.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2009Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kim-Yeung Sip
-
Patent number: 8120333Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for the automatic charging of an electrochemical electrical energy storage device. Charging may be performed until a pre-assigned voltage increment value measured across the terminals of the storage device is reached. Recurrent periods of charging and rest may be employed, with measurements of voltage taken and voltage increment determined after the passage of an assigned quantity of electrical energy. Automatic completion of the charging process is provided for, irrespective of the design features and number of energy storage devices (e.g., capacitors) in a module, the initial state of charge and/or temperature of the storage device, or the value and/or time instability of the charging current.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2007Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Universal Supercapacitors LLCInventors: Nikolai Fedorovich Starodubtsev, Vladislav Alekseevich Karpov, Viktor Alexandrovich Dronov, Samvel Avakovich Kazaryan, Vladimir I. Kogan, John R. Miller, Sergey Nikolaevich Razumov, Alexander Ivanovich Smelkov, Sergey Vitalievich Litvinenko
-
Patent number: 8120329Abstract: An apparatus for controlling power generation of a generator mounted on a vehicle, the generator charging a on-vehicle battery, comprising a detecting device that detects information indicating the internal status of the battery that includes temperature of the battery, a power supply circuit that supplies power to the detecting device, a calculator for calculating the internal status of the battery using the information detected by the detecting device, a circuit board on which the calculator, the power supply circuit, and the detecting circuit are mounted and a controller that controls the power generation of the generator based on the internal status of the battery. The temperature sensing element is arranged on a bus bar that is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the battery, and the bus bar and the temperature sensing element are coupled thermally to each other.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2008Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Tadatoshi Asada
-
Patent number: 8120317Abstract: A wireless charger for charging an electronic device includes a holder with a primary coil and a number of holding coils fixed thereon and a resilient member sleeved thereon. The wireless charger further includes a sensing module, a storing module, a comparing module and an adjusting module. The sensing module detects each current value of the holding coils when the wireless charger is powered on. The storing module stores each current value of the holding coils from the sensing module and predetermines a reference current value for each holding coil. The comparing module compares the current value with the reference current value to determine whether the current value equals to the reference current value. The adjusting module changes the current values to the reference current values when the current value is not equal to the reference current value to adjust an angle of the secondary coil relative to the primary coil.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2009Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kim-Yeung Sip
-
Patent number: 8044639Abstract: A selector circuit outputs one of a first input voltage or a second input voltage via an output terminal. A first transistor and a second transistor are provided in series between a first input terminal and the output terminal. A third transistor and a fourth transistor are provided in series between a second input terminal and the output terminal. A control unit controls the ON/OFF operations of the first transistor through the fourth transistor. The back gates of the first transistor and the second transistor are connected such that at least one body diode of the first transistor M1 and at least one body diode of the second transistor are arranged in opposing directions. The back gates of the third transistor and the fourth transistor are connected in the same way.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2008Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoichi Tamegai, Ichiro Yokomizo, Hironori Nakahara
-
Patent number: 8035343Abstract: A method is provided for charging a plurality of cells in a battery pack to a target charging value. The method includes: delivering a charging current to the plurality of cells; monitoring cell voltage of each cell in the plurality of cells to determine when at least one of the cells reaches the target charging value; and diverting the charging current around the cells having reached the target charging value and cooperatively adjusting the charging current so that a current received by the cells having reached the target charging value is substantially zero.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2008Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventor: Andrew E. Seman, Jr.
-
Patent number: 8035395Abstract: A battery life predicting device and a battery life predicting method capable of accurately predict the lifetime of storage batteries are provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2007Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Tatsuhiko Suzuki, Hiroki Takeshima
-
Patent number: 8030882Abstract: A power supply unit that allows a main battery and an auxiliary battery to be charged by a system power supply is disclosed. The first and second bridge circuits of the power supply unit are each formed of four switching elements. The transformer of the power supply unit has a primary winding connected to the first bridge circuit, and a secondary winding connected to the second bridge circuit. The DC/DC converter of the power supply unit allows the auxiliary battery to be connected to the first and second circuits. The controller of the power supply unit controls the switching elements of the first bridge circuit, the switching elements of the second bridge circuit, and the switching element of the DC/DC converter such that power that has been charged to the main battery is output as an AC voltage having voltage and frequency for electric appliances.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2008Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota JidoshokkiInventors: Hiroo Ito, Sadanori Suzuki
-
Patent number: 8030887Abstract: A non-contact power charging, in which power transmission can be interrupted when foreign materials are deposited on a charge plate of the non-contact power charging system. A charging operation can be continuously maintained at a stable voltage even if a non-contact power receiving apparatus moves by touching or displacement on the charge plate of the non-contact power charging system in the charging operation. Charging efficiency is improved.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2008Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Inventor: Chun-Kil Jung
-
Patent number: 8013574Abstract: There is provided a discharge controller for a multiple cell battery that has a plurality of storage cells connected in series with each other. A discharge path from the storage cell is connected a load. The discharge controller includes: cell voltage detection units for detecting respective cell voltages of the storage cells; a switch group comprising a plurality of switches each connected between the storage cells; and a control unit for performing ON/OFF control on the respective switches individually in response to detection results detected by the cell voltage detection units so as to form the discharge path from the storage cell to the load.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2008Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Atsuhiro Naganuma, Shintaro Uchida
-
Patent number: 8008890Abstract: The present invention relates to a charge equalization apparatus, which can enable the primary windings and the secondary windings of transformers to be easily manufactured, can control the flow of charges into batteries depending on the charged states of series-connected batteries, and can prevent overcurrent from flowing into batteries that are currently being charged.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2008Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignees: SK Energy Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and TechnologyInventors: Joong Hui Lee, Soo Yeup Jang, Jeon Keun Oh, Gun Woo Moon, Chong Eun Kim, Hong Sun Park, Chol Ho Kim
-
Patent number: 8004240Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for an uninterruptable power supply having a positive DC bus, a neutral DC bus, and a negative DC bus. The uninterruptible power supply includes a battery charger circuit having an inductor, a first charger output, and a second charger output. A first switch connected to a first end of the inductor is configured to couple the positive DC bus with the first charger output. A second switch connected to a second end of the inductor is configured to couple the negative DC bus with the inductor. The neutral DC bus can be coupled to the second charger output. The battery charger circuit can be configured to draw power from at least one of the positive DC bus and the negative DC bus to charge a battery coupled to the first charger output and the second charger output.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2010Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: American Power Conversion CorporationInventor: Jeffrey B. Samstad
-
Patent number: 8004241Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying a battery charging-state is disclosed. The method comprises measuring the charged voltage of a battery unit, determining the charging stage of the measured charged voltage, and sequentially and cyclically displaying icons that indicate a charging stage.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2007Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Han Lim Kim
-
Patent number: 7994725Abstract: A control circuit used in a lamp system. The lamp system has a first and a second light emitting diode (LED) connected together in series. The control circuit includes a current source for connecting to the first LED to provide a regulated drive current to the first and second LEDs in order to illuminate the LEDs. The control circuit includes a switching component for connecting in parallel with the first LED to divert the driver current from the first LED and provide the driver current to the second LED when the switching component is activated. The control circuit includes a controller for selectively activating the switching component in order to selectively extinguish the first LED.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2008Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.Inventor: Guy P Bouchard
-
Patent number: 7990155Abstract: A systematic method and system for testing the charging and starting systems of a vehicle, which requires each individual test to pass before proceeding is provided. In addition, the invention incorporates an improved alternator test that determines whether the alternator belt is slipping using data read using a vehicle data port. Further, the invention provides a battery bank test that correlates the voltage before and after a load is applied to the battery bank to the batteries' conditions. When testing the starter, the oil temperature is read via the vehicle data port, allowing for a determination of whether the current draw is abnormally high.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2008Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Auto Meter Products, Inc.Inventor: Dale B. Henningson
-
Patent number: 7990109Abstract: A control module for a battery that powers a load includes a compensation module that adjusts a shutoff voltage based on voltage and impedance of the battery and current drawn by the load from the battery as time the load is drawing current increases. A discharge control module restricts power to the load based on the adjusted shutoff voltage.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2008Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Daniel J. White, Janet M. Embrey, Daniele C. Brotto, Andrew E. Seman, Jr.
-
Patent number: 7986122Abstract: An apparatus and method for converting a DC input power to a DC output power. The apparatus comprises an energy storage module and a burst mode controller. The burst mode controller causes energy to be stored in the energy storage module during at least one storage period, and further causes the energy to be drawn from the energy storage module during at least one burst period. During the at least one burst period, the DC output power is greater than the DC input power. Additionally, the burst mode controller employs a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique for operating a device providing the DC input power proximate a maximum power point (MPP).Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2008Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.Inventors: Martin Fornage, Mudhafar Hassan-Ali