Patents Examined by Richard Isla-Rodas
  • Patent number: 9413037
    Abstract: Provided is a cell capacity adjusting device for reducing fluctuations in state of charge (SOC) among cells of a battery pack 101, which is formed by connecting a plurality of cells 111-116 in series, during suspension of operation of electrically-powered equipment whose main power source is the battery pack 101. From among the plurality of cells 111-116, one or a plurality of cells having a voltage value equal to or higher than a cell capacity adjustment target voltage are selected. By the selected cells, an intermittent operation unit 105, which operates even during the suspension of operation of the electrically-powered equipment, is caused to perform an intermittent operation. Through repetition of the intermittent operation, voltage values of the selected cells are decreased. Thus, fluctuations in state of charge (SOC) among cells are reduced without unnecessarily discharging battery stored energy of the battery pack 101.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Shimamura, Toru Morita, Toshinori Matsui
  • Patent number: 9413188
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to charge a battery. A wall adapter may provide a power to a battery charger in a collapsed mode of operation. In the collapsed mode of operation, the wall adapter may provide the battery charger with a collapsed power. The battery charger may provide a charging current and/or voltage in a constant current charge mode of operation and/or a constant voltage charge mode of operation using the collapsed power. When operating in the constant current charge mode of operation, the battery charger provides the charging current and/or voltage having a constant current until the voltage of the battery is less than or substantially equal to a constant charge voltage. Alternatively, when operating in the constant voltage charge mode of operation, the battery provides the charging current and/or voltage having a constant voltage until the voltage of the battery is less than or substantially equal to a float voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Russell Eliot Radke, Mark David Rutherford
  • Patent number: 9413178
    Abstract: A charging device includes a current control device configured to receive a first amount of current from a power source. The charging device also includes a ground detection module including a leakage circuit configured to direct a second amount of current to ground to generate a leakage voltage and a comparison circuit configured to detect a connection to ground of the charging device based on the leakage voltage generated. The charging device also includes a controller coupled to the ground detection module and to the current control device. The controller is configured to enable the first amount of current to be supplied to a power storage device of an electric vehicle when the connection to ground is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mazen Mohamad Khattab, John Kenneth Hooker, Denis Alagic
  • Patent number: 9409487
    Abstract: The invention discloses a kind of electric automobile PWM rectification and converting voltage/current pulse charging system which is the charging system for large storage battery. The system includes rectifier module and charging module. The former links with AC network and charge module respectively. The said charging system also includes DC charging management module and the charging module is composed of DC input module and DC output module. The said rectifier module, DC input module and DC output module, DC charging management module are independent and connected together by CAN bus. The electric automobile PWM rectification and converting voltage/current pulse charging system of this invention is simply structured with a small size and features wide range of application e.g. charging for all lead and zinc storage batteries. It greatly reduces the duration for charging storage batteries and is worthy of scale popularizing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Inventor: Zehua Shao
  • Patent number: 9404956
    Abstract: A power system for a vehicle includes at least two battery packs spaced away from each other. A first battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells and a switching element electrically connected with the battery cells. A second battery pack includes a resistor electrically connected in series with the switching element, and sense circuitry configured to detect voltage across the resistor indicative of leakage current associated with the first battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush
  • Patent number: 9401530
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a storage battery recycling apparatus in which a pulse current is applied to polar plates or electrodes of a storage battery functioning as a secondary cell through the SCR phase control so as to remove sulfate formed in a film or membrane on the electrodes of the storage battery, thereby recovering the performance of the storage battery in a deteriorated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: MAROO MCS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yeon soo Han, Sang Youl Lee, Woo Jong Lim
  • Patent number: 9400313
    Abstract: A method and a device for determining the actual capacity of a battery uses a set of characteristic curves, wherein at the start of a discharge process the initial voltage of the battery, the magnitude of the discharge current and the temperature of the battery are determined. From this, by comparison with the data provided in the set of characteristic curves, a characteristic curve is selected and an initial state of the battery is determined. At the end of the discharge process, the final voltage of the battery is measured. The final voltage is compared, at the end of the discharge, with the voltage expected based on the selected characteristic curve and, in the event that the final voltage is smaller than the voltage expected based on the discharge process, it is determined that the actual capacity of the battery is smaller than the available capacity assumed at the start of the discharge process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Alexander Barke, Rolf Naumann
  • Patent number: 9399402
    Abstract: A proximity detection circuit is operable to detect connection of a cordset to a vehicle charging system or connection of another device to some other electrical circuit where it may be desirable to facilitate detection while a controller or other current drawing source is inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Krzysztof Klesyk
  • Patent number: 9391471
    Abstract: A method comprising supplying current to charging elements, a charging element producing a configurable magnetic field polarity, magnetic field polarities produced by the charging elements according to a charging polarity code. The method determines a relative position between a receiving element and a charging element, receiving elements fixedly electrically connected according to the charging polarity code, responsive to determining, re-configuring a magnetic field polarity of one or more of the charging elements due to movement of the receiving elements relative to the charging elements, and inducing a charging current by the charging elements in the receiving elements to increase power transfer from the charging elements to the receiving elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: James R. Wood
  • Patent number: 9391502
    Abstract: A battery protection device for protecting a battery (1;41) comprises an electrical circuit arranged to generate or suppress a ripple current through said battery. Said electrical circuit comprises a ripple generator arranged to produce an electrical ripple current, a first ripple injector (21;48) to be arranged on a positive power line to the battery, said first ripple injector being arranged to transfer said electrical ripple current to said positive power line, and a second ripple injector (22;49) to be arranged on a negative power line to the battery. Said second ripple injector is arranged to transfer said electrical ripple current to said negative power line. Said first and second ripple injector are arranged to operate in a differential mode, e.g. opposite sign on injected current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: V2 Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle Partnership Handelsbolag
    Inventor: Jesper Martaeng
  • Patent number: 9385552
    Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed for estimating the remaining charging time of a rechargeable battery. An example embodiment of the invention comprises a method comprising the steps of detecting an availability of a charging device to a battery in an apparatus; determining a type of the charging device by measuring its charging characteristics for charging the battery in the apparatus and comparing its measured charging characteristics with stored charging characteristics of a plurality of chargers, adapters, or charger-adapter combinations; measuring charging current of the battery; and calculating a time remaining to charge the battery based on a comparison of the measured charging current with the stored charging characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Mikael Vestama, Kari Rissanen, Jussi Ruutu
  • Patent number: 9385548
    Abstract: A charger with a replaceable plug includes a charger body; a groove is provided on an end portion of a lateral surface of the charger body, and a folding plug is hinged in the groove. A removable plug is also plugged in the groove, and the removable plug is formed of a support, conductive pins and positioning raised ribs disposed on the support, and conductive metal elastic pieces connected with the conductive pins; an end face of the positioning raised ribs, facing the conductive pins of the folding plug is provided with connecting holes matching the conductive pins, and the conductive metal elastic pieces are arranged in the connecting holes. When the positioning raised ribs are plugged into the groove, the conductive metal elastic pieces are tightly connected with the conductive pins of the folding plug. The present invention is simple in structure and convenient to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: DONGGUAN YUHUA ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Qing Zou
  • Patent number: 9385539
    Abstract: This invention provides a portable computing device powered by a surface-mediated cell (SMC)-based power source, the portable device comprising a computing hardware sub-system and a rechargeable power source electrically connected to the hardware and providing power thereto, wherein the power source contains at least a surface-mediated cell. The portable computing device is selected from a laptop computer, a tablet, an electronic book (e-book), a smart phone, a mobile phone, a digital camera, a hand-held calculator or computer, or a personal digital assistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Guorong Chen, Xiqing Wang, Bor Z. Jang, Yanbo Wang, Qing Fang
  • Patent number: 9385553
    Abstract: A coil is electrically connected to one of storage cells to charge it, and after that, the coil is electrically connected to the other one thereof to charge it. In a first charging period, a path of a charging current flowing into a reference voltage through the coil is formed, in a second charging period, a path of a charging current flowing into a second cell from the coil is formed, in a third charging period, a path of a charging current flowing into the reference voltage through the coil is formed, and in a forth charging period, one end of the coil is electrically conducted with one end of the first cell and another end of the coil is electrically conducted with another end of the first cell to form a path of a charging current flowing into the first cell from the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation
    Inventor: Masami Aiura
  • Patent number: 9385551
    Abstract: Devices, methods and systems disclosed herein relate to a universal charger which provides a power supply for the charging of OMTP devices and non-OMTP devices based on whether an OMTP mobile communication device or a non-OMTP mobile communication device is connected. A power charging apparatus is provided for charging a mobile communication device. The power charging apparatus includes a connector for connecting to a charging port of the mobile communication device, and a controller coupled to the connector, the controller configured to determine whether the mobile communication device connected to the connector is a non-OMTP mobile communication device or an OMTP mobile communication device, the controller further configured to charge a non-OMTP mobile communication device when a non-OMTP mobile communication device is connected to the connector, and further configured to charge an OMTP mobile communication device when an OMTP mobile communication device is connected to the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Superior Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: George Chen, Samuel Sentosa
  • Patent number: 9377513
    Abstract: An ambulatory infusion device comprising a replaceable energy storage for electrically powering its functional units is presented. Control units provide to a monitoring system data about energy consuming activities or consumed energy by the functional units. Based on this data, the monitoring system determines energy consumed by the functional units and triggers measurement of the voltage of the energy storage at a point in time which depends on the determined energy consumed in a time interval preceding the point in time. Adapting the time of measurement to the actual energy drawn from the energy storage makes it possible to detect reliably and early a low energy state of any conventional standard battery, regardless of its electrochemical design and electrical behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics International AG
    Inventor: Stefan Lindegger
  • Patent number: 9379572
    Abstract: A power transmitting device includes: a power transmitting unit being able to contactlessly transmit electric power to a power receiving unit of a power receiving device; and a guide unit changing a guide position of the power receiving device at power reception of the power receiving device on the basis of a type of the power receiving unit. The guide unit may when the types of the power receiving and transmitting units are the same, set a position of the power receiving unit, at which center positions of the power receiving and transmitting units coincide with each other, for the guide position, and, when the types of the power receiving and transmitting units are different, set a position of the power receiving unit, at which the center positions of the power receiving and transmitting units deviate from each other, for the guide position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shinji Ichikawa, Tetsuya Takura, Hidetoshi Matsuki, Fumihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 9379373
    Abstract: A nickel-zinc battery includes a battery housing, a nickel oxide positive electrode supported in the battery housing, a metal substrate negative electrode supported in the battery housing, a spacer disposed between the positive and negative electrodes, an electrolyte contained within the battery housing and a means for circulating electrolyte in fluid communication with the housing for circulating the electrolyte between the positive and negative electrodes. The electrolyte contains zinc and the metal substrate is adapted for deposition of the zinc during charging of the battery. The spacer maintains the positive electrode in a spaced relationship apart from the negative electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
    Inventors: Sanjoy Banerjee, Yasumasa Ito, Martin Klein, Michael E. Nyce, Daniel Steingart, Robert Plivelich, Joshua Gallaway
  • Patent number: 9373973
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus, a system, and a method of preventing a battery rack from being damaged by measuring a current, which, when a battery module is abnormally connected with a relay in some battery racks in installing the relay, which conducts or blocks a current flowing in the battery rack including a plurality of battery modules so that a current exceeding a predetermined current limit value flows in the battery rack, prevent a short-circuit phenomenon, by controlling an operation state of the relay before the battery rack and the relay form a short circuit, and prevent capacitance imbalance between the battery racks by controlling an operation state of the relay when a voltage difference between a plurality of battery racks exceeds a predetermined voltage difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventor: Jongbum Lee
  • Patent number: 9368269
    Abstract: A hybrid battery charger is disclosed that includes a linear battery charging circuit for providing vehicle starting current and battery charging and a high frequency battery charging circuit that provides battery charging current. The linear battery charging circuit and the high frequency battery charging circuits are selectively enabled to provide vehicle starting current, maximum charging current and optimum efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Schumacher Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Xiao Ping Chen, Matthew Heins, Shenzhong Zhu