Patents Examined by Richard Isla-Rodas
  • Patent number: 9325186
    Abstract: A wireless charger and controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which a charging area can be displayed in further consideration of user's convenience. The present invention includes a power supply unit configured to supply a power by wireless to a power receiver located in a charging area within a predetermined distance, a light projection unit configured to project a light on an area around the wireless charger, and a control unit configured to control the light projection unit to project the light on the area around the wireless charger to visually discriminate the charging area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Buyoung Yang
  • Patent number: 9325191
    Abstract: A constant voltage power source circuit according to the present invention is configured to adjust electric power that is supplied to a microcomputer by a pulse width modulation control. The microcomputer is configured to output, to the constant voltage power source circuit, a continuous signal by which the constant voltage power source circuit continuously performs the pulse width modulation control, or an intermittent signal by which the constant voltage power source circuit intermittently performs the pulse width modulation control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mamoru Sakai
  • Patent number: 9318779
    Abstract: An electric energy storage system is designed to equally utilize electric energy storage banks during charging/discharging, and keep fluctuation of an input voltage from a charger or an output voltage to a load, within an arbitrary range, while equally utilizing the electric energy storage banks during charging/discharging. The electric energy storage system comprises an electric energy storage module, a charger, a balancing circuit, a voltage detection section, taps led out, respectively, from one of opposite terminals of the electric energy storage module and/or the other terminal of the electric energy storage module and/or one or more of series-connection points between the electric energy storage units, through respective switches, and a switch control section for switching the switches such that one of the taps is connected to one of opposite terminals of the charger. The switch control section is operable to sequentially switch the switches according to progress of the charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignees: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Japan Capacitor Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Uno, Akio Kukita, Kazushige Ito, Tsutomu Sekido
  • Patent number: 9316693
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for estimating state of charge of a cell having a positive electrode, for example of a lithium phosphate type, the charge profile of which includes a range of state of charge between about 30 and about 90% in which variation of voltage is 10 times less rapid than for a state of charge higher than 90%. Determination of state of charge for a state of charge greater than 90% is based on either the use of a calibration relationship between cell voltage and state of charge when a current is passing through the cell that is less than a predetermined threshold value and its voltage has stabilized, or on the use of coulometry the result of which is corrected taking into account the accuracy of the current sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: SAFT
    Inventors: Sebastien Benjamin, Philippe Desprez, Ali Zenati, Gerard Barrailh
  • Patent number: 9312398
    Abstract: High density energy storage in semiconductor devices is provided. There are two main aspects of the present approach. The first aspect is to provide high density energy storage in semiconductor devices based on formation of a plasma in the semiconductor. The second aspect is to provide high density energy storage based on charge separation in a p-n junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Timothy P. Holme, Friedrich B. Prinz, Andrei Iancu
  • Patent number: 9312703
    Abstract: According to the charge control method of the present invention, as an electric storage means, a group of capacitors is used that include 2n (where n is an integer of 2 or more) electric double layer capacitors, from first to 2n-th electric double layer capacitors, having an equal electrostatic capacity, and that is configured such that adjacent electric double layer capacitors are connected either in series or in parallel by a switch and the 2n-th electric double layer capacitor and the first electric double layer capacitor are connected in parallel by a switch. Among the 2n capacitors Ci constituting the electric storage unit 21, adjacent capacitors are sequentially switched from a series connection to a parallel connection, or the 2n-th capacitor C2n and the first capacitor C1 are switched to a parallel connection state, whereby variations in the inter-terminal voltages of the capacitors are suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Takeda
  • Patent number: 9312709
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a main body having an opening and a movable member configured to hold a plug capable of transmitting an electrical current to an external device. At least one of the movable member and the plug include a magnet. The movable member and the plug are arranged such that at least one connector of the plug extends beyond a plane parallel to the opening when the movable member is in a first state, the first state corresponding to a magnetic force between a ferromagnetic material and the magnet above a predetermined magnitude. The movable member transitions from the first state to a second state when the magnetic force is below the predetermined magnitude. When the movable member is in the second state, the at least one connector of the plug remains below the plane parallel to the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Takahashi, Taro Takamoto, Koichi Izawa, Shintaro Nonaka, Tamio Nishino
  • Patent number: 9307495
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that monitors a battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system monitors a state of charge of the battery while the battery is powering the portable electronic device. Next, when the state of charge of the battery reaches a predetermined reserve capacity, the system monitors a voltage of the battery. Then, when the monitored voltage of the battery reaches a predetermined termination voltage, the system puts the portable electronic device into a low power usage state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Val Valentine
  • Patent number: 9293942
    Abstract: An apparatus for wirelessly charging an energy storage element is disclosed. The apparatus includes a coil, a set of capacitors, a set of switches and a rectifier. The coil, which has multiple taps, is capable of being energized by a charger via inductive coupling. The capacitors are connected to the coil at various taps. The switches selectively connect the rectifier to at least one of the capacitors to charge the energy storage element that is connected to the rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Patrick P. Mercier, Anantha P. Chandrakasan
  • Patent number: 9290097
    Abstract: An apparatus for transferring energy using onboard power electronics with high-frequency transformer isolation includes a power electronic drive circuit comprises a dc bus and a first energy storage device coupled to the dc bus. A first bi-directional dc-to-ac voltage inverter is coupled to the first energy storage device and to the dc bus, and a first electromechanical device coupled to the first bi-directional dc-to-ac voltage inverter. A charging system coupled to the dc bus via a charge bus comprises a receptacle configured to mate with a connector coupled to a voltage source external to the power electronic drive circuit and an isolation transformer configured to electrically isolate the charge bus from the receptacle. A controller configured to cause the charging system to supply a charging voltage to the dc bus based on a voltage received from the voltage source external to the power electronic drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Inventors: Robert Louis Steigerwald, Robert Dean King, Ruediger Soeren Kusch
  • Patent number: 9294300
    Abstract: A battery management and protection system includes a string of battery management and protection integrated circuit devices that may be connected to one another in a daisy chain configuration. Some of the devices can be electrically connected to one or more battery cells. Each device includes an inter-device communication interface comprising a daisy chain line driver. The system includes a controller external to the string of devices and a bi-directional connection lines connecting each device in the string to an upstream and/or downstream device in the string. The system can allow the external controller to access any single one of the devices in the daisy chain, any subset of the devices in the daisy chain, or all the devices in the daisy chain using a single command that is transmitted from one device to the next over a bi-directional connection line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Janz, Christian Bechter, Alexander Scholz
  • Patent number: 9285432
    Abstract: A method and system for manipulating, adjusting or otherwise controlling a state-of-charge (SOC) operating range for a high voltage vehicle battery, such as the type used for hybrid or electric vehicle propulsion. By providing a dynamic SOC operating range that changes in response to changing battery conditions, the battery performance may be improved so that the battery life is extended. Depending on the particular embodiment, the dynamic SOC operating range may have different combinations of hard and/or soft boundaries or limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Schwarz, Gregory E. Smith, Damon R. Frisch, Brian J. Koch, James C. Gibbs, Brandon R. Jones
  • Patent number: 9287721
    Abstract: The charger includes: a connector to be connected to a battery; an identification unit configured to perform an identification process of judging whether the battery being connected to the connector is a compliant battery allowed to be directly connected to the connector or a non-compliant battery allowed to be indirectly connected to the connector, and output a result of the identification process; a main charging unit configured to charge the compliant battery according to a main charging condition appropriate to the compliant battery; an auxiliary charging unit configured to charge the non-compliant battery according to an auxiliary charging condition which does not cause a harmful effect on the non-compliant battery; and a control unit configured to receive the result from the identification unit, and, when the result indicates the compliant battery, activate the main charging unit, and, when the result indicates the non-compliant battery, activate the auxiliary charging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Miwa, Masaki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9281702
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric storage unit group, a charger, an electronic device, an electric vehicle, a method for charging the electric storage unit, a method for discharging the electric storage unit group, a method for supplying and receiving power, and a method for determining a charging/discharging route in the electric storage unit group, which can provide a method for charging the electric storage unit group in which a plurality of electric storage units are connected in a desired form. The method for charging the electric storage unit group is a method for charging a rechargeable battery cell in an electric storage unit group in which a plurality of electric storage units having rechargeable battery cells are linearly or reticulately connected. At an upstream side of the electric storage unit group, the electric storage unit group is connected to a power supply for charging the electric storage units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shin Hotta
  • Patent number: 9272627
    Abstract: In an energy storage system that includes a battery and an ultracapacitor, the state of charge (SOC) of the capacitor is the subject of a dynamic set-point. This dynamic set-point control is a function of the load regime to which the storage system is exposed, for example a hybrid automobile or electric automobile. The control may be based in part upon real-time fast Fourier transform analysis of load current, permitting real-time adjustment of control coefficients. In this way, it is possible to minimize the occurrence of the capacitor being fully charged at a time when it would be desired to be able to absorb high current, for example from regenerative braking. Likewise it is possible to minimize the occurrence of the capacitor being nearly discharged at a time when it would be desirable to have boost power available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Maxwell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Miller
  • Patent number: 9269993
    Abstract: A rechargeable multipurpose power management system has a power management system that can include a plurality of power management units. The power management units sources can be individually activated and deactivated (I think there might be a confusion between power sources and the system. Everything is within one box itself (the image that I sent you). Each unit is a power management system that can be connected to a variety of INPUT power sources. Several power management units can be combined together to create a stack of them but each one can operated individually as well). and each one is configured to be coupled to a variety of inputs. A rechargeable battery is coupled to the (One rechargeable battery is attached to only one power management units). A charging controller provides regulated charging to the battery. A plurality of convertors are (do we need to specify here what kind of converters, like DC-DC converters) coupled to the battery and provide output voltages that are accessible individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Gram Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Yashraj Khaitan, Jacob Dickinson
  • Patent number: 9270797
    Abstract: An audio transducer apparatus including a component having a first material; and a heating reduction system configured to reduce induced heating in the component. The heating reduction system includes a member at least partially surrounding the component. The member includes a material which has an electrical conductivity that is higher than an electrical conductivity of the first material to thereby reduce induced heating in the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventor: Juha Reinhold Backman
  • Patent number: 9266433
    Abstract: A low cost charger circuit with pre-charge functionality can include a DC/DC converter arranged in parallel with a charger device. When used for electrified vehicle applications, the DC/DC converter can be configured to operate during vehicle propulsion, restorable energy storage system (RESS) recharging, and while only the DC/DC converter needs to be energized. A DC/DC converter can be coupled to a first high voltage bus on a load side of a primary contactor, and to a second high voltage bus on an energy side of a primary contactor. A pre-charge circuit can controllably charge a voltage bus and protect a DC/DC converter against high inrush current. An auxiliary contactor can controllably couple a DC/DC converter to a load portion of a high voltage bus. It can also couple a charger thereto. A charger contactor can controllably couple a charger device to an energy portion of a high voltage bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Peter Bilezikjian, Debbi Callicoat
  • Patent number: 9269994
    Abstract: Systems and methods to detect particular levels of remaining battery capacities. A ratio of changes in battery output voltage over changes in battery capacity (?V/?C) is calculated. Detected rises in the value of this ratio are used to detect that a battery has a remaining capacity level that is near depletion. In a certain temperature range, the ?V/?C ratio is used to provide an indication that the battery is approaching a low remaining capacity state. In another temperature range, an increase in the ?V/?C ratio indicates that the battery has reached a mid-range remaining capacity level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Joseph Patino, Marco Pulido
  • Patent number: 9269992
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery. The battery includes a contactless communication control block configured to execute contactless communication as a transponder and a reader/writer which are based on electromagnetic induction. The battery further includes an antenna configured to execute the contactless communication as the transponder; and an antenna configured to execute the contactless communication as the reader/writer. The battery further includes a battery control block configured to control a charge operation of a cell block. The contactless communication control block communicates, in a contactless manner, a charge state of the cell block supplied from the battery control block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Okamura, Tadashi Morita