Patents Examined by Richard Isla
  • Patent number: 11431188
    Abstract: A power conditioner with iterative switching for charging a battery pack from a photovoltaic panel senses sunlight on panel cells, senses battery cells charges, senses panel output voltage and battery pack voltage, connects the panels to battery packs upon sensing sunlight and panel output voltage greater than battery pack voltage, disconnects the panels when battery cells approach full charge, reconnects the panels to the battery pack when battery charges drop and iteratively switches the connections on and off according to the readings from voltage sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: HIVE ENERGY SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Richard Puga, David Kim, Daniel O'Connell, James Loux
  • Patent number: 11428743
    Abstract: A battery charging method includes: charging a battery based on a charging profile; and in response to a charging termination event occurring, terminating the charging of the battery, wherein the charging profile is determined using weight information derived based on battery characteristic information and a basic charging profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ju Wan Lim, Duk Jin Oh, Daeryong Jung
  • Patent number: 11424628
    Abstract: A balance charging method and a charging device are provided. The method includes: obtaining a voltage parameter of a plurality of battery cells; determining a control parameter set according to a first value relationship between the voltage parameter and a plurality of first threshold values, wherein the control parameter set includes a plurality of second threshold values; determining a charging rule of balance charging according to a second value relationship between the voltage parameter and the second threshold values; and performing the balance charging on the battery cells according to the charging rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventor: Chin-Yi Tsai
  • Patent number: 11420532
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring and optimizing utilization of batteries for electric vehicles are described. Data of battery usage of electric vehicles are monitored using battery monitoring sensors at the electric vehicles for a plurality of users who share use of electric vehicles. Battery usage metrics are determined for the batteries of the electric vehicles based on the data of battery usage and determining user impact metrics based on measured quantities relating to driving of the electric vehicles for the plurality of users, the user impact metrics being indicative of degrees of driving severity placed on the vehicles associated with use habits of particular users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Robert J. Scaringe
  • Patent number: 11424625
    Abstract: A method and server for managing mobile rechargeable battery pools of multiple stations, comprising steps of: (a) in a response to a selection of a specific location, the management server displaying pieces of location information on the stations by referring to a current location of the specific user and the specific location; (b) in a response to a selection of a k-th station among the stations, the management server displaying (i) information on (k_1)-st mobile rechargeable batteries available at a current time and (ii) information on (k_2)-nd mobile rechargeable batteries available at an estimated arrival time; and (c) in a response to a selection of a specific k-th mobile rechargeable battery, by the user device for a future need, the management server sending information on the future need to an administrator device or a provider device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: BLUE NETWORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Soon Yong Noh
  • Patent number: 11418043
    Abstract: The device (10) is connected to AC supply (12). The device (10) is also connected to a charger that may charge a battery. The device (10) detects an AC current and AC voltage when the charging operation is ongoing and/or interrupted. Based on the detected AC voltage and AC current, the device (10) determines an active power. The device (10) may also obtain electrical characteristics of the charger. Based on the active power, the device (10) may determine a DC charging current taking place at the charger charging the battery. The characteristics of the charger may be utilized when determining this. Consequently, the device (10) can determine a currently used DC charging current of the charger. The device (10) uses an algorithm to determine an appropriate point of time for disconnecting the AC output for disconnecting the charging operation. The device (10) inspects the charging current in a stepwise procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: BrightCharger Europe Oy Ltd.
    Inventor: Harri Tiainen
  • Patent number: 11417449
    Abstract: A magnetic sheet 1 of an embodiment includes a stack of a plurality of magnetic thin strips and resin film parts. The stack includes from 5 to 25 pieces of the magnetic thin strips. The magnetic thin strips are provided with cutout portions each having a width of 1 mm or less (including 0 (zero)). A ratio (B/A) of a total length B of the cutout portions provided to the magnetic thin strip to a total outer peripheral length A of an outer peripheral area of the magnetic thin strip arranged on one of the resin film parts is in a range of from 2 to 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA MATERIALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takao Sawa, Katsuhiko Yamada, Tadao Saito
  • Patent number: 11411424
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system that includes a boost circuit comprising a boost capacitor. The boost circuit is configured to provide a boost voltage at a first terminal of the boost capacitor by increasing the boost voltage at the first terminal to exceed a target voltage for a given charge cycle. A boost switch is configured to supply the boost voltage from the first terminal to a charge node for turning on a transistor, which is coupled to the charge node, based on a boost signal during the given charge cycle. A pull-down circuit is configured to control discharge of the charge node to a clamp voltage that is sufficient to turn off the transistor for the given charge cycle and to facilitate charging of the charge node in a next charge cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Huawen Jin, Kenneth J. Maggio, Thomas James Jung, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11407322
    Abstract: A smart power hub has an AC port, a first DC port to a car battery, a second DC port to DC devices such as car instruments, and a third DC port to solar panels or another smart power hub. An AC bi-directional converter has six transistors in a B6 configuration to convert three-phase AC, acting as an interleaved totem-pole Power-Factor-Corrector for one-phase AC. A switch connects the DC bi-directional converter with either the AC bi-directional converter or the solar panels on the third DC port. A link capacitor has a DC link voltage that rises during battery charging. A DC bi-directional converter has a transformer, a primary bridge connected to the DC link voltage, and a secondary bridge of transistors connected to the first DC port. Auxiliary windings in the transformer drive a rectifier to the second DC port to power on-board DC devices. Solar DC charges the battery without AC conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company, Limited
    Inventors: Xuechao Liu, Kin Lap Wong, Qingchun Li, Bin Xie, Danting Xu
  • Patent number: 11407312
    Abstract: A charging cable for a motor vehicle can be operated by electricity having a filter device. The charging cable includes a first conductor and a second conductor configured to transfer a current, a safety ground line, and a signal line configured to transfer charging information relating to a charging process. The filter device includes a core around which the first and second conductors and the safety ground line are wound, and the signal line is wound around the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Richard Bogenberger, Harald Ernst, Sergey Kochetov, Stephan Riess, Volker Zwillich
  • Patent number: 11411411
    Abstract: A device balances an energy storage module having multiple energy storage cells connected in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tobias Hollweg, Johannes Kurtz
  • Patent number: 11404894
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the field of battery technologies, and disclose a pre-charging circuit for a high voltage battery pack and a pre-charging method therefor. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, during a charging process, a control module switches on a charging switching module and switches off a charging pre-charging module after determining that a voltage at the first end of the charging switching module and a voltage at the second end of the charging switching module comply with a first constraint relationship; during a discharging process, the control module switches on the main positive switching module and switches off the main positive pre-charging module after determining that a voltage at the first end of the main positive switching module and a voltage at the second end of the main positive switching module comply with a second constraint relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Dachun Yang, Baohai Du, Yanhui Fu, Qiandeng Li
  • Patent number: 11398751
    Abstract: A wireless charging transmitter, a method for wireless charging, and a storage medium. The method can be applied to a transmitting component for transmitting a wireless charging signal to a terminal to be charged to wirelessly charge the terminal. A detection component can be configured to detect whether there is a living body that has entered a preset range associated with the wireless charging transmitter and generate a detection signal. An adjustment component can be connected to the transmitting component and configured to adjust a first transmitting power of the transmitting component to a second transmitting power when the detection signal indicates that there is a living body that has entered the preset range, the second transmitting power is smaller than the first transmitting power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yajun Pan, Shujun Wei, Jian Bai
  • Patent number: 11398726
    Abstract: A method for identifying the switch topology of multiple energy storage module connected in parallel and/or in series, which respectively have at least one energy storage element, each module has a switch element for selectively activating and deactivating the module and a unique identifier, wherein each module is assigned to a module string in that a total current flowing across the switch topology is checked, and individual modules are activated successively via the switch element until the total current is detectable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Technische Universität München
    Inventor: Thomas Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 11394217
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting a battery state of an electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a battery, a charger circuit for charging the battery, a measurement circuit for checking a state of the battery, and a processor configured to charge the battery using the charger circuit, determine whether the charging operation satisfies a preset condition, when the charging operation satisfies the preset condition, obtain first state information of the battery using the measurement circuit, determine an abnormal state of the battery at least based on a difference between the first state information and second state information which is obtained when the preset condition is satisfied before the first state information is acquired, and output notification information regarding the abnormal state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Inventors: Byungwook Kim, Jaemu Ha, Hyunho Park, Ki-Jong Byun, Jongkyu Lee, Jaekyong Choi, Moo-Young Kim
  • Patent number: 11394232
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery jump starting device having a highly conductive electrical pathway from a rechargeable battery of the device to a vehicle battery being jump started. The highly conductive pathway can be provided by a highly electrically conductive frame connecting one or more batteries of the rechargeable battery jump starting device to battery clamps of the rechargeable battery jump starting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: THE NOCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Jonathan Lewis Nook, William Knight Nook, James Richard Stanfield, Derek Michael Underhill
  • Patent number: 11394228
    Abstract: Battery packs and methods for controlling charging of battery packs are disclosed. In one aspect, a battery pack includes a battery including at least one battery cell, a first pack terminal and a second pack terminal configured to be connected to a charger, and a discharging switch including a first switch and a diode. The first switch is connected between the second pack terminal and the battery. The diode is connected in parallel to the first switch and has a forward direction in which charging current of the battery flows. The battery pack further includes a battery management unit configured to select a charging mode from one of a first charging mode in which the battery is charged with charging current flowing through the first switch and a second charging mode in which the battery is charged with charging current flowing through the diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jihwan Seol, Jooyul Lee
  • Patent number: 11390182
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to an integrated charging and data transfer station for an electric vehicle. The integrated station includes a charger to transfer electricity to the electric vehicle. A data transfer system of the integrated station includes a fiber optic system to connect the electric vehicle to a network. Optionally, the integrated station can include a roof with a landing station for an unmanned aerial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: ZAYO GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Jose Catarino, Aaron Werley, John Knauss, Benjamin Campbell, Christopher Parra
  • Patent number: 11387681
    Abstract: A charging device configured to charge a mobile device through the solar cells integrated on the mobile device. The charging device converts wall power to light energy which can be absorbed by the solar cells and then converted to electricity for storage in the rechargeable battery of the mobile device. The charging device includes a light source configured to emit a light beam having a spectrum tuned to the spectral response of the solar cells. The charging device includes a proximity sensor for detecting the presence of a mobile device within the charging device housing and responsively signaling the activation of the light source. The charging device includes logic for wirelessly communicating with the mobile device as well as controlling the charging process in various stages and aspects. The light source may be LEDs that also serve to transmit light communication signals to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: UTICA LEASECO, LLC
    Inventors: Gang He, Brendan Kayes, Christopher France
  • Patent number: 11387660
    Abstract: A sorting mechanism includes a flap that selects a first path connecting from a battery outlet of a charging section to a battery inlet of a first compartment section as a path to introduce a first battery to the first compartment section in a case of housing the first battery in the first compartment section, and that selects a second path connecting from the battery outlet of the charging section to a battery inlet of a second compartment section as a path to introduce a second battery to the second compartment section in a case of housing the second battery in the second compartment section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: FDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Kanou, Kenji Kitamura, Yasunari Mizoguchi, Kunihisa Sekiguchi