Abstract: 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.
Abstract: A distributed control system uses a central controller in Internet communication with a local controller to manage grid tie attachment with a battery to form an integrated battery energy storage system (BESS). The BESS is capable of charging or discharging the battery, as well as correcting grid phase with volt amp reactive (VAR) leading or lagging operation modes. Examples shown include simple BESS charging and discharging, BESS integrated with renewable energy sources (here photovoltaic), and direct current fast charge (DCFC) connections with an electric vehicle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 16, 2018
Date of Patent:
July 12, 2022
Assignee:
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Abstract: A secondary coil unit for a vehicle has a housing with a cover that can be removed from the housing. The secondary coil unit further has a secondary coil which is arranged in the housing and surrounds a core region. The cover and the housing are designed in such a way that an opening through the secondary coil unit is created when the cover is removed from the housing.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 29, 2018
Date of Patent:
July 12, 2022
Assignee:
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention impalement adaptive electric vehicle (EV) charging. One embodiment includes one or more electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE); an adaptive EV charging platform, including a processor; a memory containing: an adaptive EV charging application; a plurality of EV charging parameters. In addition, the processor is configured by the adaptive EV charging application to: collect the plurality of EV charging parameters from one or more EVSEs, simulate EV charging control routines and push out updated EV charging control routines to the one or more EVSEs. Additionally, the adaptive EV charging platform is configured to control charging of EVs based upon the plurality of EV charging parameters collected from at least one EVSE.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 10, 2020
Date of Patent:
July 5, 2022
Assignee:
California Institute of Technology
Inventors:
Zachary J. Lee, Tongxin Li, Steven H. Low, Sunash B. Sharma
Abstract: Methods and apparatus for electric vehicle charger with load shedding. One embodiment provides a method of load shedding including receiving, at an electronic processor of an EV charger, an indication of an amount of current flowing through a main switchboard connected to the EV charger and determining, with the electronic processor, whether the amount of current exceeds a predetermined threshold. The method also includes reducing, using the electronic processor, a charge rating of the EV charger when the amount of current exceeds the predetermined threshold.
Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for making good use of recently obtained biometric data, for configuring propagule capsules (e.g. containing seeds or spores with growth media and other helpful materials) for deployment via drones so that each has an improved chance of survival, and for configuring drones or piloted craft for safe fleet deployment in remote locations.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 2, 2019
Date of Patent:
July 5, 2022
Assignee:
DroneSeed Co.
Inventors:
John William Thomson, Grant Everest Canary, Matthew Mehdi Aghai, Benjamin William Reilly, David Nathan Gray
Abstract: A system of a vehicle includes a processor configured to control output current of a remote power distribution circuit (PDC) connected to the vehicle according to a temperature change of a power line or return line of the PDC. The temperature change is derived from a PDC output voltage or output current change. The PDC output voltage and output current are measured at an input to a load connected to the PDC. And, the PDC output voltage is measured between a ground line of the PDC and one of the power and return lines.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 21, 2017
Date of Patent:
July 5, 2022
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Allan Roy Gale, Michael W. Degner, Larry Dean Elie
Abstract: A modular power converter system includes a plurality of active power link modules (APLMs) coupled to each other, each APLM having a plurality of switching devices including first and second switching devices coupled to each other, and at least one first-type energy storage device (ESD) coupled in parallel with both of the first and second switching devices, the first-type ESD configured to induce a first direct current (DC) voltage. The system also includes a plurality of relays coupled to the first-type ESD, and a charge controller coupled to at least one APLM of the plurality of APLMs and coupled to at least one of an electrical power source and a discharge circuit. The charge controller is configured to alternately charge and discharge the first-type ESD in response to a plurality of switching states including switching states of the plurality of switching devices and the plurality of relays.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 31, 2016
Date of Patent:
July 5, 2022
Inventors:
Tomas Sadilek, Rui Zhou, Zhi Zhou, Philip Michael Cioffi, Dong Dong
Abstract: An example method includes controlling a switching order of a plurality of power switches. The power switches are coupled to a flying capacitor and include parasitic bipolar transistors susceptible to the voltage overstress in response to excess stray inductance of the flying capacitor. The method further includes, in response to the controlled switching order, converting an input voltage of a first voltage level to an output voltage of a second voltage level while mitigating the voltage overstress of the parasitic bipolar transistors of the plurality of power switches.
Abstract: Systems and methods to maintain a fleet of aerial vehicles may include a maintenance system, a charging power source, and a control system. For example, the maintenance system may include a plurality of workstations to perform maintenance tasks, a charging rail that connects the workstations with the charging power source, and a plurality of platforms that move along the charging rail. The control system may instruct a platform to receive an aerial vehicle, couple the aerial vehicle to the charging rail, move the aerial vehicle among the workstations, and charge a battery of the aerial vehicle via the charging rail during movement and/or performance of various maintenance tasks.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 20, 2019
Date of Patent:
June 28, 2022
Assignee:
Amazon Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Ben Martin Schweitzer, Jean-Guillaume Dominique Durand
Abstract: A vehicle battery jump starter including a battery pack interface configured to receive at least one of a first rechargeable battery pack having a first nominal voltage and a second rechargeable battery pack having a second nominal voltage different from the first nominal voltage, a power boost module including one or more energy storage devices, and terminal clamps configured to electrically connect the vehicle battery jump starter to a vehicle battery. The jump starter further includes a controller having an electronic processor configured to close a jump start switch in response to detecting an attempted vehicle start, close a first bypass switch when the voltage of the battery pack is greater than the voltage threshold, and close the second bypass switch when the voltage of the battery pack is less than the voltage threshold.
Abstract: The invention first relates to a charging device (1) adapted for being connected on the one hand to a battery of a first electric vehicle (14), and on the other hand to a battery of a second electric vehicle (12), for being supplied with direct input current by the battery of the first electric vehicle (14), and for supplying the battery of the second electric vehicle (12) with a direct output current. The invention also relates to a charging method using this charging device.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 6, 2014
Date of Patent:
June 21, 2022
Assignee:
INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS
Inventors:
Eric Biagini, François Coste, Guillaume Jean
Abstract: In one embodiment, an electronic device may include a battery, a charging circuit electrically connected to the battery, a first connector, a second connector, a first switch configured to electrically connect the first connector to the charging circuit or to open an electrical connection between the first connector and the charging circuit, a second switch configured to electrically connect the second connector to the charging circuit or to open an electrical connection between the second connector and the charging circuit, a first control circuit configured to control the first switch to electrically connect the first connector to the charging circuit and to control the second switch to open the electrical connection between the second connector and the charging circuit based on first power supplied by a first external electronic device through the first connector, and a second control circuit configured to at least partially control the second switch to electrically connect the second connector to the char
Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle capable of efficiently managing a battery. The vehicle includes the battery, a battery sensor configured to sense an output voltage and an output current of the battery, and a power management device configured to control charging of the battery based on a state of charge (SoC) of the battery. The power management device may calculate an estimated SoC of the battery based on the output current of the battery, calculate an actual SoC based on the output of a battery model corresponding to an input of the output voltage and the output current, and based on an error between the actual SoC and the estimated SoC, activate a power generation control, which controls a generator based on the SoC of the battery, and an idle stop & go (ISG), which turns off an engine during stopping of the vehicle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 28, 2019
Date of Patent:
June 14, 2022
Assignees:
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
Abstract: A system includes a vehicle and an induction unit external to the vehicle. The induction unit includes a primary coil designed as a primary induction coil, and the vehicle includes a low voltage on-board electrical system having a secondary coil designed as a secondary induction coil. An alternating voltage can be induced in at least one part of the low-voltage on-board electrical system by the electromagnetic coupling of the secondary coil to the primary coil, and at least one component of the low-voltage on-board electrical system can be fed with the induced alternating voltage or with direct voltage via a rectifier.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 23, 2015
Date of Patent:
June 14, 2022
Assignee:
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Abstract: A system for charging electric vehicles includes an optimization module configured to construct a charging profile representing a first charging power suitable for being supplied by the charging device in order to charge an electric vehicle, a regulation module for regulating the electric power supplied by the charging device. There is a first mode of operation in which the regulation module applies the charging profile and a second mode of operation in which the device supplies a second charging power. The system further includes a coordination device for communicating with the charging devices, which is suitable for triggering a coordinated optimization phase during which charging devices construct a charging profile from an individual charging data item and for triggering a coordinated regulation phase during which some of the charging devices implement the second mode of operation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 9, 2017
Date of Patent:
June 14, 2022
Assignee:
ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE
Inventors:
Olivier Beaude, Bayram Kaddour, Bertrand Augustin, Julien Pennec, Alban Jeandin
Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide for a wireless charging system that includes a charge circuit and a housing configuration having a substantially conical outer profile. Additionally, one or more charge coils may be positioned within the housing configuration and coupled to the charge circuit, wherein the one or more charge coils define a charge field direction that is perpendicular to the substantially conical outer profile. In one example, the housing configuration includes a plurality of segments arranged in a stacked configuration.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 24, 2016
Date of Patent:
June 14, 2022
Assignee:
Intel Corporation
Inventors:
Songnan Yang, Hong W. Wong, David Zhou, Wah Yiu Kwong, Xiaoguo Liang
Abstract: A wireless charging method and apparatus are provided. Identification information is transmitted, through a near field communication antenna, to a wireless power transmitter for an authentication process of the electronic device, if the electronic device is put on the wireless power transmitter for wireless charging and a near field communication controller is in an initial or idle state. Wireless power is received through a wireless power receiving antenna from the wireless power transmitter after the authentication process. Wireless charging is performed through a wireless charging controller by using the received wireless power. It is determined whether the wireless charging is complete. A charging completion signal is transmitted, through the near field communication antenna, to the wireless power transmitter based on the determining.
Abstract: A DC-DC converter converts voltage from a battery source providing a voltage Vin to a lower level. A four-level transistor stack selectively connects an input voltage and flying capacitor voltages to an output inductor. Stress reduction transistors limit the charging of the flying capacitors to Vin/3. The stress reduction transistors can also limit switching transistor voltages to Vin/3. Freewheel switches can be used to limit ringing in the output inductor.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 8, 2020
Date of Patent:
June 7, 2022
Assignee:
The Regents of the University of California
Abstract: Systems and methods for performing low voltage charging of a high voltage, series-connected string of battery modules are disclosed. A battery pack system may include a plurality of battery cells, including one or more groups of battery cells coupled in parallel. A processor may be configured to select a sub-group of battery cells from a group of battery cells for charging separately from other battery cells of the selected group of battery cells. The group of battery cells may be reconfigured to allow charging of the sub-group of battery cells separate from the other battery cells. The sub-group of battery cells may be charged, and then the group of battery cells may be reconfigured to allow operation of the sub-group of battery cells with the other battery cells. During charging, the sub-group of battery cells may be unavailable but other battery cells may continue to discharge.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 8, 2020
Date of Patent:
May 31, 2022
Assignee:
Southwest Electronic Energy Corporation
Inventors:
David Allen White, Brett Levins, Jeffrey Johnson