Patents Examined by Robert Grant
  • Patent number: 10666077
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for remote configuration of battery charging settings. In one embodiment, an example device may include a battery, at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions, and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to determine that a charger is connected to the device, determine a first length of time that a maximum charging voltage for the battery has been set to a first voltage value, determine that the maximum charging voltage is to be reduced from the first voltage value to a second voltage value, and charge the battery at a maximum of the second voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupal Kanaiyalal Dharia, Feng Wang, Jianlin Chen, Xuezhang Dong
  • Patent number: 10666075
    Abstract: Disclosed are a non-narrow voltage direct current (NON-NVDC) charger and a control method thereof. In the present disclosure, a proper target voltage, related to a turn-on voltage of a switch circuit, is determined according to an output voltage of a load, a storage voltage of an energy storage device and a turn-on resistance value of the switch circuit. Then, according to the determined target voltage, the NON-NVDC charger can enter a supplement mode at an appropriate time. The NON-NVDC charger can be operated stably and has excellent operation efficiency even when a current flowing through a transformer close to a maximum safe current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chun-Kai Hsu, Chih-Heng Su
  • Patent number: 10654363
    Abstract: An installation for recharging an energy storage means, such as a battery of an electric vehicle, by conduction of energy from an electric power source to the energy storage means, where the battery is electrically connected to an on-board device and provided with a plurality of electric contacts, and on the ground, a ground device, combined with the on-board device, is connected to the electric power source and includes a plurality of electric contacts, each electric contact of the ground device being able to be put into contact with a corresponding contact of the on-board device, and the installation being able to safely apply an electric recharging power issued by the electric power source to the battery, where the plurality of electric contacts of the on-board device and of the ground device exclusively includes a phase contact and neutral contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Hourtane, Francois Maurin, Nicolas Nevot
  • Patent number: 10651666
    Abstract: An electricity-storage system 110a is configured to be able to charge and discharge by connecting a plug to an electrical outlet 140a. Power discharged from the electricity-storage system 110a is monitored by a reverse-power monitoring device 100 and discharge from the electricity-storage system 110a is executed according to instruction from the reverse-power monitoring device 100, in order to avoid reverse power flow to an electrical grid 150.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichi Toya, Satoru Inakagata
  • Patent number: 10647209
    Abstract: An electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) charging system includes an EVSE charging station that is configured to switch a power source between a first power source and a second power source based on a time of use or real-time energy pricing data from a utility. Switching additionally and/or optionally may be based on at least one of charging information and metering information. The first power source may be a renewable source and the second source may be the power grid. In this way, a smart electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) charging station may manage and optimize energy supply from a grid and a renewable source when charging an electric vehicle (EV) with the smart the EVSE charging station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Harry Price Haas, Sesha Devasena Yeruva, Celia Dayagi
  • Patent number: 10644527
    Abstract: A rechargeable wireless mouse includes a wireless electrical-energy-receiving circuit, a transformation circuit, a wireless transmission circuit and a control circuit. The wireless electrical-energy-receiving circuit receives an electromagnetic energy from a charging plate. The transformation circuit is electrically connected to the wireless electrical-energy-receiving circuit and transforms the electromagnetic energy into an electric potential energy. The wireless transmission circuit transmits a control signal to the charging plate. The control circuit is electrically connected to the transformation circuit and the wireless transmission circuit. The control circuit receives the electric potential energy transmitted by the transformation circuit and outputs the control signal to the charging plate according to the electric potential energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignees: DEXIN ELECTRONIC LTD., DEXIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ho-Lung Lu, Pai-Yang Chou
  • Patent number: 10637265
    Abstract: An example of a system includes a electronic device having a rechargeable battery, a charging module to charge the rechargeable battery and moveable between a retracted position and an extended position to provide a stand during charging of the rechargeable battery, and a communication module to wirelessly transfer and receive data during charging of the rechargeable battery. The example system also includes a charging mat to charge the rechargeable battery when the charging module is in the extended position and coupled to the charging mat and a docking module to wirelessly transfer data to and wirelessly receive data from the communication module of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Monji G Jabori, Bach Lien Nguyen, David Isaac Blatt
  • Patent number: 10630098
    Abstract: A charging control device includes a charging current control unit which sets a target value (Isp) of a charging current from an external power supply to a high-voltage battery, a charging current adjusting circuit which adjusts the charging current to the Isp, a supply voltage sensor which detects a supply voltage from the external power supply to the high-voltage battery, and a supply voltage monitoring unit which detects or predicts presence or absence of a decrease in the supply voltage from a predetermined normal charging voltage using an output of the supply voltage sensor, where when the decrease is not detected or predicted, the Isp is set to a predetermined normal target value, and when the decrease is detected or predicted, the Isp is changed to be equal to or lower than the normal target value and maintained at a value at which the supply voltage reaches a determination voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoya Sakakibara, Jun Kudo
  • Patent number: 10630083
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for balancing battery cells of a multi-cell battery, the system comprising a processor configured to determine a state of charge for each battery cell, generate a probability table for all of the battery cells based on a difference between the state of charge for each battery and a mean state of charge, select one of the battery cells via probabilistic selection according to the probability table, and generate an instruction for adjusting a charge of the selected battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Digital Aerolus, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian J. McEwan
  • Patent number: 10630095
    Abstract: A voltage regulating apparatus the simultaneously delivers power at a voltage level and at double the voltage level as a battery mount and a battery pack mount with each other. The battery pack is equipped with a voltage doubling circuit that is activated to double the voltage in response to the mounting of the battery mount and the battery pack with each other. The activation may arise either from a resistance sense contact to close the voltage doubling circuit or a magnetic force contact that triggers a magnetic switch to close the voltage doubling circuit. A further voltage regulating apparatus to switchover between providing power from a battery pack and DC input depending upon which voltage is higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Inventor: Ross Kanarek
  • Patent number: 10630101
    Abstract: A charging-discharging module of the energy storage unit is provided. The charging-discharging module of the energy storage unit includes a first energy storage unit; a second energy storage unit; a first switching unit electrically connected to a first terminal of the second energy storage unit; a selecting circuit electrically connected to a first terminal of the first energy storage unit and the first switching unit to selectively conduct the first energy storage unit or the second energy storage unit to a system circuit; and a processing unit electrically connected to the first switching unit. A charging and discharging method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Chang-Lin Hsieh, Yi-Ming Huang, Chien-Chung Lo, Wei-Chen Tu
  • Patent number: 10618651
    Abstract: A smart battery includes a battery and a measurement module coupled to measure electrical characteristics of the battery. The smart battery also includes processing logic and a communication interface configured to receive the electrical characteristics and transmit the electrical characteristics to a receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: WiBotic Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin Waters
  • Patent number: 10618415
    Abstract: A charger includes a power output interface configured to output a charging signal, a signal interface configured to acquire charging information of a battery, a balance charging interface configured to perform balance charging control over sets of battery cores of the battery, and a control circuit electrically connected to the power output interface, the signal interface, and the balance charging interface. The control circuit is configured to select the signal interface and/or the balance charging interface to perform charging control over the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuancai Liu, Lei Wang, Wentao Wang
  • Patent number: 10613543
    Abstract: A robot cleaner (or autonomous cleaner) charging system includes a first light emitting device to output an optical signal for inducing a docking of the robot cleaner, a second light emitting device and a third light emitting device to output an optical signal for inducing a homing of the robot cleaner, and provided at left and right of the first light emitting device, respectively, and a light emitting device fixing member to set position and direction of the first, second and third light emitting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Woonghui Won, Anna Kim, Inbo Shim, Byungdoo Yim
  • Patent number: 10608463
    Abstract: Charging methods and systems are provided which charge multiple cells directly from an AC source, by adjusting, momentarily, the number of charged cells to the momentary voltage level provided by the AC source. Cells are rapidly switched in and out to correspond to the provided voltage level, and the charging level of each cell is regulated by the switching order of the cells—determined according to cell characteristics such as state of charge and state of health. Advantageously, charging losses are reduced significantly in the disclosed systems and methods, and an additional level of cell control is provided. The charged assembly of cells may be arranged and re-arranged in various configurations to optimize the charging scheme, e.g., to equalize the charging states of the cells to simplify the use and improve the efficiency of the cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Storedot Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel Aronov, Avraham Edelshtein, Maxim Liberman
  • Patent number: 10596916
    Abstract: A vehicle has an electric machine including two sets of galvanically isolated windings, first and second inverters each coupled with only one of the sets, and a traction battery. The vehicle also has a switching arrangement that, during charge, couples the first inverter with a port such that current from a remote source flows through one of the sets and induces a voltage in the other of the sets to charge the battery while isolating the source from the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Najmabadi, Hadi Malek
  • Patent number: 10601240
    Abstract: A control device, an electronic apparatus, a contactless power transmission system, and the like that can suppress deterioration in battery characteristics caused by recharging and realize power saving or the like. A control device on a power receiving side in a contactless power transmission system including a power transmitting device and a power receiving device includes: a charging unit that charges a battery based on power received by a power receiving unit that receives power from the power transmitting device; a discharging unit that performs an operation of discharging the battery and supplies the power from the battery to a power supply target; and a control unit that controls the discharging unit. The control unit starts the discharging operation of the discharging unit after an output voltage (VCC) of the power receiving unit has decreased and a start-up period (TST) of the discharging operation has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kota Onishi
  • Patent number: 10594146
    Abstract: A battery control circuit that is used for a battery protecting apparatus configured to protect a secondary battery in which cells are connected in series includes: a level shift circuit configured to shift respective levels of cell voltages of the cells to generate level shift voltages; a maximum voltage output circuit including differential amplifier circuits for the respective level shift voltages, the respective differential amplifier circuits being configured to compare the corresponding level shift voltages with threshold voltages to generate output voltages, the maximum voltage output circuit being configured to simultaneously compare the output voltages to output a maximum voltage corresponding to a cell voltage whose voltage value is highest; an overcharge detecting circuit configured to detect overcharging of the secondary battery based on the maximum voltage; and a maximum voltage cell specifying circuit configured to specify, based on the output voltages, a cell whose voltage value is highest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kohei Shibata
  • Patent number: 10594143
    Abstract: A charging method for a battery set with a plurality of battery cells, having steps of performing a serial charging on the battery cells; determining whether one of the battery cells reaches a saturation voltage; and performing a uniform separately charging on the battery cells when one of the battery cells reaches the saturation voltage, wherein the uniform separately charging comprises sorting the battery cells according to cell voltages of the battery cells; and sequentially and separately charging the sorted battery cells to a Nth segmented voltage in a Nth segmentation, wherein N is a positive integer from 1 to K, and K is a positive integer larger than 1. The charging method of the present disclosure can reduce the temperature rising of the battery cell due to the longtime charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHUNG SHAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Wei-Min Hsiao, Jeng-Chyan Lin, Kuo-Kuang Jen, Fu-Min Fang
  • Patent number: 10594144
    Abstract: A method of charging an electronic device and an electronic device includes a charger receiving first information from the electronic device; determining a charge state of the electronic device according to the first information, generating a first instruction if the charge state of the electronic device is determined to be abnormal, and adjusting the power supplied to the electronic device based on the first instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: LENOVO (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chao Ma, Leiyu Wang