Patents Examined by Robert Grant
  • Patent number: 10418828
    Abstract: A particular embodiment of a storage system includes at least one storage device. The storage device can store working clothing. The storage system further includes a wired and/or wireless charging device. The wired and/or wireless charging device can transmit electrical energy to an energy storage unit of the work clothing. The wired and/or wireless charging device can charge different work-clothing items of the work clothing. The work clothing can be disposed in the storage device. The storage system further includes a sensor device that can sense a characteristic variable of the work clothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Schadow, Manfred Lutz, Joern Stock, Florian Esenwein, Daniel Barth, Cornelius Boeck, Joerg Maute
  • Patent number: 10406927
    Abstract: A electricity management device increases a counter value as an electric vehicle is charged from grid power that is supplied from an electrical grid, retains the counter value when the electric vehicle is charged from electricity generated by an electricity generation device, and reduces the counter value as electricity in the electric vehicle is discharged to a distribution board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akira Baba
  • Patent number: 10399451
    Abstract: A method for preparing the supply of electrical power to a vehicle having a supply device from a supply apparatus providing at least a supply voltage, wherein the vehicle and the supply apparatus are separate from one another and releasably electrically connectable to one another by a plug contact disposed in a line between the supply device of the vehicle and the supply apparatus. While preparing the supply of electrical power and after the supply device of the vehicle has been electrically connected to the supply apparatus connected by way of the plug contact, a specific voltage identifying the voltage class of the vehicle is determined. The supply apparatus reports back the determined voltage class to the supply device of the vehicle via a power line communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Sami Robert Zaki, Niklas Schalli
  • Patent number: 10399449
    Abstract: A wireless charging control apparatus may include at least one horizontal detector configured for detecting an inclination of an electric vehicle (EV); a suspension control device controlling a plurality of suspensions disposed near wheels of the EV to adjust a height or inclination of the EV; and a controller measuring the inclination of the EV based on data collected from the at least one horizontal sensor, estimating an inclination of a reception pad based on the measured inclination of the EV, and controlling the suspension control device to adjust the inclination of the EV when the inclination of the reception pad is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jin Su Jang, Taek Hyun Jung, Zeung Il Kim, Jae Yong Seong
  • Patent number: 10404107
    Abstract: A wide charging area and communication area are ensured in a non-contact power supply system with wireless communication. The present invention includes a resonance coil, a wireless communication antenna coil, a power supply coil, and a sensitivity adjustment circuit coupled to the power supply coil. When electric power is supplied in a contactless manner, the power supply coil and the resonance coil are coupled electromagnetically and electric power supply from the resonance coil is performed by using a magnetic resonance method. When wireless communication is performed, the magnetic fluxes of the wireless communication antenna coil are coupled with those of the resonance coil and sensitivity is enhanced by the sensitivity adjustment circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuei Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 10381854
    Abstract: A battery charging system has a switching circuit and a control circuit. The switching circuit has a first switch, and the control circuit has a plurality of analog control loops and a digital control unit. Each of the analog control loops provides a loop control signal based on a corresponding feedback signal, a corresponding reference signal and a slope compensation signal. The digital control unit provides a switching control signal to control the first switch based on the plurality of analog control loops and a time period control signal, and the digital control unit turns ON or turns OFF the first switch automatically in response to one of the plurality of analog control loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min Xu, Qiming Zhao, Xiaoqing Li
  • Patent number: 10381862
    Abstract: A power supply system including a battery module and a converter unit. The system includes a bidirectional DC-DC converter as a component of a battery module voltage control device that is connected between a load and a secondary battery and that changes a discharge voltage of the secondary battery and outputs the discharge voltage to the load. Moreover, a voltage control unit, which can include a control unit and the bidirectional DC-DC converter, changes the discharge voltage of the secondary battery to an output voltage target value to be outputted to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Michiya Mori
  • Patent number: 10381875
    Abstract: A method and system for providing wireless power transfer through a metal object is provided. In one aspect, an apparatus for wirelessly receiving power via a magnetic field is provided. The apparatus includes a metal cover including an inner portion and an outer portion. The outer portion is configured to form a loop around the inner portion of the metal cover. The outer portion is configured to inductively couple power via the magnetic field. The apparatus includes a receive circuit electrically coupled to the outer portion and configured to receive a current from the outer portion generated in response to the magnetic field. The receive circuit is configured to charge or power a load based on the current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Seong Heon Jeong, Mei-Li Chi, Curtis Gong, David George Fern, Francesco Carobolante
  • Patent number: 10369892
    Abstract: In a coil unit of a device for inductive transmission of electrical power with a cover, a base and a coil arranged between the cover and base. During operation of the device, the cover faces another coil unit and the base faces away from it. At least one support element, which mechanically supports the cover on the base, is arranged between the cover and the base. At least one cavity is formed between the cover and the support element by protrusions on the cover and/or on the support element, whereby the cover lies on the support element, and/or at least one cavity is formed between the base and the support element by protrusions on the support element and/or on the base, whereby the support element lies on the base. Sensors or elements for magnetic flux guidance can be arranged protected from mechanical load in such a cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: IPT TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Felix Cordes, Niklas Endler
  • Patent number: 10348107
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a battery device including a battery, a charging and discharging switch unit configured to control charging and discharging of the battery, a pre-charging unit configured to be charged during discharging of the battery, and a discharging unit configured to discharge the charge charged in the pre-charging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Chang-Hyun Sung, Young-Hwan Kim, Sang-Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 10348109
    Abstract: A multi-device charger with an integrated privacy station. The mobile device charger contains a plurality of power options for charging a mobile device. The privacy station of the mobile device charger provides a privacy cover, or shield for concealing a screen of the mobile device from view while the mobile device is charging in the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: BIBICORD, INC.
    Inventor: Joanne Loewen
  • Patent number: 10330739
    Abstract: A battery management system (BMS) described herein determines the internal resistance for a cell that may have an internal short circuit. In one aspect, the BMS monitors the voltage across each of a plurality cells that are coupled in series. If the voltage across one of the cells differs from the voltages across the other cells, the BMS can flag the cell as potentially having an internal short circuit. Once flagged, the BMS can use a simulator that stores a model cell that has similar characteristics as the cells monitored by the BMS to determine the internal resistance of the flagged cell. In one aspect, the simulator changes the value of a surrogate resistor that is parallel with the model cell until the voltage across the model cell matches the voltage of the flagged cell. The value of the surrogate resistor indicates the internal resistance of the flagged cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jimmy M. Quiambao, James L. Peck
  • Patent number: 10326299
    Abstract: A method and system for delivering power from an aircraft power system to a tray table is provided. The system may include a moveable assembly in connection with the tray table. Cable may be routed to each tray table through the moveable assembly. The power is processed into a useable form for electronics mounted in the tray table. The tray table may include a wireless charger, and may harvest data from user electronics. The tray table may also push data to the user's electronics. The system may include a wireless communications client to take advantage of the wireless inflight entertainment (IFE) system on board many transportation platforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Jouper, John S. Lamb, Dennis P. Markert
  • Patent number: 10312708
    Abstract: The PD device includes: a DC/DC converter disposed between an input and an output; a primary-side controller configured to control an input current of the DC/DC converter; and a secondary-side controller coupled to a control input, the secondary-side controller configured to receive a control input signal of the control input, and then feedback the received control input signal to the primary-side controller. The primary-side controller varies an output voltage value and an available output current capacity (MAX value) of the DC/DC converter by controlling the input current on the basis of the control input signal fed back from the secondary-side controller. There are provide the PD device, the AC adapter, the AC charger, the electronic apparatus, and the PD system, each capable of achieving miniaturization and cost reduction, and capable of controlling the output voltage value and the available output current capacity (MAX value).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akihiro Ono
  • Patent number: 10277041
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a battery state module that determines a battery state of each of a plurality of battery cells forming a battery unit. A battery state includes a health of the battery cell. A battery state of a battery cell differs from a battery state of other battery cells of the battery unit. Each battery cell is connected to a shared bus through a bypass converter that provides power from the battery cell to the shared bus. A charge/discharge modification module determines, based on battery state, an amount to vary a charging characteristic for each battery cell compared to a reference charging characteristic. Each charging characteristic varies as a function of a reference state. A charge/discharge module adjusts charging/discharging of a battery cell of the battery unit based on the charging characteristic of the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignees: UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY, ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC, FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, A BODY CORPORATE
    Inventors: Regan A. Zane, Michael Evzelman, Daniel Costinett, Dragan Maksimovic, Richard Dyche Anderson, Kandler Smith, Michael Scott Trimboli, Gregory L. Plett
  • Patent number: 10276899
    Abstract: The invention provides an electric autocycle support apparatus comprising an autocycle engagement device adapted to support an autocycle, the engagement device having a coil adapted to provide a magnetic field for inductively charging an autocycle supported by the apparatus. The invention also provides an electric autocycle stand and a charging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Auckland Uniservices Limited
    Inventors: John Talbot Boys, Grant Anthony Covic
  • Patent number: 10230249
    Abstract: Provided is a method for charging/discharging a battery pack having an auxiliary charging/discharging device and a battery assembly in which a plurality of secondary battery cell parallel modules, each of which includes a plurality of fasecondary battery cells connected in parallel, are connected in series, the method including, when there is no abnormality in the secondary battery cells during charging/discharging, connecting the auxiliary charging/discharging device in parallel to any of the secondary battery cell parallel modules, and when there is an abnormality in any of the secondary battery cells during charging/discharging, releasing connection to the secondary battery cell at which the abnormality has arisen in the secondary battery cell parallel module including the secondary battery cell at which the abnormality has arisen, and connecting the auxiliary charging/discharging device in parallel to the secondary battery cell parallel module including the secondary battery cell at which the abnormality
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ozawa, Kazuo Nakamura, Shin Hotta, Kentaro Marutani, Shinichi Uesaka
  • Patent number: 10230250
    Abstract: A charging apparatus comprises a charge control unit. The charge control unit charges a secondary battery at a first current value until the voltage of the secondary battery reaches a predetermined first voltage value. The charge control unit, on detecting that the voltage has reached the first voltage value, performs control to charge the secondary battery at a second current value that is lower than the first current value, until a predetermined second voltage value is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignees: NEC Corporation, NEC Energy Devices, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichiro Shiraishi, Takuya Hasegawa, Tomoyuki Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 10220717
    Abstract: Techniques for electric vehicle systems, and in particular to an electric vehicle emergency charging system and method of use. In one embodiment, a system for charging a moving electric vehicle is disclosed, the system comprising: an electrical storage unit disposed on the electric vehicle; a charging panel in electrical communication with the electrical storage unit; a vehicle controller that determines if the electrical storage unit requires charging and configured to determine if an emergency external power source is available to charge the electrical storage unit; wherein the charging panel receives the charge from the emergency external power source and charges the electrical storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher P. Ricci
  • Patent number: 10224582
    Abstract: An electrochemical secondary battery (100) having an inbuilt charging circuit comprises a battery housing (101), a battery cell (102), a positive electrode cap (105), a negative electrode cap (103), a circuit board module (104), and an insulating washer (106). A recessed loop line (107) structure is provided at an end of the battery housing (100) in proximity to the negative electrode cap (103). The battery cell (102) is arranged within the battery housing (101) and arranged between the positive electrode cap (105) and the loop line (107) structure. The positive electrode cap (105) is connected to the battery housing (101) to constitute the positive electrode of the secondary battery. The negative electrode cap (103) is arranged on the circuit board module (104). The circuit board module (104) is arranged between the loop line (107) and the negative electrode cap (103).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIAN NANPING NANFU BATTERY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Qingshun Zhang, Jintian Chen, Haitao Chang, Zhiming Zhang, Sheng Su