Patents Examined by Robert Grant
  • Patent number: 11196268
    Abstract: A method for generating a data diagram is provided, including: obtaining a first data of each cell in a battery pack during a charge and discharge cycle of the battery pack; calculating a rated capacity and a dischargeable electric quantity of each cell based upon the data obtained; and generating a first data diagram for every cell of the battery pack based upon the rated capacity and the dischargeable electric quantity of each cell. A method for managing the battery pack based on the data diagram is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Dong-Xu Guo, Xu-Ning Feng, Yue-Jiu Zheng, Xue-Bing Han, Lan-Guang Lu, Ming-Gao Ouyang, Xiang-Ming He, Geng Yang
  • Patent number: 11196276
    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: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: BIBICORD, INC.
    Inventor: Joanne Loewen
  • Patent number: 11190038
    Abstract: An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention comprises: a first port and a second port; a system; a battery; a first charging circuit electrically connected to the first port, the system, and the battery; and a second charging circuit electrically connected to the second port, the system, the battery, and the first charging circuit. Accordingly, the electronic device can be supplied with electricity from a plurality of electric supplies through circuits which are realized in a simple manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Inventors: Wonseok Jang, Jaedeok Cha, Sangju Kim
  • Patent number: 11180038
    Abstract: A method for controlling a power transmitting device includes (1) causing a power transmitting coil to output power before a power receiving coil and the power transmitting coil are electromagnetically coupled with each other and a mobile object including the power receiving coil overlaps the power transmitting coil in order for the power receiving coil and the power transmitting coil to be electromagnetically coupled with each other, (2) causing a thermal sensor to measure a surface temperature of the metal foreign object, and (3) causing, if the measured surface temperature of the metal foreign object is equal to or higher than a threshold, the power transmitting coil to reduce the power to be output or stop outputting the power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Matsuo, Tetsuro Sawai
  • Patent number: 11177683
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for preventing overvoltage of a battery using a cell balancing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Seung Kyu Yoon, Tae Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 11177677
    Abstract: The system is directed to enhancing the energy efficiency of electrical charging systems. The system is utilized in circuits that include a power source such as a battery feeding electrical current into an energy storage device such as a capacitor to charge the capacitor with electrical power. The system of the invention extracts energy from such circuits that would otherwise be converted into heat and thereby wasted. The system includes an energy storage and release device such as a motor that is connected to the circuit and converts the electrical energy therein that would otherwise be converted into heat into mechanical energy or electrical energy by means of monitoring and controlling electrical current flow through the system to maintain it at low and constant levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Inventor: Jack Nachamkin
  • Patent number: 11165262
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for protecting each of a plurality of cell stacks included in a battery pack from overcharge. The overcharge prevention apparatus prevents the overcharge of a plurality of cell stacks connected in series within a high current path. The overcharge prevention apparatus includes a voltage measuring unit configured to measure voltage of each cell stack, and generate a first monitoring signal indicating the measured voltage, a current regulating unit configured to selectively provide a bypass path to each cell stack, and a controller connected to the voltage measuring unit and the current regulating unit allowing communication. The controller is configured to control the current regulating unit based on the first monitoring signal from the voltage measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Inventors: Jae-Chan Lee, Soo-Ryoung Kim, Hyun-Sik Kim, Hyeon-Jin Song, Won-Tae Lee, Yang-Lim Choi
  • Patent number: 11146082
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for an electronic control unit to prevent the discharge of a battery. The method includes the steps of detecting an off signal of vehicle function power connected to a battery and monitoring a voltage of the battery, detecting a low voltage of the battery based on a result of the monitoring and transmitting an operation inhibition signal for preventing power consumption of the battery to a plurality of controllers, and determining whether the plurality of controllers switch to a sleep mode in response to the operation inhibition signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Hyundai Autron Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyoung Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 11146076
    Abstract: A battery system includes a battery module, an active cell balancing circuit, and a battery controller. Each cell has diametrically-opposed positive and negative cell tabs. The circuit includes voltage sensors and, at each end of the battery module, first and second tiers of switches and an energy storage element. Each voltage sensor is located between a different pair of adjacent cells. The controller receives measured voltages from the sensors indicative of an electric potential between adjacent battery cells. Responsive to the measured voltages, the controller commands the first tier to selectively connect or disconnect designated pairs of cells to the corresponding second tier. The controller also commands the second tier to selectively connect or disconnect the designated cells to a corresponding energy storage element. This action shuttles energy between the designated pairs of battery cells to balance a state of charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Tamara R. Thomson, Fang Wang, Tao Wang, Theodore T. Kim, Larry T. Nitz
  • Patent number: 11139660
    Abstract: A method for managing a battery includes exchanging battery data between the battery and an onboard battery management system (BMS) of a mobile platform and between the battery and a charger BMS of a battery charger, and managing the battery based on the battery data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wentao Wang, Dayang Zheng, Lei Wang
  • Patent number: 11139661
    Abstract: An equalizer circuit provides both passive and active cell voltage equalization in a battery pack to improve charge and discharge capacity at a low cost. The equalizer circuit is a bilevel circuit that uses both passive equalizers and active equalizers to balance cell voltage. The cells may be grouped into size limited sections which are balanced by passive equalizers. The sections are balanced by active equalizers to promote increased pack charge and discharge capacity. The equalizer circuit can use a current detector or a voltage controlled oscillator to assist in closed loop current control to reduce switching losses and permit use of smaller transistors. The equalizer circuit can use open line protection with capacitors to store excess charge and prevent voltage overload of the switching devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: The University Of Toledo
    Inventor: Thomas A. Stuart
  • Patent number: 11139669
    Abstract: A converter system and method is provided. The converter system includes a converter and a control module. The converter is electrically connected with a DC bus and a load. The converter is configured to realize the conversion between a bus voltage of the DC bus and a load voltage of the load. The control module is electrically coupled with the converter. When the converter is in a standby mode, the control module generates a first-side compensation signal according to the bus voltage and generates a second-side compensation signal according to the load voltage. And the control module generates an instruction current signal according to the first-side compensation signal, the second-side compensation signal and a reference current signal. The control module generates the driving signal according to the instruction current signal, so as to control an output current of the converter to be stable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Yunfeng Liu, Guojin Xu, Guoqiao Shen, Jinfa Zhang
  • Patent number: 11139662
    Abstract: A balance circuit for a set of battery cells includes a set of switch circuits and control circuitry coupled to the switch circuits. Each switch circuit of the switch circuits is coupled to a corresponding battery cell of the battery cells, and enables a bypass current to flow out a positive terminal of the corresponding battery cell if the switch circuit is turned on. The switch circuit includes a first switch having a first diode and a second switch having a second diode reversely coupled to the first diode. The second switch disables the bypass current if the second switch is turned off. The control circuitry balances the battery cells by controlling the switch circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: O2Micro Inc.
    Inventor: Guoxing Li
  • Patent number: 11133699
    Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a method of charging a medical device includes receiving radiofrequency signals from a remote machine remote from the medical device via a receiver of the medical device. The method includes converting the radiofrequency signals into electrical energy via a generator of the medical device. The method includes storing the electrical energy in an energy cell of the medical device. The method also includes powering a power consumption component of the medical device by transmitting the energy from the energy cell to the power consumption component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Donovan Halliburton, Alexander Joseph Brown, Kelly Yik
  • Patent number: 11121572
    Abstract: A charging service method includes transmitting information of a communication device to a charging station, transmitting information of the charging station to the communication device, acquiring available service information of the charging station from a charging station server according to the information of the charging station, selecting at least one service option for generating charging service information, transmitting the charging service information to the charging station server, generating charging station certification information to the communication device, relaying the charging station certification information from the communication device to the charging station, and enabling a charging function of the charging station to charge the communication device after the charging station certification information is received by the charging station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: ITE Tech. Inc.
    Inventors: Chun-Wen Lin, Ming-Hsun Sung
  • Patent number: 11121566
    Abstract: The described technology relates to a power supply and a battery pack including the same. In one embodiments, the power supply includes an input terminal configured to receive input power, a regulator configured to reduce a voltage of the input power, and a sensing circuit configured to sense an output voltage of the regulator. The power supply also includes a reference voltage controller configured to receive the input power as driving power and to feedback-control the output voltage of the regulator to correspond to a preset reference voltage, based on the sensed output voltage. The power supply further includes a switch arranged between the input terminal and the reference voltage controller and configured to control the driving power applied to the reference voltage controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sunho Choi
  • Patent number: 11104237
    Abstract: A charging apparatus for electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles includes a stationary inductive coil fixed in a position adjacent to a parking spot for the vehicle so that a charging surface of the stationary inductive coil is aligned substantially vertically. The charging apparatus further has a movable electric coil assembly that is magnetically mountable to a brake component of the vehicle and having a charging surface aligned with the charging surface of the stationary inductive coil when the vehicle is parked. A charging cable extends from the stationary inductive coil and has a plug that is electrically connectable to a charging outlet of the vehicle. The vehicle is parked with the inductive coils aligned so that an inductive charging operation can be carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Park Plus, Inc.
    Inventor: Andreas Wastel
  • Patent number: 11101682
    Abstract: A power receiving apparatus comprises a power receiving unit that receives first power or second power from a power transmission apparatus; and a control unit that (a) requests the power transmission apparatus to transmit the first power, (b) determines whether or not a battery is a genuine battery by using the first power transmitted from the power transmission apparatus, (c) requests the power transmission apparatus to transmit the second power, when the battery is not a genuine battery, and (d) notifies a user of a reason why the battery is not being charged by using the second power transmitted from the power transmission apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Morii
  • Patent number: 11088551
    Abstract: The described technology relates to a power supply and a battery pack including the same. In one embodiments, the power supply includes an input terminal configured to receive input power, a regulator configured to reduce a voltage of the input power, and a sensing circuit configured to sense an output voltage of the regulator. The power supply also includes a reference voltage controller configured to receive the input power as driving power and to feedback-control the output voltage of the regulator to correspond to a preset reference voltage, based on the sensed output voltage. The power supply further includes a switch arranged between the input terminal and the reference voltage controller and configured to control the driving power applied to the reference voltage controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sunho Choi
  • Patent number: 11081896
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a portable charger connection frame, comprising: a storage box, a cover body, and an engaging element. The storage box comprises a head portion, a body and an end portion which are sequentially connected, wherein the head portion has a head accommodation chamber inside and one side of the body close to the head accommodation chamber has a opening communicating with the head accommodation chamber; the cover body is in the head accommodation chamber, covers the opening, and is pivotally connected to a side wall of the head portion; the engaging element is used to restrict the cover body from leaving the head accommodation chamber. In the present invention, a portable charger is placed in the storage box as well as is directly used and taken through detaching the cover body, therefore charging operation saves time and is effortless.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: FTI GROUP (HOLDING) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Shun-Yu Li