Patents Examined by Robert Grant
  • Patent number: 11063451
    Abstract: A battery management system for a main system of an electronic device is provided. The battery management system is electrically connected with plural battery units. The battery management system includes plural insertion slots and a battery detachment protection device. The insertion slots electrically connected with the main system. The plural battery units are docked with the corresponding insertion slots. The battery detachment protection device is electrically connected with the main system. When an external force is applied to the battery detachment protection device, the battery detachment protection device generates a system protection sensing signal. In response to the system protection sensing signal, a power supply condition of at least one battery unit in the corresponding insertion slot is adjusted, and the at least one battery unit in the corresponding insertion slot is permitted to be detached from the corresponding insertion slot or positioned in the corresponding insertion slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: FLYTECH TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Chiung-Chi Lin, Hung-Lin Chang, Chin-Lung Yang
  • Patent number: 11063473
    Abstract: A handheld tool carrying case includes at least one interior structuring unit having at least one interior structuring element, which is provided to delimit at least one inductive charge receiving region for at least one handheld tool battery. The interior structuring unit is configured to be combinable in a modular manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Friederike Dietzel, Juergen Mack, Guenter Lohr, Volker Amann, Marcin Rejman, Brett Huber
  • Patent number: 11052777
    Abstract: When batteries of a plurality of electric autonomous moving bodies are charged, each of the electric autonomous moving bodies sends charging state information indicating a charging state of the battery of the electric autonomous moving body. A controller executes control for switching a charging state and a non-charging state of the battery of each of the electric autonomous moving body based on the charging state information of the batteries of the respective electric autonomous moving bodies in such a way that the total amount of current that flows through the batteries of the respective electric autonomous moving bodies does not exceed an allowable current of a charger unit and a power supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayuki Itoh
  • Patent number: 11056918
    Abstract: In one embodiment a wireless power transfer system comprises a transmitter including a power source configured to generate a time-varying current, a first coil configured to receive the first time-varying current from the power source, wherein the time-varying current flows in the first coil in a first direction, a second coil coupled to the first coil in such a way that the time-varying current flows in the second coil in a second direction, wherein the first direction is opposite from the second direction, and an underlying magnetic layer configured to magnetically couple the first coil with the second coil, and a wireless power receiver, a ferrite core and a receiver coil that share a longitudinal axis, and a receive circuit coupled to the receiver coil configured to convert a time varying current induced in the receiver coil into a voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: CHARGEDGE, INC.
    Inventor: Sanjaya Maniktala
  • Patent number: 11046264
    Abstract: An in-vehicle emergency power supply device includes a power storage unit including an electric double-layer capacitor, a charging circuit charging the power storage unit, a discharging circuit discharging the power storage unit, and a controller controlling the charging circuit and the discharging circuit. When the charging circuit charges the power storage unit, the controller determines a set full charging voltage of the power storage unit, determines a correction charging voltage lower than the set full charging voltage based on the set full charging voltage, and controls the charging circuit to charge the power storage unit until a stored voltage reaches the correction charging voltage. This in-vehicle emergency power supply device stabilizes an output voltage thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Youichi Kageyama, Takashi Higashide, Katsunori Atago, Hisao Hiragi, Kazuo Takenaka, Yugo Setsu
  • Patent number: 11043825
    Abstract: A power supply device includes a spike absorption circuit that suppresses an avalanche breakage of a current shutdown switch due to a kickback voltage that may appear in response to the cut-off of a load current. The current shutdown switch is connected to secondary batteries. The spike absorption circuit is a series circuit of a protection switch, formed of a semiconductor element, and a diode. The power supply device further includes: a small-signal switch that controls turn-on and turn-off of the protection switch; and a delay circuit that maintains the small-signal switch in an ON state over a setup time after a current shutdown timing of the current shutdown switch. The delay circuit maintains the small-signal switch in the ON state over the setup time (T), and the small-signal switch thereby causes the protection switch to the ON state. Then, the spike absorption circuit damps the kickback voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoji Takeuchi, Yusuke Omote, Takuya Hirota, Hisashi Kameyama, Jeewook Chang, Mitsuhiro Hamada
  • Patent number: 11034246
    Abstract: A wireless communication method for wireless power transfer (WPT) to an electric vehicle (EV) may include: transmitting, by a wireless charging control apparatus equipped in the EV, a probe request frame to a charging station, the probe request frame including identification information of an access point (AP) pre-stored in the wireless charging control apparatus; receiving, at the wireless charging control apparatus, a probe response frame from the charging station corresponding to the identification information; performing, by the wireless charging control apparatus, authentication for wireless connection initialization by transmitting first authentication information to the charging station; and after the authentication for the wireless connection initialization is completed, performing, by the wireless charging control apparatus, user authentication for WPT using second authentication information pre-stored in the wireless charging control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Zeung Il Kim, Byung Seung Jeon
  • Patent number: 11016149
    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: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jimmy M. Quiambao, James L. Peck
  • Patent number: 11005279
    Abstract: A compact portable power charger having an internal rechargeable battery is provided with a wall plug interface and a car charger interface selectively and independently connected to the charger as power input interfaces for recharging the internal battery when the charger is connected to respective external power sources via the interfaces. Each interface is pivotably movable between an extended position where the interface projects outwardly away from the charger housing for use and a retracted position for storage of the interface within a respective cavity formed in the charger housing. The charger further includes a power output interface, such as a power connection port, operatively connected to the internal battery for providing an electrical charge from the internal battery to an electronic device when the electronic device is connected to the charger via the power output interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: HALO2CLOUD, LLC
    Inventors: Garold C. Miller, Nathan Daniel Weinstein
  • Patent number: 11005271
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery balancing apparatus and method. The battery balancing apparatus includes a plurality of balancing circuits, each balancing circuit is connected in parallel to a respective battery cell among a plurality of battery cells and the plurality of balancing circuits are connected in series to each other, in one-to-one relationship; and a control unit operably coupled to each balancing circuit. The control unit selects at least one of the plurality of battery cells as a balancing target, based on a SOC of each battery cell, and outputs an enable signal and a balancing message to each balancing circuit connected to each battery cell selected as the balancing target. Each balancing circuit transmits a first wireless signal and a second wireless signal corresponding to the balancing message by using electric energy stored in each battery cell, when the enable signal is received by each balancing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventor: Ki-Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 10998751
    Abstract: Provided are a wireless charging system, device, and method and a device to be charged. The wireless charging system includes the wireless charging device and the device to be charged. The wireless charging device includes a wireless transmitter circuit and a first communication control circuit. The device to be charged includes a battery, a wireless receiver circuit, a first charging channel, a detection circuit and a second communication control circuit. The second communication control circuit is configured to perform wireless communication with the first communication control circuit based on the output voltage and/or the output current of the wireless receiver circuit detected by the detection circuit, such that the first communication control circuit adjusts a transmitting power of the wireless transmitter circuit, to enable the output voltage and/or the output current of the wireless receiver circuit to match a charging stage where the battery presently is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Shiming Wan, Jialiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10998741
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a charger. According to the charger, a detection signal generation circuit actively sends a detection signal; a feedback circuit detects level signals on a sampling component, and generates a feedback signal according to the level signals; a switch component controls, according to the feedback signal, the charger to output a charging voltage; and when the level signals meet a preset condition (the preset condition is a preset condition that the level signals meet when an abnormal short circuit occurs on a charging interface), the switch component controls the charger to stop outputting the charging voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wenchao Yu, Chong Wen
  • Patent number: 10992145
    Abstract: A system comprises a processor, configured to perform balancing on a commanded cell referring to a reference cell, and responsive to detecting balancing time exceeding a threshold time and state of charge (SOC) difference being above a tolerance, abort the balancing, and generate an error message. The threshold time depends on an average balancing time calculated using the SOC difference, a predetermined commanded cell capacity, and a predetermined balancing current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rui Wang, Xu Wang, Patterson Kaduvinal Abraham
  • Patent number: 10988042
    Abstract: A vehicle charging system for allowing an electric vehicle to automatically recognize the presence of, and communicate to properly equipped public or private wireless electric vehicle charging station(s) in order to automatically effectuate a partial or complete charging sequence at available opportunities in order to attain a fully charged power pack at all or most times. The vehicle charging system being configured to optimize the charging session with virtually any type of electric vehicle capable of wireless charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventor: Arnold Chase
  • Patent number: 10992179
    Abstract: A system, recharge apparatus, and method includes transmit coils positioned in a pattern to allow at least one of the transmit coils to establish a wireless link with a receive coil positioned in proximity of the recharge apparatus. A power source is coupled to the transmit coils and configured to selectively energize ones of the transmit coils to transfer power to the receive coil. An energy efficiency detection circuit is configured to detect an electrical response of each one of the transmit coils when energized by the power source, the electrical response indicative of an energy efficiency between the one of the transmit coils and the receive coil. The power source selectively energizes ones of the transmit coils, selected according to a statistical analysis of an historical record and the electrical response indicative of the energy efficiency meeting a minimum efficiency criterion for energy transfer to the receive coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Summer L. Schneider
  • Patent number: 10978894
    Abstract: The invention discloses a clamping activation method, applicable to an electric clamping device with wireless charging, the electric clamping device comprising a body and a wireless charging module, a control unit, and an electric clamping assembly, all disposed inside the body. The clamping activation method comprises: the control unit receiving a signal generated by the wireless charging module; the control unit activating the electric clamping assembly to clamp the electronic device according to the signal; and the control unit activating the wireless charging module to charge the electronic device. As such, the electric clamping device can automatically clamp the electronic device without installing additional sensing elements or switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventor: Yi Sheng Lin
  • Patent number: 10974604
    Abstract: A bicycle power supply system is configured to be connectable to a plurality of battery units and configured to switch each of the plurality of battery units between a first state and a second state. The bicycle power supply system includes a memory device and an electronic controller. The memory device stores order information for switching the plurality of battery units from one of the first state and the second state to the other one of the first state and the second state in a predetermined order. The electronic controller switches the plurality of battery units from one of the first state and the second state to the other one of the first state and the second state in accordance with the order information in a case where the plurality of battery units is connected. The memory device is configured to changeably store the order information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Ishikawa, Tetsuya Kitani, Kento Mitsuyasu
  • Patent number: 10971951
    Abstract: A universal power adapter may be provided to provide both a wireless charging signal and a DC signal for wired charging. The universal power adapter may include an AC/DC converter device, a first power circuit, a second power circuit, and a jack to provide a wireless charging signal and a DC signal. The AC/DC converter device to provide a DC signal based on an AC signal received from an external power source. The first power circuit to receive the DC signal and to provide a wireless charging signal based on the DC signal. The second power circuit to receive the DC signal and to provide a DC signal based on the DC signal. The jack may provide both the wireless charging signal and the DC signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Shaorong Zhou, Songnan Yang, Hong W. Wong, Peipei Ding, Xiaoguo Liang, Ze An Xia
  • Patent number: 10965139
    Abstract: A charger circuit and an intelligent charging control method thereof are disclosed. The charger circuit comprises a power circuit used to generate a charging voltage, a charging output switch, an MCU and an electrical appliance plug-in detection circuit, wherein the MCU is connected to a positive output terminal or a negative output terminal of the power circuit through a current sampling element to detect a charging current in a charging loop and is connected to a positive connecting terminal of a charging interface to detect a charging voltage in the charging loop. In this way, a charger is able to intelligently judge whether or not a to-be-charged electrical appliance is plugged into the charging interface, automatically charges the electrical appliance in a corresponding charging mode and effectively prevents overcharging of batteries of consumer electrical appliances, thus, prolonging the battery life and avoiding disasters caused by overcharging of the batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Inventors: Shaopei Wang, Zezhi Li, Mingli Wu, Mingwei Wang
  • Patent number: 10965142
    Abstract: Methods and devices useful in performing magneto-inductive charging and communication in the absence of a cellular and/or internet network connection are provided. By way of example, an electronic device includes inductive charging and communication circuitry configured to receive a signal configured to induce a charging function based at least in part on an inductive coil coupled to the inductive charging and communication circuitry. Inducing the charging function includes charging an energy storage component of the electronic device. The inductive charging and communication circuitry is also configured receive an indication to switch from the charging function to a communication function. The communication function is based at least in part on the inductive coil. The inductive charging and communication circuitry is further configured establish a communication link between the electronic device using the inductive coil to transmit and receive communication signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andro Radchenko, Federico P. Centola, Vaneet Pathak