Patents Examined by Samuel Berhanu
  • Patent number: 10985588
    Abstract: A method and system for managing a battery system. The method including receiving at least one measured characteristic of the battery over a pre-defined time horizon from the at least one sensor, receiving at least one estimated characteristic of the battery from a electrochemical-based battery model based on differential algebraic equations, determining a cost function of a Moving Horizon Estimation based on the at least one measured characteristic and the at least one estimated characteristic, updating the electrochemical-based battery model based on the cost function, estimating at least one state of the at least one battery cell by applying the electrochemical-based battery model, and regulating at least one of charging or discharging of the battery based on the estimation of the at least one state of the at least one battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Anahita MirTabatabaei, Reinhardt Klein, Ashish Krupadanam, Nikhil Ravi, John F. Christensen
  • Patent number: 10980278
    Abstract: A system, a method, and a device for detecting and charging electronic articles, and more particularly for charging batteries in electronic cigarettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Fontem Holdings 4 B.V.
    Inventors: Ramon Alarcon, David Blau, Christopher Kepner
  • Patent number: 10978887
    Abstract: A fast charging battery system and method for charging battery systems can be applied to most battery types in use for electric vehicles (EVs), electronic devices, and wireless electrical machines. The system could employ industry proven battery charger systems and off-the-shelf electrical components (e.g., contactors, relay switches, semiconductor parts, DC-DC converters, and the like) to keep cost and complexity low. The system provides for two or more charging ports in the electronic device, such as an EV, that may be able to receive and recognize a charging type, such as charging voltage, current and the like, and provide directed charging to multiple battery sub-packs that make up the entire battery. By charging sub-packs in parallel, the charge time can be substantially reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventors: James Nguyen, Jack Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10965171
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus of this invention includes a communication unit that performs transmission of power and transmission/reception of information, in a non-contact manner, a plurality of object sensors that are provided on a placing table, and generate object detection signals, a determiner that determines, based on identification information of the electronic device acquired by the communication unit, whether or not the detection signals from the object sensors are within predetermined reference value ranges, a power supply unit that supplies power to the electronic device if it is determined that the detection signals are within the reference value ranges, and a controller that uses signals from object sensors that have not detected placement of the electronic device for detecting extraneous object, and that controls the power supply unit based on whether or not an extraneous object is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiro Tanabe
  • Patent number: 10946756
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an integrated power distribution module. The integrated power distribution module includes a hybrid transformer coupled to a charger stage, a traction battery, and an auxiliary battery. The hybrid transformer includes first and second primary windings coupled in series and connected to the charger stage. The primary windings have a corresponding first secondary winding coupling the traction battery via associated inverters. The primary windings further have corresponding second secondary windings that are coupled in series with opposing voltage polarities and coupled to the auxiliary battery via an associated inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hadi Malek, Shuitao Yang, James A. Lathrop, Mark J. Ferrel
  • Patent number: 10946765
    Abstract: A vehicle and method are provided in which deterioration of a battery is controlled. The method includes detecting deterioration severity of the battery and determining whether the deterioration severity is equal to or greater than a reference value. A cause of battery deterioration is determined when the deterioration severity is equal to or greater than the reference value. The method further includes determining whether the cause of the battery deterioration is vehicle driving and reducing an SOC management range of the battery when the cause of deterioration of the battery is charging/discharging due to vehicle driving. The deterioration cause of the battery is determined as a state of the vehicle left unattended and the central SOC of the battery is adjusted when the cause of deterioration of the battery is not charging/discharging due to vehicle driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Man Jae Park, Joong Woo Lee, Myung Won Lee
  • Patent number: 10944282
    Abstract: A carry case can house multiple removable electronic devices and facilitate wireless power or data communication among the devices. The case can include a primary coil for inductively receiving energy from a source device, and a secondary coil for inductively providing energy to a target device. The case can include a control circuit or a storage circuit coupled with the primary coil or the secondary coil. The control circuit can coordinate an inductive energy transfer among the source device, the target device, and the storage circuit using the primary or secondary coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikram Malhotra, Holli Pheil, Summer L. Schneider
  • Patent number: 10923935
    Abstract: A charging apparatus is disclosed that charges a smartphone in a high-speed charging mode or in a general charging mode in consideration of a voltage state of a vehicle battery, or does not charge the smartphone, such that the charging apparatus effectively copes with unexpected situations capable of occurring in the vehicle. Therefore, when a voltage of a battery embedded in the vehicle reaches a constant voltage, the charging apparatus charges the smartphone in a manner that the in-vehicle battery voltage is protected, and no problem occurs in the vehicle when the vehicle starts engine ignition in the future. As a result, the charging apparatus efficiently charges the battery of the smartphone by adjusting the current and the voltage according to a voltage drop situation during a high-speed charging mode or a general charging mode, thereby efficiently charging the smartphone battery without causing overload to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hanshik Kim, Geonhyeong Kim, Daejoon Surh
  • Patent number: 10910863
    Abstract: A method of charging an energy storage device can be provided by wirelessly coupling to a rotating member contained in a housing using a coil attached to an exterior of the housing and charging an energy storage device using a current induced in the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Sensus Spectrum, LLC
    Inventor: Johannes Wilhelmus Antonius Maria Otten
  • Patent number: 10910681
    Abstract: A portable power system comprising: a set of battery cells; a power outlet; a control module programmable for receiving a first charge information from a first cell controller, receiving a second charge information from a second cell controller, ending a balancing instruction to the first cell controller to delivery power from a first battery cell to a second battery cell; monitoring the first charge information while the first battery cell is being charged from an external power source, determining if the first charge information is equal to or higher than a predetermined charge percentage, sending a cease charging instruction to a first cell controller when the first charge information is equal to or greater than a predetermined percentage; and, supplying power from an external power source to the charge set of battery cells and transferring power from the discharge set of battery cells to the external load contemporaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: RavenSafe, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher J. Petrella
  • Patent number: 10906428
    Abstract: A power supply system with hydrogen fuel cell is provided, comprising a hydrogen fuel cell module converting hydrogen fuel into electrical power for outputting. A boost charging module electrically connected to the hydrogen fuel cell module receives, boosts and converts the electric power into charging power. At least two battery packs connected in parallel are electrically connected to the boost charging module and an external load respectively. When one of the battery packs discharges the external load, the other selectively receives charging power from the boost charging module. A control module electrically connected to the above controls the boost charging module to receive electrical power and convert it into charging power and controls the battery packs to alternate performing discharging the external load and charging from the boost charging module repeatedly by turns. The present invention combines hydrogen fuel cells to provide an innovative power supply system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Kai-Tai Song, Sz-Sheng Wang, Shao-Huan Song
  • Patent number: 10910962
    Abstract: A power generation system includes a plurality of energy conversion devices for generating a plurality of power signals based on one or more sensed environmental conditions. The system further includes a plurality of power conditioning circuits each coupled to one or more of the energy conversion devices for receiving the power signals and storing energy in an energy storage system. The system also includes a selection circuit coupled to at least one of the power conditioning circuits and receiving a first input power signal from one of the power conditioning circuits and a second input power signal. The selection circuit is configured to deliver an output power signal representing a selection from between the first and second input power signals based on a relative voltage level of the first and second input power signals. A method of power generation, and associated power module, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignees: University of Southern California, Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Young Cho, Deon Rae, Charlie Webb, Greg LaFramboise, Lanre Olabinjo, Andrew Goodney
  • Patent number: 10910676
    Abstract: A battery made up of nickel-cadmium cells includes an indicator for displaying a state of charge comprising sensors for performing continuous measurements of voltage and current and of temperature of the battery, a memory storing at least a history of charge/discharge, a predefined reference voltage, current and temperature, and the measurements and history determined, and a control unit for determining an operation mode of the battery and determining a correction to be applied to the voltage and current measured, calculating a theoretically available capacity of the battery depending on the operating mode and the correction, determining a need for recalibration of the theoretically available capacity of the battery enabling a capacity actually available of the battery to be calculated, and based on the capacity actually available, defining the state of charge of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: SAFT
    Inventors: Kévin Girard, Jean-pierre Texier, Dominique Lacombe, Xavier Tridon, Pascal Lavaur
  • Patent number: 10892632
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and device for wirelessly charging a device. The inductive charging system includes a power source for providing an electrical charge that is wirelessly transferred or emitted to charge a first device. The inductive charging system includes a configurable grid that is configured to form a first inductive loop and multiple switches. Each switch is configured to open and close to electrically connect different portions of the configurable grid. The inductive charging system includes a processor connected to the multiple switches. The processor is configured to operate the multiple switches to open and close the portions of the configurable grid to form the first inductive loop that wirelessly transfers the electrical charge to the first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Chi-Ming Wang, Ercan M. Dede
  • Patent number: 10892624
    Abstract: Methods and systems for selectively connecting a plurality of battery cells in a dual-mode battery pack in series and parallel configurations and/or for individual cell monitoring. A dual-mode battery pack may generally include a housing; a first set of battery cells connected in series; and a second set of battery cells connected in series. The battery pack may also include series connection contacts selectively connectable to the first set of battery cells and to the second set of battery cells and, when engaged, connecting the first set of battery cells and the second set of battery cells in a series configuration; and parallel connection contacts selectively connectable to the first set of battery cells and the second set of battery cells and, when engaged, connecting the first set of battery cells and the second set of battery cells in a parallel configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew J. Mergener, Jeffrey M. Brozek, Christian Funda, Nicholas Konetzke
  • Patent number: 10892626
    Abstract: The present application is directed in particular to a power adapter, adapted to be connected on the one hand to a power interface of a cordless power tool and adapted to be connected on the other hand to an energy source, in particular mobile energy source, for electrically power the power tool via the power adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Joachim Rief, Corinna Mönch, Fritz Laible, Peter Rudolf, Tobias Zeller
  • Patent number: 10879715
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for improving temperature management of a battery pack. The battery pack may comprise a battery cell charged via at least one supply trace of a PCB (printed circuit board), a protection circuit module mounted on the PCB and coupled to the at least one supply trace, and a plurality of temperature sensors respectively reflecting a temperature of the battery cell and a temperature of the PCB. The method may comprise: measuring a cell temperature and a PCB temperature by the temperature sensors; when charging the battery cell by a charging current and a charging voltage, controlling the charging voltage and the charging current according to the cell temperature, and adjusting the charging current further according to the PCB temperature, so as to constrain the temperature of the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Chih-Yuan Hsu, Chi-Ming Lee, Shih-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 10879719
    Abstract: A regulator control circuit which is configured to control a switching regulator: a feedback comparator configured to compare a signal representative of a reference voltage with a signal representative of a voltage output of the switching regulator and to output a control signal for controlling the operation of the switching regulator dependent on the signals received by the feedback comparator; and a current feedback controller connected to the feedback comparator and configured to receive a signal representative of a current output by the switching regulator and determine whether the regulator control circuit adopts a first or second mode of operation based on the signal representative of a current output, such that, in the first mode of operation, the control signal is for controlling the switching regulator in accordance with a constant voltage control scheme and, in the second mode of operation, the control signal is for controlling the switching regulator in accordance with a constant current control sc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Haldex Brake Products Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Steven Horton
  • Patent number: 10879724
    Abstract: Provided are a wireless charging and communication board, and a wireless charging and communication device, the wireless charging and communication board including: a soft magnetic layer; a polymeric material layer arranged on one surface and the other surface of the soft magnetic layer and extending longer than an exposed portion of the soft magnetic layer; and a coil pattern arranged on the polymeric material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jai Hoon Yeom, Sang Won Lee, Seok Bae, So Yeon Kim, Jin Mi Noh, Ji Yeon Song, Hee Jung Lee
  • Patent number: 10879706
    Abstract: A battery balancing method and circuit for balancing the voltages between battery units with a fly capacitor. In a first time period of a switching cycle, the first battery unit is used to charge the fly capacitor or the first battery unit is used to discharge the fly capacitor, depending on which of the first battery unit and the fly capacitor having a larger voltage value; and in a second time period of the switching cycle, the second battery unit is used to charge the fly capacitor or the second battery unit is used to discharge the fly capacitor, depending on which of the second battery unit and the fly capacitor having a larger voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rui Wang, Min Xu, Qiming Zhao