Patents Examined by Sun J Lin
  • Patent number: 11235679
    Abstract: A power control device that can charge a battery by controlling an output of a conversion unit configured to convert a supplied grid electric power into an electric power for charging the battery, the power control device includes: a sensing unit configured to sense voltage and current of the supplied grid electric power; a determination unit configured to determine whether a sensed voltage sensed by the sensing unit is in an unstable state in which the sensed voltage drops relative to a rated voltage of the supplied grid electric power; a calculation unit configured to calculate an allowable power value based on the sensed voltage and a rated current of the supplied grid electric power in a case when the determination unit determines that the sensed voltage is in the unstable state; and a control unit configured to control the output of the conversion unit based on the allowable power value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Makoto Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11235673
    Abstract: A novel automobile charger which comprise a battery, wherein a positive pole of the battery is connected with a first end of a DC to DC module, a first end of a battery voltage detection module and a first end of a load module simultaneously, while a negative pole of the battery is connected with a second end of the DC to DC module, a first end of a microcontroller, a first end of an automobile start control module and a second end of the battery voltage detection module simultaneously. A third end of the DC to DC module is connected with a second end of the microcontroller, the three second ends of which are connected with a third end of the battery voltage detection module, a second end of the automobile start control module and a first end of the load detection module respectively. A second end of the load detection module is connected with a third end of the automobile start control module and a second end of the load module simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: PILOT INC.
    Inventors: Calvin Shiening Wang, Chung-Hsin Wang
  • Patent number: 11230201
    Abstract: A system of charging a battery of a vehicle is provided. The system includes a charger having a direct current (DC) capacitor to which a DC voltage converted from an AC charge voltage is applied and a first DC converter that converts a magnitude of a voltage of the DC capacitor. A first battery is connected to the first DC converter and is charged with a DC voltage converted by the first DC converter. A second DC converter is connected to the battery and converts a magnitude of a voltage of the battery. A second battery receives a DC voltage converted by the second DC converter. A controller charges the DC capacitor up to a predetermined initial charge voltage using power stored in the second battery by operating the second DC converter and the first DC converter in a backward direction before the AC charge voltage is provided to the charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Dae Woo Lee, Min Seong Choi, In Yong Yeo, Tae Jong Ha, Jin Myeong Yang, Woo Young Lee
  • Patent number: 11228189
    Abstract: A loaded body housing device includes: an upper table which rotates about a rotation axis extending along a Z-axis and supports a plurality of batteries in a plurality of first storage spaces around the rotation axis; a lower table which rotates about a rotation axis extending along the Z-axis and supports a plurality of batteries in a plurality of second storage spaces around the rotation axis; and a casing having openings each of which exposes one storage space when viewed in a negative direction of the Z-axis. The upper table is positioned to have overlapping between a part of the plurality of first storage spaces and the plurality of second storage spaces and no overlapping between the plurality of first storage spaces and a second storage space when viewed in the negative direction of the Z-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinari Matsuyama, Masaki Shikanai, Takeshi Kikuchi, Yuzuka Isobe
  • Patent number: 11228062
    Abstract: Provided is a battery pack and a power system including the same. The battery pack includes a battery module having a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal, a first connector having a first power terminal connected to the positive electrode terminal, a second power terminal connected to the negative electrode terminal and a first auxiliary terminal, a first resistor having a first end electrically connected to ground and a second end electrically connected to the first auxiliary terminal, a switching unit installed between the negative electrode terminal and the second power terminal, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to operate in any one of a wakeup state and a sleep state according to a voltage of the first resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hak-In Kim, Dong-Hyun Kim, Ho-Chol Nam
  • Patent number: 11228185
    Abstract: Provided is a modular, scalable and decentralized high voltage battery system that employs signaling and communications between a plurality of battery modules of the system without a central battery management controller. Via signaling mechanisms, each battery module of the plurality of battery modules of the system can perform precharging, discharging, charging, and safety functions in a manner that is extensible regardless of a number of battery modules in the system in series and in parallel and in a manner that does not require significant operator intervention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: SAFT AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Keith Hensley
  • Patent number: 11223292
    Abstract: A united converter apparatus and an operating method thereof are disclosed. The united converter apparatus includes a high-voltage charger charging a high-voltage battery, using a commercial power and a low-voltage charger charging a low-voltage battery, using the high-voltage battery. The high-voltage charger includes a voltage level adjustment device boosts a voltage of the commercial power to apply the boosted voltage to the high-voltage battery and drops a high voltage applied from the high-voltage battery to apply the dropped voltage to the low-voltage charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jin Young Yang, Jong Pil Kim, Woo Young Lee, Ji Han Lee, Youn Sik Lee, Si Hun Yang, Jin Myeong Yang
  • Patent number: 11207993
    Abstract: A storage-battery charging device for a motor vehicle is configured to be arranged in the motor vehicle. The storage-battery charging device includes a first stage with a power factor correction filter, and a second stage with an inverter. The first stage is electrically connected to the second stage through an intermediate node, the intermediate node being directly electrically connected to a feed-in connection point for direct voltage. The feed-in connection point is designed for direct electrical coupling to a high-voltage vehicle electrical system of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Pfeilschifter, Martin Goetzenberger
  • Patent number: 11190028
    Abstract: A battery management system having configurable batteries is disclosed. The battery management system generally includes (a) one or more cell control units, each cell control unit configured to control and/or balance a charge in a plurality of battery cells, and (b) a master controller in electrical communication with cell control unit(s). The cell control unit(s) as a whole include one or more switches, configured to be electrically connected to a first battery cell of a plurality of battery cells, and a resistor, a capacitor or an inductor electrically (i) connected to one switch and (ii) connected or connectable to a second battery cell. The master controller is configured to open or close each switch. The configurable battery generally includes a plurality of battery cells and switches configured to connect or disconnect the plurality of battery cells in a configurable or predetermined manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Ensurge Micropower ASA
    Inventors: Christer Karlsson, Per Broms
  • Patent number: 11186193
    Abstract: A system for controlling charging power of an eco-friendly vehicle is provided. The system includes a battery, a power supply unit supplying AC power, and an inverter having a plurality of legs including a plurality of power conversion devices. Legs of the plurality of legs are supplied with power by being connected with the power supply unit and both ends of each leg of the legs being connected with the battery. One or more switches are disposed between one or more legs of the plurality of legs and the power supply unit. A controller changes a power transmission path from the power supply unit by determining a phase of a power that is supplied from the power supply unit and by operating each switch of the one or more switches based on the phase of the supplied power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hui Sung Jang, Dong Gyun Woo, Hyun Wook Seong
  • Patent number: 11190044
    Abstract: One form of a charging control method using energy generated from a solar roof embedded with a solar cell according to the disclosure includes: transmitting an amount of energy generated from the solar roof by respective control units of a system for charging control; calculating an electrical load; determining whether the amount of energy generated from the solar roof is larger than the electrical load; instructing an output of a high-voltage converter when the amount of energy generated from the solar roof is larger than the electrical load; determining whether a high-voltage battery is in a charging state; and performing a variable voltage control when a high voltage is outputted in accordance with the instruction to perform the output of the high-voltage converter; and performing a charging control on the high-voltage battery in consideration of the amount of energy generated from the solar roof when it is determined that the high-voltage battery is in the charging state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tae-Hyuck Kim, Hae-Yoon Jung, Hyun-Soo Park, Jun-Yeon Park
  • Patent number: 11188995
    Abstract: An electrical vehicle (EV) rescue vehicle includes a mobile platform, which further includes a winch and a ramp. The mobile platform of the EV rescue vehicle is deployable for retrieving a disabled EV (a “rescued vehicle”) thereon with the winch and the ramp and for transportation of the disabled EV. A charging unit is associated with the mobile platform for connecting and charging of the disabled EV, either on a fixed location or during transport. A systems analysis module can be included with a system for testing a functionality of systems and components of the disabled EV and providing results of the resting EV to customers. The mobile platform can be provided as an EV rescue vehicle in a form of a trailer pulled by another vehicle or integrated with another vehicle (e.g., a truck). The EV rescue vehicle can also carry passengers associated with the disabled EV when the disabled EV is being transported, charged, and/or analyzed by the EV rescue vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: IP VENUE, LLC
    Inventors: Luis M. Ortiz, Kermit D. Lopez
  • Patent number: 11183856
    Abstract: A battery system includes a plurality of converters wherein each converter converts an electric power between a corresponding block of a plurality of blocks and an auxiliary battery. A first equalization control is a control for, when a vehicle is in a ReadyON state, operating a converter corresponding to a lower-voltage block, of at least one pair of blocks of the plurality of blocks having voltage variations exceeding a threshold value, such that the lower-voltage block is charged with an electric power supplied from the auxiliary battery. A second equalization control is a control for, when the vehicle is in a ReadyOFF state, operating a converter corresponding to a higher-voltage block, of at least one pair of blocks of the plurality of blocks having the voltage variations exceeding another threshold value, such that the auxiliary battery is charged with an electric power supplied from the higher-voltage block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromasa Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11183847
    Abstract: A stationary storage device temporarily stores electric energy in an electric supply grid, and includes at least one electric storage unit, each electric storage unit being connected to a common DC bus by a respective DC-DC converter. The stationary storage device includes a bidirectionally operated AC-DC converter that couples the common DC bus to the electric supply grid, and a charging device that exchanges energy with an electrically operated motor vehicle. The charging device includes a connection device that connects the electrically operated motor vehicle in order to exchange the energy, and a charge control device that controls the exchange of said energy. A coupling device electrically connects the connection device to the common DC bus via one or more DC-DC converters in order to exchange said energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bodo Gohla-Neudecker, Jan Hesselmann, Stefan Juraschek, Soeren Mohr, Albrecht Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 11180044
    Abstract: Enclosed herein is an electric motor vehicle cooling system that cycles liquid coolant from an electric motor vehicle charging station into an electric motor vehicle and back, to cool batteries of the electric motor vehicle during charging. The liquid coolant is pumped by a pump in the electric motor vehicle charging station through channels in a cable that is plugged into the electric motor vehicle. The cable has an adaptor with ports to allow the liquid coolant to exit the electric motor vehicle charging station, travel into the electric motor vehicle to cool the batteries, and return back into the electric motor vehicle charging station from the electric motor vehicle. This electric motor vehicle cooling system allows the electric motor vehicle charging station to perform most of the work of cooling the batteries of the electric motor vehicle, without overly taxing on-board thermal management systems of the electric motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Maeshiro
  • Patent number: 11184999
    Abstract: A charging column includes an equipment box having a control equipment and a delivery pipelines, an isolated docking box disposed outside the equipment box, a power device and a cooling pipeline. An interior of the isolated docking box is isolated from an interior of the equipment box. A first pair of joints are connected to the delivery pipelines and electrodes are electrically connected to the control equipment inside the isolated docking box. The power device is connected to the isolated docking box and the electrodes therein. The cooling pipeline connected to the isolated docking box includes a second pair of joints for engaging with the first pair of joints. Any coolant leakage and falling off objects can be retained inside the isolated docking box, thereby protecting the control equipment from damages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chieh-Kai Chen, Kai-Hung Huang
  • Patent number: 11173802
    Abstract: A method for controlling a charging operation of a vehicle at a charging station includes monitoring, modifying, stopping, or terminating the charging operation, independent of an identification device initially used for approval of a charging. The charging is controlled via a control link established via a near-field communication link between a mobile terminal device and a control device of the charging station. The near-field communication link enables a receipt of a termination instruction by the control device for terminating the charging operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: EcoG GmbH
    Inventor: Jörg Heuer
  • Patent number: 11171504
    Abstract: A charging system using a motor driving system, the motor driving system including: a battery and an inverter, the inverter configured to receive and convert a direct current (DC) power stored in the battery into a three-phase alternating current (AC) power and to output the three-phase AC power to a motor when the motor is driven and the motor configured to generate a rotation force using the three-phase AC power output from the inverter, the charging system includes a controller configured to control the inverter to boost a voltage at a neutral point of the motor and to output the boosted voltage to the battery by determining duty values of switching elements in the inverter when an external charging current is provided to the neutral point of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Yong Jae Lee, Joo Young Park, Jae Ho Hwang, Mu Shin Kwak, Su Hyun Bae
  • Patent number: 11165267
    Abstract: A cell module is provided for a traction battery of a vehicle. The cell module includes a plurality of cells arranged in a series circuit and also includes at least two cell monitoring circuits for identifying a voltage applied between two poles of each cell of the plurality of cells. Each cell monitoring circuit of the two cell monitoring circuits has first and second voltage supply connections. The first voltage supply connection is coupled to a positive pole of a first cell and the second voltage supply connection is coupled to a negative pole of a second cell. The cell module further includes a switching apparatus that selectively couples the first voltage supply connection of a first cell monitoring circuit and the second voltage supply connection of a second cell monitoring circuit to a respective one of two positive poles or to one of two negative poles of different cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Inventor: Marcus Zacher
  • Patent number: 11161428
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes a traction battery that is operated according to a state of charge of the traction battery. A controller is programmed to operate the traction battery according to the state of charge of the traction battery and, in response to completion of a charge cycle of the traction battery, generates an adaptive relaxation time and an adaptive compensation voltage of the state of charge that changes with a temperature and a charge rate of the traction battery. The controller is further programmed to, in response to expiration of the adaptive relaxation time after completion of the charge cycle, update the state of charge to a value corresponding to a voltage defined by a difference between a measured voltage of the traction battery and the adaptive compensation voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rui Wang, Xiao Guang Yang, Yuan Zhang, Xu Wang, Xianzhi Gong