Patents Examined by Tarikh Rankine
  • Patent number: 9859734
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power supply circuit and a power supply method. The power supply circuit comprises: a charge control unit, a battery and battery protection unit, a voltage stabilizing unit and a voltage boosting unit; the voltage boosting unit comprises: a consumption reducing module for, at the moment of turning on or turning off a power device in the voltage boosting unit, enabling an electric current flowing through the power device to be zero. The present invention, by arranging the consumption reducing module, enables an electric current flowing through the power device to be zero at the moment of turning on or turning off the power device in the voltage boosting unit, which realizes zero current turn-on or turn-off of the power device, and reduces consumption of the electric energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaoyan Han, Qingmeng Wang, Kunkun Fang
  • Patent number: 9831690
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for balancing the electrical voltages of at least two electrical accumulator units that are connected in series. According to the invention, one accumulator unit is connected to the winding of a coil in order to excite the coil, and the other accumulator unit is charged by the excited coil by the subsequent connection of the winding to the other accumulator unit. In addition, the invention provides a corresponding electrical accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Butzmann
  • Patent number: 9797960
    Abstract: A battery charge management method and device operable to perform that method. The battery charge management method comprises the steps of determining charge delivered to or from a battery based on Coulomb counting and updating an estimated battery state of charge based on the amount of delivered charge and measuring the battery current. Then comparing the updated estimated battery state of charge with a predetermined state of charge value of less than 100%, such that each predetermined state of charge value being associated with an expected battery current for that predetermined state of charge value. The method also includes modifying the updated estimated battery state of charge when the updated estimated state of charge is greater than the predetermined state of charge value and the measured battery current is greater than the expected battery current associated with the predetermined state of charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: PowerOasis Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Barrett, Peter William Dale Bishop, Graham Ronald Johnson
  • Patent number: 9796287
    Abstract: A discharging apparatus for an electric vehicle and an electric vehicle are provided. The discharging apparatus comprises: an AC charging interface; a charging connection device, configured to transmit an AC output from the AC charging interface to another electric vehicle; an instrument, configured to send a discharging preparation instruction; a controller, configured to detect whether the charging connection device is connected with the AC charging interface, and if yes, to emit a PWM wave and to switch to an external discharging mode; a battery manager, configured to control an external discharging circuit in a high-voltage distribution box of the electric vehicle to be connected after the controller switches to the external discharging mode; a power battery, configured to provide a DC via the external discharging circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignees: SHENZHEN BYD AUTO R&D COMPANY LIMITED, BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Wei Wang, Hongjun Wang, Zhen Li, Ming Liu
  • Patent number: 9770991
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for charging a battery. The system, for example, includes, but is not limited to a first interface configured to receive a voltage from an AC voltage source, a matrix conversion module comprising a plurality of switches electrically connected to the first interface and configured to provide a charging voltage to the battery, and a controller communicatively connected to the matrix conversion module, wherein the controller is configured to: determine a voltage of the battery, determine an angle of the AC voltage source to initiate charging of the battery based upon the voltage of the battery, and control the plurality of switches to provide the charging voltage to the battery between the determined angle of the AC voltage source and a subsequent zero-crossing of the AC voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Milun Perisic, Ray M. Ransonm, Lateef A. Kojouke
  • Patent number: 9773610
    Abstract: An antenna arrangement for transmitting energy is described. The antenna arrangement includes a planar array of two or more rectangular loop antennas, adapted to transmit energy at low frequencies via non-radiative resonant coupling and at high frequencies via radiative coupling. The low frequencies correspond to a wavelength with half of the wavelength being larger than the longest rectangular loop antenna dimension and the high frequencies correspond to a wavelength with half of the wavelength being approximately equal the longest rectangular loop antenna dimension. The antenna arrangement also includes a feeding network connected to the planar array, which includes a phase shifting means for providing a phase difference between signals at the high frequencies to be transmitted by different rectangular loop antennas of the planar array, whereby the amount of phase difference is related to the distance of the rectangular loop antennas to a focal point in the near-field of the planar array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Stichting IMEC Nederland
    Inventor: Hubregt Jannis Visser
  • Patent number: 9764650
    Abstract: A DC voltage source, for example an AC/DC converter, has an output producing a controllable DC voltage for a DC charging station to charge the battery of an electric vehicle. A voltage balancing unit is connected between the output of the converter and the output terminal of the DC charging station. The voltage balancing unit has a controllable switch by which the connection between voltage source or converter and battery can be made or broken as desired. The switch is controlled as a function of the voltage on the input and output side of the voltage balancing unit to the effect that the switch breaks the connection before and while the battery is being connected to the DC output terminal, and makes a connection only when the voltage on the input side of the voltage balancing unit corresponds substantially to the voltage on the output side of the voltage balancing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Markus Böhm, Nicholas Demetris Cherouvim, Johannes Reinschke, Johnannes Starkl
  • Patent number: 9764701
    Abstract: A motor vehicle energy storage device includes a first electrical energy store characterized by a first characteristic voltage curve defining the open-circuit voltage of the first energy store depending on the relative charge state and by a first characteristic resistance curve defining the internal resistance of the first energy store relevant for a charge process of the energy store, and a second electrical energy store connected in parallel and characterized by a second characteristic voltage curve defining the open-circuit voltage of the second energy store depending on the relative charge state and by a second characteristic resistance curve defining the internal resistance relevant for a charge process of the second energy store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Lamp, Andreas Stoermer, Marcus Hafkemeyer
  • Patent number: 9755453
    Abstract: A cell controller in a battery-monitoring device that monitors an assembled battery having a single cell group or a plurality of cell groups, each made up with a plurality of battery cells connected in series, includes: a startup terminal to which a first discharge resistor is connected and a startup voltage is applied; and a cell-balancing unit that executes cell balancing operation in order to adjust charge levels of the plurality of battery cells during a time period through which the startup voltage remains equal to or greater than a predetermined voltage, wherein: the startup voltage is applied for a predetermined length of time by a first timer unit that includes a passive element capable of accumulating electric energy and capable of discharging electric energy to the startup terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomonori Kanai, Akihiko Kudoh, Hikaru Miura, Mitsuo Noda, Mutsumi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9746525
    Abstract: A battery system monitoring device that monitors a battery system provided with a cell group having a plurality of battery cells connected in series with each other, including: a first control device that monitors and controls states of the plurality of battery cells of the cell group; a second control device that controls the first control device; a temperature detection unit that measures a temperature in the vicinity of the first control device; and a plurality of voltage detection lines, for measuring an inter-terminal voltage of the battery cell, which connect each of a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the battery cell and the first control device. The first control device includes a balancing switch, which performs balancing discharge of the battery cell for each of the battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Kudo, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Tomonori Kanai, Tatsumi Yamauchi, Akihiro Machida
  • Patent number: 9748795
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes an electric machine, a generator generating a first AC output current, an internal combustion engine driving the generator, and a first electric plug-in charging device. When the engine is started, the generator supplies the battery with charging power. The first plug-in charging device is geometrically configured to be connectable with single phase AC power mains to supply the battery with charging power in a vehicle deactivated state. The first plug-in charging device is configured for a maximum electric power voltage load of 240 volts and a maximum current strength of 32 amperes. A second electric plug-in charging device is integrated into the vehicle. A DC charging station is connectable to the second charging device in the deactivated state so the DC charging station is usable either exclusively or simultaneously with the single phase AC power mains for charging the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Merten Jung, Patrick Mueller, Robert Griessbach, Thomas Schimanek, Christian Hieber
  • Patent number: 9728996
    Abstract: A high efficiency charging apparatus, includes a power supply which is a source for supplying electricity for charging; a speed setting unit setting an oscillating frequency and outputting an electrical self-oscillating signal having a frequency corresponding to the oscillating frequency; a switching unit having a plurality of switches which are driven by the electrical self-oscillating signal supplied from the speed setting unit; and a power transmitting unit supplying a current from the power supply to a capacitor multiple times according to a drive state of the plurality of switches of the switching unit and discharging the current charged in the capacitor at one time to supply the discharged current to the battery. The charging apparatus improves charging efficiency and reduces a charging time of a lead or nickel battery used in a vehicle or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Run Energy
    Inventor: Suk-ho Jang
  • Patent number: 9718374
    Abstract: A charging system for an electric vehicle and an electric vehicle are provided. The charging system comprises: a power battery; a charge-discharge socket; a bidirectional DC/DC module having a first DC terminal connected with a first terminal of the power battery and a second DC terminal connected with a second terminal of the power battery; a bidirectional DC/AC module having a first DC terminal connected with the second terminal of the power battery and a second DC terminal connected with the first terminal of the power battery; a charge-discharge control module having a first terminal connected with the AC terminal of the bidirectional DC/AC module and a second terminal connected with the charge-discharge socket; and a controller module connected with the charge-discharge control module, and configured to control the charge-discharge control module according to a current operation mode of the charging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignees: SHENZHEN BYD AUTO R&D COMPANY LIMITED, BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Zheqing Tang, Zhiyong Du, Fu Tang, Jun Zhao, Qiyuan Liang
  • Patent number: 9715204
    Abstract: A discharge circuit unit for minimizing standby power occurring in a standby mode and an image forming apparatus having the same are provided. The discharge circuit unit is connected to an input line of alternating current (AC) power and discharges a capacitive element for reducing noises. The discharge circuit unit includes a discharge circuit including first and second resistance units connected in series to discharge the capacitive element in response to a discharge control signal generated when an input of the AC power is interrupted, and a detection circuit that detects whether the input of the AC power is interrupted, and includes third and fourth resistance units connected in series so as to generate the discharge control signal when it is detected that the input of the AC power is interrupted. Each of the first to fourth resistance units includes at least one of a resistor and a switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jin Ha Kim
  • Patent number: 9705342
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a battery equalizing circuit, which comprises a first battery unit, a second battery unit, a current detecting resistor, an equalizing inductor, a first control switch, a second control switch and a feedback control circuit. The first battery unit is connected in series with the second battery unit. The first battery unit, the current detecting resistor, the equalizing inductor and the first control switch are electrically connected with each other to form a first circuit loop. The second battery unit, the current detecting resistor, the equalizing inductor and the second control switch are electrically connected with each other to form a second circuit loop. The feedback control circuit is connected in parallel with the current detecting resistor to detect a voltage drop across the current detecting resistor, and switch between the first and the second circuit loop so as to make an equalizing current substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: DONGGUAN CELLWISE MICROELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jianhua Zhao
  • Patent number: 9702939
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for charging or maintaining a battery that includes power conversion circuitry configured to provide output power for charging or maintaining the battery. The system also includes electrical conductors coupled to the power conversion circuitry and configured to be coupled to the battery for charging or maintaining the battery. Additionally, the system includes control circuitry coupled to the power conversion circuitry and configured to monitor charging or maintaining of the battery. The control circuitry is further configured to determine whether the battery may be defective or failing based upon the output power and a time threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Daryl C. Brockman, Joseph E. Liedhegner
  • Patent number: 9673653
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a high voltage traction battery for providing propulsion energy to the vehicle. A battery control module controls the operation of the battery, and also commands cell balancing out of or between cells of the battery to maintain a relative equilibrium of charge across a plurality of the cells. The battery control module is in communication with an interactive display in the vehicle or a communication device outside of the vehicle. A user can define a time period in which the vehicle is to enter a hibernation mode. During the hibernation mode, the battery control module inhibits cell balancing in the battery. Upon expiration of the user-defined time period, the battery control module enables cell balancing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Edward Loftus
  • Patent number: 9620983
    Abstract: Methods and systems may provide for detecting a location of an adjacent ultrasonic receiver of a battery powered device relative to a charging surface of a contactless charger. The charging surface may include an ultrasonic array of transmitter sub arrays, wherein one or more of the transmitter sub arrays may be selectively activated based on the location to focus an ultrasonic beam on the adjacent ultrasonic receiver. In one example, a movement of the adjacent ultrasonic receiver may be detected and the focus of the ultrasonic beam is adjusted in response to the movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Mohamed A. Abdelmoneum, Paul J. Gwin, Rashed Mahameed, Mark E. Sprenger
  • Patent number: 9618544
    Abstract: Systems and methods for verifying a reference voltage within a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, an assessment of a reference voltage is made via a band-gap voltage of a microcontroller. The system and method may be particularly useful determining whether or not the reference voltage has drifted from a desired voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: A123 Systems LLC
    Inventors: John H. Floros, Paul W. Firehammer
  • Patent number: 9610851
    Abstract: An electric vehicle charging apparatus is disclosed. The electric vehicle charging apparatus has a housing body that is configurable to provide a number of electrical connection options, such as bottom and rear corded options as well as direct wired options. In another aspect, a mounting installation of the electric vehicle charging apparatus is provided. In yet another aspect, a housing body having a first front cavity and a second front cavity is provided. An inner cover covers the second front cavity, and a maximum amperage set switch is operable to set a maximum charge amperage for the electric vehicle charging apparatus. Methods of configuring the electric vehicle charging apparatus are provided, as are other aspects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: John DeBoer, John Quentin Cowans, Timothy Biedrzycki