Patents Examined by Tynese McDaniel
  • Patent number: 9597964
    Abstract: A device for compensating ripples in the output voltage of a PFC converter and a battery charging device for an electric vehicle are disclosed. The disclosed device for compensating the ripples included in the output voltage of a PFC converter includes: a first switching element having one end connected with an output terminal that is not connected with a ground from among two output terminals forming an output end of the PFC converter; a second switching element having one end connected with the other end of the first switching element and having the other end connected with a ground; a compensation inductor having one end connected with the other end of the first switching element and with one end of the second switching element; and a compensation capacitor having one end connected with the other end of the compensation inductor and having the other end connected with a ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Myongji University Industry and Academia Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Jun-Young Lee, Gwang-Min Yoo, Won-Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 9594121
    Abstract: System and methods for estimating a capacity of a battery are presented. A measure of data skewness may be calculated from a battery system terminal voltage measurement. Inflection points in the data skewness of the terminal voltage measurement may align with transition points associated with a battery system. These transitions points may be associated with known SOCs determined from testing and/or characterization of the battery system. Using the detected transitions and associated SOCs and an indication of an accumulated charge provided to/from the battery between the transitions, an estimated capacity of the battery system may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Frost, Patricia M. Laskowsky, Kurt M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9583952
    Abstract: A shunt circuit includes: a shunt resistor; a transistor connected in parallel to a storage element via the shunt resistor; a first OP amplifier configured to compare a battery voltage supplied to the storage element with a detection voltage; and a second OP amplifier configured to shunt a shunt current from a charging current supplied from a charging unit when the battery voltage reaches the detection voltage. The detection voltage is increased step by step, and the shunt current is increased whenever the battery voltage reaches the detection voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Miyanaga
  • Patent number: 9548519
    Abstract: A new data sensor for industrial lead-acid batteries monitors current, voltage, and battery temperature. It comes in a compact, easy-to-install, lost-cost mechanical clamping package with minimal firmware and low cost of ownership. It includes a cable guide configured to restrict the movement of a cable positioned within the cable guide, an electrical power pin configured to pierce the cable positioned within the cable guide to provide an electrical connection to the cable, a tri-axis Hall Effect sensor configured to sense a current flowing through the cable positioned within the cable guide, and a clamping structure configured to clamp the cable positioned within the cable guide and prevent movement of the cable relative to the tri-axis Hall Effect sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: NergySense, LLC
    Inventor: James R Wade
  • Patent number: 9490659
    Abstract: A portable photovoltaic electrical power system includes a photovoltaic panel, a battery bank electrically connected to the photovoltaic panel, a 12-VDC retractable power cord electrically connected to the battery bank, and a 120-VAC retractable power cord electrically connected to the battery bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Inventors: Edwin A. English, Janet G. Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 9465082
    Abstract: A device for measuring a maximum cell voltage among cell voltages of a plurality of battery cells connected in series includes a plurality of ohmic resistors connected in series. The device is configured to be connected to a plurality of battery cells connected in series in such a way that a respective battery cell is associated with each ohmic resistor according to the series connections. Each ohmic resistor, with the exception of a first ohmic resistor, is configured to conduct the larger of (i) a current that corresponds to the cell voltage of the associated battery cell, and (ii) the current that is conducted by the preceding ohmic resistor in the series connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Stefan Butzmann
  • Patent number: 9455579
    Abstract: A USB charger for an electronic cigarette includes a first interface, a control module and a second interface and a built-in battery. The control module is connected to the first interface, the second interface and the built-in battery respectively. The first interface is configured to connect an external power source so as to provide a power supply. The second interface is configured to connect a battery rod of an external electronic cigarette. The control module is configured to charge the battery rod of the electronic cigarette and the built-in battery simultaneously by using the external power source, or control the built-in battery to charge the battery rod of the electronic cigarette, based on the access state of the external power source at the first interface. The electronic cigarette can be charged by the USB charger even if there is no external power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: HUIZHOU KIMREE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. SHENZHEN BRANCH
    Inventor: Zhiyong Xiang
  • Patent number: 9431840
    Abstract: A charger for charging a high voltage battery and a low voltage battery, includes a bidirectional buck boost converter, a first full duty converter and a second full duty converter. The bidirectional buck boost converter is configured to supply power to the high voltage battery or supply power to the low voltage battery from the high voltage battery. The first full duty converter is configured to generate charging power by using an AC commercial power supply. The second full duty converter is connected to the first full duty converter and the bidirectional buck boost converter and configured to generate charging power in the low voltage battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Dae Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 9329241
    Abstract: A device for measuring a minimum cell voltage among cell voltages of a plurality of battery cells connected in series includes a plurality of ohmic resistors connected in series. The device is configured to be connected to a plurality of battery cells connected in series in such a way that a respective battery cell of the plurality of battery cells is associated with each ohmic resistor of the plurality of ohmic resistors according to the series connections. Each ohmic resistor of the plurality of ohmic resistors, with the exception of a first ohmic resistor, is configured to conduct the smaller of a current that corresponds to the cell voltage of the associated battery cell and the current that is conducted by a preceding ohmic resistor in the series connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Butzmann