Patents Examined by Tynese V McDaniel
  • Patent number: 12095298
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery management apparatus, a vehicle system including the same, and a battery management method. An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a battery management apparatus including: a processor configured to create a profile depending on a voltage of a battery cell when charging a battery, to determine uniformity of the battery cell based on the profile, and to perform battery management and control by using the uniformity; and a storage configured to store a profile for each battery cell, and an algorithm and data driven by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joon Keun Yoon, Seung Beom Yoon
  • Patent number: 12095303
    Abstract: This application provides a method and device for detecting charging abnormality, and a storage medium. In this application, a first sampling moment corresponding to a first minimum voltage in n sampled voltages is determined based on n consecutive sampled voltages of a first cell from an end moment of an ith charging phase to an end moment of an (i+1)th charging phase in a kth charging process. A second sampling moment corresponding to a second minimum voltage in any one of the first (k?1)th charging processes can be determined in the same way. Then abnormality of the kth charging process is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Guangyu Xu, Haili Li, Wei Zhao
  • Patent number: 12095293
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to protection circuits. A protection circuit may include a first node for coupling to a first battery and a second node for coupling to a second battery. The protection circuit may also include a first path coupled between the second node and the first node and including a diode. The protection circuit may also include a second path coupled between the first node and the second node. The second path may include a first stage coupled to the first node and including a first number of thermistors coupled in parallel. The second path may also include a second stage coupled between the first stage and the second node and including a second number of thermistors coupled in parallel, wherein the first stage may be coupled in series with the second stage. Associated methods, systems, and devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Live View Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Richard C. Lindsey
  • Patent number: 12074468
    Abstract: A battery charger system includes multiple power channels to accommodate multiple battery chargers through a power input port. Each power channel includes a power outlet electrically coupled to the power input port through a relay. Each power channel further includes a current sensor. A controller is configured to estimate current in each of the power channels using the sensor signals, and configured to control the relays. The battery charger system is configured to provide power to the outlets by closing the corresponding relays, until the total current estimate is more than a maximum current limit, at which point the controller is configured to open the most recently closed relay. The controller is further configured to sequentially close remaining relays after the total current drops sufficiently, while maintaining the total current below the maximum current limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: CyberSwitchingPatents, LLC
    Inventors: Ron Silorio, Charles Henry Reynolds, Ximing Shi
  • Patent number: 12074465
    Abstract: When one of the electric storage modules connected in parallel is individually replaced, the voltage of an electric storage module to be newly added and the voltage of the remaining electric storage module(s) need to match each other with high precision before the electric storage module to be newly added is attached to an electric storage system. A control device includes a control unit for controlling a switching element arranged between a wire and an electric storage unit such that: (i) the switching element electrically connects the wire and the electric storage unit if terminal voltage of the switching element satisfies a predetermined condition; and (ii) the switching element electrically disconnects the wire and the electric storage unit if the terminal voltage of the switching element does not satisfy the predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: NExT-e Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Fumiaki Nakao
  • Patent number: 12074301
    Abstract: A device for depassivation of an energy storage device having an anode, a cathode and a core with an electrolyte, the device including: a first switch configured to provide a positive input voltage to the anode; a second switch configured to provide a negative input voltage to the anode; and a controller configured to: detect that a first predetermined event related to a buildup of passivation has occurred with regard to the energy storage device; switch between a positive input voltage and a negative input voltage provided to the anode at a frequency sufficient to depassivate the anode; discontinue the switching when a second predetermined event related to passivation has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: OMNITEK PARTNERS LLC
    Inventor: Jahangir S Rastegar
  • Patent number: 12068626
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for dynamic management of charge. The techniques may involve obtaining an estimated readiness time for an energy storage element, obtaining a target state of charge for the energy storage element, calculating an estimated charging time based at least in part on a difference between the target state of charge and a current state of charge, using a first charging rate to charge the energy storage element to an intermediate state of charge, and responsive to determining the amount of time remaining before reaching a second estimated readiness time is less than an updated estimated charging time to charge the energy storage element at the intermediate state of charge to the target state of charge, using a second charging rate to charge the energy storage element to the target state of charge, wherein the second charging rate is greater than the first charging rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Jalal Elidrissi, Adam S. Trock, Fatemeh Delijani, Seth N. Kazarians, Zhaleh Lotfi, Afshin Bazargan
  • Patent number: 12062928
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for effectively managing power discharge within a group of devices. An orchestrating device specifies a group of member devices at a location between which power is capable of being transferred. Discharging metadata of at least some of the group of member devices that are potential discharging devices capable of acting as a discharging device at a current time is obtained. The discharging metadata may include: a charge available in the discharging device for discharging to a receiving device, and discharging capability data for discharging the discharging device by current transfer to a receiving device. A preferred potential discharging device to act as a discharging device based on evaluation of the discharging metadata may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Daffern, Aiziel Nazario, Francesca Morris, Giacomo G. Chiarella, Luke R. Viner
  • Patent number: 12015299
    Abstract: A circuit for charging a rechargeable battery is described. The circuit includes a first DC voltage source, a bus capacitor Cbus, an H-bridge circuit, a rechargeable battery, a second DC voltage source, an impedance meter and a microcontroller. The impedance meter measures an impedance of the rechargeable battery. The microcontroller is connected to the impedance meter and to each gate contact. The microcontroller generates a set of drive signals that are configured to generate a sinusoidal with ripple current at an output terminal of the H-bridge circuit. The microcontroller adjusts a frequency of the sinusoidal with ripple current based on the impedance of the rechargeable battery and identifies a frequency of the sinusoidal with ripple current at which the rechargeable battery has a minimum internal impedance. The microcontroller adjusts the set of drive signals to generate the sinusoidal with ripple current at the identified frequency and recharge the rechargeable battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University
    Inventors: Ala A. Hussein, Abdulmajeed Al-Abdusalam, Hasan Ali Alseni, Meenhal Al-Najjar, Hani Quraish
  • Patent number: 12005789
    Abstract: A charging status or a location of a wireless charger is provided. A vehicle may charge at a particular wireless charger based at least in part on the charging status of the wireless charger and/or the location of the wireless charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: WiBotic Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin Waters
  • Patent number: 12005788
    Abstract: An authentication between a wireless charger and a device configured to receive wireless energy from the wireless charger includes establishing a wireless data channel between the wireless charger and the device. An authentication challenge signal is driven onto a transmit charging coil of the wireless charger and a receive charging coil of the device is configured to receive the authentication challenge signal. The device sends an authentication response signal to the wireless charger based at least in part on the authentication challenge signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: WiBotic Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin Waters
  • Patent number: 12003131
    Abstract: A circuit for charging a rechargeable battery is described. The circuit includes a first DC voltage source, a bus capacitor Cbus, an H-bridge circuit, a rechargeable battery, a second DC voltage source, an impedance meter and a microcontroller. The impedance meter measures an impedance of the rechargeable battery. The microcontroller is connected to the impedance meter and to each gate contact. The microcontroller generates a set of drive signals that are configured to generate a sinusoidal with ripple current at an output terminal of the H-bridge circuit. The microcontroller adjusts a frequency of the sinusoidal with ripple current based on the impedance of the rechargeable battery and identifies a frequency of the sinusoidal with ripple current at which the rechargeable battery has a minimum internal impedance. The microcontroller adjusts the set of drive signals to generate the sinusoidal with ripple current at the identified frequency and recharge the rechargeable battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University
    Inventors: Ala A. Hussein, Abdulmajeed Al-Abdusalam, Hasan Ali Alseni, Meenhal Al-Najjar, Hani Quraish
  • Patent number: 11996724
    Abstract: A circuit for charging a rechargeable battery is described. The circuit includes a first DC voltage source, a bus capacitor Cbus, an H-bridge circuit, a rechargeable battery, a second DC voltage source, an impedance meter and a microcontroller. The impedance meter measures an impedance of the rechargeable battery. The microcontroller is connected to the impedance meter and to each gate contact. The microcontroller generates a set of drive signals that are configured to generate a sinusoidal with ripple current at an output terminal of the H-bridge circuit. The microcontroller adjusts a frequency of the sinusoidal with ripple current based on the impedance of the rechargeable battery and identifies a frequency of the sinusoidal with ripple current at which the rechargeable battery has a minimum internal impedance. The microcontroller adjusts the set of drive signals to generate the sinusoidal with ripple current at the identified frequency and recharge the rechargeable battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University
    Inventors: Ala A. Hussein, Abdulmajeed Al-Abdusalam, Hasan Ali Alseni, Meenhal Al-Najjar, Hani Quraish
  • Patent number: 11996710
    Abstract: A control system is intended to be tailored to a fuel-cell stack. This fuel-cell stack includes a plurality of cells connected in series between a first terminal and a second terminal. This system includes a central control unit and an electronic bypass device including a plurality of separate electrical bypass units, each electrical bypass unit being connected in parallel to at least one separate cell of the fuel-cell stack, in order to control its discharge on startup and shutdown of the stack and thus to avoid the creation of inverse electrical potentials and to limit the presence of residual potentials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Marco Ranieri, Benoît Morin
  • Patent number: 11990781
    Abstract: A method for determining a quality factor of a wireless charger is disclosed. The wireless charger includes an inverter, a filter, and a resonant tank circuit. The inverter receives a supply voltage and generates a PWM signal at a first node and a second node. The filter connects to the first and second nodes of the inverter to receive the PWM signal, and generates a filtered signal at a first terminal and a second terminal of a capacitor. The resonant tank circuit connects to the first and second terminals of the capacitor of the filter to receive the filtered signal, and provides wireless power at an inductor coil to a receiver. The method includes: issuing a current pulse to the resonant tank circuit; and in a Q-factor determination phase of the wireless charger, connecting the resonant tank circuit and only the capacitor of the filter in a resonance network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Dechang Wang, Dengyu Jiang, Ruyang Sheng, Huan Mao
  • Patent number: 11990785
    Abstract: A battery control device includes a plurality of voltage detection circuits that are provided so as to correspond to a plurality of battery modules constituting a battery and detect voltages of the battery modules; a plurality of communication cables that connect the voltage detection circuits in a daisy chain manner through coupling capacitors; and a control circuit that transmits and receives communication signals to and from the voltage detection circuits through the communication cables and controls the battery on the basis of the voltages received from the voltage detection circuits. Communication terminals connected to the communication cables in the voltage detection circuit are grounded through a predetermined passive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventor: Kotaro Seki
  • Patent number: 11962182
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure discloses a wireless charging device comprising a wireless receiving module, a controller, a first charging module, and a second charging module. The wireless receiving module is configured to receive a wireless charging signal in response to the wireless charging device being in a wireless sensing area, transmit a state indication signal to the controller, receive a charging indication signal from the controller, and determine whether to transmit the wireless charging signal to the first charging module according to the charging indication signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: Nuctech Company Limited, Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Zhiqiang Chen, Yuanjing Li, Xianghao Wu, Yongning Chen
  • Patent number: 11955821
    Abstract: In a portable device, a first battery has a positive terminal coupled to, through a first switch, an interface used to receive input power, and a negative terminal coupled to a reference terminal. A second battery has a positive terminal coupled to the interface, and a negative terminal coupled to the reference terminal through a second switch, and to the first battery's positive terminal through a third switch. A control circuitry controls the switches such that the device has multiple operation modes including at least a one-battery charging mode and a two-battery-in-series charging mode. In the one-battery charging mode, the circuitry turns off the third switch, and controls the other switches such that one battery is charged by the input power. In the two-battery-in-series charging mode, the control circuitry turns on the third switch and turns off the other switches, such that two batteries are charged by the input power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: O2Micro Inc.
    Inventor: Guoxing Li
  • Patent number: 11936228
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a battery charger for charging a connected battery pack. The battery charger is capable of determining an impedance characteristic value of the battery pack and adjusting a charging scheme, including an initial and/or subsequent charging rates for the battery pack based on the determined impedance characteristic value. The present disclosure is also directed to a method of charging a battery pack. The method includes determining an impedance characteristic value of the battery pack and adjusting a charging scheme, including an initial and/or subsequent charging rates for the battery pack based on the determined impedance characteristic value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: William Rigdon, Lisa M. King, Bhanuprasad V. Gorti, Brian K. Wohltmann, Hussein M. Nosair, Michael Muilwyk
  • Patent number: 11929627
    Abstract: Apparatuses and systems are provided for improving wireless power transmission for mobile devices. An enclosure for a mobile device may include a first electrical coil configured to establish a first wireless coupling with a transmitter coil of a power supply and a second electrical coil configured to establish a second wireless coupling with the first electrical coil and to establish a third wireless coupling with a receiver coil of a mobile device. A distance between the receiver coil and the transmitter coil may exceed a range over which the transmitter coil may be able to transfer power to the receiver coil via a single wireless coupling between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil. The first wireless coupling, the second wireless coupling, and the third wireless coupling, when established, may enable the transmitter coil to perform a wireless power transfer to the receiver coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventor: Geoffrey Herbert Harris