Patents Examined by Yalkew Fantu
  • Patent number: 12269355
    Abstract: Provided are a charging device and a vehicle capable of reducing the amount of noise flowing into a quick-charging facility. The pair of charging lines connecting the quick-charging facility (20) to an onboard battery (30) are referred to as quick-charging lines, and each of these quick-charging lines is provided with a relay (16-1, 16-2). Each relay (16-1, 16-2) is used to switch the current flowing in the respective quick-charging line on and off, the current being switched on during quick-charge and being switched off during normal charging. Each quick-charging line has a Y-capacitor (17) connected thereto closer to a QC port (15) than the respective relay (16-1, 16-2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shuhei Chizuwa
  • Patent number: 12272962
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling wireless charging, and a terminal device. The method includes: obtaining a charging power and a temperature of the terminal device; determining an operating mode of the wireless charging system in the terminal device based on the charging power and the temperature according to a preset rule, in which the preset rule includes at least two control rules and operating modes corresponding to the at least two control rules respectively; and controlling the wireless charging system to enter the operating mode corresponding to one of the at least two control rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yongxiu Hu, Guangshuai Lu
  • Patent number: 12266799
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a monitoring system may monitor a selected number of battery packs residing within a battery energy storage system. The monitoring system may include a plurality of battery pack monitoring devices each configured to monitor a battery pack. In an embodiment, the battery pack monitoring device may include a battery pack monitoring controller having a memory and a processor. The battery pack monitoring device may also include a voltage sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, an electric current sensor, a cell voltage sensor, and a cell temperature sensor, each coupled to the processor of the battery pack monitoring controller. The measured voltages, temperatures, and electric current may be stored in the memory of the battery pack monitoring controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Powin, LLC
    Inventor: Virgil Lee Beaston
  • Patent number: 12266960
    Abstract: A battery pack charger that includes a housing and a plurality of battery receptacles supported by the housing that are configured to receive a battery pack. The charger includes a plurality of charging circuits connected to the battery receptacles and configured to transmit power to the plurality of battery receptacles. The charger includes at least one sensor to sense available power from a power source. The charger includes a controller operable to receive a signal from the at least one sensor indicative of the available power from the power source, receive signals from the plurality of charging circuits indicative of an amount of power needed by the charging circuits to charge the battery packs, and reduce a charging power to at least one of the plurality of charging circuits when the amount of power needed by the charging circuits is greater than the available power from the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventor: Donald J. Truettner
  • Patent number: 12257918
    Abstract: A charging system for autonomous transport vehicles including at least one charging contact disposed on each pick floor level of a storage and retrieval system, each of the at least one charging contact being located at a transfer station, at least one power supply configured to supply power to the at least one charging contact, and a controller in communication with the transfer station and being configured to communicate information relating to a transfer of items between the transfer station and a predetermined one of the autonomous transport vehicles and to apply power from the power supply to the at least one charging contact for charging the predetermined autonomous transport vehicle corresponding to the transfer and located at the transfer station, wherein the controller is configured to supply power to the charging contacts simultaneously with the predetermined autonomous transport vehicle exchanging items related to the transfer at the transfer station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: SYMBOTIC LLC
    Inventors: Robert Sullivan, Dmitry Vasilyev
  • Patent number: 12257914
    Abstract: A system and method for navigating a vehicle automatically from a current location to a destination location without a human operator is disclosed. The method includes identifying a vehicle location using global positioning system (GPS) data regarding the vehicle. Also included is identifying that the vehicle location is near or at a parking location. Then, using mapping data defined for the parking location. The mapping data at least in part is used to find a path at the parking location to avoid a collision of the vehicle with at least one physical structure when the vehicle is automatically moved at the parking location. The method includes instructing the electronics of the vehicle to proceed with controlling the vehicle to automatically move from the current location to the destination location at the parking location. The electronics use as input at least part of the mapping data and sensor data collected from around the vehicle by at least two vehicle sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Emerging Automotive, LLC
    Inventors: Angel A. Penilla, Albert S. Penilla
  • Patent number: 12255471
    Abstract: A method for operating a contactor (10) is described, wherein the contactor (10) comprises at least two contacts (18, 20, 22) electrically conductively connected to one another in a closed state of the contactor (10), having the method steps of partially charging an DC link capacitance (103) in electrical contact with the contactor (10) and closing the contactor (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Gergely Galamb
  • Patent number: 12244169
    Abstract: A charging device, comprising a first power converter configured to provide a first output current, a second power converter configured to provide a second output current, a switch coupled to an output of the first power converter and an output of the second power converter, a first socket coupled to the output of the first power converter, a second socket coupled to the output of the second power converter, and a power delivery (PD) controller configured to control a turn ON of the switch in response to a coupling of the first socket to a first powered device and an absence of coupling of the second socket to a second powered device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Eng Hwee Quek, Aditya Jayant Kulkarni, Ran Li, Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre
  • Patent number: 12230983
    Abstract: A smart battery balancer is provided that monitors the voltage output levels of two battery packs and switches current into a selected one of the batteries to maintain balanced voltage output levels. In one embodiment, first and second batteries are connected in series to generate a high voltage output. Current from the batteries is stored in an inductor that is connected to first and second switches. A switch control circuit is configured to generate drive signals to control the first and second switches. The drive signals close the first switch and open the second switch when an output voltage of the first battery is greater than an output voltage of the second battery. The drive signals open the first switch and close the second switch when the output voltage of the second battery is greater than the output voltage of the first battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Motiv Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Michael Castelaz, Venkatesh Prasad Hanglur Narasimha
  • Patent number: 12230987
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present application provides a method for pre-charging a power conversion device and a power conversion device. The power conversion device is configured to perform power conversion between a charging pile and a traction battery, and the method includes: receiving, by the power conversion device, a first message sent by a battery management system of the traction battery, and the first message is configured to indicate that the battery management system is ready for charging; performing, by the power conversion device, a pre-charging, and the pre-charging includes: charging a capacitor in the power conversion device; and forwarding, by the power conversion device, the first message to the charging pile after the pre-charging is completed. The technical solution of the embodiments of the present application can ensure a normal charging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED
    Inventors: Weiping Sun, Zhimin Dan, Zhanliang Li, Shuyun Xiong, Yu Yan
  • Patent number: 12224603
    Abstract: Described herein is a battery system that allows a battery pack to operate in different modes at different times. Each of the different modes may provide its own set of functionality that affects how the battery pack operates and/or reacts to external input signals. A mode may change how the battery pack discharges power by, for example, altering whether terminals are enabled or disabled. A mode may change how the battery pack's hardware operates by, for example, disabling or enabling portions of the battery pack's hardware. A mode may change what battery-related services are provided by the battery pack and available to an end user by, for example, enabling or disabling the sending of battery status information from the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Inventus Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick James Trippel, William Tenorio, Ilyas Ayub, Tom Nguyen
  • Patent number: 12212180
    Abstract: Provided are a method and system for charging a battery using a fuel cell. The method includes: running the fuel cell; setting a voltage input from the fuel cell as a preset first input adapting voltage (1st IAV), when the input power from the fuel cell is lower than the output power to the battery; detecting whether an output current to the battery reaches a first low detect current (1st LDC) while the battery is being charged based on the first input adapting voltage; and resetting the first input adapting voltage based on a detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Kencoa Aviation
    Inventors: Dong Han Yoon, Hyeong Seog Kim
  • Patent number: 12211648
    Abstract: An ultracapacitor assembly is provided. The ultracapacitor assembly includes a plurality of ultracapacitors. The ultracapacitor assembly further includes a first bus bar and a second bus bar. The second bus bar is spaced apart from the first bus bar. The ultracapacitor assembly includes a discharge resistor coupled between the first bus bar and the second bus bar. The ultracapacitor assembly further includes a first plurality of switching devices and a second plurality of switching devices. Each switching device in the first plurality of switching devices is coupled between the first bus bar and a corresponding ultracapacitor of the plurality of ultracapacitors to selectively couple the corresponding ultracapacitor the discharge resistor via the first bus bar. Each switching device in the second plurality of switching devices is coupled between the second bus bar and a corresponding ultracapacitor to selectively couple the corresponding ultracapacitor the discharge resistor via the second bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Kyocera AVX Components Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph M. Hock
  • Patent number: 12212174
    Abstract: Recycling of an electrochemical energy storage device is provided. A remaining charge on the electrochemical energy storage device is determined. An impedance profile of the electrochemical energy storage device is determined for the remaining charge. The impedance profile includes an internal impedance of the electrochemical energy storage device at different charge levels from the remaining charge to a complete discharge. A variable discharge load is applied on the electrochemical energy storage device until the complete discharge. The variable discharge load varies with the internal impedance of the electrochemical energy storage device at the different charge levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Inventor: Pieter Adriaan Zwemer
  • Patent number: 12206264
    Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a charging module, where the charging module is connected to a first terminal of a first selection module; a second terminal of the first selection module is connected to a first terminal of a first battery module, a third terminal of the first selection module is connected to a first terminal of a second battery module, in a case in which a first condition is satisfied, the first terminal of the first selection module is connected to the second terminal of the first selection module, and in a case in which a second condition is satisfied, the first terminal of the first selection module is connected to the third terminal of the first selection module; and a coulometer management module, connected to the first battery module and the second battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: VIVO MOBILE COMMUNICATION CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yongcheng Lan
  • Patent number: 12206273
    Abstract: A charger operable to charge a battery of an electric vehicle from an electric power grid. The charger includes a first connector unit operable to connect the charger to the electric power grid, an AC/DC converter, a set of filters provided between the first connector unit and the AC/DC converter, a second connector unit operable to connect the charger to the battery, and a configurator provided between the first connector unit and the set of filters, the configurator being provided with a set of switches and/or relays operable to switch between a three-phase operation and a single-phase operation to charge the battery from the electric power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Watt & Well
    Inventors: Nadim Sakr, Raul Iglesias
  • Patent number: 12196445
    Abstract: A charger includes a charger housing with at least one battery-charging space accessible from the outside for positioning of a rechargeable battery unit, a charging electronics unit in the charger housing for controlling an electrical charging operation for the battery unit positioned on the battery-charging space, and a cooling-air-guiding structure configured for guiding a cooling-air flow from an air inlet structure of the charger housing via the charging electronics unit to an air outlet structure of the charger housing. The cooling-air-guiding structure has a cooling housing arranged in the interior of the charger housing and has a cooling housing air inlet structure and a cooling housing air outlet structure, and is configured for guiding the cooling-air flow through the cooling housing from the cooling housing air inlet structure to the cooling housing air outlet structure and from the latter to the air outlet structure of the charger housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Fuchs, Leonard Mattheis, Charis Hellmann, Markus Mueller
  • Patent number: 12199463
    Abstract: A method includes detecting a voltage of the battery, detecting a current of the battery, determining a depth of discharge of the battery based on the voltage and the current of the battery, and controlling terminating charging of the battery responsive to the determined depth of discharge of the battery reaching a depth of discharge threshold. A system includes a battery gauge circuit and a processor coupled to the battery gauge circuit. The battery gauge circuit has a voltage sense input and a current sense input and is configured to determine a depth of discharge of a battery based on a battery voltage at the voltage sense input and a battery current at the current sense input. The processor is configured to control terminating charging of the battery responsive to the determined depth of discharge reaching a depth of discharge threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Chutao Zhang
  • Patent number: 12195200
    Abstract: An airport ground power unit for supplying electric current to a parked aircraft and a related system and method. The ground power unit includes a first electric battery, an inverter for transforming an output current of the battery to an alternating output current to be supplied to the aircraft, and one or more first electronic switches for connecting and disconnecting the first battery to and from the inverter. The first switches are connected in serial to the first battery, and together connected to the inverter. A first controller unit controls at least one of the one or more first switches. The ground power unit further includes a second electric battery and second electronic switches for connecting and disconnecting the second battery. The second switches are connected in serial to the second battery and are together connected to the inverter such that they are in parallel to the serially connected first battery and the first switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Soren R. Dahl, Bo V. Nielsen, Mogens Preuss Svendsen
  • Patent number: 12191692
    Abstract: A ring can include a housing. The housing can include a first power source configured to be charged by a second power source removably positioned adjacent to the housing. The housing also can include a component. The component can be configured to draw energy from the first power source. The component also can sense a physical phenomenon external to the housing. The component further can send communication signals to a communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: QUANATA, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth Jason Sanchez