Patents Examined by Zixuan Zhou
  • Patent number: 11368033
    Abstract: A remote controlled battery cell monitoring and control system that utilizes empirical and theoretical data to compare performance, sensor data, stored patterns, historical usage, use intensity indexes over time and tracking information to provide a sophisticated data collection system for batteries. This tracking is designed to better the specifications, designs, training, preventative maintenance, and replacement and recycling of batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Global Battery Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Dave Baarman, Henry W. Sybesma, Jennifer S. Sierra, Cathy L. Wiler, Ellington L. Ellis, Kristine A. Hunter, Lynne A. Sybesma
  • Patent number: 11362548
    Abstract: A wireless power system has a wireless power transmitting device such as a charging puck and a wireless power receiving device such as a wristwatch. The charging puck may have a three-wire cable that is coupled between a connector and a puck housing. The wireless power transmitting device may have a set of four coils or other number of wireless power transmitting coils in the puck housing. A switch may be coupled in series with each of the four coils. Control circuitry in the wireless power transmitting device may activate a subset of the switches to switch a subset of the coils into use in transmitting the wireless power to the wireless power receiving device. The control circuitry may have a main portion in the connector that uses a tone-based encoding scheme or other encoding scheme to transmit switch configuration commands to a secondary portion in the puck housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Saining Ren, Ho Fai Leung, Liang Chen
  • Patent number: 11362546
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to field of charging of a line follower robot, disclosing method, system, unit for controlling charging of the line follower robot. The charging control unit includes a line follower robot configured with a charging control system. The line follower robot follows a pre-programmed path for performance of a pre-programmed task. The line follower robot includes a ground contact wheel in connection with the pre-programmed path for an entire duration of performance of the pre-programmed task and a segmented wheel in connection with a power-communication track. The segmented wheel is divided into an equal number of different contact surfaces, and the different contact surfaces comprises a charging contact surface, a transmit contact surface, and a receive contact surface. The charging control unit further includes the power-communication-track constructed parallel to the pre-programmed path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Wipro Limited
    Inventors: Vijay Kumar, Hemachandra Ramanath Bhat, Thomas Chittakattu Ninan
  • Patent number: 11349315
    Abstract: A system for inductive charging of electronic devices is disclosed. An inductive charger includes an enclosure with a charging surface, an inductive charging coil, and a metallic shield layer. The coil includes a spiral-shaped conductor that transmits power through the charging surface with an alternating magnetic field when an electronic device is positioned in proximity to the charging surface. The shield layer is positioned between the conductor and the charging surface such that the shield layer covers the conductor, and it provides a frequency-dependent response in which transmission of electromagnetic power through the shield layer is allowed in the frequency range while transmission of electromagnetic interference noise through the first shield layer is attenuated at frequencies higher than the frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: MOJO MOBILITY, INC.
    Inventors: Afshin Partovi, Michael Sears
  • Patent number: 11342792
    Abstract: An electronic device having an inductive power transfer system is disclosed. The electronic device includes an inductive coil for inductive power transfer using an alternating magnetic field and a permanent magnet for creating a separable magnetic attachment between the electronic device and a second device having an inductive coil. The permanent magnet is positioned substantially at the geometric center of the inductive coil to align the inductive coil with the inductive coil in the second device. The permanent magnet has substantially flat first and second surfaces substantially parallel to the inductive coil, and the permanent magnet is manufactured to have an electrical resistivity to impede eddy current generation in the permanent magnet and heating of the permanent magnet by the alternating magnetic field during inductive power transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Mojo Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Afshin Partovi, Michael Sears
  • Patent number: 11336106
    Abstract: A charging system includes: an input voltage supply circuit; a control circuit coupled to the input voltage supply circuit, configured to control the input voltage supply circuit to generate an input voltage according to a battery voltage of a target battery; and a charging circuit, coupled to the control circuit, configured to receive the input voltage and to provide a charging current to charge the target battery. The input voltage is generated according to a function that takes the battery voltage as a parameter. The input voltage is positively correlated with the battery voltage, and is greater than the battery voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Hung-Hsuan Cheng, Shih-Chieh Chen, Cheng-Lin Huang, Chun-Yu Luo, Yi-Lin Li, Liang-Hui Li
  • Patent number: 11332015
    Abstract: A power supply charging system comprising: a) a first power cell having electrical energy stored therein; b) a second power cell having electrical energy stored therein, wherein the first power cell and the second power cell are adapted to not be in a discharging mode or a charging mode simultaneously; c) a third power cell in electrical communication with the first power cell and the second power cell, wherein the third power cell is adapted to operably supply power to the first power cell when in the charging mode or the second power cell when in the charging mode; and d) a control system which is adapted to alternate the power being supplied from the third power cell to the first power cell while in the charging mode and the second power cell which in the charging mode based on an occurrence of a pre-determined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: KATLEGO SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Rodney L. Clay, Lloyd W. Williams, Wally J. Clay
  • Patent number: 11329497
    Abstract: Methods and systems for charging, retaining, and cooling a mobile device in a vehicle. The system includes a tray configured to receive the mobile device, the tray having a plurality of apertures. The system also includes a wireless charger coupled to the tray and configured to wirelessly charge the mobile device. The system also includes a suction device configured to draw air through the plurality of apertures of the tray and create a suction force for reducing lateral movement of the mobile device and cooling the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Erik A. Wippler
  • Patent number: 11322952
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing a homopolar generator charger with an integral rechargeable battery. A method is provided for converting rotational kinetic energy to electrical energy for charging one or more battery cells. The method can include rotating, by a shaft, a rotor in a magnetic flux field to generate current, wherein the rotor comprises an electrically conductive portion having an inner diameter conductive connection surface and an outer diameter conductive connection surface, and wherein a voltage potential is induced between the inner and outer diameter connection surfaces upon rotation in the magnetic flux field. The method can also include selectively coupling the generated current from the rotating rotor to terminals of the one or more battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: PREMERGY, INC.
    Inventor: Richard Edward Botts
  • Patent number: 11315057
    Abstract: A power storage device management system includes a storage device configured to store power storage devices that are removably mounted on an electric power device using electric power and a server device communicatively connected to the storage device. The server device includes a first storage unit storing identification information of a power storage device shared by a plurality of users among the power storage devices as storage identification information. The storage device includes a second storage unit storing the storage identification information received from the server device and a determiner configured to determine whether or not reception of the power storage device is possible on the basis of the storage identification information stored in the second storage unit when the power storage device has been received from a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kuniaki Ikui
  • Patent number: 11316371
    Abstract: A system for providing power inductively to a portable device. The system includes a primary coil, a drive circuit, a sense circuit, and a communication and control circuit. The communication and control circuit is configured to perform operations, including detection of communication and drive circuit operations. A portable device that includes a receiver unit coupled to a battery and configured to receive inductive power from an inductive charging system including a base unit with a primary coil and associated circuit The receiver unit includes a receiver coil, a ferromagnetic layer, and a receiver circuit. The receiver circuit includes a receiver communication and control circuit to modulate current in the receiver coil to communicate with a base unit while the receiver circuit is being powered by the inductive charging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Mojo Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Afshin Partovi, Michael Sears
  • Patent number: 11312253
    Abstract: A charging connection is provided for charging a battery of a vehicle using an external power source. The first connector is coupled to the external power source with an electric cable. The second connector is coupled to the vehicle. The first connector is automatically guided for connection to the second connector using radio frequency signals to couple the first and second connectors so that electrical energy is supplied to the vehicle from the first connector to the second connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Gregory A. Cole, Sree Shankar
  • Patent number: 11299064
    Abstract: An information supply device includes an acquirer configured to acquire information regarding a degree of deterioration of a secondary battery for supplying travel power of a vehicle, a deriver configured to derive performance of the secondary battery based on the information acquired by the acquirer, and a display controller configured to cause a display to display an image indicating information regarding performance of the secondary battery, the performance indicated by the image being lower than the performance derived by the deriver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yosuke Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11299065
    Abstract: A method for charging an energy store that has at least three energy storage strings each having plural energy storage modules. The energy storage modules have at least one energy storage element that receives and stores energy from an energy source and at least two switching elements. The energy store is connected to an energy source that provides a charging voltage and to an electric machine, and the energy storage modules are supplied with energy by the energy source. A DC voltage source and/or an AC voltage source are used in a selectable manner as energy source and the energy store is matched to properties of the selected energy source by switching the switching elements. Thus, the energy storage modules of a string are connected in parallel and/or in series with one another and/or at least one energy storage module of at least one energy storage string is bypassed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Goetz, Hermann Helmut Dibos
  • Patent number: 11267363
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described that maintain and service electric vehicle battery packs and assemblies. The methods and systems automatically remove a used battery pack from an electric vehicle, replace the used battery pack with a charged battery pack, and service the removed used battery pack for subsequent vehicle installation. The servicing of the used battery pack includes removing a desiccant cartridge from the used battery pack and renewing a desiccant material associated with the desiccant cartridge. This desiccant material may be renewed by drying the desiccant cartridge using a heater. The used battery pack may be conveyed to a battery charger to charge the used battery pack to a predetermined charge level. The renewed, dry, desiccant cartridge may be attached to any battery pack and installed in an electric vehicle after the battery pack has been charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam H. Ing
  • Patent number: 11260753
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor vehicle that is equipped with an electrical door closing mechanism, a radio-based signal receiver and a control unit, wherein the door closing mechanism can be actuated after receiving and verifying an access authorization code by electrical signals that are generated by a control unit. The motor vehicle possesses an electrical charging apparatus accessible from the outside so that a signal generator that is provided to generate the access code can be charged from the electrical system of the motor vehicle in the event of an insufficient charge. Furthermore, the invention describes a method for charging a signal generator that can be executed using the device according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Kord H. Lühr, Gerd Penshorn, Claus-Peter Brückner, Per Ulrich, Andreas Ortner, Hannes Haupt, Bastian Bartels
  • Patent number: 11260772
    Abstract: An apparatus and method that detects and remedies a battery health condition are provided. The method includes receiving data including one or more of vehicle sensor information, dealer information and vehicle characteristic information, analyzing the received data to determine whether one or more battery health alerts are required, and outputting or transmitting the one or more determined battery health alerts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chans C. Head, Carl J. Hering, Joshua D. Smith, Robert Wittmann
  • Patent number: 11254232
    Abstract: A control apparatus of a vehicle includes an input and output port configured to input and output signals transmitted and received between the vehicle and a charger and an electronic control unit configured to control the transmission and reception of the signals through the input and output port according to a communication sequence defined in order to charge an electric power storage device. The communication sequence defines that the vehicle proceeds with the communication sequence based on a content represented by the signal received by the vehicle from the charger. The electronic control unit is configured to proceed with the communication sequence regardless of the content represented by a predetermined specific signal when the signal received from the charger is the predetermined specific signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daiki Takayama
  • Patent number: 11259110
    Abstract: A charging case is configured with two sides that can store a pair of earbuds on one side and a pair of batteries on the other side; the batteries are connectable and interchangeable with the earbuds. Underneath a top lid is two earbud homes which correspond to the size and shape of the earbuds. The homes include an upper portion to hold the main body of the earbuds and an opening that receives the ear tip of the earbuds. Underneath the charging case's bottom lid are battery homes that can store and charge the earbud's detachable and rechargeable batteries. Each earbud and battery home includes charging points that engage with corresponding charging points on the earbuds and batteries, respectively. Charging lights that extend around a horizontal perimeter of the charging case are utilized to notify the user of input earbuds or batteries' charging status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventor: Robert Charles DeMaio
  • Patent number: 11245270
    Abstract: A two-voltage battery for a vehicle, having at least one ground terminal, a first vehicle electrical system connection at which a low, first vehicle electrical system voltage is provided, and a second vehicle electrical system connection at which a high, second vehicle electrical system voltage is provided. At least one battery submodule having at least two battery cell blocks and a multiplicity of switching elements is provided for connecting the battery cell blocks in parallel and/or in series as desired. In a first connection arrangement, the same are connected in parallel with one another such that the first vehicle electrical system voltage is provided at the first vehicle electrical system connection. The switching elements in a second connection arrangement connect the battery cell blocks in series with one another such that the second vehicle electrical system voltage is provided at the second vehicle electrical system connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Andre Koerner, Hans Joachim Liebscher