Patents by Inventor Joong Hui Lee

Joong Hui Lee has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9048669
    Abstract: Provided are a charge equalization apparatus and method for a battery string connected in series, and more particularly, are a charge equalization apparatus and method that efficiently perform charge equalization while reducing entire complexity and volume and lowering production costs through a configuration that an individual battery included in a battery string shares a single voltage sensing module and a single charge equalizing module; a switch block of a two-stage structure forms a current path for measuring voltage of individual batteries included in the battery string, and at the same time, forms a charging or discharging path of a low-charged or over-charged battery among the battery strings; and a switch device having low withstand voltage is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignees: SK Innovation Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jae Hwan Lim, Sang Hyun Park, Joong Hui Lee, Gun-Woo Moon, Hong-Sun Park, Chol-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8779722
    Abstract: A two-stage charge equalization apparatus for a series-connected battery string having a two-stage DC-DC converter including a first DC-DC converter; and a second DC-DC converter which is inputted. A battery string is divided into one or more battery modules having a plurality of battery cells connected in series, and a current conversion switch module forms a path of the charge current between the battery module and the second DC-DC converter to allow the charge current to be applied to the particular battery cell composing the battery module and controls an application direction of the charge current. A microprocessor determines a battery cell to be charged of a low-charged battery cell and controls the current conversion switch module to allow the charge current to be applied to the battery cell to be charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: SK Innovation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joong Hui Lee, Jae Hwan Lim, Sang Hyun Park, Gun-Woo Moon, Hong Sun Park, Chol-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8766598
    Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to a charge equalization apparatus for batteries and, more particularly, to a charge equalization apparatus, in which the primary windings (M11 to M1N) of a number of transformers (T1 to TN) corresponding to the number of battery cells are connected in parallel with each other, a switch (S) for controlling the flow of current of the primary windings (M11 to M1N) of the parallel-connected transformers is connected in series with the parallel-connected primary windings, respective secondary windings (M21 to M2N) corresponding to the primary windings are connected in parallel with the battery cells, and the battery cells are connected in series with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignees: SK Innovation Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jeon Keun Oh, Joong Hui Lee, Soo Yeup Jang, Gun Woo Moon, Chong Eun Kim, Hong Sun Park
  • Patent number: 8723480
    Abstract: An automatic charge equalization apparatus using a regulated voltage source according to the present invention comprises a battery module having a plurality of batteries connected in series; a battery string having M (natural number of M?2) battery modules connected in series: a regulated voltage source which is provided for each battery module and outputs and maintains an average voltage of the battery string; a bidirectional switch block which is provided for each battery module between the battery module and the regulated voltage source to connect each battery to an output of the regulated voltage source by forming a parallel current moving path to each battery composing the battery module; and a microprocessor controlling the bidirectional switch block, wherein each battery composing the battery module shares the regulated voltage source by the bidirectional switch block and the microprocessor controls the bidirectional switch block to successively connect the batteries composing the battery module with t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignees: SK Innovation Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jae Hwan Lim, Sang Hyun Park, Joong Hui Lee, Gun-Woo Moon, Hong-Sun Park, Chol-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8354825
    Abstract: A two-stage charge equalization apparatus for a series-connected battery string includes a battery module having a plurality of batteries connected in series; a battery string having M (M?2) battery modules connected in series; M charge control switch modules connected in parallel to each of the M battery modules; M second DC/DC converters connected to each of the M charge control switch modules; a single first DC/DC converter connected to the M second DC/DC converter; and a microprocessor controlling the charge control switch module, wherein the first DC/DC converter is inputted with an overall potential of the battery string and outputs a potential lower than the potential inputted and each of batteries composing the battery module shares the second DC/DC converter using the charge control switch module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignees: SK Innovation Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Joong Hui Lee, Soo Yeup Jang, Jeon Keun Oh, Gun Woo Moon, Hong Sun Park, Chol Ho Kim
  • Publication number: 20120313583
    Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to a battery voltage equalization apparatus and method, and, more particularly, to a charge equalization apparatus and method, which decrease the withstand voltages of semiconductor switching elements while maintaining charge equalization performance, thus making it easy to implement the secondary windings of transformers while reducing the costs of the charge equalization apparatus. The charge equalization apparatus includes N first transformers (T1 to Tn) connected in series with N series-connected batteries (B1 to Bn) and adapted to decrease voltages of overcharged batteries among the N batteries. A charge storage device (Cdump) stores energy supplied from the first transformers. A second transformer (TS) redistributes energy stored in the charge storage device to the N series-connected batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicants: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, SK ENERGY CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Jeon Keun Oh, Joong Hui Lee, Soo Yeup JANG, Gun Woo MOON, Chong Eun KIM, Hong Sun Park
  • Patent number: 8310204
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic charge equalization apparatus and method having an automatic PWM generating means for a series-connected battery string. The automatic charge equalization method and apparatus for a series-connected battery string according to the present invention can improve charge equalization by accomplishing charge equalization operation after comparing the potential of the corresponding battery cell with the average potential of the plurality of battery cells including the corresponding battery cell upon charging or discharging the corresponding battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignees: SK Innovation Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Joong Hui Lee, Soo Yeup Jang, Jeon Keun Oh, Gun Woo Moon, Chong Eun Kim, Hong Sun Park, Chol Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8253378
    Abstract: A battery management system according to the present invention comprises a battery module consisted of a plurality of batteries connected in series; a switch module connected in parallel to the battery module; a voltage sensor measuring a voltage of each battery composing the battery module; a charge equalizer causing each battery composing the battery module to be charged, discharged or charged/discharged; and a microprocessor controlling the switch module to determine whether to charge or discharge each battery composing the battery module according to the voltage values measured by the voltage sensor and; wherein the voltage sensor and the charge equalizer are connected in parallel to each battery composing the battery module by the switch module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: SK Innovation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joong Hui Lee, Soo Yeup Jang, Jeon Keun Oh, Gun Woo Moon, Hong Sun Park, Chol Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8232767
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for testing batteries, which can prevent errors from occurring due to the tolerance of voltage sensors when the charged states of batteries are measured, and can charge a battery having a charged state deteriorated due to the difference in the resistance of each battery. The apparatus includes a voltage circuit for measuring voltages of N batteries. A resistance circuit decreases voltages of batteries, which are greater than a reference voltage. A connection switch unit selects any one of the N batteries. A divert change unit separates polarities of each battery and changes positions of an cathode and a anode of the battery depending on separated polarities. A selection switch unit selectively connects the cathode and anode of the battery to an cathode and a anode of the voltage circuit or the resistance circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: SK Innovation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeon Keun Oh, Joong Hui Lee, Soo Yeup Jang
  • Patent number: 8217623
    Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to a battery voltage equalization apparatus and method, and, more particularly, to a charge equalization apparatus and method, which decrease the withstand voltages of semiconductor switching elements while maintaining charge equalization performance, thus making it easy to implement the secondary windings of transformers while reducing the costs of the charge equalization apparatus. The charge equalization apparatus includes N first transformers (T1 to Tn) connected in series with N series-connected batteries (B1 to Bn) and adapted to decrease voltages of overcharged batteries among the N batteries. A charge storage device (Cdump) stores energy supplied from the first transformers. A second transformer (TS) redistributes energy stored in the charge storage device to the N series-connected batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignees: SK Energy Co. Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jeon Keun Oh, Joong Hui Lee, Soo Yeup Jang, Gun Woo Moon, Chong Eun Kim, Hong Sun Park
  • Publication number: 20120086390
    Abstract: Provided are a charge equalization apparatus and method for a battery string connected in series, and more particularly, are a charge equalization apparatus and method that efficiently perform charge equalization while reducing entire complexity and volume and lowering production costs through a configuration that an individual battery included in a battery string shares a single voltage sensing module and a single charge equalizing module; a switch block of a two-stage structure forms a current path for measuring voltage of individual batteries included in the battery string, and at the same time, forms a charging or discharding path of a low-charged or over-charged battery among the battery strings; and a switch device having low withstand voltage is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicants: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, SK INNOVATION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Hwan Lim, Sang Hyun Park, Joong Hui Lee, Gun-Woo Moon, Hong-Sun Park, Chol-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8120322
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a charge equalization apparatus, in which series-connected batteries are divided into modules having certain sizes, and intra-module charge equalization and inter-module charge equalization are simultaneously performed, thus improving charge equalization performance and reducing the circuit size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignees: SK Energy Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Joong Hui Lee, Soo Yeup Jang, Jeon Keun Oh, Gun Woo Moon, Chong Eun Kim, Hong Sun Park, Chol Ho Kim
  • Publication number: 20110285352
    Abstract: An automatic charge equalization apparatus using a regulated voltage source according to the present invention comprises a battery module having a plurality of batteries connected in series; a battery string having M (natural number of M?2) battery modules connected in series: a regulated voltage source which is provided for each battery module and outputs and maintains an average voltage of the battery string; a bidirectional switch block which is provided for each battery module between the battery module and the regulated voltage source to connect each battery to an output of the regulated voltage source by forming a parallel current moving path to each battery composing the battery module; and a microprocessor controlling the bidirectional switch block, wherein each battery composing the battery module shares the regulated voltage source by the bidirectional switch block and the microprocessor controls the bidirectional switch block to successively connect the batteries composing the battery module with t
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicants: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, SK INNOVATION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Hwan Lim, Sang Hyun Park, Joong Hui Lee, Gun-Woo Moon, Hong-Sun Park, Chol-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8008890
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a charge equalization apparatus, which can enable the primary windings and the secondary windings of transformers to be easily manufactured, can control the flow of charges into batteries depending on the charged states of series-connected batteries, and can prevent overcurrent from flowing into batteries that are currently being charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignees: SK Energy Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Joong Hui Lee, Soo Yeup Jang, Jeon Keun Oh, Gun Woo Moon, Chong Eun Kim, Hong Sun Park, Chol Ho Kim
  • Publication number: 20110187327
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a charge equalization apparatus, which allows the primary and secondary windings of a transformer to be easily fabricated, can control the flow of charge to batteries depending on the charged states of series-connected batteries, and can prevent overcurrent from flowing into a battery currently being charged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicants: SK ENERGY CO., LTD., KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jeon Keun Oh, Joong Hui Lee, Soo Yeup Jang, Gun Woo Moon, Chong Eun Kim, Hong Sun Park
  • Patent number: 7982429
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a charge equalization apparatus, which allows the primary and secondary windings of a transformer to be easily fabricated, can control the flow of charge to batteries depending on the charged states of series-connected batteries, and can prevent overcurrent from flowing into a battery currently being charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignees: SK Energy Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jeon Keun Oh, Joong Hui Lee, Soo Yeup Jang, Gun Woo Moon, Chong Eun Kim, Hong Sun Park
  • Patent number: 7939965
    Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to a charge equalization apparatus with series-connected battery cells and, more particularly, to a charge equalization apparatus, in which series-connected battery cells (B1 to BN) are connected in parallel with the primary windings (Mi 1 to M1N) of transformers (T1 to TN), switches (S1 to SN) for controlling the flow of current of the primary windings are connected in series with the primary windings (M1 1 to M1N), and multiple secondary windings (M21 to M2N) corresponding to the primary windings are connected in parallel with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignees: SK Energy Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jeon Keun Oh, Joong Hui Lee, Soo Yeup Jang, Gun Woo Moon, Chong Eun Kim, Hong Sun Park
  • Publication number: 20110089898
    Abstract: A two-stage charge equalization apparatus for a series-connected battery string having a two-stage DC-DC converter including a first DC-DC converter; and a second DC-DC converter which is inputted. A battery string is divided into one or more battery modules having a plurality of battery cells connected in series, and a current conversion switch module forms a path of the charge current between the battery module and the second DC-DC converter to allow the charge current to be applied to the particular battery cell composing the battery module and controls an application direction of the charge current. A microprocessor determines a battery cell to be charged of a low-charged battery cell and controls the current conversion switch module to allow the charge current to be applied to the battery cell to be charged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicants: SK ENERGY CO., LTD., KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Joong Hui Lee, Jae Hwan Lim, Sang Hyun Park, Gun-Woo Moon, Hong-Sun Park, Chol-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 7880433
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a charge equalization apparatus, which allows the primary and secondary windings of a transformer to be easily fabricated, can control the flow of charge to batteries depending on the charged states of series-connected batteries, and can prevent overcurrent from flowing into a battery currently being charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignees: SK Energy Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jeon Keun Oh, Joong Hui Lee, Soo Yeup Jang, Gun Woo Moon, Chong Eun Kim, Hong Sun Park
  • Publication number: 20100283433
    Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to a charge equalization apparatus for batteries and, more particularly, to a charge equalization apparatus, in which the primary windings (M11 to M1N) of a number of transformers (T1 to TN) corresponding to the number of battery cells are connected in parallel with each other, a switch (S) for controlling the flow of current of the primary windings (M11 to M1N) of the parallel-connected transformers is connected in series with the parallel-connected primary windings, respective secondary windings (M21 to M2N) corresponding to the primary windings are connected in parallel with the battery cells, and the battery cells are connected in series with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicants: SK ENERGY CO., LTD., KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jeon Keun Oh, Joong Hui Lee, Soo Yeup Jang, Gun Woo Moon, Chong Eun Kim, Hong Sun Park