Patents by Inventor Maximilian Hofer
Maximilian Hofer 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).
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Patent number: 11431178Abstract: A battery system includes a solid state switch (SSS), and a battery management system (BMS) including a gate driver and a shunt circuit. The SSS and the BMS share at least one module that is used for both the SSS and the BMS. The at least one module includes at least one of the gate driver and the shunt circuit.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2019Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Peter Kurcik, Maximilian Hofer
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Patent number: 11336039Abstract: The present invention relates to a battery system including a battery module configured to include a plurality of rechargeable battery cells, a housing configured to house the battery module, a printed circuit board disposed on the battery module to include a first surface that faces the battery module and a second surface that is opposite to the first surface, and a connector configured to connect the printed circuit board and an external electrical component, wherein the printed circuit board includes a plurality of bent terminal portions disposed on the second surface, and the connector includes a plurality of metal clamps that are respectively connected to the plurality of bent terminal portions of the printed circuit board. In the battery system of the present invention, the connection between the connector and the printed circuit board can be realized without soldering wires.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2017Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.Inventors: Helmut Hammerschmied, Maximilian Hofer, Peter Apolloner
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Patent number: 11329564Abstract: A control system for a battery system is provided. The control system includes: an N-phase DC-DC converter including N single phase DC-DC converters (wherein N is a whole number greater than one); a first microcontroller configured to control a first fraction of the N single phase DC-DC converters; and a second microcontroller configured to control a second fraction of the N single phase DC-DC converters. The first and second microcontrollers are connected to each other via a data line. In a first operation mode, control operations of the first microcontroller and the second microcontroller are synchronized via the data line to commonly control the N single phase DC-DC converters, and in a second operation mode, the first microcontroller and the second microcontroller independently control the first fraction and the second fraction, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2020Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.Inventors: Mandic Renato, Maximilian Hofer
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Patent number: 11316210Abstract: A controller is for controlling a battery module including a plurality of battery cells in a housing. The controller includes a control module to perform at least one control function with respect to at least one of the plurality of battery cells; and an access detection circuit including a light sensitive element in the housing. The access detection circuit is to output an access detection signal when a light intensity in the housing is greater than a predetermined threshold. The controller is to alter a state of the control module in response to the access detection signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2019Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Michael Haindl, Maximilian Hofer
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Patent number: 11247582Abstract: Control electronics for a battery system of a vehicle with a low voltage battery include a first direct current to direct current (DC/DC) converter including a first input terminal configured to be connected to the battery system, and an output terminal connected to a microcontroller, a wake-up circuit including a low voltage sub circuit and a sub circuit on a high voltage side that are galvanically isolated, and a second DC/DC converter including an input terminal configured to be connected to the low voltage battery, and an output terminal connected to the wake-up circuit, wherein the low voltage sub circuit is configured to transmit electrical energy received from the second DC/DC converter to the sub circuit on the high voltage side, and wherein the sub circuit on the high voltage side is configured to receive electrical energy from the low voltage sub circuit and to transmit the electrical energy to the first DC/DC converter.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.Inventor: Maximilian Hofer
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Publication number: 20220006305Abstract: A control unit for a battery system includes a plurality of battery cells is provided. The control unit includes: an input node configured to receive a sensor signal indicative of a state of at least one of the plurality of battery cells; a microcontroller connected to the input node and configured to generate a first control signal based on the sensor signal; and a switch control circuit configured to control a power switch of the battery system by: receiving the sensor signal, the first control signal, and a fault signal indicative of an operational state of the microcontroller; generating a second control signal based on the sensor signal; and transmitting one of the first control signal and the second control signal to an output node of the control unit based on the received fault signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Maximilian HOFER, Markus PRETSCHUH, Michael ERHART
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Publication number: 20220004618Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for generating a security identifier for a control unit (10) of a battery system (100), comprising the steps of supplying an operation voltage to the control unit (10), outputting calibration data from a non-volatile memory element (15a) of the control unit (10), and generating a security identifier from the calibration data using a security algorithm. Therein, the calibration data is based on at least one testing process performed on the control unit (10) and is required for a faultless operation of the control unit (10). Further, according to a method for generating an activation key for a control unit (10) of a battery system (100) an activation key is generated based on such security identifier and output from the control unit (10). The invention further relates to an activation method for such control unit (10), wherein a control unit (10) is activated in response to the validation of such security identifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventor: Maximilian HOFER
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Patent number: 11218008Abstract: A control unit for a battery system includes a plurality of battery cells is provided. The control unit includes: an input node configured to receive a sensor signal indicative of a state of at least one of the plurality of battery cells; a microcontroller connected to the input node and configured to generate a first control signal based on the sensor signal; and a switch control circuit configured to control a power switch of the battery system by: receiving the sensor signal, the first control signal, and a fault signal indicative of an operational state of the microcontroller; generating a second control signal based on the sensor signal; and transmitting one of the first control signal and the second control signal to an output node of the control unit based on the received fault signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2019Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.Inventors: Maximilian Hofer, Markus Pretschuh, Michael Erhart
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Patent number: 11218002Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a battery system with internally powered real time clock, the battery system includes a plurality of battery cells connected in series and/or in parallel between a first terminal and a second terminal and a real time clock electrically connected to a first node of the plurality of battery cells, a voltage of a single battery cell of the plurality of battery cells applies to the first node, and the real time clock draws power via the first node in a first operation state and in a second operation state of the battery system.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2017Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Maximilian Hofer, Thomas Korherr
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Publication number: 20210382116Abstract: An electric current measuring arrangement includes: a first control unit including a first microcontroller; a second control unit including: a second microcontroller; an amplifier electrically interconnected between the second microcontroller and terminals of a shunt resistor for current measurement; and a node interconnected between one of the terminals of the shunt resistor and the amplifier; a communication line communicatively connecting the first control unit and the second control unit. The first microcontroller is configured to generate a test pattern signal, and to transmit the test pattern signal to the second control unit through the communication line, the second control unit is configured to transmit the test pattern signal to the node, the second microcontroller is configured to receive a measuring signal through the amplifier, and the first microcontroller is configured to receive the measuring signal, compare the measuring signal with the test pattern signal, and verify the current measurement.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2021Publication date: December 9, 2021Inventors: Maximilian HOFER, Renato MANDIC, Thomas TRATHNIGG, Jürgen FRITZ
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Publication number: 20210328675Abstract: A battery system includes: a plurality of battery modules including a plurality of battery cells, wherein each battery module comprises a battery module monitor configured to monitor a state of the battery cells; a battery system monitor; and an optical communication system configured to connect the battery module monitors with the battery system monitor over at least two communication paths, wherein the optical communication system is configured to use at least two different wavelengths of light to differentiate between the communication paths.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2021Publication date: October 21, 2021Inventors: Maximilian HOFER, Roland KLOBASA, Gernot KRABERGER
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Publication number: 20210328445Abstract: A control system for a battery system is provided. The control system includes a master controller and a slave controller using light-based communication. The master controller includes a light source and a transmission controller controlling the light source, and the slave controller includes a photo-sensitive element, a wake-up circuit, a power supply node, and a receiver circuit. The photo-sensitive element receives the light signals emitted by the light source and, in response to receiving a wake-up light signal, outputs a wake-up signal to the wake-up circuit, and in response to receiving the wake-up signal from the photo-sensitive element, the wake-up circuit connects the receiver circuit to the power supply node or to the photo-sensitive element. When the receiver circuit is connected to the power supply node and the photo-sensitive element, the receiver circuit receives an operation voltage from the power supply node and receives reception signals from the photo-sensitive element.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2021Publication date: October 21, 2021Inventors: Maximilian HOFER, Roland KLOBASA, Gernot KRABERGER
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Publication number: 20210300207Abstract: An electric-vehicle battery system includes a high voltage system with a plurality of connected rechargeable battery cells; a low voltage system with an operating voltage lower than an operating voltage of the high voltage system, the low voltage system supplying a battery system manager; and a real time clock configured to provide a system time to the battery system manager. The real time clock may be at least temporarily powered by the high voltage system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Maximilian HOFER, Christoph SCHMIEDHOFER, Thomas TRATHNIGG, Kurt DULLER, Renato MANDIC, Damir KOVAC
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Publication number: 20210306078Abstract: A battery system includes a plurality of battery modules, each of the battery modules including a plurality of stacked battery cells and a battery module monitor (BMM) configured to monitor the respective battery cells; a battery system monitor (BSM) configured to communicate with and control the BMMs; a housing enclosing the battery modules and the BSM, the battery modules being arranged in the housing such that a swelling compensation channel is formed between the battery module and the housing; and an optical communication system (OCS) configured to connect the BSM with the BMMs via optical signals propagating along the swelling compensation channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Maximilian HOFER, Roland KLOBASA, Gernot KRABERGER
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Patent number: 11127990Abstract: The present invention relates to a battery module, and the battery module includes at least one battery cell, a protection circuit module that includes a rigid printed circuit board, and is electrically connected with the battery cell, at least one temperature sensing element provided at a surface of the battery cell, and a flexible printed circuit board that electrically connects the protection circuit module and the temperature sensing element.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2017Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., LTD.Inventors: Helmut Hammerschmied, Maximilian Hofer, Urban Cotic
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Publication number: 20210288386Abstract: A busbar for a battery system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a first bar member and a second bar member which are spaced apart from each other; and a third bar member which connects the first bar member and the second bar member to define a common bar, in which the third bar member is shunt resistance having ohmic resistance and electrically connects the first bar member and the second bar member. In addition, a battery system according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes the busbar.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2017Publication date: September 16, 2021Inventors: Maximilian HOFER, Christoph SCHMIEDHOFER
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Patent number: 11106782Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for generating a security identifier for a control unit (10) of a battery system (100), comprising the steps of supplying an operation voltage to the control unit (10), outputting calibration data from a non-volatile memory element (15a) of the control unit (10), and generating a security identifier from the calibration data using a security algorithm. Therein, the calibration data is based on at least one testing process performed on the control unit (10) and is required for a faultless operation of the control unit (10). Further, according to a method for generating an activation key for a control unit (10) of a battery system (100) an activation key is generated based on such security identifier and output from the control unit (10). The invention further relates to an activation method for such control unit (10), wherein a control unit (10) is activated in response to the validation of such security identifier.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2017Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTDInventor: Maximilian Hofer
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Publication number: 20210245625Abstract: A battery system for an electric vehicle includes a battery module having battery cells and a controller module connected to the battery cells, the controller module being configured to measure voltage values, current values, and temperature values of at least one of the battery cells, and a controller unit connected to the battery module and configured to communicate with the controller module via a data line, the controller unit being configured to determine an inherent physical property of the at least one of the battery cells based on the measured values of the controller module, to compare the determined inherent physical property with a reference value for the inherent physical property, and to perform an authentication of the at least one of the battery cells based on the comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2021Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Maximilian HOFER, Thomas TRATHNIGG, Werner BERGMAYR
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Patent number: 11081734Abstract: The present invention relates to a battery module, and the battery module includes at least one battery cell, a protection circuit module that includes a rigid printed circuit board, and is electrically connected with the battery cell, at least one temperature sensing element provided at a surface of the battery cell, and a flexible printed circuit board that electrically connects the protection circuit module and the temperature sensing element.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2017Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., LTD.Inventors: Helmut Hammerschmied, Maximilian Hofer, Urban Cotic
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Publication number: 20210234208Abstract: The present invention relates to a testing method for the thermal contact between a temperature sensor (50) and a battery cell (10) of a battery module (30), wherein the method comprises the steps of measuring a temperature T1 of the temperature sensor (50) at a time point t1, heating the temperature sensor (50) for a defined time (t2-t1), measuring a temperature T2 of the temperature sensor (50) at a time point t2 and/or a temperature T3 of the temperature sensor (50) at a time point t3, and determining the thermal contact between the temperature sensor (50) and the battery cell (10) based on at least one of the temperature differences ?T2,1=(T2-T1), ?T3,1=(T3-T1) and/or ?T3,2=(T3-T2).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2018Publication date: July 29, 2021Inventors: Maximilian HOFER, Helmut HAMMERSCHMIED