Patents by Inventor Mingkai Mu
Mingkai Mu 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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Publication number: 20260164536Abstract: A device may include a plurality of power chips arranged in a first row in a first plane and being electrically coupled to a printed circuit board, the first plane being non-parallel to a plane of the printed circuit board. A device may include a plurality of power chips arranged in a second row in a second plane and being electrically coupled to the printed circuit board, the second plane being non-parallel to the plane of the printed circuit board and non-parallel to the first plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2022Publication date: June 11, 2026Inventors: Bai Shao, Eric Magnus Bach, James Hawkins, Shun-Cheng Hung, Cheng-Hung Lee, Yung-Chuan Chien, Mingkai Mu
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Patent number: 12391135Abstract: A cord set comprises: electric-vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) comprising circuitry, the EVSE having a receptacle; a first charging gun coupled to an end of a first cord, wherein a first connector is coupled to an opposite end of the first cord, and wherein the first connector is configured to be coupled with the receptacle for vehicle-to-vehicle charging; a second charging gun coupled to an end of a second cord, wherein an opposite end of the second cord is coupled to the EVSE; and a grid cord, wherein a second connector is coupled to an end of the grid cord, and wherein the second connector is configured to be coupled with the receptacle for grid-to-vehicle charging.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2021Date of Patent: August 19, 2025Assignee: Atieva, Inc.Inventors: Mingkai Mu, Li Yang, Bai Shao, Eric Magnus Bach
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Patent number: 12334573Abstract: A modular energy storage cabinet, and a system including same, may include an AC connection port capable of connecting to an AC bus, and a plurality of battery modules, an inverter, and a plurality of busses, wherein the plurality of busses electrically connect the plurality of batteries to each other and to the positive DC input and negative DC input of the inverter to effectuate a voltage.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2021Date of Patent: June 17, 2025Assignee: ATIEVA, INC.Inventor: Mingkai Mu
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Publication number: 20250007110Abstract: A vehicle may include a plurality of separate and distinct electrical busbars that are electrically isolated from each other. A device may include a polymer overmold material that mechanically couples the separate and distinct electrical busbars to each other in a single integrated multi-busbar unit, wherein the overmold material is provided to the busbars through an injection molding process. A device may include a flex printed circuit board having a plurality of sensors that is coupled to the single integrated multi-busbar unit, wherein the sensors are coupled to the distinct electrical busbars when the flex printed circuit board is coupled to the integrated busbar unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2022Publication date: January 2, 2025Inventors: Bai Shao, Eric Magnus Bach, James Hawkins, Shun-Cheng Hung, Cheng-Hung Lee, Yung-Chuan Chien, Mingkai Mu
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Publication number: 20240067046Abstract: An electric vehicle comprises: a battery system split into first and second sectors substantially equal to each other; a first bidirectional DC/DC converter, the first bidirectional DC/DC converter being galvanically isolated and coupled to the first sector; and a second bidirectional DC/DC converter, the second bidirectional DC/DC converter being galvanically isolated and coupled to the second sector; wherein the first and second bidirectional DC/DC converters balance respective states of charge of the first and second sectors before the first and second sectors are connected in parallel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Mingkai Mu, Harrison Senor, Richard J. Biskup, Gregory Tzermias
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Publication number: 20230207937Abstract: A modular energy storage cabinet, and a system including same, may include an AC connection port capable of connecting to an AC bus, and a plurality of battery modules, an inverter, and a plurality of busses, wherein the plurality of busses electrically connect the plurality of batteries to each other and to the positive DC input and negative DC input of the inverter to effectuate a voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2021Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventor: Mingkai Mu
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Publication number: 20230137396Abstract: A cord set comprises: electric-vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) comprising circuitry, the EVSE having a receptacle; a first charging gun coupled to an end of a first cord, wherein a first connector is coupled to an opposite end of the first cord, and wherein the first connector is configured to be coupled with the receptacle for vehicle-to-vehicle charging; a second charging gun coupled to an end of a second cord, wherein an opposite end of the second cord is coupled to the EVSE; and a grid cord, wherein a second connector is coupled to an end of the grid cord, and wherein the second connector is configured to be coupled with the receptacle for grid-to-vehicle charging.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2021Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: Mingkai Mu, Li Yang, Bai Shao, Eric Magnus Bach
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Patent number: 11545834Abstract: A gateway system for a building comprises: a first relay to couple a first line of the gateway system to a first grid line of a power grid; a second relay to couple a second line of the gateway system to a second grid line of the power grid; a neutral line coupled to a neutral grid line of the power grid; a first electric-vehicle (EV) line coupled to the first line of the gateway system, the first EV line configured for being coupled to a first line of an EV charging connector; a second EV line coupled to the second line of the gateway system, the second EV line configured for being coupled to a second line of the EV charging connector, wherein the EV charging connector has no neutral line; and a balancing converter coupled to the first and second lines of the gateway system.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: Atieva, Inc.Inventor: Mingkai Mu
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Patent number: 11165349Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein refer to backwards compatible charging circuits and methods for charging a battery to a relatively high voltage level regardless of whether the charging station is capable of supplying power at that relatively high voltage level. The circuitry and methods according to embodiments discussed herein can use the onboard charging system to provide a voltage boosting path to increase the charge voltage from a legacy voltage level (e.g., a relatively low voltage level) to a native voltage level (e.g., a relatively high voltage level). When a native voltage charging station is charging the battery, the circuitry and methods according to embodiments discussed herein can use a native voltage path for supplying power, received from the charging station at the native voltage, to the battery.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2019Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: Alieva, Inc.Inventor: Mingkai Mu
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Publication number: 20200304026Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein refer to backwards compatible charging circuits and methods for charging a battery to a relatively high voltage level regardless of whether the charging station is capable of supplying power at that relatively high voltage level. The circuitry and methods according to embodiments discussed herein can use the onboard charging system to provide a voltage boosting path to increase the charge voltage from a legacy voltage level (e.g., a relatively low voltage level) to a native voltage level (e.g., a relatively high voltage level). When a native voltage charging station is charging the battery, the circuitry and methods according to embodiments discussed herein can use a native voltage path for supplying power, received from the charging station at the native voltage, to the battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2019Publication date: September 24, 2020Inventor: Mingkai Mu
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Patent number: 10505455Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein refer to backwards compatible charging circuits and methods for charging a battery to a relatively high voltage level regardless of whether the charging station is capable of supplying power at that relatively high voltage level. The circuitry and methods according to embodiments discussed herein can use the motor and power electronics (e.g., inverter) to provide a voltage boosting path to increase the charge voltage from a legacy voltage level (e.g., a relatively low voltage level) to a native voltage level (e.g., a relatively high voltage level). When a native voltage charging station is charging the battery, the circuitry and methods according to embodiments discussed herein can use a native voltage path for supplying power, received from the charging station at the native voltage, to the battery.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2019Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: ATIEVA, INC.Inventors: Richard Biskup, Mingkai Mu, Emad Dlala
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Patent number: 10396684Abstract: Output current ripple is reduced in a three-level DC-DC power converter by connecting a plurality of phase legs in parallel between a source of input power and an output of the power converter and conducting power from the source of input power to the power converter output in an interleaved manner. The large current that results from such interleaved operation is reduced to acceptable levels, potentially less than the output current ripple of the power converter by providing inversely coupled inductors having a mutual inductance preferably greater than the inductor of the power converter in respective phase legs and in series in the circulating current path to avoid any need to increase the power converter inductance due to the circulating current. The inductor and inversely coupled inductors are preferably integrated into a single magnetic element of compact design.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2015Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, IncInventors: Mingkai Mu, Sizhao Lu, Yang Jiao, Fred C. Lee
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Patent number: 10217559Abstract: A power factor correction (PFC) power converter, particularly of a multiphase totem-pole or other topology presenting a switching bridge that can potentially provide bi-directional power transfer control, reduces a nominal switching frequency and achieves zero voltage switching over an increased portion of a half line cycle by providing positive or inverse coupling of inductors in an inductor structure that can be formed of a multi-layer printed circuit board such that at least three different inductances are presented during each half line cycle period; allowing increased switching frequency and simplifying EMI filtering arrangements. Parasitic capacitances can be balanced with additional coupled windings to reduce differential mode and common mode noise. The PFC power converter is particularly applicable to provide bi-directional power control from an on-board battery charger in an electrically powered vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2017Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.Inventors: Yuchen Yang, Mingkai Mu, Fred C. Lee, Qiang Li
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Publication number: 20170294833Abstract: A power factor correction (PFC) power converter, particularly of a multiphase totem-pole or other topology presenting a switching bridge that can potentially provide bi-directional power transfer control, reduces a nominal switching frequency and achieves zero voltage switching over an increased portion of a half line cycle by providing positive or inverse coupling of inductors in an inductor structure that can be formed of a multi-layer printed circuit board such that at least three different inductances are presented during each half line cycle period; allowing increased switching frequency and simplifying EMI filtering arrangements. Parasitic capacitances can be balanced with additional coupled windings to reduce differential mode and common mode noise. The PFC power converter is particularly applicable to provide bi-directional power control from an on-board battery charger in an electrically powered vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2017Publication date: October 12, 2017Inventors: Yuchen Yang, Mingkai Mu, Fred C. Lee, Qiang Li
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Patent number: 9660487Abstract: An automatic-positioning wireless power transfer system to wirelessly charge power to an object and is also capable of wirelessly harvesting power from an object. The power transfer system consists of a mobile housing configured to autonomously move about the object, and has a tiltable transceiver. The mobile housing can be tethered to a base station via a cable, or not physically tethered to a base station when it travels.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2016Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Megau LLCInventors: Mingkai Mu, Zhong Nie
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Publication number: 20160172976Abstract: Output current ripple is reduced in a three-level DC-DC power converter by connecting a plurality of phase legs in parallel between a source of input power and an output of the power converter and conducting power from the source of input power to the power converter output in an interleaved manner. The large current that results from such interleaved operation is reduced to acceptable levels, potentially less than the output current ripple of the power converter by providing inversely coupled inductors having a mutual inductance preferably greater than the inductor of the power converter in respective phase legs and in series in the circulating current path to avoid any need to increase the power converter inductance due to the circulating current. The inductor and inversely coupled inductors are preferably integrated into a single magnetic element of compact design.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2015Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventors: Mingkai Mu, Sizhao Lu, Yang Jiao, Fred C. Lee
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Patent number: 8823370Abstract: Core loss in an inductor is measured with reduced sensitivity to phase measurement error by connecting a reactive component to resonate with the inductor and thus cancel a portion of the reactive voltage on the inductor; reducing the phase difference between the inductor voltage and current and making the observed power more resistive. The reactive component may be a capacitor for sinusoidal excitation or an inductance such as an air core transformer for arbitrary excitation.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2011Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.Inventors: Mingkai Mu, Fred C. Lee
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Publication number: 20130049744Abstract: Core loss in an inductor is measured with reduced sensitivity to phase measurement error by connecting a reactive component to resonate with the inductor and thus cancel a portion of the reactive voltage on the inductor; reducing the phase difference between the inductor voltage and current and making the observed power more resistive. The reactive component may be a capacitor for sinusoidal excitation or an inductance such as an air core transformer for arbitrary excitation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2011Publication date: February 28, 2013Inventors: Mingkai Mu, Fred C. Lee