Vehicle Mounted Systems Patents (Class 307/9.1)
  • Patent number: 11011967
    Abstract: This invention discloses a significantly improved linear machine system used for massive energy storage with vertical movement of heavy mass placed in containers. It adopts distributed rotor or mover structure to minimize the fringing effect and thereby enhancing effective lifting force. It further adopts the pulse transitional current to those non-transitional rows of rotor or mover conductors when the transitional rotor or mover coils cross the boundary between the magnetic and non-magnetic layers of the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventor: Daming Zhang
  • Patent number: 11007876
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery, an electric power acquirer, a power supply unit, first and second relays, and a controller. The electric power acquirer acquires charging electric power from outside. The power supply unit is able to provide a power supply from the battery to a device other than a traveling motor. The first relay connects and disconnects the battery to and from a power supply line. The second relay connects and disconnects the electric power acquirer to and from the power supply line. The controller changes a switching procedure of the first relay and the second relay, in accordance with a state of use of the power supply unit, at an end of charging of the battery through the electric power acquirer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumiyuki Moriya, Yuta Totsuka, Hidehiro Takagi
  • Patent number: 10998757
    Abstract: A smart automotive battery electrical energy storage device-system with built-in backup power. The battery has a primary power unit and a booster power unit which may reside in the same enclosure as that of the primary power unit and primary power unit and a booster power unit are electrically isolated most of the time. The primary power unit and a booster power unit are electrically connected intermittently when certain conditions are sensed. The battery has an electronic control unit with wireless transceiver electronic element. The booster power unit can be connected to the primary power unit using a smartphone application. The nominal voltage provided by the booster power unit can be same, higher or lower than the nominal voltage provided by primary power unit. Each of the primary power unit and booster power unit is comprised of multiple individual battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Inventor: Vijay Brazanton Almeida
  • Patent number: 10994617
    Abstract: A system includes a primary monitoring system to determine a battery status of a battery pack and a secondary monitoring system configured to monitor the battery status as communicated by the primary monitoring system over a network. At least one of the primary and secondary monitoring systems generates a warning signal when the battery status comprises a thermal event that reaches a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Navid Rahbari Asr, Jeffery R. Grimes, Wai Hwa Fong
  • Patent number: 10992148
    Abstract: A precharge resistor protection apparatus including a sensing unit configured to measure a battery voltage applied to both ends of a battery cell included in the battery pack and a precharge current flowing in the precharge resistor, and a processor operably coupled to the sensing unit. The processor calculates a first power estimated as being supplied to the precharge resistor and a second power supplied to the precharge resistor during a driving time of the precharge circuit unit by using at least one of a capacitance of a capacitor connected to both ends of the battery pack, the battery voltage and the precharge current, compares a reference power range according to the first power with the second power, and controls an operation state of the precharge relay based on the comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventor: Soo-Kwon Kim
  • Patent number: 10981456
    Abstract: An electric power system for an electric bus includes a battery assembly, a leakage detection device, and a control device. The battery assembly includes a plurality of series-connected battery packs and a plurality of switch elements, wherein each of the battery packs includes a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a battery cell module, and the battery packs include a first battery pack and a second battery pack; the positive terminal of the first battery pack and the negative terminal of the second battery pack are electrically connected to a load of the electric bus, and at least one of the positive terminal of the first battery pack and the negative terminal of the second battery pack is electrically connected to the leakage detection device, which outputs a leakage signal when a leakage is detected on an electric wire connected between the battery assembly and the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: MOBILETRON ELECTRONICS, CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Meng-Chang Lin
  • Patent number: 10985580
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a main switch configured to electrically connect a battery module and a load, a power supply configured to supply driving power to the main switch, and a power blocking device configured to block the driving power based on a current flowing between the battery module and the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dukjung Kim
  • Patent number: 10981462
    Abstract: To provide a system of low cost and low loss capable of the supply of electric power according to characteristics of each of a plurality of motors from a single battery. A power supply system for a vehicle of the present invention includes: a high-voltage battery; a first inverter which connects with the high-voltage battery; a motor described later which connects with the first inverter; a high-voltage DCDC converter which is connected to the high-voltage battery and steps down the voltage of the high-voltage battery; a second inverter which connects with the high-voltage battery; and a motor described later which connects with the second inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Kume, Mitsuhiro Takeda, Takahiro Hagimoto, Satoyoshi Oya, Tomoaki Ono, Somei Nakatomi, Katsuya Inoue, Hiroshi Otsuka
  • Patent number: 10983171
    Abstract: A signal transmission device and a battery monitoring device are provided. The signal transmission device is connected to an operation device including an operation circuit for performing an operation based on a first voltage, a measurement circuit for obtaining measurement data based on the first voltage, and a process control circuit for operating based on a lower voltage and control an operation of the operation circuit based on the measurement data, and transmits and receives signals between the process control circuit and the measurement circuit. The signal transmission device includes a power reception circuit for supplying power from the power transmission circuit to the measurement circuit to acquire measurement data, and a power transmission circuit for transmitting the power from a process control circuit to the power reception circuit to receive the measurement data from the power reception circuit and supply the same to the process control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: LAPIS Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Taya
  • Patent number: 10981453
    Abstract: A power circuit protection device for a vehicle including a storage device, a drive motor, and a charging terminal includes a relaying device, a fuse device and a control device. The relaying device alternatively forms a first circuit that connects the storage device and the driving motor, and a second circuit that connects the storage device and the charging terminal. The fuse device is interposed between the storage device and the relaying device. The fuse device includes a first fuse, a second fuse having a fusing characteristic that is harder to blow than that of the first fuse, and a switching mechanism. The control device controls the switching mechanism such that the second fuse is connected to the power storage device when the control device controls the relaying device so that the second circuit is connected to the control device upon receiving a predetermined charging request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Fujiwara, Yoshihiko Hiroe
  • Patent number: 10974677
    Abstract: An energy supply device for an occupant protection system is described, including an ignition energy supply device and a back-up supply device, the ignition energy supply device including an ignition energy store, which is chargeable via a first charge circuit from a first system voltage to a reserve voltage, the ignition energy store being suitable for providing a high ignition energy in the range of 0.1 kW to 2.5 kW for at least one restraint means for a short time period of 0.5 ms to 2 ms. The back-up supply device includes a back-up energy store, which is chargeable via a second charge circuit from a system voltage to a back-up voltage, the back-up energy store having an energy density value higher than the ignition energy store by a factor of 10 to 50 and being suitable for providing the supply energy in the range of 1 W to 10 W for the passenger protection system in the event of a supply interruption for a predefined time period of at least 5 s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Hartmut Schumacher
  • Patent number: 10974606
    Abstract: Present embodiments include a control system for one or more battery cells. The control system includes a bi-stable relay configured to switch a state of the bi-stable relay upon receiving a control signal to electrically connect or electrically disconnect the one or more battery cells to a bus and to remain in the state after receiving the control signal. The control system includes a controller configured to be operatively coupled to the bi-stable relay and configured to send the control signal indicative of instructions to control operation of the bi-stable relay based on the state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Ronald J. Dulle
  • Patent number: 10974836
    Abstract: An aircraft propulsion system (10) comprises at least first and second electrical generators (15a, 15b), each being configured to provide electrical power to a respective first and second AC electrical network (16a, 16b). The system (10) further comprises at least first and second AC electrical motors (19a, 19b) directly electrically coupled to a respective AC network (16a, 16b) and coupled to a respective propulsor (4), and a DC electrical network electrically coupled to the first and second AC networks (16a, 16b) via respective first and second AC to DC converters (17a, 17b), and to a further electrical motor 19c), the further electrical motor (19c) being coupled to a propulsor (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard Harwood, Kalyani G Menon, Chloe Jo Palmer, Ivan Popovic
  • Patent number: 10974828
    Abstract: A small unmanned aircraft is disclosed. By delicate design and limitation of the specification, the small unmanned aircraft is enabled to fly by solar energy produced from a solar cell module. Preferably the small unmanned aircraft has a dimension less than 60 cm×60 cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: PSJ International Ltd.
    Inventor: Ching-Fuh Lin
  • Patent number: 10974604
    Abstract: A bicycle power supply system is configured to be connectable to a plurality of battery units and configured to switch each of the plurality of battery units between a first state and a second state. The bicycle power supply system includes a memory device and an electronic controller. The memory device stores order information for switching the plurality of battery units from one of the first state and the second state to the other one of the first state and the second state in a predetermined order. The electronic controller switches the plurality of battery units from one of the first state and the second state to the other one of the first state and the second state in accordance with the order information in a case where the plurality of battery units is connected. The memory device is configured to changeably store the order information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Ishikawa, Tetsuya Kitani, Kento Mitsuyasu
  • Patent number: 10971948
    Abstract: The modular element for a hybrid electrical power distribution and data communication network of an aircraft comprises a section of a bus and a set of data links extending substantially parallel along a length of the modular element. The bus section comprises connection points at different locations distributed along its length. The set of data links comprises connection points at different locations distributed along its length, each arranged in proximity to a connection point of the bus section. It also comprises a data link between each of the connection points and a cross-connect point. The bus section and the set of data links comprise interconnection points making it possible to link the modular element to first and second, other, modular elements arranged longitudinally in series with the modular element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS, AIRBUS OPERAITONS GMBH
    Inventors: Jonathan Jacquemoud-Collet, Thomas Morin, Nicholas Brownjohn, Hartmut Hintze
  • Patent number: 10960984
    Abstract: A modular energy storage system within a vehicle, wherein the energy storage system comprises a plurality of discrete energy storage units which are movable within the vehicle and selectively securable in a variety of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Inventor: Matthew Moxon
  • Patent number: 10963930
    Abstract: An apparatus, a system, and a method are for automatically billing a vehicle left unattended in a charging station. The automatic billing apparatus includes a processor that provides a vehicle charging service at a charging station, determines that a vehicle is unattended after charging is completed, and performs a billing based on an unattended time. The apparatus further includes a storage that stores data obtained by the processor when the billing is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tae Woo Lee, Seung Myun Chung, Jin Cheol Shin, Ha Young Woo, Kyu Beom Ko, Ik Jun Choi, Deok Keun Shin, Jae Seok You
  • Patent number: 10958069
    Abstract: A multi-energy storage device system includes an electric drive coupled to a load, a DC link coupled to the electric drive, and a bi-directional voltage converter having an output channel coupled to the DC link and an input channel. A first energy storage device (ESD) is coupled to the input channel, and a switch is coupled to the DC link and to a second ESD. A system controller causes the switch to couple the second ESD to the DC link for delivering energy stored in the second ESD to the electric drive. The system controller also causes the voltage converter to convert a voltage of the first ESD to a higher voltage and to deliver the higher voltage to the DC link, wherein the higher voltage is greater than the voltage of the second ESD and causes the switch to decouple the second ESD from the DC link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul Robert Gemin, Robert Dean King, Irene Michelle Berry, Lembit Salasoo
  • Patent number: 10951022
    Abstract: A current distributor for a vehicle, having an input and a plurality of load channels which connect the input to a connected load via a safety fuse and a line in each case, and to a protection system for a vehicle having such a current distributor. In this case, a standby channel connects the input to the connected loads via an electronic fuse, wherein an evaluation and control unit checks the safety fuses for functionality and switches on a semiconductor switch of the electronic fuse and forms a redundant current path between the input and the connected loads via the standby channel if at least one of the safety fuses is identified as having been tripped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Lang
  • Patent number: 10946729
    Abstract: An apparatus for varying the transparency of a window glass can include: a window glass having a film with variable transparency; a pair of electrodes connected to the film; a controller mounted on a vehicle door of a vehicle, the controller controlling a wireless transfer of power for adjusting the transparency of the film; and a wireless power receiver mounted on the window glass, the wireless power receiver wirelessly receiving the power from the controller. The wireless power receiver can apply the power wirelessly received from the controller to the pair of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Kwan Hui Kang
  • Patent number: 10946766
    Abstract: An electrically powered vehicle includes a battery, a mounting member, a switch, and a switch controller. The battery is configured to supply power for moving. On the mounting member, a supplementary battery configured to supply power for moving is detachably mountable. The switch is configured to switch connection of the battery and the supplementary battery mounted on the mounting member between series and parallel connections. The switch controller is configured to control the switch in accordance with condition information about the battery and condition information about the supplementary battery mounted on the mounting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazu Hamada, Kosuke Hirabayashi, Kazuhiro Goto, Akihiro Kawakami, Satoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 10940813
    Abstract: An aircraft power system includes a front-end power converter and a back-end power converter. The front-end power converter is configured to generate a first direct current (DC) supply voltage or a second DC supply voltage based on a voltage level of an alternating current (AC) supply voltage output from an AC voltage source. The backend power converter sub-system is configured to convert the first DC supply voltage or the second DC supply voltage into a backend supply voltage. An active power distribution system is configured to select different electrical paths between the front-end converter and the backend converter subsystem in response to detecting output of the first DC supply voltage and the second DC supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dhananjay Kumar, Vaibhav Kumar Somani
  • Patent number: 10944300
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for a hybrid foreign-object detection and position system. In an example aspect, a foreign object detection (FOD) system of the base power-transfer system detects a passive beacon of an electric vehicle power-transfer system based on a beacon loop of the passive beacon overlapping an array of FOD sense loops effective to cause a change in impedance or admittance of one or more of the FOD sense loops. In aspects, the impedance reflects a modulation signal from the passive beacon. A position detection system integrated with the FOD system determines a passive beacon response in the input data based on the modulation frequency from the passive beacon. Then, a position of the beacon loop is determined relative to the array of FOD sense loops using a result of the passive beacon response canceled from input data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Lukas Sieber, Hans Peter Widmer, Andreas Daetwyler
  • Patent number: 10938239
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing, a wireless charging coil disposed inside the housing, a fan disposed inside the housing and in proximity to the coil, a temperature sensor disposed inside the housing and in proximity to the coil, a wireless charging circuit having the coil and configured to transmit power wirelessly to an external device via the coil, and a control circuit electrically connected to the fan, the temperature sensor, and the wireless charging circuit. The control circuit may be configured to receive a signal from the external device, receive data related to a temperature of the coil from the temperature sensor, and control the fan at least partially on the basis of at least one of the signal and the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kihyun Kim, Kyungha Koo, Wooram Lee, Changhyung Lee, Jihye Kim, Jihong Kim, Yunjeong Noh, Seho Park, Kumjong Sun, Ju-Hyang Lee, Mincheol Ha, Sangmoo Hwangbo
  • Patent number: 10932397
    Abstract: In a power conversion device, each of semiconductor modules of a layered body includes a body portion incorporating a plurality of switching elements and a plurality of power terminals protruding therefrom. The semiconductor modules include upper-arm switching elements and lower-arm switching element that are alternately layered in a layering direction of the layered body. A capacitor is disposed on one side of the layered body and a current sensor is disposed on an opposite side of the layered body, in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to both a protruding direction of the power terminals and the layering direction. Each of the semiconductor modules includes, as the power terminals, two collector terminals connected to a collector electrode of the switching element and one emitter terminal connected to an emitter electrode of the switching element, and the emitter terminal is disposed between the two collector terminals in the orthogonal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuu Yamahira, Tetsuya Matsuoka, Kazuma Fukushima
  • Patent number: 10923926
    Abstract: An electrical system includes a high-voltage bus connected to a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) and a high-voltage component connected to the RESS via the voltage bus. The component defines a service opening spanned by a removable cover. The electrical system may include a fastener connecting the cover to the component, as well as a battery disconnect unit (BDU) having a high-voltage switch device connecting the RESS to the high-voltage bus. The switch device closes responsive to a low-voltage drive current to connect the RESS to the high-voltage bus. A drive circuit conducts the current to the switch device. An electrical connector has multiple connector pieces collectively forming a switch in the drive circuit. Disconnection of the pieces from each other opens the switch to interrupt the drive current and cause the high-voltage switch device to open, which disconnects the RESS from the high-voltage bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yue Fan, Konking Wang
  • Patent number: 10919466
    Abstract: A power system may include a power source configured to output a first voltage, batteries, each battery configured to provide a second voltage, switches coupled between the batteries, and a controller coupled to the switches. The controller may be configured to place the switches in a first mode of operation so that the batteries are coupled in parallel and receive a charge from the power source, and place the switches in a second mode of operation so that the batteries are coupled in series and provide a combined voltage greater than the first voltage and the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: GANIERE INNOVATIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Ganiere
  • Patent number: 10920458
    Abstract: A portable protective case for the safe transport and storage of measuring devices and other electrical equipment. The protective case is designed to protect a valuable and sensitive measuring device located inside it against theft, unauthorized use and/or potentially harmful environmental influences. The case comprises communication means for sending and receiving data via a wireless network, as well as for receiving localization data, which enable the communication unit to provide at least a rough location of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Thomas Harring, Katherine Broder, Burkhard Böckem
  • Patent number: 10913367
    Abstract: Provided is a charge and discharge management device for managing charging and discharging of an energy storage device in a vehicle, the vehicle including: the energy storage device configured to perform electric power transfer with an external power grid; and an electric device configured to adjust an electric power to be charged and discharged by the energy storage device, and configured to travel by power supply from the energy storage device, wherein the charge and discharge management device is configured to charge the energy storage device, by the electric power transfer with the external power grid, for increasing a remaining capacity of the energy storage device to a predetermined level when a conduction integration time of the electric device measured from a start point of a warranty period of the vehicle is equal to or longer than a first predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusaku Amari, Shinichi Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 10915175
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure sets forth a technique for directing a user to modify an aspect of a vehicle via haptic output. The technique includes identifying one or more characteristics of a real-world condition located along a route of a vehicle. The technique further includes determining, based on the one or more characteristics of the real-world condition, a type of haptic sensation to deliver to a user associated with the vehicle. The technique further includes transmitting a first set of controls signals to at least one haptic output device that is proximate to the user, where the at least one haptic output device generates, based on the first set of control signals, haptic output corresponding to they type of haptic sensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Stefan Marti, Davide Di Censo, Joseph Verbeke, Adam Boulanger
  • Patent number: 10906447
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a main body; a rotary electric machine provided in the main body; a driving battery configured to be chargeable and dischargeable and supply power to the rotary electric machine; a cooling box detachable from the main body; at least one detachable battery detachable from the main body; and a charger configured to charge the detachable battery with power supplied from the driving battery, the detachable battery being configured to be attachable to the cooling box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Zekai Qiu, Hironobu Kitaoka, Naoki Yamamuro, Kozo Kosho, Hiroaki Sugiyama, Makoto Ikegami
  • Patent number: 10906658
    Abstract: Energy storage systems for aircraft and methods of operating the same are provided. The energy storage system may include a main battery, a propulsion power bus, a non-critical bus, a critical bus, and an engine starter bus. The propulsion power bus may be configured to convey electricity, which is supplied by the main battery, to an electric propulsion machine configured to provide propulsion for the aircraft. The non-critical bus may be configured to convey electricity to a hotel load on the aircraft. The critical bus may be configured to convey electricity, which is supplied by the main battery, to a critical load on the aircraft. The engine starter bus may be configured to convey electricity, which is supplied by the main battery, to an electric starter for a gas turbine engine, where the gas turbine engine is configured to power the electric propulsion machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC., ROLLS-ROYCE SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Stephen Andrew Long, Andrew Bollman, Michael Adam Zagrodnik, Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake
  • Patent number: 10910875
    Abstract: In a backup device, a determination unit determines a first target voltage value of a second power supply unit when a starter switch for starting a vehicle is in an OFF state, so as to be lower than a second target voltage value of the second power supply unit when the starter switch is in an ON state, based on the second target voltage value, a value indicating the charging capability of the charging circuit, and a predetermined time limit. A control unit causes the charging circuit to perform the charging operation upon the starter switch being switched to an ON state, such that the charged voltage of the second power supply unit reaches the second target voltage value, and causes the discharging circuit to perform the discharging operation upon the starter switch being switched to an OFF state, such that the charged voltage reaches the first target voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hao Teng
  • Patent number: 10899421
    Abstract: A load arrangement powers loads on a surface (30) of a marine structure exposed to a fouling liquid (10), and has a transmitter arrangement (110) and at least one carrier medium (100) having embedded loads (20). Front electrodes (130) are arranged to be coupled to the liquid, and back electrodes (120) have back electrically conductive layers embedded in the carrier medium to form, in combination with an opposite area of the marine 5 structure and a dielectric layer (4a), a back capacitor for capacitive transfer of the supply current between the second power node and one pole of the power source coupled to the marine structure. The transmitter arrangement has a supply line (111) and a multitude of transmitters (114) galvanically connected to the supply line. The multitude of transmitters is distributed along the supply line to be arranged near the multiple front electrodes to form 10 short conductive paths (113).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Martinus Hermanus Wilhelmus Maria Van Delden, Michiel Johannes Jongerius
  • Patent number: 10903532
    Abstract: A fault tolerant voltage measurement method for battery management systems is proposed for reliable and prompt cell fault and sensor fault detection. The key of the method is that it correlates one voltage sensor reading with multiple cell voltages and vice versa. When a cell fault occurs, fault readings will be revealed by multiple voltage sensor readings. Similarly, when a sensor fault occurs, multiple cell voltages will be influenced. Compared with the traditional one-to-one correspondence voltage measurement, the proposed method increases the credibility of sensor/cell fault decisions. Furthermore, it does not increase the hardware cost, and is easy to be adopted in real applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Chris Mi, Bing Xia
  • Patent number: 10889200
    Abstract: A vehicle electric power generation apparatus includes an electric power generator, a first electric power storage, a second electric power storage, a first voltage detector, a second voltage detector, and an electric power generation controller. The controller sets, as a first allowable voltage, an upper limit value of a terminal voltage of the first storage and sets, as a second allowable voltage, an upper limit value of a terminal voltage of the second storage, and raises, when the generator is to be controlled in a regenerative electric power generation state, a generated voltage derived from the generator higher than both of the first allowable voltage and the second allowable voltage. When the terminal voltage of the first storage reaches the first allowable voltage or the terminal voltage of the second storage reaches the second allowable voltage, the controller prevents the generated voltage of the generator from rising.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 10891636
    Abstract: An information collection system 1 has: a stand-alone-power-type transmitter 10 capable of moving together with a mobile entity (purchaser) A1, the transmitter 10 spontaneously and intermittently transmitting a transmitter ID at a timing corresponding to the distance of movement of the mobile entity A1; a plurality of receivers 20 provided in an area X to be monitored in which the mobile entity A1 can move freely, the receivers 20 receiving the transmitter ID transmitted from the transmitter 10 present in the vicinity of the area X; and a server 30 for managing the transmitter ID, the position information (receiver ID) of the receiver 20 that receives the transmitter ID, and a time of day at which the receiver ID is received, in association with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Naiki
  • Patent number: 10889244
    Abstract: The lighting control device includes a controller, a diagnosis circuit, a latch circuit, and a logic circuit. The controller outputs a control signal. The diagnosis circuit outputs an irregular signal. The latch circuit decides a state of a forcibly lighting signal. The logic circuit controls a light source in accordance with an ignition signal, the control signal, and the forcibly lighting signal. The logic circuit turns on the light source in accordance with the ignition signal while receiving the forcibly lighting signal, and turns on the light source in accordance with the control signal while not receiving the forcibly lighting signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Ueno, Masaaki Takamatsu, Toshiaki Sasaki, Kazuya Kato
  • Patent number: 10889256
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for controlling a plurality of components of a vehicle that are configured to emit heat when activated. A controller receives heat demand information about the activated components and determines from the heat demand information, an amount of power available for consumption by all of the activated components. The controller actively allocates power between the activated components according to the determined amount of power available such that an actual amount of power consumed by all of the activated components does not exceed the determined amount of power available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Kongsberg Automotive AB
    Inventors: Daniel Josefsson, Lars Planelid, Karl-Johan Krantz
  • Patent number: 10887560
    Abstract: A security system and method for collecting and analyzing thermal data to save power and identify persons. The security system includes a processor with connected processor and one or more additional devices such as an alarm, lighting device or visual light camera. When the security system is in a low power sleep mode, the thermal sensor detects and collects thermal data from a thermal object body and the processor determines if the collected thermal data matches predefined parameters for a thermal body and then activates any one of one or more of the connected additional devices based on the match. The system is then operational to collect visual data and process the collected thermal and visual data to match against stored profiles. The thermal data may be collected at low or no light conditions to determine the need to power up the system to collect visual data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Meridian Innovation, Inc.
    Inventor: Chon Hock Leow
  • Patent number: 10882476
    Abstract: A vehicular circuit body includes a plurality of backbone control boxes, a backbone trunk line portion connecting the backbone trunk line portions to each other, and a branch line sub-harness. A trunk includes has a power source line and a communication line, and a control includes a trunk line connection portion and a branch line connection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukinari Naganishi, Yasuyuki Saito, Taku Furuta, Noriaki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10886758
    Abstract: An electrical system includes a battery disconnect unit (BDU) connected to a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) via a high-voltage bus. The BDU has one or more contactors that close responsive a low-voltage drive current to thereby connect the RESS to the high-voltage bus. A low-voltage drive circuit conducts the drive current to the contactor(s). Opening of a low-voltage connection interrupts the drive current and causes the contactor(s) to transition from the closed state to an open state. The contactor(s) open in response to interruption of the drive current to thereby disconnect the RESS. The contactor(s) may be closed again after a lockout safety procedure, such that reestablishing the electrical connection does not itself re-energize the high-voltage bus. An electrified powertrain includes a transmission, electric machine, power inverter module, and the above-noted electrical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brandon M. Thayer, Fang Wang, Charles Hua, Andrew K. Chandler
  • Patent number: 10878995
    Abstract: A magnetic flux coupler comprising a magnetically permeable core having a first axis, two coils magnetically associated with the core, each coil defining a pole area located on a first side of the core and the pole areas being separated along the first axis, the coils each having a central region located between the pole areas, an end region opposite to the central region, and a side region between the central region and the end region, wherein an auxiliary pole area is provided beyond the end region of each coil which absorbs leakage flux which would otherwise emanate from the each coil in use in the vicinity of the end region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Auckland UniServices Limited
    Inventors: Grant Anthony Covic, Mickel Bipin Budhia
  • Patent number: 10879640
    Abstract: Provided is a terminal structure in which a first terminal is insertable in a second terminal. The first terminal includes a pin and a first rotor provided at an end of the pin. The second terminal includes a female pin, a hollow elastic member rotatable along the inner circumferential face of the receptacle in the female pin, and a second rotor provided at an end of the elastic member. The second rotor and the elastic member are configured to rotate circumferentially when the first rotor is moved in the insertion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kunihiko Arai
  • Patent number: 10864903
    Abstract: A vehicle controller for use with a vehicle is configured to control the vehicle. The vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, an electric generator, an auxiliary machine, an electricity storage device, and a DC-DC converter. The controller is configured to execute an automatic stop process of stopping combustion control of the internal combustion engine in response to an automatic stop request of the internal combustion engine, and an increase process of operating, when the automatic stop process is executed, the DC-DC converter to increase an amount of electricity supplied to the electricity storage device, thereby increasing an electricity generation amount of the electric generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10857957
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first interface, a first converter, a high-voltage battery, a second converter and a second interface. The first interface may be configured to receive a first low-voltage signal from first power rail of a vehicle. The first converter may be configured to generate a high-voltage signal by up-converting the first low-voltage signal. The high-voltage battery may be configured to store the high-voltage signal. The second converter may be configured to generate a second low-voltage signal by down-converting the high-voltage signal. The second interface may be configured to present the second low-voltage signal to a second power rail of the vehicle. The first power rail may be electrically separated from the second power rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ambarella International LP
    Inventors: Omar Pighi, Paolo Grisleri, Alessandro Giacomazzo
  • Patent number: 10848341
    Abstract: An aircraft comprises a fuselage, a set of electrical equipment items distributed in the fuselage, and a hybrid electrical power distribution and data communication network. The latter comprises a set of buses comprising at least one electrical power distribution bus extending, at least partly, in a longitudinal direction of the fuselage. A set of data links is associated with each bus of the set of buses. The bus and the associated set of data links each comprise connection points at different locations distributed along their length, forming pairs of connection points. Each of the electrical equipment items of the set of electrical equipment items is linked to a pair of connection points via a local electrical power supply link and/or via a local data link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignees: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS, AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Morin, Franck Chabot, Hartmut Hintze, Nicholas Brownjohn, Vincent Faguier
  • Patent number: 10836259
    Abstract: An electrical system for a vehicle includes a DC/DC converter electrically connected to a high-voltage power source and a first bus, a second bus electrically connected to a second low-voltage power source, and an isolation circuit electrically connected to the first and second buses. The isolation circuit permits current flow in only one direction from the first bus to the second bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Adel Awad Alla, Mathew A. Boesch, Sami Dagher, Ray Siciak
  • Patent number: 10840819
    Abstract: An electric power conversion device according to the present disclosure includes: a positive electrode unit including a positive main conductor portion and a positive joining conductor portion; a negative electrode unit including a negative main conductor portion and a negative joining conductor portion; a capacitor circuit connected to the positive electrode unit and the negative electrode unit; an electric power conversion unit connected to the positive main conductor portion, the positive joining conductor portion, the negative main conductor portion, and the negative joining conductor portion; and a heat dissipation unit joined to the capacitor circuit unit and the electric power conversion unit. The positive main conductor portion and the negative main conductor portion are insulated from each other and arranged facing each other, and the positive joining conductor portion and the negative joining conductor portion are insulated from each other and arranged facing each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD
    Inventors: Shingo Okaura, Shun Kazama, Takashi Monden