For Battery Pack Patents (Class 320/112)
  • Patent number: 9438059
    Abstract: It is intended to prevent degradation of battery cells (cells). A battery control apparatus obtains a cell voltage value of each of the cells (201) (S1), calculates a cell SOC at each of the cells based on the measured cell voltage value (S2), calculates an integrated current value (Ah) by integrating current values of a battery pack (2) configured with a plurality of the cells (201), calculates a cell capacity value of each of the cells (201) based on the integrated current value and the cell SOC (S3), calculates a dischargeable cell capacity value from the cell capacity value and the cell SOC (S4), and controls charging/discharging of the battery pack (2) based on the dischargeable cell capacity value (S5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Komoda, Naoki Maruno
  • Patent number: 9431832
    Abstract: A stationary electrical storage system includes: a stationary storage battery including nickel metal hydride secondary batteries; and a controller repeatedly carrying out charging with an external power supply and discharging to supply electric power to a load, stopping discharging to the load when an SOC of any secondary battery has become a first threshold, and stopping charging from the external power supply when an SOC of any secondary battery has become a second threshold. The controller additionally charges the whole stationary storage battery such that the secondary battery other than the secondary battery having the lowest SOC is allowed to be charged to a fully charged level beyond the second threshold by not stopping charging when the SOC of the any secondary battery has become the second threshold and the SOC of the secondary battery having the lowest SOC becomes higher than or equal to the second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Ichikawa, Yasuhiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9425442
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lithium battery and, more particularly, to a lithium battery, in which the structure of a battery module contained in the lithium battery is simplified, thus reducing the size of the entire lithium battery, and which includes a connector by which two or more lithium batteries are mechanically coupled to each other so that in response to a required amount of power, an appropriate number of lithium batteries can be easily connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBAL BATTERY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Gueng Hyun Nam, Sang Min Jang, Seok Ho Kim, Dong Ho Baek, Min Ho Jang
  • Patent number: 9412985
    Abstract: A safety device (1) for a lithium electrochemical generator battery, including a box (100), configured to house a plurality of lithium electrochemical generators; a cover (200) arranged gas-tightly on the opening (130) of the box; an opening (120) forming a vent situated in one of the walls of the box (100) or situated in the cover (200); a conduit (300) having two openings (311, 312) where one of the openings (311) is gas-tightly connected to the opening (120) forming a vent of the box; a covering part (400) positioned gas-tightly at an opening of a wall of the compartment and the second opening (312) of the conduit, and where said covering part comprises a portion (410) adapted to tear at a threshold pressure Ps; where the walls of the box, the cover, the conduit and the covering part are secured to each other so as to ensure sealing against the gases up to a pressure above the threshold pressure Ps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: SAFT
    Inventors: Benoit Turbe, Jerome Calmejane, Benoit Vasselin, Philippe Genin
  • Patent number: 9406981
    Abstract: A battery system including a stably operating battery management unit and an energy storage system including the battery system is disclosed. The battery system includes a battery rack configured to store and provide power, a rack protection circuit configured to selectively connect and disconnect the battery rack to and from the input/output terminal, and a rack battery management system (BMS) configured to communicate with the battery rack and with the rack protection circuit. The rack BMS receives data from the battery rack and generates control signals for the rack protection circuit. In addition, the rack protection circuit includes a current path between the battery rack and the input/output terminal, and the rack BMS is excluded from the current path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-Soon Kim
  • Patent number: 9389666
    Abstract: In accordance with the present disclosure, a battery back-up unit (BBU) element for providing uninterruptable direct current (DC) power in a rack-level power infrastructure is describe. The BBU element may include a rack-mountable chassis with a battery drawer. A battery may be disposed within the battery drawer, and at least one power module may be coupled to the battery. The BBU element may also include a power module controller that causes the battery to charge from or discharge to a busbar coupled to the BBU element. The power module controller may also communicate power management information to a power infrastructure controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Edmond I. Bailey, Jimmy D. Pike, Joseph A. Vivio, Ty Schmitt, Kunrong Wang
  • Patent number: 9385402
    Abstract: A secondary battery pack is provided. The secondary battery pack has a structure in which a protection circuit module (PCM) is mounted to a top of a plate-shaped battery cell having electrode terminals formed at an upper end thereof, the PCM includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having a protection circuit formed thereon, a safety element electrically connected between one of the electrode terminals of the battery cell and the protection circuit of the PCB, an external input and output terminal electrically connected to the protection circuit of the PCB, and an electrically insulative module case to cover the PCB and the safety element in a state in which the external input and output terminal extends outside. The PCM is loaded on an upper end case extension portion of the battery cell in a state in which the PCM is electrically connected to the electrode terminals of the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Tae-Wook Kim, Ju-Hwan Baek, Sangkwon Nam
  • Patent number: 9379569
    Abstract: A method for conducting an operation including a power tool battery pack. The battery pack can include a housing, a first cell supported by the housing and having a voltage, and a second cell supported by the housing and having a voltage. The battery pack also can be connectable to a power tool and be operable to supply power to operate the power tool. The method can include discharging one of the first cell and the second cell until the voltage of the one of the first cell and the second cell is substantially equal to the voltage of the other of the first cell and the second cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Todd W. Johnson, Dennis J. Grzybowski, Mark A. Kubale, Jay J. Rosenbecker, Karl F. Scheucher, Gary D. Meyer, Jeffrey M. Zeiler, Kevin L. Glasgow
  • Patent number: 9370296
    Abstract: An integrated portable medical diagnostic system (PMDS) provides easy and convenient access to one or more medical instruments for healthcare practitioners. The PMDS is utilized in an outpatient workflow in which the practitioner generally remains stationary, while patients rotate to and from the practitioner over the course of a medical examination or procedure. The PMDS includes a body including a plurality of compartments, a first compartment defines a first receptacle for a blood pressure monitor, a second compartment adjacent the first compartment defines a second receptacle for an otoscope and an ophthalmoscope, and a third compartment adjacent the second compartment defines a third receptacle for a thermometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: Lai He, Yun Zou, James J. Shortt, Stephen A. Montgomery, Michael McAtamney
  • Patent number: 9373831
    Abstract: An electrical energy storage and/or generation device with an architecture including a stack of electrical storage and/or generation elements, such as microbatteries. An electrical connection is not made between the different stacked elements during manufacture, but subsequently with assistance of an electronic control unit to configure, in series and/or in parallel, all or a proportion of the elements, and to configure electrical outputs of the device, such as the electrical voltage or the storage capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Sami Oukassi, Raphael Salot
  • Patent number: 9362543
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery pack that makes it possible to decrease a lead time of an insulating tape attaching process, and re-attach an insulating member. The battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells, a protection circuit module that controls charging and discharging of the battery cells, a first connecting plate electrically connecting the battery cells to each other, a second connecting plate electrically connected to the first connecting plate, and bent from the first connecting plate; and an insulating member disposed between the battery cell and the first and second connecting plates. The insulating member includes a first region placed between neighboring ones of the battery cells, and a plurality of second regions that are bent from the first region and are placed on outer surfaces of the neighboring battery cells, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byungkook Ahn, Daeyon Moon
  • Patent number: 9356460
    Abstract: Methods, electronic devices and USB charger apparatus are presented for fast USB charging, in which a high voltage master of the device detects a connected high voltage charger and selectively connects a current circuit to source or sink a current to or from one USB cable data signal conductor while providing a non-zero voltage to the other USB cable data signal conductor to configure the charger apparatus to provide charging power at a particular high voltage level above a nominal voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sai Bun S. Wong, Qiong M. Li, Jinrong Qian, Jonathan L. Britton
  • Patent number: 9356456
    Abstract: Disclosed is a charging device capable of appropriately charging of a battery while preventing battery depletion. In a charging system including a charging device, when the output power from a solar battery is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, power is supplied to a charging control system which controls charging of batteries. Accordingly, when the output power from the solar battery is small, since the charging control system will not start, no power is consumed in the charging control system. As a result, battery depletion can be prevented. When the output power from the solar battery is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, charging of the battery is performed by the charging control system, thereby appropriately performing charging of the batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiki Fukada
  • Patent number: 9356325
    Abstract: An exemplary monitoring assembly includes, among other things, a controller configured to identify a change in an internal pressure of a battery cell using a resistance measurement and a reference temperature measurement, the resistance measurement provided by a strain gauge associated with the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Poirier
  • Patent number: 9356262
    Abstract: A battery pack having a battery cell. The battery cell includes a terrace portion, a protection circuit module that is electrically connected to the battery cell and is placed on the terrace portion, and a frame that houses the battery cell and the protection circuit module and covers at least the protection circuit module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Seung Kim, Kyung-Ho Park
  • Patent number: 9350168
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a voltage equalization apparatus for equalizing voltages of adjacent power storage unit racks included in a power storage system. The voltage equalization apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a resistor to which a current flowing from a high-voltage unit rack to a low-voltage unit rack is applied; and a circuit breaker for voltage equalization installed on a line through which the current flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Young-Bo Cho, Chan-Min Park, Jung-Soo Kang, Jong-Soo Ha
  • Patent number: 9317066
    Abstract: A portable terminal includes: a casing; a circuit board; a display device; and a fixing portion which fixes the circuit board to the casing to allow the circuit board to move within a given range along a surface direction of the circuit board. The portable terminal further includes: a battery housing portion provided at a position in the casing located along a thickness direction of the circuit board; a battery pack housed in the battery housing portion through a battery opening provided in the casing; a board-side connecting portion provided at the circuit board; a battery-side connecting portion provided at the battery pack and connected to the board-side connecting portion; and a restraining member which restrains a movement of the battery pack with respect to the circuit board along a surface direction of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Mochizuki, Yasuji Wakiyama
  • Patent number: 9312721
    Abstract: An electrical combination. The electrical combination comprises a battery pack configured to be interfaced with a hand held power tool, a control component, and a semiconducting switch. The transfer of power from the battery pack to the hand held power tool is controlled by the control component and the switch based on one of a battery pack state of charge and a respective state of charge of one of a plurality of battery cells. A discharge current of the battery pack is regulated based on the switch being controlled into one of a first state and a second state by the control component to selectively enable the transfer power from the plurality of battery cells to the hand held power tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Todd W. Johnson, Dennis J. Grzybowski, Mark A. Kubale, Jay J. Rosenbecker, Karl F. Scheucher, Gary D. Meyer, Jeffrey M. Zeiler, Kevin L. Glasgow
  • Patent number: 9312703
    Abstract: According to the charge control method of the present invention, as an electric storage means, a group of capacitors is used that include 2n (where n is an integer of 2 or more) electric double layer capacitors, from first to 2n-th electric double layer capacitors, having an equal electrostatic capacity, and that is configured such that adjacent electric double layer capacitors are connected either in series or in parallel by a switch and the 2n-th electric double layer capacitor and the first electric double layer capacitor are connected in parallel by a switch. Among the 2n capacitors Ci constituting the electric storage unit 21, adjacent capacitors are sequentially switched from a series connection to a parallel connection, or the 2n-th capacitor C2n and the first capacitor C1 are switched to a parallel connection state, whereby variations in the inter-terminal voltages of the capacitors are suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Takeda
  • Patent number: 9299500
    Abstract: An energy storage module 11 comprises a case 21, a plurality of stacking plates 41, a heat-transferring metal plate 51 and a heat-releasing fin 61. An exposure outlet 23 is provided on the side 21 of the case 22 containing a plurality of energy storage cells 31. The stacking plate 41 having an aperture 42 is located between the plurality of energy storage cells 31 and is latched to another stacking plate 41 to position said plate. The heat-transferring metal plate 51 having a flat plate portion 52 and a bent portion 53 is provided in face-to-face contact with the main face 33 of each cell of the energy storage cells 31. The heat-releasing fin 61 projects from the exposure outlet 23 to the outside of the case 21 and is thermally face-to-face bonded to the bent portion 53 of the heat-transferring metal plate 51 by the insulation sheet 65.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: FDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9300154
    Abstract: A power management system includes: a first power source that includes a first storage cell; a second power source that includes a second storage cell; a power load that is driven with first power output by the first power source and second power output by the second power source; and an integrated control device that controls the first power and the second power such that a first cell temperature of the first storage cell is substantially the same as a second cell temperature of the second storage cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takehiko Nishida, Tetsuro Shigemizu
  • Patent number: 9293745
    Abstract: A fused cover assembly for a battery system. The fused cover assembly includes an attachment means configured to attach the assembly to a battery formed of a plurality interconnected cells, and a plurality of fused connections configured to make electrical contact with the interconnected cells and thereby provide a sense connection to the cells of the battery that is fused. If the sense connection to the battery cells is short-circuited, a fuse device open-circuits to protect the cell from being damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Bertucci, John V. Caputo, Wesley W. Weber, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9294852
    Abstract: Sound processors and systems including sound processors are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventors: Roger S. Meier, Lee F. Hartley, James P. Goodman
  • Patent number: 9276438
    Abstract: A portable internal combustion engine and a charging device that generates AC power are supported on a manually movable frame. A coupling mechanism which can include a starter circuit and starting device, or a charging circuit and charging device, or both device couples a battery receptacle terminal block to the internal combustion engine. The battery receptacle can include various features to permit and retain electrical coupling between a battery pack for a cordless power tool. For example, key protrusions and corresponding recesses can be associating with latching projections. Additionally or alternatively, cooperating rails and recesses may be associated with the battery pack and receptacle, respectively. Spring loaded movable clips or resilient flexing clips can be included to act on the battery pack. An electrical cord may also be used to couple receptacle terminals to the coupling mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Grant, Michael K. Forster
  • Patent number: 9263712
    Abstract: Disclosed is a secondary battery pack including an anode terminal of a battery cell, the anode terminal being made of a plate-shaped conductive member, the anode terminal being electrically connected to a protection circuit module (PCM) via a safety element, a cathode terminal of the battery cell, the cathode terminal being made of a plate-shaped conductive member, the cathode terminal being directly electrically connected to the PCM, a battery cell having the anode terminal and the cathode terminal formed at one end thereof, the battery cell being provided at the end thereof with a thermally welded surplus portion, and a PCM including a printed circuit board (PCB) having a protection circuit formed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Jong Woon Choi, Hyung Ku Yun, Ju Hwan Baek, Tae Wook Kim
  • Patent number: 9254563
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power tool that can be used at a position away from the external power source. The power tool includes a housing, a motor, an end tool, a battery pack, and an inverter. The motor is supported by the housing and driven by alternate-current power. The end tool is supported by the housing and rotatably driven by the motor. The battery pack outputs direct-current voltage. The inverter is disposed outside the housing and is configured to convert the direct-current voltage outputted from the battery pack into alternate-current voltage and supplies the motor with alternate-current power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Toshihiko Tachibana, Yasuo Etou, Miyoji Onose, Ai Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9236593
    Abstract: A battery assembly provided with an adhesive stop mechanism is disclosed. The battery assembly includes multiple battery cells, a primary retaining frame, a secondary retaining frame, two common electrodes and a bonding layer. The primary and second retaining frames are combined together to constitute accommodation chambers for housing the battery cells. The primary retaining frame includes an outer deck and a shallow deck, wherein the outer deck is formed with adhesive application pores and the shallow deck is formed with stop portions corresponding to the adhesive application pores. The adhesive composition applied through the adhesive application pores is confined by the stop portions and subsequently cured into a bonding layer that firmly holds the battery cells within the accommodation chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia-Ming Chuang, Tai-Tsun Liu
  • Patent number: 9231271
    Abstract: A battery having the electrodes of multiple cell types interleaved to prevent thermal runaway by cooling a shorted region between electrodes. The battery includes multiple cell types where each cell type has multiple electrodes a first polarity. The electrodes of each of the cell types share a pair of the common electrodes having a second polarity. The electrodes of the multiple cell types and the multiple common electrodes are interleaved such that if the electrodes of the multiple cell types and the adjacent common electrodes of one or more cell types short together, the current within the shorted cells is sufficiently small to prevent thermal runaway and the electrodes of the adjacent cells of the other cell types of the first polarity and the common electrodes of the second polarity not having short circuits provide heat sinking for the heat generated by the short circuit to prevent thermal runaway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Amperex Technology Limited
    Inventors: Li-Yan Zhu, Jei-Wei Chang
  • Patent number: 9219375
    Abstract: A battery (30) includes a circuit (164, 234, 260) the selectively ties the cells (32) to the contacts (78, 80). If signals present at the contacts indicate the battery may be short circuited, the voltage is only cyclically presented across the contacts. Until the battery receives a defined recognition code, only a current limited voltage is presented across the contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventor: Philip Woods
  • Patent number: 9219366
    Abstract: An energy storage device and method for decreasing a rush current to protect battery cells and battery management systems (BMSs) from a rush current by sequentially coupling battery packs to each other in parallel to a grid. To this end, the BMS measures voltages of at least three battery packs and then sequentially in parallel couples battery packs in order from a smallest to a largest voltage to thereby reduce the rush current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Woocheol Kim
  • Patent number: 9209642
    Abstract: A method is provided for identifying a battery pack that is operably coupled to a battery charger. The method comprises: measuring voltage at a plurality of designated terminals of a first battery pack while the battery pack is coupled to the battery charger; determining how many of the designated terminals are connected to a reference voltage, such as battery positive; and identifying an attribute of the battery pack based on how many of the designated terminals are connected to the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Regina G. C. Cunanan, Frank J. Delose, Bhanuprasad V. Gorti, Geoffrey S. Howard, Aziz Iqbal, Matt J. Velderman, Daniel J. White
  • Patent number: 9203105
    Abstract: In a rechargeable battery, a case is combined with an upper surface of a bare cell by being fixed to a lead plate electrically coupling a protection circuit board of a protection circuit module to the bare cell. Alternatively, the case is combined with the bare cell by being fixed to the protection circuit board so as not to be separated from the bare cell, thereby improving the reliability of the products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok Koh, Kyungho Park, Jeongdeok Byun, Eunok Kwak
  • Patent number: 9203234
    Abstract: An electric vehicle is provided having an electric generator and a motor. Generated electrical energy may be routed to a DC bus of an inverter system. The inverter system may be configured to provide the electrical energy to the motor. A controller may detect a fault based on the voltage level of the DC bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Jacob Pence, Eric Vilar
  • Patent number: 9197092
    Abstract: A battery management system calculates expected run time for the information handling system from either an average or instantaneous power consumption and the remaining battery capacity. When power is attached to the battery, the battery management system compares an expected run time with a current usage day profile. If the information handling system is operating in a non-active use period or if system run time can extend sufficiently into the non-use period then a slow charge rate is applied which will charge the batteries up to a substantially charged state (e.g., 80-95% of full capacity) and top off of the battery is deferred such that battery is fully charged somewhat before the average beginning of the next day (e.g., approximately one to two hours before the average beginning of the next day).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: Gary Verdun, Richard C. Thompson
  • Patent number: 9159981
    Abstract: An array-type battery power management apparatus includes at least two battery power management apparatuses. Each battery power management apparatus has a bus unit and at least one battery power integration unit. The battery power integration unit has a battery module and a charging-discharging module. The battery module has a first positive conductive terminal and a first negative conductive terminal. The charging-discharging module has a second positive conductive terminal and a second negative conductive terminal. The second positive conductive terminal is directly connected to the first positive conductive terminal and the second negative conductive terminal is directly connected to the first negative conductive terminal, thus directly electrically connecting to the battery module and the charging-discharging module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chih-Chiang Chan, Miao-Jen Cheng
  • Patent number: 9143055
    Abstract: The present invention related to a cell interface. The cell interface includes four diode D1 to D4. A first terminal connected to a voltage terminal of first cell; a second terminal connected to a voltage terminal of second cell; and a third terminal connected to an external voltage terminal of an external electric circuit, another external voltage terminal connected to another voltage terminal of first cell and second cell. The cell interface can prevent from occurring loop current in parallel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Inventor: Chao-Cheng Lu
  • Patent number: 9141164
    Abstract: In accordance with the present disclosure, a battery back-up unit (BBU) element for providing uninterruptable direct current (DC) power in a rack-level power infrastructure is describe. The BBU element may include a rack-mountable chassis with a battery drawer. A battery may be disposed within the battery drawer, and at least one power module may be coupled to the battery. The BBU element may also include a power module controller that causes the battery to charge from or discharge to a busbar coupled to the BBU element. The power module controller may also communicate power management information to a power infrastructure controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Edmond I. Bailey, Jimmy D. Pike, Joseph A. Vivio, Ty Schmitt, Kunrong Wang
  • Patent number: 9136520
    Abstract: A battery module according to the present invention includes rechargeable batteries that include a first terminal and a second terminal which protrude outward, the first terminal including differentiation portions formed of an indentation or a protruding portion to differentiate the first terminal from the second terminal; and connection members that electrically connect the rechargeable batteries, fixed to the first and second terminals of adjacent rechargeable batteries, including verification portions which fit the differentiation portions so as to improve assemblability and minimize contact resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Sung-Bae Kim, Yong-Sam Kim, Dae-Won Han, Sang-Won Byun, Byung-Kyu Ahn
  • Patent number: 9136513
    Abstract: A battery pack includes one or more battery cells arranged in one direction and electrically connected to one another, a battery management system (BMS) substrate connected to electrode terminals of the battery cells and configured to control charging and discharging of the battery cells, a housing with a space to receive the battery cells, an upper cover connected to an upper part of the housing, and a connector connected to the BMS substrate, the connector protruding above and extending along an upper surface of the upper cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignees: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD., ROBERT BOSCH GmbH
    Inventor: Taeyong Kim
  • Patent number: 9136509
    Abstract: A battery includes a battery cell having a pair of cell electrodes that are encased in a laminated pouch. The laminated pouch has a conductive moisture barrier layer that is sandwiched between respective electrically insulating layers. Several terminals are integrated with the pouch, including a first terminal and a second terminal that are directly connected to the first and second cell electrodes, respectively, and a third terminal that is directly connected to the conductive moister barrier layer. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ching Yu John Tam, Craig C. Birrell
  • Patent number: 9123929
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly, a case and a tab film. The electrode assembly has first and second electrode tabs formed to protrude therefrom. The case accommodates the electrode assembly so that a portion of at least one of the first and second electrode tabs is exposed to an outside thereof, and has a sealing portion formed along an edge portion thereof. The tab film is formed to surround at least one of the first and second electrode tabs that come in contact with the sealing portion of the case. In the tab film, at least one region of the tab film is formed of a material having a melting point different from that of the other region. Accordingly, the explosion and fire of the secondary battery is prevented, thereby improving the safety of the secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chang-Bum Ahn
  • Patent number: 9116177
    Abstract: A resistance measuring circuit includes a current generating component, a current control component, and a voltage measurement component. The magnitude of a target resistance can be measured by connecting the target resistance between first and second measurement terminals of the resistance measuring circuit, applying a current generated by the current generating component to the target resistance, and determining the voltage across the target resistance. When no target resistance is connected between the first and second measurement terminals, the current control component controls the current generating component to reduce current consumption of the resistance measuring circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventor: Benjamin Eng, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9118085
    Abstract: A lithium secondary battery provided by the present invention includes an electrode body (80) having a structure in which a positive electrode (10) and a negative electrode (20) are laminated, with a separator (30) interposed therebetween, and a porous insulating layer (40) obtained by filling and molding insulating particles is formed on the surface of at least one of the positive electrode (10) and the negative electrode (20) on the side facing the separator (30), wherein insulating particles having a tap density of 0.4 g/cm3 to 0.9 g/cm3 are used as the insulating particles that compose the porous insulating layer (40), and moreover a pressure (90) that is applied in the direction of the lamination to the electrode body (80) is set to a range of 4 kgf/cm2 to 50 kgf/cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9118189
    Abstract: A method and system for charging multi-cell lithium-based batteries. In some aspects, a battery charger includes a housing, at least one terminal to electrically connect to a battery pack supported by the housing, and a controller operable to provide a charging current to the battery pack through the at least one terminal. The battery pack includes a plurality of lithium-based battery cells, with each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells having an individual state of charge. The controller is operable to control the charging current being supplied to the battery pack at least in part based on the individual state of charge of at least one battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Gary D. Meyer, Jay J. Rosenbecker, Kevin L. Glasgow, Todd W. Johnson, Karl F. Scheucher
  • Patent number: 9118058
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention relates to a battery pack including a plurality of bare cells each having a cap assembly and a bottom positioned to correspond to the cap assembly; a protection circuit module mounted on the bare cells; a cover frame covering the bare cells and composed of a first frame and two second frames; and an enclosure member covering the bare cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Martin Yoo, Jin-Tae Hong
  • Patent number: 9118183
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for discerning information about a vehicle (e.g., an electric vehicle's make, model, and/or year of manufacturer) being charged by an electric vehicle supply equipment (“EVSE”). Vehicle make, model, and model year can be discerned by measuring charging current supplied to the electric vehicle over time and comparing this profile to stored profiles of known electric vehicles. Vehicle information can also be discerned by monitoring a pilot signal sent to the electric vehicle by the EVSE. When the EVSE is ready to charge the electric vehicle, the pilot signal sends a charge-ready indication. When the electric vehicle is ready to be charged, it sends an acknowledgement. The time between the EVSE indicating it is ready to charge and the electric vehicle acknowledging that it is ready to be charged is measurable and can used to identify an electric vehicle make, model, and model year.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.
    Inventor: Robert Erger
  • Patent number: 9095907
    Abstract: A motorized window covering is presented having an elongated hollow rod. A battery tube is positioned within the hollow rod. The battery tube has a hollow interior with an elongated spring therein and a stop positioned adjacent an open end of the battery tube. An end cap closes the open end of the battery tube. A plurality of batteries are inserted in end-to-end alignment into the hollow interior of the battery tube. As each battery is inserted, the stop deflects thereby allowing the battery past the stop. Once each battery passes the stop, the stop moves into a stop position thereby holding the battery within the battery tube. To remove each of the plurality of batteries, the stop is deflected and the spring forces the battery out of the hollow interior of the battery tube. The battery tube is electrically connected to a motor that when activated rotates the rod thereby operating the window covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: QMOTION INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Michael D. Fox
  • Patent number: 9099761
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery that includes a pouch installing an electrode assembly, first and second lead tabs connected to the electrode assembly and drawn out to one side of the pouch, a temperature protection element connected to the first tab, and a connection tab connected to the temperature protection element. The temperature protection element is attached to the pouch using a double-sided adhesive tape and covered by an insulation tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-Ho Hong
  • Patent number: 9065157
    Abstract: A method is provided for reducing unsafe thermal conditions in an inductive charging system within a vehicle. The method includes inductively charging a chargeable device with an inductive charger. The method also includes adjusting an amount of power provided to the chargeable device by the charger based on the detected temperature information. The method further includes storing temperature metrics related to at least one chargeable device in a database. The method also includes shutting off the inductive charger if it detects the device on the inductive charger is also connected to a wired charging source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Michael Hrecznyj
  • Patent number: 9063200
    Abstract: Application of rechargeable battery charging voltage is determined by a signal applied to a battery-connect terminal (94) from external electrical equipment. In the case of a charging voltage application, the current detection section is judged as malfunctioning when the maximum battery cell voltage detected as a time series rises from a voltage below 3.8V (the second voltage) to a voltage above 4.1V (the first voltage) even though rechargeable battery charging and discharging current detected as a time series is greater than ?5 mA and less than 20 mA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinichi Matsuura