Sequential Charging Or Discharging Of Batteries Or Cells Patents (Class 320/124)
  • Patent number: 11787035
    Abstract: A housing for a work implement has a first housing shell with first outer wall and a second housing shell with second outer wall. The first and second outer walls contact each other along a separation plane. The first housing shell has a first rib extending transversely to the separation plane and projecting past the separation plane into the second housing shell. First measuring points are located in the separation plane. The first rib has a first rib height measured in transverse direction from a first measuring point to a first end of the first rib facing the second housing shell. The second housing shell has a second shell height measured in transverse direction from the same first measuring point to an inner side of the second housing shell. The first measuring points include measuring points where the first rib height is at least 15% of the second shell height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jonathan Seiz, Markus Oesterle, Thomas Haag
  • Patent number: 11742689
    Abstract: An electronic device configured to operate in a plurality of power modes includes a power receiving circuit receiving wireless power from an power transmitting device; and a processor configured to control an operation of the electronic device, wherein the plurality of power modes include a power charging mode in which the wireless power is continuously provided, a power hold mode in which a state where the wireless power is provided and a state where the wireless power is cut off are periodically repeated in a ping period, and a power cutoff mode in which the wireless power is cut off, wherein the power receiving circuit generates a ping flag signal alternates between a high level and a low level with the ping period in the power hold mode, and changes the power mode based on a counting value obtained by counting particular level sections of the ping flag signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyunsu Kim, Hyoungseok Oh
  • Patent number: 11705749
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing multi-battery systems, such as those utilized in an electric vehicle. Multi-battery systems comprise batteries providing power in parallel, thereby making each battery available to the vehicle and avoiding the weight of transporting a backup battery. The methods and systems provided allow for a fault in one battery, in a parallel configuration with at least one other battery, to be detected and managed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: NIO Technology (Anhui) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Austin L. Newman, Alexander J. Smith, Adam H. Ing, Rick Rajaie
  • Patent number: 11511643
    Abstract: An influence degree display device includes an acquirer configured to acquire information regarding magnitude of an influence factor that has an influence on progress of deterioration of a secondary cell that stores power used to drive an electric motor vehicle a display configured to display an image and a display controller configured to cause the display to display an image indicating the degree of influence on the progress of the deterioration of the secondary cell in accordance with the acquired magnitude of the influence factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Nishida
  • Patent number: 11495978
    Abstract: In some examples, a system includes a primary side with a charger and a first battery and a secondary side with a second battery. The charger on the primary side can charge both the first battery and the second battery. A hinge resistance is between the primary side and the secondary side. The primary side includes a feedback controlled active device in a current path of the first battery that compensates for the hinge resistance, for connector resistances, or for battery impedances in a current path of the second battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Anil Baby, Anoop Parchuru, Shobhit Chahar, Govindaraj G., Vinaya Kumar Chandrasekhara
  • Patent number: 11394217
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting a battery state of an electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a battery, a charger circuit for charging the battery, a measurement circuit for checking a state of the battery, and a processor configured to charge the battery using the charger circuit, determine whether the charging operation satisfies a preset condition, when the charging operation satisfies the preset condition, obtain first state information of the battery using the measurement circuit, determine an abnormal state of the battery at least based on a difference between the first state information and second state information which is obtained when the preset condition is satisfied before the first state information is acquired, and output notification information regarding the abnormal state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Inventors: Byungwook Kim, Jaemu Ha, Hyunho Park, Ki-Jong Byun, Jongkyu Lee, Jaekyong Choi, Moo-Young Kim
  • Patent number: 11211807
    Abstract: A battery power management system for vehicles and vessels requiring switching devices to disconnect mounted batteries from unit loads utilizing rules based logic. The battery power management system controls the switching devices to prevent over-discharging and over-charging of the batteries and to prevent excessive current drain. The battery power management system utilizes various timing parameters to coordinate connection and disconnection attempts and provides status information regarding the current state of protection of the batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Intellitec Products LLC
    Inventors: David F. Bailey, Edward A. Schiff, John A. Ciambriello, Jeff Caudill
  • Patent number: 11095141
    Abstract: A battery charge controller is configured to optimize battery charging from a power source, particularly a renewable power source like a photovoltaic panel. The battery charge controller includes a processing unit that intelligently switches between battery banks being charged to maximize electrical power applied to charging and help maintain even battery bank voltages. The battery charge control can also include a starting circuit allowing electrical power to be applied directly to the processing unit from the power source when the battery bank banks are too depleted to power on the processing unit to commence battery charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Glow Energy Group Corp.
    Inventor: Victor Santos
  • Patent number: 11075524
    Abstract: A method and battery charger for charging two or more batteries includes a pulse generator, a detector and a processor communicably coupled to the pulse generator and the detector. A charging series time period, a charging time period and a rest time period are determined based on one or more battery parameters using the processor and the detector. The charging time period is approximately equal to the charging series time period divided by the number of batteries and the rest time period is approximately equal to the charging series time period minus the charging time period. A charging pulse group having a positive pulse for the charging time period and a rest period for the rest time period is generated using the pulse generator, and sequentially applied to each of the batteries. The battery parameters are monitored and the charging pulse group may be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE, INC.
    Inventor: Elliott C. Small, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11046188
    Abstract: A system for determining an indicator of an internal leakage current of a battery entity includes a voltage meter configured to be coupled to the battery entity and to measure a plurality of voltage values corresponding to the battery entity at a plurality of time instants. Further, the system includes an isolator configured to be coupled to each of a battery charger and an electricity consuming entity, as well as to electrically isolate the battery entity from each of the battery charger and the electricity consuming entity based on a control signal. Yet further, the system includes a controller electrically coupled to each of the voltage meter and the isolator the controller being configured to determine the indicator of an internal leakage current based on each of the plurality of voltage values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Akkurate Oy
    Inventors: Jani Mäki, Jari Koskinen
  • Patent number: 10903662
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery arrangement includes a plurality of rechargeable battery cells which are connected in series and each have a first and a second connection, and a plurality of differential amplifiers each having an inverting input, a non-inverting input and an output at which an amplified difference between the signal at the inverting input and the signal at the non-inverting input is produced. The non-inverting input of one of the plurality of differential amplifiers is coupled to the second connection of a first rechargeable battery cell unit of the plurality of rechargeable battery cells and to the first connection of a second rechargeable battery cell unit of the plurality of rechargeable battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Steffen Rothe
  • Patent number: 10862316
    Abstract: In some examples, a system includes a primary side with a charger and a first battery and a secondary side with a second battery. The charger on the primary side can charge both the first battery and the second battery. A hinge resistance is between the primary side and the secondary side. The primary side includes a feedback controlled active device in a current path of the first battery that compensates for the hinge resistance, for connector resistances, or for battery impedances in a current path of the second battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Anil Baby, Anoop Parchuru, Shobhit Chahar, Govindaraj G, Vinaya Kumar Chandrasekhara
  • Patent number: 10491022
    Abstract: A method of managing a battery system, the method including receiving at least one measured characteristic of the at least one battery cell from the at least one sensor, estimating at least one state of the at least one battery cell at a first time by applying an electrochemical-based battery model, estimating at least one physical parameter of the at least one battery cell based on the at least one measured characteristic and the estimation of the at least one state, estimating the at least one state at a second time, subsequent to the first time, by applying the electrochemical-based battery model based on the estimated at least one parameter, and regulating at least one of charging or discharging of the at least one battery cell based on the estimation of the at least one state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Anahita MirTabatabaei, Reinhardt Klein, Aleksandar Kojic, Nalin Chaturvedi, Christopher Mayhew, John F. Christensen
  • Patent number: 10461307
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a device for protecting a rechargeable battery including a plurality of unit cells contained in a module case and coupled in series between a first module electrode terminal and a second module electrode terminal, a plurality of bypass switches separated from the plurality of unit cells, electrically connected to each other, and configured to physically contact a first electrode terminal of a respective one of the unit cells according to an internal pressure thereof, and a plurality of bypass fuses for connecting adjacent ones of the plurality of unit cells, and for connecting a last unit cell of the plurality of unit cells and the second module electrode terminal, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Duk-Jung Kim
  • Patent number: 10461561
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a battery charging apparatus and a battery charging protection control method. A power adapter in the battery charging apparatus performs data communication with a charging control circuit; when the power adapter determines that overvoltage and/or overcurrent occurs in the direct current output by a communication interface of the power adapter, the power adapter notifies the charging control circuit to drive a controller in the electronic device to switch off a communication interface of the electronic device and switches off the direct current output automatically; when the charging control circuit; determines that overvoltage and/or overcurrent occurs upon receiving output voltage and output current of the power adapter, the charging control circuit notifies the power adapter to switch off the direct current output and drives the controller in the electronic device to switch off the communication interface of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Jialiang Zhang, Kewei Wu, Wenqiang Cheng, Yuanxiang Hu
  • Patent number: 10447054
    Abstract: A battery management system comprising a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the battery management system to estimate one or more states of the battery by applying a battery model to account for physical parameters of a chemical composition of the battery based on one or more measured characteristics of the battery and the one or more estimated characteristics of the battery and regulate a first charging mode of the battery based on the estimation of the one or more states of the one or more battery cells and switch between the first charging mode and a second charging mode based on the estimation of the one or more states of the battery to allow for rapid charging of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: John F. Christensen, Reinhardt Klein, Ashish Krupadanam, Anahita MirTabatabaei, Nikhil Ravi
  • Patent number: 10439257
    Abstract: An energy storage device for generating an n-phase supply voltage includes a plurality of energy supply branches that are connected in parallel, each of which is connected to an output connector of the energy storage device. Each of the energy supply branches includes a plurality of energy storage modules that are connected in series, each having at least one energy storage cell, and having a plurality of coupling modules connected to one of the plurality of energy storage modules, respectively, each configured to couple, or to bridge, the connected energy storage module with the energy supply branch. The energy storage device further includes a control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Markus Klausner, Volkmar Denner, Stefan Butzmann
  • Patent number: 10424958
    Abstract: A charging method and an apparatus are provided. The charging method includes: constant-current charging the rechargeable battery until a voltage of the rechargeable battery reaches a first predetermined voltage; and charging the rechargeable battery with a gradually decreasing charging voltage until a charging process is completed. In this way, the capacity of a battery after being fully charged can be further increased while improving the charging speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Chen Tian, Jun Zhang, Jialiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10295606
    Abstract: A method for short detection in a battery pack, the battery pack including a plurality of cells, the method including: connecting a short detection module to the battery pack; determining by the short detection module that the battery pack is at rest; and selecting a first cell in the battery pack for testing for a short, wherein the testing includes: connecting a voltage source to the first cell; measuring a current of the first cell; and determining based on the measured current of the first cell whether the first cell contains a short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: TIAX LLC
    Inventor: Christopher H. McCoy
  • Patent number: 9939494
    Abstract: A concentration distribution in an active material of a battery unit is calculated by using a diffusion equation, and a first polarization elimination time taken for the concentration distribution in the active material to fall within an allowable range is calculated assuming that charge and discharge of the battery unit is not performed. A concentration distribution in an electrolyte of the battery unit is calculated by using a diffusion equation, and a second polarization elimination time taken for the concentration distribution in the electrolyte to fall within an allowable range is calculated assuming that the charge and the discharge of the battery unit is not performed. It is determined that polarization of the battery unit is eliminated when a time for which the charge and the discharge of the battery unit is not performed is longer than the longer one of the first polarization elimination time and the second polarization elimination time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Ogura
  • Patent number: 9849801
    Abstract: Provided is a battery control device for the standardization of a battery, and more particularly, to a battery control device for the standardization of a battery, which allows one or more application modules performing functions of a battery management system (BMS) to independently operate with respect to a time, prevents data shared by one or more respective application modules from being subordinate to each other, and further, allows one or more application modules to perform functions thereof regardless of a change of the mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventor: Jihoon Kim
  • Patent number: 9806772
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer readable media that can facilitate the transfer of power between at least two electrical devices. At least one of the electrical devices is preferably a battery operated device. The present invention may also be used to facilitate the transfer of information among electrical devices. For example, the present invention may be used to automatically pair two Bluetooth devices together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John Tang, Gregory Christie, Jesse L. Dorogusker, Donald Novotney, Jeffrey J. Terlizzi, Terry Tikalsky, Christopher D. McKillop, Stanley Rabu
  • Patent number: 9787123
    Abstract: A charge/discharge control device according to an aspect of the present disclosure is equipped with a system frequency measurer 303 that measures a system frequency, a base frequency updater 304 that updates a base frequency, a frequency bias calculator 305 that calculates a frequency bias indicating the difference between the base frequency and the system frequency, a charge/discharge command value decider 306 that uses the frequency bias to decide a power command value, and a charge/discharge controller 307 that causes a power storage system to charge/discharge power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsuru Kaji
  • Patent number: 9774197
    Abstract: An internal short-circuit detection method for a battery cell of a battery pack is determined using a battery cell charge balancing resistor and switch. The switch is used for connecting or disconnecting the battery cell charge balancing resistor to the battery cell. Evolution of discharging of the battery with the battery cell-charge balancing resistor connected to the battery cell is monitored to measure an internal short-circuit resistance of the battery cell for estimating the state of the internal short-circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: BORDRIN MOTOR CORPORATION, INC.
    Inventors: Yonghua Li, Zhiwei Zhang
  • Patent number: 9735665
    Abstract: A circuit for use in a power converter includes a control circuit coupled to detect whether an electrical energy source is coupled to an input of the power converter. A switch is coupled to the control circuit, and is coupled to transfer energy from the input of the power converter to an output of the power converter during a first operating mode. The control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in the first operating mode when the electrical energy source is coupled to the input of the power converter. The control circuit is coupled to drive the switch in a second operating mode when the electrical energy source is uncoupled from the input of the power converter to drive the switch to discharge a capacitance coupled between input terminals of the power converter to a threshold voltage in less than a maximum period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Power Integrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Balu Balakrishnan, David Kung, Raymond Kenneth Orr, David Michael Hugh Matthews
  • Patent number: 9711778
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a battery module for use in a vehicle is presented. The method may include disposing battery cells into a lower housing and disposing a lid assembly over the battery cells. The lid assembly may include a lid and bus bar interconnects disposed on the lid. The method may also include disposing a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly onto the lid assembly and electrically coupling portions of the lid assembly, portions of the PCB assembly, and the battery cells to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Richard M. DeKeuster, Edward J. Soleski, Robert J. Mack, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Stephen D. Cash, Lisa L. Winders, Jack L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9705354
    Abstract: Provided are improvements for systems and methods of alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) power regulation. The system improvements include a regulation circuit having a microprocessor that controls a silicon controlled rectifier circuit. Method improvements include one or more of SCR load sharing, adaptive voltage droop compensation, and/or voltage rebound compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Trumpet Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Hannas
  • Patent number: 9641009
    Abstract: A charging device includes charging power detection unit and full charge determination unit. The charging device further includes charging control unit adapted to repeatedly execute a additional charging control until the number of times of the full charge determination reaches a predetermined full charge determination count. The charging device further includes unit adapted to detect the temperature of the secondary battery, and full charge determination count setting unit adapted to set a larger full charge determination count as the temperature decreases at least based on the temperature of the secondary battery when the full charge determination is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Takano, Tsutomu Soga
  • Patent number: 9640987
    Abstract: A discharge circuit for an electronic device includes an energy storage element, a plurality of switches and a plurality of discharge paths coupled to the energy storage element and the switches. If a system power of the electronic device is turned off, a first switch of the switches conducts a first discharge path of the discharge paths, and the energy storage element is discharged through the first discharge path. In response that a voltage of the energy storage element drops to a first threshold, a second switch of the switches conducts a second discharge path of the discharge paths, and the energy storage element is discharged through the first discharge path and the second discharge path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventor: Hsing-Lu Chen
  • Patent number: 9590440
    Abstract: A mobile electronic device includes a first charging terminal that is to be brought into contact with a second charging terminal of a battery charger, a battery that is charged by electric power that is supplied from an external power supply via the first charging terminal, a resistor that is arranged between the first charging terminal and the battery, and a processor that measures voltage values of both ends of the resistor, that calculates, on the basis of the voltage values of the both ends, a terminal voltage value of the second charging terminal, and a resistance value of the resistor, an electric power consumption value of a contact portion in which the first charging terminal is brought into contact with the second charging terminal, and that stops charging the battery when the electric power consumption value is equal to or greater than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Shuji Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9525299
    Abstract: A charging device for a storage battery includes: a charging power source for supplying electric power to a storage battery; a charging electric power detecting device adapted to detect electric power charged to the storage battery; a full charge determining device adapted to make a full charge determination based on a detected value of the charging electric power detecting device; and a charging controlling device adapted to conduct charging control by charging the storage battery until the full charge determination is made, stopping charging when the full charge determination is made, restarting charging after a prescribed time period elapses from the stop of charging, and continuing charging until the full charge determination is made again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Takano, Tsutomu Soga
  • Patent number: 9484736
    Abstract: Provided is an operating method of an electronic device including a first processor, a humidity sensor, a second processor controlling the humidity sensor, and a battery, wherein the second processor and the battery are waterproofed. The method may include: detecting a power supply event from the battery; supplying a power from the battery to the second processor controlling the humidity sensor and not supplying the power to the first processor; determining, by the second processor, a humidity of the electronic device by using the humidity sensor; and when the humidity of the electronic device is greater than a first reference humidity, cutting off power supply from the battery and when the humidity of the electronic device is less than the first reference humidity, supplying the power to the first processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Ju Hong, Seung-Ki Choi
  • Patent number: 9455585
    Abstract: A charging apparatus may include a power supply unit supplying charging power, a charging unit transferring the charging power from the power supply unit to an external charging target device, a charge controlling unit controlling a charging state of the charging unit, a display unit displaying the charging state according to controlling by the charge controlling unit and stopping a displaying operation when the charging target device is in a fully-charged state, and a delaying unit blocking a current supplied to the display unit and delaying the stopping of the displaying operation of the display unit for a preset time when the charging target device is recharged in the fully-charged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong Woon Park
  • Patent number: 9379575
    Abstract: A method of charging a battery in a charging system having a power convertor that coverts AC electrical power to DC electrical power includes operating the power convertor at a first frequency during a first charging phase of the charging system; ending the first charging phase upon determining that a predetermined criterion is satisfied; and subsequent to ending the first charging phase, operating the power convertor at a second frequency during a second charging phase of the charging system, wherein the first frequency is different than the second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Higashi
  • Patent number: 9362764
    Abstract: A portable power supply adapted to be connected to an external power source and to an electronic device comprises a main module comprising a battery, a satellite module comprising an input port, and output port, and an interface panel, and a tether cable, and a controller. The controller a first mode to allow the battery to be charged when the external power supply is connected to the input port, a second mode to allow power to be supplied to the electronic device from the battery when the electronic device is connected to the output port, and a third mode to allow the battery to be charged and power to be supplied to the electronic device when the external power supply is connected to the input port and the electronic device is connected to the output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Tsuga Engineering LLC
    Inventors: George Farkas, Daniel Krones, Wesley Ellis
  • Patent number: 9300168
    Abstract: A hybrid power system includes an on-board compressed air supply and a battery. One or more electric motors are coupled to the vehicle wheels. The compressed air drives an air motor that is coupled to an electric generator. The electric generator is coupled to a smart power controller which controls the delivery of compressed air to the air motor and also directs the electric power to an electric motor battery bank, an accessory battery, a capacitor bank for storing the electric energy or directly to the electric motors. In accordance with the present invention, the smart energy controller optimizes the compressed air and electric energy sources to maximize the driving range of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventors: Dean S. Elleman, Gordon Helm
  • Patent number: 9287725
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first port configured for connection to a battery charger and a plurality of second ports each configured for connection to a battery to be charged. The circuit includes a corresponding switchable circuit path provided between the first port and each of the second ports. A control circuit is configured to selectively activate the switchable circuit paths so as to connect the first port to selected ones of the second ports for charging of the connected battery by the connected battery charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: PULSETECH PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: James Earl Huffman, Johnny Lyman Wise
  • Patent number: 9240701
    Abstract: A lithium-ion secondary battery (100) includes a positive electrode mixture layer (223) coated on a positive electrode current collector (221), a negative electrode mixture layer (243) coated on a negative electrode current collector (241), and an electrolyte solution containing lithium ions at a predetermined concentration. The number of lithium ions X in the electrolyte solution impregnated per 1 cm3 of the positive electrode mixture layer (223) and the number of lithium ions Y in the electrolyte solution impregnated per 1 cm3 of the negative electrode mixture layer (243) are both 3.75×1019 or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Takahata
  • Patent number: 9225187
    Abstract: The present invention discloses multi-functional electrode (MFE) devices for fast-charging of energy-storage devices. MFE devices include: a multi-functional electrode (MFE) device for fast-charging of energy-storage devices, the device including: a first MFE structure for forming a suitable electrochemical half-couple, the first MFE structure having a first fast-charging component (FCC) and a first MFE assembly; a counter-electrode structure for forming a complementary electrochemical half-couple to the first MFE structure; and an internal voltage controller (IVC) for applying a bias potential to the first MFE structure and/or the counter-electrode structure, whereby the bias potential is set in accordance with the chemical nature of the first MFE structure and the counter-electrode structure. Preferably, the IVC is configured to regulate an intra-electrode potential gradient between the first FCC and the first MFE assembly, thereby controlling a charge rate from the first FCC to the first MFE assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: StoreDot Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel Aronov, Liron Amir, Doron Burshtain, Olga Guchok, Leonid Krasovitsky
  • Patent number: 9209639
    Abstract: A storage battery system includes: electric storage units; and DC-DC converters each provided between one of the electric storage units and a DC bus. Each of the DC-DC converters includes: a voltage sensor for detecting a voltage value at a connection point between the DC bus and the DC-DC converter; a second obtainment unit which obtains voltage values detected by the voltage sensors of the other DC-DC converters; and a control unit which, when a difference value between a statistic of the voltage values obtained by the second obtainment unit and the voltage value detected by the voltage sensor is not less than a predetermined threshold value, changes the voltage value detected by the voltage sensor, and controls an amount of charge in and an amount of discharge from a corresponding one of the electric storage units to approximate the changed voltage value to a predetermined target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazufumi Nishikawa, Kohji Matsumura
  • Patent number: 9206562
    Abstract: A grade propulsion system provided herein includes: a propel pump; a brake system; an operator control configured to receive and transmit a propel command and a Hill Mode activation; and a controller electronically coupled to the propel pump, the brake system, and the operator control, the controller configured, after activation of the Hill Mode and the propel command, to transmit a propel current to the propel pump and disengage the brake system when the propel current is equal to or greater than a cracking current plus an offset current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Toby A. Frelich, Kea V. Chin, Steven R. Queen
  • Patent number: 9200940
    Abstract: A fuel consumption display apparatus for a crane includes: standby state determining means for determining whether or not a crane is in a standby state; fuel consumption detecting means for detecting fuel consumption of the crane; standby accumulated fuel consumption calculating means for calculating standby accumulated fuel consumption by accumulating the fuel consumption after the standby state determining means determines the crane to be in the standby state: the standby duration calculating means for calculating standby duration by measuring a time period after the standby state determining means determines the crane to be in the standby state; and a monitor for displaying the standby accumulated fuel consumption and the standby duration. An operator of the crane can therefore recognize how much fuel is wasted, thus facilitating an operation for reducing fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: TADANO LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamauchi, Kimihiko Terata
  • Patent number: 9148046
    Abstract: A method and device of torque generation based on electromagnetic effect is provided. An electromagnetic torque whose direction is opposite to the motor driving direction is generated in a magnetic field when a motor-drive armature winding is adopted based on the electro-magnetic induction principle. Meanwhile, a reverse electromagnetic torque which is reverse to the armature winding with the same magnitude, is applied on a magnet set and is transmitted to an underactuated system so as to provide required torque for the underactuated system. Advantageously, the provided torque is in direct ratio to speed, difficulty in control is significantly reduced, two-stage electromagnetic variable speed can be achieved, the design of the system is simple and reliable with a concise and clear structure, and the device may be employed in a wide variety of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Beijing University of Technology
    Inventors: Xiaogang Ruan, Xiaoqing Zhu, Rongyi Sun, Ruoyan Wei, Naigong Yu, Daoxiong Gong, Guoyu Zuo
  • Patent number: 9112358
    Abstract: A power supply device includes a battery, a charging part charging the battery, a power input to receive adapter power from an adapter supplied with external power or power output from a similarly configured power supply device, a power output part to output the adapter power, the power output of a similarly configured power supply device, or the battery power of the battery, and a controller to control the input power to apply power to the charging part and the power output part when the input power is supplied to the power input part, and to control the battery to apply power to the power output part when the input power is not supplied to the power input part. Thus, the power supply device is capable of applying power from an adapter to a portable electronic device while charging an internal battery with the adapter power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-deok Cha
  • Patent number: 9059590
    Abstract: A system and method for a universal battery charger is presented. An RFID tag on a battery-powered device communicates battery information to the charger to allow the charger to optimally charge the battery. The battery charger has a charging cord with a charge plug at an end of the cord to connect the charging cord to a port on a device. The charging cord contains an RFID antenna near the end of the cord. The RFID antenna has a limited reading range. When the charge plug is inserted into a charging port on a battery-powered device, an RFID reader uses the RFID antenna to read the information stored on the RFID tag. Based on the RFID tag information, a charging selector selects a current and voltage to be output to charge the device through the device port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: BBY Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy M. Cassidy
  • Patent number: 9035615
    Abstract: An energy management system has an integration control portion that performs control to charge a storage battery with a power of such an amount that a power consumption including a power supplied by a supply portion is equal to or smaller than a target value indicated by power consumption target information recorded in a recording portion when a power consumption detected by a detection portion is smaller than the target value, and to supply a building with a power with which the storage battery is charged such that the power consumption including the power supplied by the supply portion coincides in amount with a power equal to or smaller than the target value indicated by the power consumption target information recorded in the recording portion when the power consumption detected by the detection portion is larger than the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA HOUSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromi Tonegawa, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Shinji Ichikawa, Daisuke Ishii, Katsutoshi Murawaka
  • Patent number: 9018907
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for ascertaining the maximum power obtainable from a traction storage-battery system that includes a plurality of storage-battery elements connected in series. The method provides for: determining at least one power indicator for each storage-battery element, and ascertaining a quantity of the smallest power indicators of all determined power indicators of all storage-battery elements. The quantity includes the smallest power indicator or a subgroup thereof of all power indicators of the storage-battery elements. A power-output limit for the quantity is provided, starting from the power indicators of the quantity. The maximum power obtainable from the traction storage-battery system is extrapolated based on the power-output limit and linked by the extrapolation and because of the series connection, to a power output of the at least one storage-battery element for which the quantity of the smallest power indicators was ascertained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Andre Boehm
  • Patent number: 9013138
    Abstract: A charging apparatus includes an electric power supply device and a control device. The control device that estimates a first region in which first charging power is supplied from the electric power supply device to a electric storage device; estimates a second region, in which second charging power that is smaller than the first charging power is supplied from the electric power supply device to the electric storage device, based on temperature of the electric storage device and a state-of-charge of the electric storage; estimates a first charging time that corresponds to the first region; estimates a second charging time that corresponds to the second region; estimates a total charging time by using the first charging time and the second charging time; obtains a charging completion time; and sets a charging start time based on the charging completion time and the total charging time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Nomura
  • Patent number: 9013150
    Abstract: Provided is a power supply device integrally combined with an electrical device body including a motor, comprising a rechargeable battery for supplying power to the motor, a microcomputer for detecting a residual capacity and a battery voltage of the battery, and a switching element provided between the battery and the microcomputer. The microcomputer stops charging the battery when the detected residual capacity has become 100%, and when the detected value of the battery voltage has become lower than a peak value after the value of the battery voltage passes the peak value, making it possible to prevent overcharging of the battery. The microcomputer also controls to turn off the switching element to stop the power supply from the battery to the microcomputer when the residual capacity becomes less than a predetermined threshold value, making it possible to reduce power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Watanabe, Koji Asakawa
  • Patent number: 9005788
    Abstract: A series-parallel battery system with a buffer resistor coupled to each junction of batteries or battery cells. Buffer resistors on the same row are coupled to a measurement node. Terminals of the battery system and the measurement nodes are treated as measurement points that are coupled to a conventional battery management unit. The buffer resistors provide a means for limiting in-rush current and a means for maintaining voltage balance across the row of batteries in the parallel columns of batteries. A control unit in series with each series of batteries monitors current in the series and comprises a switch to deactivate the column when the current exceeds a set of predetermined current levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Amperex Technology Limited
    Inventor: Li-Yan Zhu