Parallel Connected Batteries Patents (Class 320/126)
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Patent number: 12233723Abstract: An automotive power system includes a traction battery, an electric machine, and one or more power cards each containing at least one power semiconductor switch and at least one Y-snubber that includes a series connected capacitor and resistor. The power semiconductor switches are arranged to form an inverter electrically connected between the traction battery and electric machine. The resistors are tuned to dissipate common mode noise associated with operation of the power semiconductor switches.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2023Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Krishna Prasad Bhat, Chingchi Chen, Nitin Parsa, Varittha Sanphuang, Michael W. Degner, Hongjie Wu
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Patent number: 12212178Abstract: A attainable output power comparison judgment section calculates a total attainable output power of a battery module using an upper limit current value of a battery pack for each of all connection patterns of a battery connection/disconnection section that are capable of being established between a plurality of battery packs and a load, and judges whether or not a high-output pattern exhibiting a total attainable output power higher than a total attainable output power of a present connection pattern exists. The battery connection/disconnection control section changes the battery connection/disconnection section from the present connection pattern to the high-output pattern when the attainable output power comparison judgment section judges that the high-output pattern exists.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2023Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: Isuzu Motors LimitedInventor: Kota Kato
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Patent number: 12187162Abstract: Methods and systems for an electric vehicle (EV) propulsion are provided. A method for operating an EV propulsion system is provided, in one example, that includes, while a traction battery assembly generates electric power, initiating start-up of a hydrogen fuel cell assembly based on a first battery state of charge (SOC) threshold and a first hydrogen fuel storage threshold to transition into a hybrid mode of operation. In the propulsion system, the traction battery assembly includes one or more traction batteries that are electrically coupled to one or more hydrogen fuel cells in the hydrogen fuel cell assembly via a distribution assembly, where the distribution assembly is electrically coupled to a traction motor.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2022Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: DANA HEAVY VEHICLE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLCInventors: Frederic Delrieu, Alexander Lebel, Tyler Stiene, Brian Wong
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Patent number: 12179631Abstract: Management device manages a plurality of power storage modules connected in parallel to load via switches. With some of switches connected to some of the plurality of power storage modules being in an on state and other switches connected to other power storage modules being in an off state, determination unit of management device does not permit at least one of other switches in the off state to be turned on in a case where at least one switch is turned on and an upper limit value of a current or power allowed to be supplied to load entirely from the plurality of power storage modules with at least one switch being turned on becomes less than or equal to a value before the turning-on of at least one switch.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2021Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventor: Hiroshi Takao
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Patent number: 12176707Abstract: A DC bus control system for controlling power fluctuations in a DC bus connecting an input power source and a load, comprising: a main stabilization device including a first charging/discharging element and a first power converter; a plurality of the sub stabilization devices including a second charging/discharging element, a charging element, or a discharging element and a second power converter, wherein the plurality of the sub stabilization devices includes a first sub stabilization device having a charging/discharging element and a second power converter and at least one second sub stabilization device having a charging element or a discharging element and a second power converter, and a response speed of the first sub stabilization device is set such that a charging amount of the charging element or a discharging amount of the discharging element of the second sub stabilization device changes with a predetermined time constant.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2021Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: RIKENInventors: Katsuhiko Tsuno, Katsushi Fujii, Kayo Koike, Satoshi Wada
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Patent number: 12113379Abstract: An apparatus for performing the following: the apparatus maintains, in a database, one or more trained machine learning algorithms for predicting an optimal charging strategy for a time interval based on one or more values of a set of prediction parameters relating to a point of common coupling and one or more electrical load devices and on a state of charge level of the battery energy storage system. The apparatus obtains one or more recent values of the set of prediction parameters relating to one or more previous time intervals and predicts, using the one or more trained machine learning algorithm, an optimal charging strategy for a next time interval based on the one or more recent values and a current state of charge level of the battery energy storage system. Finally, the apparatus operates the battery energy storage system using the predicted optimal charging strategy.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2021Date of Patent: October 8, 2024Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Carlos Nieto, Kacper Sowa, Piotr Oramus, Hemangi Borole, Tomasz Kuczek
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Patent number: 12074465Abstract: When one of the electric storage modules connected in parallel is individually replaced, the voltage of an electric storage module to be newly added and the voltage of the remaining electric storage module(s) need to match each other with high precision before the electric storage module to be newly added is attached to an electric storage system. A control device includes a control unit for controlling a switching element arranged between a wire and an electric storage unit such that: (i) the switching element electrically connects the wire and the electric storage unit if terminal voltage of the switching element satisfies a predetermined condition; and (ii) the switching element electrically disconnects the wire and the electric storage unit if the terminal voltage of the switching element does not satisfy the predetermined condition.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: NExT-e Solutions Inc.Inventor: Fumiaki Nakao
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Patent number: 12024033Abstract: An electric machine is coupled to at least the respective alternating current output terminal or to a plurality of alternating current output terminals of the inverter. The electric machine has a rotor with a rotational speed that is capable of converting rotational mechanical energy of the rotor into electrical energy at the direct current bus terminals until the rotational speed declines below a critical speed. In response to the detection of an impaired state of the battery, a controller is configured to provide control signals to switch or toggle the corresponding low-side switch or switches to manage the charging and discharging of the direct current (DC) bus voltage between a minimum DC voltage and a maximum DC voltage that define a range suitable for providing energy sufficient to power an electronic data processor and control logic of the controller.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2021Date of Patent: July 2, 2024Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Eric R. Linn, Roger K. Amundson, Christopher J. Tremel
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Patent number: 11996724Abstract: A circuit for charging a rechargeable battery is described. The circuit includes a first DC voltage source, a bus capacitor Cbus, an H-bridge circuit, a rechargeable battery, a second DC voltage source, an impedance meter and a microcontroller. The impedance meter measures an impedance of the rechargeable battery. The microcontroller is connected to the impedance meter and to each gate contact. The microcontroller generates a set of drive signals that are configured to generate a sinusoidal with ripple current at an output terminal of the H-bridge circuit. The microcontroller adjusts a frequency of the sinusoidal with ripple current based on the impedance of the rechargeable battery and identifies a frequency of the sinusoidal with ripple current at which the rechargeable battery has a minimum internal impedance. The microcontroller adjusts the set of drive signals to generate the sinusoidal with ripple current at the identified frequency and recharge the rechargeable battery.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2022Date of Patent: May 28, 2024Assignee: Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd UniversityInventors: Ala A. Hussein, Abdulmajeed Al-Abdusalam, Hasan Ali Alseni, Meenhal Al-Najjar, Hani Quraish
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Patent number: 11916427Abstract: The present invention discloses a battery module and a power arrangement method. The battery module includes a battery unit, an energy storage element, a switch, a functional circuit and a control unit. The energy storage element is coupled to the battery unit. The switch is coupled to the energy storage element. The functional circuit is respectively coupled to the battery unit and the energy storage element. The control unit is respectively coupled to the functional circuit and the switch, configured to control the functional circuit to cause the energy storage element to be coupled to the battery unit so that the battery unit charges the energy storage unit, or configured to control the functional circuit to cause the energy storage element to be decoupled with the battery unit so that a discharge path is formed.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Yung-Ping Tong, Yu-Kang Lo
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Patent number: 11642972Abstract: A configuration instruction associated with configuring a plurality of batteries which supply power to a plurality of motors in a vehicle is received. The batteries are configuring as specified by the configuration instruction, where the batteries are able to be configured in a plurality of configurations, including: a first configuration where at least some of the batteries are electrically connected together in parallel and a second configuration where at least some of the batteries are electrically connected together in series.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2020Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Kitty Hawk CorporationInventors: Joseph Orender, Christopher Scott Saunders, Derek Wong
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Patent number: 11621572Abstract: A method of operating an electric power system, which may include: determining a charge state of a first battery unit and a charge state of a second battery unit; determining a difference between the charge state of the first battery unit and the charge state of the second battery unit; and determining whether to enable discharging simultaneously of both the first battery unit and the second battery unit, or to enable discharging of one of the first and second battery units, based on the difference between the charge state of the first battery unit and the charge state of the second battery unit. At least one of the first and second battery units may be a swappable battery unit. The disclosure further relates to an electric power system and to a computer executable code including instructions for operating an electric power system.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2020Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: GRABTAXI HOLDINGS PTE. LTD.Inventors: Xihu Wu, Lei Jiang, Pengfei Yu, Yi Zheng, He Zhang
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Patent number: 11616257Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery management device for balancing state of charges (SOCs) of a plurality of battery cells while maintaining a substrate temperature of a substrate to which a balancing resistor of each of a plurality of battery cells is mounted to a reference temperature or below. Since the substrate temperature is maintained at the reference temperature or below by controlling the duty cycle of a balancing switch, it is possible to prevent components included in the battery management device from being overheated and damaged due to the heat generated during the balancing process.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2019Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.Inventor: Moon-Koo Chung
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Patent number: 11553434Abstract: An electronic device may include, for example: a first battery; at least one second battery; a power management module configured to monitor capacity information of the first battery; and a processor electrically connected to the first battery, the at least one second battery, and the power management module. The processor may be configured to: monitor whether a designated event or a low-power state in which a voltage of the first battery drops below a reference value has occurred, while the electronic device is driven using the first battery; determine that the designated event has occurred or that the first battery corresponds to the low-power state; and parallel-connect the first battery and at least one of the at least one second battery, based on determining that the designated event has occurred, or that the first battery corresponds to the low-power state. Various other embodiments are possible.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Juseok Noh, Duhyun Kim, Seongmin Kim, Younghoon Kim, Sungok Park, Kicheol Sung
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Patent number: 11465514Abstract: A vehicle onboard power supply system, supplying a consumer with electrical energy, includes a first voltage detection device (55) detecting a voltage level in a line area (51) between an input terminal (34) of a first circuit breaker (26) and a first battery (16), a second voltage detection device (57) detecting the voltage level in a line area (53) between an input terminal (42) of a third circuit breaker (30) and a second battery (18), a third voltage detection device (58) detecting the voltage level in the area of a consumer connection line (12). An overvoltage detection device (62) detects an overvoltage in the area of the consumer connection line based on the voltage level detected by the third voltage detection device and switches the first circuit breaker and the third circuit breaker into open states when overvoltage is detected in the area of the consumer connection line.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Eberspächer Controls Esslingen GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Panagiotis Stogiannos, Michael Kriessl, Patrick Fritz
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Patent number: 11407319Abstract: An energy store (14a) has at least three energy storage sections (u, v, w) and at least two switching elements. Each energy storage sections (u, v, w) has multiple energy storage modules and each energy storage module has at least one energy storage element that receives and stores energy from an energy source (12). The energy store (14a) is connected to a first coil (50) so that a voltage induced in the first coil (50) is used to charge the energy storage elements. The energy store (14a) is matched to properties of the voltage provided by the first coil (50) by switching the switching elements. As a result, the energy storage modules of an energy storage section (u, v, w) are connected in parallel and/or in series with one another and/or at least one energy storage module of at least one energy storage section (u, v, w) is bypassed.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2018Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche AGInventors: Stefan Goetz, Hermann Helmut Dibos, Malte Jaensch, Eduard Specht, Christian Korte
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Patent number: 11322952Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing a homopolar generator charger with an integral rechargeable battery. A method is provided for converting rotational kinetic energy to electrical energy for charging one or more battery cells. The method can include rotating, by a shaft, a rotor in a magnetic flux field to generate current, wherein the rotor comprises an electrically conductive portion having an inner diameter conductive connection surface and an outer diameter conductive connection surface, and wherein a voltage potential is induced between the inner and outer diameter connection surfaces upon rotation in the magnetic flux field. The method can also include selectively coupling the generated current from the rotating rotor to terminals of the one or more battery cells.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2020Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: PREMERGY, INC.Inventor: Richard Edward Botts
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Patent number: 11322947Abstract: A power storage device 20 comprises: a plurality of power storage elements C1-C6 that are connected in series; energy transfer circuits 40 provided respectively to the plurality of power storage elements C1-C6; a common bus 50 to which the energy transfer circuits 40 of the plurality of power storage elements C1-C6 are commonly connected; and a control device 70. Each energy transfer circuit 40 includes one or a plurality of switching transformers Tr, each switching transformer having a first winding 41A that is connected to the power storage elements C1-C6 and a secondary winding 41B that is connected to the common bus 50. The control device 70 uses the switching transformers Tr of the energy transfer circuits 40 to transfer energy between the power storage elements via the common bus 50, thereby equalizing the voltages of the power storage elements C1-C6. The common bus 50 is in an electrically floating state.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2018Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd.Inventors: Jun Ikemoto, Hayato Tawa, Kazuyuki Kawamoto, Daisuke Konishi
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Patent number: 11248577Abstract: A vehicle power supply apparatus includes first and second power supply systems, an electrical conduction path, a switch, and a switch controller. The first power supply system includes a first electrical energy accumulator and an electric load. The second power supply system includes a generator and a second electrical energy accumulator. The switch is configured to be controlled to a turn-on state and a turn-off state. The turn-on state includes coupling the electric load and the second electrical energy accumulator to each other, and the turn-off state includes isolating them from each other. The switch controller controls the switch to the turn-on state on the condition that the generator has an abnormality, and afterwards controls the switch to the turn-off state.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2019Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventor: Takahiro Kinoshita
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Patent number: 11239684Abstract: An electronic device includes a first connection unit, a second connection unit, and a control unit. The control unit determines whether a first external device is connected to the first connection unit, and controls the electronic device to prevent charging of a battery connected to the first external device with power supplied from a second external device connected to the second connection unit, in a case where the first external device is connected to the first connection unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2019Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kento Inai
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Patent number: 11233407Abstract: A battery includes: a first terminal; a second terminal; a plurality of individually housed batteries; a plurality of switches configured to connect ones of the individually housed batteries to and from ones of the first and second terminals; and a switch control module configured to: at a frequency, vary a voltage applied to a gate of one of the switches, the one of the switches configured to connect at least one of the individually housed batteries to one of the first and second terminals; and diagnose whether a fault is present in the one of the switches based on a voltage across the one of the switches.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2019Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Lyall K. Winger, Dave G. Rich, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Chandra S. Namuduri
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Patent number: 11183926Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes an output-side storage capacitor arrangement which has a parallel circuit formed of an electrolytic capacitor, a ceramic capacitor and a circuit arrangement. The circuit arrangement has a series circuit formed of a hybrid electrolytic capacitor and a suppressor diode as well as a resistance connected in parallel with the hybrid electrolytic capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2018Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: CPT Group GmbHInventor: Anton Mayer-Dick
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Patent number: 11165261Abstract: A secondary battery protection circuit for protecting a secondary battery with multiple connected-in-parallel cells, includes a charging fault detection unit for each cell for prohibiting charging of the corresponding cell when overcharging and/or charging over-current for the corresponding cell is detected; a charging control element for each cell for cutting off a charging path for the corresponding cell when the charging of the corresponding cell is prohibited; a detection resistor for each cell inserted in series in the charging path; and a balance control unit for, in order to balance a first charging current flowing in a first charging path for a first cell with a second charging current flowing in a second charging path for a second cell, controlling a difference between the first and second charging currents in a saturation region of the charging control element based on a detection voltage generated by the detection resistor.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2018Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshihiro Motoichi, Iwao Kitamura
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Patent number: 11152854Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and circuits of a hybrid converter family that allows using a combination of a switched multiple capacitor network and a number of inductors in order to a power conversion from an input to an output that may require a large conversion ratio, high output current, low output voltage, and/or high input voltage. The disclosed circuits and methods can be applied to today's switching regulators and allow them to provide the same power conversion function with less number of power conversion stages, smaller passive components, and less number of active components, and therefore, reduce the implementation space to save cost as well as improve efficiency. Sample applications include, but are not limited to, point-of-load power converters for data centers, telecommunication systems and other high-performance electronic systems.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, A BODY CORPORATEInventors: Ratul Das, Hanh-Phuc Le, Gabsu Seo
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Patent number: 11152795Abstract: Systems and methods for providing federated power management in an electronic circuit. The methods comprise: performing first operations by a processing device to obtain information indicating a current level of charge for each of a plurality of capacitors which have been supplied energy from a power source; transforming, by the processing device, each capacitor's current level of charge into a number of service units for a respective electronic load device of a plurality of electronic load devices; determining, by the processing device, at least one of recharging priorities for the plurality of capacitors and discharging priorities for the plurality of capacitors at least based on the results of said transforming; and performing second operations by the processing device to cause the plurality of capacitors to be recharged in accordance with the recharging priorities or discharged in accordance with the discharging priorities.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2018Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEESInventors: Jason O. Hallstrom, Jiannan Zhai, Chancey Kelley, Michael Brown, Alexander Roscoe
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Patent number: 11095134Abstract: A modular battery storage system includes energy storage modules. A switch is assigned to individual energy storage modules, by which the respective energy storage module can be activated and deactivated. The energy storage modules can connect to one another by the switches such that the individual voltages of activated energy storage modules can be added up to form a total voltage. A method of operating the battery storage system ascertains at least one power value for each of the energy storage modules, the power value being characteristic of the power capacity of the energy storage module. A total voltage is generated by at least two energy storage modules being activated with a time overlap but over activation periods of different length. One of the activation periods of different length is assigned to each of the at least two energy storage modules depending on the ascertained at least one power value.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2018Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: VARTA Microbattery GmbHInventors: Martin Elmer, Alexander Hirnet, Dieter Kloos
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Patent number: 11063449Abstract: A plurality of electronic devices including batteries and being connected to each other may respectively include battery managing apparatuses that may enable the electronic devices to share power of the batteries included in the electronic devices, more particularly, battery managing apparatuses that may change a mode or a manner to connect the batteries to the electronic devices by comparing states of charge (SoCs) of the batteries.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2018Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Joon-Kee Cho, Jongwon Lee
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Patent number: 11005283Abstract: The present invention is directed to a battery charger for charging a battery pack. The battery charger includes a plurality of components including a power supply. The battery charger also includes a temperature sensor that senses the temperature of at least one of the plurality of battery charger components, for example a transformer. The battery charger power supply is adjusted based on the temperature of the at least one of the plurality of battery charger components.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2016Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Michael Cruz, Geoffrey S. Howard, Marc W. Mckinley, Andrew E. Seman, Jr., Daniel J. White, Brian K. Wohltmann
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Patent number: 10919469Abstract: A vehicle power supply apparatus includes first and second power supply systems, an electrical conduction path, first and second switches, and an abnormality determination unit. The first power supply system includes a first electrical energy accumulator and an electric load. The second power supply system includes a generator and a second electrical energy accumulator. The first switch is provided on the electrical conduction path between the first and second power supply systems. The second switch is provided in the second power supply system. The abnormality determination unit determines whether or not the generator is in an abnormal state, on the basis of a current of the first or second electrical energy accumulator, with the first switch or the second switch, or both turned on, and with a power generation command outputted to the generator.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2019Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventor: Takahiro Kinoshita
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Patent number: 10876510Abstract: A system for discharging or charging a capacitor of a hybrid vehicle according to the present disclosure includes a target state of charge (SOC) module and a capacitor charge/discharge module. The target SOC module determines a target state of charge of the capacitor based on a speed of the vehicle. The capacitor charge/discharge module determines whether a state of charge of a capacitor is greater than a target state of charge. The capacitor charge/discharge module dissipates power from the capacitor to at least one of a battery of the vehicle and an electrical load of the vehicle when the state of charge of the capacitor is greater than the target state of charge.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2017Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: GENTHERM INCORPORATEDInventors: Michael Peter Ciaccio, Brian Moorhead
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Patent number: 10804711Abstract: A battery pack and a method of inhibiting failure of a battery pack. The battery pack may generally include a housing; a battery cell supported in the housing and electrically connectable to an electrical device, power being transferrable between the battery cell and the electrical device; a resistor supported in the housing and operable to receive current from the battery cell; and an electronic processor configured to detect a failure condition of the battery pack, and, in response to detecting the failure condition of the battery pack, cause the battery cell to discharge through the resistor.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2018Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Samuel Sheeks, Jeffrey M. Brozek, Matthew J. Mergener, Ryan B. Jipp
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Patent number: 10741885Abstract: A method for autonomously interconnecting at least two battery banks in a drive system of a motor vehicle, the drive system comprising at least one electric motor, at least two battery banks, at least one traction system which can be supplied with power by at least one battery bank, and at least one DC/DC converter which can be connected to at least one battery bank. The battery banks can be interconnected with one another in series and/or in parallel and at least one battery bank can be bridged, wherein, during autonomous operation of the motor vehicle, respective interconnection of the at least two battery banks is automatically carried out within the drive system, depending on a respective operating state of the motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2018Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventors: Marcus Zacher, Marc Patt, Thomas Fritz
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Patent number: 10630101Abstract: A charging-discharging module of the energy storage unit is provided. The charging-discharging module of the energy storage unit includes a first energy storage unit; a second energy storage unit; a first switching unit electrically connected to a first terminal of the second energy storage unit; a selecting circuit electrically connected to a first terminal of the first energy storage unit and the first switching unit to selectively conduct the first energy storage unit or the second energy storage unit to a system circuit; and a processing unit electrically connected to the first switching unit. A charging and discharging method is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2017Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC.Inventors: Chang-Lin Hsieh, Yi-Ming Huang, Chien-Chung Lo, Wei-Chen Tu
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Patent number: 10587129Abstract: An electric power supply system includes a first battery provided in an electric power supply circuit; a second battery provided in the circuit and electrically connected in parallel to the first battery, the second battery being a lithium-ion battery; an electric load provided in the circuit and electrically connected in parallel to the first battery and the second battery; a switch provided in the circuit, and configured to electrically disconnect the second battery from the circuit when the switch is open; and a control device configured to open the switch when an ignition switch is on and an SOC of the first battery is equal to or higher than a prescribed SOC, and to execute an open-circuit voltage acquisition process that acquires an open-circuit voltage of the second battery after a lapse of a prescribed time from a time when the switch is opened.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2018Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ken Shirai
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Patent number: 10355497Abstract: In general, techniques are disclosed for providing short circuit protection to a battery pack having a number of battery cells, at least some of which are connected in parallel. Short circuit protection is provided by using pairs of electronic switches (e.g., integrated circuits consisting of a pair of transistors designed as battery charge/discharge switches) serially connected between one terminal of a battery cell and a battery pack's common node—a position which is upstream of conventional battery pack fault controllers. The state of all such switches may be controlled by a control unit that is also upstream of a conventional fault controller. The combination of switch pairs and control unit can provide a battery pack with over current (short circuit) protection without the use of thermal cutoff devises. The described devices and systems can also provide over voltage, under voltage and over temperature protection.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2016Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Karthik Kadirvel, Soundararajan Manthiri
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Patent number: 10355320Abstract: The power storage device includes a battery group in which n series circuits C1 (wherein n represents an integer of 2 or greater) are connected in parallel and a battery controller controlling a switching device based on allowable charge/discharge power of the capacitor. The series circuit C1 includes a capacitor and the switching device which are connected in parallel. The battery controller controls the switching device to maximize the allowable charge/discharge power of the battery group.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2015Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takeshi Fujita
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Patent number: 10320216Abstract: A battery assembly includes a battery having first and second electrodes and an electrolyte. A controller is operatively connected to the battery. The controller includes a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method for estimating a charge acceptance capability of the battery. Interaction of the electrolyte and at least one of the first and second electrodes produces a discharge product. The controller is programmed to quantize and track both accumulation and removal of the discharge product when at least one enabling condition is met. The controller is programmed to initialize a timer when the enabling condition is met and increment the timer by a calculation time interval (?t).Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2016Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC.Inventors: Brian J. Koch, Robert S. Conell
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Patent number: 10263299Abstract: An electrical system with replaceable batteries comprises an electrical system and a combined switch. The electrical system comprises a plurality of battery packs (1, 2, 3); all the battery packs are independently arranged each other; and an electric-quantity display device which is used for displaying the electric-quantity information indicating signals of the battery packs and a gear switch which is used for mutually switching the battery packs are arranged on the combined switch. Each battery pack comprises a battery (A1, A2, A3), a power switches (B1, B2, B3) and a battery management system (C1, C2, C3). The battery management systems receive and combine the output signals of the combined switches with the electric-quantity information indicating signals, thereby controlling whether the power switches are closed to provide power output or not.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2017Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: CHANGZHOU GLOBE CO., LTD.Inventors: Xian Zhuang, Yin Chen, Yi Liu, Lei Feng, Wenming Zhang
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Patent number: 10218188Abstract: Systems and methods for charging a plurality of battery strings are provided. The individual string current of each of the individual battery strings can be monitored and used to regulate a charging output provided by the charger. For instance, the output voltage of charger can be controlled as part of a closed loop control system based on the individual string current of the battery string under the constraint of an individual string current limit and/or a charging voltage limit. As the charging voltage of the charger increases as a result of the closed loop control based on the individual string current, other battery strings can be coupled to the charger when the charging voltage provided by the charger exceeds a battery string voltage associated with the battery string.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2017Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jiucai Zhang, Charles Clarence Hicks, Jr., Sam T. Liu, Robert A. Kaucic, Leng Mao
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Patent number: 10218037Abstract: A method for regenerating a nickel metal hydride battery is provided. The nickel metal hydride battery includes a hydrogen absorbing alloy that serves as a negative electrode material and a safety valve that opens when an internal pressure of a battery case is greater than or equal to a predetermined pressure. The method includes connecting a plurality of nickel metal hydride batteries in parallel. Each nickel metal hydride battery is formed by integrating one or more battery cells. The method further includes overcharging the nickel metal hydride batteries by supplying current from a charge unit that is connected in parallel to the nickel metal hydride batteries. The method further includes, when each nickel metal hydride battery is overcharged, restoring a discharge reserve of a negative electrode by releasing at least some of an oxygen gas generated at a positive electrode out of the battery case through the safety valve.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2017Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: PRIMEARTH EV ENERGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Daisuke Koba, Yasushi Nakagiri, Tamotsu Fukuma, Shinichiro Ito
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Electronic device having auxiliary battery embedded therein and method of charging auxiliary battery
Patent number: 10177590Abstract: An electronic device is provided including: a display for displaying a UI element; a processor for processing an application; a Printed Board Assembly (PBA) having the processor mounted thereon, and arranged to be substantially parallel to the display; a main battery which supplies power to the electronic device, and is rechargeable and detachable; an auxiliary battery for supplying power to the electronic device; a first frame which houses the main battery, fixes the PBA, and is arranged to be substantially parallel to the display; a second frame for fixing the display and the first frame; and a cover coupled to the second frame, wherein the first frame includes a hole for housing the auxiliary battery, and the electronic device can receive power supplied from the auxiliary battery when power supply from the main battery is terminated.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2016Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hyun-Suk Kwak, Myung-Sik Kim, Young-Chul Ko, Chang-Yeong Kim, June-Hee Lee, So-Won Kim, Yang-Wook Kim -
Patent number: 10110033Abstract: A metric is received for each battery sub-module in a plurality of battery sub-modules in order to obtain a plurality of metrics associated with the plurality of battery sub-modules. One or more battery sub-modules are selected from the plurality of battery sub-modules to electrically connect to a common power bus. The selected battery sub-modules are configured so that the selected battery sub-modules are electrically connected to the common power bus. The selected battery sub-modules that are electrically connected to the common power bus are charged.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2018Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Kitty Hawk CorporationInventors: Lewis Romeo Hom, Brian Robert Viele, Scott Furman
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Patent number: 10024292Abstract: An electric starting system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The starting system includes a rechargeable battery including two voltage output terminals and an enable terminal, a battery receiver including a battery receptacle configured to receive the rechargeable battery, two voltage output terminals, and an enable terminal, a starter motor configured to start the internal combustion engine, and a continuous duty electrical load. The voltage output terminals of the lithium-ion battery and the battery receiver are configured to connect to complete a circuit between the rechargeable battery and the continuous duty electrical load when the rechargeable battery is attached to the battery receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2018Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Robert Koenen, Matthew Markowski, Michael Meyer, James Nommensen
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Patent number: 9985447Abstract: Provided is a battery device high in safety and ease of use, which has no difficulty in returning to a normal state after discharge overcurrent is detected. The battery device includes a first charge/discharge control device including a first charge/discharge control transistor, and a first charge/discharge control circuit configured to detect the voltage of a secondary battery to control charging and discharging; a second charge/discharge control device including a second charge/discharge control transistor connected to an external terminal via the first charge/discharge control transistor, and a second charge/discharge control circuit configured to detect the voltage of the secondary battery to control charging and discharging; and a switch circuit arranged between an overcurrent detection terminal of the second charge/discharge control circuit and the external terminal. The switch circuit is turned on with a discharge stopping signal of the second charge/discharge control circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2016Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: ABLIC INC.Inventor: Fumihiko Maetani
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Patent number: 9876376Abstract: A multiple battery charger is provided. The multiple battery charger includes an input unit configured to receive or block power from a power supply unit, an output unit including a plurality of output terminals, wherein the plurality of output terminals are commonly connected to the input unit and charge a plurality of batteries, and wherein each of the plurality of output terminals includes at least one of a plurality of second switches for a selective receipt of the power from the input unit and the plurality of output terminals are controlled in a time division multiple control manner, and a switching control unit configured to transmit a pulse width modulation signal to the input unit and the output unit so as to independently control the power applied to the plurality of batteries. Accordingly, a plurality of different kinds of batteries and the same kind of batteries in which charge states are different can be simultaneously charged.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2014Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: FOUNDATION OF SOONGSIL UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY COOPERATIONInventors: Woojin Choi, Long Tran Van
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Patent number: 9851412Abstract: A method for performance analysis and use management of a battery module is disclosed, wherein the battery module includes a multitude of interconnected battery cells and a battery management system with a plurality of dedicated analysis/control units (ACUs) that analyze performance of the battery module, the ACUs being assigned to individual battery cells and/or battery blocks of battery module. The method includes measuring current and voltage of one or more of an individual battery cell and a battery block; calculating a charge removal from the one or more of the individual battery cell and the battery block; calculating a loading charge of the one or more of the individual battery cell and the battery block; determining the remaining charge of the one or more of the individual battery cell and the battery block; and failure monitoring of the one or more of the individual battery cell and the battery block.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2011Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Michael Haag, Rainer K. Krause, Thorsten Muehge, Joerg Weyerhaeuser
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Patent number: 9728984Abstract: An insulation rib is provided above a charging circuit and a plurality of heat radiation ribs are provided on the left side of the charging circuit. A space part is formed by the insulation rib. Little of the heat generated by the charging circuit is transferred to an upper sidewall portion of a case main body portion due to a heat insulation effect of the space part. Further, heat generated by the charging circuit is likely to be transferred to a left sidewall portion of the case main body portion due to a high heat dissipation effect of the heat radiation ribs. In this way, the generation of locally heated areas in the case main body portion can be reduced through balancing of the flow of heat generated by the charging circuit.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2014Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATIONInventor: Hironori Ogura
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Patent number: 9694708Abstract: A battery assembly mounted on a hybrid electric vehicle is provided that prevents thermal runaway caused by overcharging. The battery assembly includes a battery having a plurality of cells and a protection switch disposed opposite to the battery. A relay is configured to turn on or off according to an operation of the protection switch and a PRA (power relay assembly) is connected between the relay and the battery.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2014Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Yooncheol Jeon, Jeong Hun Seo, Yongjin Lee, Hae Kyu Lim, Jin Ho Park, Jun Seok Choi, Jun Ho Bang
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Patent number: 9685796Abstract: A current equalizer is provided for first and second battery elements connected in parallel to supply a DC link. A first constant resistance carries a first current from the first battery element to the DC link. A first variable resistance is connected in parallel with the first constant resistance. A second constant resistance carries a second current from the second battery element to the DC link. A second variable resistance is connected in parallel with the second constant resistance. A balancer inversely adjusts the first and second variable resistances in response to relative magnitudes of the first and second currents. As a result, the total currents supplied from each battery element to the DC link are equalized because the effective total resistance in series with each battery element compensates for the difference in the internal battery resistances.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2015Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventor: Eric Poirier
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Patent number: 9627897Abstract: Systems and methods for charging a plurality of battery strings are provided. The individual string current of each of the individual battery strings can be monitored and used to regulate a charging output provided by the charger. For instance, the output voltage of charger can be controlled as part of a closed loop control system based on the individual string current of the battery string under the constraint of an individual string current limit and/or a charging voltage limit. As the charging voltage of the charger increases as a result of the closed loop control based on the individual string current, other battery strings can be coupled to the charger when the charging voltage provided by the charger exceeds a battery string voltage associated with the battery string.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2014Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jiucai Zhang, Charles Clarence Hicks, Jr., Sam T. Liu, Robert A. Kaucic, Leng Mao