With Charging Patents (Class 320/128)
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Patent number: 9880207Abstract: Disclosed herein is a detector that detects precision in charging current of a battery cell charging and discharging device, the detector including an instrument unit and a power supply unit, wherein the instrument unit includes a housing formed in a box shape open at a top thereof and a plurality of voltage measurement parts including a pair of connection terminals mounted at opposite sides of the housing inside the housing to detect precision in current of the charging and discharging device, the connection terminals being electrically connected to the power supply unit, and shunt resistance parts to apply uniform resistance to the respective connection terminals, and the power supply unit includes a charging and discharging device to supply current to the voltage measurement parts and to charge and discharge a battery cell and a multi-meter to measure current and voltage of the shunt resistance parts.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2014Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.Inventors: Joon Sang Ko, Sang Wook Kang, Jae Dong Chang, Do Hun Kim, Hyang Mok Lee
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Patent number: 9873343Abstract: A power storage system having a power storage device configured to be charged and discharged, a boost circuit and a controller, and a method of controlling the temperature of the power storage device are provided. The boost circuit includes a reactor and switching devices, and boosts the output voltage of the power storage device when the switching devices are driven. The controller alternately performs a charging operation to supply electric power from an external power supply to the power storage device, and a temperature elevating operation to warm up the power storage device, using ripple current generated when the switching devices are driven.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2013Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Takashi Murata
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Patent number: 9870859Abstract: The present invention provides a wireless power supply system in which a remote device is provided with different control methodologies depending on one or more factors. One type of wireless power supply can selectively control one or more remote devices according to a first control methodology and another type of wireless power supply can control the remote device according to a second control methodology. In one embodiment, a wireless power supply system is provided for wirelessly powering a display circuit in a product located at a point of display differently than when charging at a point of use, or when the device is in use. In another embodiment, a wireless power supply is programmed to operate a remote device according to a primary control methodology and the remote device is programmed to operate the remote device according to a secondary control methodology where the remote device includes circuitry for enabling the primary control methodology instead of the secondary control methodology.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2013Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Inventors: Richard J. Weber, Joseph C. Van Den Brink, Kaitlyn J. Turner, Benjamin C. Moes, Neil W. Kuyvenhoven, Sean T. Eurich, David W. Baarman, Scott J. Anderson, Scott A. Tiedemann, Carolyn E. Johnson
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Patent number: 9857429Abstract: A device for determining at least one range of a battery characteristic curve for a battery in a vehicle, having a measuring device for measuring battery parameters, and an analysis unit including a device for determining the current state of charge (SOC) of the battery from the measured battery parameters, a device for determining a shift value (VW) from the difference of a measured battery parameter and a standard value derived from a standard battery characteristic curve considering the determined state of charge (SOC), and a device for determining at least one range of a new battery characteristic curve by adding the shift value (VW) to the standard battery characteristic curve.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2011Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventor: Armin Daiss
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Patent number: 9859737Abstract: A method and an apparatus for performing charging port detection control are provided, where the method is applied to an electronic device, a communication port of the electronic device has a functionality of obtaining power from an external power source for the electronic device, and a power path switching unit of the electronic device is arranged to control electrical connection between a system within the electronic device and a battery of the electronic device. The method may include the steps of: performing charging port detection; and control operation(s) according to the charging port detection. For example, the method may include: controlling the power path switching unit to have different configuration according to the charging port detection in order to charge the battery with different charging profiles; and detecting the system voltage level during charging for switching from the constant current mode to the constant voltage mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: MediaTek Inc.Inventors: Pi-Fen Chen, Chih-Yuan Hsu, Hung-I Wang
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Patent number: 9851407Abstract: The invention relates to a power management system for supplying backup DC power to peak and/or high current demand battery applications, such as motor starting or an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) used to power a critical load, such as, a data bus or other critical load, after an event, such as loss of primary AC or DC input, during relatively cold ambient temperatures. Two or more heaters can be provided; for example, a low power heater and a high-power heater. In a maintenance mode, the low power heater is used to maintain batteries at a predetermined temperature. In this mode, a battery charger is used to power the low power heater. In a boost mode, after the primary AC or DC input is restored, and battery temperature is too low to back up the critical load, the battery charger supplies power to one or both of the heaters.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2015Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: ICC-NEXERGY, INC.Inventors: Joseph Keating, I, Chris Turner, Robert F. Wentink, Tai-Guang Huang
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Patent number: 9853467Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for overcurrent protection in a battery charger. In certain embodiments, a method includes turning on an adapter switch to receive electrical power from an adapter connected to the battery charger; controlling a switching regulator to direct electrical current between the switching regulator and a battery port. Further, the method includes sensing a voltage drop that is related to the electrical current passing between the switching regulator and the battery port; comparing the sensed voltage drop against at least one reference voltage; and, when the sensed voltage exceeds the reference voltage, changing operation of the adapter switch to protect the battery charger from an overcurrent state.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2015Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: INTERSIL AMERICAS LLCInventors: John Stuart Kleine, Lei Zhao, Jia Wei
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Patent number: 9846202Abstract: A degradation estimation method system of a high voltage battery is provided that detect degradation of a battery. The degradation estimation method includes obtaining, by a controller, information about an input voltage, an input current and an external temperature of a slow charger. The controller is configured to calculate an output power used for charging the battery, based on an input power calculated based on the input voltage and the input current. In addition, the method includes calculating, by the controller, a mean charging current based on the output power and the battery charging voltage and calculating a battery degradation degree based on the mean charging current.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2013Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventor: Woo Sung Kim
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Patent number: 9846479Abstract: A device comprising a processor, an energy source, one or more sensors, a wireless transceiver and a memory. The memory may comprise instructions for selecting one of a plurality of modes of operation. The modes of operation may comprise (i) a low-power mode in which the device consumes less than a pre-determined or an adaptively-determined amount of power and the device has less than full functionality and (ii) a high-power mode in which the device consumes more than the pre-determined or the adaptively-determined amount of power and the device has more functionality than in the low-power mode. The instructions for selecting one of the modes of operation may comprise (i) instructions for conserving power by transitioning from the high-power mode to the low-power mode and (ii) instructions for activating the wireless transceiver to transmit a message with information from the sensors to a remote device.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2015Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: Invent.ly, LLCInventors: Stephen J. Brown, Daylyn M. Meade, Timothy P. Flood, Clive A. Hallatt, Holden D. Jessup
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Patent number: 9834103Abstract: A vehicle emits a first signal when the vehicle moves after reception of electric power from an electric power transmission device by an electric power reception device is completed and when a preparatory condition for the vehicle to move is satisfied after reception of electric power from the electric power transmission device by the electric power reception device is completed. When a charging station receives the first signal, the charging station emits a second signal notifying that a state allows charging.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2015Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shinji Ichikawa, Satoshi Taniguchi
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Patent number: 9837835Abstract: An electronic device. The electronic device may include a battery, and a charging system in electronic communication with the battery. The charging system may be configured to charge at least a partially-depleted battery to a threshold charge value, discontinue the charging in response to the battery being charged to the threshold charge value, and monitor the function of the electronic device to detect at least one of an anticipated event, and an unanticipated event of the electronic device. Additionally the charging system may be configured to recharge the battery in response to detecting one of: the anticipated event occurring a predetermined time subsequent to the recharging of the battery, or the unanticipated event occurring immediately before the recharging of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2016Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Stephen P. Zadesky, Hongli Dai
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Patent number: 9837843Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an energy storage system are provided. In one embodiment, an energy storage system can include a plurality of energy storage units and a plurality of buses. The energy storage system can further include a control system that can be configured to receive one or more signals indicative of a voltage associated with each energy storage unit of the plurality of energy storage units. The control system can be configured to send one or more command signal to selectively couple each energy storage unit to one of the plurality of buses based at least on the voltage associated with the energy storage unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2015Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Lukas Mercer Hansen
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Patent number: 9827971Abstract: A vehicle is a hybrid vehicle including an engine driven by fuel, and the vehicle includes a motor-generator driven by electric power and a charge plug to which a connector is removably connected, the charge plug being capable of at least one of being supplied with electric power from the connector and supplying electric power to the connector. An engine is arranged to be offset toward one side surface and the charge plug is provided in the other side surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2011Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Naoto Suzuki
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Patent number: 9831696Abstract: A power supply controller includes: a processor configured to control a power supply of an information processing apparatus having a plurality of batteries, wherein the processor determines residual capacities of the plurality of batteries and preferentially charges a first battery of the plurality of batteries, the first battery having a residual capacity which is equal to or below a transition-allowable residual capacity that allows a transition of the information processing apparatus from a first mode to a second mode.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2015Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventor: Satoshi Iida
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Patent number: 9825461Abstract: A modular direct current power distribution network includes a first power distribution block including a first housing, a first main power storage device enclosed within the housing, a first plurality of device connection ports in the housing, and at least one first transistor controlling the connection from the first main power storage device to the first plurality of device connection ports, at least one external device, the at least one external device having a power exchange port electrically connected to a device connection port of the first plurality of device connection ports and an individual power storage device electrically connected to the power exchange port, and a first controller configured to sense a load sharing threshold event matching a load sharing threshold, and to modify the state of the at least one first transistor in response to the load sharing threshold condition.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2015Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Inventors: Todd W Hodrinsky, Roger Whyte, Phil Ameen, Li Peifang
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Patent number: 9825480Abstract: An apparatus for performing hybrid power control in an electronic device includes a charger positioned in the electronic device, and the charger is arranged for selectively charging a battery of the electronic device. In addition, at least one portion of the charger is implemented within a charger chip. For example, the charger may include: a first terminal, positioned on the charger chip; a second terminal, positioned on the charger chip and selectively coupled to the first terminal; a third terminal, positioned on the charger chip and selectively coupled to the second terminal; a fourth terminal, positioned on the charger chip and coupled to the third terminal; a first power output path, coupled to the fourth terminal, arranged for providing a first voltage level; and a second power output path, coupled to the third terminal, arranged for selectively providing a second voltage level that is greater than the first voltage level.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2015Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.Inventor: Nien-Hui Kung
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Patent number: 9812878Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for dynamic current redistribution. Example methods may include determining that a power source is in communication with a first battery, determining that a second battery is in communication with the first battery, and charging the first battery at a first charging current value. Example methods may include charging the second battery at a second charging current value, determining that an input voltage from the power source is equal to or greater than a voltage threshold, and charging the second battery at a third charging current value that is higher than the second charging current value.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2015Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Marcel Colman Eric Stieber, Thomas Gang Wang, Vidhyananth Ramasamy Venkatasamy
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Patent number: 9812866Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling power flow to and from an energy storage system are provided. One energy storage system includes an energy storage device and a bidirectional inverter configured to control a flow of power into or out of the energy storage device. The energy storage system further includes a controller configured to control the bidirectional inverter based on one or more signals received from the generator set coupled to the inverter via an AC bus. The controller is configured to, based on the one or more signals, control the bidirectional inverter to store power generated by the generator set in the energy storage device and transmit power from the energy storage device to a load driven by the generator set to maintain the generator set within a range of one or more operating conditions.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2015Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: CUMMINS POWER GENERATION IP, INC.Inventors: Michelle Hunt, Elias M. Ayana, Bradford K. Palmer
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Patent number: 9813118Abstract: A method of configuring a network of a power transmitting unit (PTU) includes determining whether a neighboring PTU is operating in a master mode; determining an operation mode of a PTU based on a result of the determining; and setting a network between the PTU and the neighboring PTU based on the operation mode of the PTU.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2014Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nam Yun Kim, Hyuk Choon Kwon, Sang Wook Kwon, Chi Hyung An, Soo Yeon Jung, Hee Won Jung
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Patent number: 9806525Abstract: An energy storage system is provided. The energy storage system including a battery includes a battery management system (BMS) monitoring a battery state of the battery and controlling charging and discharging operations of the battery; and a power condition system (PCS) determining a desired control value of the battery, obtaining power market adjustment rule information on a power market including the energy storage system, calculating a deadband value for the desired control value based on the obtained power market adjustment rule information, and controlling the BMS controlling the charging and discharging operations of the battery based on the calculated deadband value for the desired control value and the monitored battery state.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2015Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.Inventor: Jae Seong Shim
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Patent number: 9799907Abstract: A redox membrane based flow fuel cell includes a reducing agent solution compartment with an inlet and outlet to supply reducing agent solution and an oxidation agent solution compartment with an inlet and outlet to supply oxidation agent solution. A barrier separating the compartments consists of a water-insoluble synthetic metal polymer membrane lacking any separate electrode on surfaces of the membrane and being exposed directly to the solutions. A current collection electrode is in each of the compartments and is disposed to convert ion- to electron-based currents. The current collection electrodes can be reference electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Inventor: Nikolai M. Kocherginsky
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Patent number: 9800081Abstract: A wireless power transmitter that includes a power transmitting module, a communication module and a processing module is provided. The power transmitting module provides a wireless power to a wireless power receiver. The processing module receives a first request message from a remote mobile device through the communication module to request charging information of the wireless power receiver, determines whether the charging information is available, transmits available information to the remote mobile device under a condition that at least first part of the charging information is available, receives provided information from the wireless power receiver through the communication module under a condition that at least second part of the charging information is not available, and transmits the provided information through the communication module to the remote mobile device.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: HTC CorporationInventor: Feng-Seng Chu
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Patent number: 9783070Abstract: A charge transfer system includes an on-board vehicle motor system and a plug in supply. The on-board vehicle motor system includes a first motor including a plurality of stator windings, a second motor including a plurality of stator windings, a first inverter having a plurality of switch legs, a second inverter having a plurality of switch legs, a controller, and an on-board power supply. The plug-in supply is connected between at least one switch leg of the first inverter and at least one switch leg of the second inverter. The controller modulates the switch legs of the first and second inverters such that electric current flows through at least one stator winding of the first or second motor to charge the on-board power supply. The current flow can also alternate in phase with plug-in supply polarity to produce a stable stator flux vector angle preventing motor rotation during charge transfer.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2014Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Jabil Circuit, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey David Danner
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Patent number: 9766276Abstract: A method and system are described herein for detecting a capacity for a power adapter. An example of a method includes detecting an increase in power consumption by a computing device attached to the power adapter. The method can also include detecting a droop in voltage received from the power adapter. Additionally, the method can include storing the current that corresponds with the droop.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2013Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Alexander B. Uan-Zo-Li, Xiaoguo Liang, Rajiv K. Mongia, Matthew D. Coakley
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Patent number: 9766296Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for correcting a voltage sensor. Because a plurality of battery racks are electrically connected to a power storage apparatus in parallel, a voltage sensor connected to each of the battery racks can be influenced by the voltage of other adjacent battery racks when measuring the voltage of each of the battery racks. Therefore, after electrically connecting only one battery rack to the voltage sensor, the voltage value measured by the corresponding voltage sensor is corrected.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2014Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.Inventor: Hyun-Chul Lee
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Patent number: 9769948Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply system includes a plurality of functional modules interconnected to form a power distribution network coupling at least two power sources to a load. Each functional module has at least two ports coupled to at least one other of the functional modules and/or to at least one other external device and includes a control circuit configured to autonomously control at least one function relating to electrical power transfer between the at least two ports. The system further includes a controller module configured to communicate with each of the functional modules over at least one digital communication link to control power flow between the at least two power sources and the load.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2014Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventor: William Douglas Welch, Jr.
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Patent number: 9768630Abstract: A battery charging circuit includes a power management IC, a controller, and a feedback circuit. The power management IC is configured to manage the power charging to a battery. The controller is configured to provide a preset value of current and a preset value of voltage. The feedback circuit is coupled to the power management IC and the controller and the battery. The feedback circuit compares the preset value of current with a charging current to the battery, and compares the preset value of voltage with a charging voltage to the battery to obtain results of comparison, and provides a feedback signal to the power management IC according to the comparisons. The power management IC decreases or increases power output upon the comparisons.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2015Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventor: Yu-Hu Yan
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Patent number: 9768634Abstract: The invention essentially relates to a facility for charge current control of storage units in an electrical energy supply grid including, among others, distributed generators and distributed storage units, in which a logic unit is present such that, a storage charge current value can be determined for the storage unit as a function of control variables transferred via a communication system of measurement variables determined at the storage and of locally held internal control variables. This represents an important component for achieving the optimum possible overall utilization of the distributed and multiple-use energy storage.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2012Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Caterva GmbhInventors: Kolja Eger, Roland Gersch, Joerg Heuer, Martin Winter
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Patent number: 9755441Abstract: Improved handling of battery recognition tasks in an electronic device such as a cell phone, smart phone, computer system, recording device or others is facilitated. Recognition of a battery so as to enable exchange of power between the device and the battery is determined by a match between one of a plurality of number strings stored in the device and the decrypted response to an encrypted challenge derived from the one of stored number string.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Kenneth Scott Seethaler, Randall Scott Springfield
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Patent number: 9744369Abstract: Implantable devices and/or sensors can be wirelessly powered by controlling and propagating electromagnetic waves in a patient's tissue. Such implantable devices/sensors can be implanted at target locations in a patient, to stimulate areas such as the heart, brain, spinal cord, or muscle tissue, and/or to sense biological, physiological, chemical attributes of the blood, tissue, and other patient parameters. The propagating electromagnetic waves can be generated with sub-wavelength structures configured to manipulate evanescent fields outside of tissue to generate the propagating waves inside the tissue. Methods of use are also described.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2016Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Ada Shuk Yan Poon, Alexander Jueshyan Yeh, Yuji Tanabe, John Ho, Sanghoek Kim
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Patent number: 9742217Abstract: A charge control apparatus has a charger for charging a battery with rectified power obtained by rectifying AC power supplied from a power supply by full-wave rectification or half-wave rectification as charge power, a sensor for detecting a state of the battery, and controller for setting voltage lower than a limit voltage of the battery as an upper limit charge voltage chargeable to the battery. The controller manages the power chargeable to the battery on a basis of a detected value of the sensor and the upper limit charge voltage, controls the charge power on a basis of the chargeable power, sets the upper limit charge voltage to first upper limit charge voltage when the charge power is higher than a predetermined threshold value, and sets the upper limit charge voltage to second upper limit charge voltage when the charge power is lower than the threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2014Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yoshimasa Toki
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Patent number: 9731611Abstract: A vehicle capable of being externally charged, in which a vehicle-mounted power storage device is charged using electric power supplied from a charging cable external to the vehicle, an ECU executes a smart verification process for communicating with an electronic key located within a prescribed verification range and verifying whether the electronic key is an authorized user's key or not, when it is detected that a user has operated a switch for locking the charging cable. When smart verification is impossible, the ECU executes a noise suppression process caused by external charging, and executes the smart verification process during the noise suppression process. When it is determined by the smart verification process during the noise suppression process that smart verification is possible, the ECU switches a state of a lock mechanism of the charging cable.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2014Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Koichi Kojima
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Patent number: 9727115Abstract: A device comprising a processor, an energy source, one or more sensors, a wireless transceiver and a memory. The memory may comprise instructions for selecting one of a plurality of modes of operation. The modes of operation may comprise (i) a low-power mode in which the device consumes less than a pre-determined or an adaptively-determined amount of power and the device has less than full functionality and (ii) a high-power mode in which the device consumes more than the pre-determined or the adaptively-determined amount of power and the device has more functionality than in the low-power mode. The instructions for selecting one of the modes of operation may comprise (i) instructions for conserving power by transitioning from the high-power mode to the low-power mode and (ii) instructions for activating the wireless transceiver to transmit a message with information from the sensors to a remote device.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2015Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: Invent.ly, LLCInventors: Stephen J. Brown, Daylyn M. Meade, Timothy P. Flood, Clive A. Hallatt, Holden D. Jessup
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Patent number: 9726135Abstract: A snowthrower includes an internal combustion engine and a starter battery pack that provides electrical power to operate an electric starter motor. The starter battery pack is received within a receptacle of the snowthrower and is selectively coupled to the starter motor to initiate operation of the internal combustion engine. The starter battery pack can further include a battery heating circuit that is operable to heat the starter battery pack above ambient temperatures to increase the current output of the starter battery pack. The battery heating circuit includes a controller that utilizes electrical power from the starter battery pack to heat the starter battery pack.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2015Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Dale Van Patten, Jason Andrew Hansen
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Patent number: 9722236Abstract: Some embodiments provide energy storage systems that comprise: a first electrode; a second electrode; an electrolyte; the first electrode, the second electrode and the electrolyte are positioned such that the electrolyte is in contact with at least the first electrode; and a polarity reversal system electrically coupled with the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the polarity reversal system is configured to allow the energy storage system to operate while a first polarity to charge and discharge electrical energy while operating in the first polarity, and the polarity reversal system is configured to reverse the voltage polarity across the first and second electrodes to a second polarity to allow the energy storage system to continue to operate while the second polarity is established across the first electrode and the second electrode to continue to charge and discharge electrical energy while operating in the second polarity.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: General AtomicsInventor: Aaron J. Sathrum
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Patent number: 9705502Abstract: An electrical system can selectively power a load via a USB connection or via another power source, such as a wireless power transfer path. An integrated switch controller determines whether to power the load via the USB connection or the other power sources and controls two external transistors via a single I/O pin connection to implement that determination. The switch controller determines the greater of two voltages: a voltage associated with the USB connection and a voltage associated with the other power source. The switch controller also determines whether there is a valid USB connection. The switch controller circuitry that controls the two external transistors is powered at the greater voltage to ensure that the external transistors are appropriately and securely turned on or off.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2014Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: NXP USA, INC.Inventors: Yang Wang, Jie Jin, Jianzhou Wu
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Patent number: 9698613Abstract: A non-limiting example charging stand comprises a main body that includes an outer side member and the inner side member. The inner side member has an inserting portion for inserting a portable game apparatus. The inserting portion is set with a depth that hides a portion of a hinge but does not hide a cover constituting a part of a housing of the portable game apparatus when inserting the folded portable game apparatus in a vertical orientation. Accordingly, when viewing the portable game apparatus inserted in the charging stand from the front, it is possible to see a color, a pattern or an image of character that is applied to the cover. At this time, a color, a pattern or an image of character that is applied to an outer circumference surface (front) of the charging stand can be also seen.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazunori Koshiishi, Yuko Zenri, Hideto Matoba, Shinji Hirose, Akihiro Yoshikawa, Kumpei Fujita
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Patent number: 9694707Abstract: Systems and methods for electric vehicle battery systems with replaceable parallel electric vehicle battery modules are described herein. The electric vehicle battery system includes a plurality of electric vehicle battery modules connected in parallel. Each electric vehicle battery module includes a battery. Each electric vehicle battery module can also include a balancing circuit in electrical communication with a current path from the battery to an electric vehicle battery module output node. Each electric vehicle battery module also may have a current sensor in electromagnetic communication with the current path between the battery and the balancing circuit. The current sensor can be configured to sense a current level between the battery and the balancing circuit. The balancing circuit can be configured to balance the current level sensed by the current sensor of each electric vehicle battery module.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2016Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Ample Inc.Inventor: Louis J. Shrinkle
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Patent number: 9678163Abstract: A system for determining battery characteristics based on differential current monitoring includes a first battery; a second battery, the second battery being connected in parallel with the first battery; and a differential current measurement module comprising at least one current measuring device, the differential current measurement module being configured to determine a differential current associated with the first battery and the second battery. A method for determining battery characteristics based on differential current monitoring includes determining a differential current associated with a first battery and a second battery, the first battery being connected in parallel with the second battery.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2012Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: TIAX LLCInventors: Christopher H. McCoy, David Ofer
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Patent number: 9680318Abstract: Described is an energy share pack comprising a housing, at least one energy storage component within the housing, at least one energy conversion component within the housing, and a connection point for connecting to more than one of energy users, energy sources and other energy share packs simultaneously for sharing energy. The energy share pack may have an energy generation component for generating harvestable energy, and two or more ports of any combination of the following types: bidirectional power port, bidirectional USB port, unidirectional output power port, and unidirectional input power port. The share pack ports may operate simultaneously at different voltage levels, and at least one port may be bi-directional. Furthermore, the share packs may have an integrated display for providing information on the energy share pack in which the display is integrated and information about other energy share packs connected thereto.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2013Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Revision Military S.a.r.l.Inventors: Steve Carkner, Len Donais, Eric Lanoue
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Patent number: 9669723Abstract: An electronic storage module includes a plurality of batteries, a primary monitoring circuit configured to detect an operating state of the plurality of batteries, a microcontroller unit connected to the primary monitoring circuit via a primary communication path, and a secondary monitoring circuit connected to the microcontroller unit via a secondary communication path. The secondary monitoring circuit is configured to detect the operating state of the plurality of batteries when a determination is made of an abnormality in the primary communication path, or an abnormality in the operating state of the primary monitoring circuit.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2013Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Naoyuki Sugeno, Morihiko Sato, Koji Umetsu
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Patent number: 9667083Abstract: A battery management method and apparatus. In one embodiment of the method, a source current is divided into Ic and Icr. Ic is transmitted to and charges a battery. A first voltage is generated that is related to Icr. The first voltage is converted into a first digital signal. A processing unit receives and processes the first digital signal in accordance with instructions stored in a memory. The transmission of Ic to the battery is interrupted in response to the processing unit processing the first digital signal. Current provided by the battery is divided into Idc and Idcr. Idc is transmitted to a device. A second voltage is generated that is related to Idcr. The second voltage is converted into a second digital signal. The processing unit receives and processes the second digital signal in accordance with instructions stored in the memory. The transmission of Idc to the battery is interrupted in response to the processing unit processing the second digital signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2014Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Renesas Electronics America Inc.Inventors: Tetsuo Sato, Tsutomu Kawano, Koji Kashimoto, Takao Hidaka, Tsuyoshi Ota, Ryoji Kato
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Patent number: 9662996Abstract: A method determines the remaining range of a motor vehicle which has an energy store for an electric motor drive which acts the wheels of the motor vehicle. Consumption values which describe the current consumption of the drive and of a secondary consumer are determined using a sensor. A drive prediction value which is assigned to the drive and describes the consumption over a predetermined distance is determined from the consumption values of the drive. A secondary consumption prediction value which is assigned to the secondary consumers and describes the consumption over a predetermined distance is determined separately from the consumption values of the secondary consumers, and the remaining range is determined for a distance which is to be travelled by the motor vehicle and is described by the route data, by taking into account the drive prediction value and the secondary consumption prediction value.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2012Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: AUDI AGInventors: Michael Klimesch, Andreas Lamprecht, Sascha Kulnick
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Patent number: 9653929Abstract: A battery charging apparatus and charging method thereof are disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a battery including a battery pack including at least one battery cell, a battery management system (BMS) configured to control the generation of a terminal voltage based on a type of the battery pack, and a terminal unit including electrodes configured to receive the terminal voltage. The apparatus further includes a charger including a controller configured to determine the type of the battery pack based on the terminal voltage and control the generation of a charging voltage corresponding to the type of the battery pack.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2014Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jae-Woo Kam, Hiroaki Takechi, Won-Chull Han
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Patent number: 9647472Abstract: Circuitry and methods to “capture”, recover, store and/or use electrical energy output and/or generated by the battery/cell as discharge signals of a charging sequence/operation. Such electrical energy may then be “reused” by the charging circuitry or system and/or in the system powered by the battery/cell and/or external to the charging circuitry or battery/cell. The energy output and/or generated by the battery/cell in response to discharge signals of a charging sequence/operation may (1) supply energy to the associated system being powered by the battery, (2) supply charge current to the same battery/cell or another battery/cell, (3) supply charge to one or more cells in a multiple cell battery pack that are at a lower voltage than the other cells, (4) store the charge in a different charge storing device (e.g., a capacitor and/or second battery), and/or (5) heat a battery/cell to improve charging performance.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Qnovo Inc.Inventors: Fred Berkowitz, Nadim Maluf, Dania Ghantous
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Patent number: 9640993Abstract: A control unit with data analyzer is connected to database and configured to receive user inputs such as time driven mode, supply driven mode and automatic mode and operate the system with respect to the selected mode, tariff opted and user input commands, and signals the storage unit to get charged from the input source or to supply power to all the lines or to the selected lines from storage unit. The control unit during the time when energy prices are less, signals to charge the storage unit and supplies power to all appliances through the input source and during the time when energy prices are more, signals to shut off the non critical loads and utilize the charged power from storage unit to selected lines.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2013Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SASInventor: Rohit Pai
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Patent number: 9623764Abstract: A charging and discharging system of a vehicle storage device utilizes a buffer device adapted for voltage adjustment toward a charging voltage of a charging device on the vehicle, and also for adjusting the charging current, in such a way that the charging voltage and current from the charging device may be reduced in advance for charging the storage device. With the charging and discharging system, storage device using lithium ion battery cell may be adapted to various vehicle system.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Simplo Technology Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kuo-Hua Chiu, Chih-Hong Lin, Chih-Hao Kan
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Patent number: 9623762Abstract: A method for dynamically charging an electrically powered apparatus includes receiving a selection of a charging mode from a user, such that the selected charging mode is a fast charging mode or a slow charging mode. The method also includes dynamically scheduling a charging mode for charging the apparatus according to the selected charging mode and a status of a fast charging module, and electrically charging the apparatus according to the dynamically scheduled charging mode.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2014Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: LG CNS CO., LTD.Inventor: Doo Il Park
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Patent number: 9627901Abstract: A charging circuit includes a power supply chipset, a charging port, and a detecting circuit. The power supply chipset includes an enable pin. A voltage on the enable pin controls the power supply chipset. The charging port includes a detecting pin which detects whether there is an electronic device connected on the charging port. The detecting circuit is connected between the detecting pin and the enable pin. The detecting circuit controls the voltage on the enable pin to cause the power supply chipset to output a charging voltage to the power supply chipset in event an electronic device that requires charging is connected to the charging port.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (WuHan) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventors: Kai-Le Zhai, Chun-Sheng Chen
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Patent number: 9627718Abstract: A parallel-connected electricity storage system in which a plurality of chargeable and dischargeable electricity storage elements are connected in series as an electricity storage element row and a plurality of the electricity storage element rows are connected in parallel includes an electricity-storage-element-voltage measuring device that measures an electricity storage element voltage of each of the electricity storage elements, an electricity-storage-element-state estimating device that estimates an electricity storage element state of each of the electricity storage elements, an electricity-storage-element-current measuring device that measures an electricity storage element current of each of the electricity storage element rows, a parallel-connected switch that performs connection and disconnection to and from the parallel-connected electricity storage system for each of the electricity storage element rows, and a parallel-connected-switch control means for turning on the parallel-connected switch onType: GrantFiled: February 25, 2013Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.Inventors: Ryoh Inaba, Yutaka Kobayashi