Cycling (e.g., Discharge/charge Cycle, Etc.) Patents (Class 320/130)
  • Patent number: 11811255
    Abstract: A charging method of a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery involves a first charging step in which, defining x as the ratio of the capacity of a silicon compound to the rated capacity Q(0.1?x?0.5), a battery capacity Q1st that satisfies the expression below is charged at a first fixed current value; and a high current charging step in which, after completion of the first charging step, charging is performed at a fixed current value higher than the first fixed current value. 0.38x+0.063???Q1st/Q?0.38x+0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Soga, Taisuke Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11742531
    Abstract: A method of a charging battery includes the following steps: charging the battery with a first charging current in an nth charge and discharge cycle, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 0; and charging the battery with a second charging current in an (n+m)th charge and discharge cycle, where m is a preset integer greater than or equal to 1, Ib=k1×Ic, 0.5?k1?1, and Ic is a third charging current, where the third charging current is a smaller one of a first maximum charging current and a second maximum charging current in a same state of charge. This application further provides an electronic apparatus and a storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: NINGDE AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Shan Zhu, Ting Guan, Fei Wu
  • Patent number: 11697978
    Abstract: A downhole power system includes an energy storage adapted to operate at high temperatures, and a modular signal interface device that serves to control the energy storage component as well as offer a means of data logging at high temperatures. The controller is fabricated from pre-assembled components that may be selected for various combinations to provide desired functionality. The energy storage may include at least one ultracapacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: FASTCAP SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Riccardo Signorelli, John J. Cooley
  • Patent number: 11621569
    Abstract: Provided are an electronic device and a control method for determining a power acquisition path at least on the basis of an attribute of power supplied from the outside of the electronic device and a state of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gibae Kim, Jooyoung Kang
  • Patent number: 11553267
    Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in a method of using a silver-zinc rechargeable battery to power a device. The method includes drawing, in a first mode of operation of a power management circuit, a first current from the battery to power the device. The first current is selected such that a target percentage of a capacity of the battery is discharged in a predetermined time of use of the device. The method also includes switching to a second mode of operation after the target percentage of the capacity of the battery is discharged. In the second mode of operation, a second current is drawn from the battery, wherein the second current is less than the first current. The method further includes powering the device using the second current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Lifun Lin, Daniel K. Lee, Stephen P. Darbin, David E. Thomas, Victor A. Noel
  • Patent number: 11513488
    Abstract: Among other things, techniques are described for controlling power of electronic devices of a vehicle. For example, a vehicle includes a power source, a power distribution unit configured to control power to at least one electronic device from the power source, a first processor configured for communicating power commands to the power distribution unit. The power distribution unit comprises a second processor configured to execute computer executable instructions stored in computer-readable medium for carrying out operations including adjusting a power distribution from the vehicle power source to the at least one electronic device based on a power command received from the first processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Motional AD LLC
    Inventors: Tawit Uthaicharoenpong, Yee Keng Cheah, Michael Maass, Justin Poh, Michael O'Har, Upasana Lnu
  • Patent number: 11472309
    Abstract: A method for charging a traction battery of an electric vehicle includes, in response to a request to charge a traction battery, initially discharging the traction battery, for a first duration of time, according to a discharge stage having a constant power; subsequently charging the traction battery, for a second duration of time, according to a charge stage having a constant current; and repeating the discharge stage and the charge stage in sequence until the battery is charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Minghong Liu, Kent Snyder
  • Patent number: 11465508
    Abstract: This disclosure discloses a braking-recovery system and method for a train, and a train. The system includes: a traction network, a train, and an energy storage power station. The energy storage power station is connected to the traction network, the energy storage power station includes a second controller, and the second controller controls the energy storage power station according to the voltage of the traction network to perform charging or discharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Lin Ren, Daolin Li, Wengang Luo
  • Patent number: 11404714
    Abstract: A bipolar battery may comprise first, second, and third bipolar electrodes that are physically and electrically isolated from one another by intervening non-liquid electrolyte layers. Each of the bipolar electrodes may comprise a bipolar current collector including a first electroactive material layer connected to a first side thereof and a second electroactive material layer connected to a second side thereof. Each electroactive material layer may comprise at least one of: (i) a lithium ion battery positive electrode material, (ii) a lithium ion battery negative electrode material, and/or (iii) a capacitor electrode material. At least one of the electroactive material layers comprises a capacitor electrode material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mengyan Hou, Haijing Liu, Mark W. Verbrugge, Qili Su, Meiyuan Wu
  • Patent number: 11401164
    Abstract: Provided is a process for producing a solid graphene foam-based sealing material. The process comprises: (a) preparing a graphene dispersion having a graphene material dispersed in a liquid medium, which contains an optional blowing agent; (b) dispensing and depositing the graphene dispersion into desired shapes and partially or completely removing the liquid medium from these shapes to form dried graphene shapes; (c) heat treating the dried graphene shapes at a first heat treatment temperature from 50° C. to 3,200° C. at a desired heating rate sufficient to induce volatile gas molecules from the non-carbon elements or to activate the blowing agent for producing the graphene foam; and (d) coating or impregnating the graphene foam with a permeation-resistant binder or matrix material to form the sealing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Global Graphene Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-jun Lin, Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 11360150
    Abstract: A battery management system includes multiple sensors, status detection circuitry, and fault detection circuitry. The sensors sense statuses of a battery pack. The status detection circuitry detects whether the battery pack is in a normal condition based on the statuses to generate a detection result. The fault detection circuitry detects whether a fault is present in the battery pack. The sensors include a current sensor that senses a battery current of the battery pack. The fault detection circuitry includes a detection circuit that monitors a rate of change of a voltage at a terminal of the battery pack, and detects whether a fault is present in the current sensor based on a result of a comparison between the rate of change and a threshold and based on the detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: O2Micro Inc.
    Inventor: Guoxing Li
  • Patent number: 11303139
    Abstract: A protective device for shutting down at least one battery cell in a battery system of a motor vehicle in case of an electrical short circuit. The protective device is configured to conduct an electric current, which flows through the at least one battery cell, through a measurement element, in which the current generates an electrical measurement voltage in dependence on its amperage and/or its amperage gradient. The measurement element is coupled to an analog monitoring circuit, in which a comparison unit is configured to trigger a triggering signal for the case that the amperage rises at least by a predetermined delta value within a predetermined duration, and a switching unit is configured to receive the triggering signal and to interrupt the current upon receiving the triggering signal by switching at least one switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Hinterberger, Berthold Hellenthal, Peter Pilgram
  • Patent number: 11302917
    Abstract: A method of forming a layered manganese dioxide for use in a cathode of a battery comprises disposing a cathode into a housing of an electrochemical cell, disposing an anode into the housing, disposing a polymeric separator between the anode and the cathode such that the anode and the cathode are electrically separated, adding an alkaline electrolyte to the housing, cycling the electrochemical cell into the 2nd electron capacity of the manganese dioxide, and forming a layered manganese dioxide having a layered manganese dioxide structure with the one or more additives incorporated into the layered manganese dioxide structure. The cathode comprising a cathode material comprising: a manganese dioxide compound, one or more additives selected from the group consisting of bismuth, copper, tin, lead, silver, cobalt, nickel, magnesium, aluminum, potassium, lithium, calcium, gold, antimony, iron, zinc, and combinations thereof, and a conductive carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Inventors: Gautam G. Yadav, Xia Wei, Michael Nyce, Sanjoy Banerjee
  • Patent number: 11296550
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for wireless charging are disclosed. A charging device has a plurality of charging cells provided on a charging surface, a charging circuit and a controller. The controller may be configured to cause the charging circuit to provide a charging current to a resonant circuit when a receiving device is placed on the charging surface, provide a measurement slot by causing the charging circuit to decrease or terminate the charging current for a period of time and determine whether the receiving device has been removed from the charging surface based on measurement of a characteristic of the resonant circuit during the measurement slot. The characteristic of the resonant circuit may be representative of electromagnetic coupling between a transmitting coil in the resonant circuit and a receiving coil in the receiving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: AIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters, James Scott
  • Patent number: 11287480
    Abstract: A method for estimating a state of charge (SOC) value of a battery may include determining, by a controller, whether an entry condition for estimating the SOC value of the battery is satisfied based on state data of the battery; generating, by the controller, an initial SOC value of the battery using an internal resistance value of the battery when the state data satisfies the entry condition; generating, by the controller, a first storage capacity of the battery to generate using the initial SOC value; generating, by the controller, a second storage capacity of the battery using the first storage capacity and a charging efficiency of the battery; and estimating, by the controller, the SOC value of the battery using the second storage capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Seungwon Park, Sunho Choi, Sung Tae Kim, Yong Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 11283063
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for polarization compensation in silicon-dominant electrode cells. One or more adjustments to operation of a silicon-dominant cell maybe applied based on effects of polarization in the silicon-dominant cell during charge/discharge cycles, with the one or more adjustments configured to compensate for at least some of the effects of polarization in the silicon-dominant cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: ENEVATE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hong Zhao, Benjamin Yong Park
  • Patent number: 11283109
    Abstract: A system and method for a liquid electrolyte used in secondary electrochemical cells having at least one electrode including a TMCCC material, the liquid electrolyte enabling an increased lifetime while allowing for fast discharge to extremely high depth of discharge. The addition of dinitriles to liquid electrolytes in electrochemical cells in which energy storage is achieved by ion intercalation in transition metal cyanide coordination compounds (TMCCC) has the advantage of increasing device lifetime by inhibiting common chemical and electrochemical degradation mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Natron Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Majid Keshavarz, Daniel Friebel, Peter Benjamin Herman, Grace Marjorie Yee, Alex J. Klevay
  • Patent number: 11250996
    Abstract: An energy storage apparatus suitable for mounting on a printed circuit board using a solder reflow process is disclosed. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes: a sealed housing body (e.g., a lower body with a lid attached thereto) including a positive internal contact and a negative internal contact (e.g., metallic contact pads) disposed within the body and each respectively in electrical communication with a positive external contact and a negative external contact. Each of the external contacts provide electrical communication to the exterior of the body, and may be disposed on an external surface of the body. An electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) (also referred to herein as an “ultracapacitor” or “supercapacitor”) energy storage cell is disposed within a cavity in the body including a stack of alternating electrode layers and electrically insulating separator layers. An electrolyte is disposed within the cavity and wets the electrode layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: FASTCAP SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nicolo Michele Brambilla, Joseph K. Lane, John Hyde, Wyatt Andree, Susheel M. J. Kalabathula
  • Patent number: 11244791
    Abstract: Provided herein is a rechargeable power source that can be quickly charged and used for charging mobile and cordless devices. The power source includes an ultracapacitor which comprises a composite structure including, for example open graphene structures or graphene nanoribbons attached to an oxide layer. The oxide layer is on a metal foil surface. The oxide layer includes more than one metal atom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Oxcion Limited
    Inventors: Cattien V. Nguyen, You Li, Darrell L. Niemann, Hoang Nguyen Ly, Philip A. Kraus
  • Patent number: 11177676
    Abstract: This disclosure describes exemplary charging systems and methods for fast charging energy storage devices (e.g., battery cells of battery packs). An exemplary charging system may be configured to control charging of a charging circuit by employing repetitive intermittent discharge pulses. The control system may be configured to command the charging circuit to apply a discharge pulse current to the battery cell for a first time period, apply a charging current to the battery cell for a second time period that is significantly longer than the first time period, and then repetitively alternate between applying the discharge pulse current and the charging current until the battery cell reaches a predefined maximum voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Minghong Liu, Kent Snyder
  • Patent number: 11136008
    Abstract: Methods and associated systems for managing a battery-exchange station are provided. The method includes (1) receiving, from a server, demand information for the battery-exchange station corresponding to a first time period; and (2) forming a charging plan for a plurality of batteries positioned in the battery-exchange station corresponding to the first time period based on a first instruction set stored in the battery-exchange station and the demand information corresponding to the first time period. The first instruction set includes one or more charging rules and information indicative of assigning the one or more charging rules to each of the batteries positioned in the battery-exchange station. The charging plan comprises one or more assigned charging rules for each of the batteries positioned in the battery-exchange station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
    Inventors: Yun-Chun Lai, Sheng-Chin Chuang, I-Fen Shih, Chien-Chung Chen
  • Patent number: 11124072
    Abstract: Provided are a battery control device which can estimates an SOC of a battery with a high accuracy, and an electric motor vehicle system. The battery control device (190) includes a feature amount calculation unit (152) which calculates a feature amount indicating a charging/discharging pattern of the battery, a first charging state amount calculation unit (151-1) which calculates a first charging state amount (SOCi) of the battery on the basis of a first battery state amount, a second charging state amount calculation unit (151-2) which calculates a second charging state amount (SOCv) of the battery on the basis of a second battery state amount, and a third charging state amount calculation unit (151-3) which calculates a third charging state amount (SOC(t)) on the basis of the feature amount, the first charging stage amount, the second charging stage amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: VEHICLE ENERGY JAPAN INC.
    Inventors: Ryohhei Nakao, Keiichiro Ohkawa
  • Patent number: 11101648
    Abstract: A power supply system includes a main line, a plurality of sweep modules, and a control unit. Each sweep module includes a battery module and a power circuit module. The power circuit module switches between connection and disconnection between the battery module and the main line. The control unit executes sweep control for sequentially switching the battery modules which are to be connected to the main line. The control unit maintains connection of a refreshing module which is to be subjected to refreshing charging/discharging to the main line while sweep control is being executed in a state in which the refreshing module is excluded in at least one of outputting of electric power to the outside and inputting of electric power from the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Juni Yasoshima, Junta Izumi, Kenji Kimura, Toshihiro Katsuda, Kohei Matsuura, Junichi Matsumoto, Shuji Tomura, Shigeaki Goto, Naoki Yanagizawa, Kyosuke Tanemura, Kazuo Ootsuka, Takayuki Ban, Hironobu Nishi
  • Patent number: 11095130
    Abstract: Provided is a power storage apparatus including a battery and a control circuit that controls charging and discharging of the battery, wherein during a polarization elimination time period, the control circuit obtains, as an amount of change, a difference between a first voltage of the battery measured at a first time and a second voltage of the battery measured at a second time following the first time, multiplies the amount of change by an estimation coefficient that depends on the first voltage, the second voltage, a temperature of the battery, a temperature of a space around the battery, or a degree of deterioration of the battery, and sums the value obtained so as to estimate an open-circuit voltage to be provided after elimination of the polarization of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Junichi Hatano, Toshio Otagiri, Hiroto Sato, Shinichi Aizawa, Ryusuke Hase, Kenji Nishigaki
  • Patent number: 10965139
    Abstract: A charger circuit and an intelligent charging control method thereof are disclosed. The charger circuit comprises a power circuit used to generate a charging voltage, a charging output switch, an MCU and an electrical appliance plug-in detection circuit, wherein the MCU is connected to a positive output terminal or a negative output terminal of the power circuit through a current sampling element to detect a charging current in a charging loop and is connected to a positive connecting terminal of a charging interface to detect a charging voltage in the charging loop. In this way, a charger is able to intelligently judge whether or not a to-be-charged electrical appliance is plugged into the charging interface, automatically charges the electrical appliance in a corresponding charging mode and effectively prevents overcharging of batteries of consumer electrical appliances, thus, prolonging the battery life and avoiding disasters caused by overcharging of the batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Inventors: Shaopei Wang, Zezhi Li, Mingli Wu, Mingwei Wang
  • Patent number: 10903668
    Abstract: A plurality of battery packs is provided in communication with an energy monitoring and control system. Each battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells that collectively dictate the capabilities of the battery pack. The energy monitoring and control system determines a plurality of pack charging or pack discharging parameters for each battery pack that, when performed, achieve one or more performance metrics at a user level (e.g., performance metrics of each battery pack within a system of multiple battery packs). The battery pack further determines a plurality of cell charging or cell discharging parameters for each battery cell based upon the determined plurality of pack charging or pack discharging parameters for each battery cell that, when performed, achieve one or more performance metrics at a battery level (e.g., performance metrics of different cells of each battery pack).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Mahshid Roumi, Farshid Roumi
  • Patent number: 10882414
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for managing charging currents delivered by an installation (1) for charging electric vehicle batteries in a parking lot (P), comprising a set of electric charging terminals (B1, . . . BN) connected to an electric power distribution network (2), each terminal being able to deliver a charging current value to an electric vehicle (VE1, . . . VEj) connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: OMNINOV
    Inventor: Michel Le Creff
  • Patent number: 10870368
    Abstract: A thermal management system of a battery of an electric vehicle proactively manages the temperature of the battery based on sensor data and sets limits to control cooling and heating of the battery. Using the data gathered from an autonomous drive platform, a highly-efficient control system which uses predictive modelling can be created. A control system predicts the battery final temperature and determines if cooling and/or heating is necessary for the route. If cooling and/or heating is not necessary, the thermal management system may be simply turned off to save energy. This is a dynamic approach which should optimize energy usage under all situations using trip predictive information (from GPS, route-calculation algorithms, and weather information), and thermal model predictive controls to determine battery final temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam H. Ing, Yadunandana Yellambalase, Rick Rajaie
  • Patent number: 10826313
    Abstract: Power management systems for an electronic product demonstration fixture for demonstrating portable electronic devices. The product demonstration fixture may include an exhibition portion and a base portion. A portable electronic device offered for sale may be affixed to the exhibition portion. The base portion may include an electronic display, an auxiliary battery, and an auxiliary controller. The auxiliary controller may direct power from the auxiliary battery to the electronic display upon determining that a battery within the electronic display has fallen below a particular selected level. Similarly the auxiliary controller may direct power from the auxiliary battery to the portable electronic device offered for sale upon determining that a battery within the portable electronic device has fallen below a selected level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Emery A. Sanford, David G. Havskjold, Steven G. Herbst, Anthony S. Montevirgen, Jeffery J. Terlizzi, Tyson B. Manullang, Charles A. Schwalbach, Glenn David Henshaw, Vikas Agrawal, Soundararajan Manthiri
  • Patent number: 10811888
    Abstract: A secondary battery protection system including a plurality of secondary battery protection apparatuses, wherein the system comprises: a first secondary battery protection apparatus, which is connected to a first secondary battery cell of the battery cells, comprising: a current transmission unit configured to generate and transmit a current transmission signal, a current value of the current transmission signal corresponding to the first condition being set; and a voltage determination unit configured to determine a voltage value of a voltage transmission signal; and a second secondary battery protection apparatus, comprising: a voltage transmission unit configured to generate and transmit the voltage transmission signal, a voltage value of the voltage transmission signal corresponding to the second condition being set; and a current determination unit configured to determine a current value of the current transmission signal; wherein the current transmission signal and the voltage transmission signal are tr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kohei Shibata
  • Patent number: 10804790
    Abstract: In some examples, a controller is configured to control a primary-side switch in a power converter circuit, and the controller includes a first node configured to receive a first signal indicating a current or a voltage through a primary side of a transformer of the power converter circuit. The controller also includes a second node configured to receive a second signal indicating a current or a voltage through a primary-side switch of the power converter circuit. The controller further includes processing circuitry configured to determine a target value for the second signal based on the first signal and generate the control signal for the primary-side switch based on the target value for the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Zan Wang, Wee Tar Richard Ng
  • Patent number: 10792975
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a climate control system, an engine, a battery, and a controller. The engine and the battery are each configured to power the climate control system. The controller is programmed to, responsive to a request to precondition cabin air and an estimated battery state of charge, that would result from the climate control system preconditioning the air, being less than a threshold, start the engine to power the climate control system regardless of an initial battery state of charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Everett Badger, II, Angel Fernando Porras
  • Patent number: 10770767
    Abstract: A lithium-air battery system using a vortex tube is provided, in which the vortex tube is connected to an oxygen supply port of a lithium-air battery having a stack form. A high-temperature gas generated in the vortex tube is supplied to the lithium-air battery to induce a stimulating reaction and simultaneously, a low-temperature gas generated in the vortex tube is supplied to a cooling path in the lithium-air battery to realize efficient cooling of the lithium-air battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Ki Rhee, Yoon Ji Lee, In Woo Song, Se Young Lee, Min Soo Kim, Dong Kyu Shin, Dong Gyun Kang
  • Patent number: 10742064
    Abstract: A power delivery device includes at least one solar panel, a battery pack comprising at least one battery, and a heater, wherein the device is configured to measure the temperature of the battery pack and power the heater to heat the battery pack if it is too cold for optimal charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Lithium Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilson Chan, Chu Chi Kuo
  • Patent number: 10684328
    Abstract: A remaining battery charge estimation system (1) comprises a connection detector (15), a connected device identification component (17), a memory (16), and a remaining battery charge estimation and resource determination component (18). The connection detector (15) detects connection between a battery pack (10) and a charging device (30). The connected device identification component (17) identifies the connected device. The memory (16) stores information related to a sensor (11) and a CPU (12) used for estimating the remaining battery charge of the battery pack (10), information related to a sensor (31) and a CPU (32) used for estimating the remaining battery charge of the charging device (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromasa Takatsuka, Kazuki Kasai
  • Patent number: 10601231
    Abstract: A charging device for securing a charging process of a high-voltage battery of a motor vehicle, which may be provided with a first connecting device for coupling a charging cable of a charging station external to a vehicle and a second connecting device for connecting the high-voltage battery. A diode element may be provided between the first connecting device and the second connecting device, which may be adapted to independently allow a charging current to flow from the charging stations into the battery and prevent a discharge current from flowing from the high-voltage battery to the charging station. The charging device may further include a monitoring device configured to detect a predetermined feedback situation, in which the diode element blocks the discharge current or prevents the discharge current from flowing through the diode element during a defect. When a feedback situation is detected, a predetermined emergency shutoff measure is taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Stefan Dünsbier
  • Patent number: 10581121
    Abstract: Provided is a balance correction control apparatus to control a balance correction apparatus designed to correct a balance between voltages of a first electric storage cell and a second electric storage cell connected in series based on a target setting for an SOC of each of the first electric storage cell and the second electric storage cell. The balance correction control apparatus includes a cell characteristic obtaining unit operable to obtain at least one cell characteristic selected from the group consisting of a degree of deterioration, a cell capacity and a temperature of each of the first electric storage cell and the second electric storage cell, and a target setting determining unit operable to determine the target setting for the SOC of each of the first electric storage cell and the second electric storage cell based on the at least one cell characteristic obtained by the cell characteristic obtaining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: NExT-e Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Fumiaki Nakao, Makoto Inoue
  • Patent number: 10581259
    Abstract: A battery switching system for a vehicle controls a first battery device and a second battery device, which provide power to a vehicular load. The system includes multiple switch circuits and a battery control module. The switch circuits are operable for electrically coupling and decoupling each of the first battery device and the second battery device to the load and electrically coupling and decoupling the first battery device from the second battery device. Each of the switch circuits is operable in a closed state and an open state. The battery control module operates the switch circuits based predetermined conditions to form a first electrical path to electrically couple the first and second battery devices, a second electrical path to electrically couple the second battery device and the vehicular load, or a third electrical path to electrically couple the first battery device and the vehicular load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Asif Al Rasheed, Adam Gilley
  • Patent number: 10581073
    Abstract: Disclosed are a secondary battery comprising a negative electrode composed of two or more negative electrode plates and a method of manufacturing the secondary battery, wherein each of the negative electrode plates includes a lithium by-product layer formed through pre-lithiation reaction on a negative electrode current collector coated with a negative electrode active material, wherein an inorganic substance layer is formed on a negative electrode tab that is extended from an end at one side of the negative electrode current collector and is composed of an active material-non-coated portion not coated with the negative electrode active material, and negative electrode tabs of the negative electrode plates are electrically connected with one negative electrode lead to form a negative electrode terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoung Ho Kim, Chae Ah Kim, Jooyong Song, Hye Youn Lee, Hoe Jin Hah
  • Patent number: 10518831
    Abstract: Provided are self-powered actively steerable converter dollies (SPASCDs) for long combination vehicles (LCVs), LCVs utilizing SPASCDs, and methods of operating such LCVs. These SPASCDs could be used with conventional tractors and/or specifically configured tractors. A SPASCD may include an electrical drive, which can generate power (e.g., to charge SPASCD's battery) or generate torque using the electrical power stored in SPASCD's battery (e.g., to assist the tractor during acceleration or going uphill). The SPASCD also comprises steerable wheels and a steering component, configured to change the steering angle of the steerable wheels. The steering angle may be changed in response to various inputs, such as the steering angle of the tractor's front steerable wheels, the steering angle of the steerable wheels of another trailer in the same LCV, sensor inputs, and the like. This steering feature allows change the track of the SPASCD, e.g., to follow the tractor's track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Wrightspeed, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian Wright
  • Patent number: 10491031
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to, in respect of an electronic device comprising a battery for powering the electronic device and a charger configured to receive a mains power supply and, when connected to the electronic device, provide a power output to charge the battery, based on a determination of a failure of a request to increase the power output of the charger to the battery of the electronic device, the failure comprising where at least a requested increase of the power output of the charger by a first predetermined amount fails to yield an increase in the power output of the charger equal to the first predetermined amount within a threshold amount, provide an indication to the electronic device that the charger is disconnected from the mains power supply for causing the electronic device to indicate that the charger is disconnected from the mains power supply to a user of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Cornelis Jozef Petrus Maria Rooijackers, Peter Theodorus Johannes Degen
  • Patent number: 10473350
    Abstract: A plurality of central controllers that each control a refrigeration cycle device and receive power consumption data of the refrigeration cycle device and a central management device that performs pro-rata calculation by use of at least the power consumption data and manages the plurality of central controllers are provided. The central management device includes a first data unit that stores the power consumption data and a result of the pro-rata calculation and a second data unit that stores data output from each of the plurality of central controllers, and the plurality of central controllers each include a third data unit that stores operation data of the refrigeration cycle device and a fourth data unit that stores data of the first data unit output from the central management device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kazutaka Ogura
  • Patent number: 10406938
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for minimizing cell aging of a battery (1) and/or a battery (1) comprising an apparatus for minimizing cell aging of the battery (1). For this the following is performed: detection of battery parameters which describe the present state of the battery (1); checking, on the basis of a preset aging model and the battery parameters, whether the state of the battery (1) is an aging state in which the cell aging of the battery (1) is less pronounced in the case of cyclic charging or discharging than in a quiescent state in which there is no charging or discharging of the battery (1); and cyclic partial discharging and partial charging of the battery (1) if the battery (1) is in such an aging state. The method according to the invention and/or the battery (1) according to the invention are characterized by reduced cell aging. This means that such a battery (1) and/or a battery (1) to which the method is applied has an extended life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andre Boehm, Andres Lemke, Alfons Doerr, Christian Korn
  • Patent number: 10274544
    Abstract: A route switching circuit includes: a pair of normal detection routes that output voltages of a positive side connection point and a negative side connection point, which are different from each other, in multiple batteries for constituting an assembled battery; and a pair of diagnosis detection routes that output the voltages of the positive side connection point and the negative side connection point, and confirm a connection state of the normal detection routes by using the normal detection routes, which output at least one of a voltage of a positive side battery connected to a positive side from the positive side connection point and a voltage of a negative side battery connected to a negative side from the negative side connection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukihiro Tomonaga, Tetsuya Makihara, Kazutaka Honda, Nobuyoshi Osamura, Ryotaro Miura
  • Patent number: 10254347
    Abstract: An inspection method for inspecting a fuel cell, comprising: rising current density at a speed of a designated speed or greater, and judging whether the fuel cell is normal or abnormal by comparing a first voltage value that is the voltage value when the current density reaches a designated current density or greater with the rising step, and a second voltage value which is a judgment standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sho Usami, Koro Fujio, Masashi Maeda
  • Patent number: 10218214
    Abstract: An energy management system that includes a power generation apparatus that outputs generated electric power to a HVDC bus, a bidirectional DC-DC converter to which a DC voltage is input from the HVDC bus or outputting a DC voltage to the HVDC bus, and an inverter that converts a DC voltage inputted from the HVDC bus to an AC voltage. A calibration value is set to the highest voltage among voltages of the HVDC bus each detected by the power generation apparatus, the bidirectional DC-DC converter, and the inverter, other detection voltages are calibrated with the calibration value. Then, each of the power generation apparatus, the bidirectional DC-DC converter, and the inverter carry out switching control such that the detection voltage after the calibration match with a target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kohei Shibata
  • Patent number: 10207703
    Abstract: At the time of starting up an engine (9) using an assist motor generator (10), a main controller (28) lowers a lower limit value in a charge/discharge range of an electricity storage device (19) from a first lower limit value (min1) to a second lower limit value (min2) through an energy management control part (28B). The main controller (28) heightens the lower limit value in the charge/discharge range of an electricity storage device (19) from the second lower limit value (min2) to the first lower limit value (min1) when the start of the engine (9) is completed. Further, the main controller (28) displays engine stop prohibition information on a display device (30) when the start of the engine (9) is completed and when an SOC of the electricity storage device (19) falls below the first lower limit value (min1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumasa Uji, Yuichiro Morita, Kouichi Shibata
  • Patent number: 10206263
    Abstract: A device having an active reversal protection system is described. The system includes a pair of MOSFETs connected to parallel battery power sources. When the batteries in one of the power sources are improperly installed, the voltage delivered by that power source closes the gate of its associated MOSFET. In normal operation, the MOSFETs are connected to a microprocessor configured to operate the device. In a preferred embodiment, the device is a lighting device incorporating a light emitting diode that is driven by the MOSFETs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Energizer Brands, LLC
    Inventors: David Spartano, Michael J. Brandon, Zi hong Zhang
  • Patent number: 10199859
    Abstract: An uninterruptable power supply system is disclosed with a precharge converter for connecting to a DC link of the uninterruptable power supply system to a DC power supply, whereby the DC link comprises a first and a second DC bus line, which are both coupled to a common reference point, whereby the common reference point can be an AC power supply neutral of the uninterruptable power supply system, comprising power connectors for connecting to the DC power supply, a first and second output connector for connecting to the first and the second DC bus line, respectively, a converter circuit for receiving DC power from the power connectors and providing DC power to the first and second output connector, and a control unit for controlling operation of the converter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Carl Ngai-Man Ho, Esa-Kai Paatero, Nicola Notari
  • Patent number: 10164522
    Abstract: A control system for a mild hybrid vehicle is configured to detect whether a main contactor is open, the main contactor being connected between a primary battery system and a bi-directional direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converter and in response to detecting that the main contactor is open: command the DC-DC converter to operate in a boost mode to excite a motor-generator unit (MGU), after the excitation of the MGU has completed, command the DC-DC converter to operate in a buck mode, determine a previous voltage regulation feedback setpoint for the DC-DC converter, and control the DC-DC converter to maintain a voltage of the secondary battery system within a desired range by inserting a delay to a voltage control loop of the DC-DC converter such that the voltage control loop mimics a bandwidth of the MGU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Amshumaan R. Kashyap, Sricharan Maruneni, Oliver Gross