With Battery Or Cell Condition Monitoring (e.g., For Protection From Overcharging, Heating, Etc.) Patents (Class 320/134)
  • Patent number: 12176745
    Abstract: A forced discharge test apparatus includes a heating circuit; a discharge circuit; a temperature sensor; and a controller. When the controller receives a test command indicating a test resistance and a test temperature, the controller outputs a first control signal to the heating circuit to increase the temperature of a battery cell. The controller outputs a second control signal to the discharge circuit to discharge the battery cell when the temperature of the battery cell reaches the set test temperature. The controller determines that the test temperature is valid with respect to the test resistance when the temperature of the battery cell is equal to or lower than the upper temperature limit at a time point at which a predetermined heating time has passed from a time point when the first control signal is outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-Woo Ryu, Jee-Soon Choi, Dal-Mo Kang, Yong-Seok Choi
  • Patent number: 12155246
    Abstract: A control unit for a battery system includes a plurality of battery cells is provided. The control unit includes: an input node configured to receive a sensor signal indicative of a state of at least one of the plurality of battery cells; a microcontroller connected to the input node and configured to generate a first control signal based on the sensor signal; and a switch control circuit configured to control a power switch of the battery system by: receiving the sensor signal, the first control signal, and a fault signal indicative of an operational state of the microcontroller; generating a second control signal based on the sensor signal; and transmitting one of the first control signal and the second control signal to an output node of the control unit based on the received fault signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Maximilian Hofer, Markus Pretschuh, Michael Erhart
  • Patent number: 12152947
    Abstract: A temperature detection device includes plural thermistors, a voltage source and plural temperature detection circuits. The first terminals of the thermistors are electrically connected with a common node. The voltage source is electrically connected with the common node directly. Each temperature detection circuit includes a voltage divider and a differential amplifier circuit. The voltage divider includes a first resistor and a second resistor. A first terminal of the first resistor is connected with the common node. A second terminal of the first resistor is connected with a first terminal of the second resistor and the second terminal of the corresponding thermistor. The second terminal of the second resistor is electrically connected with a ground terminal. The differential amplifier circuit includes a first input terminal connected with the first terminal of the first resistor, a second input terminal connected with the second terminal of the first resistor, and an output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng-Te Li, Chih-Yuan Chuang, Yen-Hsun Chen
  • Patent number: 12155302
    Abstract: A power converter includes an input circuit, an output circuit and a controller. The output circuit may comprise a plurality of output terminals configured to be connected to a plurality of loads. The input circuit may comprise a plurality of input terminals configured to be connected to one or more power sources. An inductive element may be coupled between the input circuit and the output circuit. The output circuit may feature one or more voltage compensation circuits connected between two output terminals, the voltage compensation circuits activated to compensate an output voltage at one of the two output terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ofir Bieber, Yaniv Hachamo, Meir Gazit
  • Patent number: 12153098
    Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a failure of an electrode assembly before injecting an electrolyte includes a short-circuit tester configured to detect a short circuit of the electrode assembly by applying a predetermined voltage to a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the electrode assembly; a multimeter electrically connected to the short-circuit tester and configured to measure a voltage and a current of the electrode assembly over time; and a failure determination part connected to the multimeter and configured to monitor changes in voltage and current measured by the multimeter and determine a type of a failure of the electrode assembly from data on the changes in voltage and current over a predetermined period of time. A method of inspecting a failure of an electrode assembly using the same is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Woong Yoo, Sun Yong Shin, Jeong Min Lee
  • Patent number: 12145453
    Abstract: The invention relates to the technical field of battery safety, and in particular to a safety monitoring method and system for a vehicle. The safety monitoring method includes: when a vehicle is in a parked state, waking up a battery management controller at specific time intervals, and obtaining status data of the battery by means of a battery management controller; determining, based on the status data, whether the battery is in an anomalous state; and when the battery is not in the anomalous state, controlling the battery management controller to enter hibernation state again; or when the battery is in the anomalous state, further waking up a wireless communications network, and uploading the status data and/or an alarm signal to a remote monitoring platform by means of the wireless communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: NIO TECHNOLOGY (ANHUI) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Teng He, Rui Hua, Shizhe Zeng, Haoming Yan
  • Patent number: 12149114
    Abstract: An appropriate upper limit voltage is set to enable maximum charging performance of a secondary battery to be exhibited while effectively suppressing degradation of the secondary battery. An assembled battery control unit determines an upper limit voltage during charge of the secondary battery and calculates chargeable power of the secondary battery based on the upper limit voltage. The assembled battery control unit has an upper limit voltage calculating unit which calculates a voltage history of the secondary battery based on time series data of a voltage of the secondary battery and which calculates the upper limit voltage based on the voltage history.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: VEHICLE ENERGY JAPAN INC.
    Inventors: Ryohhei Nakao, Keiichiro Ohkawa, Yasuo Arishima, Hironori Sasaki
  • Patent number: 12149083
    Abstract: A controller, a system including such a controller, and a method for controlling or managing discharge or charge of a plurality of battery packs are provided. The controller includes one or more processor and at least one tangible, non-transitory machine readable medium encoded with one or more programs configured to perform steps to determine a respective power discharge or charge for each battery packs based on characteristic data of each battery pack, a power demand, and the first weighting factor (a) and the second weighting factor (b) for power assignment based on voltage and state of charge of each battery pack. The controller provides signals with instructions to the plurality of battery packs and/or the one or more power converters for discharging power from or charging power to the plurality of battery packs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignees: China Energy Investment Corporation Limited, National Institute of Clean-and-Low-Carbon Energy
    Inventors: Ratnesh Sharma, Surinder Singh, Brandon Ohara, Motoko Furukawa, Roger Keyes
  • Patent number: 12143822
    Abstract: A control system includes a computer configured to remotely control at least one of charging and discharging of a power storage device mounted on a control target. The computer is configured to transmit a first command indicating charging power or discharging power of the power storage device to the control target via each of a first communication path and a second communication path. The control system further includes a determination unit configured to determine whether or not any one of the first communication path and the second communication path is under a cyberattack by using a second command received by the control target via the first communication path when the computer transmits the first command, and a third command received by the control target via the second communication path when the computer transmits the first command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masato Ehara, Rentaro Kuroki, Shunsuke Kobuna, Tatsuro Kiyohara, Naohiro Seo, Takaharu Tateishi
  • Patent number: 12136841
    Abstract: A short circuit detection method includes obtaining battery data associated with a state of a battery from a charging cycle of the battery, estimating an error in the battery data using an estimation model, determining a state indicator corresponding to the error in the battery data, and detecting a short circuit of the battery based on a result of comparing the state indicator and a short circuit threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myeongjae Lee, Ju Wan Lim, Duk Jin Oh, Jinho Kim, Young Hun Sung, Daeryong Jung
  • Patent number: 12132978
    Abstract: The present invention provides a TOF camera module and electronic device and an assembly method, wherein the TOF camera module includes a floodlight module, a receiving module and a plurality of electronic components, and a part of the electronic components is conductively connected to the floodlight module, a part of the electronic components is conductively connected to the receiving module, and the receiving module provides a first circuit board and at least one of the plurality of electronic components is located on a back side of the first circuit board of the receiving module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: NINGBO SUNNY OPOTECH CO., LTD
    Inventors: Feifan Chen, Hangang Wei, Beibei Dai, Xiaofeng Wang, Qinwen Yu
  • Patent number: 12126207
    Abstract: Provided are a battery controller, a wireless battery control system, a battery pack and a battery balancing method. The battery controller is for a battery module comprising a positive terminal, a negative terminal and a plurality of battery cells electrically connected in series between the positive terminal and the negative terminal. The battery controller comprises a voltage measuring unit to generate a voltage signal indicating a cell voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells, and a control module. The control module wirelessly transmits sensing data indicating the cell voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells while the control module is operating using a first cell voltage of a bottommost cell of the plurality of battery cells as power for operating the control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventor: Chang-Hyun Sung
  • Patent number: 12117494
    Abstract: A battery management system includes a monitoring device and a controller. The monitoring device is arranged in a housing accommodating a battery. The monitoring device monitors the battery and acquires battery monitoring information that includes information indicating a state of the battery. The controller performs wireless communication with the monitoring device and executes a predetermined process based on the battery monitoring information. The monitoring device holds imperfect information that is battery monitoring information indicating failure of data transmission/reception between the monitoring device and the controller. The monitoring device retransmits information corresponding to the imperfect information from next time the battery monitoring information is transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuma Nakagawa, Shogo Shigemori, Tatsuhiro Numata, Tetsuya Watanabe, Masaki Uchiyama, Taisuke Kurachi
  • Patent number: 12119695
    Abstract: An ESS capable of detecting a defective battery cell, the ESS in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, may include a plurality of battery cells, and a control unit for controlling the charge/discharge of the ESS, wherein the control unit includes an SOC calculation unit for calculating the SOC of the ESS, a voltage measurement unit for measuring the voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells, and a poor battery cell detection unit for detecting a defective battery cell from the voltages measured in the voltage measurement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventor: Bo Mi Lim
  • Patent number: 12119683
    Abstract: A battery management device is configured to set a limited measurement range that limits a range for measuring a voltage of each of a plurality of batteries for a vehicle. The battery management device is configured to measure the voltage of each of the plurality of batteries within the limited measurement range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shogo Shigemori, Shunichi Kubo, Takeshi Iida, Yukihiro Tomonaga, Taisuke Kurachi, Shozo Suzuki, Shinya Kato
  • Patent number: 12119522
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle and a method for controlling power generation for the same are provided. The fuel cell includes a motor supplying driving power for driving the fuel cell vehicle, a fuel cell and a battery supplying electrical power for driving the motor, and a vehicle controller for operating the fuel cell in advance by predicting a shortage of discharge power of the battery by monitoring the discharge power of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeong Kyu Park, Jae Hoon Jeong, Sae Byeok Seung, Hyo Jun Kim, Sang Chul Yeom, Seung Yoon Lee
  • Patent number: 12109906
    Abstract: Embodiments of a method and/or system for charging one or more electric vehicles can include: receiving a request (e.g., a request including one or more parameters; etc.); determining a check in at an Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE) for the charging session; and/or causing the EVSE to charge the electric vehicle based on a power distribution type for the charging session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: AMPUP, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Shaofeng Sun, Timotej Gavrilovic, Thai Vinh Loc Nguyen
  • Patent number: 12105154
    Abstract: A current protection system for an energy storage system includes: batteries connected in parallel; battery control units respectively connected to the batteries, and respectively having battery current measurement units; a battery connection panel connecting the battery control units to one connection point, the battery connection panel having a contact point current measurement unit; and a control unit configured to sum current values respectively measured by the battery current measurement units and a current value measured by the contact point current measurement unit, and to detect a presence of an internal short circuit based on the sum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyung Kyu Nam, Hyun Soon Lee
  • Patent number: 12085622
    Abstract: A battery cell resistance measurement device including: a carrier signal generation module configured to generate a carrier signal of a first frequency and a second frequency different from the first frequency; a resistance unit including a first resistor and a second resistor having a different resistance value from the first resistor; an impedance measurement unit configured to measure an impedance of both ends of a corresponding application target in a state where the carrier signal is applied to any one of the first resistor, the second resistor, and a battery cell; a switching unit configured to selectively connect any one of the first resistor, the second resistor, and the battery cell to the impedance measurement unit; and a control unit configured to calculate an internal resistance of the battery cell based on the impedance value measured by the impedance measurement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: LG Energy Solution, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung Sup Bang
  • Patent number: 12088134
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a battery management system and a battery pack. The battery management system includes at least two analog front-end chips and a control unit. The analog front-end chip is configured to acquire an output voltage, an output current, or a working temperature of a battery. And the control unit controls the analog front-end chip to be powered on and down. When any analog front-end chip is awakened by an external interference signal, the analog front-end chip directly or indirectly supplies power to the control unit to enable the control unit to work, and then the control unit sends a power-down signal to the analog front-end chip to power the analog front-end chip down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Globe (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Baoan Li, Xian Zhuang
  • Patent number: 12081056
    Abstract: A controller for managing a battery pack includes: a detection terminal, for transmitting an enable signal when values of battery parameters for the battery pack satisfy a sleep condition, where the enable signal enables the detection circuit to detect whether the battery pack is connected to a load and whether the battery pack is connected to the charger; and a receiving terminal, for receiving a detection result transmitted by the detection circuit. The detection result indicates whether the battery pack is connected to at least one of the load and charger. The controller controls the battery pack to enter a sleep mode of the sleep modes based on the detection result. The controller also includes a control terminal, for transmitting a control signal to control an on/off state of a charging switch and/or a discharging switch. The control signal is generated by the controller based on the detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: O2Micro Inc.
    Inventors: Yingguo Zhang, Guoyan Qiao, Fu-Jen Hsieh, Chia-Ming Chang, Chih-Chung Chou, Hua-Yi Wang
  • Patent number: 12081048
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for balancing battery packs connected in parallel. If the pack voltage deviation of the first to nth battery packs is greater than the first threshold value, a battery cell having a higher voltage than the pack balancing target voltage set according to a preset criterion among the voltages of all cells is discharged to perform pack balancing for each battery pack and if the pack voltage deviation is equal to or smaller than the first threshold value, a battery cell having a higher voltage than the cell balancing target voltage set according to a preset criterion among the voltages of the cells included in a battery pack having a cell voltage deviation greater than the second threshold value is discharged to perform cell balancing for each battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventors: Su-Won Kang, Han-Sol Kim, Bum-Hee Lee, Sang-Ki Lee
  • Patent number: 12080664
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor layer; first and second transistors; one or more first source pads and a first gate pad of the first transistor in a first region of the upper surface of the semiconductor layer; and one or more second source pads and a second gate pad of the second transistor in a second region of the upper surface adjacent to the first region in a plan view of the semiconductor layer. In a plan view of the semiconductor layer, a virtual straight line connecting the centers of the first and second gate pads passes through the center of the semiconductor layer and forms a 45 degree angle with each side of the semiconductor layer. An upper surface boundary line between the first and second regions monotonically changes in the directions of extension of the longer and shorter sides of the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION JAPAN
    Inventors: Kouki Yamamoto, Shinichi Akiyoshi, Ryouichi Ajimoto
  • Patent number: 12071032
    Abstract: A secondary circuit device including a secondary coil for transmitting and/or receiving magnetic energy of a magnetic field and converting the magnetic energy into electrical energy, a transmission unit for transmitting the electrical energy, a detection unit, and a clamper circuit, wherein the magnetic field is generated by a primary coil of a primary circuit device; the transmission unit has an inlet for connecting the secondary coil; the transmission unit has an outlet for providing the electrical energy as voltage and/or current; the detection unit is connected to the inlet and/or the outlet of the energy transmission unit, in order to detect an overvoltage at the inlet and/or the outlet; and, when the overvoltage is detected, the detection unit is configured to influence the magnetic field in the secondary coil via the clamper circuit such that a current jump and/or a voltage jump is brought about in the primary coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: BRUSA Elektronik AG
    Inventors: Martin Erler, Marc Hanselmann, Lukas Böhler, Marc Bosch
  • Patent number: 12071034
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises a battery, a temperature adjustment unit, an inlet, a relay unit, a relay unit, a relay unit, and an ECU. When a power charging station is connected to the inlet, the ECU controls the relay unit to assume a closed position to perform external charging to charge the battery by the power charging station. When the ECU drives the temperature adjustment unit during the external charging and a component on a charging path at an electrical path located between a branch point and a branch point is higher in temperature than a threshold temperature, the ECU controls the relay unit to assume an open position and the relay unit to assume a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Misawa
  • Patent number: 12068461
    Abstract: A battery pack comprising a substrate comprising a battery power bus integrated into the substrate; and a pack controller; and at least one electrochemical cell connected directly to the substrate. A printed circuit board comprising a power bus integrated into the printed circuit board, wherein the power bus is connected to and configured to transfer power to and/or from at least one electrochemical cell; and at least one controller configured to control the at least one electrochemical cell. A thermal management system comprising at least one electrochemical cell; and a substrate directly connected to the at least one electrochemical cell and configured to transfer heat, power, and signals between the substrate and the at least one electrochemical cell. A thermal management method. A method of assembling a battery pack, comprising attaching at least one electrochemical cell of the battery pack directly to a substrate at least in part by welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Sion Power Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn Alan Hamblin, David Warren Ribblett, Shea Thomas Ribblett, James Anthony Bock, Mark Niedzwiecki
  • Patent number: 12040653
    Abstract: The safety is ensured in such a manner that with an abnormality detection system of a secondary battery, abnormality of a secondary battery is detected, for example, a phenomenon that lowers the safety of the secondary battery is detected early, and a user is warned or the use of the secondary battery is stopped. The abnormality detection system of the secondary battery determines whether the temperature of the secondary battery is within a temperature range in which normal operation can be performed on the basis of temperature data obtained with a temperature sensor. In the case where the temperature of the secondary battery is high, a cooling device is driven by a control signal from the abnormality detection system of the secondary battery. The abnormality detection system of the secondary battery includes at least a memory means. The memory means has a function of holding an analog signal and includes a transistor using an oxide semiconductor for a semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Munehiro Kozuma, Takayuki Ikeda, Takanori Matsuzaki, Kei Takahashi, Mayumi Mikami, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 12038769
    Abstract: A system can plan a route for a machine, such as an electric vehicle or other mobile machine, from a current location of the machine to a maintenance station where a service operation is to be performed on the machine. The service operation can be associated with a target state of charge (SoC) for a battery of the machine. The system can plan the route such that an expected energy consumption level, associated with traversal of the route by the machine, causes the SoC of the battery to satisfy the target SoC when the machine arrives at the maintenance station. The system can also dynamically adjust the route, charges of the battery, and/or machine operations performed along the route, during travel to cause the SoC of the battery to satisfy the target SoC when the machine arrives at the maintenance station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC
    Inventor: Cameron Thomas Lane
  • Patent number: 12040637
    Abstract: A charging method includes detecting whether two battery modules are balanced, simultaneously charging the two battery modules by a first charging current when the two battery modules are balanced, and executing a specific charging procedure when the two battery modules are not balanced. The step of executing the specific charging procedure includes charging by the first charging current a first battery module between the two battery modules that is not balanced and disconnecting the other between the two battery modules, and simultaneously charging the two battery modules by a second charging current upon the first battery module reaching balance, wherein the second charging current is less than the first charging current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: GETAC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Li-Shing Chen, Yng-Wei Lee
  • Patent number: 12040635
    Abstract: A battery management system for dynamically balancing power in a battery module is provided. The battery management system comprises a plurality of modules, and each of the plurality of modules comprises a plurality of bricks. Each of the plurality of bricks comprises a plurality of blocks, electrically connected in one of a series configuration or a parallel configuration and a controller assembly provided in each of the plurality of the modules. The controller assembly comprises a first converter adapted to be connected to the plurality of bricks and a second converter adapted to be connected to an external system. The controller assembly is configured to obtain a plurality of battery pack parameters from the plurality of bricks using the first converter, process the obtained plurality of battery pack parameters and determine a current level to regulate a charging or discharging of the battery pack using the second converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: IGRENENERGI, INC.
    Inventors: Sunit Tyagi, Hemanshu Bhatt, Jitendra Apte, Anupam Hudait, Ranjith Nandakumar, Santhosha Gowda, Deepthi Keshavan, Pooja Sharma
  • Patent number: 12038350
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting leaks in a battery includes a plurality of cells, each which include a pair of conductive leads bracketing a polymer seal, and a wireless measurement and communication chip (“chip”) configured to perform capacitive measurement, showing a change in capacitance when bridged by ionically conductive species or when a wick is suffused with an electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Joseph Nemanick, Robert G. Will
  • Patent number: 12027897
    Abstract: A battery secondary protection circuit includes a first pin, a second pin, a first sensing circuit, a first current source, a first enabling circuit and a first protection circuit. The first pin and the second pin are coupled to two terminals of a first battery. The first sensing circuit, coupled between the first pin and second pin, provides a first sensing signal and a second sensing signal. The first current source, coupled between the first pin and second pin, provides a first current. The first enabling circuit, coupled to the first sensing circuit and first current source, generates a first enabling signal according to the first sensing signal. The first protection circuit is coupled to the first sensing circuit. When the first enabling signal enables the first current source, the first protection circuit generates a first protection signal according to a second sensing signal changed with the first current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: UPI SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventors: Chun-Kuei Chiu, Chih-Liang Wu, Shih-Kun Liang
  • Patent number: 12021400
    Abstract: The invention provides a voltage balancing system for voltage balancing. The voltage balancing system includes an analog front end arranged in parallel with the cell group, a micro control unit communicating with the analog front end, a communication isolation module connected between the analog front end and the micro control unit, and a balancing module. The input of the balancing module is connected to the cell group to input the total voltage of the cell group. The output of the balancing module is connected to the micro control unit and the communication isolation module to output the operating voltage of the micro control unit and the communication isolation module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Globe (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Huage Wang, Baoan Li, Xian Zhuang, Chuanjun Liu, Zhiyuan Li
  • Patent number: 12015297
    Abstract: A charge and discharge control device of a battery charges the battery with a constant current in a constant current mode. When the voltage of the battery corresponds to an end-of-charge voltage, the charge and discharge control device converts the constant current mode to a constant voltage mode and thereby charges the battery with a constant voltage. The end-of-charge voltage is set as a first end-of-charge voltage minus a negative electrode threshold potential from the full-charge voltage of the battery, and the negative electrode threshold potential is a potential value of the negative electrode where a negative electrode active material contained in the battery causes a phase change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yongheui Song, Yoonphil Eo
  • Patent number: 12015130
    Abstract: A charger includes a housing with an interface positioned in a front wall and configured to engage a battery pack. The interface includes charging terminals positioned between a first rail and a second rail, a first groove positioned between the first rail and a wall of the housing, and a second groove positioned between the second rail and the wall of the housing. The interface is in communication with an interior of the housing. A fan is coupled within the housing adjacent the interface, and an air passage member includes a hollow body that has a first end coupled to the fan and a second end spaced apart from the first end extending through another wall of the housing. The fan is operable to suck an air flow into the housing from outside the housing and guide the air flow through the air passage member to the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Wyatt R. Silha, John G. Marx, Cameron R. Schulz, Samuel Sheeks, Joel D. Snyder, Jacob D. Rosenthal
  • Patent number: 12009688
    Abstract: The safety is ensured in such a manner that with an abnormality detection system of a secondary battery, abnormality of a secondary battery is detected, for example, a phenomenon that lowers the safety of the secondary battery is detected early, and a user is warned or the use of the secondary battery is stopped. The abnormality detection system of the secondary battery determines whether the temperature of the secondary battery is within a temperature range in which normal operation can be performed on the basis of temperature data obtained with a temperature sensor. In the case where the temperature of the secondary battery is high, a cooling device is driven by a control signal from the abnormality detection system of the secondary battery. The abnormality detection system of the secondary battery includes at least a memory means. The memory means has a function of holding an analog signal and includes a transistor using an oxide semiconductor for a semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Munehiro Kozuma, Takayuki Ikeda, Takanori Matsuzaki, Kei Takahashi, Mayumi Mikami, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11990776
    Abstract: Present embodiments include a control system for one or more battery cells. The control system includes a bi-stable relay configured to switch a state of the bi-stable relay upon receiving a control signal to electrically connect or electrically disconnect the one or more battery cells to a bus and to remain in the state after receiving the control signal. The control system includes a controller configured to be operatively coupled to the bi-stable relay and configured to send the control signal indicative of instructions to control operation of the bi-stable relay based on the state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Ronald J. Dulle
  • Patent number: 11990782
    Abstract: Automatically updating a full charge capacity (FCC) of a battery of an information handling system, the method including: determining that the SOC of the battery is less than the SOC threshold; determining that the time since the previous update of the FCC of the battery is greater than the time threshold; identifying configuration parameters for an update of the FCC of the battery; comparing the configuration parameters with current conditions of the battery; based on comparing the configuration parameters with current conditions of the battery, determining that the current conditions of the battery are within bounds of the configuration parameters; and in response to determining that the current conditions of the battery are within the bounds of the configuration parameters, updating the FCC of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Yan Ning, Nikhil Manohar Vichare, Richard Christopher Thompson
  • Patent number: 11982716
    Abstract: The battery monitoring techniques described herein use a self-characterizing wireless monitor coupled to a battery to monitor different properties of the battery. The wireless monitor may measure, among other things, an alternating current frequency response (ACFR) of the battery. To accomplish this, the wireless monitor may generate and inject a stimulus signal into the battery, and the monitor may then synchronously measure the corresponding impedance response of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Gina Aquilano, Lance Doherty
  • Patent number: 11979049
    Abstract: An electric work machine (1), such as a power tool, comprises a motor (50), a manipulatable part (12) such as a trigger switch, and a control part (36). The motor is energized with electric current supplied by a battery pack (22). By manipulating the manipulatable part, the control part energizes the motor. The control part also acquires information concerning the state of the battery from the battery pack, and, if appropriate based on the information obtained from the battery pack, takes measures (such as limiting a discharge current) to restrain, delay and possibly avert the performance of a protection (discharge-prohibited) operation by the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Ichikawa, Tadahiko Kobayakawa
  • Patent number: 11979041
    Abstract: A fully integrated circuit configuration that can be utilized to prevent abnormal discharge or overcharge in ultra-portable electronic systems is described. This battery protection integrated circuit can be enhanced by the addition of traditional battery protection schemes such as current limiting, overcurrent clamping, under voltage lock out and over voltage protection. This battery protection scheme utilizes a high side switch approach utilizing an ultra-low leakage PMOS power switch rather than the traditional low side NMOS switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: GLF Integrated Power Inc., a Delaware corporation
    Inventors: Ni Sun, Stephen W Bryson
  • Patent number: 11973364
    Abstract: Provided are a circuit control method, a battery controller, a battery management system, a battery, an electrical apparatus, and a vehicle. The circuit control method includes: acquiring an apparatus wake-up signal; determining whether a power source terminal voltage of a charging circuit of a battery on the apparatus is greater than a first threshold and whether a change rate in a first time length is less than a second threshold, wherein the charging circuit is a circuit connecting the battery on the apparatus and a generator, and the power source terminal voltage is an output voltage of the generator; and issuing a first instruction when the power source terminal voltage of the charging circuit of the battery on the apparatus is greater than the first threshold and the change rate in the first time length is less than the second threshold, so that the charging circuit is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Fangyou Lu, Hang Ma, Wei Tian, Xingchang Wang, Zhenhui Huang
  • Patent number: 11964573
    Abstract: Module-based energy systems are provided having multiple converter-source modules. The converter-source modules can each include an energy source and a converter. The systems can further include control circuitry for the modules. The modules can be arranged in various ways to provide single phase AC, multi-phase AC, and/or DC outputs. Each module can be independently monitored and controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: TAE Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikhail Slepchenkov, Roozbeh Naderi
  • Patent number: 11967851
    Abstract: A method for adapting a usage level of a battery pack includes measuring cell sense data for each respective battery cell using a cell sense circuit, the cell sense data including a cell voltage, current, and temperature. The method includes processing the cell sense data, for each respective battery cell, through multiple battery state functions of a controller to generate numeric cell degradation values (CDVs). The battery state functions are calibrated relationships of the cell sense data to predetermined battery fault conditions. Thereafter, the method includes automatically adapting the usage level of the battery pack during operation of the battery pack, via the controller, based on the numeric CDVs. An electric powertrain system includes the battery pack, cell sense circuit, a rotary electric machine, and a controller configured to execute the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: James C. Gibbs, Andrew M. Zettel, Calvin Goodman, Rajesh Nagappala
  • Patent number: 11955823
    Abstract: In a portable device, a load module includes a discharge switch for discharging a battery pack, and a detection circuit that detects a protection signal to control the discharge switch. A charge module includes a charge switch for charging the battery pack, and a detection circuit that detects the protection signal to control the charge switch. The battery pack includes a protection terminal that provides the protection signal, and protection circuitry that sets the protection signal to a state according to the battery pack's status. The protection signal turns the charge switch on and the discharge switch off if the protection signal is in a first state, turns the charge switch off and the discharge switch on if it's in a second state, turns the charge and discharge switches off if it's in a third state, and turns the charge and discharge switches on if it's in a fourth state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: O2Micro Inc.
    Inventors: Deman Zhang, Yalei Meng
  • Patent number: 11949273
    Abstract: A method for managing charging and discharging of a parallel-connected battery pack, including: obtaining a voltage value and a state of charge of a plurality of battery packs; comparing the voltage value and the state of charge of each of the battery packs with a reference voltage value and a reference state of charge; and managing charging and discharging of the plurality of battery packs based on a comparison result. The method can enhance automation of paralleling of battery packs, increase adaptability of a paralleling system, improve paralleling efficiency, further reduce operation and maintenance costs, and improve user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Dongguan Poweramp Technology Limited
    Inventors: Di Zhong, Si Zeng
  • Patent number: 11942813
    Abstract: When a module controller of a battery system detects an abnormality of a battery module, the module controller selects the battery module without stopping the battery module. After that, the module controller compares a current value of a current supplied to a load, with a total value of rated currents of all battery modules that are normal and that are supplying power to the load. When the current value of the current supplied to the load is greater than the total value of the rated currents of the battery modules, the module controller performs a control to stop all the battery modules. When the current value of the current supplied to the load is less than or equal to the total value of the rated currents of all the battery modules that are supplying power to the load, the module controller performs a control to stop the abnormal battery module and not to stop the normal battery modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Suzuki, Michiya Mori
  • Patent number: 11927640
    Abstract: An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention includes: a memory which stores one or more mapping parameters that indicate the correlation between a voltage change amount and the state of health (SOH) of the battery; and a processor, wherein the processor can be set to: detect that an external device for charging the battery is connected to the electronic device; charge the battery by using a charging current supplied from the external device; decide on at least one mapping parameter among the one or more mapping parameters on the basis of at least the charging current; check the voltage change amount of the battery while the battery is being charged; and acquire the SOH of the battery at least partially on the basis of the at least one mapping parameter and the voltage change amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seongho Han, Bookeun Oh, Gilho Kim, Junyoung Oh, Sungun Wi, Jaeyeon Lee
  • Patent number: 11926242
    Abstract: The application provides a method, a charging-discharging device, a cloud server, a system and a medium for charging-discharging interaction, which belong to the fields of electric power technologies. The method for charging-discharging interaction includes: the charging-discharging device transmits a vehicle-to-grid V2G function confirmation message to a battery management system of a target vehicle; when no V2G function feedback message fed back by the battery management system is received within a preset period of time after transmitting the V2G function confirmation message, the charging-discharging device transmits a first indication message to a cloud server to indicate that the target vehicle is V2G-disabled; in response to a non-V2G charging instruction received from the cloud server, the charging-discharging device performs a non-V2G charging for the target vehicle. The availability of the charging-discharging device can be improved according to embodiments of the present application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Longzhen Lin, Yu Yan, Xiao Wang
  • Patent number: 11927641
    Abstract: Provided is a battery pack in which the voltage of each battery cell is monitored using an inexpensive general-purpose microcomputer. A battery pack comprises: a plurality of battery cells connected in series; a plurality of voltage detection units which detect the voltage of each of the battery cells; and a microcomputer which measures the voltages of the battery cells from the output of each of the voltage detection units. Switch control circuits for switching on or off the outputs from the voltage detection units to the microcomputer are respectively arranged on each of the voltage detection units. Voltage divider circuits dividing the detected voltages into voltages lower than or equal to the power supply voltage of a control unit are arranged on the output sides of the voltage detection units. The microcomputer inputs the voltages divided by the voltage divider circuits and measures the voltages of the battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuki Horie