With Battery Or Cell Condition Monitoring (e.g., For Protection From Overcharging, Heating, Etc.) Patents (Class 320/134)
  • Patent number: 11088402
    Abstract: Methods, systems and battery modules are provided, which increase the cycling lifetime of fast charging lithium ion batteries. During the formation process, the charging currents are adjusted to optimize the cell formation, possibly according to the characteristics of the formation process itself, and discharge extents are partial and optimized as well, as is the overall structure of the formation process. During operation, voltage ranges are initially set to be narrow, and are broadened upon battery deterioration to maximize the overall lifetime. Current adjustments are applied in operation as well, with respect to the deteriorating capacity of the battery. Various formation and operation strategies are disclosed, as basis for specific optimizations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Storedot Ltd.
    Inventors: Leonid Krasovitsky, Vladimir Seleznyov, Daniel Aronov, Assaf Grunwald
  • Patent number: 11084382
    Abstract: A vehicle energy store for the electrical supply of an electric drive unit of a motor vehicle, includes a connection of positive potential and a connection of negative potential connected to the drive unit when the vehicle energy store is operated normally. The energy store also includes a first section connecting the connection of positive potential and the connection of negative potential to each other and in which at least one electrical energy storage cell is disposed, and a second section parallel to the first section that connects the connection of positive potential and the connection of negative potential to each other and in which at least one electrical energy storage cell is disposed. At least one semiconductor switch element is configured to be controlled to interrupt a current flowing in a respective one of the first section and the second section is disposed in each of the first section and the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jose Lopez De Arroyabe
  • Patent number: 11088559
    Abstract: A device includes a battery current sense circuit configured to generate a battery current feedback voltage based on a current provided to a battery, a current regulation feedback loop configured to regulate the current provided to the battery based on the battery current feedback voltage and a configurable battery current reference voltage, and a precharge regulation feedback loop configured to regulate the current provided to the battery based on the battery current feedback voltage and a configurable precharge reference voltage. The device also includes a processor configured to set the battery current reference voltage to a first value and set the precharge current reference voltage to a second value. The first value is less than the second value during a transition state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Karthik Nandimandalam Venkata, Siew Kuok Hoon, Daniel Andrew Mavencamp, Jairo Daniel Olivares
  • Patent number: 11085967
    Abstract: A battery control device incorporated in a battery system including a battery pack with a plurality of unit cells connected in series and a temperature sensor attached to a predetermined unit cell of the plurality of unit cells. In the battery control device, an integrated amount calculator calculates an integrated amount of current flow since start of current conduction through the battery pack. A temperature acquirer acquires a temperature of the predetermined unit cell detected by the temperature sensor as a temperature of each of the plurality of unit cells on a condition that the integrated amount of current flow calculated by the integrated amount calculator is smaller than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuki Tachibana
  • Patent number: 11088407
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments, one or more systems, methods, and/or processes may determine that a timeout value has been reached; for each battery cell of multiple of battery cells: may determine if a temperature value associated with the battery cell meets or exceeds a threshold temperature value; if the temperature value associated with the battery cell does not meet or exceed the threshold temperature value, may permit the battery cell to be charged and discharged; if the temperature value associated with the battery cell meets or exceeds the threshold temperature value: may increment a temporary fail count associated with the battery cell; and may prevent at least one of charging and discharging the battery cell; may determine if temporary fail count exceeds a temporary fail count threshold; and if the temporary fail count does not exceed the temporary fail count threshold, may permit charging and discharging the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Jui-Chin Fang, Shao Szu Ho, Chia Fa Chang, Chien Hao Chiu, Chia Liang Lin
  • Patent number: 11082917
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, method, and manufacture for generating backup power in a wireless communications system such as a wireless communications service base station. The system includes a communications interface, a primary power interface, a generator, rectifiers, and a battery circuit. During normal operation, the communications interface is powered from the primary power interface. During a power outage, the communications interface is powered from either the generator or the battery circuit. The generator is cycled on and off during power outages to charge the battery circuit while conserving fuel. To decrease rectification loss, rectifiers are run near full load while rectifying the generator output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Steve Fischer
  • Patent number: 11075541
    Abstract: A signal transmission system comprises: a power supply, a power sourcing device and a powered device connected to each other through a coaxial cable; the power sourcing device comprises a first active inductor module for receiving a DC signal transmitted by the power supply, and transmitting the DC signal to the powered device through the coaxial cable, a first capacitor module for receiving a superposed signal transmitted through the coaxial cable, and transmitting the superposed signal to a signal processing module; and the powered device comprises a second active inductor module for receiving, through the coaxial cable, the DC signal, and transmitting the DC signal to a signal acquiring module for acquiring a superposed signal, a second capacitor module for transmitting the superposed signal to the power sourcing device through the coaxial cable, and the signal acquiring module is for transmitting the superposed signal to the second capacitor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: HANGZHOU HIKVISION DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min Ye, Mingling Luo, Si'en Zhang, Liang Zhang
  • Patent number: 11072242
    Abstract: An off-prevention circuit has a battery management system and a contactor multi-connected via a plurality of positive electrode terminals and a plurality of negative electrode terminals provided in each of the battery management system and the contactor. Even when any one connection among the connections of the plurality of positive electrode terminals and the plurality of negative electrode terminals is disconnected or opened, it is possible to maintain supply of power supplied from the battery management system to the contactor through another connection of the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Ho Byung Yoon, Chang Hyun Sung
  • Patent number: 11070067
    Abstract: A battery management unit for a battery module, the battery management unit including a sensing unit electrically connected to a plurality of battery cells, the sensing unit detecting voltage of each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells and outputting a detection signal including voltage information representing the detected voltage, a first power supply unit generating a first operating voltage using a module voltage of the battery module, and a communication unit which operates using the first operating voltage, the communication unit including an antenna, a wireless communication circuit and a first input port, the communication unit receiving the detection signal from the sensing unit through the first input port, testing at least one preset item based on the detection signal, and outputting a RF signal representing a result of the testing through the antenna and the wireless communication circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Keun-Wook Lee, Sang-Hoon Lee, Yean-Sik Choi
  • Patent number: 11047917
    Abstract: A power supply system is provided with a secondary battery, a memory unit, a calculation unit and a SOC characteristics acquiring unit. The memory unit stores initial characteristics data having a relationship between the open circuit voltage and the capacity for the secondary battery before being deteriorated. The calculation unit utilizes the initial characteristics data to calculate a deteriorated characteristics data which is a relationship between the open circuit voltage and the capacity of the deteriorated secondary battery. The SOC characteristics acquiring unit acquires the relationship between the open circuit voltage and the state of charge of the deteriorated secondary battery by dividing the capacity value included in the deteriorated characteristics data by the fully charged capacity of the deteriorated secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kusano, Koji Ohira
  • Patent number: 11050258
    Abstract: A battery control system includes a storage battery connected to a power network to be charged with and discharge power and a control device configured to control charging and discharging of the storage battery. The control device changes details of charging and discharging control of the storage battery when a deterioration state of the storage battery satisfies a predetermined condition at a point in time when a predetermined time has elapsed since start of use. The control device may gradually shift to control for suppressing deterioration of the storage battery as a use time of the storage battery becomes longer. In this way, it is possible to improve the economy of a consumer owning the storage battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Tsuda
  • Patent number: 11050096
    Abstract: A battery protection circuit includes: a plurality of pack terminals configured to connect a battery module to an external device; a first fuse element located on a current path between the battery module and the plurality of pack terminals to block a current flow between the battery module and the plurality of pack terminals depending on a voltage applied to a control terminal thereof; a first integrated circuit configured to include a first input terminal and configured to control a voltage outputted to the control terminal of the first fuse element depending on a voltage applied to the first input terminal; and a plurality of thermistors connected in series between a positive electrode of the battery module and a first input terminal of the first integrated circuit and each thermistor of the plurality of thermistors having resistance that is varied depending on a temperature of a corresponding cell among a plurality of cells constituting the battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youngjun Kim, Jong-Chan Han
  • Patent number: 11041914
    Abstract: In a method for detecting an internal short of a battery, the method includes: acquiring first charge state information related to a charge state of the battery; detecting a first reference time point when the first charge state information satisfies a reference condition; acquiring second charge state information related to the charge state of the battery; detecting a second reference time point when the second charge state information satisfies a reference condition; and detecting an internal short of the battery based on a difference between a charge amount from the first reference time point to the second reference time point and a discharge amount from the first reference time point to the second reference time point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Shin Cho, Yoonphil Eo
  • Patent number: 11043833
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe systems, methods, apparatuses for wirelessly charging handheld and consumer electronics in wireless power delivery environments. In some embodiments, techniques are described for retrofitting wireless power receivers into existing devices e.g., through wirelessly powered battery apparatuses. For example, the apparatuses discussed herein allow any device that accepts standard form factor batteries to be transformed into a wirelessly powered device. The wirelessly rechargeable battery apparatuses can be applied to any battery form factor including custom or semi-custom battery form factors for mobile phones, laptops, tablet computers, etc. Advantageously, among other benefits, the apparatuses discussed herein overcome the product integration challenges discussed above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Ossia Inc.
    Inventors: Hatem Ibrahim Zeine, Siamak Ebadi, Alireza Saghati, Anas Alfarra, Chris Neugebauer
  • Patent number: 11038364
    Abstract: The herein described technology provides a device with at least two batteries having disparate charge characteristics connected in parallel and sharing a single charging node. The device further includes an adjustable resistance in a charge path between the single charging node and a first battery of the two disparate batteries, and charge control circuitry that dynamically determines a charge rate for the first battery based on a detected battery parameter and controls the adjustable resistance to charge the first battery at the determined charge rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Stefan Jon Kristjansson
  • Patent number: 11038358
    Abstract: A charger circuit for use in controlling charge of a battery pack, which includes a charge control switch and a control unit. The charger circuit has at least one power output terminal and one connection terminal for coupling the battery pack. The charge control switch is arranged to selectively provide a power from a power source to the battery pack through the power output terminal. The control unit is coupled to the charge control switch and the connection terminal, and determines whether to turn off the charge control switch according to a signal based on the connection terminal, wherein the signal based on the connection terminal indicates at least one of an over-voltage condition and an over-temperature condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: MediaTek Inc.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chang Lo, Chia-Hsiang Lin, Chih-Chien Huang
  • Patent number: 11034259
    Abstract: A battery balancing system includes an energy balancing circuit. Multiple battery cells are coupled to the energy balancing circuit. A health assessment circuit is coupled to the multiple battery cells and configured to sense a state of health and a charge of each of the multiple battery cells. The balancing circuit switches energy between the multiple battery cells as a function of the sensed state of health and state of charge of each of the multiple battery cells to balance charge there between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Octavian Ionescu, Octavian Buiu, Ion Georgescu, Viorel Georgel Dumitru, Bogdan-Catalin Serban, Mihai Brezeanu, Matei Serbanescu
  • Patent number: 11038216
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a wireless battery management system (BMS) and a battery pack including the same. The wireless BMS includes a plurality of slave BMSs installed and coupled to a plurality of battery modules of the battery pack in one-to-one correspondence, and a master BMS configured to wirelessly transmit a trigger signal to the plurality of slave BMSs for identification (ID) allocation to each of the plurality of slave BMSs. Each slave BMS is configured to generate a response signal including a respective allocated temporary ID in response to the trigger signal, and wirelessly transmit the response signal to the master BMS. For each given slave BMS, the master BMS is configured to receive the response signal from of the given slave BMS, and determine a formal ID to be allocated to the given BMS based on a received signal strength of the response signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Inventors: Jung-Hyun Kwon, Chan-Ha Park, Sang-Hoon Lee, Yean-Sik Choi
  • Patent number: 11029363
    Abstract: Provided is a device including an acquisition unit configured to obtain a time taken for a voltage level of a battery in a charge mode to change for each of a plurality of voltage sections, and a prediction unit configured to predict a state of health (SOH) of the battery based on ratio information determined by comparing the time obtained for each of the plurality of voltage sections with a reference time for each of the plurality of voltage sections. When the time taken for some voltage sections of the plurality of voltage sections is obtained by the acquisition unit, the prediction unit corrects the predicted SOH of the battery based on the time taken for the voltage level of the battery in a discharge mode to change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: OCI COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: MyungSup Um, HeeChang Ye
  • Patent number: 11031934
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a connection circuit including a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit includes a first impedance unit. The first impedance unit is electrically connected to a first detecting terminal of an electronic device for receiving a first voltage. The second circuit includes a second impedance unit. The second impedance unit is electrically connected to a second detecting terminal of the electronic device. The second impedance unit includes a transistor switch. A control terminal of the transistor switch is electrically connected to the first circuit such that the transistor switch is turned on according to the first voltage, and the second circuit receives a second voltage transmitted from the second detecting terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ya-Hsuan Sung
  • Patent number: 11025084
    Abstract: A first electronic device, electronically coupled to a second device for supplying a charge to the second electronic device, tracks the voltage requirements of the second device and dynamically adjusts its output voltage upwards or downwards to match such requirements. The second electronic device may provide feedback to the first electronic device through a feedback loop. The feedback may include an indication of the voltage requirements and/or instructions for adjusting the voltage output of the first electronic device. The second device may be, for example, a wearable audio device, while the first device is a case for the wearable audio device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Yao Ding, Trevor Hermosillo, Maksim Shmukler, Chi Kin Benjamin Leung
  • Patent number: 11025071
    Abstract: A power supply unit for an aerosol inhaler includes: a power supply that is able to discharge power to a load for generating an aerosol from an aerosol generation source; and a control unit that is configured to control at least one of charging and discharging of the power supply such that the power supply does not become one or both of a fully charged state and a discharging termination state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Takeshi Akao
  • Patent number: 11025073
    Abstract: A module maintenance system includes a battery module comprising at least a first battery cell and a second battery cell, and a charging device comprising a bulk output and an equalization output. The battery module has a series configuration and a parallel configuration. In the parallel configuration, the charging device outputs a first voltage to the equalization output to equalize charge levels of the first and second battery cells. In the series configuration, the charging device outputs a second voltage to the bulk output to modify charge levels of the first and second battery cells, wherein the second voltage is greater than the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Artisan Vehicle Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian R. Huff, Mike Kasaba, Russell Davis
  • Patent number: 11007896
    Abstract: A storage apparatus stores output property data including groups of residual capacities of a secondary battery and output densities corresponding to the residual capacities. In the output property data, both a difference between a residual capacity of a group that includes an extreme value in the output densities and a residual capacity of a group that includes an output density that immediately precedes the extreme value, and a difference between the residual capacity of the group that includes the extreme value in the output densities and a residual capacity of a group that includes an output density that immediately follows the extreme value are less than a difference between output densities of other groups adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Yoshida, Hideo Yanagita
  • Patent number: 11005126
    Abstract: A secondary battery is provided. The secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolytic solution. The electrolytic solution includes at least one of a first heterocyclic compound and a second heterocyclic compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takumi Hiasa, Toru Odani, Kazumasa Takeshi, Tadahiko Kubota, Nadejda Krasteva, Silvia Rosselli, Gabriele Nelles, David Danner, Vitor Deichmann, Dennis Chercka, William Ford
  • Patent number: 10998734
    Abstract: A power adapter and a terminal are provided. The power adapter includes a power conversion component and a charging interface, the charging interface including a power line; the power conversion component is configured to form a charging loop with a terminal via the power line, for charging a battery of the terminal. The power adapter further includes a communication component, the charging interface further comprises a data line; during a coupling of the power adapter to the terminal, the communication component is configured to perform a bidirectional communication with the terminal via the data line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: GUANG DONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Jialiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10998737
    Abstract: A charging path switching circuit includes a first port, a second port, a path switch unit, and a conversion unit. The first port is connected to an external electronic device to obtain a first electrical signal. The second port is connected to an external power source to obtain a second electrical signal. The conversion unit is connected the path switch unit and converts the first electrical signal or the second electrical signal to a predetermined voltage. The path switch unit is connected to the first port and the second port. The path switch unit selects to connect to the first port or the second port, to obtain the first electrical signal or the second electrical signal according to the connection of the first and the second port. The path switch unit preferentially selects to obtain the second electrical signal from the second port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: AMBIT MICROSYSTEMS (SHANGHAI) LTD.
    Inventor: Yu-Hu Yan
  • Patent number: 10978875
    Abstract: An on-site ESS management device includes an editing part for selectively grouping a plurality of grid parts when a plurality of grid parts including at least one of a battery and a power converter connected to the battery are provided, a selection part for selecting a specific group, and a management part for managing the power input and output of each grid part included in the specific group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: GRIDWIZ INC
    Inventors: Ku Hwan Kim, June Woo Ryu, Hyun Woong Kim, Yun Ho Jung
  • Patent number: 10972041
    Abstract: A battery pack and charger system includes a first battery pack having a first set of battery cells and configured to provide only a first operating voltage and a second battery pack having a second set of battery cells and configured to provide the first operating voltage and a second operating voltage that is different from the first operating voltage and a battery pack charger configured to be able to charge the first battery pack and the second battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. White, Matthew J. Velderman, Andrew E. Seman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10971940
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product (computer readable medium) embodiments for extending battery longevity by improving partial-state-of-charge operation of batteries. An embodiment operates by determining, using at least one processor, that at least one first battery has stopped charging at a partial state of charge, in which the at least one first battery is associated with a first battery bank and is rechargeable, and charging, in response to receipt of a command issued from the at least one processor or another processor in response to the determining, the at least one first battery using at least one second battery, in which the at least one second battery belongs to a second battery bank that is not the first battery bank, by transferring charge from the at least one second battery to the at least one first battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: International Power Supply AD
    Inventors: Alexander Stoilov Rangelov, Filip Stoilov Rangelov, Kiril Todorov Marinov, Stoil Rangelov Trifonov
  • Patent number: 10955482
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for acquiring a battery capacity and an electronic device are provided. The method includes: acquiring a charging instruction; acquiring a discharging voltage value and its corresponding capacity and a voltage threshold of a battery to be detected according to the charging instruction; acquiring a charging capacity of the battery to be detected according to the discharging voltage value and the voltage threshold of the battery to be detected; and acquiring a capacity of the battery to be detected according to the capacity corresponding to the discharging voltage value of the battery to be detected and the charging capacity of the battery to be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: GOERTEK TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuangshuai Zhu, Yong Qie
  • Patent number: 10958086
    Abstract: Battery systems are provided according to various embodiments. A battery system includes: a first battery rack including a first battery module having a first battery, a first rack management unit which controls charging and discharging of the first battery module, and a first rack protection circuit which interrupts current of the first battery module under control of the first rack management unit; and a second battery rack including a second battery module having a second battery, a second rack management unit which controls charging and discharging of the second battery module, and a second rack protection circuit which interrupts current of the second battery module under control of the second rack management unit, wherein the first and second rack protection circuits are controlled in parallel by the first and second rack management units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jongwoon Yang
  • Patent number: 10958092
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit may include a recharge switch and a Wireless Recharge/MST unit. The recharge switch is connected with a battery through an intermediate node and provides a current path for wirely charging the battery in a wired charging mode. The Wireless Recharge/MST unit is connected between the intermediate node and a ground. The Wireless Recharge/MST unit disconnects the intermediate node and the ground in the wired charging mode, provides a wireless charging current to the battery through the intermediate node in a wireless charging mode, and is supplied with a current for generating a magnetic signal from the battery through the intermediate node in a magnetic secure transmission (MST) mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sungwoo Lee, Hyoungseok Oh, Kwang Chan Lee
  • Patent number: 10950845
    Abstract: Provided is a battery protection circuit module package capable of easily achieving high integration and size reduction. The battery protection circuit module package includes a terminal lead frame including a first internal connection terminal lead and a second internal connection terminal lead provided at two edges of the terminal lead frame and electrically connected to electrode terminals of a battery bare cell, and a plurality of external connection terminal leads provided between the first and second internal connection terminal leads and serving as a plurality of external connection terminals, and a device package including a substrate mounted on the terminal lead frame to be electrically connected to the terminal lead frame, and providing a battery protection circuit device thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: ITM SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Ho-seok Hwang, Young-Seok Kim, Seong-beom Park, Sang-hoon Ahn, Tae Hwan Jung, Seung-uk Park, Jae-ku Park, Myoung-Ki Moon, Hyun-suck Lee, Da-Woon Jung
  • Patent number: 10951046
    Abstract: A battery protection circuit includes cell terminals electrically connected to a positive electrode and a negative electrode of a battery, external terminals electrically connected to positive and negative electrodes of an electronic device, discharge and charge FETs connected along a high current path between the cell terminals and the external terminals, a controller having a first terminal electrically connected to a control electrode of the discharge FET and a second terminal electrically connected to a gate electrode of the charge FET, and configured to control the charge FET and the discharge FET, a first resistor electrically connected between the control electrode of the discharge FET and the first terminal of the controller, a capacitor electrically connected between the discharge FET and the first terminal of the discharge FET, and a transistor electrically connected between the control electrode of the discharge FET and a second electrode of the discharge FET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyong Pil Jin
  • Patent number: 10944274
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to apparatuses and methods of providing an ideal diode function to a battery having a protective field effect transistor (FET). An apparatus may include the protective FET configured to selectively connect an external voltage to a battery for charging the battery. The apparatus may also include a controller coupled with a gate of the protective FET via a node and configured to enable the protective FET. The apparatus may further include an override circuit coupled to the node and configured to selectively draw current away from the gate of the protective FET based on the external voltage or to interrupt the path from a controller to a protective FET. The override circuit of the apparatus may provide protection from cross-charging of the battery by a second battery while using the protective FET that is already used for charge/discharge protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Jon Kristjansson, Algird Michael Gudaitis
  • Patent number: 10938017
    Abstract: A battery module includes plurality of prismatic battery cells. Each prismatic battery cell includes a casing housing electrochemically active components and a cover assembly. The cover assembly includes a cover, a terminal protruding through the cover, a current collector electrically coupled to the terminal, and an overcharge protection assembly between the terminal and current collector. The overcharge protection assembly includes a spiral disk and a vent disk physically and electrically coupled, wherein the vent disk is between the spiral disk and the terminal and includes a concave structure forming a cavity between the vent disk and the terminal. The vent disk is configured to deform into the cavity and break when a pressure within the casing exceeds a threshold value. The spiral disk is configured to apply a shearing force to the vent disk when the vent disk deforms to facilitate the breakage to interrupt electrical current flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: CPS TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventor: Xugang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10938232
    Abstract: A buffered power transfer apparatus includes rechargeable batteries. The buffered power transfer apparatus is used on demand to convert high voltage DC to low voltage DC at maximum efficiency with minimum standby losses. The buffered power transfer apparatus may be used in a Wave Energy Converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: OCEAN POWER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Joseph Sarokhan
  • Patent number: 10938628
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a battery management system and a communication method. The method includes: determining, by a main BMU, from a plurality of managed units a fault unit that communicates abnormally with the main BMU, and transmitting, by the main BMU, to a backup BMU a fault frequency at which the fault unit communicates abnormally with the main BMU; selecting, by the backup BMU, from the managed units a managed unit that communicates normally with the backup BMU and the fault unit as a target unit; transmitting, by the backup BMU, frequency-conversion information to the fault unit through the target unit based on the fault frequency; converting, by the fault unit, its frequency to a frequency; transmitting the frequency to the main BMU if the backup BMU communicates normally with the fault unit using the frequency; and communicating, by the main BMU, with the fault unit using the frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Zhimin Dan, Wenbin Lu, Wei Zhang, Yizhen Hou, Jia Xu, Jiechao Luo, Teng Yu
  • Patent number: 10930982
    Abstract: A device that controls charging and discharging of a lithium ion battery (3) that starts an engine starter (1), includes: a voltage sensor (S1) that detects the voltage of the lithium ion battery; a current sensor (S2) that detects the current of the lithium ion battery; and a control section (30) that controls charging and discharging of the lithium ion battery. The control section (30) calculates capacity degradation rates of a cathode and anode of the lithium ion battery based on detected values of the voltage sensor and the current sensor at the time when a first time has elapsed, and at the time when a second time longer than the first time has elapsed, from startup of the engine starter, and limits the charging and discharging of the lithium ion battery based on comparison results between the capacity degradation rates and determination criterion values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tenyu Yan, Takashi Utsunomiya
  • Patent number: 10920665
    Abstract: A method and system for exercising a standby generator is disclosed. The standby generator can be exercised in at least two different exercise cycles, including an express exercise cycle and an extended exercise cycle. The system and method operates the generator for an express exercise cycle having a first duration when the ambient temperature at or near the standby generator exceeds a minimum threshold temperature. If the ambient temperature does not exceed the minimum threshold temperature, the express exercise cycle does not begin. In addition to the express exercise cycle, the engine of the standby generator is started and run for an extended exercise cycle having a duration that exceeds the duration of the express exercise cycle. The extended exercise cycles are separated by a first interval while the express exercise cycles are separated by a second interval, where the first interval is longer than the second interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Miller, Dean Weigand, Rick Jungmann, Robert Townsend
  • Patent number: 10923940
    Abstract: A charger power supply successively performs a constant-current charging process and constant-voltage charging process in accordance with a compensation signal. The process includes a plurality of first time periods during which a first output current is provided and a plurality of second time periods during which a second output current is provided. One of a current feedback loop and a voltage feedback loop is selected by comparing output signals of two loops. The current feedback loop has a first reference voltage compensated by a difference between a first voltage corresponding to a first output voltage during the plurality of first time periods and a second voltage corresponding to a second output voltage during the plurality of said time periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: SILERGY SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY (HANGZHOU) LTD.
    Inventor: Lili Liu
  • Patent number: 10924008
    Abstract: A converter includes a plurality of switching elements coupled between power signal lines that receive a first voltage from an external power source. The converter includes at least one capacitance, and at least one connector including a first port coupled to the first battery and a first power signal line of the power signal lines, a second port coupled to the second battery and a second power signal line of the power signal lines, and a third port coupled to an output line. The output line is coupled between the first battery and the second battery. The converter includes a resonant circuit coupled to the plurality of switching elements. During a charging mode, the plurality of switching elements, the resonant circuit and the at least one capacitance operate to balance voltages of the first battery and the second battery through the first, second, and third ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Miaosen Shen, Feng Guo
  • Patent number: 10923776
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring and responding to forces influencing batteries of electronic devices are provided. One or more sensors may be provided at various positions within a battery assembly including one or more battery cells within an enclosure. In some embodiments, a sensor may be provided between a battery cell and a portion of the enclosure. In other embodiments, a sensor may be positioned between two adjacent cells in a stack. Each sensor may detect a force influencing a battery cell of the assembly. In some embodiments, the sensor may be a force sensing material having a conductance configured to vary based on the influencing force. In other embodiments, the sensor may be a contact sensor that detects when the influencing force moves two elements together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley L. Spare, Robert Sean Murphy
  • Patent number: 10910616
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery pack for a vehicle, which includes a pack case forming an appearance of the battery pack, a static electricity inducing pattern forming a conductor pattern of a predetermined form on a BMS circuit board provided in the pack case and a discharge terminal connected to the static electricity inducing pattern, and a cable connector for both communicating and grounding, which is composed of a pack connector having a first connection portion configured to be connected to a data transmission terminal on the BMS circuit board and a second connection portion configured to be connected to the discharge terminal, and a vehicle connector connected to the pack connector by a harness cable and installed to the pack case to be exposed out through a connector mounting hole formed through the pack case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Yong-Joon Choi, Do-Hyeon Kim, Hwa-Joong Kim, Jun-Yeob Seong, Sung-Chun Yu
  • Patent number: 10908222
    Abstract: Provided is a battery lifetime estimating method including steps of: fully charging a battery according to a predetermined charging condition; partially discharging the fully charged battery according to a predetermined discharging condition; acquiring voltage information at a plurality of predetermined measurement time points while performing the partially discharging; and estimating a remaining capacity of the battery by using the acquired voltage information. Herein, the step of estimating the remaining capacity of the battery includes steps of: calculating the capacity of the battery in one cycle of fully charging/discharging in which the measurement is performed from the measured voltage drop amounts; and estimating the remaining lifetime of the battery by applying a statistical technique to the capacity of the battery calculated with respect to a plurality of cycles of fully charging/discharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: HYOSUNG HEAVY INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sang Hui Park, Hwa Seob Song, Ji Sung Kim, Joo Ho Choi, Jae Wook Lee
  • Patent number: 10910675
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to the present invention includes: an electrode body including a positive electrode including a positive-electrode active material layer; an external terminal connected to the electrode body; a nonaqueous electrolyte including a gas generant, and a current interrupt device. A content of the gas generant is at least 4 mass %. The positive-electrode active material layer includes, as a positive-electrode active material, a complex oxide containing at least zirconium (Zr) and calcium (Ca) as constituent elements. When a sum total of metal elements, except metal that becomes a charge carrier, in the complex oxide is 100 mol % in terms of a mole percentage, the complex oxide contains Zr from 0.1 mol % to 0.5 mol % inclusive and Ca from 0.1 mol % to 0.3 mol % inclusive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideyuki Saka, Keiichi Takahashi, Hideaki Fujita
  • Patent number: 10903464
    Abstract: A battery module having a plurality of battery cells is described. The battery module includes a head unit with corresponding conical positive and negative terminals that allow additional battery modules to mate together and be electrically coupled in an end-to-end relationship. A plurality of battery modules can be combined together into rows of modules that are the electrically coupled to form a multi-modular battery system. The multi-modular battery system uses interchangeable individual battery modules for ease of replacement. Battery modules of a multi-modular battery system can communicate with each other using optical communication methods, including via line-of-sight and/or optical cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Artisan Vehicle Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Brian R. Huff
  • Patent number: 10903463
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a casing, a plurality of battery cells, and a first connector, for example. The casing includes a first outer wall and a protrusion that is provided on the first outer wall and protrudes outward from the first outer wall. The battery cells include an electrode terminal and are housed in the casing. The first connector is provided on the protrusion and is electrically connected to the electrode terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Shimizu, Toshinori Uchida, Kazuto Kuroda, Masahiro Sekino
  • Patent number: 10903644
    Abstract: Provided is a control device that stops the power supply when the first FET is short-circuited. In the control device, a boost circuit increases the voltage of one end of a resistor on the boost circuit side to a predetermined voltage that is higher than the source voltage of the first FET. An AND circuit instructs the discharge circuit to decrease the voltage at the other end of the resistor when the voltage at the other end of the resistor is less than a threshold voltage if the AND circuit instructs the boost circuit to increase the voltage at the one end of the resistor on the boost circuit side. The threshold voltage exceeds the voltage at the one end of the resistor if the voltage at the one end of the resistor on the boost circuit is the predetermined voltage and if the first FET is short-circuited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinnosuke Nakaguchi, Masayuki Kato, Shunichi Sawano, Takeo Uchino