Pulse-width Modulation Patents (Class 320/145)
  • Patent number: 11952930
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is a vehicle system comprising an engine, an exhaust aftertreatment system including a heating element, an electric machine configured to selectably operate as a motor or a generator, an inverter module including a plurality of inverter phase legs and an auxiliary leg, and an electronic control system in operative communication with the inverter module and the exhaust aftertreatment system. The electronic control system is configured to evaluate whether the electric machine is operating as a generator, selectably operate the plurality of inverter phase legs to rectify AC power received from the electric machine, evaluate whether to heat one or more components of the exhaust aftertreatment system, and selectably operate the auxiliary leg to provide rectified power from the inverter legs to one or more electrical heating elements thermally coupled with the one or more components exhaust aftertreatment system effective to heat the one or more components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Subbarao Dakshina Murthy Bellur, Thomas A. Dollmeyer, Jennifer Rumsey, Bradford K. Palmer
  • Patent number: 11870356
    Abstract: Technologies for safely lowering a DC link voltage potential include detecting shut down of a system that is powered by the DC link energy storage system and initiating an operating mode to dissipate energy as a form of loss without utilizing an additional resistor, that is, dissipating the DC link internally to the enclosed power module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Xiaorui Wang, Ryan Wayne Schumacher
  • Patent number: 11863006
    Abstract: A method for determining a charging circuit, includes: acquiring a preset equivalent circuit model including a preset number of charging paths, wherein one or more of the preset number of charging paths includes a controllable device; controlling an operating state of each controllable device to obtain initial equivalent circuits each including respective different charging paths; acquiring a charging current in each charging path of each of the initial equivalent circuits in a charging state; for each of the initial equivalent circuits, acquiring a heat loss value of the initial equivalent circuit based on the charging current in each charging path of the initial equivalent circuit and a resistance value of each equivalent device in the equivalent circuit model; and determining one of the initial equivalent circuits having a minimum heat loss value under a same condition as a target charging circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Changyu Sun, Hang Ren
  • Patent number: 11811016
    Abstract: A series formation system is provided. The series formation system includes at least two formation modules and a power module. The power module is connected in series with the at least two formation modules. The at least two formation modules are connected in series. The power module is configured to supply power to the at least two formation modules. Each of the formation modules includes a battery cell and a formation control circuit. The formation control circuit is electrically connected to the battery cell. The formation control circuit is configured to control a voltage or a current provided by the power module to the battery cell, so that the battery cell is switched between a constant current charging mode and a constant voltage charging mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: ZHUHAI TITANS NEW POWER ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng Miao, Liguo Qiu
  • Patent number: 11698415
    Abstract: A battery management system includes a low-power chip that allows battery management system, or components thereof, to alternate between operational states. Operational states may include a first state, a second state, a third state, and the like. A method of operation by a battery management system for an electric aircraft is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Cullen Jemison, Braedon Lohe, Nathan William Joseph Wiegman
  • Patent number: 11462918
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a multifunction battery switch and method of connecting a battery pack to an external bus via the multifunction battery switch. The multifunction battery switch having a multifunctional controller, a plurality of switches, an inductor, and a resistor. Each of the plurality of switches is independently controllable via switch commands from the multifunctional controller. The inductor, the resistor, and the plurality of switches are arranged to define a buck-boost converter to selectively regulate power transfer between the battery pack and the external bus as a function of the switch commands from the multifunctional controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation
    Inventor: Gilbert Lewis Crouse, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11435796
    Abstract: A power backup device charging system includes components coupled to a power supply system that is configured to supply power to the components, and a power backup device that is coupled to the components and the power supply system. The power backup device identifies a minimum power requirement for the components and sets a first charging threshold based on the minimum power requirement for the components. The power backup device then sets a second charging threshold that is higher than the first charging threshold and that is lower than a full charge level for the power backup device. In response to a charge level of the power backup device reaching the first charging threshold, the power backup device is charged, and in response to the charge level of the power backup device reaching the second charging threshold, the power backup device is prevented from charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Wei Dong, Xizhi Cui, Haifang Zhai
  • Patent number: 11368037
    Abstract: An on-board charger for charging a battery, such as a traction battery of an electric vehicle, includes an AC/DC converter and a pulsating buffer (PB) converter. The AC/DC converter is configured to convert an AC input from a mains supply into an output having a DC voltage and a current ripple. The PB converter is connected to the AC/DC converter and is configured to process the output of the AC/DC converter to reduce or minimize the current ripple thereof and transform the output of the AC/DC converter into a battery-level DC output for charging the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rafael Jimenez Pino, Magi Margalef Boquera, Pablo Gaona Rosanes, Antonio Leon Masich, Oscar Lucia Gil, Hector Sarnago Andia
  • Patent number: 11350226
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method of charging a rechargeable battery, the method comprising the steps of: detecting the presence of a rechargeable hearing aid in a hearing aid recharger; generating a unique random ID in the charger; transmitting the unique random ID to the hearing aid using an extremely low power protocol; demodulating the unique ID in the hearing aid; using the demodulated unique ID in a low power protocol to advertise the hearing aid on a network which includes the charger; associating the hearing aid to the charger when the charger which broadcast the unique ID receives that unique ID from a hearing aid using a wireless protocol; using the wireless protocol to communicate between the associated charging station and hearing aid; radiating power from the charger to the hearing aid; and ending the association when the hearing aid is removed from the charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Earlens Corporation
    Inventors: Kulbir Sandhu, Cem Shaquer, Kyu-Hwa Jeong
  • Patent number: 11258281
    Abstract: An intelligence AC to DC maximum power charging management method of a battery includes providing a battery charger having a power conversion unit coupled to a charging control device, which contains a micro-controller, a voltage detection unit, a current detection unit, a temperature sensor, and a communication port, and providing a battery pack electrically connected to the battery charger enabling the charging controller to provide charging management for the battery pack, wherein the micro-controller can calculate charging power through received battery voltage, battery charger current, and temperature of the battery charger and tracking the maximum output charging power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: PHIHONG TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yan-Keng Tan, Mu-Hsun Chen, Chen-Chan Lin, Shih-Hen Lin, Ming-Jyun Li, Yuan-Chang Chen
  • Patent number: 11251718
    Abstract: An active rectifier bridge circuit and an on-chip integrated system. The active rectifier bridge circuit includes: a bias module, configured to provide a first bias current source, a second bias current source, and an internal power supply for a gate driver module; the gate driver module controlled by the first bias current source, the second bias current source, and the internal power supply, and configured to process one group of alternating current input voltages to generate two groups of control signals that are mutually inverted, to generate four gate drive signals; a power switch tube rectification module, connected to the bias module and the gate driver module, configured to: perform a turn-on or turn-off operation on corresponding power switch tubes under the control of the four gate drive signals, and convert the one group of alternating current input voltages into a direct current output voltage for output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: SHANGHAI NATLINEAR ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shouquan Zhao, Guizhi Liu, Yao Zhou, Xiaoqiang Jiang
  • Patent number: 11159037
    Abstract: A charging method and an electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a charging interface, a charging circuit and a battery. The charging circuit includes a high-voltage direct-charging chip, an output end of the charging interface is connected to an input end of the high-voltage direct-charging chip, and an output end of the high-voltage direct-charging chip is connected to the battery to output charging current to the battery. The method includes: turning on the high-voltage direct-charging chip; outputting a first current to the high-voltage direct-charging chip through the charging interface; and increasing the charging current by a first predetermined current and then outputting the charging current to the battery through the high-voltage direct-charging chip every time till the charging current reaches a first target current such that the voltage of the battery is increased slowly to leave enough time for detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jie Fan
  • Patent number: 11101666
    Abstract: A power supply charging system having first and second alternating power cells, a motor driven generator adapted to operably switch between providing power between the first and second alternating power cells, a third power cell which supplies power to the motor driven generator, and a control system having a power cell managing module and a charge control module. The power cell module is adapted to alternate the motor driven generator to operably switch between providing power to the first and second alternating power cells. The charge control module is adapted to detect the occurrence of a pre-determined power supply condition to activate the motor driven generator to provide power to the first or second alternating power cells. The power supply charging system may find particular use in generating a direct current, converting the direct current to an alternating current, and providing a continuous alternating current to a facility or equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: KATLEGO SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Rodney L. Clay, Lloyd W. Williams, Wally J. Clay
  • Patent number: 11095229
    Abstract: A direct AC to AC converter includes a modulation stage, a transformer and a de-modulation stage. The modulation stage is configured to convert an AC input voltage with a first frequency into a bipolar PWM voltage with a second frequency, wherein the second frequency is higher than the first frequency. The transformer has a primary winding and secondary winding, wherein the primary winding is coupled to the modulation stage to receive the bipolar PWM voltage. The de-modulation stage is coupled to the secondary winding of the transformer and configured to convert the voltage across the secondary winding of the transformer into an AC output voltage with the first frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Hsing, Eric Yang, Jian Jiang, Di Han
  • Patent number: 11031803
    Abstract: A start-up apparatus for a battery management circuit and a battery management system having the same are provided. The start-up apparatus for the battery management circuit includes a transformer, a switch circuit, a control circuit, and a rectifier circuit. The transformer includes a primary winding, an auxiliary winding, and a secondary winding. A first terminal of the primary winding is coupled to a first external power path. A first terminal of the switch circuit is coupled to a second terminal of the primary winding, and a second terminal of the switch circuit is coupled to a second external power path. The control circuit is coupled to the auxiliary winding for receiving power and controls a conduction state of the switch circuit. The rectifier circuit is coupled to the secondary winding of the transformer and supplies power to the battery management circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
    Inventor: Tze-Shiang Wang
  • Patent number: 10910861
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a charging system, a power adapter and a charging method. The power adapter includes a first rectifier, a switch unit, a transformer, a second rectifier, a first current sampling circuit, a first capacitor bank and a second capacitor bank, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to output a control signal to the switch unit, and determine an output current of the power adapter according to a current sampling value sampled by the first current sampling circuit when the power adapter enters a first charging mode, wherein, the control unit is configured to isolate the first capacitor bank when the output current of the power adapter is at a rising edge or a falling edge, and enable the first capacitor bank to work when the output current of the power adapter is at a platform segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Chen Tian, Jialiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10790689
    Abstract: In a general aspect, a charging apparatus can include a power converter circuit configured to supply, from an input voltage, charging power for charging a battery of an electronic device; and a control circuit configured to determine a charging current limit and a charging voltage of the power converter circuit for charging the battery. Determining the charging current limit and the charging voltage can include: setting the current limit of the power converter circuit to an initial charging current limit and setting the charging voltage to an initial charging voltage; determining whether the power converter circuit is operating in a current limit mode or a voltage limit mode; and iteratively modifying the current limit of the power converter circuit until the power converter circuit dithers between the current limit mode and the voltage limit mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mukund Krishna, Karttikeya Shah, Alvin Fok
  • Patent number: 10763684
    Abstract: In a secondary battery charging method, constant current charging is performed until a first predetermined voltage V0 is attained, constant voltage charging is then performed at the first predetermined voltage V0, the first constant voltage charging is completed when a charge current becomes (In??In) from In, and then n is incremented by one; and constant voltage charging is performed at a voltage Vn=Vn-1+?Vn, a step of completing the n-th constant voltage charging when the charge current becomes (In??In) from In is repeated by incrementing n by one, and the N-th constant voltage charging in which a value of the voltage Vn reaches a second predetermined voltage VN (>V0) is completed to terminate the constant voltage charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuto Horiuchi, Yoshifumi Shimizu, Masatomo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10604025
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery and a power interface configured to receive power from an off-board source. The vehicle also includes a controller programmed to charge the traction battery with the power until expiration of an estimated remaining charge time, and to periodically reduce the remaining charge time by an update decrement amount that increases as an amount that an estimated state of charge (SOC) is less than a measured SOC increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: William David Treharne
  • Patent number: 10587135
    Abstract: In an embodiment, adaptive charging of a battery is disclosed. In an embodiment, a device is disclosed comprising: a battery; at least one sensor configured to sense an outward pressure exerted by the battery; a monitoring module configured to monitor the outward pressure of the battery and at least one of a temperature, an age, a manufacturer, a state of charge, an impedance, and number of charging cycles of the battery; a control module configured to select a charging profile for the battery based on at least one of the sensed and/or monitored battery related variables; and a charging module configured to charge the battery according to a charging profile selected by the control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Mika-Petteri Lundgren, Juha Kuusisto, Markus Aaltonen, Jarno Rajala, Markku Rajamäki
  • Patent number: 10566827
    Abstract: Disclosed are an adapter and a charging control method. The adapter includes a power conversion unit, a sampling and holding unit, and a current collecting and controlling unit. The power conversion unit is configured to convert input alternating current to obtain output voltage and output current, in which the output current is first current with first pulsating waveform. The sampling and holding unit is configured to sample the first current when the sampling and holding unit is in a sampling state, and to hold a peak value of the first current when the sampling and holding unit is in a holding state. The current collecting and controlling unit is configured to determine whether the sampling and holding unit is in the holding state, and to collect the peak value of the first current when the sampling and holding unit is in the holding state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Chen Tian, Jialiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10541553
    Abstract: An adapter, a charging control method and charging system are disclosed. The adapter includes a primary unit, a power adjustment unit and a secondary unit. The primary unit converts an input alternating current into a first current with a first pulsating waveform. The adapter is capable of operating in a constant current mode. A peak value of the first current is greater than a current value corresponding to a current limiting point of the constant current mode. The power adjustment unit samples current outputted by the adapter to obtain a current sampling value, modules the first current according to the current sampling value. The secondary unit converts current coupled from the primary unit to the secondary unit into the current. The current outputted by the adapter is a second current with a second pulsating waveform. A peak value of the second current is equal to the current value corresponding to the current limiting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Chen Tian, Jialiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10502789
    Abstract: Methods and devices for determining at least one parameter of a model of a technical installation are provided. In this case, the parameters are updated on the basis of measurements as a function of an observation matrix. The observation matrix is prescribed as a function of the model and being able, if appropriate, to depend on a time variable which can be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Michael Lunglmayr, Stefano Marsili, Christoph Unterrieder
  • Patent number: 10491025
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for pulse charging rechargeable batteries may include (1) identifying a rechargeable battery, (2) estimating an age of the rechargeable battery, (3) calculating, based at least in part on the age of the rechargeable battery, a pulse parameter for pulse charging the rechargeable battery, and (4) pulse charging the rechargeable battery using the pulse parameter to prolong the useful life of the rechargeable battery. In some examples, the rechargeable battery may be a backup battery that supplies backup power to a power supply within a data-center rack. Various other methods, systems, and apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventor: Soheil Ebrahimzadeh
  • Patent number: 10466730
    Abstract: A power supply efficiently suppresses transient voltages by storing the maximum charge expected in the transient and releasing it during the transient event at a rate in an equal but opposite amount to the transient, preventing the battery voltage from collapsing. The described power supply provides improved efficiency compared to conventional architectures for transient suppression, thus increasing the length of time between battery charges and creating a better user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: QUANTANCE, INC.
    Inventors: Vikas Vinayak, Serge Francois Drogi
  • Patent number: 10407328
    Abstract: A method to control a process variable in a process by means of a control unit comprises: sequential determination of values of a reference variable to be supplied to the first control unit based on the values of a first measurand; sequential determination of values of a regulating variable using both values for the reference variable and sequentially determined values for the process variable; with a current value for the reference variable being determined: by sequentially saving values of the first measurand, or values derived therefrom, in a first FIFO memory having a number K of memory locations for saving one value respectively, namely a memory featuring a number K of logically consecutive memory locations (j=i) in such a way that the oldest of the values saved in the first FIFO memory is saved in a first memory location (j=1) and the value saved last in the first FIFO memory is saved in a final memory location (j=k); and by using only the n oldest values saved in the first FIFO memory to determine the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Alber, Christoph Herb
  • Patent number: 10411307
    Abstract: Provided is a technology that can improve a cycle property without lowering a volume energy density. The present technology provides a method for evaluating a secondary battery, including conducting at least: a determination step of determining a degree of diffusion defect of an ion that performs electric conduction; an evaluation step of evaluating a state of the secondary battery on the basis the result of the determination in the determination step; and a control step of controlling states of current application and voltage application on the secondary battery during charging or during discharging of the secondary battery on the basis of the result of the evaluation in the evaluation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masatomo Tanaka, Yoshifumi Shimizu, Yuto Horiuchi, Shigetaka Tomiya
  • Patent number: 10320038
    Abstract: A method for charging a lithium ion secondary battery of the present invention includes a first step and a second step. In the first step, A, B, and C satisfy the relationship A>B and B<C, where A represents an average charging current value in the range where a charge rate of the lithium ion secondary battery is 0% or more and less than 40%, B represents an average charging current value in the range where the charge rate is 40% or more and 60% or less, and C represents an average charging current value in the range where the charge rate is more than 60%. In the first step, the ratio of CMAX to CMIN (CMAX/CMIN) is 1.01 to 3.00, where CMAX represents the maximum value of the charging current value and CMIN represents the minimum value of the charging current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: MAXELL HOLDINGS, LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Nomura, Kunihiko Koyama
  • Patent number: 10305308
    Abstract: The power supply module includes a switching power circuit, a switching unit, a power storage unit and a control unit. The switching power circuit is coupled between an input terminal and an output terminal, and used to convert a first voltage to a second voltage. The switching unit is connected to the switching power circuit in parallel. The power storage unit is coupled to the output terminal. The control unit is coupled to the switching unit and controls the switching unit to turn on selectively according to a detecting signal corresponding to a charging or discharging status of the power storage unit to output the first voltage to the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Ming-Ting Tsai, Wei-Chen Tu, Hsiang-Jue Hung
  • Patent number: 10305297
    Abstract: A battery pack and a charge-controlling system of an electric vehicle including the same are provided. The battery pack includes a battery module including at least one rechargeable battery cell, a charge mode determiner configured to analyze characteristics of a charging current to the battery module, and configured to determine whether the battery pack is in a first charge mode or in a second charge mode, and a protector configured to set a protection current level of the battery module corresponding to the first charge mode or corresponding to the second charge mode, and configured to interrupt the charging current when a level of the charging current is higher than or equal to the protection current level corresponding to the respective one of the first charge mode or the second charge mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youngdong Seo, Gilchoun Yeom
  • Patent number: 10298042
    Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and, a system are provided. A method includes constructing by an Energy Management System (EMS), one or more optimization-based techniques for resilient battery charging based on an optimization problem having an EMS cost-based objective function. The one or more optimization-based techniques are constructed to include a battery degradation metric in the optimization problem. The method further includes charging, by the EMS, one or more batteries in a power system in accordance with the one or more optimization-based techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Seyyed Ali Pourmousavi Kani, Babak Asghari, Ratnesh Sharma
  • Patent number: 10293705
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a first battery to output power of a first voltage, a second battery to output power of a second voltage, a DC-DC converter to convert the first voltage of the first battery into the second voltage, and to supply the power of the second voltage to the second battery. The DC-DC converter may include a transformer to convert the first voltage into the second voltage, a first switch to control first current input to the transformer from the first battery, a current sensor to measure a value of second current output to the second battery from the transformer, and a controller to turn on/off the first switch based on a set turning-on/off frequency. The controller may delay turning-on/off of the first switch based on the measured value of the second current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Dae Woo Lee, Woo Young Lee, Jun Ho Kim, Taejong Ha, JaeEun Cha, Jin Myeong Yang, Inyong Yeo
  • Patent number: 10263450
    Abstract: Techniques for power regulation in a system, method, and apparatus are described herein. An apparatus for voltage regulation in a wireless power receiver may include a power switch to selectively supply a regulated voltage to a battery at a regulated current. The apparatus may also include load modulation logic to generate load modulation signaling by toggling the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Intel IP Corporation
    Inventors: Reed D. Vilhauer, Shahar Porat, Yuval Elad
  • Patent number: 10141764
    Abstract: A battery charging regulator for use with a charger. The regulator comprises a switch element coupled to a control-circuit and to an adjuster-circuit. The switch element is adapted to selectively couple an input provided by a DC-DC converter with an output for a battery. The switch element comprises a control terminal and first and second path terminals located at a first and a second end of a conductive path respectively. The control-circuit is adapted to adjust an input to the control terminal to regulate at least one of a charge current and a charge voltage supplied to the battery via the conductive path. The adjuster-circuit is adapted to sense an electrical parameter of the switch element; and to adjust a value of the input provided by the DC-DC converter based on the sensed electrical parameter value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Danilo Gerna, Enrico Pardi, Giovanni Tarroboiro, Marcus Weis
  • Patent number: 10122200
    Abstract: A lithium battery control circuit and a lithium battery charger are provided. The lithium battery charger includes the lithium battery control circuit. The lithium battery control circuit includes a smooth transition circuit and an off-time control circuit. The smooth transition circuit generates a first voltage according to a sense current signal and a feedback signal, and generates a second voltage according to a mode signal. The smooth transition circuit compares the first voltage with the second voltage to generate a reset signal. The off-time control circuit converts the feedback signal to generate a first current by a voltage-to-current mechanism, and generates a set signal by using the first current and a duty ratio signal. The invention may prevent a surge current and an oscillation phenomenon by the smooth transition circuit. A switching frequency and a ripple size of an output current are controlled by the off-time control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chung-Chih Hung, Chun-Yen Chiang
  • Patent number: 10095297
    Abstract: A system for conserving power in an electronic device, in some embodiments, comprises: a battery to supply power to the electronic device; and a fuel gauge coupled to the battery and capable of operating in any of a plurality of power modes, wherein the fuel gauge selects its own power mode based on a repeated, variable-frequency sampling of a voltage provided by said battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Hideo Kondo
  • Patent number: 10038326
    Abstract: A power bank with charging management comprises: a charging interface, a charging circuit, a rechargeable battery and a CPU. The charging interface is connected to an external power supply; the charging circuit comprises a voltage and current detecting circuit and a voltage regulating circuit; the input terminal of the voltage and current detecting circuit is connected with the charging interface, for detecting the charging voltage and the operating current of the charging circuit; the CPU is connected with the voltage and current detecting circuit and the voltage regulating circuit, for controlling the voltage regulating circuit to work at the maximum power of the power bank; the input terminal of the voltage regulating circuit is connected with the output terminal of the voltage and current detecting circuit; the output terminal of the voltage regulating circuit is connected with the rechargeable battery, for charging the rechargeable battery at the maximum power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Tianjin Synergy Groups Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Penghui Chen
  • Patent number: 10023067
    Abstract: A method for charging a motor vehicle battery includes determining the electrolyte resistance frequency of the cell, determining the battery charge transfer resistance frequency, and charging the battery with a current at a charging current frequency greater than the electrolyte resistance frequency of the battery and less than the battery charge transfer resistance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s
    Inventors: Bruno Delobel, Julien Marie, Anais Ricaud, Juan-Pablo Soulier, Laureline Marchal
  • Patent number: 9931946
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling charging of an energy storage system in a vehicle including an electric machine which is arranged for propulsion of the vehicle. The method includes initiating the charging upon connection of the energy storage system to an external power supply via connector elements; and transmitting, between the vehicle and the external power supply, a control signal including data related to the charging by a wireless transmission link. The method furthermore includes evaluating whether the control signal is received; and terminating the charging in the event that the control signal is not received. An arrangement for controlling charging of an energy storage system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventor: Jonas Storm
  • Patent number: 9865902
    Abstract: A device is provided for monitoring an electrical accumulation battery that includes a set of cells connected in series. The device includes means for measuring a current intensity delivered by the battery; means for measuring an electrical voltage between an upstream connection point and a downstream connection point of each cell of the battery; a recorder that records a zero-current electrical voltage between the upstream connection point and the downstream connection point of each cell of the battery; and an electrical resistance estimator configured to periodically estimate an electrical resistance of each cell in the battery, between the upstream connection point and the downstream connection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Gino Paganelli, Thierry Auguet
  • Patent number: 9866139
    Abstract: A bidirectional inductive power transfer (IPT) power converter comprising a cycloconverter, coupled to an AC port, and a resonant circuit, coupled to the cycloconverter, for storing energy and coupling energy to an IPT port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Harrison
  • Patent number: 9843211
    Abstract: Multiple power chargers for mobile terminals are disclosed. In particularly contemplated aspects, a mobile terminal may include two charging circuits arranged serially, such that only one charging circuit charges a battery of the mobile terminal at a time. The serial arrangement allows consolidation of fuel gauge circuitry within one of the charging circuits. In a particularly contemplated aspect, a second charger is tied to a first charger at a system power node. The system power node is further tied to a top port of the second charger. A bottom port of the second charger is tied to a top port of the first charger. A bottom port of the first charger is tied to the battery of the mobile terminal. The fuel gauge circuitry may sense battery current using a known ON resistance of a field effect transistor (FET) of the first charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Arnon Sattinger, Shadi Hawawini, Amit Mano, Christian Gregory Sporck
  • Patent number: 9806612
    Abstract: Systems and methods of implementing battery charging and energy saving systems in computers, computerized devices, medical devices, industrial devices, wearable devices, wireless charging devices, or any other suitable battery-operable devices. The systems and methods can control output voltages of battery charging systems during multiple charging/discharging periods, including a pre-charging period, a current-controlled charging period, a voltage-controlled charging period, a discharging period, as well as an additional period during which battery packs are removed or otherwise absent from the battery-operable devices or testing is being performed. The systems and methods also provide multiple energy saving modes for the battery-operable devices, allowing transitions between the respective energy saving modes both during operation of the battery-operable devices and during charging of the battery packs within the battery-operable devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: GRENOTEK INTEGRATED, INC.
    Inventor: Jerry Zhijun Zhai
  • Patent number: 9787122
    Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to applying a charge pulse to the terminals of the battery during a charging operation, measure a plurality of voltages of the battery which are in response to the first charge pulse, determine a charge pulse voltage (CPV) of the battery, wherein the charge pulse voltage is a peak voltage which is in response to the first charge pulse, determine whether the CPV of the battery is within a predetermined range or greater than a predetermined upper limit value and adapt one or more characteristics of a charge packet if the CPV is outside the predetermined range or is greater than a predetermined upper limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Qnovo Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Berkowitz, Dania Ghantous, Nadim Maluf, Christina Peabody
  • Patent number: 9735678
    Abstract: A highly efficient voltage conversion circuit device with both asymmetric and symmetric gate voltages is disclosed, to obtain high efficiency for low or medium load currents through the asymmetric gate voltage control and high efficiency for high load currents through the symmetric gate voltage control. The device includes an intermediate voltage generation circuit unit, gate voltage driver circuits connected to the intermediate voltage generation circuit unit, and multi-phase switches connected to the asymmetric gate voltage driver circuits, etc. The intermediate voltage generation circuit unit includes a voltage reference circuit unit that provides the reference voltage for the intermediate voltage generation, an active current pull-down circuit unit, a current pull-up that is supplied by a high value resistor, and a charge storage capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Mark Childs
  • Patent number: 9705349
    Abstract: A charge control device that charges a battery using a power output from a charger has a charge state (SOC) calculation unit for calculating the SOC of the battery using the voltage and current of the battery, a charger control unit that controls a charger that charges the battery, and a charge time calculation unit for calculating, on the basis of the SOC calculated by the SOC calculation unit, the remaining charge time of the battery till the SOC of the battery reaches a prescribed SOC. When the charge current falls below a current threshold, the charger control unit sends intermittent power commands to the charger based on the prescribed SOC, and the charge time calculation unit subtracts, from the charge time calculated when the charge current has fallen below the current threshold, predetermined time values based on the power commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Takano, Tsutomu Soga
  • Patent number: 9667079
    Abstract: A charge control device includes a charge state (SOC) calculation unit that calculates the SOC of a battery using the voltage and current of the battery. A chargeable power calculation unit calculates the power with which to charge the battery and a charge power calculation unit calculates the charge power to be supplied from the charger. A charge time calculation unit uses a map that correlates in part combinations of charge state values and charge power values to output charge time values is used by the charge state calculation unit when the chargeable power is greater than the outputtable power. When the chargeable power for charging is less than the outputtable power, the charge time calculation unit calculates the remaining charge time by using the map to reduce the remaining charge time determined from the map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Takano, Tsutomu Soga
  • Patent number: 9610855
    Abstract: A slow charging method of a vehicle and an on-board charger using the same are provided that improve charging efficiency and thus save a charging cost by adjusted charging output of the on-board charger based on temperature thereof. The method includes detecting, by a controller, a charging request and detecting temperature of the on-board charger in response to detecting the charging request. The controller is configured to determine whether the temperature of the on-board charger is within a predetermined temperature range and adjust charging an output of the on-board charger to a predetermined value when the temperature of the on-board charger is within the predetermined temperature range. The controller is then configured to charge a battery of the vehicle with the adjusted charging output of the on-board charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Houk Nam, Chae Mo Yang
  • Patent number: 9590436
    Abstract: A battery charging circuit comprises two or more charging circuits, each capable of charging a battery. The charging outputs of the charging circuits are connected together and can be connected to a battery to provide fast charging of the battery. The charging circuits can be configured so that they do not adversely interfere with each other during battery charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Christian Sporck, Giovanni Garcea, Shadi Hawawini
  • Patent number: 9583959
    Abstract: A controller (130) reads out a voltage value correlated with the ambient temperature of a battery (200) measured by a temperature measurer (110) from a storage device (120), so that a charger (140) charges the battery (200) at the voltage value read out by the controller (130).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignees: NEC CORPORATION, NEC ENERGY DEVICES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shin Suzuki, Yoichiro Tashiro