Pulse-width Modulation Patents (Class 320/145)
  • Patent number: 9577443
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the status of a system of battery strings is described. The battery string current is measured by a current sensor urged into contact with a metallic element in which the battery string current is flowing. The time history of the battery string current and voltage is interpreted to determine whether the battery string is discharging, charging or in a fully charged state. A moving average current in the charging state is used to establish a threshold for determining whether a thermal runaway condition exists. The moving average is maintained at the value that existed at a time when the battery string has been disconnected from the system current bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: C&C Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Gach, William Fechalos, N. William Conrardy
  • Patent number: 9537318
    Abstract: An energy storage system includes modular energy storage equipment that may be connected to an external system, such as a power grid. In at least one embodiment, the energy storage system includes a power transfer control system comprising a power transfer network and a processing module or controller. The power transfer network has a first interface coupleable to one or more energy storage units and a second interface coupleable to one or more power conversion units. One or more conductors in the power transfer network are selectively coupleable to the first interface and the second interface for transferring power between the energy storage units and the power conversion units based at least in part on information indicating a power or energy supply or demand of an external system or information indicating an amount of energy stored in the energy storage units. The energy storage system is scalable for different implementations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Doosan GridTech, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Kaplan, Joshua I. Kaplan, Gregory P. Darlington
  • Patent number: 9509162
    Abstract: A multi-state battery charger includes a single-stage AC-to-DC switching converter, where the single-stage converter receives an AC supply voltage and directly charges a rechargeable battery without there being any intervening second power stage. A novel battery charger controller integrated circuit in the converter's secondary side detects profile selection resistor values, monitors battery voltage, monitors charging current, monitors battery temperature, controls a protection transistor, and sends a control signal back to a PWM in the primary side. The controller includes a flexible preprogrammed digital state machine circuit that is configured to control the converter from charging state to charging state so that the battery is charged in accordance with a selected one of multiple preprogrammed different multi-state battery charging profiles, where at least one of the profiles has at least one CC (constant current) state and one CV (constant voltage) state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Carpenter, Jr., Hong Mao, Wan Nian Huang
  • Patent number: 9509150
    Abstract: A charging circuit and a control method for charging different brands of mobile devices are disclosed. The charging circuit comprises: a universal interface connected to a mobile device to be charged; a charging adaptation unit comprising at least two types of charging circuitries, wherein the charging adaptation unit is connected to the universal interface and configured to provide a corresponding charging circuitry for the mobile device; a voltage conversion unit connected to a charging power source and configured to adjust an output voltage of the charging power source to a charging voltage for the mobile device; and a current detection unit connected between the voltage conversion unit and the charging adaptation unit and configured to detect a charging current, wherein the charging current is configured to determine the corresponding charging circuitry for the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventors: Jiajun Liu, Jihong Wang
  • Patent number: 9478975
    Abstract: A protection circuit is connected between a power supply for providing a working voltage and a load. The protection circuit comprises an interface, a detecting module connected to the interface, a control module, and a switch module. The control module generates a plus width modulation (PWM) signal with a predetermined duty cycle when the interface interconnects with the load. The switch module periodically turns on and turns off based on the PWM signal with the predetermined duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ching-Chung Lin, Pin-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 9461492
    Abstract: A system and method to charge a battery during a charging cycle having a plurality of portions. The method comprises generating a first charge signal during the first portion of the charging cycle, wherein the first charge signal is based on a charge-time parameter. The charge-time parameter correlates a charge time period of the charging cycle to (i) a state of charge of the battery and/or (ii) a charge storage level corresponding to an amount of usage time of the battery. The method further includes applying the first charge signal to the battery during the first portion of the charging cycle, and, in response thereto, charging the battery to provide a state of charge and/or (ii) a charge storage level corresponding to an amount of usage in or within the charge time period of the charge-time parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Qnovo Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Berkowitz, Dania Ghantous, Christina Peabody
  • Patent number: 9428177
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric storage apparatus that outputs an electric power to be converted into a kinetic energy for use in running of the vehicle, an engine that generates a kinetic energy for use in running of the vehicle, a generator that receives an output from the engine to generate an electric power, and a controller that controls charge and discharge of the electric storage apparatus. In performing charge of the electric storage apparatus using an electric power from an external power source and in performing charge of the electric storage apparatus using the electric power output from the generator in response to a signal produced through operation by a user, the controller calculate a full charge capacity of the electric storage apparatus based on an SOC of the electric storage apparatus at each of start and end of the charge and a current sum amount during the charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuki Mori
  • Patent number: 9407159
    Abstract: A kilowatt-scale high-frequency electrical power conversion system adapted for variable output power delivery is described, in which switching frequency of switchable power delivery circuitry is dynamically modulated in transition of the system to a low power regime that is substantially below maximum power output, in order to at least partially attenuate thermal overload from heat generation of switching components in such transitions. The system is useful in high-efficiency charging of rechargeable batteries of electrical vehicles, e.g., e.g., automotive, industrial, and other motive power vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: AKER WADE POWER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: John Frederick Aker, Andrey M. Peskov, Jonathan A. Brown
  • Patent number: 9362774
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for a method of charging a battery. In an example, the method includes determining a capacity of the battery, and determining a state of charge of the battery. The method also includes charging the battery with a charging current, wherein the charging current is based on the capacity of the battery and the state of charge of the battery, and wherein charging the battery comprises reducing the charging current in response to the state of charge of the battery changing with respect to the capacity of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Reid K. Bornhoft
  • Patent number: 9350183
    Abstract: A mobile terminal is provided that includes a body to be mountable to a first charging apparatus, a current generator to generate an induction current by using a current of the first charging apparatus, and a wireless charger between the current generator and the battery to charge the battery by converting the induction current into a direct current. The mobile terminal may also include a connection port to be electrically connected to the battery and being connectable to a power supply terminal of a second charging apparatus, and a power charging controller to disconnect an electrically connected status between the wireless charger and the battery when the power supply terminal is electrically connected to the connection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sekwon Park, Kiwon Han, Janggeun Oh
  • Patent number: 9325188
    Abstract: The inventive subject matter provides a circuit and a method for efficiently charging a battery. In one aspect of the invention, the circuit includes an oscillator that generates a series of current pulses at a frequency that corresponds to a resonant frequency of the battery. In some embodiments, the series of current pulses includes constructive resonant ringing that is constructive with respect to the charging of the battery. The constructive resonant ringing includes decaying oscillation of currents generated in response to a current pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Colorado Energy Research Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wayne J. Powell, Robert D. Boehmer, Lee L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9293925
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a charging and power supplying circuit, method and application device, which relate to the field of smart charging, so as to improve efficiencies of battery charging and system power supplying. The charging and power supplying circuit includes a power supplying tributary and a charging tributary. An end of the power supplying tributary is connected to a power supply, and another end is connected to a system. An end of the charging tributary is connected to the power supply, and another end is connected to a battery. A first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a first amplifier, a second amplifier, a third amplifier, a fourth amplifier, a first comparator, a second comparator, a charging controller, a logical switch, an adder and a first control module are connected to the power supplying tributary and the charging tributary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: HISILICON TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Caofei Heng, Pengfei Wang, Jianping Wang, Hang Cheng
  • Patent number: 9280192
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of programming a programmable power supply. In the method, a requesting signal is generated in a device, and the requesting signal is received in the programmable power supply. Then, an output voltage of the programmable power supply is determined in accordance with a frequency of the requesting signal. The output voltage of the programmable power supply is coupled to power a load of the device. A de-bounce operation is further provided for filtering noises of the requesting signal. The requesting signal comprises a high-state period and a low-state period. The high-state period is defined during which a level of the requesting signal is higher than a threshold. The low-state period is defined during which the level of the requesting signal is lower than the threshold. The output voltage of the programmable power supply is further determined by a period of the requesting signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: SYSTEM GENERAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yi-Min Hsu, Ta-Yung Yang
  • Patent number: 9190867
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to solve a problem that, in the case where NFC and power supply operation of wireless power supply or the like repeat in a time division manner, the count value of a charge timer is reset to an initial value and a charge timer erroneously operates during an NFC period. A charge output terminal charges a battery using DC output voltage. A voltage detecting circuit detects reach of battery voltage to a predetermined level, generates a control signal, and generates a level determination signal discriminating an NFC period and a wireless power supply period by detection of the level of a DC input, voltage of an input terminal. During execution of operation of counting charge time of the battery by the charge timer, the voltage detecting circuit controls the charge timer by the control signal in the NFC period, and the charge timer holds the count value of the counting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuya Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9178375
    Abstract: A method for charging a rechargeable energy store, including: coupling the rechargeable energy store to a power supply line; ascertaining a piece of utilization information regarding a capacity utilization of a tripping load of a circuit breaker coupled to the power supply line; and/or ascertaining a separate piece of charging information regarding a power and/or a time remaining of a separate charging current supplied to another energy store by the power supply line; setting at least one selection variable regarding a time characteristic of a setpoint current intensity of a setpoint charging current supplied by the power supply line to the energy store, in view of the ascertained utilization information and/or the ascertained, separate charging information; and applying a charging current from the power supply line to the energy store in view of the at least one set selection variable. A related charging device and a circuit breaker are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Jochen Kilb
  • Patent number: 9166442
    Abstract: A system includes a voltage regulator module, a voltage comparator module, and a current limiting module. The voltage regulator module regulates an input voltage supplied by a power supply and supplies an output current to a load. The voltage comparator module compares the input voltage to a first threshold. The current limiting module decreases the output current when the input voltage decreases to less than or equal to the first threshold, decreases the output current until the input voltage increases to greater than the first threshold, and decreases the output current by an additional predetermined amount after the input voltage increases to greater than the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: MAXIM INTEGRATED PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark A. Belch, Kevin Dowdy, Sean Lai, Brett Miwa, David Harrington, David Stearns, Oscar Blyde, Rui Liu
  • Patent number: 9099883
    Abstract: A portable terminal includes a charging control system. The system supplies electric power to the battery. If the battery is charged completely, the system stops charging the battery temporarily, adjusts the termination current, and then charges the battery to the preset second charge capacity. The system can recharge the battery if the battery of the second charge capacity under goes a natural discharge for a certain time period by a certain rate of the second charge capacity, for example, 1%, or if the maximum voltage corresponding to the second charge capacity drops by 1% of the maximum voltage. Therefore, the system can retail the maximum charged state of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Eun Woo Ahn, Heui Do Lim
  • Patent number: 9093857
    Abstract: When the charge level of a fully-charged rechargeable battery decreases due to quiescent power drain, in order to recharge it is necessary for the user to pick up and again place the mobile device in which the rechargeable battery is inserted onto a charging apparatus and issue instructions to start recharging. To address this issue, a charging controller applies control to disconnect a capacitor from a receiver coil with a switch in the case where the charge level of a rechargeable battery is equal to or greater than a given threshold value, and additionally applies control to connect the capacitor to the receiver coil with the switch in the case where the charge level of the rechargeable battery is less than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications Inc.
    Inventors: Daisuke Sakai, Kuniharu Suzuki, Katsuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9088208
    Abstract: An apparatus for sensing an input current through an inductor includes an RC circuit connected in parallel with the inductor across first and second input pins of an integrated circuit. A voltage monitoring circuit monitors a first voltage at the first input pin of the integrated circuit and monitors a second voltage at the second input pin of the integrated circuit. An op-amp compares the first voltage with the second voltage and generates a control output responsive to the comparison. A current sink circuit responsive to the indication controls the first voltage to substantially equal the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Intersil Americas LLC
    Inventors: Robert H. Isham, Jue Wang
  • Patent number: 9077198
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a composite battery charger including a switching regulator and a linear charger charging a battery connected to it, whereby the switching regulator provides the supply voltage for the linear charger and Device Circuits. The control method and circuit fully turns on the pass device of the linear charger in a constant current operating mode and the switching regulator is controlled to maintain a constant charge current through the pass device while also supplying device current to the Device Circuits. The device current may vary. The method and circuit limits the dissipation of the pass device of the linear charger by reducing the supply voltage as a function of the charge current in the CC/CV transition region of the battery charger and by reducing the charge current as a function of the battery voltage if the battery voltage is below a predetermined value related to a predetermined minimum supply voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas Szepesi
  • Patent number: 9070924
    Abstract: An assembly can include a chassis that includes a processor, a memory device with memory accessible by the processor, a battery bay and a cover seat; a cover securable in a seated state with respect to the cover seat to cover the battery bay; and an automatic release mechanism automatically actuatable by an increase in battery volume of a lithium battery disposed in the battery bay to release the cover from its seated state. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Bouziane Yebka, Joseph Anthony Holung, Tin-Lup Wong
  • Patent number: 9032998
    Abstract: Methods and systems control an irrigation system that includes an irrigation controller, a valve actuator, and at least one irrigation sensor connected by a communication circuit. A sensor charging pulse having a temporal duration less than a solenoid actuation time threshold for a solenoid is provided over the communication circuit. The sensor charging pulse charges a charge storage device in at least one irrigation sensor. A series of addressing pulses is also generated over the communication circuit, which indicate a device identifier of at least one irrigation sensor. The series of addressing pulses activate at least one irrigation sensor having the device identifier indicated by the series of addressing pulses such that the activated irrigation sensor provides a sensor signal indicative of an irrigation condition to the irrigation controller via the communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: DIG Corporation
    Inventor: Mike O'Brien
  • Patent number: 9035621
    Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adapt the charging of a battery using data which is representative of an overpotential or relaxation time (full or partial) of the battery. In another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to calculate data which is representative of an overpotential or relaxation time (full or partial) of the battery. In yet another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to calculate data which is representative of a state of charge of the battery using an overpotential or relaxation time (full or partial) of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Qnovo Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Berkowitz, Nadim Maluf, Dania Ghantous
  • Patent number: 9018914
    Abstract: An electric circuit comprising means for communicating with an external device coupled to means for measuring the charge condition of an external battery. In some embodiments, the circuit comprises at least one level shifter for changing the reference voltage of communication signals. In some embodiments, the circuit comprises a first driver and a second driver for driving external switching elements for the controlled charge and discharge of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Angelo Genova, Urs Harald Mader, Marvin L. Peak, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8981730
    Abstract: Provided are a switching device for an electric vehicle and a method of controlling the switching device. The switching device includes a switch, a signal selection part, an inverter, and a controller. The switch generates a first or second switching signal according to an operation mode. The signal selection part receives the first or second switching signal, and selects the first or second switching signal according to the operation mode to output the selected switching signal. The inverter performs a direct current/alternating current conversion process on power according to the switching signal output from the signal selection part, and outputs the power. The controller determines the operation mode, and generates a control signal according to the operation mode such that the signal selection part selects the first or second switching signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun Suk Yang, Byung Woon Jang
  • Publication number: 20150069951
    Abstract: A multimode battery charger circuit supporting switch mode and linear mode charging operations. In various embodiments, the multimode battery charging circuit includes mode control circuitry, a linear gate driver, a pulse width modulation (PWM) control circuit, a programmable constant current control loop circuit, and a programmable constant voltage control loop circuit. In operation, the mode control circuitry receives a charge mode indication signal corresponding to a desired charge mode. Based on this signal, the mode control circuitry enables either the linear gate driver or PWM control circuit to provide control signals to output transistors coupled between an adapter power port and a battery pack, thereby supporting a plurality of charging modes. In some embodiments, one or more of the output transistors are formed on a common substrate with the multimode battery charger circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xuezhen Wang, Russell Eliot Radke, Kerry Alan Thompson
  • Patent number: 8975875
    Abstract: A power management system includes a first switch, a second switch, and a controller coupled to the first and second switches. The first switch has a first transfer terminal. The second switch has a second transfer terminal. The controller controls power conversion by turning on a third switch periodically. The first and second transfer terminals and a third transfer terminal of the third switch are coupled to a common node. The resistance between the first transfer terminal and the common node, the resistance between the second transfer terminal and the common node, and the resistance between the third transfer terminal and the common node are substantially equal to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: 02Micro, Inc.
    Inventors: Eftimie Caraghiorghiopol, Laszlo Lipcsei, Alexandru Hartular, Marian Niculae
  • Publication number: 20150061604
    Abstract: A wireless charging circuit and an abnormal state protection circuit thereof is provided in the present invention. The wireless charging circuit includes a power converter, a resonant circuit and an abnormal state protection circuit. The power converter receives an input voltage for outputting a PWM (pulse width modulation) signal. The input terminal of the resonant circuit receives the PWM signal. The common voltage terminal of the resonant circuit is coupled to a common voltage. The abnormal state protection circuit includes a DC sampling circuit and a control circuit. The DC sampling circuit is coupled to the resonant terminal of the resonant circuit for sampling the DC component of the voltage of the resonant terminal to obtain a DC voltage. The control circuit is coupled to the power converter and the DC sampling circuit for receiving the DC voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: DOWN XU CHUANG, DEYING ZHANG
  • Patent number: 8947054
    Abstract: A battery charger is disclosed for use with various batteries, such as automotive and marine-type batteries. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the charging current is alternated between non-zero DC charging current levels. By alternating the charging current between non-zero DC charging levels, the battery can be charged to a higher capacity (i.e., ampere hours) faster, thus reducing the charging time and at the same time allow the rating of the battery charger to be increased. In accordance with another important aspect of the invention, the technique for alternating the charging current can be implemented in both linear and switched-mode battery chargers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Schumacher Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Finis Johnson, John S. Whiting, John F. Waldron
  • Patent number: 8938635
    Abstract: A method for managing an alternating current adaptor system is disclosed. A direct current voltage is received at a high impedance power delivery network from a primary side of an alternating current adaptor system. An isolated voltage is output from the high impedance power delivery network to components of a secondary side of the alternating current adaptor system. A transition in a power state identification of an information handling system associated with the alternating current adaptor system is detected. An output voltage level of the alternating current adaptor system is alternated in response to the transition in the power state identification of the information handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Dell Products, LP
    Inventors: Yung Fa Chueh, Chih-Chieh Yin, Chin-Jui Liu, Hsien Tsung Lin
  • Publication number: 20150002087
    Abstract: An induction charging device has: at least one charging electronics unit which includes at least one frequency unit situated between at least two DC voltage paths; at least one charging coil connected to a voltage tap of the at least one frequency unit; and at least one control unit provided to operate the at least one frequency unit at one frequency in at least one first operating state. The at least one control unit controls a power output via a pulse width modulation of a pulse duration of the first operating state relative to an operating period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen MACK
  • Publication number: 20140375276
    Abstract: Improvements in a battery de-sulfating device are disclosed. The improvements including a plurality of capacitive discharge channels selectively activatable by a control board to provide a pulse wave modulated de-sulfating current to a lead-acid battery. The de-sulfating current can be a variable, or harmonic, repeating pattern of about 0.1-1.5 ms ON pulse followed by an about 2-9 ms OFF period which may be applied to the battery at an operator-adjustable peak amperage of about 0-350 amps. The de-sulfation process before, during or after the normal battery charging cycle, or any combination thereof. The temperature of the battery and the specific gravity of the fluid within the battery is measure during the de-sulfating process. The extent of sulfation of the battery may be ascertained by measuring the impedance of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Bruce Eric ZEIER
  • Publication number: 20140340049
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a battery equalizing circuit, which comprises a first battery unit, a second battery unit, a current detecting resistor, an equalizing inductor, a first control switch, a second control switch and a feedback control circuit. The first battery unit is connected in series with the second battery unit. The first battery unit, the current detecting resistor, the equalizing inductor and the first control switch are electrically connected with each other to form a first circuit loop. The second battery unit, the current detecting resistor, the equalizing inductor and the second control switch are electrically connected with each other to form a second circuit loop. The feedback control circuit is connected in parallel with the current detecting resistor to detect a voltage drop across the current detecting resistor, and switch between the first and the second circuit loop so as to make an equalizing current substantially constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: DONGGUAN CELLWISE MICROELECTRONICS CO.,LTD.
    Inventor: Jianhua Zhao
  • Patent number: 8890486
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for charging a battery is provided. The apparatus includes: a constant current circuit, a constant voltage circuit and a control circuit. The control circuit is adapted to control the constant current circuit to perform constant current charging to the battery; after a battery voltage during the constant current charging reaches a preset charging limited voltage, control the constant voltage circuit to perform constant voltage charging to the battery; after a charging current during the constant voltage charging becomes smaller than or equal to a predetermined threshold, control the battery to be charged by pulse charging until an open circuit voltage of the battery is larger than or equal to a preset voltage threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Actions Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lirong Xiao
  • Patent number: 8884586
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to balance adapter power supply and computing device power demand. In one embodiment, power to/from battery pack(s) maybe controlled by adjusting the output voltage of the power adapter via the current input to the power adapter through a feedback pin to meet power demand of electrical loads. Another embodiment provides a way to adjust the activities of the electrical loads such that neither adapter power rating nor the electrical load power limit is exceeded while avoiding system shutdown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Peter T. Li, Don J. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20140312853
    Abstract: A method for monitoring and optimizing operation of a terminal, including: generating an output voltage equal to a first DC value; connecting a vehicle, the output voltage switching to a second value; authorizing charging of the vehicle by modulating the output voltage between two values, with a maximum authorized charge current being set; checking an ability of the vehicle to be recharged by monitoring a value of the output voltage; supplying an output voltage modulated between a third voltage value and a negative value; initializing a first timer; reading a diagnosis time between initialization and the switching of the voltage from the second to the third value; comparing the time with standard values to determine a type of charger; taking characteristics of the charger into account to optimize energy management.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventor: Emmanuel Dreina
  • Patent number: 8854007
    Abstract: A protection circuit of a battery pack capable of detecting the error of a charging device from the battery pack. The protection circuit of the battery pack having a battery cell charged by a charging device, the protection circuit including a charge switch coupled to a high current path (HCP), the charge switch disposed between the battery cell and the charging device charging the battery cell and a controller sensing a voltage or a current of the charging device during a charge stop period stopping a charging of the battery cell and determining whether an error of the charging device occurs according to the voltage or the current of the charging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Wan Kim, Susumu Segawa, Eui-Jeong Hwang, Se-Sub Sim, Jong-Woon Yang, Han-Seok Yun, Beom-Gyu Kim
  • Patent number: 8836289
    Abstract: A combined battery charger and motor driver circuit assembly includes a rechargeable battery, a traction motor configured to accept a pulse-width-modulated (PWM) drive, a PNP transistor array, a charging source of chopped and rectified DC, and a control circuit configured to apply a discrete PWM drive signal to the gate of each transistor in the PNP transistor array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred Flett
  • Patent number: 8829858
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for initiating a charging system. The method, for example, may include, but is not limited to, providing, by the charging system, an incrementally increasing voltage to a battery up to a first predetermined threshold while the energy conversion module has a zero-percent duty cycle, providing, by the charging system, an incrementally increasing voltage to the battery from an initial voltage level of the battery up to a peak voltage of a voltage source while the energy conversion module has a zero-percent duty cycle, and providing, by the charging system, an incrementally increasing voltage to the battery by incrementally increasing the duty cycle of the energy conversion module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ray M. Ransom, Milun Perisic, Lateef A. Kajouke
  • Patent number: 8817892
    Abstract: A data communications system having a plurality of communication devices including a host having a first receiver and a second receiver; and one or more clients, each client including a transmitter coupled between a signal node and a transmitter node, the transmitter selectively transmitting a multistate signal from the signal node to the transmitter node; and a single conductor daisy-chain loop redundantly communicating each multistate signal from each the transmitter to both receivers, the single conductor daisy-chain loop electrically communicating each transmitter node to the receivers. A data communications method including a) transmitting selectively a multistate signal from each of one or more clients; b) communicating electrically each multistate signal to a first location on a host using a single conductor coupled to each the client; and c) communicating electrically each multistate signal to a second location on the host using the single conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel Brian Martin, Ian Casimir Dimen, Samuel Douglas Crowder
  • Patent number: 8791669
    Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to determine the state of charge of a battery/cell using data which is representative of a partial relaxation time of the battery/cell. In another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to determine the state of charge of a battery/cell using data which is representative of an overpotential or full relaxation time of the battery/cell. In yet another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell using data which is representative of a state of charge of the battery/cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Qnovo Inc.
    Inventors: Dania Ghantous, Fred Berkowitz, Nadim Maluf
  • Patent number: 8791666
    Abstract: A charging cable for use in charging a vehicle includes a power line, an input section, an oscillator, and a pulse-width adjusting device. The power line is used to carry power from an external power supply to the vehicle. The external power supply and the vehicle are connected to each other with the power line disposed therebetween. A set charging current value in charging the vehicle is input to the input section. The oscillator is configured to generate an oscillation signal having a pulse width within a range of a rated current of the external power supply. The rated current is capable of being supplied to the vehicle. The pulse-width adjusting device is configured to adjust the pulse width of the oscillation signal generated by the oscillator to correspond to the set charging current value input from the input section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Yokoyama, Mitsuteru Yano
  • Patent number: 8779727
    Abstract: A charge control device includes a charge control circuit to control a charge of a secondary battery by controlling an output stage connected between a power supply and the secondary battery. The charge control circuit includes a first error amplifier to generate a first error voltage in response to a difference between a predetermined first reference voltage and a first feedback voltage. The value of the first feedback voltage is determined in accordance with a primary current supplied from the power supply to the output stage. The charge control circuit also includes a second error amplifier to generate a second error voltage in response to a difference between either one of a predetermined second reference voltage and the first error voltage, and a second feedback voltage. The value of the second feedback voltage is determined in accordance with a charge current supplied from the output stage to the secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashi Akaho
  • Publication number: 20140191730
    Abstract: A system (1-2) for efficiently transferring harvested vibration energy to a battery (6) includes a piezo harvester (2) generating an AC output voltage (VP(t)) and current (IPZ(t)) and an active rectifier (3) to produce a harvested DC voltage (Vhrv) and current (Ihrv) which charge a capacitance (C0). An enable circuit (17) causes a DC-DC converter (4) to be enabled, thereby discharging the capacitance into the converter, when a comparator (A0,A1) of the rectifier which controls switches (S1-S4) thereof detects a direction reversal of the AC output current (IPZ(t)). Another comparator (13) causes the enable circuit (17) to disable the converter (4) when the DC voltage exceeds a threshold (VREF), thereby causing the capacitance be recharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Vadim V. Ivanov
  • Patent number: 8773077
    Abstract: A controller for a battery charger that includes a power converter has parametric sensors for providing a sensed Vin signal, a sensed Vout signal and a sensed Iout signal. A battery current regulator (BCR) is coupled to receive the sensed Iout signal and an Iout reference, and outputs a first duty cycle control signal. An input voltage regulator (IVR) receives the sensed Vin signal and a Vin reference. The IVR provides a second duty cycle control signal. A processor receives the sensed Iout signal and utilizes a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithm, and provides the Vin reference to the IVR. A selection block forwards one of the first and second duty cycle control signals as a duty cycle control signal to the power converter. Dynamic switching between the first and second duty cycle control signals maximizes the power delivered to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignees: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc., Advanced Power Electronics Corporation (APECOR Corp.)
    Inventors: John Elmes, Rene Kersten, Michael Pepper
  • Patent number: 8760124
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for initiating a charging system. The method, for example, may include, but is not limited to, providing, by the charging system, an incrementally increasing voltage to a battery up to a first predetermined threshold while the energy conversion module has a zero-percent duty cycle, providing, by the charging system, an incrementally increasing voltage to the battery from an initial voltage level of the battery up to a peak voltage of a voltage source while the energy conversion module has a zero-percent duty cycle, and providing, by the charging system, an incrementally increasing voltage to the battery by incrementally increasing the duty cycle of the energy conversion module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ray M. Ransom, Milun Perisic, Lateef A. Kajouke
  • Publication number: 20140152239
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are circuits and methods for limiting a charger input current. In one embodiment, a self-adaptive input power charger for charging a battery, can include: (i) a power stage circuit configured to receive an external input power supply that supplies an input voltage and an input current to the charger; (ii) a comparison circuit configured to generate a comparison result indicating that the input power supply has entered a current-limiting state when the input voltage is less than a first reference voltage; (iii) a current regulation circuit configured to generate a first control signal in response to the comparison result; and (iv) a driving control circuit configured to limit the input current by the first control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Jie Yao, Wei Chen, Chen Zhao, Shuai Cheng
  • Publication number: 20140145671
    Abstract: A battery switching charger includes a PWM signal generator, a switching circuit, an inductor, a resistor and an analog-to-digital converter. The PWM signal generator is utilized for generating a PWM signal. The switching circuit includes cascoded transistors controlled by the PWM signal for generating an output voltage. The inductor is utilized for receiving the output voltage. The resistor is coupled between the inductor and a charge terminal of the battery switching charger, where the charge terminal is connected to a battery when the battery is being charged by the battery switching charger. The analog-to-digital converter is coupled to the PWM signal generator and the resistor, and is utilized for receiving voltages of two terminals of the resistor to generate control data to the PWM signal generator. In addition, the PWM signal generator adjusts a duty cycle of the PWM signal according to the control data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: ENERGY PASS INCORPORATION
    Inventor: Chao-Hsuan Liu
  • Patent number: 8710803
    Abstract: A charging method and a charging system are introduced for controlling a charging current by a PWM method. A charging IC is controlled to supply the charging current to a battery, and a control unit is used to generate a PWM signal with a duty cycle, and a filter unit is used to convert the PWM signal into a voltage signal to be supplied to the charging IC, and the control unit determines whether a current of a battery detected by the battery status detection unit reaches a regular current, so that a PWM signal with a duty cycle greater than the previous duty cycle by a default increased cycle is provided if the detected current has not reached the regular current. Thus, the feature of the PWM signal is used to set the charging current according to the capacity of the battery automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignees: Askey Technology (Jiangsu) Ltd., Askey Computer Corp.
    Inventors: Jui-Chuan Huang, Ching-Feng Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20140084846
    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: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Fred Berkowitz, Dania Ghantous, Nadim Maluf, Christina Peabody