With Peak Detection Of Current Or Voltage (e.g., Delta-v Or Delta-i Utilized, Etc.) Patents (Class 320/148)
  • Patent number: 8253579
    Abstract: A portable system includes a portable device and a power adapter to supply power to the portable device. The portable device includes a rechargeable battery and a measurement chip to measure charge remaining in the rechargeable battery. The power adapter includes a transmission line, a microprocessor, and a display unit. The microprocessor receives the readout of the amount of charge remaining in the rechargeable battery from the measurement chip via the transmission line, and generates a display signal according to the charge remaining. The display unit displays the charging progress of the rechargeable battery according to the display signal received from the microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsin-Yen Liu
  • Publication number: 20120212057
    Abstract: A portable device operated by a rechargeable battery includes a connecting unit that connects the portable device and a power supply that supplies a driving current and a charging current; a detection unit that detects a battery voltage of the rechargeable battery; and a charging control unit that controls starting and stopping of charging of the rechargeable battery. When the battery voltage is greater than a predetermined threshold value, the charging control unit causes the power supply to stop supplying the charging current until the battery voltage becomes less than the predetermined threshold value. When the battery voltage is less than the predetermined threshold value, the charging control unit causes the power supply to start supplying the charging current until the rechargeable battery is fully charged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventor: Takafumi OKUMA
  • Patent number: 8248036
    Abstract: A battery charging circuit for charging a rechargeable battery and improving operating stability includes a plurality of resistors for generating a first voltage; a first reference voltage source for providing a first reference voltage; an error amplifier for generating a second voltage according to the voltage difference between the first reference voltage and the first voltage; a second reference voltage source for providing a second reference voltage; a modulator for generating a control voltage according to the second reference voltage and the second voltage; a voltage-to-current control unit for generating a control current according to the control voltage; and a current mirror for generating an output current which is equal to a multiple of the control current, wherein the output current and its corresponding output voltage is applied to charge the rechargeable battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Anpec Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kang Sheng, Zong-Yu Wu
  • Patent number: 8242748
    Abstract: A method and integrated circuit for preserving a battery's charge and protecting electrical devices is disclosed. A maximum and a minimum battery voltage value at the output port are stored in a memory. A steady state battery voltage at the output port is measured and stored in the memory. A processor compares the measured steady battery voltage value to the maximum and the minimum battery voltage values. If the measured steady state battery voltage value is greater than the maximum battery voltage value, an over voltage state is reported by the processor. If the measured steady state battery voltage value is less than the minimum battery voltage value, a low battery voltage state is reported by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary J. Burlak, Marian Mirowski
  • Patent number: 8232773
    Abstract: An over voltage transient controller to protect a rechargeable battery from an over voltage transient condition. The over voltage transient controller may comprise a comparator to compare a first signal with a second signal representative of a reference voltage level and to provide an output signal representative of an over voltage transient condition to a switch if the first signal is greater than or equal to the second signal. The switch is responsive to the output signal to protect the rechargeable battery from the over voltage transient condition. The over voltage transient controller may further comprise a DAC, wherein the second signal is based, at least in part, on an output of the DAC. An apparatus comprising a charge switch and such an over voltage transient controller is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: O2Micro, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Denning, Guoxing Li, Liusheng Liu
  • Patent number: 8232762
    Abstract: A computer includes a system part which has at least one electronic component, a power supplying part which supplies a main electric power to the system part, a battery part which receives charging electric power from the power supplying part and supplies auxiliary electric power to the system part, and a controlling part which, if the main electric power is supplied by the power supplying part, and if charge level of the battery part according to supply of the charging electric power exceeds a reference level corresponding to a discharged state, cuts off the supply of the charging electric power and controls the battery part to discharge the auxiliary electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chong Kyu Yun
  • Publication number: 20120161702
    Abstract: Disclosed are a charging apparatus and a charging method for a battery of an electric vehicle. The charging apparatus for a battery of an electric vehicle includes: a communication module that communicates power information and information on a battery of the electric vehicle; a charging mode setting module that receives a user's order; a charging switch that connects the battery of the electric vehicle with the charging power in accordance with an input control signal; and a charging control module that sets the charging amount of the battery by using the power information and the information on the battery, sets charging information including charging power and at least one time period for charging the battery of the electric vehicle within a predetermined time range, and input the control signal to the charging switch on the basis of the charging information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventor: Ki Seok KIM
  • Publication number: 20120153902
    Abstract: A system implements a first charging method or a second charging method during one or more charge cycles of a battery. The first charging method includes a first voltage charging level and the second charging method includes a second voltage charging level that is higher than the first charging level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Bouziane Yebka, Joseph Anthony Holung, Tin-Lup Wong, Jeremy Robert Carlson, Kenneth Scott Seethaler
  • Publication number: 20120153903
    Abstract: A protector that protects a rectifier, and a wireless power receiver including the protector are provided. In one embodiment, a protector for an electronic device may include: a switch configured to control current flow to a rectifier of the electronic device; and a switch controller configured to: compare, with a predetermined threshold value, a voltage difference between an output voltage of the rectifier and a voltage of the electronic device; and transmit a control signal to the switch (i) to discontinue current flow to the rectifier when the voltage difference is greater than the predetermined threshold value, and (ii) to enable current flow to rectifier when the voltage difference is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Zo KIM, Sang Wook KWON, Yun Kwon PARK, Eun Seok PARK, Young Tack HONG, Ki Young KIM, Young Ho RYU, Nam Yun KIM, Jin Sung CHOI
  • Patent number: 8198867
    Abstract: A method and a charger for auxiliarily charging a secondary battery to a desired SOC with high accuracy. A charger for a secondary battery includes a charge termination condition storing unit which stores a relationship between open circuit voltages OCV of a plurality of secondary batteries and an amount of change of terminal voltage ?V until a desired state of charge SOC is reached, which is previously created. A target terminal voltage Vmap at the time of the auxiliary charge is calculated by adding the amount of change of terminal voltage ?V corresponding to the open circuit voltage OCV of a secondary battery to be auxiliarily charged to the open circuit voltage OCV which is measured. A terminal voltage Vb of the secondary battery at the time of auxiliary charge and the target terminal voltage Vmap are compared to each other by a comparison unit, and when the target terminal voltage Vmap is reached, auxiliary charge is terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic EV Energy Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayoshi Toyota
  • Patent number: 8198865
    Abstract: A method and integrated circuit for preserving a battery's charge and protecting electrical devices is disclosed. A maximum and a minimum battery voltage value at the output port are stored in a memory. A steady state battery voltage at the output port is measured and stored in the memory. A processor compares the measured steady battery voltage value to the maximum and the minimum battery voltage values. If the measured steady state battery voltage value is greater than the maximum battery voltage value, an over voltage state is reported by the processor. If the measured steady state battery voltage value is less than the minimum battery voltage value, a low battery voltage state is reported by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Marian Mirowski, Gary J. Burlak
  • Patent number: 8179100
    Abstract: A technique for dynamically adjusting an output voltage of forward converter circuits for a battery charging operation is provided. The technique allows for varying voltage at the charging battery by manipulating the duty cycles of two forward converter circuits. Method and systems allow for increasing synchronized duty cycles in a pair of forward converter circuits in response to a changing battery charge state that requires a higher voltage output then changing a phase shift between the duty cycles in response to further increases in output voltage demand. The methods and systems also allow for setting a phase shift between duty cycles in a pair of forward converter circuits based on battery rating and then altering pulse width in response to changing battery charge state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard J. Vogel
  • Patent number: 8164469
    Abstract: A method for cooling a battery after a charging phase including the steps of providing a user display, identifying a starting point at which the charging phase of the battery transitions to a cooling phase, when the starting point is identified, instructing the user display to provide a first indication for a first predetermined amount of time, and after the first predetermined amount of time has elapsed, instructing the user display to provide a second indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Canadus Power Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Roger Altman
  • Publication number: 20120091969
    Abstract: A PM-ECU executes a program including: a step (S104) of estimating pre-charge SOC(1) when a plug-in charge is started (YES in S100), a step (S108) of calculating an integrated value of charging current when integration permitting conditions are satisfied (YES in S104, YES in S106), a step (S112) of setting a final integrated value when the charge is completed, a step (S116) of estimating post-charge SOC(2) when an ignition switch is turned on (YES in S114), a step (S122) of calculating a full-charge capacity of this cycle when calculation conditions are satisfied (YES in S120), a step (S128) of calculating a new full-charge capacity when the full-charge capacity of this cycle is within a specified range (YES in S124), and a step (S130) of updating the full-charge capacity by setting the new full-charge capacity as the current full-charge capacity when the new full-charge capacity is within a specified range (YES in S128).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junta Izumi
  • Patent number: 8159180
    Abstract: A battery charging device of the present invention has a rectifier portion that is formed by switching elements, and performs advance angle/delay angle control. An advance angle/delay angle amount in the advance angle/delay angle control is determined based on a differential voltage between the voltage of a battery and a predetermined target voltage. In this case, when a determined delay angle amount exceeds a delay angle limit value, delay angle control is performed using the delay angle limit value. Moreover, the power generation amount of an alternating current generator is detected, and the delay angle amount and power generation amount are stored. If the current delay angle amount is greater than the previous delay angle amount, and the previous power generation amount is greater than the current power generation amount, then the previous delay angle amount is set as the delay angle limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignees: Shindengen Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidenori Suzuki, Tatsuya Arai, Takeshi Yanagisawa, Atsuo Ota
  • Patent number: 8159179
    Abstract: In the battery charging device of the present invention, a U, V, W phase voltage generating circuit detects a voltage signal of a U phase sub-coil of a three-phase alternating current generator, and generates a signal of a triangular wave that is in synchronization with the U phase. Moreover, a first triangular wave is generated in synchronization with a phase from 0° to 180° of the U phase rectangular wave, and a second triangular wave is generated in synchronization with a phase from 180° to 360° of the U phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignees: Shindengen Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidenori Suzuki, Tatsuya Arai, Takeshi Yanagisawa, Atsuo Ota
  • Patent number: 8143863
    Abstract: A circuit for controlling a current flowing through a battery includes a driver and a filter coupled to the driver. The driver can generate a pulse signal in a first operating mode and generate a first signal in a second operating mode to control the current through the battery. The filter can filter the pulse signal to provide a filtered DC signal to adjust an on-resistance of a switch in series with the battery based on a duty cycle of the pulse signal in the first operating mode. The filter can receive the first signal and provide a second signal to drive the switch in a linear region in the second operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: O2Micro, Inc
    Inventor: Guoxing Li
  • Patent number: 8138723
    Abstract: In a remote battery charging system comprising a charging circuit there is always a voltage loss due to inherent resistances in the system from such things as connectors and conductors. These resistances create voltages losses in the system such that charging time are increased substantially. The present invention compensates for voltage losses on the system by generating a dynamic adjustment voltage over the charging period. A voltage translator circuit is used to measure charging circuit output voltage and current over a plurality of incremental time periods during the charging period an calculate a signal proportional to changes in output voltage and current over the incremental time period. The signal is then applied to the charging circuit to offset any voltage losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventor: Steve Carkner
  • Patent number: 8134339
    Abstract: A method and integrated circuit for preserving a battery's charge and protecting electrical devices is disclosed. A maximum and a minimum battery voltage value at the output port are stored in a memory. A steady state battery voltage at the output port is measured and stored in the memory. A processor compares the measured steady battery voltage value to the maximum and the minimum battery voltage values. If the measured steady state battery voltage value is greater than the maximum battery voltage value, an over voltage state is reported by the processor. If the measured steady state battery voltage value is less than the minimum battery voltage value, a low battery voltage state is reported by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Joseph Burlak, Marian Mirowski
  • Patent number: 8108695
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for reducing power drain of a component when the component is in a powered down state. The system comprises a power input configured to receive power, a power output to the component, monitor logic configured to monitor a level of power moving between the input and output, and control logic configured to control power transfer between the input and output. The control logic may be in communication with the monitor logic and configured to selectively restrict power flow between the input and output when the monitor logic senses that power flow between the input and output falls below a threshold level. A method comprises checking a power level between the input and output, and if the power level exceeds a threshold, then permitting substantially unrestricted power flow. If the power level is less than the threshold, then restricting the power level between the input and output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Gateway, Inc.
    Inventor: John Love
  • Patent number: 8103485
    Abstract: A system and a method for computing an estimated state of charge and an estimated cell resistance of an electrochemical cell are provided. The method includes predicting a first cell resistance value indicating a present resistance of the electrochemical cell utilizing a first nonlinear cell model. The method further includes predicting a first state of charge value indicating a present state of charge of the electrochemical cell utilizing a second nonlinear cell model. The method further includes measuring a voltage and, a current associated with the electrochemical cell to obtain a voltage value and a current value, respectively. The method further includes estimating a second state of charge value indicating the present state of charge of the electrochemical cell utilizing the second nonlinear cell model based on the first state of charge value, the first cell resistance value, the voltage value, and the current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventor: Gregory L. Plett
  • Patent number: 8098052
    Abstract: A batter charger for charging a secondary batter using a power supply circuit which converts an AC input into a DC output, includes a first resistor for detecting constant-current control and a second resistor for detecting end of charging. The first resister and the second register are inserted in series in a current path of the charging current. The power supply circuit has output characteristics of a constant-current control characteristic and a constant-voltage control characteristic. The constant-current control is performed using a first detection voltage generated at the first resistor, and the constant-voltage control is performed by comparing a second detection voltage generated at a series resistor composed of the first resistor and the second resistor with a reference voltage using a comparator, and detecting an end of charging indicated by the second detection voltage fallen below the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Umetsu
  • Patent number: 8098051
    Abstract: A protection circuit for a battery pack, comprising: a thermistor for indicating a temperature of a cell in the battery pack; a first comparator coupled to the thermistor for determining whether the temperature has exceeded a charge cut-off temperature threshold for the cell, and if so, for turning off a first switch in series with the cell to prevent charging of the cell; and, a second comparator coupled to the thermistor for determining whether the temperature has exceeded a discharge cut-off temperature threshold for the cell, and if so, for turning off a second switch in series with the cell to prevent discharging of the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Siong Litingtun, Jacek S. Idzik
  • Patent number: 8084997
    Abstract: Provided is a voltage sensor module monitoring a voltage of each of a plurality of battery cells, including: first and second terminals each receiving a voltage applied between both ends of the plurality of battery cells; third and fourth terminals each receiving a voltage applied between both ends of a battery cell to be monitored which is included in the plurality of battery cells; a first reference voltage generation circuit connected to each of the first and second terminals and generating a first reference voltage based on the voltage applied between the both ends of the plurality of battery cells; and a first comparator circuit comparing a first regulated voltage generated based on a voltage applied between the third and fourth terminals, with the first reference voltage. As a result, low voltage detection can be performed with accuracy even when an output of a battery cell decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Manabu Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 8063611
    Abstract: A DC blocking capacitor and a resistor are coupled in series, and coupled in parallel with an electricity storing section. An ON/OFF circuit and a peak voltage holding circuit are coupled in parallel with the resistor. A current sensing section is coupled in series with the storing section, with its output supplied to the peak current holding circuit. Current from a positive to a negative electrode of the storing section is referred to as a positive direction. The ON/OFF circuit is turned on when the current flows in a negative direction, and is turned off when the current flows in the positive direction. An internal resistor of the storing section is found based on a peak voltage and a peak current resulting from the control and held by the respective circuits. A degree of degradation of the electricity storing section is determined with this internal resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuki Morita, Yoshimitu Odajima
  • Patent number: 8035347
    Abstract: A battery charger for charging a secondary battery using a power supply circuit, includes a discrimination circuit to discriminate a constant-current charging mode and a constant-voltage charging mode, and a controller to which a discrimination signal is supplied. When judged as being the constant-current charging mode, the controller sets the current in the constant-current charging mode by using the control signal. When judged as being the constant-voltage charging mode in accordance with the discrimination signal, the controller sets intermittently the end of charging detection current, and sets an end of charging detection period for judging the constant-current charging mode and the constant-voltage charging mode. When the discrimination signal indicates the constant-voltage charging mode in the end of charging detection period, the controller controls to shift to the end of charging detection mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Umetsu, Masanao Sato, Kazumi Sato
  • Patent number: 8030896
    Abstract: A multi-output voltage battery module including a main body, a plurality of battery cells and a power-managing unit is provided. The battery cells are disposed within the main body and respectively provide different supply voltages for a plurality of electronic elements disposed in an electronic device. The power-managing unit is electrically connected to the battery cells for converting an external voltage into a plurality of charging voltages and further correspondingly outputting the charging voltages to charge the battery cells. The magnitude of each charging voltage is equal to that of the corresponding supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Inventec Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Chien Chen, Yen-Hsun Lee
  • Patent number: 8018236
    Abstract: A device for analyzing defects, particularly for items made of plastics, such as battery casings and the like, comprising at least one probe, which is adapted to be moved closer to, or to come into contact with, the item made of plastics to be tested, the probe being provided with a plurality of elements to which a high voltage is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: SIF S.A.S. di Claudio Formenti E C.
    Inventor: Claudio Formenti
  • Patent number: 8013576
    Abstract: A method which supplies power to an electronic device from a power supply device. The method includes setting a minimum power level of a power supply battery of a power supply device, detecting a current power level of the power supply battery and determining a current supply of the power supply battery, determining if the current supply exceeds a preset minimum power level, setting a required power level for extracting power from the power supply battery, extracting the power from the power supply battery according to a preset required power level, and transferring the power to a power charging battery of the electronic device. A related system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Chih-Wei Chou
  • Patent number: 8008948
    Abstract: A peak voltage detector circuit detects a peak voltage of an input voltage. The input voltage is input into a first input terminal of a comparator. A counter circuit counts up a counter value in synchronization with a first clock signal, when a signal output from the comparator is in a first state. The counter circuit counts down the counter value in synchronization with a second clock signal. A digital-analog conversion circuit outputs an output voltage corresponding to the counter value, and the output voltage is input into a second input terminal of the comparator. The first clock signal has a wave period shorter than that of the second clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuaki Makino, Hiroshi Okada, Reiji Iwamoto, Nobukazu Oba, Shinji Nakatani, Norikazu Ohta, Hideki Hosokawa
  • Publication number: 20110199055
    Abstract: A method of charging a metal-air battery is provided. The method comprises charging the metal-air battery using one of constant current charging or constant voltage charging during a first portion of a charging cycle. The method further comprises detecting the occurrence of a condition. The method further comprises charging the metal-air battery using the other of the constant current charging or constant voltage charging during a second portion of the charging cycle after detecting the occurrence of the condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Trygve Burchardt, Romuald Franklin Ngamga
  • Publication number: 20110193531
    Abstract: A battery charging circuit for charging a rechargeable battery and improving operating stability includes a plurality of resistors for generating a first voltage; a first reference voltage source for providing a first reference voltage; an error amplifier for generating a second voltage according to the voltage difference between the first reference voltage and the first voltage; a second reference voltage source for providing a second reference voltage; a modulator for generating a control voltage according to the second reference voltage and the second voltage; a voltage-to-current control unit for generating a control current according to the control voltage; and a current mirror for generating an output current which is equal to a multiple of the control current, wherein the output current and its corresponding output voltage is applied to charge the rechargeable battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Kang Sheng, Zong-Yu Wu
  • Patent number: 7990106
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include techniques for charging a battery using a regulator. In one embodiment, the present invention includes an electronic circuit comprising a regulator having an input coupled to a power source for receiving a voltage and a current and an output for providing an output current, an input voltage detection circuit coupled to the power source, and an adjustable current limit circuit for controlling the input or output current of the regulator, wherein input voltage detection circuit monitors the voltage from the power source and the adjustable current limit circuit changes the input or output current of the regulator to optimize the power drawn from power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Summit Microelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Abid Hussain, George Konstantinos Paparrizos, Takashi Kanamori, Thomas J. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 7973515
    Abstract: A power management system includes a battery pack having a battery controller and includes an adapter operable for charging the battery pack and powering a system load. The adapter generates a power recognition signal indicative of a maximum adapter power and receives a control signal. The battery controller in the battery pack receives the power recognition signal and generates the control signal to adjust an output power of the adapter according to a status of the battery pack and a status of the system load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: O2Micro, Inc
    Inventors: William Densham, Han-Jung Kao, Liusheng Liu
  • Patent number: 7969120
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for estimating discharge and charge power of battery applications, including battery packs used in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) and Electric Vehicles (EV). One charge/discharge power estimating method incorporates voltage, state-of-charge (SOC), power, and current design constraints and works for a user-specified prediction time horizon ?t. At least two cell models are used in calculating maximum charge/discharge power based on voltage limits. The first is a simple cell model that uses a Taylor-series expansion to linearize the equation involved. The second is a more complex and accurate model that models cell dynamics in discrete-time state-space form. The cell model can incorporate a inputs such as temperature, resistance, capacity, etc. One advantage of using model-based approach is that the same model may be used in both Kalman-filtering to produce the SOC and the estimation of maximum charge/discharge current based on voltage limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventor: Gregory L. Plett
  • Patent number: 7939213
    Abstract: In a fuel cell system in which load electric power is supplied from a fuel cell and a secondary battery, intermittent operation is performed, that is, operation of the fuel cell is stopped and the load electric power is supplied from the secondary battery in a low load region. At this time, a threshold value for stopping and starting the operation of the fuel cell is adjusted according to open circuit voltage. Thus, it is possible to prevent fuel from being unnecessarily consumed in order to maintain the open circuit voltage at a predetermined value when the operation of the fuel cell is stopped, and to improve response of the fuel cell when the operation of the fuel cell is restarted after the open circuit voltage has decreased in the fuel cell that has stopped generating electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Hiroshi Yoshida, Hitoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 7928700
    Abstract: A method for charging a battery (16) from a direct-current source liable to significant fluctuations, which includes the steps of: progressively charging a storage capacitor (14) at a voltage that is higher than the nominal voltage of the battery (16), detecting a predetermined voltage threshold over the terminals of the storage capacitor (14), and discharging the storage capacitor (14) into the battery (16), the discharging being controlled by the threshold detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Cour
  • Publication number: 20110084662
    Abstract: A charging control method for a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells in which a full charge voltage value is initially set as a first voltage value. The charging control method includes: charging the plurality of battery cells to the first voltage value in an initial charge mode; and resetting the full charge voltage value to a second voltage value less than the first voltage value in a subsequent charge mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: Jongwoon Yang, Segawa Susumu, Testuya Okada, Inkyu Park
  • Patent number: 7923967
    Abstract: A method controls a battery pack that includes a rechargeable battery, a control circuit that controls charge operation of the battery, and a charge control element that controls the charge current through the control circuit. In the method, even though the control circuit controls the charge control element so that the charge control element turns to OFF, in a case where the charge current is detected, the control circuit determines that abnormality occurs if detecting that the current flows at a rate not less than a first current value during a first detection period, and additionally determines that abnormality occurs if detecting a state the current flows at a rate less than the first current value for a second detection period longer than the first detection period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Hamaguchi, Toru Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7911185
    Abstract: A battery-voltage detection circuit comprising: a first-capacitor; an operational-amplifier; a second-capacitor; a voltage-application-circuit to sequentially apply one and the other-battery-terminal-voltages to the other-first-capacitor-end; a discharge circuit to allow the second-capacitor to discharge before the other-battery-terminal-voltage is applied to the other-first-capacitor-end; a constant current circuit to output a constant-current causing predetermined-speed-discharge of electric charge accumulated in the second-capacitor in response to a discharge-start-signal input after voltage is applied to the other-first-capacitor-end; a comparator; and a measurement-circuit to measure a time-period from a time when the discharge-start-signal is input until a time when an comparator-output-signal changes to one logic level as a time-period corresponding to a battery-voltage, at least one of the operational-amplifier and the comparator being provided with an offset so that the comparator-output-signal chang
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Semiconductor Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Yonezawa
  • Publication number: 20110031935
    Abstract: The present invention is characterized in that, in a negative electrode for lithium-ion secondary battery, the negative electrode being manufactured via an application step of applying a binder resin and an active material onto a surface of collector, the binder resin is an alkoxysilyl group-containing resin that has a structure being specified by formula (I); and the active material includes a lithium-inactive metal that does not form any intermetallic compounds with lithium, or a silicide of the lithium-inactive metal, and an elemental substance of Si. It is possible to upgrade cyclic characteristics by means of using the negative electrode for lithium-ion secondary battery according to the present invention. wherein “R1” is an alkyl group whose number of carbon atoms is from 1 to 8; “R2” is an alkyl group or alkoxyl group whose number of carbon atoms is from 1 to 8; and “q” is an integer of from 1 to 100.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: kabushiki kaisha toyota jidoshokki
    Inventors: Manabu Miyoshi, Hitotoshi Murase, Akira Kojima, Junichi Niwa, Takayuki Hirose, Kazuhiro Izumoto, Hideki Goda
  • Patent number: 7884577
    Abstract: An apparatus, which controls the temperature of a secondary battery formed by combination of a plurality of single cells or a plurality of battery modules each made by series connection of multiple single cells, prevents variations in the temperature or voltage of the single cells or the battery modules, which could otherwise be caused when the secondary battery is heated. A temperature control section controls the quantity of heat by means of which a heater heats a secondary battery formed by combination of a plurality of battery modules made by series connection of multiple single cells. The temperature control section detects a rate of temporal changes in an open circuit voltage of the secondary battery. When a detected rate of temporal changes in open circuit voltage has exceeded a predetermined threshold voltage value, the heater is controlled to thus diminish the quantity of heat used for heating the secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic EV Energy Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masateru Tsutsumi, Takuma Iida, Yasushi Matsukawa, Yasuyuki Hori
  • Publication number: 20110025276
    Abstract: A charge control circuit used to control a battery to charge includes a power management unit, a voltage converting unit, a voltage comparison unit, and a switch control unit. The power management unit supplies a voltage to the battery. The voltage converting unit provides a reference voltage to the voltage comparison unit. The voltage comparison unit compares a battery voltage obtained from the battery with the reference voltage, and sends a comparison to the switch control unit. The switch control unit controls the power management unit to charge or stop charging the battery according to the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicants: SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., FIH (HONG KONG) LIMITED
    Inventors: HSING-YUAN HSIEH, JING ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20110018500
    Abstract: A charging device to charge a secondary battery that includes a DC/DC circuit to generate a charging current supplied to the secondary battery, an impedance measurement circuit to measure an impedance of the secondary battery, a first control circuit to output a duty-cycle decrease signal in accordance with the measured impedance, a charging-current monitor circuit to detect the charging current outputted from the DC/DC circuit when the duty cycle of the pulses generated by the DC/DC circuit is decreased by the duty-cycle decrease signal, and, a second control circuit to compare the charging current detected by the charging-current monitor circuit and a charging-current threshold and to output to the DC/DC circuit a frequency change signal that increases a switching operation frequency in the DC/DC circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Keisuke TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20100327817
    Abstract: A battery charging circuit comprises: a rectifier circuit (2) for rectifying a three-phase AC voltage outputted from an electric power generator (1) and generating a charge voltage for charging a battery (B); a voltage detection circuit (4) for detecting that the voltage of the battery (B) exceeds a predetermined voltage; a switching circuit (3) for, in an off-state, charging the battery (B) through the rectifier circuit (2) and, in an on-state, short-circuiting the electric power generator (1) through the rectifier circuit (2); a switch control circuit (5) for, when it is detected by the voltage detection circuit (4) that the voltage of the battery (B) exceeds the predetermined voltage, bringing the switching circuit (3) into the on-state; and a control circuit (6) for allowing the switch control circuit (5) to subsequently perform a control for bringing the switching circuit (3) into the off-state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventor: Makoto Tabuta
  • Publication number: 20100308765
    Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to stabilizing energy provided by an energy source, and more particularly to systems and methods for using multiple types of energy storage devices to selectively capture and provide energy. An energy source provides energy, and the energy storage devices selectively capture energy provided by the energy source in excess of an immediate energy requirement of a load and selectively provide energy when the immediate energy requirement of the load exceeds the energy provided by the energy source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Randy Moore, Ron Nowlin, Viet Vu, Michael Parrot, Jeff Dermott, Gregory Miller
  • Publication number: 20100301809
    Abstract: A networked charging station for electric vehicles protects against overcurrent and ground fault conditions. Upon detecting an overcurrent condition or a ground fault condition, the networked charging station for electric vehicles de-energizes a charging point connection to prevent electric current from flowing between an electric vehicle and the networked charging station and suspends the charging session. The networked charging station clears the overcurrent condition or the ground fault condition upon receipt of an authorized request which is transmitted remotely. The authorized request can be received from the vehicle operator that is associated with the charging session or from an administrator of the charging station through a radio-frequency identifier (RFID) tag enabled device or through a text message or an email message. The networked charging station clears the overcurrent condition or the ground fault condition without a manual reset of a circuit breaker or a GFCI device respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Harjinder Bhade, Milton Tormey, David Baxter, Richard Lowenthal, Praveen Mandal
  • Publication number: 20100264882
    Abstract: Circuits and methods for battery charging are disclosed. In one embodiment, the battery charging circuit comprises an AC to DC converter, a charging control switch, and a charger controller. The AC to DC converter provides a charging power to a battery pack. The charging control switch is coupled between the AC to DC converter and the battery pack. The charging control switch transfers the charging power to the battery pack. The charger controller detects a battery status of the battery pack and controls the charging control switch to charge the battery pack in a continuous charging mode or a pulse charging mode according to the battery status. The charger controller also controls the AC to DC converter to regulate the charging power according to the battery status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: O2MICRO, INC.
    Inventors: Alexandru Hartular, Eftimie Caraghiorghiopol, Dan Simion
  • Publication number: 20100244777
    Abstract: A method and a charger for auxiliarily charging a secondary battery to a desired SOC with high accuracy. A charger for a secondary battery includes a charge termination condition storing unit which stores a relationship between open circuit voltages OCV of a plurality of secondary batteries and an amount of change of terminal voltage ?V until a desired state of charge SOC is reached, which is previously created. A target terminal voltage Vmap at the time of the auxiliary charge is calculated by adding the amount of change of terminal voltage ?V corresponding to the open circuit voltage OCV of a secondary battery to be auxiliarily charged to the open circuit voltage OCV which is measured. A terminal voltage Vb of the secondary battery at the time of auxiliary charge and the target terminal voltage Vmap are compared to each other by a comparison unit, and when the target terminal voltage Vmap is reached, auxiliary charge is terminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Panasonic EV Energy Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayoshi Toyota
  • Publication number: 20100188052
    Abstract: A charge device includes a charge circuit and a monitoring circuit. The charge circuit includes a current limiting element, a rectifier element, and a DC voltage supply unit. The rectifier element is connected with the current limiting element in series. The DC voltage supply unit is used for providing a DC voltage to the battery to charge the battery via the current limiting element and the rectifier element connected with the current limiting element in series. The monitoring circuit includes a temperature sensing unit and a first control unit. The temperature sensing unit is used for sensing a surface temperature of the battery. The first control unit is used for controlling the DC voltage supply unit to stop charging the battery when the surface temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: ASUSTeK Computer Inc
    Inventors: Sheng-Chieh Su, Jung-Tai Chen