With Detection Of Current Or Voltage Integral (e.g., Total Charge, Etc.) Patents (Class 320/149)
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Publication number: 20120194130Abstract: Systems and methods to detect a failure of a subset of component power packs within a multiple component rechargeable power pack. At least one parameter of a charging current that is provided for a time duration to a rechargeable power pack is determined. A measured capacity change quantity for the rechargeable power pack during the time duration is estimated. The measured capacity change quantity is compared, after the time duration, to an expected capacity change quantity that is based upon the at least one parameter. A determination is made that at least one component power pack within the rechargeable power pack has failed based on a difference between the measured capacity change quantity and the expected capacity change quantity. A charging current parameter is modified in response to the determining that the at least one component power pack has failed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2011Publication date: August 2, 2012Applicant: Research In Motion LimitedInventors: Joseph PATINO, Ryan Alexander GERIS, Jonathan Quinn BRUBACHER, Chee-Ming Jimmy WU
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Patent number: 8232774Abstract: According to some embodiments, battery charge management using a scheduling application is disclosed. A first parameter may be received from a scheduling application running on a mobile computing device having a battery pack. Based on at least the first parameter and battery pack data, a required charge percentage for the battery pack may be determined and the remaining capacity of the battery pack may be determined. If the remaining capacity of the battery pack is less than the required charge percentage, a charge termination voltage may be determined and the battery pack may be charged to the charge termination voltage.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Naoki Matsumura, Nobuhiro Otani, Don J. Nguyen, Kiyohiro Hamaji
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Patent number: 8229689Abstract: The remaining capacity of a battery may be monitored with a microprocessor by integrating a voltage measured across a current sense resistor coupled in series with the battery. The microprocessor may measure electrons passing through the battery by sampling the integrator and summing the values recorded from the integrator. Each time the integrator is sampled, the microprocessor may reset the integrator to prevent the integrator from saturating. The remaining capacity of the battery may be calculated based on calibration values and the sum of electrons measured by the integrator. The remaining capacity may be communicating to remote users through a network and displayed in an executive dashboard.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2011Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Southwest Electronic Energy CorporationInventors: Claude Leonard Benckenstein, Jr., Clint Alfred Davis, Dean Perkins
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Patent number: 8229612Abstract: A hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine, a planetary gear mechanism linked to the output shaft of the engine and to a driveshaft, a first motor linked to the planetary gear, a second motor inputting and outputting power to and from the driveshaft, and a battery inputting and outputting electric power to and from the motors. When a cooling water temperature Tw of the engine is lower than a threshold Twref, the intermittent operation of the engine is prohibited, and a controller performs a warm-up control on a condition that a battery temperature Tb is a preset reference temperature T?, while performing a low state of charge control on condition that a battery temperature Tb is higher than or equal to a preset reference temperature T? and lower than a preset reference temperature T?.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2008Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takao Itoh, Koji Yamamoto
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Patent number: 8222862Abstract: A first power storage unit is a battery assembly, and is divided into battery blocks of n (n is a natural number) in number each formed of several electric cells connected together in series. When a state allowing charging with an external power supply is attained, the ECU executes an operation of resetting an SOC of a first power storage unit. The ECU controls a corresponding converter to discharge the first power storage unit with a constant current, and sets reset values for battery blocks of n in number based on battery voltages and battery temperatures exhibited when any one of the battery voltages of the n battery blocks becomes lower than a reset voltage. The ECU resets the SOCs of the battery blocks of the first power storage unit to the respective reset values thus set.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2008Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shinji Ichikawa
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Patent number: 8222870Abstract: A battery management system includes a monitoring circuit and a charger. The monitoring circuit is operable for monitoring a battery pack that includes a plurality of cells, and for checking an unbalanced condition of the battery pack in each cycle of a plurality of cycles. The charger is operable for controlling a charging current to the battery pack and for receiving monitoring information from the monitoring circuit, and for adjusting the charging current from a first level in a previous cycle to a second level that is lower than the first level in response to a detection of the unbalanced condition in a current cycle.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2008Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: O2Micro, IncInventors: Jiankui Guo, Ruichao Tang, Guoxing Li, Xiaohua Hou, Zhenming Zhang
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Publication number: 20120169284Abstract: A battery charging method, and a battery pack using the same. In the battery charging method, constant-current charging is performed in a plurality of phases, and a magnitude of charge current with which a battery is charged is determined according to a charge amount of the battery. The charge amount may be determined by measuring the voltage of the battery or by integrating the charging current over time. When the battery charging method is used, a battery charging time is reduced and the battery is less apt to be overcharged.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2011Publication date: July 5, 2012Applicant: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.Inventor: Alan Park
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Patent number: 8203312Abstract: A battery pack includes at least one secondary battery, a fuse, and a control section. The fuse is configured to cut off charge or discharge current of the secondary battery upon detection of an abnormality of the secondary battery. The control section is configured to detect the abnormality of the secondary battery, and to perform a fusion-cutting process of fusion-cutting the fuse in accordance with the result of the detection. Upon detection of the abnormality, the control section measures a first potential being the potential of a subsequent stage of the fuse and a second potential being the potential of the secondary battery. If it is found from the result of the measurement that the first potential and the second potential are equal, the control section determines that the fuse has not been fusion-cut by the fusion-cutting process, and stops the fusion-cutting process.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2009Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Yasuo Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 8190384Abstract: A method of the present invention using a prediction process including a battery equivalent circuit model used to predict a voltage and a state of charge of a battery. The equivalent circuit battery model includes different equivalent circuit models consisting of at least an ideal DC power source, internal resistance, and an arbitrary number of representative parallel resistors and capacitors. These parameters are obtained a priori by fitting the equivalent circuit model to battery testing data. The present invention further uses a correction process includes determining a corrected predicted state of charge of the battery; and storing the corrected state of charge of the battery in a storage medium. In the present invention, an expectation of the predicted voltage of the battery and an expectation of the predicted state of charge of the battery are obtained by an unscented transform with sigma points selected by a Gaussian process optimization.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2011Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Sakti3, Inc.Inventors: Xiangchun Zhang, Yen-Hung Chen, Chia-Wei Wang, Ann Marie Sastry
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Patent number: 8188750Abstract: A battery module voltage detector can reduce the difference in frequency response of an anti-aliasing filter for each battery module whose voltage is measured, and provide an accurate voltage measurement. The battery module voltage detector includes a plurality of switches connected to battery modules constituting a battery pack, resistors having an equal resistance value, and a filter composed of capacitors having equal capacitance and being disposed between the battery modules and the switches. The capacitors are divided into a first capacitor group and a second capacitor group which are symmetrical at the center of the battery pack. The first capacitor group is on the positive terminal side of the second battery. The second capacitor is on the negative terminal side of the battery pack. Capacitors may be connected between an output terminal of a (1+M/2)-th resistor and an N-th resistor, except a (1+m/2), the (1+M/2)-th resistor and the N-th resistor.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2010Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yasumichi Ohnuki
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Patent number: 8183834Abstract: Electronic apparatus, methods of forming the electronic apparatus, and methods of operating the electronic apparatus include features of current to frequency conversion that may be implemented in a variety of applications. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2009Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Atmel CorporationInventors: Idir Haddani, Bilal Manai, Xavier Rabeyrin
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Patent number: 8183836Abstract: In a battery pack which comprises: a battery set composed of two or more lithium battery cells connected in series; a first protection circuit including a first voltage detect part for detecting the voltage(s) of a part of the two or more battery cells, and a first signal output part for issuing an output signal when a detect voltage detected by the first voltage detect part goes below a given over-discharge judgment voltage value; a second protection circuit including a second voltage detect part for detecting the voltage(s) of another part of the two or more battery cells, and a second signal out part for issuing an output signal when the detect voltage of the battery cell detected by the second voltage detect part goes below a given over-discharge judgment voltage value; and, a switch which is connected to the current path of the battery set and can be turned on or off according to the output signals of the first and second signal output parts and, there is further provided dead time means connected betweeType: GrantFiled: March 3, 2010Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiko Funabashi, Nobuhiro Takano
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Publication number: 20120119709Abstract: A battery management balancing device provides local discharge circuits for individual cells of a battery pack, where the discharge circuits include a power transistor. The use of a power transistor yields a controllable balancing current through that transistor between a cathode and anode of the individual cell. A microcontroller monitors a state of charge of each cell, such as by measuring the cell voltages, and provides control signals, for example indicating a target voltage for each cell, that drive the power transistors in designated discharge circuits.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2011Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: TENERGY CORPORATIONInventors: Benjamin C. Mull, Hrag Kasparian
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Patent number: 8180508Abstract: An electricity storage control apparatus that controls an electricity storage device mounted on a vehicle includes control device that changes a target state of charge, which is used as the target of a state of charge of the electricity storage device, and calculating device that calculates an amount of decrease in voltage across the electricity storage device caused as the vehicle is operated. The control device increases the target state of charge if a decreased voltage value, which is lower than a reference voltage value of the electricity storage device by the voltage decrease amount calculated by the calculating device, is equal to or lower than a threshold.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2007Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toshiyuki Kawai
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Publication number: 20120098500Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed for estimating the remaining charging time of a rechargeable battery. An example embodiment of the invention comprises a method comprising the steps of detecting an availability of a charging device to a battery in an apparatus; determining a type of the charging device by measuring its charging characteristics for charging the battery in the apparatus and comparing its measured charging characteristics with stored charging characteristics of a plurality of chargers, adapters, or charger-adapter combinations; measuring charging current of the battery; and calculating a time remaining to charge the battery based on a comparison of the measured charging current with the stored charging characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2010Publication date: April 26, 2012Applicant: Nokia CorporationInventors: Mikael VESTAMA, Kari RISSANEN, Jussi RUUTU
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Patent number: 8164309Abstract: A circuit for charging and/or discharging a battery includes a switch coupled to a battery in series, and a driving transistor coupled to the switch and operable for sensing a voltage of the battery. The driving transistor is turned on if the voltage of the battery is less than a predetermined threshold. A driving current flowing through the driving transistor determines an on-resistance of the switch.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2009Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: O2Micro, IncInventor: Guoxing Li
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Patent number: 8159187Abstract: An operational amplifier connects to a midpoint between a plurality of serially connected battery cells constituting a secondary battery to provide a charging circuit for inhibiting a charge/discharge current from flowin to the midpoint and an input/output current from flowing from the midpoint to each battery cell. The charging circuit includes excess voltage detectors for detecting whether the voltage is an excess voltage, and a charging controller for determining an overcharge state of each battery cell on the basis of the voltages detected and controlling an ON/OFF of a charging switch. Voltage followers include an operational amplifier, NPN transistor, and the like, connected to a midpoint between a first battery cell and a second battery cell and a midpoint between the second battery cell and the third battery, respectively. The outputs of the voltage followers are configured as the grounds of the excess voltage detectors, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2008Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignees: Tamura Corporation, Makita CorporationInventors: Takeshi Yamamoto, Yoshiharu Shimizu
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Publication number: 20120088556Abstract: Improved techniques to manage operation of a portable electronic device having a substantially depleted battery when power is available from an external, power-limited source are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, the substantially depleted battery can be initially charged while a power-intensive operation is delayed. Once the battery has adequate charge to assist the external, power-limited source in powering the portable electronic device, the power-intensive operation can be performed. In this manner, power consumption of a portable electronic device can be managed so that reliable operation is achieved without exceeding limits on power being drawn from an external, power-limited source.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2011Publication date: April 12, 2012Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: David John TUPMAN, Steven Bollinger
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Publication number: 20120086405Abstract: The battery state-of-charge calculation device (100) is provided with a SOCV calculation unit (5) which outputs a first state of charge calculated based on voltage data, a SOCI calculation unit (6) which outputs a second state of charge calculated based on current data, an estimated impedance voltage calculation unit (12) which calculates an impedance voltage value based on an effective state of charge and the current data, a static determination unit (7) which determines that the impedance voltage value remains static for a predetermined time or longer in a range identified by a predetermined threshold value and outputs the determination result; and a SOC decision unit (20) which, based on the determination result, outputs the first state of charge as the effective state of charge where the impedance voltage value is static and outputs the second state of charge as the effective state of charge where the impedance voltage value is not static.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2009Publication date: April 12, 2012Applicants: KYUSHU ELECTRIC POWER CO., INC., MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Tetsuro Shigemizu, Masami Iida, Takehiko Nishida, Masazumi Ohishi, Kazuyuki Adachi, Shinji Murakami, Yoshihiro Wada
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Patent number: 8154248Abstract: A rechargeable battery pack for a power tool can have a data terminal that provides a signal that is indicative of whether the voltage is below a threshold and can serve as both a pre-charge signal for a charger and as a stop-discharge signal for a power tool. A charger can include a power supply circuit and a voltage detection circuit. A charger control module can receive a signal indicative of the voltage of the battery pack and determine a pre-charge time based on the voltage and can monitor a change in the voltage of the battery pack during the pre-charge operation and stop the pre-charge operation based on the change in voltage and the time period.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2008Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Nathan Cruise, Tarek Aydin, Keith D. Flaharty, Fugen Qin, Steven J. Phillips
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Cell voltage abnormality detector and cell voltage monitoring device for a multi-cell series battery
Patent number: 8154253Abstract: A circuit for detecting battery cell abnormalities in a multi-cell series battery for effectively and quickly detecting abnormalities with a simple, small circuit that provides improved reliability, safety and service life of the multi-cell series battery. In the voltage monitoring device 12, immediately after the start of the monitoring cycle of any battery cell BTi, cell voltage abnormality detector 14 checks whether cell voltage Vi is outside of the normal operating range. The cell voltage abnormality detector 14 has: a group of selection switches 18 for selecting any battery cell BT of multi-cell series battery 10 and retrieving its voltage to first and second monitoring terminals A, B; cell voltage/monitoring current converter 20; monitoring current/monitoring voltage converter 22; comparison/evaluation circuit 24; evaluation signal output circuit 26 and abnormality detection controller 28.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2008Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Kazuya Omagari -
Publication number: 20120081078Abstract: According to some embodiments, battery charge management using a scheduling application is disclosed. A first parameter may be received from a scheduling application running on a mobile computing device having a battery pack. Based on at least the first parameter and battery pack data, a required charge percentage for the battery pack may be determined and the remaining capacity of the battery pack may be determined. If the remaining capacity of the battery pack is less than the required charge percentage, a charge termination voltage may be determined and the battery pack may be charged to the charge termination voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2011Publication date: April 5, 2012Inventors: Naoki Matsumura, Nobuhiro Otani, Don J. Nguyen, Kiyohiro Hamaji
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Patent number: 8148946Abstract: A battery pack has first through third external terminals connected to positive and negative power supply terminals and a voltage detection terminal, respectively. A secondary battery is connected between the first external terminal and the third external terminal. A protection circuit controls ON/OFF of first and second switching elements provided on a wiring between the secondary battery and a load or a charge device by detecting an overcharge, an overdischarge and an overcurrent of the secondary battery. A first thermistor is connected between the second external terminal and the third external terminal. A series circuit containing a second thermistor and a resistor is provided in parallel to the secondary battery. A third switching element is connected between the second external terminal and the third external terminal.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2008Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takashi Takeda, Junji Takeshita
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Patent number: 8143858Abstract: When a battery pack, comprising an overcurrent protection section for stopping, when a current greater than a first threshold value passes, a current supply, is connected to a power supply terminal of an information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus draws a current greater than the first threshold value. Thereafter, an output current and output voltage of the battery pack are detected, thereby measuring a time period from when a current drawing section draws the current greater than the first threshold value to when the battery pack stops the current supply. When the measured time period is within a first predetermined time range, the battery pack is permitted to supply an electric power. On the other hand, when the measured time period is not in the first predetermined time range, the battery pack is prohibited from supplying the electric power.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2007Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shuichi Tsugawa, Takeshi Nabesaka
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Patent number: 8138725Abstract: A fraction of the battery energy is kept in reserve during operational use of a battery-powered apparatus. The motor of the apparatus is switched off when the battery has discharged to the level of this reserve fraction. The reserve is made available again for operational use when the user has recharged the apparatus for a little while. This approach 5 simulates a super fast charging operation.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2007Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Schelte Heeringa, Oedilius Johannes Bisschop
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Patent number: 8134338Abstract: A battery management system is provided for managing a battery that supplies power to a vehicle. The battery includes a plurality of cells. The battery management system includes a sensing unit for measuring a voltage of each of the plurality of cells. The battery management system detects at least one first cell among the plurality of cells that needs to be balanced according to the measured voltage of each of the plurality of cells. In addition, the battery management system performs a cell balancing operation on said at least one first cell by using different methods according to a driving state of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2007Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventor: Won-Suk Choi
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Publication number: 20120056578Abstract: A charging device can prevent overcharging by coping with a plurality of cell voltages without increasing a circuit area and current consumption. The charging device selects one of at least two judgment voltages in response to a select signal determined depending on a chargeable voltage of a secondary battery. The charging device compares a comparison voltage based on a voltage of a lower stream of a back flow prevention unit with the selected judgment voltage to detect a fully charged state of the secondary battery. The charging device interrupts supply of charging current to the back flow prevention unit upon detecting the fully charged state.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2011Publication date: March 8, 2012Applicant: OKI SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Kikuo UTSUNO
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Patent number: 8125187Abstract: The method of controlling charging and discharging in a hybrid car power source detects remaining capacity of batteries 1 that supply power to the motor 11 that drives the hybrid car, controls battery 1 charging and discharging to keep detected remaining capacity within a pre-set first targeted control range under normal conditions, and controls battery 1 charging and discharging to keep detected remaining capacity within a second targeted control range that is narrower than the first targeted control range when an abnormality is detected. Further, the method of controlling charging and discharging sets the second targeted control range to include the detected remaining capacity when the range for controlling battery 1 remaining capacity is switched from the first targeted control range to the second targeted control range at detection of an abnormality.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2009Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroshi Tatsumi
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Patent number: 8120324Abstract: A system and method adapted to rejuvenate batteries at or near the resonant frequency of the battery. The present invention takes a battery and applies a modulated current charging signal to increase battery performance. A resonant signal is adapted to re-train and adjust battery materials for proper operation. By repeated charge/discharge cycling, battery memory decreases and/or battery capacity increases, thereby improving the battery capacity.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2007Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Advanced Battery Management, LLCInventors: John Arthur Fee, Brian L. Graham
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Publication number: 20120038325Abstract: A battery charger 2 equipped with an AC/DC converter charges a secondary battery module 1 constituted with a plurality of unit cells 10. The unit cells 10 are each connected in parallel with a constant voltage circuit 33 constituted with a Zener diode 332 and a resistor 331 connected in series, and the unit cell 10 achieving a state of full charge is detected based upon the difference between the potentials at the two sides of the resistor 331. As a battery controller 32 lowers the charging power used by the battery charger 2 in response to the full charge state being achieved, it is ensured that the secondary battery module 1 is charged thoroughly while preventing individual unit cells 10 from becoming overcharged.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Inventors: Tsuyoshi Morita, Kouhei Kasedou, Noriko Hoshino, Ayuka Kawata, Atsushi Kawase
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Publication number: 20120032647Abstract: A method for determining completion of charge of a long-duration lithium ion secondary battery is provided. A method for determining completion of charge a lithium ion secondary battery including one lithium compound having an olivine crystal structure as a positive electrode active material, and a graphite material as a negative electrode active material, includes: (S1) charging the battery by an amount of electricity Xc in time Ti1; (S2) stopping the charging for time Yc after completion of (S1), and measuring a battery voltage Vi1 after the time Yc has passed; (S3) charging the amount of electricity Xc in the time Ti1 after completion of (S2); (S4) stopping the charging for the time Yc after completion of (S3), and measuring a battery voltage Vi2 after the time Yc has passed; and comparing Vi2?Vi1 with a predetermined voltage difference Vi3 to determine that the charge has been completed when Vi2?Vi1>Vi3, and determine that the charge has not been completed when Vi2?Vi1<Vi3.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2010Publication date: February 9, 2012Inventors: Kozo Watanabe, Toshitada Sato, Masahiro Kinoshita
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Publication number: 20120019215Abstract: Some embodiments include a method for charging multiple rechargeable energy storage systems. Other embodiments or related systems and methods are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2011Publication date: January 26, 2012Applicant: Electric Transportation Engineering Corp., D/b/a ECOtality North AmericaInventors: Craig K. Wenger, Donald B. Karner, Garrett Beauregard
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Patent number: 8080978Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for charging a battery in a mobile device are provided. For example, in one embodiment, among others, a battery charging system includes a monitoring circuit configured to monitor a battery and generate a sense current. The battery charging system further includes a comparing circuit configured to compare a reference current and the generated sense current. The comparing circuit is further configured to generate a comparison signal. Also, the battery charging system further includes a control circuit configured to control a level of a charging current applied to the battery based on the comparison signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2009Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignee: Via Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Yeong-Sheng Lee, Winsheng Cheng, Kuangda Chu
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Patent number: 8076904Abstract: A disclosed circuit for detecting remaining battery capacity includes: a current detection unit detecting a charge and discharge current of a battery; a remaining capacity measurement unit measuring remaining capacity of the battery by integrating the charge and discharge current at first time intervals when the charge and discharge current detected in the current detection unit is not more than a predetermined value and at second time intervals shorter than the first time intervals when the charge and discharge current exceeds the predetermined value; and an interrupt signal generation unit generating an interrupt signal when the charge and discharge current exceeds a reference value and instructing the remaining capacity measurement unit to measure remaining capacity of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2007Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Itsuki Nakano, Akira Ikeuchi
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Patent number: 8049469Abstract: A safety circuit includes a thermal fuse electrically connected in a main current path so that an electric current flowing in the main current path flows through the thermal fuse; a switching element electrically connected to the thermal fuse to cause the thermal fuse to open and interrupt the electric current flowing in the main current path when the switching element is turned on; a microcontroller electrically connected to the switching element and the main current path to turn on the switching element when an overcurrent flows in the main current path; and a noise removing unit electrically connecting the microcontroller to the switching element.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2008Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventor: Youngbok Kim
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Patent number: 8044786Abstract: Systems and methods for diagnosing battery voltage misreporting is described. According to various embodiments, battery voltage may be monitored with respect to a state of charge and/or time. Based on this monitored information, battery charge state data may be generated by computing time derivatives of the monitored battery voltage across a voltage range. This battery charge state data may be compared with an expected set of charge state data if substantial differences exist, an error may be generated. Other embodiments are described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2008Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventors: Eugene Michael Berdichevsky, Philip David Cole, James Jay Dunlay
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Patent number: 8026696Abstract: A battery pack comprising a power cell for providing power to a load or for receiving a charge from a charger, a first protection circuit for protecting from overvoltage and/or overcurrent conditions, and a second protection circuit for protecting from overtemperature conditions. The protection circuits independently control one or more electronic switching devices, through which passes substantially all of the current supplied by the power cell. When overvoltage and/or overcurrent conditions exist, the first protection circuit causes at least one of the switching devices to move to a non-conducting condition. Similarly, when an overtemperature condition exists, the second protection circuit causes at least one of the switching devices to move to a non-conducting condition.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2011Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: Research In Motion LimitedInventor: Siong Litingtun
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Patent number: 8018236Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 12, 2009Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: SIF S.A.S. di Claudio Formenti E C.Inventor: Claudio Formenti
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Publication number: 20110199055Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2011Publication date: August 18, 2011Inventors: Trygve Burchardt, Romuald Franklin Ngamga
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Patent number: 7996165Abstract: A portable measurement device and method for measuring a parameter value of a battery. The measurement device connects a large resistive load to a battery being tested. The load is connected to the battery through a first set of kelvin connected clamps and a switch. A microprocessor measures open and closed circuit voltages via a second set of kelvin connected jaws. The microprocessor determines voltage drop curve data based on the measure open and closed circuit voltages. The microprocessor compares the voltage drop curve data to voltage drop profile data for a particular parameter to determine the parameter value for the battery.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2008Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Associated Equipment Corp.Inventor: Steven D. Keuss
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Publication number: 20110187329Abstract: A battery condition detector configured to detect a micro short circuit of a rechargeable battery is disclosed. The battery condition detector includes a processing part configured to calculate the remaining capacity and the full-charge capacity of a rechargeable battery 200 and to determine the micro short circuit of the rechargeable battery 200 by detecting an overcharge of the rechargeable battery 200 based on a charged capacity charged during the charging of the rechargeable battery 200, the remaining capacity calculated at a calculation time immediately before the start of the charging, and the full-charge capacity calculated before the start of the charging; and a communications part 70 configured to output a signal according to the determination result of the processing part 50.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2009Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicants: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD., NTT DOCOMO, INC.Inventors: Yoshihide Majima, Keiichi Kitamura, Kazuhiko Takeno, Yasuyuki Kanai, Haruo Uemura
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Patent number: 7990100Abstract: A hybrid forklift truck is provided with an engine, a battery-driven motor generator, and a battery control device that prevents excessive exhaustion or charging of the battery. The state of charge (SOC) of the battery is determined from the battery voltage and SOC when battery current is zero for at least a predetermined time period and from the battery voltage, current and SOC when discharge current is constant for at least a predetermined time period. SOC is revised whenever battery current is zero or constant for at least the predetermined time period, and SOC at any point of time in operation of the forklift truck is estimated by integrating battery current from the SOC revision and subtracting the integrated current from the revised SOC. Drive power of the engine and motor generator are allocated according to a relationship between permissible discharge and charge current and SOC of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2007Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Yutaka Kubota, Takao Sakurai, Shunsuke Kamei
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Publication number: 20110181249Abstract: In a charging method for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery which comprises a positive electrode including a lithium-containing composite oxide as an active material, a negative electrode including a material capable of charging and discharging lithium ions as an active material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte, an open circuit voltage of the secondary battery is detected. When the detected value is smaller than a predetermined voltage x, charging is performed at a comparatively small current value B. When the detected value is equal to or greater than the predetermined voltage x and smaller than a predetermined voltage z, charging is performed at a comparatively great current value A. When the detected value is equal to or greater than the predetermined voltage z and smaller than a predetermined voltage y, charging is performed at a comparatively small current value C. When the detected value is greater than the predetermined voltage y, constant-voltage charging is performed or charging is terminated.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2010Publication date: July 28, 2011Inventors: Masaki Deguchi, Masaya Ugaji
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Patent number: 7982433Abstract: A state of charge (SOC) compensation method of a battery and a battery management system using the same. A charge/discharge current of the battery is used for calculating the SOC and an SOC voltage that is a value in an OCV table, a rheobasic voltage is calculated, an error in the SOC is measured by using a difference between the SOC voltage and the rheobasic voltage, and a range of the error is determined among multiple effective ranges. Subsequently, the SOC is compensated by using a compensation SOC set in correspondence with a range in which the error is included to thereby measure a more accurate SOC of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2006Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Gye-Jong Lim, Han-Seok Yun, Se-Wook Seo
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Patent number: 7977917Abstract: An electric power supply control system has a battery, a vehicular alternator, large electric power systems, operation limitation target systems, and a battery condition management device. Each large electric power system generates a rush current when initiating its operation by electric power supplied. Each operation limitation target system is capable of limiting its operation for a demand during the operation of the large electric power systems. The large electric power systems and the operation limitation target systems change their operation conditions based on an allowable electric power (or an allowable electric current) supplied from the battery condition management device in order to maintain a terminal voltage of the battery which is not less than a limitation voltage.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2008Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Tadatoshi Asada
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Patent number: 7973515Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 12, 2008Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: O2Micro, IncInventors: William Densham, Han-Jung Kao, Liusheng Liu
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Patent number: 7956581Abstract: A battery pack comprising a power cell for providing power to a load or for receiving a charge from a charger, a first protection circuit for protecting from overvoltage and/or overcurrent conditions, and a second protection circuit for protecting from overtemperature conditions. The protection circuits independently control one or more electronic switching devices, through which passes substantially all of the current supplied by the power cell. When overvoltage and/or overcurrent conditions exist, the first protection circuit causes at least one of the switching devices to move to a non-conducting condition. Similarly, when an overtemperature condition exists, the second protection circuit causes at least one of the switching devices to move to a non-conducting condition.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2008Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Research In Motion LimitedInventor: Siong LiTingTun
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Patent number: 7956580Abstract: A cell control unit (20) individually controls cell capacities (SOC) of a first subset (Cf) of a set of cells (Cj) in a heat dissipating manner by using discharge resistors (Rj), a set of estimation elements (21, 31-33, S1-S6, S11-S16, S18-S19) estimates a degree of heat dissipation of the set of cells (Cj) in terms of a temperature rise (To(n)-To(0)) of a substrate (25) of the cell control unit (20), and a set of interruption elements (SWj, S17) interrupts controlling cell capacities (SOC) of a second subset (Cs) of the first subset of cells (Cf) determined in dependence on the estimated temperature rise (To(n)-To(0)).Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2005Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tomonaga Sugimoto
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Publication number: 20110115427Abstract: In an energy storage device, a charging circuit is electrically coupled to the energy storage section. A first comparator is electrically coupled to an energy storage section, and its output is inverted when voltage Vc of the energy storage section reaches first predetermined voltage Vc1. A second comparator is electrically coupled to the energy storage section, and its output is inverted when voltage Vc of the energy storage section reaches second predetermined voltage Vc2. A control circuit is electrically coupled to the first comparator and the second comparator. The control circuit obtains period tm from inversion of the output of the first comparator to the output of the second comparator. Capacitance C of the energy storage section is calculated based on this period tm and voltage change width ?Vc between the first predetermined voltage Vc1 and the second predetermined voltage Vc2.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2010Publication date: May 19, 2011Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kazuki Morita, Yohsuke Mitani
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Patent number: 7940027Abstract: A method to manage charge and/or discharge of a rechargeable battery comprising at least one electrochemical cell having predetermined maximum continuous charge current (IMR_C) and/or discharge current (IMD_C) allowed, the method comprising the steps of: measuring an instantaneous charge current (I); defining an overcharge capacity (Cap); determining an instantaneous maximum current allowed in charge (IMR) as a function of the overcharge capacity; and/or defining an over thermal capacity (CapTh); determining an instantaneous maximum pulse current allowed in discharge (IMD_max) as a function of the over thermal capacity.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2007Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Saft Groupe SAInventors: Philippe Desprez, Gerard Barrailh, Sebastien Benjamin