With Thermal Condition Detection Patents (Class 320/150)
  • Patent number: 8129955
    Abstract: A battery pack may include a plurality of battery cells; a discharge switch in series with the battery cells, a temperature sensor configured to sense temperature in the battery pack, and a battery control unit adapted to receive a signal indicative of temperature from the temperature sensor and operable to control the switch to interrupt current flow from the battery cells when the temperature exceeds an over-temperature threshold. The battery control unit may be adapted to receive a reset signal and operable to control the switch to restore current flow upon receipt of the reset signal and when the temperature is below an operating temperature threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. White, Daniele C. Brotto, Nathan Cruise, Andrew E. Seman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8129956
    Abstract: A temperature sensing device can be embedded in a memory circuit in order to sense the temperature of the memory circuit. One oscillator generates a temperature variable signal that increases frequency as the temperature of the oscillator increases and decreases frequency when the temperature of the oscillator decreases. A temperature invariant oscillator generates a fixed width signal that is controlled by an oscillator read logic and indicates a temperature sense cycle. An n-bit counter is clocked by the temperature variable signal while the fixed width signal enables/inhibits the counter. The faster the counter counts, the larger the count value at the end of the sense cycle indicated by the fixed width signal. A larger count value indicates a warmer temperature. A smaller count value indicates a colder temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLC
    Inventor: Simon J. Lovett
  • Patent number: 8129940
    Abstract: A vehicle control system has a battery mounted to a vehicle, a vehicle alternator charging the battery, a battery current detection device detecting a charging/discharging current of the battery, a voltage regulation device regulating an output voltage of the vehicle alternator to a specified output voltage, and a temperature sensor mounted to the inside of the battery current detection device. One terminal of a shunt resistance is connected to a negative terminal of the battery through a battery clump, and the other terminal of the shunt resistance is grounded. The temperature sensor is placed close to the shunt resistance. This structure enables the temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the battery with a high accuracy while considering the temperature characteristics of the shunt resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Kunihiro Abe
  • Publication number: 20120049804
    Abstract: One cycle is corrected every charging/discharging cycle in accordance with a cycle deterioration accelerating coefficient. The corrected one cycles are accumulated. A storage period is corrected in accordance with a storage deterioration accelerating coefficient every hour. The corrected storage periods are accumulated. In the storage period, a rechargeable battery is stored with the terminal voltage higher than a predetermined voltage. A deterioration coefficient is obtained as the product of a cycle deterioration coefficient calculated in accordance with the accumulated cycle number, and a storage deterioration coefficient calculated in accordance with the accumulated value of the storage periods (Step S42). If the deterioration coefficients falls within the range 0.3 to 0.7 (Step S43, 44: NO), the setting voltage in constant-voltage and constant-current charging operation is decreased from 4.2 to 4.1 V (S45). If it is smaller than 0.3 (S43: NO, S44: YES), the setting voltage is decreased to 3.8 V (S46).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Takao KOBAYASHI, Toru Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8120328
    Abstract: A charging system of the present invention is a charging system for charging a battery mounted on a portable telephone 100, and includes a charging control unit 174 that performs supply and control of the charging electric current and the charging voltage to the battery, a device temperature monitoring unit 170 that monitors the device temperature inside the portable telephone 100, and a battery temperature monitoring unit 172 that monitors the battery temperature of the battery. The charging control unit 174 controls the charging electric current to be supplied to the battery according to the device temperature monitored by the device temperature monitoring unit 170 and controls the charging voltage to be supplied to the battery according to the battery temperature monitored by the battery temperature monitoring unit 172.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yasutaka Eto
  • Patent number: 8117857
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for actively cooling the battery pack of an electric vehicle after the vehicle has been turned off, thereby limiting the adverse effects of temperature on battery life, are provided. Different battery pack cooling techniques are provided, thus allowing the cooling technique used in a particular instance to be selected not only based on the thermal needs of the battery pack, but also on the thermal capacity and energy requirements of the selected approach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Russell Kelty, Scott Ira Kohn, Weston Arthur Hermann, Clay Hajime Kishiyama
  • Patent number: 8120329
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling power generation of a generator mounted on a vehicle, the generator charging a on-vehicle battery, comprising a detecting device that detects information indicating the internal status of the battery that includes temperature of the battery, a power supply circuit that supplies power to the detecting device, a calculator for calculating the internal status of the battery using the information detected by the detecting device, a circuit board on which the calculator, the power supply circuit, and the detecting circuit are mounted and a controller that controls the power generation of the generator based on the internal status of the battery. The temperature sensing element is arranged on a bus bar that is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the battery, and the bus bar and the temperature sensing element are coupled thermally to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Tadatoshi Asada
  • Patent number: 8115450
    Abstract: A thermally managed enclosure for batteries in a motor vehicle or other machinery includes a cradle of thermally conductive material for containing a battery. The cradle having a bottom wall and side walls closely fitted to and in contact with the battery, to maintain the battery in a stable position. The bottom wall of the cradle has a passageway trough containing a tube for flowing heating or cooling fluid therethrough, to control the optimal operating temperature of the battery. The passageway trough is preferably filled with a thermally conductive fill surrounding said tube. When two or more batteries are required, an array of adjacent cradles are provided in a monocoque tray formed by bonding or welding the multiple cradles at their adjacent sides. These cradles are optionally connected by linearly extending rods in the cradles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Odyne Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Mario Ambrosio, Konstantinos Sfakianos
  • Patent number: 8115455
    Abstract: The application relates to a power battery module, including rechargeable cells having a nominal operating charging temperature, greater than 20° C. According to the application, the module includes a circuit for managing charging of the cells which further includes: two external charging terminals for charging of the cells, wherein at least one, called second charging terminal, of the two external charging terminals is distinct from the external use terminals, first interruption/connector between the second charging terminal and one of the use terminals, second device between the charging terminals and the heating element to connect, at least in the first interruption position, the charging terminals to a heating element of the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Batscap
    Inventors: Christian Sellin, Jean-Luc Monfort, Luc Nedelec
  • Publication number: 20120025785
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for managing the heat in an electric battery including a plurality of elements for generating electric power, the method including, when recharging said battery from an external power source, preconditioning said battery at an average temperature T0 and, when using said battery, determining the absolute value ?T2 of the difference between the temperature T0 and the average temperature T of said battery, wherein said method includes activating a heat-conditioning device of the battery when the difference ?T2 is higher than a setpoint C2, said setpoint being established on the basis of the state of charge (SOC) of said battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Dow Kokam France SAS
    Inventor: Fabien GABEN
  • Publication number: 20120025752
    Abstract: The invention provides advances in the arts with useful and novel battery charger circuits and methods providing improved energy conservation, harvesting, and utilization efficiencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: TRIUNE IP LLC
    Inventors: Ross Teggatz, Eric Blackall, Brett Smith, Wayne Chen, Jonathan Knight
  • Publication number: 20120025762
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling temperature in an electric vehicle battery pack such that battery pack longevity is preserved, while vehicle driving range is maximized. A controller prescribes a maximum allowable temperature in the battery pack as a function of state of charge, reflecting evidence that lithium-ion battery pack temperatures can be allowed to increase as state of charge decreases, without having a detrimental effect on battery pack life. During vehicle driving, battery pack temperature is allowed to increase with decreasing state of charge, and a cooling system is only used as necessary to maintain temperature beneath the increasing maximum level. The decreased usage of the cooling system reduces energy consumption and increases vehicle driving range. During charging operations, the cooling system must remove enough heat from the battery pack to maintain temperatures below a decreasing maximum, but this has no impact on driving range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Sebastian Lienkamp, Remy Fontaine, Marc Becker, Peter Kilian
  • Patent number: 8108160
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a state of charge of a battery are provided. A first component of the state of charge is calculated based on a first property of the battery. A second component of the state of charge is calculated based on a second property of the battery. The first component of the state of charge is weighted based on a rate of change of the first property relative to a change of the state of charge. The second component of the state of charge is weighted based on a rate of change of the second property relative to a change of the state of charge. The state of charge is determined based on the first and second weighted components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Wei Liu, Michael J. Gielniak, Jian Lin, Brian Koch, Damon R. Frisch, Joseph M. Lograsso
  • Patent number: 8108161
    Abstract: A battery state estimating unit estimates an internal state of a secondary battery according to a battery model equation in every arithmetic cycle, and calculates an SOC based on a result of the estimation. A parameter characteristic map stores a characteristic map based on a result of actual measurement performed in an initial state (in a new state) on a parameter diffusion coefficient and a DC resistance in the battery model equation. The parameter change rate estimating unit estimates a DC resistance change rate represented by a ratio of a present DC resistance with respect to a new-state parameter value by parameter identification based on the battery model equation, using battery data measured by sensors as well as the new-state parameter value of the DC resistance corresponding to the present battery state and read from the parameter characteristic map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuji Tomura, Takaji Umeno, Yasushi Amano, Yuji Nishi, Takeshi Takemoto, Nobuyasu Haga, Tetsuya Fuchimoto
  • Patent number: 8102153
    Abstract: The battery voltage adjusting device includes: a voltage detecting means provided corresponding to a block including at least one unit cell of an on-vehicle high voltage battery consisting of a plurality of the unit cells connected in series and detecting a terminal voltage of the unit cell in the block; a charge-discharge means charging or discharging the unit cell in the block on the basis of the terminal voltage of the unit cell detected by the voltage detecting means; a temperature detecting means detecting a temperature of the unit cell; and a changing means changing a time period, from a time point when the charge-discharge means finishes to charge or discharge the unit cell to a time point when the voltage detecting means detects the terminal voltage of the unit cell, on the basis of the temperature of the unit cell detected by the temperature detecting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Ishikawa, Tsutomu Saigo
  • Patent number: 8098050
    Abstract: A charge/discharge control device for a secondary battery mounted on a vehicle includes a temperature sensor detecting a temperature of a battery and a control device setting a battery power charged to and discharged from the battery base on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the state of charge of the battery. The control device sets at least one of a first value, a second value and a third value to be increased as the battery temperature rises, the first value indicating the state of charge at the time of switching between charging and discharging of the battery, the second value indicating the state of charge at the time when the battery power charged to the battery reaches a limit value in the case where the state of charge falls below the first value, and the third value indicating the state of charge at the time when the battery power discharged from the battery reaches the limit value in the case where the state of charge exceeds the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidenori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8098044
    Abstract: When a connector portion is coupled, switching dampers block a vehicle compartment air intake duct and a vehicle compartment air discharge duct, respectively. By a blowing fan, the air-conditioned air supplied through an air-conditioned air supply conduit flows through an outside air intake duct, a power supply unit, an outside air discharge duct, and an air-conditioned air discharge conduit in turn, and cools a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomonari Taguchi
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120007547
    Abstract: A method of charging a battery pack, the battery pack including at least one battery cell. The method includes comparing a battery cell voltage to a first voltage; comparing the battery cell voltage to a second voltage that is greater than the first voltage; and controlling a current amplifying unit coupled to the at least one battery cell to amplify a current from a charger to the at least one battery cell if the battery cell voltage is between the first voltage and the second voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventor: Youngu Kim
  • Patent number: 8092081
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for determining when a battery, or one or more batteries within a battery pack, undergoes an undesired thermal event such as thermal runaway. The system uses an optical fiber mounted in close proximity to, or in contact with, an external surface of the battery or batteries to be monitored. A source of light is optically coupled to the input facet of the optical fiber and a detector optically coupled to the output facet of the optical fiber. Battery health is determined by monitoring the light transmitted through the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, Paul Bryan Kreiner, Scott Ira Kohn, Dorian West, Jonathan Louis Hall
  • Patent number: 8093867
    Abstract: A charging apparatus is provided and is configured to accept temperature information corresponding to a temperature of a secondary battery or a battery pack, supply a charging current to the secondary battery or the battery pack when the temperature is within a set charge temperature range, and interrupt the charging current when the temperature is beyond the set charge temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazumi Sato, Masatsugu Honma
  • Patent number: 8089250
    Abstract: A method for protecting a battery of an electronic device from overheating is provided. The method senses the temperature of the battery and conduct an unloading action when the temperature of the battery ascends to an unloading temperature. The method further halts the unloading action when the temperature of the battery descends to a lowest critical temperature, wherein the unloading temperature is not lower than the lowest critical temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Mitac Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Chia-Chang Chiu
  • Publication number: 20110316486
    Abstract: The charge control system includes at least a battery temperature control device, a cooling device, a heating device, and an integrated control device. The battery control device detects SOC of a battery. Based on the detected SOC, the integrated control device switches between a first charging mode in which the battery is charged at a substantially constant current and a second charging mode in which the battery is charged at a substantially constant voltage. In the second charging mode, the battery temperature control device performs rapid cooling control to control the cooling device such that it has a cooling capacity in the second charging mode higher than a cooling capacity in the first charging mode. Thus, the battery temperature is appropriately controlled to increase a cruising distance even when the electric vehicle is run immediately after completion of charging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo INABA, Naoyuki Tashiro
  • Patent number: 8081000
    Abstract: The invention provides an evaluation method and an evaluation apparatus with which it is possible to know the safety level of batteries when an internal short circuit occurs through a chemical process, and a battery whose safety level has been determined with the evaluation method and the evaluation apparatus. A battery that has been charged to a predetermined voltage and into which conductive foreign matter has been incorporated is immersed in an electrolyte. The time at which the battery started to dissolve in the electrolyte is determined. Occurrence of an internal short circuit in the battery is detected based on a battery voltage. A time required for occurrence of short circuit is computed based on the above-described dissolution start time and the time of occurrence of the internal short circuit, and then output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Kasamatsu, Hajime Nishino, Masato Fujikawa, Mikinari Shimada
  • Publication number: 20110304303
    Abstract: A protection structure for battery charging includes a temperature sensing module, a processing module, and a charging control module. The temperature sensing module is configured for sensing the temperature of a battery and outputting electronic signals. The processing module is configured for receiving the electronic signals and outputting a first control signal group. The charging control module is configured for receiving the electronic signals and the first control signal group, comparing the electronic signals and a first reference range and outputting a second control signal group according to the comparison results, further recognizing and comparing the second control signal group with the first control signal group. When the second control signal group and the first control signal group both include a charging signal or a stop-charging signal, the executing module controls the battery to charge or stop the battery from charging according to the first control signal group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: CHIEN-HENG CHEN, CHUNG-HSIN HUANG
  • Patent number: 8074888
    Abstract: A portable electronic payment terminal is provided, which includes at least one removable battery. The removable battery carries an electronic chip containing at least one item of identification information and is able to communicate with a contactless reading device present in the terminal. The terminal further includes: a transmitter for transmitting the identification information to a distant control server of the terminal manufacturer; and a receiver for receiving from the server conformity or non-conformity information according to whether the identification information belongs to a list approved by the manufacturer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Compagnie Industrielle et Financiere d'Ingenierie “Ingenico”
    Inventor: David Naccache
  • Publication number: 20110298417
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for identifying a presence of a short circuit in a battery pack. A fault-detection apparatus for a charging system that rapidly charges a collection of interconnected lithium ion battery cells, the safety system includes a data-acquisition system for receiving a set of data parameters from the collection while the charging system is actively charging the collection; a monitoring system evaluating the set of data parameters to identify a set of anomalous conditions; and a controller comparing the set of anomalous conditions against a set of predetermined profiles indicative of an internal short in one or more cells of the collection, the controller establishing an internal-short state for the collection when the comparing has a predetermined relationship to the set of predetermined profiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarah G. Stewart, Christopher Dangler, Clay H. Kishiyama, Weston A. Hermann, Scott I. Kohn, Kurt R. Kelty
  • Publication number: 20110291622
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery system wherein safety of a lithium secondary battery can be enhanced by efficiently deactivating (inactivating) lithium metal deposited on a negative electrode of the lithium secondary battery. Also disclosed is an automobile. Specifically disclosed is a battery system comprising a lithium ion secondary battery and a temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of the lithium ion secondary battery. The temperature control unit performs such a control that the temperature T of the lithium ion secondary battery is maintained within the following range: 55° C.<T<65° C., for a predetermined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Hiroshi HAMAGUCHI, Masanori Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20110285358
    Abstract: A portable internal combustion engine and a charging device that generates AC power are supported on a manually movable frame. A coupling mechanism which can include a starter circuit and starting device, or a charging circuit and charging device, or both device couples a battery receptacle terminal block to the internal combustion engine. The battery receptacle can include various features to permit and retain electrical coupling between a battery pack for a cordless power tool. For example, key protrusions and corresponding recesses can be associating with latching projections. Additionally or alternatively, cooperating rails and recesses may be associated with the battery pack and receptacle, respectively. Spring loaded movable clips or resilient flexing clips can be included to act on the battery pack. An electrical cord may also be used to couple receptacle terminals to the coupling mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Grant, Michael K. Forster
  • Publication number: 20110285357
    Abstract: Disclosed is a charging control method including: a full charging step of charging a lead storage battery until the battery is fully charged; a refresh charging step of performing refresh charging of charging the lead storage battery with a predetermined refresh charging quantity of electricity after the lead storage battery has been fully charged; and a refresh charging quantity setting step of setting the refresh charging quantity of electricity in the refresh charging step for the lead storage battery which has been fully charged at a present time, depending on a temperature of the lead storage battery throughout a deficient charging period, the deficient charging period being a period from a time when the lead storage battery has been fully charged at a previous time to a time when the lead storage battery has been fully charged at the present time in the full charging step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Tomoya Kikuchi, Harumi Murochi, Yasuyuki Yoshihara, Kazuyuki Shimada
  • Publication number: 20110279092
    Abstract: A method includes: receiving a temperature indication, the temperature indication being a function of a temperature of a power pack of a portable electronic device; determining, as a function of the temperature indication, whether the temperature is within an elevated operating temperature range; and reducing a charge termination voltage and a charging current when the temperature is within the elevated operating temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Taha Shabbir Husain Sutarwala, Mallikarjun Boda, Yu William Feng, Jonathan Quinn Brubacher, Chee-Ming Jimmy Wu
  • Patent number: 8058846
    Abstract: A protection circuit controls charging/discharging of a battery pack in both a high temperature region and a low temperature region. The battery pack is protected from the risk of firing, burning or explosion which occurs in a high temperature region, to secure its safety. Furthermore, the charging and discharging of the battery pack is controlled in a low temperature region, to prevent incomplete charging and to increase the battery capacity efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Youn-gu Kim
  • Patent number: 8059007
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for determining when a battery, or one or more batteries within a battery pack, undergoes an undesired thermal event such as thermal runaway. The system uses a conductive member mounted in close proximity to, or in contact with, an external surface of the battery or batteries to be monitored. A resistance measuring system such as a continuity-tester or an ohmmeter is coupled to the conductive member, the resistance measuring system outputting a first signal when the temperature corresponding to the battery or batteries is within a prescribed temperature range and a second signal when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature that falls outside of the prescribed temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, Daniel Nicholas Brncic, Paul Bryan Kreiner, Scott Ira Kohn, Dorian West, Jonathan Louis Hall
  • Patent number: 8055311
    Abstract: A mobile phone includes an external power supply terminal receiving power from the external power supply, a secondary battery charging at least part of the received power and supplying the charged power to a load, a radio circuit receiving power from the secondary battery and allowing transmission power to be varied, and a control portion detecting the transmission power level of the radio circuit and switching to any of a plurality of charge modes having different time periods for charging the secondary battery, based on the detected transmission power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Izumi, Yukihiro Kawamoto, Atsumi Okamoto, Yoichi Kasamaru
  • Patent number: 8049460
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a rechargeable battery pack installed in an electric vehicle, a power supply coupled to the rechargeable battery pack, the power supply operable to provide a charge voltage to perform charging operations on the rechargeable battery pack, a heater to heat a fluid to be circulated through the rechargeable battery pack, the fluid thermally coupled to a plurality of battery cells within the rechargeable battery pack, a switching circuit, the switching circuit coupled to the heater and to the power supply, the switching circuit operable in a first mode to couple the source of electrical power to the heater without coupling the source of electrical power to the rechargeable battery pack, the switching circuit operable in a second mode to couple a source of electrical power external to the electric vehicle to the power supply to form a recharging circuit in order to perform charging operations on the rechargeable battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Krauer, Jeffrey Brian Straubel, Troy Adam Nergaard, Ian Craven, Arthur Joseph Hebert
  • Patent number: 8049463
    Abstract: A stacked battery module or a battery pack is formed by laying a plurality of unit batteries of non-aqueous electrolyte batteries in layers with the surfaces thereof having a large area disposed vis-à-vis and electrically connecting them in series and a temperature fuse is arranged in the central part of the stacked battery module with one of its terminals connected to either the positive electrode terminal or the negative electrode terminal of the stacked battery module while the other terminal connected to a charging terminal for supplying a charging current in a charging operation. One of the terminals of the stacked battery module is connected to a discharging terminal for taking out a discharging current in a discharging operation and the other terminal of the stacked battery module is a common terminal for charging and discharging operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: NEC Energy Devices, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Kumeuchi, Koichi Zama, Isao Tochihara, Izumi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8040110
    Abstract: One or more cells are charged by measuring one or more cell parameters or changes in said cell parameters, inputting the measured cell parameter(s) or changes in cell parameters into a state of charge estimation model, obtaining a state of charge of the cell(s) from the state of charge estimation model, selecting an allowable temperature rise for the cell(s), determining a charge parameter in accordance with the state of charge of the cell(s) and in accordance with the selected allowable temperature rise for the cell(s), and supplying energy to the cell(s) in accordance with the determined charge parameter. The invention may be embodied as methods, apparatus and computer program products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Power Quality Company
    Inventors: Adnan Al-Anbuky, Phillip Mark Hunter
  • Publication number: 20110248684
    Abstract: A system for charging a battery pack of an electric vehicle comprises a heater for pre-heating the battery pack so that the battery pack is able to accept a charge from a charger. The battery pack is selectively de-coupled from the system during the pre-heating. When the battery pack has reached an appropriate temperature, the heater is selectively de-coupled from the system and the charger is coupled to the system to charge the battery. Advantageously, the battery pack is protected during pre-heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: SINOELECTRIC POWERTRAIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Peng Zhou
  • Patent number: 8035349
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for absorbing electric energy from regenerative braking. The system includes a battery, a thermoelectric module in thermally-conductive contact with the battery, a generator for generating an electric current from regenerative braking, the generator connected to the battery via a first switch and connected to the thermoelectric module via a second switch, and a sensor for measuring a temperature and a charge state of the battery. The system also comprises a controller for activating and deactivating the first switch and the second switch when certain conditions have been met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrea L. Lubawy
  • Patent number: 8035348
    Abstract: A battery overheating protection circuit includes a thermal resistor samples the temperature of the battery and converts the temperature into a temperature voltage, a comparison circuit compares the temperature voltage with a reference voltage for judging whether the temperature of the battery is higher than the maximum reference temperatures temperature or not. If yes, the comparison circuit outputs a protection signal to drive a charging module to stop charging the battery in the charging process, and to cut off the conducting path to draw power from the battery in the discharging process. The present invention sets two different maximum reference temperatures during charging process and discharging process by a reference voltage module, which makes the maximum allowable discharging temperature is higher than the maximum allowable charging temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-Che Wang, Xin Zhao, Hong-Sheng Ouyang, Xiao-Guang Li, Shin-Hong Chung
  • Patent number: 8030883
    Abstract: In a hybrid control device performing cooling control of a secondary battery of a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid control device limiting the amount of charge/discharge of the secondary battery based on an air volume flow of a cooling fan cooling the secondary battery, an operation control mode of the secondary battery cooling fan is changed from an ordinary control mode to a power mode in which an air volume flow of the cooling fan is larger than in the ordinary control mode, whereby a limiting value of the amount of charge/discharge of the secondary battery is varied to expand the usable range of the secondary battery. Accordingly, when improvement of drive power performance is desired by an operator more than low noise within the vehicle, the amount of charge/discharge of the secondary battery is not limited by the cooling fan, and larger drive power performance is thus achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junta Katayama
  • Patent number: 8030886
    Abstract: A thermally managed power source (201) is provided herein which comprises a first battery module (203), and a first synthetic jet ejector (215) disposed on a surface of said first battery module and being adapted to direct a plurality of synthetic jets along a surface (211) of said first battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Nuventix, Inc.
    Inventors: Raghavendran Mahalingam, Ari Glezer
  • Patent number: 8029187
    Abstract: A temperature measuring and identification (TMID) device obtains identification information and temperature information of a connected device having a temperature sensing circuit (TSC). The TSC includes a temperature sensing element (TSE) connected in parallel with a voltage clamping network (VCN) that limits the voltage across the TSE to an identification voltage within an identification voltage range when the voltage is greater than or equal to a lower voltage of the identification voltage range. When a voltage below the lower range is applied to the TSC, the VCN appears as an open circuit and the resistance of the TSC corresponds to temperature. A translation circuit within the TMID shifts TSC voltages within the identification voltage range to a normalization voltage range. Accordingly, voltages corresponding to temperature as well as voltages corresponding to identification are within the normalization voltage range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: John P. Taylor, Jeffrey M. Thoma
  • Publication number: 20110234173
    Abstract: A smart battery device includes an adapter, a switch electrically connected to the adapter, a battery pack electrically connected the switch, a sense resistor electrically connected to the battery pack and the adapter, an analog preprocessing circuit electrically connected to the battery pack and the sense resistor for digitizing analog signals measured at the battery pack and the sense resistor to form digital signals, and an adaptive control circuit electrically connected to the analog preprocessing circuit for receiving the digital signals, and electrically connected to the switch for selectively turning the switch on or off according to the digital signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Chin-Hsing Kao, Chun-Ming Chen, Tien-Chung Tso
  • Publication number: 20110236751
    Abstract: Improved cycling of high voltage lithium ion batteries is accomplished through the use of a formation step that seems to form a more stable structure for subsequent cycling and through the improved management of the charge-discharge cycling. In particular, the formation charge for the battery can be performed at a lower voltage prior to full activation of the battery through a charge to the specified operational voltage of the battery. With respect to management of the charging and discharging of the battery, it has been discovered that for the lithium rich high voltage compositions of interest that a deeper discharge can preserve the cycling capacity at a greater number of cycles. Battery management can be designed to exploit the improved cycling capacity obtained with deeper discharges of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Shabab Amiruddin, Subramanian Venkatachalam, Herman A. Lopez, Sujeet Kumar
  • Patent number: 8026696
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Siong Litingtun
  • Publication number: 20110227540
    Abstract: A direct-current power source apparatus in which a lithium-ion capacitor unit is used as an electric storage system and which can fully utilize the lithium-ion capacitor unit and maintain the supply of electricity to a load is provided. An electric storage system includes a lithium-ion capacitor unit and a lead-acid battery connected in parallel with a load, and a voltage detecting section that detects the voltage of the lithium-ion capacitor unit. When the voltage detecting section detects that the voltage of the lithium-ion capacitor unit has reached a unit lower-limit voltage, a control circuit outputs a conduction signal for causing a switching circuit to get into a conductive state. When the switching circuit gets into a conductive state, the secondary battery supplies an electric power to a motor. At this time, the secondary battery charges the lithium-ion capacitor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi KANOH, Masahiko Amano, Yukio Iida, Yoshiki Hama, Keizo Yamada
  • Publication number: 20110215767
    Abstract: A system and method for battery protection. In some aspects, a battery pack includes a housing, a cell supported by the housing, a circuit supported by a flexible circuit board. The circuit is operable to control a function of the battery pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Todd W. Johnson, Dennis J. Grzybowski, Mark A. Kubale, Jay J. Rosenbecker, Karl F. Scheucher, Gary D. Meyer, Jeffrey M. Zeiler, Kevin L. Glasgow
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7994755
    Abstract: A system, a method, and an article of manufacture for determining an estimated battery cell module state indicative of a state of a battery cell module of a battery pack are provided. The method includes measuring at least one of a battery cell module voltage, a battery cell module current, and a battery cell module temperature. The method further includes determining the estimated battery cell module state of the battery cell module at a predetermined time based on an estimated battery pack state and at least one of the battery cell module voltage, the battery cell module current, and the battery cell module temperature. The method further includes storing a vector corresponding to the estimated battery cell module state in a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventor: Gregory L. Plett