Time Control Patents (Class 320/155)
  • Patent number: 12240337
    Abstract: A vehicle auxiliary power system includes a generator configured to be mechanically coupled to a power takeoff (PTO) of a vehicle via an offset gearbox. The generator produces AC power that is delivered to one or more power connection interfaces capable of industrial use. In some examples, the AC power may be converted to DC power for use by DC electronic systems or for charging one or more batteries. The vehicle auxiliary power system may include charge controllers, ECMs/ECUs, and other computing systems. As a result, a user may have an on-demand high-power electrical supply without the need of a second engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Lovis, LLC
    Inventors: Rustee Stubbs, Matthew Peick
  • Patent number: 12199463
    Abstract: A method includes detecting a voltage of the battery, detecting a current of the battery, determining a depth of discharge of the battery based on the voltage and the current of the battery, and controlling terminating charging of the battery responsive to the determined depth of discharge of the battery reaching a depth of discharge threshold. A system includes a battery gauge circuit and a processor coupled to the battery gauge circuit. The battery gauge circuit has a voltage sense input and a current sense input and is configured to determine a depth of discharge of a battery based on a battery voltage at the voltage sense input and a battery current at the current sense input. The processor is configured to control terminating charging of the battery responsive to the determined depth of discharge reaching a depth of discharge threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Chutao Zhang
  • Patent number: 12176497
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus may carry out analysis of battery physical phenomena, and characterize batteries based on phenomena occurring in particular time and/or frequency domains. These systems may be additionally responsible for charging and/or monitoring a rechargeable battery. Examples of battery physical phenomena include mass transport (e.g., diffusion and/or migration) in battery electrolytes, mass transport in battery electrodes, and reactions on battery electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Qnovo Inc.
    Inventors: Dania Ghantous, Fred Berkowitz, Nadim Maluf, Christina Peabody
  • Patent number: 12152965
    Abstract: A fluid meter has a first communication interface and is connected to the cut-off unit having a communication interface. If the fluid flow rate remains greater than a first predetermined flowrate threshold for at least a first predetermined duration, to detect that there is a leak of fluid and to transmit an internal command frame incorporating a closing command to the communication interface of the cut-off unit. Following closing of the electromechanical valve, to acquire a first external command frame incorporating an opening command produced by the cut-off unit following manual action on an actuator member of the cut-off unit, to produce an internal command frame incorporating the opening command, and to transmit said internal command frame via the first communication interface to the communication interface of the cut-off unit in order to reopen the electromechanical valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: SAGEMCOM ENERGY & TELECOM SAS
    Inventor: Henri Teboulle
  • Patent number: 12122335
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing opportunistic vehicle air brake system pressurization are disclosed. Vehicle air tanks used within an air brake system are pressurized during a time a battery charging status is satisfied. For example, such air tanks may be pressurized via an air compressor at a time during which the vehicle is electrically connected to a power source other than a battery of the vehicle. An example of such a power source may include an electrical charger, such as an electric vehicle charging station, or an electric generator during a regenerative braking event. The air tanks may also be pressurized by using a battery to energize the air compressor, based on the battery being charged above a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: PACCAR INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy David Walker, Ian Ramsay Hunt
  • Patent number: 12113382
    Abstract: A charging control apparatus provides a supply power to first and second mobile devices. Each of the first and the second mobile device includes a mobile charging circuit and a battery. The charging control apparatus includes a switching power converter for converting an input power to the supply power, and a conversion control circuit for controlling the switching power converter according to the following steps: S1: controlling the switching power converter, so as to establish a current versus voltage characteristic curve corresponding to the supply power; and S2: determining a charging mode combinations of the first and the second mobile device and/or adjusting a supply voltage of the supply power to charge the battery of each mobile device according to the current versus voltage characteristic curve, so as to reduce a voltage drop of each mobile device as well as the power loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shih-Hsin Tseng, Tseng-Chuan Wu, Po-Ching Lee
  • Patent number: 12061510
    Abstract: The computer system responds to a first trigger event to enter a partial off state in which a boot cycle is required to return to a working state. A device plugged into a serial bus port can be charged in the partial off state. A configuration register or runtime environment controls whether the computer system enters the partial off state in response to a trigger event. The computer system stays in the partial off state until another trigger event returns the computer system to the working state. In some implementations, the computer system leaves the partial off state and enters the shutdown state after an unplug event, a predetermined amount of time after an unplug event, a predetermined amount of time after entering the partial off state, a predetermined amount of time after charging of a device is complete, or any combination of such events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Jyoti Raheja, Alexander J. Branover
  • Patent number: 12062932
    Abstract: Controller (12) of power storage pack (10) communicates with controller (32) of electric moving body (30) in a state where power storage pack (10) is mounted to the electric moving body. Communication wiring (Lc1) connects a node of power line (Lp1) on power source terminal (Tp) side relative to first switch (RYp) and controller (12) of power storage pack (10). Overvoltage protection circuit (19) turns off second switch (SWc) inserted into communication wiring (Lc1) upon detecting an overvoltage of power line (Lp1) during communication between controller (12) of power storage pack (10) and controller (32) of the electric moving body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Kuranuki, Katsuaki Hamamoto, Ryosuke Nagase
  • Patent number: 12054068
    Abstract: A battery network management system (1) for swappable batteries (5) used in vehicles (9), the system (1) comprising: at least one swappable battery (5) to discharge electrical power to drive a vehicle (9); and a charging station (3) to receive the swappable battery (5). The charging station (3) charges the swappable battery (5) based on a first condition that the swappable battery (5) is authenticated by an authentication system (7); and a first code (8) is associated with the swappable battery (5) to attest the swappable battery (5) was charged by the charging station (3) based on the first condition. The at least one swappable battery (5) discharges electrical power to drive a vehicle (9) based on a second condition that: the swappable battery (5) is received in the vehicle (9) that is authenticated by the authentication system (7); and the authentication system (7) authenticates the first code (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Janus Electric Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Bevan Dooley, Alexander Forsyth
  • Patent number: 12010894
    Abstract: The present application provides a display panel and a display device. The display panel includes pixel units spaced apart from each other and at least one photosensor. From a top view, each photosensor is arranged at one side of the corresponding pixel unit, and the photosensors are configured to convert received light energy into electrical energy, so that the display panel has long-lasting power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tengteng Shi, Zhuo Zhang, Guowei Zha
  • Patent number: 11996710
    Abstract: A control system is intended to be tailored to a fuel-cell stack. This fuel-cell stack includes a plurality of cells connected in series between a first terminal and a second terminal. This system includes a central control unit and an electronic bypass device including a plurality of separate electrical bypass units, each electrical bypass unit being connected in parallel to at least one separate cell of the fuel-cell stack, in order to control its discharge on startup and shutdown of the stack and thus to avoid the creation of inverse electrical potentials and to limit the presence of residual potentials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Marco Ranieri, Benoît Morin
  • Patent number: 11938828
    Abstract: Controlling the operation of one or more components in an electric vehicle, including: receiving, from one or more vehicle operation sensors, operation data including sensor data corresponding to a condition of one or more components of the vehicle; determining, using a trained model, whether the one or more components of the vehicle are operating in an acceptable manner; and generating a control signal to adjust operation of the one or more components of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SPARKCOGNITION, INC.
    Inventor: Syed Mohammad Amir Husain
  • Patent number: 11904722
    Abstract: A server includes a processor configured to: acquire a starting time representing a time when a user starts to use a moving object including a rechargeable secondary battery; estimate a charging completion time by which a required amount of power is charged to the moving object; determine whether or not charging of the moving object is completed by the starting time based on the starting time and the charging completion time; and switch a charging mode of charging the moving object performed by a charging device from a usual charging mode to a rapid charging mode in a case where the charging of the moving object is not completed by the starting time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Sugimoto, Kotoru Sato, Kumiko Katsumata, Shun Ota, Takahiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11848570
    Abstract: A Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) system may transfer power, without mechanical contact, underwater between a transmitter device and a receiver device or multiple receiver devices in long ranges (>1 meters). An exemplary embodiment may employ focused acoustic sound wave to transfer wireless power underwater over long distances. An embodiment may include a transmitter and receiving device with onboard electronics that effectively power a target electronic system or battery storage device with minimal power losses during transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Technical Systems Integration, Inc.
    Inventors: Gong Zhou, Adrian Hernandez, Casey Durr
  • Patent number: 11840885
    Abstract: A method for detecting an obstacle opposing the movement of a screen in a home automation closure or sun protection system includes an electromechanical actuator driving movement of the screen. The electromechanical actuator includes a torque support, a housing, an output shaft, and an electric motor including a stator and a rotor. The system includes a winding shaft rotating the screen and a connecting accessory between the electromechanical actuator's output shaft and the winding shaft. The method includes: determining an angular displacement value of the rotor with respect to the stator; determining angular displacement of the winding shaft relative to the housing or torque support of the electromechanical actuator; determining angular deformation of the kinematic chain between the electric motor and the winding shaft by comparing these two angular displacements; and determining the presence of an obstacle to screen movement from an angular deformation exceeding a predefined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: SOMFY ACTIVITES SA
    Inventors: Arnaud Darlot, Eric Lagarde, Frédéric Maraval, Héléna Robert
  • Patent number: 11833915
    Abstract: An FCV includes an FC system and a battery. The FC system includes an FC stack and a boost converter that adjusts output from the FC stack. When a prescribed operation to carry out external charging with a power supply outside the vehicle is not performed for a prescribed time period after system stop (Ready-off) of the FCV under such a condition that an SOC of the battery is lower than a threshold value at the time of system stop, an FDC-ECU controls the boost converter to carry out FC charging by the FC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 11817739
    Abstract: A rechargeable lithium-ion battery system includes a cell pack comprising a plurality of battery cells, a charger connection configured to connect to a battery charger to supply a charge current to recharge the plurality of battery cells, and a safety switch positioned between the cell pack and the charger connection and operable to divert charge current from the battery charger through a cell recovery charger to the cell pack. The cell recovery charger is configured to deliver a reduced charge current to the cell pack that is less than the charge current supplied by the charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Aleksandar Lazarov, Ron Hogedoorn
  • Patent number: 11800332
    Abstract: A method, device, and system for managing a fleet of vehicles is disclosed. The method includes providing a telematics device for an electric vehicle of the fleet of vehicles, the telematics device being capable of obtaining data from the electric vehicle; using the telematics device to identify the electric vehicle based on the data obtained from the electric vehicle; providing a data definition set for the electric vehicle to the telematics device; and using the telematics device and the data definition set to determine whether the electric vehicle is in a vehicle mode based on the data obtained from the electric vehicle and the data definition set. The vehicle mode of the electric vehicle can be at least one of a charging mode, a driving mode, and a parked mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Geotab Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Mendes, Alexander K. Koch, Michael Giannikouris
  • Patent number: 11796602
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining driver characterization data based on sensor data from one or more sensors onboard a vehicle. The sensor data is captured during a time period that includes multiple discharging operations and multiple recharging operations of a battery of the vehicle. The method also includes providing the driver characterization data as input to a trained model to generate a model output. The model output includes a classification that associates the driver characterization data with a driver type profile. The method also includes generating an alert responsive to a charge of the battery deviating from an expected charge of the battery. The expected charge is based on the classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SPARKCOGNITION, INC.
    Inventor: Sridhar Sudarsan
  • Patent number: 11735940
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method for charging silver-zinc rechargeable batteries and an apparatus for practicing the charging method. The recharging apparatus includes recharging management circuitry; and one or more of a silver-zinc cell, a host device or a charging base that includes the recharging management circuitry. The recharging management circuitry provides means for regulating recharging of the silver-zinc cell, diagnostics for evaluating battery function, and safety measures that prevent damage to the apparatus caused by charging batteries composed of materials that are not suited for the charging method (e.g., non-silver-zinc batteries).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: RIOT ENERGY INC.
    Inventors: Reza Pourdarvish, Troy W. Renken, Timothy W. Powers
  • Patent number: 11728667
    Abstract: Systems and processes are provided to detect a deeply discharged rechargeable battery. A process includes initiating a processor operative to perform a function within a battery-operated device, determining a first output voltage of a battery, charging the battery with a battery charger for a duration of time between three and seven seconds in response to the first output voltage being less than a cutoff voltage, rebooting the battery-operated device, determining a second output voltage of the battery, providing a user prompt indicative of battery fault in response to the second output voltage being less than the cutoff voltage, and shutting down the battery-operated device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventors: Arun PK, Yashwanth Melwanki
  • Patent number: 11697357
    Abstract: A battery management system of a vehicle includes a first controller configured to control a power-on (IG ON) state and a power-off (IG OFF) state of the plurality of controllers, and a second controller including a real time clock (RTC) and configured to be woken up by directly receiving power from the secondary battery in every preset time period during a preset time calculated based on a count value provided from the RTC when a power-off state is started by the first controller and to monitor states of the main battery and the secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sung Il Lee, Min Su Kang, Ki Seung Baek
  • Patent number: 11668757
    Abstract: A portable power bank including a rechargeable battery and/or a remote server may detect loss of capacity in the power bank battery. The power bank and/or remote server determines a nominal capacity of the power bank, and an actual capacity of the power bank, the actual capacity being less than the nominal capacity. The power bank and/or remote server compares the actual capacity to the nominal capacity to determine a health value of the power bank battery. When the power bank battery health value is at or below a threshold value, the power bank and/or remote server transmits an indication of the health value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jordan Todorov Bourilkov, Sergio Coronado Hortal, Francisco Jose Restrepo, John Rotondo
  • Patent number: 11671146
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present description concerns a method wherein a duration of a periodic step of activation of a near-field communication circuit of a first device is calibrated according to a time interval between an activation of the circuit and a reception, by the first device, of a message transmitted by a second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventor: Alexandre Tramoni
  • Patent number: 11609260
    Abstract: In a method for inspecting the insulation property of a secondary battery by connecting an external DC power supply to the secondary battery charged with an initial charge amount and evaluating the insulation property of the secondary battery based on a converging state of a power-supply current, when a charge amount at which an inclination of a tangent to a charge amount—battery voltage curve representing a relationship between the charge amount and a battery voltage of the secondary battery is smallest is assumed as a minimum-inclination charge amount, and the inclination of the tangent at the minimum-inclination charge amount is assumed as a minimum inclination (?L), the initial charge amount is selected from a range of the charge amount in which the inclination is two or more times the minimum inclination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Prime Planet Energy & Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Toshinori Okura
  • Patent number: 11597252
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle and method for heating a passenger cabin of an electrified vehicle that may include an internal combustion engine in addition to an electric machine and a traction battery for supplying the electric machine control an electric heating element to store thermal energy while the vehicle is connected to an external power source that is also used to charge the traction battery, and to extract stored thermal energy during operation of the vehicle with the electric heating element turned off to extend the electric driving range of the vehicle while also providing heat to the passenger cabin. The electric heating element may positioned and controlled to heat one or more elements directly by mechanical contact, or indirectly by heating a circulating liquid coolant to a temperature above a current or anticipated external ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Zenner, Daniel Benjamin Kok, Timothy Noah Blatchley, Mark G. Smith
  • Patent number: 11545844
    Abstract: A method of charging an electric vehicle includes receiving data indicative of the power source system voltage during charging, determining a maximum voltage limit of the power source, and setting the maximum voltage limit as the limiting voltage of the power source. The maximum voltage limit may be the maximum permissible value of the system voltage during the charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Proterra Operating Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Gerber, Seamus T. McGrath, Kevin J. Siniard, Roger A. Innes
  • Patent number: 11539226
    Abstract: A charging circuit includes: an interface; a plurality of charging management components connected to the interface in parallel; and a plurality of battery packs, wherein each of the plurality of battery packs includes a battery or a plurality of batteries connected in series with each other, the plurality of battery packs are connected in series with the plurality of charging management components, respectively, and the plurality of battery packs are connected in parallel; wherein the plurality of charging management components are electrically connected with each other to adjust, through signal interaction between the plurality of charging management components, a charging current that is input to each of the battery packs, such that a time period of a maximum charging current for each battery pack is different from a time period of a maximum charging current for another battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Changyu Sun
  • Patent number: 11394224
    Abstract: Systems and processes are provided to detect a deeply discharged rechargeable battery. A process includes initiating a processor operative to perform a function within a battery-operated device, determining a first output voltage of a battery, charging the battery with a battery charger for a duration of time between three and seven seconds in response to the first output voltage being less than a cutoff voltage, rebooting the battery-operated device, determining a second output voltage of the battery, providing a user prompt indicative of battery fault in response to the second output voltage being less than the cutoff voltage, and shutting down the battery-operated device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Sling Media Pvt. Ltd.
    Inventors: Arun PK, Yashwanth Melwanki
  • Patent number: 11368036
    Abstract: One example discloses a power management circuit, including: an ultrasonic transmitter configured to generate an ultrasonic signal having a set of transmitted ultrasonic signal attributes; an ultrasonic receiver configured to detect the ultrasonic signal having a set of received ultrasonic signal attributes; wherein the power management circuit is configured to cause a device to be operated at a first power level and a second power level; and a proximity detection circuit configured to transition the device from the first power level to the second power level in response to a preselected difference between the transmitted set of ultrasonic signal attributes and the received set of ultrasonic signal attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Ferdinand Jacob Sluijs, Jozef Thomas Martinus van Beek, James Raymond Spehar
  • Patent number: 11338692
    Abstract: A system for determining a state-of-charge (SOC) of an electric vehicle includes a housing that is supportable within the electric vehicle, one or more sensors supported by the housing, and a processor. The one or more sensors are configured to determine one or more values related to the electric vehicle, respectively. Each value of the one or more values represents a state of the electric vehicle or a state of an environment in which the electric vehicle is located. The processor is configured to estimate an SOC of the electric vehicle based on the one or more determined values related to the electric vehicle. The device also includes a wireless communication interface configured to transmit data representative of the estimated SOC of the electric vehicle and/or data representative of the one or more values related to the electric vehicle to the processor or to another processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Inventors: Matthew David Press, Joel Seth Browning
  • Patent number: 11316893
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method for identifying malicious activity, the method being executable by a supervisory electronic device. The method comprises accessing, a log to retrieve usage information associated with at least a portion of the plurality of electronic devices; analyzing the usage information to identify a subset of electronic devices; analyzing a list of network resources accessed; executing, by the supervisory electronic device a polling robot, the polling robot configured to: transmit to each of the list of network resources a ping message, the ping message having a first pre-determined format having been generated based on the malicious activity; analyzing, the response message; responsive to the response message having a second pre-determined format, the second pre-determined format having been identified based on the pre-determined type of malicious activity: determining that an associated network resource having generated the response message is associated with malicious activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: YANDEX EUROPE AG
    Inventors: Borlyk Lidzhievich Buvaev, Sergey Vyacheslavovich Statyev, Aleksandr Sergeevich Dubikovsky
  • Patent number: 11292350
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a charging inlet, a power storage device, a charging device, and an output device. The charging inlet is compatible with both an alternating-current charging connector and a direct-current charging connector. The charging device is configured to charge the power storage device with at least one of an alternating-current power which are input from the charging inlet and a direct-current power which are input from the charging inlet. The output device is configured to output a notification signal for notifying whether the charging device is compatible with alternating-current charging. The alternating-current is charging of the power storage device with the alternating-current power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 11289921
    Abstract: An integrated battery energy storage system and method for integrating electric vehicle battery packs into an integrated battery energy storage system are disclosed. The integrated battery energy system includes: a plurality of electric vehicle battery packs coupled in a series/parallel arrangement, the series/parallel arrangement including a plurality of series strings of electric vehicle battery packs, each of the plurality of series strings of electric vehicle battery packs includes at least two of the plurality of electric vehicle battery packs coupled in series; and wherein the plurality of series strings of electric vehicle battery packs are connected in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: B2U STORAGE SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Freeman Stoflet Hall, Michael Joseph Stern
  • Patent number: 11285823
    Abstract: A wireless charging device for a vehicle includes a mounting unit, a power transmitter, a position detector, and a controller. The mounting unit is to be mounted with a mobile device. The power transmitter wirelessly transmits electric power to a power receiver of the mobile device. The position detector detects a position of the power receiver of the mobile device mounted on the mounting unit. The controller switches between charging modes including a normal mode of allowing charging if the power receiver is positioned in a standard region of the mounting unit, and enlargement modes of allowing the charging also if the power receiver is positioned in an enlarged region outside the standard region. The enlargement modes include a standard current mode in which a standard current is outputted to the power transmitter, and an increased current mode in which a current larger than the standard current is outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuma Kato, Fumiyuki Moriya, Masakazu Yoshino
  • Patent number: 11240586
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and device for synchronously playing audio are provided. The method includes: acquiring status information of a Bluetooth controller in the first audio playing device, and determining native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device based on the status information; estimating, based on the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device and offset data of the native Bluetooth time of the first audio playing device relative to native Bluetooth time of a second audio playing device or native Bluetooth time of an audio providing device, absolute time of the second audio playing device or absolute time of the audio providing device; and playing an audio signal provided by the audio providing device synchronously with the second audio playing device based on the estimated absolute time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: SHENZHEN GOODIX TECHNOLOGY CO LTD.
    Inventor: Ke Yan
  • Patent number: 11192461
    Abstract: An energy conversion arrangement configured to convert chemical energy into electrical energy. The energy conversion arrangement comprises plural cell groups 30, 32, 34, 36, each cell group being configured to convert chemical energy into electrical energy. The energy conversion arrangement also comprises at least one measurement arrangement 38, 40, 42, 44, 46 configured to make measurements at each of the plural cell groups 30, 32, 34, 36. Each energy conversion arrangement is configured to determine a condition of at least one of: each of the plural cell groups; and the energy conversion arrangement. The condition is determined in dependence on the measurements made at each cell group and a model of each cell group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: DUKOSI LIMITED
    Inventors: Gordon Povey, Joel Sylvester
  • Patent number: 11131717
    Abstract: Described methods and systems provide in-situ leakage current testing of battery cells in battery packs even while these packs operate. Specifically, an external electrical current is discontinued through a tested battery cell using a node controller, to which the tested battery cell is independently connected. Changes in the open circuit voltage (OCV) are then detected by the node controller for a set period time. Any voltage change, associated with taking the tested cell offline, is compensated by one or more other cells in the battery pack. The overall pack current and voltage remains substantially unchanged (based on the application demands), while the in-situ leakage current testing is initiated, performed, and/or completed. The OCV changes are then used to determine the leakage current of the tested cell and, in some examples, to determine the state of health of this cell and/or adjust the operating parameters of this cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Element Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Rainer Johannes Fasching, Georgy Zerkalov, Arnaud Devie, Seth Marshall Kahn, Anthony John Stratakos, Corrado Cammi, Anderson Rennie John, Yoosok Saw
  • Patent number: 11127991
    Abstract: A rapid charging method and a system for a mobile terminal are provided, which are capable of increasing charging current and dissipating heat. The method includes communicating a controller of the mobile terminal with the charging accessory through a Type-C interface after the mobile terminal detects that the charger is connected to an electric power supply; turning on a load switch by the controller, so that the microcontroller controls a first charging integrated circuit (IC) to start charging, and the controller controls a second charging IC of the mobile terminal to start charging; and stopping charging of the second charging IC of the mobile terminal, and charging the first charging IC of the charging accessory until power of the battery is full when a charging current gradually decreases to a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: HuiZhou TCL Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhan Gu
  • Patent number: 11056903
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided to include a battery and a processor. The processor is configured to identify whether an external power source for charging the battery is connected, identify a voltage of the battery when connection of the external power source is identified, determine a charge start time based on time when the connection of the external power source is identified, determine a charge end time based on situation information of the electronic device, determine a charge stop time of the battery based on the charge start time, the charge end time and the voltage of the battery when a difference between the charge start time and the charge end time satisfies a designated threshold, and divide a period between the charge start time and the charge end time into a first charge section, a charge stop section and a second charge section based on the charge stop time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chaehoon Lim, Myunghoon Kwak, Yongsang Yun
  • Patent number: 10994629
    Abstract: An electric vehicle reservation charging system is provided. The system includes a communication controller that receives charging and discharging reservation setting information and power rate information. A vehicle controller determines a preset charging profile based on an entry of a preset minimum cost charging mode using the charging and discharging reservation setting information and the power rate information. A charging state control is performed based on an optimal charging state profile and an optimal charging power profile that are preset based on the charging profile. A charger then perform a power control for charging or discharging to correspond to a target charging discharging power command determined by the charging state control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hyun-Sup Kim, In-Seok Park
  • Patent number: 10944295
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wireless power transmitting apparatus using an ultrasonic wave. The transmitting apparatus includes a communication interface configured to perform wireless communication with at least one receiving apparatus, a transducer configured to generate an ultrasonic signal and transmit the generated ultrasonic signal to the at least one receiving apparatus, and a processor configured, in response to a charging request being received from the at least one receiving apparatus via the communication interface, to identify a charging priority and direction of the at least one receiving apparatus, and to control the transducer to generate the ultrasonic signal for charging power of the at least one receiving apparatus and transmit the generated ultrasonic signal to the at least one receiving apparatus based on the charging priority and the direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman, Mohammad Anwarul Hoque, Mohammad Tawhidul Islam Chowdhury, Faisal Khan, Kazy Fayeen Shariar, Sardar Muhammad Monzurur Rahman
  • Patent number: 10913365
    Abstract: A second power conversion device converts electric power supplied from a power source connected to an input side of the second power conversion device, to supply the converted electric power to a first power storage device. A first contactor is closed, such that a smoothing capacitor is charged with electric power stored in the first power storage device. A controller controls a first power conversion device to cause the first power conversion device to perform power conversion of electric power stored in the smoothing capacitor and to supply the converted electric power to a power generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kosuke Tokito
  • Patent number: 10903664
    Abstract: A control device for selectively controlling a power supply from a power source via at least one of a first output and a second output. The control device including at least one processor and at least one memory storing at least one portion of computer program code, the processor being configured to cause the control device to obtain an indication of at least the following parameters: a charge level of the power source, power need from the first output, a power need from the second output; and selectively adjust the power supply via the first output and via the second output from the power source in dependence of the parameters. A power supply arrangement includes the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: SAVOX COMMUNICATION OY AB (LTD)
    Inventor: Daniel Patrick Hackl
  • Patent number: 10901047
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electric storage system including an electric storage device and an electronic control unit, and to a detection method of looseness in a fastening part thereof. The electronic control unit is configured to detect electric resistance between a first terminal and a second terminal that are present in a current path of the electric storage device. The electronic control unit is also configured to detect looseness of fastening in a fastening part that is present between the first terminal and the second terminal in the current path, when a periodic variation degree of the electric resistance (for example, the number of times that a variation amount of the electric resistance that is periodically acquired exceeds a threshold) is large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Tashiro
  • Patent number: 10734812
    Abstract: A renewable power system according to the exemplary embodiment includes a renewable power plant (121), a controllable plant (123) and an energy management system (128) which keeps an energy schedule within a certain tolerance in the next k (an integer greater than or equal to 1) steps by using a method that includes an optimization algorithm for a total power output shape within a step, and schedule changing algorithm for changing the energy schedule after the next k steps to keep a needed capacity of the plant regarding power and energy small. By keeping the energy schedule within a certain range for a renewable power plant combined with controllable plant, it is possible to keep the needed power and energy capacity of controllable plant small and to guarantee favorable total power output shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexander Viehweider, Koji Kudo
  • Patent number: 10604144
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle are disclosed. The method includes: determining whether an uphill section is present on a driving route; calculating a regenerative braking amount at a downhill section following the uphill section; determining whether a state of charge (SOC) of a low voltage battery is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value at the time of entering the uphill section; determining whether an SOC of a high voltage battery is equal to or greater than a second predetermined value when the SOC of the low voltage battery is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value; and controlling the MHSG to generate auxiliary torque corresponding to the regenerative braking amount at the downhill section when the SOC of the high voltage battery is equal to or greater than the second predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hwa Yong Jang
  • Patent number: 10514423
    Abstract: A monitoring device for an energy storage device mounted on a vehicle includes: a memory; and a processor, wherein the memory is configured to store at least one of data on an estimated value of a parking-time discharge current, which the energy storage device discharges during parking, and data for calculating the estimated value of the parking-time discharge current. The processor is configured to perform first SOC estimation processing in which an SOC of the energy storage device is estimated by integrating estimated values of the parking-time discharge current based on the data stored in the memory when the vehicle is in a parking state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventor: Takeyuki Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 10464432
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a power receiving device, a power storage device, and an electronic control unit. A power receiving unit is configured to contactlessly receive electric power from a power transmitting unit of a power transmission device located outside the vehicle. The electronic control unit configured to set a charge start time at which the power storage device starts being charged, and start charging the power storage device with electric power received by the power receiving device irrespective of the charge start time, when the vehicle starts moving before the charge start time, from the condition where the position of the power receiving unit is adjusted relative to the power transmitting unit, and the vehicle is brought back into the condition where the position of the power receiving unit is adjusted relative to the power transmitting unit, within a predetermined time subsequent to start of movement of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoya Katanoda
  • Patent number: 10363918
    Abstract: A method for controlling torque reduction of a hybrid vehicle includes: determining a discharging torque control factor of a motor and a charging torque control factor of the motor based on a current state of charge of a battery that supplies electric power to the motor and a threshold state of charge of the battery; calculating a torque of the motor corresponding to driving torque reduction request of a traction control system (TCS) based on a discharging limit torque of the motor that the discharging torque control factor is reflected in and a charging limit torque of the motor that the charging torque control factor is reflected in; and calculating a torque of the engine corresponding to the driving torque reduction request based on the calculated torque of the motor and a request torque of the traction control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Do Hee Kim, Teh Hwan Cho, Gwang Il Du