Detection Of Current Or Voltage Amplitude Patents (Class 320/157)
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Patent number: 12236371Abstract: A server includes a communicator and a processor. The communicator is configured to receive a reservation request signal requesting a reservation to use a charging station by an electrified vehicle. The reservation request signal includes information indicating that balancing power control is requested, when the electrified vehicle wants to perform the balancing power control. The processor is configured to set, based on the reservation request signal, a reservation time period during which the electrified vehicle uses the charging station. The processor is configured to set the reservation time period to a longer period when the reservation request signal includes the information indicating that the balancing power control is requested than when the reservation request signal does not include the information indicating that the balancing power control is requested.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2023Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masami Suganuma, Hideki Tamoto, Masakazu Motohashi, Akinori Morishima, Taiki Miyazaki
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Patent number: 11605839Abstract: A battery system includes a power bus and a set of battery packs. A battery pack is one or more batteries, a sensor board, and a power board. The power bus is used to electrically connect the set of battery packs. The sensor board receives a voltage difference between a battery pack not connected to the power bus and the power bus; determines whether the voltage difference indicates that a battery pack voltage is too high compared to a power bus voltage; in response to determining the voltage difference indicates that the battery pack voltage is too high compared to the power bus voltage, provides a drain indication to drain off the battery pack using a power draw mechanism until the voltage of the battery pack is within a threshold voltage difference of the power bus; and provides a connect indication to connect the disconnected battery pack to the power bus.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2020Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Anduril Industries, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Mitchell Shine, John Henry Harris, III, Christopher Joseph Dycus
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Patent number: 11362388Abstract: A battery pack is provided with a plurality of battery blocks each including a peripheral surface on one end of which a first connector is provided, a connecting unit which connects a plurality of battery blocks to each other such that two first connectors are opposed to each other, and a second connector which fits in the two first connectors opposed to each other. The battery block is rotationally fixed to the connecting unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2015Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Yusa, Hideo Uryu
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Patent number: 11056900Abstract: A charging method is proposed to include the steps of: in a first stage of charging, charging a battery with a first-stage current until a voltage of the battery reaches a first-stage voltage value; and in a second stage of charging, charging the battery with a second-stage current until the voltage of the battery reaches a second-stage voltage value which is greater than the first-stage voltage value. The second-stage current is smaller than the first-stage current.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2019Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: NINGDE AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY LIMITEDInventors: Qi Dang, Chao Gao, Qiang Zheng, Zhanzhao Fang
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Patent number: 10671149Abstract: Systems and methods for remotely applying battery management policies based on local user behavior. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, an Information Handling System (IHS) may include: a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution, cause the IHS to: receive a battery management policy from a remote server; and apply the battery management policy to the IHS, wherein the battery management policy is selected based upon a local user's behavior.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2017Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.Inventors: Nicholas D. Grobelny, Jacob Mink, Rick C. Thompson, Nikhil Manohar Vichare
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Patent number: 10236702Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus for rapidly charging a battery, such that a battery can be rapidly charged while having an extended lifetime. The method for charging a battery according to the present invention charges a battery by starting from an initial charging rate higher than 1 C, while stepwise decreasing the charging rate, such that a negative electrode potential of the battery does not drop to a level less than or equal to 0V. An occurrence of Li-plating of a negative electrode of the battery can be prevented by the criteria for preventing the negative electrode potential from dropping to a level less than or equal to 0V, thereby providing an effect of rapidly charging the battery while extending the lifetime of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2015Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.Inventors: Jeong-Ho Ha, Hyo-Mi Kim, Hyeok-Moo Lee, Song-Taek Oh
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Patent number: 10179519Abstract: A motor vehicle includes an high-voltage power system, a multi-battery system including energy stores for supplying power to an electric drive motor, and switching units connecting the energy stores to the power system. A control device detects a state of charge of each energy store and to selectively connect and/or disconnect the energy stores as a function of their state of charge during travel to and from the power system. The switching units include each contactors to disconnect the energy stores on a plus side and on a minus side from the power system, with only either the positive side or negative side of each energy store including a contactor configured to switch when a load is greater than a minimum load, whereas the other one of the positive and negative sides includes a contactor that is adequate only for a load demand which is less than the minimum load.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2014Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: AUDI AGInventor: Jörg Schmidt
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Patent number: 10076965Abstract: A charging apparatus includes: a first conversion circuit that converts alternating-current power supplied from an external power supply into direct-current power; a second conversion circuit that converts an output voltage from the first conversion circuit into a voltage for a battery and supplies the voltage to the battery; and a controller configured to change charging power to be supplied to the battery by controlling the first conversion circuit and the second conversion circuit when the output voltage falls outside a predetermined reference range, and to determine whether the output voltage in the changed charging power falls within the reference range. When the output voltage falls outside the reference range, the controller controls the first conversion circuit and the second conversion circuit such that the charging power decreases stepwise until the output voltage falls within the reference range.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2016Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Toshihiko Minamii, Jun Maeda
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Patent number: 9660461Abstract: A charging assembly and a charging control method are provided for charging a battery pack in a fast charging voltage value which is greater than the rated charging voltage value. The charging assembly includes a battery pack, a charger and a control system configured to control the charger to charge the battery pack with a constant charging current. The method includes: detecting the open-circuit voltage of each battery cell and screening out a maximum open-circuit voltage value, calculating a maximum charging duration and controlling the charger to charge the battery cell assembly with a constant current when the charging voltage is equal to the fast charging voltage value or reaches the maximum charging duration.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2014Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Chervon (HK) LimitedInventor: Zhijun Dong
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Patent number: 9627719Abstract: A method of charging a battery and a battery charging system, which has a relatively high charging speed while having a relatively low level of battery deterioration. The charging method includes charging a battery cell with a first current in a first constant current mode; charging the battery cell with a first voltage in a first constant voltage mode; idling the charging of the battery cell for a first idle period (t); charging the battery cell with a second current different from the first current in a second constant current mode; and charging the battery cell with a second voltage different from the first voltage in a second constant voltage mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2014Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Joosick Jung, Subin Song, Myoungseok Lee, Dmitry Golovanov
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Patent number: 9385398Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a lithium secondary battery which is capable of preventing a local deposition of a metallic foreign substance at a negative electrode regardless of the type of a positive electrode and in which a short-circuit is less likely to occur. The present manufacturing method comprises: a step of assembling a cell that includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte; a micro charging step of performing a micro charge on the assembled cell before performing an initial conditioning charge until a positive electrode potential with respect to a metal lithium (Li) reference electrode exceeds an Me dissolution potential set in advance at which a mixing-anticipated metal species (Me) starts to dissolve; and an Me dissolution potential holding step of holding the positive electrode potential of the cell at or above the Me dissolution potential for a prescribed period of time after the micro charge.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2011Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hisataka Fujimaki, Shinya Kamada, Shinya Kuroki, Hideto Mori, Hisanao Kojima
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Patent number: 9310442Abstract: A battery includes a plurality of battery cells connected in series between a positive terminal and a negative terminal and a resistor connected in series with the battery cells. The battery also includes a plurality of cell voltage detection units which each include a plurality of voltage measurement inputs connected to a respective group of the battery cells. The battery is configured to determine cell voltages of the battery cells connected to the respective cell voltage detection unit. The cell voltage detection units are connected to each other by a communication bus and are configured to transmit, via the communication bus, the determined cell voltages to a microcontroller which is galvanically decoupled from the cell voltage detection units by an electrical isolation device. The resistor includes a first connection connected to a selected voltage measurement input of one of the cell voltage detection units.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2011Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Dirk Hasenkopf, Stefan Butzmann
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Patent number: 9231439Abstract: A method for estimating an efficiency of a power device includes identifying a state of operation of the power device, measuring power-related information produced by the power device, and determining an estimated efficiency of the power device based in part on the state of operation of the power device and power loss parameters associated with the power device by using the measured power-related information. Other methods and devices for measuring efficiency are further disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2009Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORPORATIONInventors: Vishwas Mohaniraj Deokar, James S. Spitaels, Fred W. Rodenhiser, Lynn Ernest Schultz, Kyle Brookshire
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Patent number: 9124118Abstract: A circuit for a small electric appliance is disclosed. The circuit includes a battery (B); a control circuit (uC) for measuring the charging current of the battery (B); a DC-DC converter (DC/DC) which supplies the control circuit (uC) from the battery; and a current sensing resistor (R1), whose one end lies at a reference potential and whose other end is connected to the battery (B). The control circuit (uC) has a terminal which is at reference potential, and a measurement input which is related to the reference potential.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: BRAUN GMBHInventors: Torsten Klemm, Leo Faranda, Kervin Heinrich Küchler
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Publication number: 20150137769Abstract: In the charging process of a power device of a portable device, a control unit or firmware of the power device dynamically acquires the status of the charging current and the charging voltage, and by incrementing the charging current, the power device correctly obtains maximum charging current affordable by a charger without overly drawing the current from the charger that causes overly low charging voltage. Such current-adaptive charging process optimizes the charging process.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2014Publication date: May 21, 2015Inventors: Tai-Hung Chen, Shih-Chou Chen
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Publication number: 20150115874Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for charging an energy storage device in a vehicle using a power supply, the method comprising: determining a first voltage output from the power supply; starting charging; determining a second voltage output from the power supply; determining a first voltage difference based on a difference between the second voltage and the first voltage; after a predetermined time, aborting charging; determining a third voltage output from the power supply; starting charging; determining a fourth voltage output from the power supply; determining a second voltage difference based on a difference between the fourth voltage and the third voltage; determining a deviation value based on a difference between the second difference and the first difference; and based on the deviation value, controlling a charging parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Inventors: Anders MAGNUSSON, Mats NILSSON
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Patent number: 9019103Abstract: A reminder system for a portable-device charger is designed for determining when it is likely that the charger is about to be left behind. Detection which may be in real time can pertain, depending on the embodiment, to disconnection of a portable device from the charger, and/or movement of a portable device out of wireless range of the charger or a charger adaptor. In some versions, the onset of reminding is, upon detecting disconnection, tentatively postponed until a predetermined criterion is met, such as expiry of a predetermined time period. Or the criterion can be detection of an out-of-range condition based on distance between the portable device and an adaptor or charger. In some embodiments detection and reminder issuance are incorporated in a unit, such as a plug-in wall adaptor or the charger itself.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2014Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Inventor: Brian Tedesco
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Patent number: 9018902Abstract: When maximum cell voltage remains at or below a maximum current control voltage (4200 mV), which is below the start-full-charge detection voltage (4210 mV), three consecutive times with 250 ms periodicity, set current is increased one level (128 mA). When maximum cell voltage is higher than the start-full-charge detection voltage three consecutive times with 250 ms periodicity, set current is reduced. When maximum cell voltage is higher than the start-full-charge detection voltage and charging current remains below 384 mA two consecutive times with 250 ms periodicity, the rechargeable battery is determined to be fully-charged.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2012Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masayuki Kobayashi, Tomomi Kaino
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Patent number: 9013153Abstract: A method for controlling battery recharging process is provided for an electronic device equipped with a battery. The method comprises entering a recharging smart mode. In the recharging smart mode, an actual capacity rate of the battery is determined. In the recharging smart mode, according to the actual capacity rate of the battery, a rechargeable capacity rate of the battery is changed. When the actual capacity rate is larger than a first capacity threshold value for a first predetermined time interval, the rechargeable capacity rate of the battery is decreased.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2011Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Compal Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Pei-Lun Chiu, Chia-Chang Chen, Chih-Tarng Chuang, Tsang-Ming Chang
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Patent number: 9007068Abstract: A method is provided for current-based detection of an electrical fault in an electrical network of a motor vehicle, the network having at least: one battery, one pulse-controlled inverter, one d.c. voltage converter, and an intermediate circuit associated with the pulse-controlled inverter. The method includes: detecting magnitudes of each a battery current, a d.c. voltage converter current, and an intermediate circuit current; comparing current magnitudes according to provided equations; and checking based on the comparison of whether a specifiable deviation has been exceeded. An alternative method for voltage-based detection of an electrical fault in an electrical network of a motor vehicle includes: detecting magnitudes of each a battery voltage, a d.c. voltage converter voltage, and an intermediate circuit voltage; comparing voltage magnitudes according to provided equations; and checking based on the comparison of whether a specifiable deviation has been exceeded.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2008Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Beqir Pushkolli, Ulrich Klein
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Patent number: 9007034Abstract: An electric power generation control system for a vehicle, which enables generation of electric power by a generator as much as possible while preventing an electrical component from being overheated by power generation by the generator. The electric power generation control system selectively switches a mode of the generator between first and second modes in which an instruction voltage is higher and not higher than an allowable voltage of a wire harness, respectively. A counter value is counted up in the first mode and down in the second mode. When the counter value has reached a higher limit value, the first mode is inhibited and the power generation mode is set to the second mode. This increase the proportion of an execution time period of the first, and accordingly, when a possibility of overheating the wire harness becomes high, the instruction voltage is lowered.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jun Iida, Masahiko Asakura, Satoru Sunada, Hiroshi Endo, Kojiro Tsutsumi, Ryuko Komatsu, Nobumasa Toyoshima
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Patent number: 8988045Abstract: The method for charging or discharging a battery comprises measurement of the voltage at the terminals of the battery and comparison of the measured voltage with an end of charging or discharging voltage threshold. The method also comprises measurement of a temperature representative of the temperature of the battery and measurement of the current flowing in the battery to form a pair of measurements. The voltage threshold is then determined according to the pair of measurements. Charging or discharging of the battery is stopped when the voltage threshold is reached.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2010Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies AlternativesInventors: Jean-Marie Klein, Arnaud Delaille, Sylvie Genies
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Patent number: 8963504Abstract: Provided is an electronic device including a secondary battery, a charging section which charges the secondary battery with power supplied from an external power supply section with a set charging current, a measurement section which measures an amount of charge accumulated in the secondary battery, a time information acquisition section which acquires time information, a storage section which stores charging history information indicating a time period in which a user performs charging, and a control section which has a chargeable time estimation section that estimates chargeable time based on the charging history information and the time information, and a charging current setting section that calculates a restricted charging current which enables the secondary battery to be charged up to a charging capacity within the chargeable time, based on the amount of charge acquired from the measurement section, and sets the restricted charging current in the charging section.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2010Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Yohei Kuroda, Osamu Ishioka, Nobutaka Yagi, Ryoji Amemiya, Kenji Waku
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Patent number: 8963506Abstract: A battery management system and method accurately estimate a state of charge (SOC) of a battery. For this, the battery management system may include a unit SOC calculator calculating a unit SOC by using a charge/discharge current of a battery, an electromotive force SOC calculator calculating an electromotive force SOC using an electromotive force of the battery; a corrector calculating a compensation amount using the electromotive force SOC and a previous SOC, and an SOC calculator calculating a current SOC using the unit SOC, the previous SOC, and the compensation amount.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Miyazawa, Yusai Murakami
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Patent number: 8947055Abstract: A battery control system includes a lithium ion secondary battery and a control device and further includes a voltage storage unit, a resistance storage unit, a current storage unit, a difference obtaining unit for obtaining a difference resistance ?R(Tja) between a normal internal resistance Rj(Tja) at a predetermined battery temperature Tja in a normal temperature range ATj and an initial internal resistance R0(Tja) at the predetermined battery temperature, and a maximum voltage calculation unit for giving a maximum inter-terminal voltage Vm(T), when at least a battery temperature T is within a low-temperature range ATl, as a value obtained by adding a product of the difference resistance ?R(Tja) and the allowable charging current Im(T) to the initial maximum inter-terminal voltage Vm0(T).Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2010Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomoyoshi Ueki, Yukihiro Okada
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Publication number: 20150028819Abstract: Disclosure has a method for charging a rechargeable battery. The rechargeable battery is charged by a charger in a first constant current mode for a main charge time period. After the main charge time period, the charger stops charging the rechargeable battery for a relaxation time period. During a sample time period that starts after a predetermined settle time period following the beginning of the relaxation time period, the charger detects an open-circuit voltage of the rechargeable battery to compare with a target voltage. If the open-circuit voltage is less than the target voltage, the charger charges the rechargeable battery in a second constant current mode for a coercive charge time period.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2014Publication date: January 29, 2015Inventors: Yeu Torng Yau, Tsung Liang Hung
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Patent number: 8937459Abstract: The present disclosure describes an apparatus and method for estimating state of health (SOH) of a battery. The apparatus for estimating state of health of a battery includes a sensing unit for measuring a battery voltage and current within a predetermined charging voltage range; a memory unit storing the battery voltage and current values measured by the sensing unit and SOH-based ampere counting values, obtained by an ampere counting experiment of a battery whose actual degradation degree is known; and a control unit for calculating an ampere counting value by counting the measured current values stored in the memory unit within the charging voltage range, and estimating a SOH value by mapping the SOH value corresponding to the calculated ampere counting value from the SOH-based ampere counting values stored in the memory unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2013Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.Inventors: Kyu-Ha Park, Cheol-Taek Kim
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Patent number: 8933673Abstract: A battery is charged by first charging the battery at a constant current during a first time interval, and then charging the battery at a varying current during a second time interval. The battery can be a lithium-ion battery, and the charging uses a kinetic model. The kinetic model models the battery having an indiffused well having a capacity c, and a diffused well having a capacity 1?c, and the indiffused well is filled directly by the current, and the diffused well is filled only from the indiffused well via a valve with constant inductance.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2012Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Zafer Sahinoglu, Xusheng Sun, Koon Hoo Teo
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Patent number: 8933669Abstract: One embodiment includes a computer (102) controlled machine used in battery manufacturing and/or testing which discharges one or more batteries and uses some or all of the energy from said batteries to simultaneously charge one or more other batteries.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2012Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignees: Peak Power & Mfg., Inc., Easy Field CorporationInventors: Chieh Luo, Derek Justin Goldberg
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Patent number: 8922172Abstract: A battery charger is disclosed that is configured to be connected to an external battery by way of external battery cables. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the battery charger is configured with automatic voltage detection which automatically determines the nominal voltage of the battery connected to its battery charger terminals and charges the battery as a function of the detected nominal voltage irrespective of the nominal voltage selected by a user. Various safeguards are built into the battery charger to avoid overcharging a battery. For battery chargers with user selectable nominal battery voltage charging modes, battery charger is configured to over-ride a user selected battery voltage mode if it detects that the battery connected to the battery charger terminals is different than the user selected charging mode.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2013Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Schumacher Electric CorporationInventors: John Whiting, Matthew A. Heins
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Patent number: 8896274Abstract: A charger calibrating device and a calibrating method thereof. The device comprises a control module and a processing module. The control module controls a charger to be calibrated to perform a first stage charging and a second stage charging on an electronic device. The processing module performs an adjusting process according to the second stage charging time for adjusting the high level period of the PWM signal in the charging circuit of the charger. In the adjusting process, generating an updated high level period by adding or decreasing a preset adjusting amplitude, and decrease the preset adjusting amplitude by half to generate an updated adjusting amplitude. The processing module terminates the calibrating process after repeating the aforementioned calibrating loop a preset number of times.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2011Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Altek CorporationInventors: Wei-Chun Lo, Pei-Shin Chen, Yueh-Chang Chen, Chao-Tsung Tsai
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Patent number: 8896269Abstract: The present invention provides a battery management device and a portable computer, the battery management device is for managing the rechargeable battery provided in a portable computer, the portable computer is provided with a charge circuit for charging a battery, the battery management device comprises: a discharge circuit for discharge the battery; a acquiring module for acquire the mode determining parameter; a first determining module for judging whether the battery storage mode is entered according to the mode determining parameter; a first control module for controlling the charge circuit or the discharge circuit to control the amount of electrical charge of the battery so that the amount of electrical charge of the battery is lower than the second amount of electrical charge threshold in the battery storage mode; the performance of the battery when deposited with the amount of electrical charge lower than the second amount of electrical charge threshold is better than the performance when depositedType: GrantFiled: December 24, 2010Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignees: Beijing Lenovo Software Ltd., Lenovo (Beijing) Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shuangcheng Zhao, Xiaoren Cheng, Weizhi Lin, Ling Yao
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Publication number: 20140340050Abstract: Provided are a refresh charging method and a refresh charging apparatus for an assembled battery constituted from lead-acid storage batteries, by which a necessary charging rate may be performed while shortening a charging period. In a constant voltage charging mode, n intermediate threshold values S1 to Sn which decrease stepwisely are set between a predetermined threshold value S0 and a lower-limit current value, and n additional timer periods T1 to Tn are set where n is an integer equal to or larger than one. Counting of the n additional timer periods T1 to Tn is respectively started when the charging current reaches the n intermediate threshold values S1 to Sn. A maximum timer period Tm and the n additional timer periods T1 to Tn are set to satisfy a relationship of Tm>T1> . . . >Tn. Charging is stopped when the counting of one of the maximum timer period Tm and the n additional timer periods T1 to Tn is completed before the lower-limit current value is detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2012Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicant: Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyuki Wakatabe, Shinichi Sano, Katsura Mitani
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Publication number: 20140340024Abstract: There is disclosed a dynamic boost charging system having a monitoring component configured to measure total DC current and/or battery current and a reporting component configured to transmit output data of the total DC current and/or battery current measured. A battery charger control system in operable connection with the monitoring component receives the data of the total DC current and/or battery current measured by the monitoring component, and is configured to: obtain an initial time and/or charge measurement; determine a time and/or charge to complete a recharge cycle based on the time and/or charge measurement; selectively use at least two preset DC output voltage settings, one of the at least two preset DC voltage settings being a float voltage, and another of the at least two preset DC voltage settings being a boost voltage; and maintain the boost voltage until the time has passed the charge has been provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2014Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicant: Stored Energy Systems, a Limited Liability CompanyInventors: Timothy C. Groat, Herbert R. Kaewert
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Patent number: 8880367Abstract: A method for accurately performing power estimation on a battery of an electronic device includes: monitoring a charging current of the battery to obtain charging current data of the charging current with respect to time; and performing curve mapping according to the charging current data and according to a plurality of sets of predetermined curve characteristic data, in order to determine an estimation parameter corresponding to one of a plurality of predetermined cycle counts, wherein the estimation parameter is utilized for performing power estimation, and the sets of predetermined curve characteristic data respectively correspond to the predetermined cycle counts, which represent estimated ages of the battery, respectively. At least one associated apparatus is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2011Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Energy Pass IncorporationInventors: Chi-Yu Yang, Ming-Hsien Lee
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Patent number: 8878541Abstract: A battery voltage monitoring circuit includes a first power supply terminal to be connected to the positive terminal of a battery pack having rechargeable cells connected in series; a first supply voltage sensing terminal to be connected to the positive terminal of the battery pack; a first resistor connected between the first power supply terminal and the first supply voltage sensing terminal; a second supply voltage sensing terminal to be connected to the negative terminal of a first rechargeable cell of the rechargeable cells, the first rechargeable cell being on the positive terminal side of the battery pack and connected to the positive terminal of the battery pack; a second resistor connected between the second supply voltage sensing terminal and the first power supply terminal; and a first comparator configured to compare a voltage at the first power supply terminal and a voltage at the first supply voltage sensing terminal.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2011Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akihiro Nishizawa, Takashi Takeda
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Publication number: 20140320089Abstract: A charging algorithm of lithium ion battery comprises at least one final stage wherein a maximum charging voltage is reached and the charging stops at said voltage. The state of charge or remaining capacity at the end of last discharging is measured and recorded, and said maximum charging voltage of last charging is also recorded. The maximum charging voltage of a new charging will be determined by said state of charge of last discharging and said maximum charging voltage of last charging. This novel charging algorithm provides longest possible cycle life for the daily used electronic devices while fully utilizes the battery capacity, and also fits the individual user's battery capacity consumption.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2013Publication date: October 30, 2014Inventors: Fang Wang, Fajiong Sun
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Publication number: 20140312854Abstract: An electronic device includes a first battery, a first charging unit, a first voltage adjustment unit, a power detection module, and a first control module. The first charging unit charges the first battery according to a supply voltage and a first charging enable signal. The first voltage adjustment unit outputs a first output voltage according to the supply voltage and a first battery voltage of the first battery. The power detection module generates a power consumption information according to the first output voltage. The first control module sets a charging time according to the supply voltage and the power consumption information, in which the first control module generates the first charging enable signal to control the first charging unit to charge the first battery according to the charging time.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2013Publication date: October 23, 2014Applicant: Wistron Corp.Inventors: Ying-Tzu CHOU, Chun-Ta LEE
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Publication number: 20140306668Abstract: A system and method of controlling a low-voltage DC/DC converter for an electric vehicle that include a battery sensor that senses information regarding a low-voltage battery during a stop of the electric vehicle for each first period when the electric vehicle stops and a controller that operates a low-voltage DC/DC converter to charge the low-voltage battery for a predefined time when an error occurs in the battery sensor. In addition, the controller determines a charge time of the low-voltage battery based on first SOC values of the information regarding the low-voltage battery sensed for each first period when no error in the battery sensor is detected and operates the low-voltage DC/DC converter for the determined charge time to charge the low-voltage battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2013Publication date: October 16, 2014Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYInventor: Min-Woo Lee
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Patent number: 8836291Abstract: A rectification processor includes rectifier elements that control charge to batteries independently for each of the batteries. A charge-state detector detects charge states of the batteries from their voltages, and determines whether to select the batteries for charging in a half-cycle determined beforehand in accordance with the detected result. A synchronous signal detector detects a signal synchronized with the phase of the 3-phase alternate current (AC) generator from the 3-phase AC generator, and outputs a synchronous signal. A charge controller controls the charge in the rectification processor in synchronization with the 3-phase AC generator according to the synchronous signal from the synchronous signal detector, and, in accordance with the charge states of the batteries output from the charge-state detector, controls charge amounts to the battery/batteries that was determined for selection.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2012Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Shindengen Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tatsuya Arai, Tokihiko Iwakura
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Patent number: 8836290Abstract: A monitoring circuit for accurately monitoring a voltage level from each of a plurality of battery cells of a battery pack includes an analog to digital converter (ADC) and a processor. The ADC is configured to accept an analog voltage signal from each of the plurality of battery cells and convert each analog voltage signal to a digital signal representative of an accurate voltage level of each battery cell. The processor receives such signals and provides a safety alert signal based on at least one of the signals. The ADC resolution may be adjustable. A balancing circuit provides a balancing signal if at least two of the digital signals indicate a voltage difference between two cells is greater than a battery cell balance threshold. An electronic device including such monitoring and balancing circuits is also provided. Various methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2011Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: O2MIcro International LimitedInventors: Liusheng Liu, Guoxing Li
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Publication number: 20140253039Abstract: A battery charger can include a charger controller configured to determine a total charge time that characterizes a time needed to charge a battery, the total charge time being based on a received state of charge (SOC) of the battery that characterizes a present SOC of the battery. The charger controller can also be configured to determine a charging start time for the battery based on a predetermined full charge time and the total charge time.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventor: YEVGEN BARSUKOV
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Publication number: 20140217993Abstract: A method of optimized recharging of the electric battery of at least one electrical system by an electrical recharging device, in which the electric battery is recharged during at least one time interval by applying a charging power level associated with this time interval, this time interval belonging to an available charging time period initiated by the connecting of the recharging system of the electric battery to the electrical recharging device, and the charging power level being determined as a function of a charging curve associated with the electrical recharging device and of the residual electrical energy contained in the electric battery upon the connecting of the electric battery charging system to the electrical recharging device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2012Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicants: ELECTRICITE RESEAU DISTRIBUTION FRANCE, ELECTRICITE DE FRANCEInventors: Melaine Rousselle, Gaizka Alberdi
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Patent number: 8796986Abstract: A battery management system of a vehicle utilizing electrical energy and a driving method thereof is provided. The battery management system includes a sensing unit and a main control unit (MCU). The sensing unit detects voltage of a battery cell. MCU determines an operation state of a vehicle, and generates a sampling signal depending on the operation state of the vehicle. The sampling control signal transmits to the sensing unit, and controls the detection of the voltage of the battery cell. The operation state of the vehicle includes a running state and a stopping state.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2007Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Gye-Jong Lim, Soo-Seok Choi, Young-Jo Lee, Yong-Jun Tae, Han-Seok Yun, Se-Wook Seo, Beom-Gyu Kim, Ho-Young Park
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Publication number: 20140197804Abstract: Disclosed is a charging system and a charging method thereof. The charging system is applicable for charging an electronic device by at least a charging device and includes a detecting module configured to detect a voltage of a power storage unit of the electronic device; and a control module. When the electronic device is in a turned-off state, the control module is configured to conduct charging the power storage unit by a first current of one of said at least a charging device, upon judging that the voltage is substantially lower than a first value, and the control module is also configured to conduct charging the power storage unit by a second current of one of said at least a charging device, upon judging that the voltage is substantially higher than or equal to the first value.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2014Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicants: Inventec Appliances (Pudong) Corporation, INVENTEC APPLIANCES (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD, INVENTEC APPLIANCES CORP.Inventors: I-Hsiu LIN, Sheng-Hung WANG, Hsin-Jung CHEN
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Patent number: 8779729Abstract: An electric storage device monitor includes a measurement unit detecting and obtaining a detected value, a power supply switch portion switching a power supply state of the monitor between a monitoring state and a low power consumption state, a wakeup timer to which an actuation time is set and starting counting time in response to switching to the low power consumption state and continuing counting time and outputting an actuation signal if reaching the actuation time, and a control unit. The switch portion switches from the low power consumption state to the monitoring state every time the wakeup timer outputs the actuation signal. The control unit controls the measurement unit to detect and obtain the detected value in the monitoring state, compares the detected value and a reference value, and changes the actuation time according to a comparison result of the detected value and the reference value.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd.Inventor: Takeyuki Shiraishi
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Patent number: 8779725Abstract: Improved protection for a rechargeable battery from damage by being discharged below a cut-off voltage is provided. The measured voltage of a battery under load is lower than the measured voltage of the battery under no load. As the cut-off voltage for the battery is specified as a no load voltage, comparing the measured voltage of the battery under load to the cut-off voltage would result in stopping use of the battery with useable charge remaining. Through testing, a set of relationships for estimating the no load voltage of a battery under load has been determined. Using this set of relationships with battery measurements, an estimated no load voltage for the battery is determined. This estimated no load voltage is compared to the cut-off voltage. This allows for full use of the battery while stopping use of the battery when its voltage reaches the cut-off, thereby preventing damage.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Zero Motorcycles, Inc.Inventor: Nathan Glenn Knight
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Publication number: 20140191731Abstract: CCCV charging is applied to a lithium ion secondary battery. During CC charging, a transition point Ta appears in temperature rise gradient when battery temperature rises along with the charging, and with the transition point Ta being a border, a temperature rise gradient in an initial T1 period is steeper than a temperature rise gradient in a T2 period following the T1 period. Based on charging time tT corresponding to timing at which the transition point Ta appears after start of the CC charging from a condition of the SOC of 0%, changeover time ts is set in a range of tT?ts?(tT×1.2). The CC charging is performed at a first current value until changeover time tS elapses after its start, and after the changeover time ts elapses, the CC charging is performed with a second current value larger than the first current value.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2012Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.Inventor: Kazutoshi Miura
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Patent number: 8760119Abstract: A mobile device adapted for dynamic power management. The mobile device includes an output power port, a voltage converter adapted to convert an input voltage to provide an output voltage to the output power port, and a processor. The processor is adapted to monitor at least one load electrically to determine when the at least one load will become active or inactive, determine a minimum required output voltage to be provided by the voltage converter based on the at least one load that will become active or inactive, control the voltage converter to provide at least the minimum required output voltage on the output power port in advance of the at least one load becoming active or after the at least one load becomes inactive, and when the input voltage is below the first threshold, control the voltage converter to reduce the output voltage.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2013Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: BlackBerry LimitedInventors: Lyall Kenneth Winger, Dusan Veselic, Martin George Albert Guthrie
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Publication number: 20140167705Abstract: A method of charging a battery includes following steps: First, a charging voltage is provided to charge the battery. Afterward, a charging control variable is judged whether to reach to an adjustment value. Afterward, the charging voltage is adjusted with a first voltage difference to continuously charge the battery when the charging control variable reaches to the adjustment value. Afterward, a health state value of the battery is judged whether less than or equal to a critical health state value. Finally, the charging voltage is increased with a second voltage difference to continuously charge the battery when the health state value of the battery is less than or equal to the critical health state value.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: Dynapack International Technology CorporationInventors: Ying-Yin CHANG, Chung-Hsing CHANG, Jiun-Ming CHEN, Yun-Chih LIN, Kun-Sheng SHEN, Wen-Yi CHEN