Multi-rate Charging (e.g., Plural Charge Rates Before A Maintenance Charge, Etc.) Patents (Class 320/160)
  • Patent number: 11973360
    Abstract: A battery protection charging method and a charging system thereof are provided. The battery protection charging method includes obtaining an operation parameter of a battery. When a first protection condition is satisfied, a charging voltage of the battery is reduced to a first voltage. When a second protection condition is satisfied, the charging voltage of the battery is reduced to a second voltage. The second voltage is lower than the first voltage. The first (second) protection condition includes the cycle-life count is higher than a first (second) cycle-life threshold, the high voltage cumulative time is higher than a first (second) high voltage time threshold, and the high voltage-temperature cumulative time is higher than a first (second) high voltage-temperature time threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Ming-Hsuan Huang, Wen-Hsiang Yang
  • Patent number: 11949275
    Abstract: A wireless power reception apparatus includes a coil, a first rectifying unit, a second rectifying unit, and a charging unit. The coil includes a first end, a second end, and a tap. The coil defined by the first end and the second end is configured to provide a first voltage. The coil defined by the first end and the tap provides a second voltage. The first rectifying unit is coupled with the first end and the second end of the coil, and has a working voltage which matches a first voltage to adapt to a first wireless charging mode. The second rectifying unit is coupled with the first end and the tap of the coil, and has a working voltage which matches a second voltage to adapt to a second wireless charging mode. The charging unit is configured to select the first or second rectifying unit to charge the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Shebiao Chen, Jialiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 11933854
    Abstract: A battery management circuit includes: a reference signal generator that generates a first reference frequency signal and a second reference frequency signal having a phase different from a phase of the first reference frequency signal; an alternating-current superimposer that superimposes an alternating current on the secondary battery, the alternating current having a frequency component of the first reference frequency signal; a voltage measurer that measures a voltage of the secondary battery by performing sampling using a frequency; a current measurer that measures a current of the secondary battery by performing sampling using a frequency; and a converter that converts each of results of measurements by the voltage measurer and the current measurer into a complex voltage and a complex current, by multiplying the result of the measurement by the first reference frequency signal and the second reference frequency signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION JAPAN
    Inventors: Yu Okada, Hitoshi Kobayashi, Keiichi Fujii
  • Patent number: 11901521
    Abstract: A secondary battery system includes a secondary battery and a controller. The secondary battery has a charging state including at least first to third sections. The controller controls a current flowing through the secondary battery so as to be smaller than a predetermined current in the first and third sections, and controls the current flowing through the secondary battery so as to be larger than the predetermined current in the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobukatsu Sugiyama, Ena Ishii, Tomokazu Morita, Yumi Fujita
  • Patent number: 11892894
    Abstract: A receptacle includes a plurality of universal serial bus (USB) ports including a USB Type C PD port and a USB Type C port couplable to respective devices for charging, a controller coupled to the USB ports and including a dynamic power sharing logic, the controller structured to: determine whether one or more USB ports are coupled to the respective devices and manage first power negotiation and dynamic power sharing if both USB ports are coupled to respective devices or manage second power negotiation if only one USB port is coupled to respective device; an AC/DC converter including a gallium nitride (GaN) MOSFET on at least one of the primary side or the secondary side of the AC/DC converter, the AC/DC converter structured to provide high power to the USB Type C PD port; and a DC/DC converter structured to provide low power to the USB Type C port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Nilesh Ankush Kadam, Saivaraprasad Murahari, Stanislav Popelka
  • Patent number: 11848466
    Abstract: A fuel cell system has a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells and an anode injector system, and a controller programmed. The controller, responsive to an amplitude of cyclic changes in voltage of at least some of the fuel cells exceeding a threshold, a frequency of the cyclic changes being within a predetermined range of a frequency associated with the anode injector system, and the voltage being less than a predetermined value, disables the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Riley, William Frederick Sanderson, Jr., Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11831190
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a display; a processor configured to, when a battery of the electronic apparatus is to be charged, obtain a display state of the display and generate a mode-selection signal according to the display state; and a battery management circuit connected to the processor and configured to, upon receiving the mode-selection signal, switch to one of a charge pump charging mode or a direct charging mode based on the mode-selection signal to charge the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jie Fan
  • Patent number: 11794324
    Abstract: A dust collecting system includes a power tool and a dust collector. The power tool includes at least one battery-mounting part, a first motor, a driving mechanism and a body housing. The at least one battery-mounting part is each configured to removably receive a battery. The first motor is configured to operate with electric power supplied from the battery. The driving mechanism is configured to drive the tool accessory by power of the first motor. The body housing houses the first motor and the driving mechanism. The dust collecting system includes a control device configured to control operation of at least one of the power tool and the dust collector according to a state of the whole dust collecting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyonobu Yoshikane, Yoshitaka Machida, Hitoshi Iida
  • Patent number: 11787297
    Abstract: Provided is a method of charging a deeply discharged battery using a battery charging device, the method including measuring the output voltage of the deeply discharged battery using the battery charging device, and if the output voltage is at or near zero (0) volts, charging the deeply discharged battery using the battery charging device in a forced mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: The Noco Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Lewis Nook, William Knight Nook, Sr., James Richard Stanfield, Derek Michael Underhill, James P. McBride
  • Patent number: 11764672
    Abstract: Systems and methods for signal boosting in serial interfaces are provided. In some implementations, a system for boosting signals comprises boosting circuitry. The boosting circuitry may comprise at least one boosting capacitor configured to be operatively coupled to a voltage supply during a charging phase and configured to be operatively coupled to the at least one line of a signal transmission line during a discharging phase, wherein, during the discharging phase, the at least one boosting capacitor boosts a voltage of the one or more signals transmitted on the at least one line. The boosting circuitry may comprise switching circuitry configured to switch the at least one boosting capacitor between from being operatively coupled to the voltage supply to being operatively coupled to the at least one line of the signal transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Diodes Incorporated
    Inventors: Sin Luen Cheung, Chi Wa Lo, Yiu Ting Chou
  • Patent number: 11749847
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for charging a battery pack including a plurality of electrochemical cells distributed within a thermal management composite matrix, including a phase change material. The method operates upon determining that a battery pack temperature and/or voltage measurement is below a predetermined minimum threshold. The pack temperature and/or the voltage measurement is raised to the predetermined minimum threshold, such as by applying a low current rate, and then the charging rate is increased upon reaching the predetermined minimum threshold. The increased charging rate is further selected based upon a thermal state of charge of the thermal management composite matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: BEAM GLOBAL
    Inventors: Said Al-Hallaj, Mohamad M. Salameh, Samuel T. Plunkett, Chengxiu Chen, Stoyan Stoyanov
  • Patent number: 11735939
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery kiosk can dynamically alter a charging rate of one or more rechargeable batteries housed within the rechargeable battery kiosk to increase a probability that the rechargeable battery kiosk has an ample supply of fully charged, or mostly fully charged, rechargeable batteries based on an anticipated usage data for the rechargeable battery kiosk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Neutron Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashley Cooper, Paul Durkee, Celina Mikolajczak
  • Patent number: 11719755
    Abstract: A method of charging a battery, the method comprising the steps of: providing a charging current to the battery; determining a property of the battery substantially continuously during charging; and varying a property of the charging current in dependence on the determined property of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Petalite Limited
    Inventors: Stavros Pressas, Leigh Purnell
  • Patent number: 11675407
    Abstract: A system incorporating a smartphone comprising a smartphone and add-on device coupled to each other via combined data/power interface, wherein the smartphone comprises a rechargeable battery connected to battery protection circuitry and the add-on device optionally comprises a rechargeable battery connected to battery protection circuitry as well, the combined data/power interface comprises: one or more data pins for transferring data between the smartphone and the add-on device; one or more regulated power delivery pins; and one or more protected-battery power delivery pins, wherein the regulated power delivery pins are used to charge the battery of the smartphone from an external charger coupled to the add-on device, the batteries are connected to the battery protection circuitries that is configured to protect the battery by cutoff or limit the current or voltage on the battery electrodes, the protected-battery power delivery pins are connected to the battery protection circuitries of the smartphone or add
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: HIGH SEC LABS LTD.
    Inventor: Aviv Soffer
  • Patent number: 11677102
    Abstract: An adaptive charging protocol (ACP) implemented for fast-charging a rechargeable battery having electrode terminals connected to terminals of a power supply provided to apply time-varying voltages to the electrodes, comprising, before starting a charging operation for the battery, the steps of: detecting the existence of historical data on previous charging operations for the battery; in case of detection, processing the historical data to adjust charging parameters in view of optimizing the charging operation; in absence of detection, electrically testing the battery to get data on variations of the state of charge (SOC) for the battery, in view of building a learning model on the SOC variations to be used for optimizing the charging operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Yazami IP PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Rachid Yazami, Thannehene Gedara Thusitha Asela Bandara
  • Patent number: 11660973
    Abstract: A charging system of an electrically powered vehicle includes a power storage device, a charging device that performs external charging for charging the power storage device with power received from an external power supply, a DCM that outputs information for informing a user of information about charging by the charging device, and an ECU that controls the charging device and the DCM. The ECU controls the charging device to perform the external charging, controls the charging device to limit charging power when a predetermined condition is satisfied during the charging, and controls the DCM to output information for informing the user of a remaining charging time calculated using charging power immediately before limitation while the charging power is limited. The user's feeling of strangeness can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toru Ando
  • Patent number: 11652352
    Abstract: The present application provides a charge and discharge circuit, and relates to the field of battery power. The charge and discharge circuit comprises: a charge circuit comprising a battery pack, a first switch set and a charging device connected in series; and a discharge circuit comprising the battery pack, a second switch set and an electrical device connected in series; both the first switch set and the second switch set comprise at least one switch, and the at least one switch in the first and/or second switch set is a semiconductor switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Zhimin Dan, Jinbo Cai, Wei Zhang, Yizhen Hou, Xiong Zheng
  • Patent number: 11591159
    Abstract: A charging and storage system provides a conveyor system within a housing that conveys electronic devices through the housing to charging devices located withing the housing. Charging contacts on an adjustment arm adjust between a charging position that charges the electronic devices and a transport position that allows movement of the electronic devices through the housing without contacting the charging contacts. A charging device located at each charging location charges the device while the device is stored within the housing. The conveyor system moves the electronic devices to these fixed charging locations to charge the devices while storing the devices. The conveyor system releases the electronic devices to an exit ramp that guides the electronic devices to a release aperture for removal from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: TECH FRIENDS, INC.
    Inventors: Bobby L Shipman, Jr., Bryan D. Taylor, Bobby L. Shipman, III, Joshua L. Parrish, Joseph Michael Schaefer, III, Mark Haney
  • Patent number: 11581745
    Abstract: A terminal and a fast charging method includes sending, by the terminal, instruction information to a charger connected to the terminal in order to instruct the charger to adjust an output voltage and an output current, converting, by the terminal, the output voltage of the charger into 1/K times the output voltage, and converting the output current of the charger into K times the output current such that a charging circuit between two sides of a battery charges the battery with the 1/K times the output voltage and the K times the output current, where K is a conversion coefficient of a conversion circuit with a fixed conversion ratio in the terminal and is a constant value, and K is any real number greater than one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xujun Liu, Ce Liu, Yanding Liu, Jinbo Ma, Pinghua Wang
  • Patent number: 11532941
    Abstract: A method of controlling a battery including a first control circuit and a plurality of modules arranged between first and second terminals. Each module comprises electric cells. The battery further includes a sensor of the current flowing through the first terminal. The method includes the successive steps of: updating a first counter representative of the quantity of charges flowing through the first terminal; for each electric cell, for each connection of the electric cell to the other electric cells, storing into first data the value of the first counter on connection of the electric cell and for each disconnection of the electric cell from the other electric cells, storing a second counter equal to the difference between the value of the first counter on disconnection of the electric cell and the first data of said electric cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives
    Inventors: Rémy Thomas, Sylvain Bacquet, Léandro Cassarino, Ghislain Despesse, Eric Fernandez, Yan Lopez
  • Patent number: 11532944
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a charging adjustment method, a terminal and a computer storage medium. The method includes: detecting a real-time charging current when performing charging to a battery; determining whether to perform charging adjustment according to the real-time charging current and a preset cut-off current; obtaining a target voltage when determining to perform the charging adjustment; and performing charging to the battery according to the target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Chen Tian
  • Patent number: 11522373
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the technical field of charging. A terminal and a battery charging control device and method are provided. The battery charging control device including a battery connector, a main control circuit and a quick charging switch circuit is adopted. During the regular charging or the quick charging, the main control circuit performs a data communication with the external power adapter via the communication interface, and obtains a charging voltage and a charging current for the battery; if the charging voltage is greater than a voltage threshold and/or the charging current is greater than a current threshold, the main control circuit sends a charging switch-off instruction, such that the controller controls the communication interface to switch off; if the charging voltage is less than or equal to the voltage threshold and the charging current is less than or equal to the current threshold, the main control circuit continues to obtain the charging voltage and the charging current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Jialiang Zhang, Kewei Wu, Jun Zhang, Fuchun Liao, Yuanxiang Hu
  • Patent number: 11495838
    Abstract: Method for balancing states of charge of an electrical energy store with a plurality of battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Becker, Christoph Kroener, Triantafyllos Zafiridis
  • Patent number: 11476750
    Abstract: A configuration with which a precharging operation of a capacitive component present on one side of a voltage conversion section can be performed and the current during the precharging operation can be controlled is realized more simply. An on-board power supply device includes a charge circuit section which is connected in parallel with a voltage conversion section between a first conduction path and a second conduction path, and which performs a step-down operation in which a voltage applied to the second conduction path is stepped down by a switch portion switching on and off and an output voltage is applied to the first conduction path. A control unit outputs a second control signal that alternately switches between an on signal and an off signal to the switch portion of the charge circuit section when a predetermined precharging condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takafumi Kawakami
  • Patent number: 11465519
    Abstract: An electric vehicle charge equipment (EVSE) for supplying a charge current to an electrical vehicle includes: a liquid cooled charge cable with a charge connector for connecting to the electrical vehicle; and a charge current regulating device for regulating the charge current based on a temperature of the cooling liquid. Regulating the charge current includes: charging the electrical vehicle with a first charge current for an initial time period and thereafter charging the electrical vehicle with a second charge current that is greater than the first charge current, and/or reducing the charge current as long as the temperature of the cooling liquid is below a temperature threshold, and/or charging the electrical vehicle with a first charge current as long as the temperature of the cooling liquid is below a temperature threshold and thereafter charging the electrical vehicle with a second charge current that is greater than the first charge current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Wiebe Zoon, Gertjan Koolen, Rolf Bilderbeek
  • Patent number: 11460506
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a differential voltage curve of a battery includes a constant current unit, a sensing unit outputting a sensing signal indicating a voltage and a current of the battery, and a control unit determining a control history indicating the voltage and a remaining capacity of the battery based on the sensing signal. The control unit outputs a first request message when the remaining capacity is outside of a first range of interest, and a second request message when the remaining capacity is within the first range of interest. The constant current unit discharges the battery with a constant current of a first current rate in response to the first request message, and discharges the battery with a constant current of a second current rate in response to the second request message. The control unit determines the differential voltage curve when the remaining capacity reaches a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventors: Young-Deok Kim, Su-Won Jee, Dae-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 11444477
    Abstract: A charging method for a mobile terminal includes charging a rechargeable battery of the mobile terminal with a constant power, which further includes: charging the rechargeable battery of the mobile terminal with a first constant power determined based on an average charging power supported by the mobile terminal, when a maximum output power of a charger is greater than or equal to the average charging power supported by the mobile terminal; and charging the rechargeable battery of the mobile terminal with a second constant power determined based on the maximum output power of the charger, when the maximum output power of the charger is less than the average charging power supported by the mobile terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Changyu Sun, Yanteng Wang
  • Patent number: 11428743
    Abstract: A battery charging method includes: charging a battery based on a charging profile; and in response to a charging termination event occurring, terminating the charging of the battery, wherein the charging profile is determined using weight information derived based on battery characteristic information and a basic charging profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ju Wan Lim, Duk Jin Oh, Daeryong Jung
  • Patent number: 11424626
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of facilitating charging of portable power sources using a charging system, in accordance with some embodiments. Accordingly, the method may include a step of receiving, using a communication interface, a power source information corresponding to a power source attribute from a user device, a step of analyzing, using a processing device, the power source information, a step of identifying, using the processing device, a portable power source of the portable power sources based the analyzing, a step of retrieving, using a memory device, a standard power source information corresponding to the power source attribute of the portable power source based on the identifying, a step of comparing, using the processing device, the power source information and the standard power source information, and a step of generating, using the processing device, a charging command based on the comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventor: Ghaith AbuEideh
  • Patent number: 11411422
    Abstract: A battery charging method applied to a terminal, includes: charging a battery with an initial-stage charging current in an initial stage, until a charge state of the battery satisfies a preset condition, wherein the initial-stage charging current is a maximum tolerable charging current of the battery determined according to charging configuration information of the battery; and charging the battery with a subsequent-stage charging current in a subsequent stage after the initial stage, wherein the subsequent-stage charging current is determined according to the charging configuration information and is smaller than the maximum tolerable charging current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jie Fan, Changyu Sun
  • Patent number: 11411423
    Abstract: A charging device comprises a charging chip and a processor. The charging chip is configured to convert a power supply voltage into a battery voltage to charge the battery, where the power supply voltage is greater than a limiting power supply voltage, and the battery voltage is less than a limiting battery voltage. The processor is configured to: when a first condition is met, increase both the limiting power supply voltage and the limiting battery voltage, or decrease a charging current while increasing the limiting battery voltage; or when a second condition is met, decrease both the limiting power supply voltage and the limiting battery voltage, or increase the charging current while decreasing the limiting battery voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Honor Device Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Anfu Yu, Wei Luo, Chao Wang
  • Patent number: 11398742
    Abstract: A charge state control system and device for controlling charge sent to a consumer device is disclosed. A software application is provided on a consumer device. A separate hardware device comprises a microprocessor; a transistor relay circuit which is controlled by the microprocessor to open or close a relay; and a connector for connection with the consumer device. The software application is configured to receive an input from a user, determine a battery level of the consumer device and communicate with the hardware device to instruct the microprocessor to open or close the relay depending upon the battery level and the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Ayon Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Mazen Obeid, Jeffrey Anthony Rossi, Jason de Sousa
  • Patent number: 11394061
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for controlling charging of vehicles, to avoid charging during charge-adverse time periods or during charge restriction events. This can advantageously reduce cost to vehicles owners, and or provide access to reward incentives. Further, power distribution entities (utility providers) advantageously have increased control over power distribution to avoid over-burdening of power distribution infrastructure. Further, systems and methods for determining or inferring whether a vehicle is connected to a charge station are described, which can be used to inform automatic restriction of vehicle charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Geotab Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Christopher Mallia, Christopher Joseph Mendes, Matthew Stevens, Young Seok Shin, Michael Douglas McLean
  • Patent number: 11394213
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery jump starting device with a leapfrog charging system. The leapfrog charging system, for example, can sequentially charge multiple batteries of the rechargeable battery jump starting device. For example, the rechargeable battery jump starting device is a portable rechargeable battery jump starting device configured for jump starting automobiles, heavy equipment, commercial vehicles, commercial equipment, trucks, buses, commercial trucks, front loaders, dozers, back hoes, excavators, rollers, fork lift, specialized commercial equipment, logging equipment, airplanes, jets, and other battery started vehicles and equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: THE NOCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Jonathan Lewis Nook, William Knight Nook, Sr., James Richard Stanfield, Derek Michael Underhill
  • Patent number: 11381101
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for controlling charging of vehicles, to avoid charging during charge-adverse time periods or during charge restriction events. This can advantageously reduce cost to vehicles owners, and or provide access to reward incentives. Further, power distribution entities (utility providers) advantageously have increased control over power distribution to avoid over-burdening of power distribution infrastructure. Further, systems and methods for determining or inferring whether a vehicle is connected to a charge station are described, which can be used to inform automatic restriction of vehicle charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Geotab Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Christopher Mallia, Christopher Joseph Mendes, Matthew Stevens, Young Seok Shin, Michael Douglas McLean
  • Patent number: 11379030
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling power efficiency of an information processing device is disclosed. The apparatus includes a voltage converter that converts an input voltage into a predetermined output voltage, an information processing device that consumes power supplied by the voltage converter, a battery pack that is charged using power supplied at a predetermined charging voltage by the voltage converter, and a controller that determines the input voltage where the power supplied by the voltage converter exceeds power consumed by the information processing device and a difference between the input voltage and the predetermined charging voltage is minimized. A method and a system also perform various functions of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Hideshi Tsukamoto, Kazuhiro Kosugi, Yuichiro Seto, Akinori Uchino
  • Patent number: 11374421
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery kiosk can dynamically alter a charging rate of one or more rechargeable batteries housed within the rechargeable battery kiosk to increase a probability that the rechargeable battery kiosk has an ample supply of fully charged, or mostly fully charged, rechargeable batteries based on an anticipated usage data for the rechargeable battery kiosk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Neutron Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashley Cooper, Paul Durkee, Celina Mikolajczak
  • Patent number: 11336108
    Abstract: A method is described for charging an accumulator having terminals at which a terminal voltage is applied. The method includes the following steps: (a) charging the accumulator using a predefined current or a predefined electrical power until the terminal voltage has reached a predefined first value; (b) determining a time-dependent drop in the terminal voltage of the accumulator at a reduced charge current; (c) determining a second value on the basis of the voltage loss, the second value being greater than the first value; and (d) charging the accumulator using a predefined current or a predefined electrical power until the terminal voltage of the accumulator has reached the second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Osswald, Andreas Sedlmayr, Christoph Klee, Constanze Sorhage, Martin Schmid
  • Patent number: 11327119
    Abstract: A method of charging a battery, the method comprising the steps of: providing a charging current to the battery; determining a property of the battery substantially continuously during charging; and varying a property of the charging current in dependence on the determined property of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Petalite Limited
    Inventors: Stavros Pressas, Leigh Purnell
  • Patent number: 11300588
    Abstract: An adapter for a current probe is described, said adapter being configured to be connected with said current probe. Said adapter enables a voltage measurement by using said adapter and said current probe. Said adapter comprises a current loop and at least one transconductance unit. Said transconductance unit transforms the voltage to be measured into a current wherein the current obtained is forwarded by said current loop. Further, a testing system is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Martin Peschke
  • Patent number: 11292355
    Abstract: A battery charging method for an on-board charger (OBC) includes: applying, by a controller, an output voltage of a first converter to a second converter by controlling the output voltage based on a result of a comparison between a battery load voltage and a battery rated voltage; controlling, by the controller, the second converter to perform a frequency modulation on the output voltage using a low-speed frequency modulation method or a high-speed frequency modulation method based on a result of the control of the output voltage; and generating, by the controller, a frequency harmonic of a system frequency in a battery current based on a modulation method used to perform the frequency modulation. An output voltage of the first converter is controlled based on a load voltage state of a battery and applied to the second converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI AUTOEVER CORP.
    Inventor: Dong-Hui Lim
  • Patent number: 11283103
    Abstract: A system and method for rapid lithium ion battery charging are provided. The method for rapid charging a lithium ion battery may include generating a reduced order electrochemical model (ROM) of the lithium ion battery in which a state-of-charge (SOC) model, a side reaction model and a degradation model are embedded. The method may further include calculating an SOC, a side reaction rate, and a lithium plating rate from the ROM. The method may further include generating a charging protocol based on the SOC and a required SOC, and applying the charging protocol to the lithium ion battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, AUBURN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Sungmin Hong, Minseok Song, Song-Yul Choe
  • Patent number: 11251640
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a charging unit configured to charge a battery, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to control the charging unit to charge the battery based on a first charging condition, in a case where an operable time of the electronic apparatus from a charging completed state to a discharging completed state is not less than a predetermined threshold. The control unit is configured to control the charging unit to charge the battery based on a second charging condition in which a full charge capacity of the battery is greater than in the first charging condition, in a case where an operable time of the electronic apparatus from a charging completed state to a discharging completed state is less than the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takamitsu Abe
  • Patent number: 11228194
    Abstract: A motherboard having a smart charging function is provided. A connection interface is configured to an electrical device. A first controller is coupled to the switching circuit and communicates with the electrical device via a first transmission path. A second controller is coupled to the switching circuit and communicates with the electrical device via a second transmission path. In a standard charge mode, the first transmission path is turned on and the first controller directs a voltage converter circuit to generate first charge power to the electrical device. In a fast charge mode, the first controller determines whether the electrical device has a specific operating system. Responsive to determining that the electrical device does not have the specific operating system, the second transmission path is turned on and the second controller directs the voltage converter circuit to generate second charge power to the electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yuan-Chieh Chen, Chin-Hui Chen, Cheng-Hua Tsai, Ko-Hui Lin
  • Patent number: 11218011
    Abstract: Charging systems and methods are provided, which increase charging currents and reduce charging durations for battery cells with metalloid-based anodes that enable high C-rate (charging rate) charging. Specifically, methods comprise charging battery cells having metalloid-based anodes having Si, Ge and/or Sn-based anode active material, by providing a high-C charging current of at least 4 C (or 5 C, or 10 C or more) over a range of at least 10-70% SoC (state of charge) of the battery cells. Charging systems comprise a booster unit configured to provide a high-C charging current over at least most of the SoC range of battery cells having metalloid-based anodes in the at least one battery unit. Charging systems further comprise a user interface configured to receive user preferences concerning a specified charging duration and/or a specified target SoC—for implementation by the charging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Storedot Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel Aronov, Avraham Edelshtein, Amir Tirosh, Doron Myersdorf
  • Patent number: 11177668
    Abstract: Computer-implemented managing of battery capacity within a battery system is provided. The managing includes obtaining, by one or more processors, data representative of a number (N) of battery packs in the battery system, and ascertaining, by the processor(s), a battery pack self-discharge time interval (TD) from full-charge to a partially discharged threshold for initiating top-off charging. The managing also includes determining, by the processor(s), a charge-staggering time interval (TS) using the number (N) of battery packs in the battery system and the ascertained battery pack self-discharge time interval (TD), and staggering, by the processor(s), top-off charging of the battery packs of the N battery packs in the battery system using, at least in part, the charge-staggering time interval (TS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noah Singer, Steven John Ahladas, Robert K. Mullady
  • Patent number: 11112850
    Abstract: The present invention provides an in-vehicle terminal and a method for turning on/off the in-vehicle terminal. The in-vehicle terminal includes a switch circuit. The switch circuit includes: an output circuit, a control circuit, a first input circuit, a second input circuit and a control circuit. The first input circuit is configured to transmit the received first trigger signal to the output circuit. The second input circuit is configured to transmit the received second trigger signal to the output circuit. The output circuit is configured to output a first control signal for turning on/off the vehicle terminal according to the first trigger signal or the second trigger signal. The control circuit is configured to block the second trigger signal from being transmitted to the output circuit when both the first input circuit and the second input circuit are transmitting a corresponding trigger signal to the output circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: MediaTek Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhuxiong Yue, Yun Ning
  • Patent number: 11088557
    Abstract: A motherboard having a charging function is provided. A connection interface is configured to an electrical device. A first controller communicates with the electrical device via a first transmission path. A second controller communicates with the electrical device via a second transmission path. In a first mode, the first controller directs a voltage converter circuit to generate first charge power to the electrical device. In a second mode, the second controller directs the voltage converter circuit to generate second charge power to the electrical device. In a third mode, the first controller determines whether the electrical device is a specific device. Responsive to the electrical device not being the specific device, the voltage converter circuit generates third charge power to the electrical device. Responsive to the electrical device being the specific device, the voltage converter circuit generates fourth charge power to the electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuan-Chieh Chen, Chin-Hui Chen, Cheng-Hua Tsai, Ko-Hui Lin
  • Patent number: 10980278
    Abstract: A system, a method, and a device for detecting and charging electronic articles, and more particularly for charging batteries in electronic cigarettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Fontem Holdings 4 B.V.
    Inventors: Ramon Alarcon, David Blau, Christopher Kepner
  • Patent number: 10936034
    Abstract: An information handling system receives power from plural power sources by managing bi-directional power transfer at plural cable ports to maintain matched impedance across plural power sources. A power manager of an information handling system exchanges power characteristics with the plural power sources to coordinate power transfer in proportion to current capability of the power sources so that voltage droop at the different external power sources remains the same during variable power draws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Mohammed K. Hijazi, Merle J. Wood, III, Adolfo S. Montero