Using A Battery Testing Device Patents (Class 324/426)
  • Publication number: 20150070023
    Abstract: A battery monitoring device for monitoring a cell group made by connecting a plurality of single battery cells in series including a first switching circuit configured to select, as a measurement target voltage, a type of voltage a differential amplifier circuit including a first input terminal and a second input terminal, configured to convert the measurement target voltage, which is selected by the first switching circuit and input between the first input terminal and the second input terminal, into a voltage in a predetermined range by performing differential amplification, and an AD converter configured to measure the measurement target voltage selected by the first switching circuit and converted by the differential amplifier circuit, and output a digital signal according to the measurement result, wherein an abnormality detection voltage, is output to the AD converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiko Kudo, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Tomonori Kanai, Tatsumi Yamauchi, Akihiro Machida
  • Publication number: 20150069959
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: John Whiting, Matthew A. Heins
  • Publication number: 20150070021
    Abstract: A battery module includes a housing, a plurality of battery cells disposed in the housing, and a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly disposed in the housing. The PCB assembly includes a PCB and a shunt disposed across a first surface of the PCB. A second surface of the shunt directly contacts the first surface of the PCB, and the shunt is electrically coupled between the battery cells and a terminal of the battery module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Ronald J. Dulle, Mark D. Gunderson, Bryan L. Thieme
  • Publication number: 20150070022
    Abstract: A method of generating at least one recommended replacement time signal for a battery is provided. The method includes measuring a plurality of associated unloaded and loaded battery voltages. A delta voltage for each associated unloaded and loaded battery voltage is then determined. A select number of delta voltages are averaged. A minimum delta voltage is determined from a plurality of the averaged delta voltages. At least one recommended replacement time signal for the battery is generated with the use of the minimum delta voltage when at least one averaged delta voltage is detected that has at least reached a replacement threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Gordon, James D. Reinke, Val D. Eisele
  • Patent number: 8975897
    Abstract: A state-of-charge estimating apparatus includes at least a first arithmetic unit configured to calculate, as a first estimation value, the present estimation value calculated based on a battery capacity, the last estimation value, and an electric current flowing in and out between a current control apparatus, which controls charge and discharge amounts of a power storage apparatus, and the power storage apparatus, and a second arithmetic unit configured to calculate, during constant current control, as the present value of a second estimation value, an estimation value calculated based on an equivalent circuit model of a battery and a voltage of the battery and, on the other hand, calculate, during constant voltage control, as the second estimation value, the present estimation value calculated taking into account a resistance change of the battery based on the equivalent circuit model of the battery and the voltage of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shoji Yoshioka, Akiko Tabuchi, Keita Hatanaka, Hidetoshi Kitanaka
  • Publication number: 20150064525
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus for a battery cell of an electrical energy reservoir is proposed. The battery cell has a housing inside which an anode electrode electrically connected to a first battery terminal, a cathode electrode electrically connected to a second battery terminal, and an electrolyte for ion conduction between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode are receivable or received. The sensor apparatus comprises a reference electrode that is locatable or located inside the housing of the battery cell in ionic contact with the electrolyte. The sensor apparatus also comprises a sensing device for sensing sensor data. The sensing device is locatable or located inside the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Fabian Henrici, Jake Christensen, Nalin Chaturvedi
  • Publication number: 20150061602
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a battery system includes an electrochemical cell, a flexible sensor assembly attached to the cell, the flexible sensor assembly including an array of spin valve magnetic field sensors exhibiting an organic magneto resistance effect, and a battery management system operably connected to the flexible array, the battery management system including a memory with program instructions stored therein, and a processor operably connected to the memory and to the array, the processor configured to execute the program instructions to identify local changes in magnetic flux using input from the array of magnetic field sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Timm Lohmann, Bernd Schumann
  • Publication number: 20150061686
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting lithium battery. In the present invention, the method for detecting lithium battery is provided for executing the two pulse load test and AC impedance analysis to determine not only whether the state of health (SOH) of lithium battery is working or not, but also the SOH of battery would be precisely estimated to obtain the precise SOH and to avoid detection error resulted in substantial waste of resources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Yu-Min Liao, Kuo-Kuang Jen, Ping-Lin Kuo, Torng-Jinn Lee, Jeng-Shiung Jan
  • Publication number: 20150061687
    Abstract: A battery management system (BMS) is disclosed. In one aspect, the BMS includes a measuring unit, a pulse applying unit and a main controller unit (MCU). The measuring unit measures the voltage of a battery. The pulse applying unit applies a current pulse to the battery, the current pulse having a predetermined amplitude and period. The MCU calculates a polarization voltage based on the measured voltage and estimates a state of health (SOH) of the battery using a polarization voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Kyung-Sub SHIM
  • Publication number: 20150064559
    Abstract: An electrode-active material, a lithium-ion battery, and a method for detecting a discharge state of an electrode-active material that make it possible to realize high load characteristics, high cycle characteristics, and high energy density, have a high degree of safety and stability, and make it possible to easily detect the state of a late stage of discharge are disclosed. The electrode-active material is obtained by coating the surface of a particle containing LiwAxDO4 with a coating layer containing LiyEzGO4. In a discharge curve of the electrode-active material, a second region which follows a first region showing a substantially constant discharge potential and shows a drop in a discharge potential includes a third region in which a rate of change in a discharge potential is lower than an average rate of change in a discharge potential of the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Kouji Oono, Satoru Oshitari, Kazuyo Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20150054518
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus for a battery cell of an electrical energy reservoir is provided, which battery cell has a housing. The sensor apparatus has: a sensing device for sensing sensor data with regard to the battery cell, which sensing device is located inside the housing of the battery cell and has a coupling element for inductive emission of the sensor data and for inductive reception of electrical power; an evaluation device for evaluating the sensor data, which evaluation device is located inside or outside the housing of the battery cell and has a transfer element for inductive transfer of electrical power to the sensing apparatus and for inductive reception of the sensor data from the sensing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Fabian Henrici, Remigius Has
  • Publication number: 20150056484
    Abstract: An electrical device is provided. The electrical device includes a pulse generator configured to generate a first pulse. The electrical device also includes a battery. The battery includes a first conductive electrode configured to receive the first pulse from the pulse generator, a second conductive electrode coupled to the first conductive electrode, and a dielectric separator element coupled to the first conductive electrode and the second conductive electrode and configured to provide a second pulse. The second pulse is based on the first pulse and based on the electrical properties of the dielectric separator element. The electrical device also includes a controller coupled to the pulse generator and the dielectric separator element. The controller is configured to compare the first pulse with the second pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: James L. LEE, Edward Henry ALLEN
  • Patent number: 8963507
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for allocating identifiers to multi-slaves in a battery pack. The method for allocating identifiers, in which a master battery management system (BMS) allocates identifiers to N (N is an integer of 2 or above) number of slave BMSs through a communication network, includes (a) by each slave BMS, generating an initial identifier by combining digital voltage measurement values of battery cells included in a battery module managed by the slave BMS and transmitting the initial identifier to a master BMS; and (b) by the master BMS, allocating identifiers again according to the initial identifier received from each slave BMS and then transmitting the identifiers to slave BMSs. Therefore, it is possible to allocate identifiers without inputting an identifier to a multi-slave BMS in advance or using a separate hardware configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Jin Kim, Ju-Young Kim, Jong-Kyung Ko, Ji-Hun Kim
  • Patent number: 8965721
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring battery cell DC impedance by controlling charging of the battery cell. The method includes real-time characterization of a battery, (a) measuring periodically a DC impedance of the battery to determine a measured DC impedance; (b) ratioing the measured DC impedance to a reference DC impedance for the battery to establish an impedance degradation factor; (c) obtaining, during use of the battery and responsive to a set of attributes of the battery, an operational reference impedance for the battery; and (d) applying the impedance degradation factor to the operational reference impedance to obtain a real-time effective impedance for the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventor: Anil Paryani
  • Patent number: 8963550
    Abstract: A method that includes affixing a radio frequency identification tag on a storage battery at a battery manufacturing plant. The method also includes storing battery manufacturing information into the radio frequency identification tag at the battery manufacturing plant. The battery manufacturing information includes a battery algorithm suitable for use in testing the storage battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, John S. Philbrook
  • Publication number: 20150048801
    Abstract: An apparatus (100) includes at least one electrochemical cell (106) and at least one pass element (104) serially coupled with the electrochemical cell. A control circuit (102) is operable to open the at least one pass element when a charger (105) or power supply (107) is connected to the electrochemical cell for at least a predetermined time and to measure an open circuit voltage of the at electrochemical cell to determine a state of charge. The control circuit can then close the pass element to charge the electrochemical cell, determine an amount of the charge, and store an estimated energy capacity of the electrochemical cell based upon the open circuit voltage and the amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Kessler, Richard Jakubowski, Robert M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8957686
    Abstract: A voltage measurement device, includes: a multiplexer that includes a plurality of input terminals at which voltage signals are inputted; a control circuit that performs voltage measurement by acquiring the voltage signal at a selected input terminal from the multiplexer; and a decision circuit that makes a decision as to whether or not an abnormality has occurred, based upon voltage values measured by the control circuit, wherein: the plurality of input terminals include input terminals at which voltage signals from a plurality of subjects of measurement are inputted, and an input terminal at which a potential for diagnosis is inputted; the control circuit, when performing voltage measurement for the plurality of subjects of measurement, measures voltages at the input terminals at which the voltage signals from the plurality of subjects of measurement are inputted, and a voltage at the input terminal at which the potential for diagnosis is inputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ueda, Yoshinori Aoshima, Akihiko Kudo
  • Publication number: 20150042349
    Abstract: Apparatus comprises a charging terminal for connection to a source of charging current; a battery terminal for connection to a battery; a first resistive element; a second resistive element; a switch having a single pole and first and second throws; and a voltage measurement circuit having first and second inputs. The first throw of the switch is coupled to a node between the battery terminal and the second resistive element. The second throw of the switch is coupled to a node between the charging terminal and the first resistive element. The first resistive element is coupled between the charging terminal and the second resistive element. The second resistive element is coupled between the battery terminal and the first resistive element. The pole of the switch is coupled to a first input of the voltage measurement circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Huipeng Yang, Changjiang Zhang, Jianying Wen, Deshuai Yin
  • Publication number: 20150044531
    Abstract: An electric storage device management apparatus includes a controller that is configured to perform a voltage drop determination process to determine a voltage drop value of a conductive member that connects electric storage devices, and perform a voltage between terminals determination process to determine a voltage value between terminals of one of the electric storage devices after the voltage drop determination process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Takeshi Itagaki, Masashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8952702
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a multiphase voltage conversion device with N-phases (N being an integer equal to or larger than two) that is connected to the fuel cell, a control signal generation portion that generates control signals to control each phase of the multiphase voltage conversion device by superimposing a control waveform for measuring impedance on a voltage indicating an output target voltage of the multiphase voltage conversion device and sequentially outputs the control signals corresponding to N phases with a predetermined phase difference to the multiphase voltage conversion device, and an impedance calculation portion that measures a current and a voltage of the fuel cell on cycles corresponding to N predetermined sampling frequencies having a phase difference equal to the predetermined phase difference and calculates an impedance of the fuel cell based on the measured current and the measured voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiko Hasegawa, Nobuyuki Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20150035540
    Abstract: A battery power detecting device and method are provided. It can detect the battery power of a battery rod in a non-disposable electronic cigarette. The battery power detecting device includes a spare battery unit, a current sampling unit, a voltage sampling unit, a charging control unit, a main control unit, and a power display unit. The main control unit is configured to control the charging control unit to adjust and output the voltage provided by the spare battery unit according to the charging current sampled by the current sampling unit, in order to make the charging current equal to a preset current. Then, the main control unit calculates the battery power of the battery rod according to the charging voltage currently sampled by the voltage sampling unit, and finally controls the power display unit to display the battery power of the battery rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Zhiyong Xiang
  • Publication number: 20150028880
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus of an embodiment includes a comparison section which, in the case where a long-life mode of a battery is set, compares a battery detection value with a second low-battery detection value that is higher than a first low-battery detection value. The apparatus further includes a change detection section which detects a change of a power supply. The apparatus further includes a change reflect section which, in the case where it is detected both that the battery detection value is lower than the second low-battery detection value, and that the power supply is changed, changes the low-battery detection value to the second low-battery detection value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Makoto Midorikawa
  • Publication number: 20150028878
    Abstract: The present invention provides a charge/discharge measuring apparatus capable of appropriate charge/discharge management by accurately measuring a capacitance change of a secondary battery in charge/discharge. This charge/discharge measuring apparatus is configured such that a current from the secondary battery can be switched between a first connection circuit in which the secondary battery, a load resistor, and a conductor film are connected in series and a second connection circuit in which the secondary battery, a charger, and the conductor film are connected in series. Moreover, this charge/discharge measuring apparatus has a magnetic film arranged in parallel with the conductor film and connected in parallel with connection from the secondary battery to the load resistor and the charger and has a voltage detecting means for detecting a voltage change in the magnetic film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Hiroaki Tsujimoto
  • Patent number: 8941386
    Abstract: A busbar for battery electrode post connection with a terminal for voltage detection is provided. Both ends of a length direction of a rectangular thin plate of a conductive metal are left and an elongated opening is formed in a center. Two holes through which an electrode post of one battery and an electrode post of an adjacent battery are inserted are respectively formed in the rectangular thin plates of both sides around the elongated opening of the center. A terminal for voltage detection is extended integrally to the rectangular thin plate from an edge of the rectangular thin plate. The two holes overlap in a state of where the rectangular thin plate is folded in two with respect to the elongated opening. The terminal for voltage detection can be erected from the rectangular thin plate by folding the terminal for voltage detection in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ikeda, Shinichi Yanagihara, Hideki Inoue
  • Publication number: 20150022214
    Abstract: A monitoring system having a monitoring unit and a circuit element that are integrated in an enclosure for protecting connections between the monitoring unit and the circuit element. The monitoring unit monitors the circuit element via a first electrical quantity, and the monitoring unit has a control unit and a first circuit unit and a second circuit unit. The first current is essentially or precisely equal in amplitude to the first current, and the first current and the second current flow simultaneously in the two line sections. The first current direction is opposite to the second current direction, and the first circuit unit ascertains a first voltage drop at the first line section, and the second circuit unit ascertains a second voltage drop at the second line section. The control unit ascertains the first electrical quantity from the first voltage drop and the second voltage drop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Stefan ALBRECHT
  • Publication number: 20150022213
    Abstract: System and methods for measuring parameters of a battery system using a battery sensing circuit are presented. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods allow a vehicle battery sensing circuit and/or other associated system to measure a compensation parameter. The compensation parameter may be utilized by the battery sensing circuit and/or other associated system in measuring other parameters relating to the battery system including cell voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: ANDREW K. CHANDLER, ROGER M. BRISBANE, PAUL W. KELLEY
  • Publication number: 20150024242
    Abstract: A battery monitoring device includes a first unit arranged outside a plurality of stacks each of which includes cells; a plurality of second units arranged in each of the stacks to output voltage data of the cells; a signal line that connects the second units and the first unit in a daisy chain mode; and a detection unit that detects a stack voltage wherein the first unit determines that a disconnection is generated on the signal line when a response is not received from the plurality of second units via the signal line after sending data is sent to the plurality of second units via the signal line and, determines on which path of the signal line, a forward path or a backward path, the disconnection is generated based on a difference between the stack voltage and a total of all detected output voltages sent from the second units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Norio Nishiwaki
  • Publication number: 20150015267
    Abstract: An integrated standard-compliant data acquisition device includes an electrically insulating package including a plurality of conductive leads and an integrated circuit (IC) disposed within the electrically insulating package and electrically coupled to at least some of the plurality of conductive leads. The IC includes a first multiplexer (MUX), a second MUX, a third MUX, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a plurality of registers, a fourth MUX, control logic, and communication circuitry. In operation, a first circuit value under a first condition can be determined and stored, a second circuit value under a second condition can be determined and stored, and the decision as to whether there is a fault condition can be mad by comparing the first circuit value and the second circuit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Bryan A. Mueller, Erik S. Wheeler, Mark R. Plagens, Urs Mader
  • Publication number: 20150017498
    Abstract: A battery sensor data transmission unit is described as including a connection state ascertainment unit for ascertaining a series connection state in which a battery cell is connected in series to one other battery cell with the aid of a power transmission line and/or for determining a bypassing state in which at least one pole of the battery cell is decoupled from at least one other battery cell. Furthermore, the battery sensor data transmission unit includes a data transmission unit designed for outputting a sensor signal, which represents a physical variable in or at the battery cell, in the series connection state to an evaluation device using the power transmission line and/or outputting the sensor signal in the bypassing state to the evaluation device using a battery housing wall as the transmission medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Fabian Henrici, Axel Wenzler, Werner Schiemann, Reiner Schnitzer, Berthold Elbracht
  • Publication number: 20150008929
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the state of a checkable storage battery in a vehicle having at least two vehicle onboard power supply systems of different operating voltages is provided. The vehicle onboard power supply systems are coupled by a DC/DC converter, which converts a first DC voltage of a first vehicle onboard power supply system into a second DC voltage of the storage battery in the second vehicle onboard power supply system. The vehicle onboard power supply systems have a control device that includes a test signal module configured to supply a test signal via the DC/DC converter to the checkable storage battery, a measured value detection module configured to measure the reaction values of the checkable storage battery, and an evaluation module configured to detect the state of the storage battery from the measured reaction values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Martin Ehrmann, Peter Maisel
  • Publication number: 20150008930
    Abstract: A voltage monitoring circuit includes a plurality of voltage input terminals which input a voltage across each of a plurality of series-coupled battery cells, a selection circuit which, by selecting two of the voltage input terminals, selects a voltage across one of the battery cells, an A/D converter which converts the voltage across the battery cell into a digital value, a control unit which sends the digital value to an external controller, a ground wiring which is coupled to a ground terminal for inputting a ground level voltage for the voltage monitoring circuit, the ground terminal being among the voltage input terminals, and through which the voltage monitoring circuit is supplied with the ground level voltage, a terminal which is supplied with a lowest fixed potential, and a switch circuit which is coupled between the first terminal and the ground wiring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventor: Manabu Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 8928326
    Abstract: A measuring device is used in conjunction with a programmable controller for monitoring electrolyte levels in the battery. According to one implementation, the measuring device is located in a battery and is configured to detect when the electrolyte level in the battery falls below a particular level. The controller is in electrical communication with the electrolyte detection device. The controller is configured to: (i) receive a signal from the electrolyte level detection device indicating when the electrolyte level in the battery has fallen below the particular level; (ii) introduce a wait-period after the signal is received; and (iii) enable an indicator to indicate that the electrolyte level in the battery should be refilled when the wait-period expires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Philadelphia Scientific LLC
    Inventors: Duncan Jones, John Worthington
  • Publication number: 20150002162
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a power management module measures an electromagnetic radiation spectrum or a voltage response of a battery module. The measured electromagnetic radiation spectrum or voltage response of the battery is compared to a plurality of reference electromagnetic radiation spectrums or voltage responses, respectively, which may be determined for authentic batteries, for example. A relative condition of the battery, such as an age or state of health, may be estimated based on the measured electromagnetic radiation spectrum or voltage response of the battery module, and stored in a memory store. The rate of change of the relative condition of the battery over a period of time may be determined to identify potential defects in the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: David Gerard Rich, Taha Shabbir Husain Sutarwala, Surajit Sengupta
  • Publication number: 20150004451
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a state of a rechargeable battery or of a battery has a sensor device and an evaluation device. The sensor device brings about an interaction between an optical signal and a part of the rechargeable battery or of the battery, which part indicates optically acquirable information about a state of the rechargeable battery or of the battery, and detects an optical signal caused by the interaction. The sensor device furthermore provides a detection signal having information about the detected optical signal. The evaluation device determines information about a state of the rechargeable battery or of the battery on the basis of the information of the detection signal. Furthermore, the evaluation device provides a state signal having the information about the determined state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Klaus Elian, Jochen Dangelmaier, Manfred Fries, Juergen Hoegerl, Georg Meyer-Berg, Thomas Mueller, Guenther Ruhl, Horst Theuss, Mathias Vaupel
  • Patent number: 8922172
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Schumacher Electric Corporation
    Inventors: John Whiting, Matthew A. Heins
  • Patent number: 8922216
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring battery voltage including an accumulator (Ai), characterized in that said measuring device comprises: an alternating current generator (II), at least one first diode (D1i) and at least one second diode (D2i) arranged in series such that said first diode (D1i) is connected to the positive pole (+) of said accumulator (Ai) by means of the cathode thereof and to the cathode of said second diode (D2i) by means of the anode thereof and such that said second diode (D2i) is connected to the negative pole (?) of said accumulator (Ai) by means of the anode thereof and to the anode of said first diode (D1i) by means of the cathode thereof, a reading capacitor (C1) connected to the central point (N) between said first (D1i) and second (D2i) diodes and to a means (3) for determining the voltage across the terminals of said accumulator (Ai) from the voltage variation at the central point (N).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Julien Dauchy, Daniel Chatroux
  • Publication number: 20140375231
    Abstract: A battery pack includes: a battery; a notification unit configured to notify that a fully charged state is reached; a determination unit configured to determine whether the fully charged state is reached; a processing unit configured to execute a full charge process if the fully charged state is determined, the full charge process being one of causing the notification unit to make a notification and maintaining a possible state, in which making a notification is possible; and a factor detection unit configured to detect occurrence of a predetermined increase factor during execution of the full charge process, the increase factor leading to increase in a chargeable capacity of the battery as compared with the time when the fully charged state is determined. The processing unit stops the full charge process if occurrence of the increase factor is detected during execution of the full charge process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Hitoshi SUZUKI, Masaaki FUKUMOTO, Hidenori NAGASAKA
  • Publication number: 20140373339
    Abstract: A method for producing a solar battery module, which contains: arranging tab wire on an electrode of a solar cell via an adhesive; connecting the tab wire with a measuring device for measuring electrical characteristics of the solar cell, to measure electrical characteristics of the solar cell; judging a grade of the solar cell based on a result of the measurement; and modularizing the solar cells of the same grade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Daichi MORI
  • Publication number: 20140377602
    Abstract: A battery management unit includes a plurality of monitoring IC chips each configured to detect at least one operating parameter of at least one battery cell or battery module, which has a predetermined number of battery cells and is connected to a first bus. The battery management unit further includes a control unit and a basis monitoring IC chip which is likewise connected to the first bus and is configured to communicate with each of the monitoring IC chips via the first bus. The basis monitoring IC chip and the control unit are connected to a second bus and are configured to communicate with each other via the second bus. The basis monitoring IC chip and the control unit are arranged on a common circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Karsten Thoelmann
  • Publication number: 20140375325
    Abstract: A lithium-ion battery structure with a third electrode as reference electrode is disclosed. The reference electrode may be fabricated from lithium metal, lithiated carbon, or a variety of other lithium-containing electrode materials. A porous current collector allows permeation of reference lithium ions from the reference electrode to the cathode or anode, enabling voltage monitoring under actual operation of a lithium-ion battery. The reference electrode therefore does not need to be spatially between the battery anode and cathode, thus avoiding a shielding effect. The battery structure includes an external reference circuit to dynamically display the anode and cathode voltage. The battery structure can result in improved battery monitoring, enhanced battery safety, and extended battery life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: John WANG, Ping LIU, Elena SHERMAN, Souren SOUKIAZIAN, Mark VERBRUGGE
  • Patent number: 8917095
    Abstract: A sulfide-based solid electrolyte cell which can efficiently detect its deterioration, a cell pack equipped with the cell, a vehicle system equipped with the cell pack, and a method for detecting hydrogen sulfide. A sulfide-based solid electrolyte cell including at least one or more power generation units each including a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte present between the positive and negative electrodes, and a cell case which houses the power generation units, wherein at least one of the positive electrode, negative electrode and electrolyte includes a sulfur material, and wherein at least one of a current collector which constitutes a charging and discharging path, a lead which constitutes a charging and discharging path, and a lead which is connected to a circuit that is attached to the charging and discharging path, includes a material which chemically reacts with hydrogen sulfide to change electrical resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kawaoka, Hiroshi Nagase
  • Publication number: 20140368205
    Abstract: A battery cell is configured to operate in within an electronic device. Determining the status of the battery cell includes using a strain gauge attached to the battery cell. A value of the dimension of the battery cell is established by use of the strain gauge. The status of the battery cell is determined based on the established dimension value compared to a reference value and a threshold related to the dimension of the battery cell. Related methods, devices and/or computer program products are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Jan-Olof Svensson, Mats Wolf
  • Publication number: 20140368206
    Abstract: A battery control device includes an acquisition portion that acquires measured values on the battery state every predetermined period, and a determination processing portion that determines the battery state. The determination processing portion determines that the battery state is abnormal when the number of times the measured value is out of a given range reaches a threshold until the measured value is acquired a predetermined standard number of times. If the number of times the measured value is out of range is less than the threshold when the measured number is acquired the standard number of times, the determination of the battery state is performed for an extended period until the number of times the measured value is out of the range reaches the threshold, or until the measured number is within the range, based on the measured value acquired more than the standard number of times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI VEHICLE ENERGY, LTD.,
    Inventors: Yoshinori Aoshima, Keiichiro Ohkawa
  • Patent number: 8912761
    Abstract: A PM-ECU executes a program including: a step (S104) of estimating pre-charge SOC(1) when a plug-in charge is started (YES in S100), a step (S108) of calculating an integrated value of charging current when integration permitting conditions are satisfied (YES in S104, YES in S106), a step (S112) of setting a final integrated value when the charge is completed, a step (S116) of estimating post-charge SOC(2) when an ignition switch is turned on (YES in S114), a step (S122) of calculating a full-charge capacity of this cycle when calculation conditions are satisfied (YES in S120), a step (S128) of calculating a new full-charge capacity when the full-charge capacity of this cycle is within a specified range (YES in S124), and a step (S130) of updating the full-charge capacity by setting the new full-charge capacity as the current full-charge capacity when the new full-charge capacity is within a specified range (YES in S128).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junta Izumi
  • Publication number: 20140363751
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a method and a system for monitoring the performance of an electrochemical cell stack. Monitoring can be performed remotely by measuring the voltage across the stack, and comparing the measured values to predetermined reference values to determine the condition of the stack. Monitoring of the stack voltage enables detection of performance decay, which in turn enables preemptive repair of the stack prior to catastrophic failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Scott BLANCHET, Ed DOMIT
  • Publication number: 20140354233
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a device for testing a battery may be provided. The device for testing a battery may include: a determination circuit configured to determine at least one of a differential enthalpy of the battery and a differential entropy of the battery; and an evaluation circuit configured to evaluate a health state of the battery based on the determined at least one of the differential enthalpy and the differential entropy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Rachid Yazami, Kenza Maher
  • Publication number: 20140354289
    Abstract: A method for predicting charging time of a battery for an electric vehicle is provided. The method includes differentiating a rapid charging and a slow charging. A necessary charging amount of the battery is calculated, and a reference current value that is stored in advance is detected for slow charging. A time required for slowly charging a battery is calculated using the necessary charging amount and the reference current value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicants: KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Dong Il KIM, Woo Sung KIM, Dong Gil HA
  • Publication number: 20140358459
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for monitoring a battery are described herein. One method includes receiving a plurality of values, each value associated with a respective battery characteristic, and determining an internal state associated with the battery based, at least in part, on the plurality of values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Pavel Trnka, Vladimir Havlena
  • Publication number: 20140347057
    Abstract: A battery information providing apparatus includes a short-range communication module for performing short-range communication; an information detector for detecting battery information; and a microprocessor for controlling the battery information to be transmitted by the short-range communication module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Taeg OH, Soon-Sang Park
  • Publication number: 20140347058
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a state of a rechargeable battery based on a state value which characterizes the respective state of the rechargeable battery, characterized in that, during at least one time interval, an electrical energy which is output by the rechargeable battery and an electrical energy which is received by the rechargeable battery are detected, and in that an instantaneous state of charge or an instantaneous no-load voltage of the rechargeable battery is detected, wherein the detected electrical energy which is output by the rechargeable battery, the detected electrical energy which is received by the rechargeable battery and the respectively detected instantaneous state of charge or the respectively detected instantaneous no-load voltage of the rechargeable battery are evaluated in order to generate the state value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Andreas Walter, Patrick Weiss, Markus Waibler