To Determine Ampere-hour Charge Capacity Patents (Class 324/427)
  • Patent number: 11186198
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the health of a vehicle battery. A method includes determining an initial amp-hour value for a vehicle battery of a vehicle. The method also includes measuring a net integrated amp-hour value added into the vehicle battery during a first time period. The method further includes determining that the initial amp-hour value plus the net integrated amp-hour value is greater than a threshold percentage of a rated capacity of the vehicle battery. And the method still further includes responsively providing an alert to a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hanyang B. Chen, Michael J. Irby, Jeff Raymond Mohr, Anthony Hartman
  • Patent number: 11189865
    Abstract: A controller of a deterioration estimation device for a secondary battery is configured to acquire a first open circuit voltage when a temperature of the secondary battery is a first temperature and a second open circuit voltage when the temperature of the secondary battery is a second temperature changed from the first temperature, and estimate a degree of deterioration of the secondary battery by using a difference between first and second slopes. The first slope is a ratio of a voltage change obtained by subtracting the first open circuit voltage from the second open circuit voltage to a temperature change obtained by subtracting the first temperature from the second temperature. The second slope is a ratio of the voltage change to the temperature change when the temperature of the new secondary battery has changed from the first temperature to the second temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryo Kanada, Hiroki Nagai
  • Patent number: 11181584
    Abstract: A storage amount estimation device estimates the storage amount of the energy storage device in which at least one of a positive electrode and a negative electrode contains an active material, at least two electrochemical reactions being generated in the active material depending on a transition of charge-discharge, the hysteresis between a storage amount-voltage value charge characteristic and a storage amount-voltage value discharge characteristic during generation of one of the electrochemical reactions being smaller than the hysteresis during generation of the other electrochemical reaction in the active material. The storage amount estimation device includes an estimator that estimates the storage amount using a voltage reference storage amount-voltage value characteristic obtained based on the storage amount-voltage value discharge characteristic when the one electrochemical reaction is generated more than the other electrochemical reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Nan Ukumori, Yuichi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11162992
    Abstract: An energy storage device has a plurality of storage cells. In this case, each storage cell is designed to be connected in an offline operation and separately from the remaining storage cells to a device for determining the capacitance of the energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Armin Friegel, Philipp Riemann
  • Patent number: 11163011
    Abstract: An apparatus for diagnosing a battery includes a sensing unit configured to measure a potential and a current of a battery, and a processor configured to estimate a capacity of the battery based on the current measured by the sensing unit, detect inflection points in potential-capacity data in which the potential and the estimated capacity are mapped with each other, estimate an electrode potential of each inflection point, calculate a potential difference between each estimated electrode potential and a reference electrode potential, diagnose a change of at least one of an active material area, a depth of charge and a depth of discharge of an electrode of the battery based on an increase or decrease pattern of the plurality of calculated potential differences, and determine a mode of the battery as a normal mode or a failure mode based on the diagnosis result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Inventors: Yoon-Jung Bae, Dae-Soo Kim, Ji-Yeon Kim, Dong-Kyu Kim, Jae-Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 11085968
    Abstract: A method for estimating lifespan of a battery in accordance with the present invention, comprising steps of: fully discharging the battery; partially charging the fully discharged battery under a predetermined charging condition; acquiring pieces of voltage information at multiple specific points of measurement time while partially charging the battery; and calculating remaining capacity of the battery by using the acquired pieces of voltage information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: HYOSUNG HEAVY INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sang Hui Park, Hwa Seob Song
  • Patent number: 11041912
    Abstract: A method of screening a battery for failure mechanisms is provided. The method may include activating an electrochemical cell. Within 5 minutes to two hours of activating the cell, the open circuit voltage of the cell is measured over a period of time to determine a voltage versus time function. The cell is then screened for the presence of a failure mechanism by checking the voltage versus time function for a failure criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Davis, Xiaofei Jiang, Joseph Beauvais
  • Patent number: 11002794
    Abstract: A control apparatus of a power supply system including a battery, a battery sensor to detect a state quantity of the battery, and a generator to generate a power for the battery includes a controller. The controller executes normal charging control to control battery charging based on a detection result from the battery sensor, by controlling an operation of the generator. The controller executes failsafe control to prioritize battery charging regardless of the detection result from the battery sensor, if the battery sensor is determined to be operating abnormally. The controller executes full charging control to charge the battery until the battery is fully charged, when the failsafe control ends. The controller executes the normal charging control after a state-of-charge of the battery used in the normal charging control is set to a value corresponding to a state where the battery is fully charged, when the full charging control ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takumi Takada, Koji Uehara, Hideaki Ishihara
  • Patent number: 10996282
    Abstract: This abnormal factor determination device is provided with a measured value acquisition unit which acquires measured values including electric values and temperature values of multiple power storage elements, a predicted value acquisition unit which acquires predicted values including electric values and temperature values of multiple power storage elements, and a determination unit which, on the basis of the acquired measured values and predicted values, determines whether or not there are abnormal factors in the power storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd.
    Inventor: Nan Ukumori
  • Patent number: 10976370
    Abstract: An SOC estimation device 50 of an energy storage device includes a storage unit 73 and a data processing unit 71. The energy storage device 100 has a characteristic including a first deterioration mode in which a capacity drop with respect to time indicates a first transition, and a second deterioration mode in which a capacity drop indicates a second transition. The storage unit 73 holds first correlation data M1 indicating a correlation between SOC and OCV of the energy storage device in the first deterioration mode, and second correlation data M2 indicating a correlation between SOC and OCV of the energy storage device in the second deterioration mode. The data processing unit 71 executes a mode determination process of determining a deterioration mode of the energy storage device, and an estimation process of selecting correlation data corresponding to the deterioration mode from the storage unit, to estimate SOC of the energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki Furukawa, Tsubasa Matsuyoshi, Suguru Kozono
  • Patent number: 10974613
    Abstract: A method and a system for determining a discharging process of a battery are provided. The method includes the following steps. Measuring charging/discharging information of the battery. Calculating a charging/discharging characteristic of the battery according to the charging/discharging information. Aligning the charging/discharging characteristic of the battery according to a comparison characteristic point of a comparison characteristic to obtain an aligned charging/discharging characteristic. Determining whether the battery is normal according to the aligned charging/discharging characteristic or a coulombic efficiency of the battery. Calculating a safety probability of the battery according to the aligned charging/discharging characteristic and resistance of an internal short circuit of the battery when the battery is determined as abnormal. Determining a discharging process of the battery according to the safety probability of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Shou-Hung Ling, Shih-Hao Liang, Tzi-Cker Chiueh, Deng-Tswen Shieh, Mao-Cheng Huang
  • Patent number: 10978883
    Abstract: Predictive rechargeable battery management is provided, which includes obtaining performance data on a battery cell of multiple rechargeable battery cells within a product, and comparing the performance data of the battery cell to statistical data on battery cell performance of a plurality of battery cells of similar type to the battery cell, and in corresponding condition(s) to the battery cell. Further, the managing includes determining, based on the comparing, that performance of the battery cell is trending away from the statistical data of battery cell performance of the plurality of battery cells. Further, the managing includes performing a battery-related action based on the performance of the battery cell trending away from that of the plurality of battery cells of similar type and in corresponding condition(s) to the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John S. Werner, Noah Singer, Arkadiy O. Tsfasman, John G. Torok, Budy D. Notohardjono
  • Patent number: 10963033
    Abstract: A system for conserving power in an electronic device, in some embodiments, comprises: a battery to supply power to the electronic device; and a fuel gauge coupled to the battery and capable of operating in any of a plurality of power modes, wherein the fuel gauge selects its own power mode based on a repeated, variable-frequency sampling of a voltage provided by said battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Hideo Kondo
  • Patent number: 10942223
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for determining vehicle battery health. In some embodiments, an example method may include receiving, from a first vehicle, a first value for a first data type and a second value for a second data type, the first data type and the second data type relating to a battery of the first vehicle. The example method may also include determining, for the first data type and the second data type, a minimum possible value, a maximum possible value, and an offset indicator, wherein the offset indicator provides an indication of a significance of the first value and the second values relative to the minimum possible value and maximum possible value for the first data type and the second data type respectively. The example method may also include determining a weight for the first data type and a weight for the second data type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Cox Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Lea Malloy, Mark William Humble
  • Patent number: 10921380
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for measuring an internal resistance of a battery, after discharging/charging the battery under a preset constant-current, acquiring voltages of the battery within a period from ending the discharging/charging to a time when the voltage reaches stable, and then calculating different corresponding internal resistances caused by ohmic polarization, electrochemical polarization and concentration polarization separately. Since it is different for the orders of the magnitude of the characteristic time which these different polarizations need to get back into new equilibrium state after ending the discharging/charging, the method of the present disclosure classifies the internal resistances caused by these polarizations and calculated different internal resistances corresponding to the polarizations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: MICROVAST POWER SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Weifeng Fang, Xuezhong Dong, Qiru Li, Po Gao, Wenjuan Liu Mattis
  • Patent number: 10916813
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery management apparatus and method for calibrating the state of charge (SOC) of a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. The battery management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure calculates, when going into calibration mode, an average voltage value of voltage values received from a voltage measuring unit for a predefined time, calculates an average current value of current values received from a current measuring unit for the predefined time, calculates an average internal resistance value of the LFP battery for the predefined time based on the average voltage value and the average current value, determines if the average internal resistance value is equal to or larger than a preset reference resistance value, and when the average internal resistance value is equal to or larger than the reference resistance value, calibrates the current SOC to a preset reference SOC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Sun-Young Cha, Won-Tae Joe
  • Patent number: 10908219
    Abstract: A battery system in one embodiment includes a cell with an anode including graphite and a minor active material that displays an apparent thermodynamic hysteresis. A controller is operably connected to a memory which is configured to execute program instructions in the memory to perform a charge of the cell to a first potential, and a discharge of the cell from the first potential to generate a first discharge versus capacity curve. After a second charge of the cell to a second potential and a second discharge of the cell from the second potential to generate a second discharge versus capacity curve, the controller identifies a shift between the first discharge versus capacity curve and the second discharge versus capacity curve and updates a model of the cell based upon the identified shift. The controller then modifies at least one operating parameter of the cell based upon the updated model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Yelena Gorlin, Anantharaman Subbaraman, Reinhardt Klein
  • Patent number: 10859632
    Abstract: A secondary battery system includes: a secondary battery having an electrode containing an active material; and an electronic control unit configured to execute an SOC estimation process of estimating an SOC of the secondary battery. The electronic control unit is configured to: i) calculate the surface stress from a use history of the secondary battery; ii) calculate the amount of change in OCV from the calculated surface stress iii) correct an estimated OCV with the use of the amount of change in OCV; the estimated OCV being estimated from a voltage value and current value of the secondary battery; and iv) estimate an SOC corresponding to the corrected estimated OCV as the SOC of the secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10819135
    Abstract: Systems and methods for charging electric vehicles and for quantitative and qualitative load balancing of electrical demand are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Charge Fusion Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Ambroziak, Carson C. K. Fincham
  • Patent number: 10809306
    Abstract: A method for checking a battery state for at least one battery of at least one motor vehicle. A. determination of cell voltage differences of particular cell voltage values of at least two battery cells of the at least one battery at different points in time. B. comparison of the cell voltage differences with at least one predetermined cell voltage reference value assigned to the at least two battery cells, and determination of respective deviation values between the cell voltage differences and the at least one cell voltage reference value. C. determination of the battery state of the at least one battery, wherein, based on the particular deviation values, it is determined whether an inadmissible degradation of the battery state is imminent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Christian Roettinger
  • Patent number: 10790688
    Abstract: Certain embodiments are described that provide a method for measuring battery parameters under discharge/charge. (a) A battery at rest is provided having an initial State of Charge (SoC). (b) A discharge/charge excitation is applied for a first period of time. (c) The battery is allowed to rest for a second period of time. (d) A discharge/charge is applied, having a higher current and shorter duration than the discharge/charge of step (b). (e) The battery is allowed to rest for a third period of time. (f) Steps (b)-(d) are repeated. Parameters of the battery are measured during a plurality of the steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Faraday & Future Inc.
    Inventors: Garrett David Heinen, Anil Paryani, Nabiha Naquib Iqra
  • Patent number: 10770700
    Abstract: A battery pack includes: battery cells arranged such that the positive terminals and the negative terminals are alternately arranged; bus bars electrically connecting the positive terminals and the negative terminals of the adjacent battery cells; an insulating cover attachable to the battery cells and covering the positive terminals and the negative terminals; a monitor substrate in which a monitor circuit is mounted; and detection terminals electrically connected to the monitor substrate and electrically connected to the respective bus bars. The monitor substrate and the detection terminals are disposed integrally to an inner surface of the insulating cover. The detection terminals are electrically connected to the respective bus bars in a state in which the insulating cover is attached to the battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsunori Sato, Yoshiaki Ichikawa, Takao Shoji
  • Patent number: 10763554
    Abstract: A deteriorated capacity calculator calculates a deteriorated capacity that is a capacity reduced from the capacity of a cell in an initial state. A gas amount calculator calculates an amount of gas contained in a container for the cell, from the deteriorated capacity. A pressure calculator calculates a pressure inside the container for the cell from the amount of the gas, a volume of a void space of the container for the cell and the temperature of the cell. A pressure monitor outputs a control signal for stopping charging or discharging of the battery when the pressure inside the container for at least any one cell is equal to or greater than a threshold pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukihiro Yoshida, Sho Shiraga, Satoshi Hara, Yuruki Okada
  • Patent number: 10753977
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for estimating a discharge power of a secondary battery. The method according to the present disclosure includes setting a state of charge of a secondary battery for which estimation of discharge power is intended, discharging the secondary battery with a plurality of discharge currents while measuring a discharge termination voltage corresponding to each of the discharge currents, generating a current-voltage (I-V) profile that at least forms a point of intersection with the preset discharge boundary condition, and determining a discharge power using a current value and a voltage value corresponding to the point of intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Sun-Young Cha, Won-Tae Joe
  • Patent number: 10753982
    Abstract: Approaches provide for determining an internal rate of resistance of a battery in a computing device. In particular, various examples enable using a processor to expose the battery to a first load at a first rate of consumption and to measure a first analog voltage across the battery during exposure of the battery to the first load. The processor is able to expose the battery to a second load a second rate of consumption and to measure a second analog voltage across the battery during exposure of the battery to the second load. Linear equations can be used to solve for the battery's internal rate of resistance based at least in part on the first rate of consumption, the first analog voltage, the second rate of consumption, and the second analog voltage. In various embodiments, the battery's internal rate of resistance can be correlated to a battery health indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Square, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy Wade
  • Patent number: 10749362
    Abstract: A server apparatus obtains, via an information terminal wirelessly connected to an electrical-power storage device, a value indicating a state of the electrical-power storage device at an end of use of electric equipment having the electrical-power storage device. The server apparatus further obtains, via the information terminal wirelessly connected with the electrical-power storage device, a value indicating the state of the electrical-power storage device at a start of the use of the electric equipment. The server apparatus then detects an abnormality in the electrical-power storage device by using the value indicating the state of the electrical-power storage device at the end of the use and the value indicating the state of the electrical-power storage device at the start of the use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shoichi Toya
  • Patent number: 10706641
    Abstract: A display device includes: a storage management unit storing a first temperature of a secondary cell measured at a first timing before driving stop of a vehicle in a storage unit in association with the first timing; a residual capacity change derivation unit deriving a residual capacity change of the secondary cell between the first timing and a second timing at which driving of the vehicle restarts based on a second temperature of the secondary cell measured at the second timing and the first temperature read from the storage unit; and a display control unit determining whether the display unit is caused to display a predetermined display based on the derived residual capacity change of the secondary cell and a temporary difference between the first timing and the second timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Iori Kanamori
  • Patent number: 10690725
    Abstract: A battery pack management system adjusts the relative state-of-charge of respective battery blocks in a battery pack to equalize (i.e., align, balance or otherwise make similar) the peak battery block voltages (i.e., maximum or “upper peak” battery block voltages when the battery pack is being charged and/or minimum or “lower peak” battery block voltages when the battery is being discharged). Upon detecting an anomalous battery block that exhibits outlier upper and lower peak voltages, the battery pack management system adjusts the relative state of charge of respective battery blocks to center their respective upper and lower peak voltages between operating limits, thus maximizing the operating margin of the battery pack as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: ATIEVA, INC.
    Inventors: Steven Diamond, Gabriel Risk, Stanley Hu, Albert Shih-Young Liu, Martin Helliwell
  • Patent number: 10677852
    Abstract: Methods and related systems conduct a capacity check of a battery via a partial discharge cycle. A method of estimating a total capacity of a battery includes partially discharging the battery at a controlled discharge rate so as to discharge an amount of energy from the battery over a period of time. An output voltage of the battery is measured during the period of time. A total capacity of the battery is estimated based on the amount of energy discharged from the battery during the partial discharge cycle and the output voltage of the battery measured during the partial discharge cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ligong Wang, Darin Lee Frink
  • Patent number: 10675983
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining a value of the state of energy of a rechargeable battery in a vehicle, the battery being connected to an electric consumer; the method including: determining the state of charge as a measure of the present capacity of the battery; and determining the state of energy as an indication of at least the remaining charge and discharge energy of the battery. The disclosed method further includes: calculating and determining the value of the state of energy based on at least one parameter which is related to the operation of the electric consumer and where the at least one parameter varies depending on a mode for operating the vehicle or electric consumer during charging or discharging of the battery. Also disclosed is an arrangement for determining a value of the state of energy of a rechargeable battery in a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignees: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION, VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hanna Bryngelsson, Hannes Veen
  • Patent number: 10665233
    Abstract: A method for operating a server system that includes a plurality of servers for processing a voice command recorded by a recording device connected, via an interface, to the server system includes, in response to the recording of the voice command, reading in a session activation signal from the recording device; checking if there is an association between the session activation signal and a session ID; if it is established that there is the association between the session activation signal and the session ID, ascertaining an availability of a prior server that previously processed a session assigned to the session ID; and activating the session on the prior server if it is available, but, if it is not available, then activating the session on a free server of the server system by loading the session from a session database. The voice command is received by the corresponding server during the activation of the session or even subsequent to the activation of the session, in order to be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ralph Retter, Tobias Scheideck
  • Patent number: 10641833
    Abstract: A method of screening a battery for failure mechanisms is provided. The method may include activating an electrochemical cell. Within 5 minutes to two hours of activating the cell, the open circuit voltage of the cell is measured over a period of time to determine a voltage versus time function. The cell is then screened for the presence of a failure mechanism by checking the voltage versus time function for a failure criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Davis, Xiaofei Jiang, Joseph Beauvais
  • Patent number: 10613830
    Abstract: A data processing device according to one aspect of the present invention includes an extractor configured to extract time-series data indicating observed values at points in time in an analysis range from a first point in time to a second point in time, and a first calculator configured to calculate a gradient of a linear function indicating a trend of change in the observed values in the analysis range to minimize an objective function. The objective function indicates a sum of multiplication values at the points in time within the analysis range, the multiplication value is a numerical value obtained by multiplying a square of a difference between a function value of the linear function and the observed value by a weighting coefficient, and the weighting coefficient is a numerical value that increases as an elapsed time from the first point in time to each point in time increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Sho Fujita, Kimikazu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10578081
    Abstract: A wind turbine with pitch motors for pitching rotor blades, further comprises a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit configured to measure at least one of a voltage value and a current value at a first location and a second location, wherein the voltage value and current value are indicative of the condition of a backup power supply. When the second location is different from the first location the measurement results are independent from each other. A comparison of the two measurements then gives a level of confidence how these measurements match each other. In case of a low level of confidence the pitch drive motors are caused to pitch the rotor blades into a feathering position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Inventor: Tobias Theopold
  • Patent number: 10553896
    Abstract: A vehicle can include a traction battery and a controller in communication with the battery to determine the battery state using sensed battery electrode capacity to account for battery aging. The sensed battery electrode capacity can be dependent on active lithium ions at a positive electrode of the traction battery. The controller can compare a battery voltage model to measured battery voltage during a vehicle drive cycle, receive sensed current throughput data and open circuit voltage at the battery, and determine if a deviation threshold is exceeded. The controller can also correct electrode capacity using a mean of the measured open-circuit voltage to correct the capacity error to less than one amp-hour or initiate an active lithium capacity correction using a variance of the current throughput to correct the capacity error to less than one amp-hour. This information can be used to control the vehicle and battery usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Matthew Marcicki, OuJung Kwon, Theodore James Miller, Xiao Guang Yang
  • Patent number: 10527656
    Abstract: A battery power table setting method for using battery power efficiently and preventing battery overcharge includes: a first table generation operation for generating a first table by measuring a maximum charging power that prevents an output of a battery from being more than a maximum allowable voltage when the battery having a predetermined SOC value is charged at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time; a second table generation operation for generating a second table by measuring an SOC value at the time point that the battery reaches the maximum allowable voltage when the battery is charged with a predetermined power value at a predetermined temperature; a third table generation operation for generating a third table by calculating a second maximum charging power according to a predetermined temperature and a predetermined SOC value based on the second table; and a derating table generation operation for generating a derating table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hae In Choi, Jung Soo Kang, Young Bo Cho, Gyong Jin Oh, Jong Bum Lee
  • Patent number: 10507734
    Abstract: A battery state estimating apparatus is provided with: an acquirer configured to obtain a complex impedance of a battery; a calculator configured to calculate a ratio of a variation of a predetermined feature amount regarding the complex impedance; and an estimator configured to estimate a charge amount of the battery on the basis of the ratio of the variation of the predetermined feature amount with respect to an integrated current value, which is an integrated value of an electric current flowing through the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasumasa Oguma, Tetsuya Osaka, Shingo Tsuda, Kazuaki Utsumi, Tokihiko Yokoshima, Daikichi Mukoyama
  • Patent number: 10507730
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and method of operation, which include a battery and a communication unit, which are configured to periodically respond to a charge signal, and to adjust a charge time and battery recharge profile, according to a charge time estimate received from a remote fleet server. The charge time estimate is received in response to periodic operating conditions that are generated and communicated to the server. The operating conditions include one or more of charge station, environment, and location data, vehicle data, and battery performance data, among other data. The controller further configured to respond to a charge complete signal, and to generate and store as one of the battery performance parameters, an estimate error as a difference between the charge time estimate and an actual charge time. The controller readjusts a charge time and battery recharge profile, responsive to the estimate error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Grimes, Navid Rahbari asr
  • Patent number: 10511050
    Abstract: Battery health is determined by estimating a battery anode capacity, battery cathode capacity, and cyclable lithium capacity. Determining electrode and lithium capacity may include determining anode and cathode open cell voltages (OCV) at the beginning of battery life, and estimating the full cell OCV from the individual (half-cell) OCV values. Once the beginning of battery life information is known, the state of charge (SOC) for a battery is measured during battery life. The SOC measurements may be captured at a plurality of different levels. The cathode capacity, anode capacity, and cycle mobile lithium capacity are then determined from the beginning of life OCV data and plurality of SOC data. The capacities can be used to detect degradation, and a battery management system can take steps to reduce further degradation based on the capacity values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: SF Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Saeed Khaleghi Rahimian, Sangwoo Han, Junzhe Shi, Wenke Zhang, Ying Liu, Jun Hou, Chen-Yen Yu, Yifan Tang
  • Patent number: 10451681
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and apparatus for testing a condition of a battery. In one embodiment, a testing instruction for the battery is received from a controller of a device. In response to reception of the instruction, the battery is caused in a testing mode in which the battery and a power supply of the device concurrently provide power to the device, a first voltage provided by the battery being greater than a second voltage provided by the power supply. A condition of the battery is determined by monitoring an output current of the battery. Through the method and apparatus of the embodiments of the present disclosure, consumption for battery test may be reduced without a need of interrupting operations of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: EMC IP Holding Company LLC
    Inventors: Tao Yang, Jing Chen, Jesse Xizhi Cui, James Zhenyu Song, Wayne Wei Zheng
  • Patent number: 10444289
    Abstract: A method of estimating a life of a battery includes acquiring density data based on battery sensing data, determining a density feature based on the density data using clusters generated by clustering a density data set based on a plurality of battery management profiles, and estimating the life of the battery based on the density feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaeweon You, SangDo Park
  • Patent number: 10440805
    Abstract: The invention provides a radiation irradiation device that can appropriately manage the residual capacity of a battery without being influenced by the internal resistance of the battery. The radiation irradiation device includes a radiation generating part that generates radiation; a battery part that supplies electric power to the radiation generating part; and a residual capacity calculation part that calculates the residual capacity of the battery part. The residual capacity calculation part calculates the residual capacity of the battery part on the basis of a current flowing into the battery part, an internal resistance of the battery part, and a voltage of the battery part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Ryo Imamura
  • Patent number: 10393813
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining capacity of a battery. The method includes: defining a model for a battery, where the model relates terminal voltage of the battery to charged capacity of the battery; taking a plurality of voltage measures of the battery, where the voltage measures are taken through a range of states of charge and the range excludes the battery being fully charged and fully discharged; determining the parameters of the model by fitting the plurality of voltage measures to the model; determining an incremental capacity curve for the battery by taking derivative of the model; and quantifying a peak of the incremental capacity curve to thereby determine a capacity of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Jing Sun, Huei Peng, Caihao Weng
  • Patent number: 10393817
    Abstract: A method for determining a reference energy profile has comparing a first course and a second course. The first course describes an energy absorption of a first battery during a first charge cycle. The second course describes the energy absorption of the first or a second battery during a second charge cycle which follows after the first charge cycle. The comparison is performed for a plurality of time intervals. The method has determining a deviation between the first and the second course for each of the plurality of time intervals. In addition, the method has determining an amount of electrical energy based on the deviation for each of the time intervals, wherein the amount of electrical energy describes a preset default value of the reference energy profile for an amount of energy to be fed to a battery to be formed during a formation process of the battery to be formed for each of the time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Maximilian Bruch, Stephan Lux, Matthias Vetter
  • Patent number: 10386422
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method of determining the State of Health (SoH) and/or State of Charge (SoC) of a rechargeable battery during use of said battery, the method comprising the steps of: generating a first excitation signal within a first selected frequency range, generating a second excitation signal within a second selected frequency range, applying said first and second excitation signals on said rechargeable battery, measuring the response signal for each of said two excitation signals, and then calculate the Electrochemical Impedance (El) as the ratio between the excitation signals and respective response signals, and then determine the SoH and/or SoC of the rechargeable battery by comparing the calculated El to a circuit model for the battery and/or determining the SoH and/or SoC of the rechargeable battery by directly evaluating characteristics of the El. The invention also pertains to a battery management system configured for executing the steps of the method according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: LITHIUM BALANCE A/S
    Inventors: Andreas Elkjaer Christensen, Rasmus Rode Mosbaek
  • Patent number: 10369899
    Abstract: Set forth herein are systems and methods for determining battery heating conditions and pre-heating lead times of at least a minute or more, based on input parameters and sets of input parameters, to predictively and dynamically heat a secondary battery so that the battery has a specific power output and performance level when used in an electric or hybrid vehicle application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: QuantumScape Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Hettrich, Tomasz Wojcik
  • Patent number: 10371753
    Abstract: In some variations, a method of real-time monitoring of battery capacity comprises correlating electrode open-circuit voltage with electrode state of charge for a selected electrode; compiling a look-up table to correlate the electrode open-circuit voltage with the electrode capacity at different values of the active-material capacity; during real-time operation, identifying first and second times at which battery terminal voltages are approximated as battery open-circuit voltages; and calculating battery capacity based on the difference in battery open-circuit voltages at the first and second times, current integration, and the look-up table. No reference electrode is needed, and a complete battery charge/discharge is not necessary to determine the capacity. This technique can therefore be implemented on-board and in real time to provide reliable capacity estimation even as the battery ages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Shuoqin Wang, John Wang, Souren Soukiazian, Jason A. Graetz
  • Patent number: 10359449
    Abstract: Described are various current measurement techniques that can compensate for drift in shunt resistance. Determining a resistance of a shunt resistor, e.g., coupled to a battery terminal, can include introducing a known signal in sync with the chop phases of a dual system chop scheme, chopping the known signal out in the main signal path, and explicitly extracting the known signal in a parallel, additional signal deprocessing path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global
    Inventor: Andreas Callanan
  • Patent number: 10317475
    Abstract: A system a vehicle battery tester configured to test at least one condition of a vehicle battery and to transmit battery condition information relating to the at least one condition of the vehicle battery to a server. The system also includes the server, which is configured to receive the battery condition information from the vehicle battery tester and to transmit, to a consumer, a report generated based at least in part on the battery condition information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Carlo, Dale A. Gospodarek
  • Patent number: 10317457
    Abstract: A method of inspecting the quality of an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) and an inspecting system for performing the method are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes applying an input voltage to the OLED, measuring an OLED voltage across the OLED and an OLED current flowing through the OLED, estimating a parameter of the OLED based at least in part on the OLED voltage and the OLED current, and extracting a physical characteristic of the OLED based at least in part on the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignees: Samsung Display Co., Ltd., Korea University Research and Business Foundation
    Inventors: Jung-Jin Yang, Won-Jun Song, Mun-Chae Yoon, Gyu-Tae Kim, Tae-Woong Yoon