To Determine Ampere-hour Charge Capacity Patents (Class 324/427)
  • Patent number: 9411398
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus is provided that includes a processor, a voltage regulator, a battery controller and an embedded controller. The voltage regulator to receive an input voltage and to provide an output voltage to the processor. The battery controller to store electronic device information and to receive battery information related to a current battery power. The embedded controller to receive the electronic device information and the battery information from the battery controller, and the embedded controller to provide power information to the processor based on the received information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gang Ji, Alexander B. Uan-Zo-Li, Jorge P. Rodriguez, Andy Keates, Vasudevan Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 9360531
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an accelerated lifetime estimation device for predicting the lifetime of a secondary battery, and a method thereof. The accelerated lifetime estimation device can accurately estimate a normal lifetime of the secondary battery while reducing an evaluation time period of the secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung Bum Suh, Heekwan Chai, Jeongsoon Shin, Younghwa Ko, Bounggun Joung, Kwangki Baeg, Cheol Ho Park, Yongsic Kim, Wonseok Kim, Hoyul Baek, Jang-Woo Lee, Jake Kim, Jongman Kim, Su Dong Lee, Seung Ho Yang, Inho Jung, Joo Han Song, Kyeong-Beom Cheong
  • Patent number: 9318731
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a first battery module, the first battery module including unit batteries, a first plate, and a second plate, and a second battery module, the second battery module including unit batteries, a first plate, and a second plate. The first battery module may be stacked on the second battery module, the second plate of the first battery module may be between the first battery module and the second battery module, and the second plate of the first battery module may support the unit batteries of the first battery module and contact the first plate of the second battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignees: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD., ROBERT BOSCH GmbH
    Inventors: Hyun-Ye Lee, Tae-Young Kim, Myung-Chul Kim, Shi-Dong Park
  • Patent number: 9312716
    Abstract: A battery charging system includes a battery, a load and a controller to control supply power to be supplied from an external power source to the battery and the load, in accordance with a request charging power and a request load power. The controller limits power supplied from the external power source to the battery to an allowable battery power, and distributes the supply power from the external power source between the battery and the load in a state holding limitation of limiting the supply power from the external power source to the allowable battery power when a request for the supply of power to the load is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hayato Nagakura, Isamu Kazama
  • Patent number: 9283947
    Abstract: In accordance with exemplary embodiments, battery capacity of an electric vehicle can be automatically determined. In an exemplary method, an instruction is received to determine a battery capacity value and one or more vehicle accessories are activated to discharge the battery to a first charge level. When the first charge level is reached, a generator in the vehicle is started and used to charge the battery to a second charge level, after which the battery capacity value can be determined and stored. In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, the vehicle comprises a controller adapted to cause a battery to be discharged and charged to determine a capacity value of the battery. A plurality of accessories are configured to activate and deactivate responsive to the controller to discharge the battery, while a generator is responsive to the controller to charge the battery so that the controller can determine the battery capacity value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Bisbing, Daniel P. Grenn
  • Patent number: 9263717
    Abstract: A battery pack detachably mounted in a device for supplying power to the device to operate the device includes at least one rechargeable secondary battery (1), a battery case (31) housing the rechargeable secondary battery (1), a mounting mechanism for mechanically mounting the battery case (31) in the device, an electrical connection connected electrically to the device for supplying power to the device, and a pack circuit board (74) securing the electrical connection. The battery case (31) is divided into a first casing and a second casing, the pack circuit board (74) is secured to the inside surface of the first casing, and the mounting mechanism is installed so the mounting mechanism is at least partially exposed on the surface of the first casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaya Nakano, Osamu Inaoka, Takao Takatsu, Haruhiko Yoneda
  • Patent number: 9263908
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a rechargeable battery module and a battery management system for controlling charging and/or discharging of the battery module. The battery module may include a substantially linear charging and discharging voltage-time profile within at least part of the charging and discharging cycle of the battery module, and the battery management system may be configured to calculate a state of charge of the battery module by using linear charging and/or discharging characteristics of the battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ri-A Ju, Hyun Kim, Suk-Kyum Kim, Seung-Min Kim
  • Patent number: 9198292
    Abstract: A battery pack including a plurality of battery cells, each including an electrode terminal; and a circuit board assembly including: a first circuit board electrically connecting the electrode terminals of adjacent battery cells of the plurality of battery cells; a second circuit board electrically connected to the first circuit board; and a connection wire electrically connected between the second circuit board and the first circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Joong Kim, Kyoung-Hwan Noh, Jun-Ho Lee, Hyun-Kook Kim
  • Patent number: 9189042
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for use with computers. A power supply includes metering to determine the instantaneous and cumulative energy consumption of the power supply and a computer coupled thereto. Communications enable the power supply to communicate corresponding power data to the computer. A user of the computer can then view the power data and assess the effectiveness of energy conservation efforts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Sawyers, Qijun Chen
  • Patent number: 9190682
    Abstract: A fuel cell system for providing power to a load, and having a safety mode, is disclosed. The system includes a fuel cell configured to convert fuel to electrical power and coupled so as to provide electrical power at a fuel cell power output, a system power port having a power connection and a data connection, configured to be reversibly coupled to the load, a power connection controller, coupled to the fuel cell power output and to the system power port, and configured to enable and disable the power connection, and a fuel cell system controller coupled to the fuel cell, the data connection and the power connection controller. The fuel cell system controller has a normal mode and a safety mode. A user selection determines whether the fuel cell system controller is in the normal mode or the safety mode. If the load has a smart power port, the data connection is configured to communicate over the smart power port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Inventors: Bradley C. Kaanta, Jacob P. Lipcon, Alan P. Ludwiszewski
  • Patent number: 9177466
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for detecting internal cell faults using online and real-time sensing techniques, and providing an accurate and reliable early warning for the incoming failure of battery cells hours or days prior to failure. A system is configured to perform real-time and direct measurement of battery cell parameters of temperature, voltage, and AC impedance through online sensing. These parameters may be simultaneously processed using advanced probabilistic and/or fuzzy logic-based algorithms to provide an early warning for the incoming failure of battery cells in a battery pack. This technology may safeguard the LIB battery packs while allowing them to operate at or near 100% capacity in both transportation and stationary applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jian Xie, Jie Chen, Lingxi Li, Yaobin Chen
  • Patent number: 9157966
    Abstract: An online method and apparatus for determining state of charge (SoC) and state of health (SoH) of batteries on platforms that present dynamic charge and discharge environments is disclosed. A rested open circuit voltage (OCV) may be estimated online using a battery dynamic model along with measured terminal voltage, current and temperature. The SoC and SoH can then be determined from this estimated OCV. The apparatus and methods may estimate SoC and SoH of a battery in a real-time fashion without the need to a) disconnect the battery system from service; b) wait for a predefined rest time; or c) depolarize the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Anki Reddy Papana, Harmohan N. Singh, Hassan Ali Kojori, Subodh Keshri, David Lazarovich
  • Patent number: 9153848
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a battery capacity computing unit configured to compute a current full-charge capacity of a currently inserted battery apparatus having secondary cells. The battery capacity computing unit acquires at least information on a full-charge capacity of the battery apparatus in a brand-new state and information on the battery charge/discharge cycle count from the battery apparatus, retains a correction coefficient used when computing the current full-charge capacity of the battery apparatus, and calculates the current full-charge capacity of the battery apparatus using the information on the full-charge capacity of the battery apparatus in a brand-new state, the information on the battery charge/discharge cycle count, and the correction coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoichi Nakashima, Ryota Hashizume, Jiro Moriya, Yukio Tsuchiya, Junya Yamada, Takashi Mutou
  • Patent number: 9134381
    Abstract: An observation model for calculating a capacity maintenance ratio of a battery. The capacity maintenance ratio is calculated on the basis of basic data representing an internal state of the battery (such as a feature quantity extracted from a positive and negative AC impedance curve plot), and a transition model for mapping a temporally preceding internal state and deterioration environment (SOC, that is, the battery capacity that is actually available, temperature, etc.) onto a current internal state are prepared in advance. Using the above models, a transition path of an internal state having the maximum likelihood, that is, the minimum sum of squares of differences between predictive values calculated from the above models and an actual value, is determined using an optimization method that is preferably dynamic programming, and the capacity maintenance ratio is predicted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: International Busines Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9134382
    Abstract: An observation model for calculating a capacity maintenance ratio of a battery. The capacity maintenance ratio is calculated on the basis of basic data representing an internal state of the battery (such as a feature quantity extracted from a positive and negative AC impedance curve plot), and a transition model for mapping a temporally preceding internal state and deterioration environment (SOC, that is, the battery capacity that is actually available, temperature, etc.) onto a current internal state are prepared in advance. Using the above models, a transition path of an internal state having the maximum likelihood, that is, the minimum sum of squares of differences between predictive values calculated from the above models and an actual value, is determined using an optimization method that is preferably dynamic programming, and the capacity maintenance ratio is predicted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9131591
    Abstract: A medical device includes an energy storage unit that is configured for being supplied with solar energy. The medical device is configured for an evaluation of a charging state of the storage unit according to a medical workflow and for the output of information related to the result of the evaluation or a signal related to the evaluation. A supply of energy is provided during the workflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralf Seemann, Peter Tichy
  • Patent number: 9123977
    Abstract: After the highest voltage of a rechargeable battery becomes higher than 4.0 V, when the charging current keeps lower than 50 mA for 20 seconds, a first point is detected for stopping charging the battery. Also, after the highest voltage becomes higher than 4.0 V, the charged capacity value and the discharged capacity value are added and subtracted for integrating the charged/discharged capacity if the highest voltage keeps higher than the integration start voltage. When the integration result shows that the battery is charged totally after the highest voltage becomes higher than 4.0 V, and when the absolute value of the integration result becomes larger than 50% of the designed capacity of the battery, the point second is detected for stopping charging the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Nishikawa, Shinichi Matsuura
  • Patent number: 9118188
    Abstract: A wireless charging system includes a microelectronic package (110) containing a system on chip (120) (an SoC), an energy transfer unit (140), and a software protocol (127). The SoC includes a processing device (121), a memory device (122) coupled to the processing device, and a communications device (123) coupled to the processing device and the memory device. The communications device is capable of communicating wirelessly with an external electronic device (130). The energy transfer unit is capable of transferring energy to the external electronic device. The software protocol is implemented in the memory device and is capable of detecting a charging profile of the external electronic device and capable of adjusting a parameter of the energy transfer unit according to a requirement of the charging profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Brian S. Doyle, Aleksandar Aleksov, Ravindranath V. Mahajan
  • Patent number: 9112408
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for providing an output voltage and/or an output current from an input voltage Vin, comprising: a first switching converter (10) having a storage element (120) and a first switching element (110), adapted to charge the storage element (120) from the input voltage Vin up to a threshold voltage and a second switching converter (20) having a second switching element (210) adapted to start with the threshold voltage at the storage element (120) and to provide the output voltage Vout and/or the output current Iout from the input voltage Vin, wherein the first switching element (110) has a minimum driving voltage, at and above which the first switching element (110) can perform switching operations, the second switching element (210) has a minimum driving voltage, at and above which the second switching element (210) can perform switching operations, and wherein the minimum driving voltage of the first switching element is smaller than the minimum driving voltage of the second switching elemen
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: PULS GMBH
    Inventor: Steffen Blau
  • Patent number: 9091735
    Abstract: A method of determining and predicting a state of a rechargeable battery device in real time involves measuring a current and a voltage of the rechargeable battery in real time, inputting the measured current and voltage into an algorithm, and applying the algorithm to determine the state of the rechargeable battery. The algorithm includes a first mathematical model based on a direct solution of at least one differential equation characterizing an equivalent RC circuit of the battery as a function of time. The first model generates a plurality of parameters that are usable to determine the state of the battery. The algorithm further includes a second mathematical model configured to regress the parameters over time, and a third mathematical model configured to estimate the state of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shuoqin Wang, Mark W. Verbrugge, John S. Wang, Ping Liu
  • Patent number: 9052369
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for measuring the remaining capacity of a battery in a portable terminal includes calculating an elapsed time when a voltage of the battery, which increases while the battery is being charged, arrives at a fully charged voltage, and providing a remaining capacity of the battery, which corresponds to a ratio of the calculated elapsed time to a threshold time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Jong-Woo Kim, Young-Gil Roh, Sung-Won Jeon
  • Patent number: 9041405
    Abstract: A condition estimation device includes a voltage measurement circuit, memory, and a controller. The voltage measurement circuit measures an open circuit voltage (OCV) of an electric storage device. The memory is configured to store first information on a correlation between a positive electrode potential and an electric storage capacity and second information on a correlation between a negative electrode potential and an electric storage capacity. The controller is configured to: measure an OCV under charge or discharge; calculate an electric storage capacity of the electric storage device having the OCV equal to a reference voltage; correct at least one of the first information and the second information such that a potential difference at the calculated capacity is equal to the reference voltage; and generate an OCV characteristic based on the first and the second information after the at least one of the first and the second information is corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Sejima, Yoshihiko Mizuta, Masashi Nakamura, Hiroshi Sekiguchi, Hidefumi Hasegawa, Shinya Kitano
  • Publication number: 20150135517
    Abstract: The present invention provides a degradation diagnosis device for a cell, the degradation diagnosis device for a cell comparing a potential variation characteristic of a comparison subject cell during discharging and after discharging is stopped and a potential variation characteristic of a degradation diagnosis subject cell during discharging and after discharging is stopped, in a case where the potential variation characteristic of the comparison subject cell during discharging and after discharging is stopped and the potential variation characteristic of the degradation diagnosis subject cell during discharging and after discharging is stopped are not same, diagnosing a cause of the degradation as including degradation of an active material, and in a case where they are same, diagnosing the cause of the degradation as being other than the active material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayoshi Doi, Masahiro Nakayama, Satoshi Yoshida, Yuzo Miura
  • Patent number: 9035616
    Abstract: State based full and empty control for rechargeable batteries that will assure a uniform battery empty condition, even in the presence of a load on the battery. A fuel gauge provides a prediction of the open circuit voltage of the battery, and when the predicted open circuit voltage of the battery reaches the predetermined open circuit voltage of an empty battery, the load is terminated, after which the battery will relax back to the predetermined open circuit voltage of an empty battery. A similar technique is disclosed for battery charging, allowing faster battery charging without overcharging. Preferably an RC battery model is used as the fuel gauge to provide the prediction, but as an alternative, a coulomb counter may be used to provide the prediction, with error correction between successive charge discharge cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Allen Wortham
  • Publication number: 20150132613
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a rechargeable battery, a battery information memory unit configured to store battery type information relating to a type of the rechargeable battery, and an information output unit configured to output the battery type information from the battery pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Norihiro IWAMURA, Masaki IKEDA
  • Publication number: 20150130471
    Abstract: Total voltage output by a multi-cell battery pack in an electric vehicle is monitored. A main microcontroller having a chassis ground is digitally isolated from positive and negative busses of the battery pack. A battery monitoring IC having a plurality of auxiliary/thermistor A/D inputs measures respective voltages of the battery cells. A voltage divider is selectably coupled to the positive bus by an evaluation switch under control of the main microprocessor with an auxiliary output terminal of the IC. A divided voltage is coupled to one of the auxiliary/thermistor A/D inputs. The battery monitoring IC transmits a digital value representative of the divided voltage output to the main microprocessor via the serial data link, and the main microprocessor determines the main battery voltage in response to the digital value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Robert J. Bolduc
  • Publication number: 20150123669
    Abstract: A battery identification system and method for an electronic device, and an electronic device are disclosed. A Hall sensor is set in the electronic device, and a magnetic induction component is set in a first-capacity battery, wherein, when the first-capacity battery is in an installation position, the magnetic induction component is in a sensing area of the Hall sensor; and when the first-capacity battery is installed in the electronic device, the Hall sensor senses approach of the magnetic induction component, and outputs a control signal used for identifying the first-capacity battery. With a Hall sensor switch and a magnetic component in the battery, batteries with different capacities used in the electronic device can be identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: ZTE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mingbing TANG, Junsheng Chen
  • Publication number: 20150115970
    Abstract: A method for determining an overall loss of capacitance of a secondary cell, for example of an accumulator, which is brought about by ageing processes is provided. The overall loss of capacitance is determined additively from partial losses of capacitance which are determined by means of various parameters from various functions. A partial loss of capacitance is determined under constant peripheral conditions. If the peripheral conditions change, the partial losses of capacitance follow one another directly, i.e. with respect to the same loss of capacitance. The interval of the respective charge throughput rate is shifted here. The overall loss of capacitance of a secondary cell can be extended to the overall loss of capacitance of a package composed of a plurality of secondary cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Dieter Most, Wolfgang Weydanz, Holger Wolfschmidt
  • Publication number: 20150102818
    Abstract: A method and a device for determining a battery status of a vehicle battery in a vehicle. In this context, complete discharging (S1) of the vehicle battery by vehicle-internal loads of the vehicle, complete charging (S2) of the vehicle battery, measuring (S3) a capacity and/or an energy content of the vehicle battery during the charging of the vehicle battery, and determining (S4) the battery status by means of the capacity and/or the energy content of the vehicle battery take place. The inventive method and the inventive device are advantageous since no additional hardware, apart from the hardware which is otherwise also necessary in the user mode, and also no specialist personnel are necessary to obtain a regular determination of the battery status of a vehicle battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Rueger, Andre Boehm
  • Patent number: 9007068
    Abstract: A method is provided for current-based detection of an electrical fault in an electrical network of a motor vehicle, the network having at least: one battery, one pulse-controlled inverter, one d.c. voltage converter, and an intermediate circuit associated with the pulse-controlled inverter. The method includes: detecting magnitudes of each a battery current, a d.c. voltage converter current, and an intermediate circuit current; comparing current magnitudes according to provided equations; and checking based on the comparison of whether a specifiable deviation has been exceeded. An alternative method for voltage-based detection of an electrical fault in an electrical network of a motor vehicle includes: detecting magnitudes of each a battery voltage, a d.c. voltage converter voltage, and an intermediate circuit voltage; comparing voltage magnitudes according to provided equations; and checking based on the comparison of whether a specifiable deviation has been exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Beqir Pushkolli, Ulrich Klein
  • Patent number: 8994334
    Abstract: The battery state-of-charge calculation device (100) is provided with a SOCV calculation unit (5) which outputs a first state of charge calculated based on voltage data, a SOCI calculation unit (6) which outputs a second state of charge calculated based on current data, an estimated impedance voltage calculation unit (12) which calculates an impedance voltage value based on an effective state of charge and the current data, a static determination unit (7) which determines that the impedance voltage value remains static for a predetermined time or longer in a range identified by a predetermined threshold value and outputs the determination result; and a SOC decision unit (20) which, based on the determination result, outputs the first state of charge as the effective state of charge where the impedance voltage value is static and outputs the second state of charge as the effective state of charge where the impedance voltage value is not static.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Shigemizu, Masami Iida, Takehiko Nishida, Masazumi Ohishi, Kazuyuki Adachi, Shinji Murakami, Yoshihiro Wada
  • Publication number: 20150084639
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for estimating a parameter of a secondary battery. The apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a sensor means configured to measure a plurality of current-voltage data while a charging current decreases when a secondary battery is charged in such a pattern that the charging current increases to a peak value and then decreases, and a control means configured to receive an input of the plurality of current-voltage data from the sensor means, calculate a linear approximation equation representing a correlation between a current and a voltage from the plurality of current-voltage data, estimate an open-circuit voltage (OCV) of the secondary battery by reflecting a polarization voltage of the secondary battery quantified through a resistor-capacitor (RC) circuit on a Y intercept of the linear approximation equation, and estimate a state of charge (SOC) of the secondary battery from the estimated OCV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventor: Won-Tae JOE
  • Patent number: 8990038
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring battery life in a human input device powered by replaceable batteries includes repeatedly measuring battery charge by use of a measuring arrangement forming part of the input device. Battery charge is measured while the input device is in a relatively inactive condition and when it is in an active condition, and a time value is associated with each battery charge measurement. A usage model may be constructed based on the battery charge measurements, and calculation of an expected battery life may be based at least in part on the usage model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Staton, Michael Andrew Cretella, John Depew, Wing Kong Low
  • Publication number: 20150077126
    Abstract: A method for monitoring and managing battery charge level and an apparatus for performing the same, wherein the method comprises steps as follows: A current charge level of a battery equipped in the electrical apparatus is acquired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Qing Wang, Zhanghu Luo, Zefeng Huang, Haoran Guo, Quanhao Xiao, Yixia Yuan, Jiashun Song, Pengtao Li, Yunfeng Dai, Xunchang Zhan, Chunyou Lin
  • Publication number: 20150077125
    Abstract: Provided are a setting device, a battery assembly device and a setting method that prevent SOC errors from accumulating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Yojiro Nomura
  • Patent number: 8981732
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a switch for turning on/off the connection between a first terminal and a second terminal. The switch includes a first transistor circuit configured from two transistors connected in series between the first terminal and the second terminal; and a second transistor circuit having a gate terminal connected to source terminals of the two transistors and a source terminal connected to gate terminals of the two transistors. The connection between the first terminal and the second terminal is changed over between on and off states by changing over a potential to the source terminal of the second transistor circuit between high and low levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Ono, Naoto Yanase, Hiroyasu Tagami, Nobuhiko Shigyo, Toshio Suzuki, Kouzi Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 8981782
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a maximum available capacity of a battery includes providing a number of diverse end-of-discharge-voltage values. A counter is assigned to each of the end-of-discharge-voltage values. The battery is discharged. One of the end-of-discharge-voltage values at which the battery is discharged is determined. A counter reading of the counter assigned to the determined end-of-discharge-voltage value is incremented. The previous steps are repeated. The counter readings are read-off so as to obtain a number of read-off counter readings. Based on the read-off counter readings, a first factor representing a first measure of a decline in the maximum available battery capacity is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hartmut Henkel, Andreas Neuendorf, Michael Heinemann, Mike Wattenberg
  • Publication number: 20150069857
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring energy use in an electronic device. In one embodiment, an energy monitoring system includes a processor and an energy monitor module. The energy monitor module includes instructions that when executed cause the processor to receive values of measured parameters of a pulse signal that controls the switching of energy to an energy storage device in a switch mode power supply that provides power to an electronic device. The instructions also cause the processor to determine, based on the values of measured parameters, attributes of operation of the electronic device powered by the energy source during an interval corresponding to the measured parameters. The instructions further cause the processor to generate, based on the attributes of operation, a control signal that causes the electronic device to change the loading of the power supply by the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Horst Diewald, Johann Zipperer, Peter Weber, Anton Brauchle
  • 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: 20150061603
    Abstract: A monitor system for an inventoried battery includes at least one battery pack; at least one embedded monitor subsystem interfacing with the battery pack, the embedded monitor system adapted to acquire sensor data from the battery pack; and at least one archival data storage system interfacing with the embedded monitor subsystem, the archival data storage system adapted to archive the sensor data. A method of monitoring a stored battery is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Edward Loftus, Ben A. Tabatowski-Bush
  • Publication number: 20150066405
    Abstract: A method of determining battery power capability may include: determining a circuit model for a battery, including a first resistance (r1) in series with a second resistance (r2) and a capacitance (C) in parallel; setting upper and lower limits for r1, r2 and C based on a battery temperature a battery state of charge or both; applying an EKF to determine r1, r2 and C within the set upper and lower limits; and outputting the battery power capability based on r1, r2 and C. The upper and lower limits may be adjusted based on the age of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yonghua Li, Xu Wang
  • Publication number: 20150048837
    Abstract: A method of managing a State of Charge (SoC) of a battery and an electronic device therefor are provided. The method includes verifying the charging remaining capacity of a first battery which is installed in the electronic device and comparing the verified charging remaining capacity of the first battery with a charging level of a second battery, which is received from a charging device through a local-area communication method, the second battery being charged in the charging device and the charging level of the second battery is verified by the charging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Se-Won OH, Won-Bae JUNG
  • Publication number: 20150048836
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods to determine when a new or fresh battery has been replaced in a medical monitoring device and store a record of such battery replacement so that the battery records of the medical monitoring device can be reliably kept over the life of the monitoring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Brian Guthrie, Allan Macrae
  • Patent number: 8954777
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus comprising: a main body including a reception unit and a processing unit; and a power supply device switches between an operation state for supplying power from an external power source to the main body and a standby state for supplying power from a secondary battery to the reception unit without supplying power from the power source to the main body. Charging of the battery with power from the power source is performed during the operation state and is terminated when a value indicating power level of the battery reaches a threshold value Vt satisfying (discharge lower limit VL+Vs)?Vt<charge upper limit VH, Vs denoting a decrease in power level occurring when power from the battery is supplied to the reception unit for an estimated maximum duration of the standby state within a time period having a unit time length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhei Tatsumoto, Takashi Hasebe, Tomonobu Tamura, Yasutaka Tanimura, Hiroshi Eguchi, Hiroshi Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 8947051
    Abstract: A storage capacity management system includes an upper limit terminal voltage inducing part for inducing an upper limit terminal voltage, a lower limit terminal voltage inducing part for inducing a lower limit terminal voltage, an upper and lower limit voltage width calculating part for calculating an upper and lower limit voltage width, an intermediate voltage difference calculating part for calculating an intermediate voltage difference, an upper and lower limit voltage ratio calculating part for calculating an upper and lower limit voltage difference, an intermediate determination voltage ratio inducing part, a voltage ratio comparing part, and an intermediate storage capacity inducing part for inducing an intermediate storage capacity based on the upper limit storage capacity, the lower limit storage capacity and the intermediate determination voltage ratio when the results of the comparison by the voltage ratio comparing part satisfy a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Ogane, Naoki Maruno, Yoshikazu Ohnuma
  • Publication number: 20150028879
    Abstract: A battery management system includes a control unit having a first micro controller arranged on the low-voltage side of the control unit, and a second micro controller arranged on the high-voltage side of the control unit. The system further includes a plurality of first voltage measuring units respectively assigned to a battery module of the battery, and a first communication connection for transmitting voltage values from the first voltage measuring units to the first micro controller. The system also has a plurality of second voltage measuring units and a second communication connection for transmitting voltage values from the second voltage measuring units to the second micro controller. The first or the second voltage measuring units are configured as min/max measuring units such that they detect a minimum and a maximum voltage value of the battery cells in the battery modules, and dismiss voltage measurement values in between.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicants: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Do., Ltd.
    Inventor: Stefan Butzmann
  • Patent number: 8937459
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes an apparatus and method for estimating state of health (SOH) of a battery. The apparatus for estimating state of health of a battery includes a sensing unit for measuring a battery voltage and current within a predetermined charging voltage range; a memory unit storing the battery voltage and current values measured by the sensing unit and SOH-based ampere counting values, obtained by an ampere counting experiment of a battery whose actual degradation degree is known; and a control unit for calculating an ampere counting value by counting the measured current values stored in the memory unit within the charging voltage range, and estimating a SOH value by mapping the SOH value corresponding to the calculated ampere counting value from the SOH-based ampere counting values stored in the memory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyu-Ha Park, Cheol-Taek Kim
  • Patent number: 8933701
    Abstract: An electrochemical device includes at least one electrochemical cell having an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, a reservoir configured to store an electrolyte and a mass distribution measuring device. The mass distribution measuring device includes at least one of a scale, a first pressure sensor located in a lower portion of the reservoir and a second pressure sensor located in an upper portion of the reservoir, or at least one strain gauge or load cell configured to measure a change a weight of the at least one electrochemical cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Primus Power Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Tennessen, Alisa Peterson, Paul Kreiner, Lauren Wessel Hart, Ryan Larsen, Jonathan Hall
  • Patent number: 8928327
    Abstract: An electrochemical device includes at least one electrochemical cell having an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, a reservoir configured to store an electrolyte and a mass distribution measuring device. The mass distribution measuring device includes at least one of a scale, a first pressure sensor located in a lower portion of the reservoir and a second pressure sensor located in an upper portion of the reservoir, or at least one strain gauge or load cell configured to measure a change a weight of the at least one electrochemical cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Primus Power Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Tennessen, Alissa Peterson, Paul Kreiner, Lauren Wessel Hart, Ryan Larsen, Jonathan Hall
  • Publication number: 20150002160
    Abstract: A portable electronic device is provided, and includes a function key that outputs a predetermined key signal; a key signal regulation unit that regulates a voltage of the predetermined key signal; a Power Management IC (PMIC) that powers on the portable electronic device and identifies a remaining amount of electric power of a battery when receiving the key signal of which a voltage is regulated by the key signal regulation unit in a power-off state; and a controller that controls to perform booting of the electronic device for displaying the remaining amount of electric power of the battery according to the power-on and to display the remaining amount of electric power of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung Ha LEE, Sung Hyup LEE, Soon Sang PARK