Including An Integrating Device Patents (Class 324/428)
  • Patent number: 11648838
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle and a method for gradually adjusting a displayed state of charge. An exemplary electrified vehicle includes a battery, a display configured to display a state of charge of the battery, and a controller configured to adjust the displayed state of charge such that the displayed state of charge gradually converges to an estimated state of charge of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Heinrich Enslin, Lila Ghannam, Charles Everett Badger, II, Xu Wang, Jeffery R. Grimes
  • Patent number: 11338679
    Abstract: A method of displaying a residual capacity of a secondary battery causes a computer of a display device to calculate a residual capacity of a secondary battery that stores electric power for driving a motor-driven vehicle based on an estimated value of an open-circuit voltage of the secondary battery storing the residual capacity calculated at the time of stopping of supply of electric power of the secondary battery and displaying the residual capacity at the time of stopping of supply of electric power on a display at the time of starting of supply of electric power of the secondary battery and subsequently displaying the residual capacity of the secondary battery on the display within a range with an upper limit value and a lower limit value with respect to the residual capacity at the time of stopping of supply of electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Taisuke Tsurutani
  • Patent number: 11313914
    Abstract: An energy storage system includes a lead-acid battery, a battery management unit. The battery management unit defines, based on an open voltage of the lead-acid battery, a first amount of change in a capacity of the lead-acid battery from a reference state, correlating with the open voltage of the lead-acid battery and caused by a first deterioration factor and defines, based on the first amount of change in the capacity and an amount of change in overall internal resistance of the lead-acid battery from the reference state, a second amount of change in a capacity of the lead-acid battery, not correlating with the open voltage and caused by a second deterioration factor. The battery management unit defines, based on the first and second amounts of change in the capacity, at least one of a battery capacity of the lead-acid battery or an amount of change in the battery capacity from the reference state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Yoshida, Yuki Nakanishi, Kazuhiro Sugie
  • Patent number: 11268990
    Abstract: An electrical current measurement circuit is provided. The electrical current measurement circuit is configured to receive a sense current proportionally related to an electrical current of interest to continuously charge a capacitor to a sense voltage. The electrical current measurement circuit is configured to determine whether the sense voltage reaches a predefined voltage threshold and reduce the sense voltage to below the predefined voltage threshold in response to the sense voltage reaching the predefined voltage threshold. The electrical current measurement circuit counts each occurrence of the sense voltage reaching the predefined voltage threshold and quantifies the electrical current based on a total count of the sense voltage reaching the predefined voltage threshold during the predefined measurement period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: QORVO US, INC.
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Philippe Gorisse, Christopher Truong Ngo
  • Patent number: 11173805
    Abstract: A state-of-charge (SOC) display system includes a battery, a brake light array including multiple lighting elements, and an SOC module. The SOC module is configured to receive a battery status signal including an SOC of the battery. The SOC module is further configured to output a display signal to the brake light array based on the battery status signal. The brake light array is configured to receive the display signal, and illuminate at least a subset of the lighting elements for displaying the SOC of the battery by the brake light array, in response to the display signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: KARMA AUTOMOTIVE LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zendler, Todd George, Vino Pathmanathan, Massoud Mahan, Gerhardt Hohn, John Papuga, Marina Josephs
  • Patent number: 11159027
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making sodium-ion cells, particularly sodium-ion cells which are capable of safe storage and/or transportation, comprising the steps: a) constructing a sodium-ion cell comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte, optionally performing one more charge/discharge operations on the sodium-ion cell; and b) treating the sodium-ion cell to ensure that it is in a state of charge of from 0% to 20%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: FARADION LIMITED
    Inventors: Jeremy Barker, Christopher John Wright
  • Patent number: 10955481
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology comprise a method and apparatus for determining a resistance value of a resistor in a battery system. In various embodiments, the apparatus comprises a sense resistor connected to a current sensor. The apparatus may be configured to compute a voltage-based RSOC value and a current-based RSOC value and extract a capacity value from each. Over time, the capacity values will diverge and the difference can be used to compute an actual value of the sense resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Hideo Kondo
  • Patent number: 10862537
    Abstract: A power line communication device includes a DC power source device, a power line, and a master station that modulates a supply voltage VBUS supplied to the power line according to transmission data to be transmitted. The master station includes a modulation capacitor that is precharged with a modulation amplitude voltage, a polarity switch unit that determines a polarity of the modulation capacitor connected to the power line according to transmission data, and an inductor connected between the DC power source device and the power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Tomohiko Yano
  • Patent number: 10830823
    Abstract: Provided is an estimation device for estimating an actual capacity of an energy storage device or a total reduction amount of the actual capacity. The estimation device includes a processor which is configured to calculate the actual capacity of the energy storage device or the total reduction amount of the actual capacity based on approximation data where a capacity change curve indicative of a transition of the actual capacity or a transition of the total reduction amount of the actual capacity with respect to an elapsed time is approximated by a plurality of straight lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoshige Inoue, Kenichi Sejima
  • Patent number: 10627455
    Abstract: A capacitor life diagnosis apparatus includes ringing detection circuitry that detects ringing of an output voltage of a power source including a capacitor at an output end, and signal generation circuitry that generates a signal indicating a life of the capacitor based on the ringing detected by the ringing detection circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakao, Yu Yonezawa, Takahiko Sugawara, Yoshiyasu Nakashima
  • Patent number: 10292704
    Abstract: A surgical instrument has a staple cartridge housing a plurality of staples and an anvil configured to capture tissue therebetween. The surgical instrument also has a firing assembly configured to deploy the plurality of staples into the captured tissue during a firing sequence, and a handle that includes an electric motor operably coupled to the firing assembly, wherein the electric motor is configured to motivate the firing assembly to deploy the plurality of staples into the captured tissue during the firing sequence, and a power pack. The power pack includes rechargeable battery cells configured to power the electric motor, at least one battery-cell health indicator, and an electronic control circuit configured to assess whether a subset of rechargeable battery cells is damaged during the firing sequence based on at least one measurement performed by the at least one battery-cell health indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Jason L. Harris, David C. Yates, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 10199990
    Abstract: A device for integrating an electric current during a period Tint, including an operational amplifier and a capacitor connected between a first input and an output of the amplifier, a second input of the amplifier being taken to a voltage VBUS, output voltage Vout of the amplifier being saturated at a high voltage VsatH and a low voltage VsatH according to the charge quantity in the capacitor. The device also includes: a circuit for switching the terminals of the capacitor; and a circuit for triggering the circuit at least once during period Tint when voltage Vout both grows and is substantially equal to a reference voltage VREF, the voltage VREF being smaller than or equal to voltage VsatH, and reference voltage VREF and voltage VBUS being selected to comply with relation 2·VBUS?VREF?VsatL; and a storage circuit for storing the number of triggerings having occurred between the initial time and the end time of the integration period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: ULIS
    Inventor: Patrick Robert
  • Patent number: 9748734
    Abstract: A multi-stage laser drive circuit includes a variable common potential source, a PA light-emitting array between a storage capacitor and a current node, first and second low-side linear current sinks in electrical communication with the current node, and a second master oscillator (MO) light-emitting array in electrical communication between the current node and the first low side linear current sink. A trickle current circuit drives a low-value trickle current through the arrays, and a sense circuit senses the trickle current. Also, the headroom voltage across a pass element in the first low-side linear constant current sink is monitored and adjusted for maximum efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Robert F. Stiffler, Michael S. Lackey, Thomas H. Alford
  • Patent number: 9465081
    Abstract: A battery power detecting device and method are provided. It can detect the battery power of a battery rod in a non-disposable electronic cigarette. The battery power detecting device includes a spare battery unit, a current sampling unit, a voltage sampling unit, a charging control unit, a main control unit, and a power display unit. The main control unit is configured to control the charging control unit to adjust and output the voltage provided by the spare battery unit according to the charging current sampled by the current sampling unit, in order to make the charging current equal to a preset current. Then, the main control unit calculates the battery power of the battery rod according to the charging voltage currently sampled by the voltage sampling unit, and finally controls the power display unit to display the battery power of the battery rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: HUIZHOU KIMREE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. SHENZHEN BRANCH
    Inventor: Zhiyong Xiang
  • Patent number: 9428067
    Abstract: A vehicle running management system under renewable energy includes an electrically driven vehicle having a battery ECU. The battery ECU manages a remaining amount of renewable energy in a vehicle-mounted electric storage device as it increases and decreases when renewable energy is charged into the vehicle-mounted electric storage device and renewable energy is discharged from the vehicle-mounted electric storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Nakagawa, Takayuki Kato, Junya Noguchi, Shinji Takuno, Yusaku Amari, Atsushi Hirosawa, Hiroyuki Abe
  • Patent number: 9429627
    Abstract: An electronic device has an energy storage device and circuitry supplied with a storage device voltage from the energy storage device. A supervisor circuit enables the circuitry in response to the storage device exceeding an enable threshold voltage. The supervisor circuit detects a resistance parameter which is indicative of an internal resistance of the energy storage device and adjusts the enable threshold voltage based on the resistance parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: In Hee Lee, Yoonmyung Lee, Dennis Michael Sylvester, David Theodore Blaauw
  • Patent number: 9387775
    Abstract: A system for controlling driving of an electric vehicle including a motor and a method of the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the system includes a battery configured to output a driving current to the motor and a battery capacity calculator configured to determine the remaining battery capacity of the battery. The system also includes a controller configured to limit the driving current to a predetermined current limit value or less when the remaining battery capacity reaches a first predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woon-Seong Baek, Se-Jin Ji, Sang-Kyou Kim, Hyeon-Cheol Jeong
  • Patent number: 9272635
    Abstract: A power storage system includes a power storage device configured to be charged and discharged, and a controller configured to calculate an open-circuit voltage of the power storage device from relationships between a plurality of current values and voltage values detected in a predetermined period during charge and discharge of the power storage device, specify an SOC corresponding to the calculated open-circuit voltage, from a correspondence relationship between the SOC and the open-circuit voltage of the power storage device, and calculate a full charge capacity of the power storage device, based on the SOC specified with respect to each of a first period and a second period during charge and discharge, and an integrated value of charge and discharge current of the power storage device from the first period to the second period. A method of calculating the full charge capacity in this manner is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junta Izumi
  • Patent number: 9250156
    Abstract: One embodiment is a unique strategy for evaluating performance of a component of an internal combustion engine. More particularly, in one non-limiting form a method includes operating a component, such as a heating component, and measuring a first characteristic related to its operation. The method also includes operating an engine accessory and measuring a second characteristic related to its operation, and determining performance of the component by relating the first and second characteristics to one another. In one aspect, relating the first and second characteristics to one another provides a first value which is compared to a predetermined value, and performance of the component is determined from this comparison. Other embodiments include unique methods, systems, and apparatus for evaluating or monitoring the performance of a component of an internal combustion engine, and/or for performing a procedure for starting the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy Nethercutt
  • Patent number: 9124131
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and device provide for the control of the power sourcing capability of a power source that supplies power to a device. A detection element of the device is operable to dynamically detect a power sourcing capability of the power source. A control element of the device is operable to monitor the detected power sourcing capability of the power source and to control the power source to effect a change in the power sourcing capability of the power source in response to a determination that the detected power sourcing capability of the power source is in violation of a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: SUNRISE MICRO DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Frederick L. Martin, Edgar H. Callaway, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9107286
    Abstract: An electric storage device includes a plurality of capacitor cells (electric-power storage cells) and a casing that houses the capacitor cells. The casing includes an inspection window through which a condition display unit provided inside the casing is visually checkable. The inspection window includes a through hole that penetrates the casing, a resin plate that closes the through hole from an inside of the casing, and a seal member that is interposed between the resin plate and an inner surface of the casing around the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichirou Tsuchiya, Akihiko Souda
  • Patent number: 9075090
    Abstract: A battery monitoring circuit is described. The battery monitoring circuit includes a high counter that increments when a sense voltage measurement is above a threshold. The battery monitoring circuit also includes a low counter that increments when the sense voltage measurement is below the threshold. The battery monitoring circuit further includes state machine circuitry coupled to the high counter and to the low counter. The battery monitoring circuit additionally includes open circuit voltage monitoring circuitry coupled to the state machine circuitry. The battery monitoring circuit also includes resistance monitoring circuitry coupled to the state machine circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark D. Zimmerman, Baiying Yu
  • 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20150077127
    Abstract: A method for determining remaining battery service time of a mobile terminal includes determining a plurality of battery usage times, wherein each battery usage time corresponds to a respective predefined battery power level interval. Upon receipt of a request to determine the remaining battery service time, the mobile terminal determines a current battery power level of the mobile terminal and compares the current battery power level with at least one of the plurality of battery usage times and their associated predefined battery power level intervals to determine the remaining battery service time. The remaining battery service time is then displayed on the mobile terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Sheng FU, Ming Xu, Xin Liang
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8963550
    Abstract: A method that includes affixing a radio frequency identification tag on a storage battery at a battery manufacturing plant. The method also includes storing battery manufacturing information into the radio frequency identification tag at the battery manufacturing plant. The battery manufacturing information includes a battery algorithm suitable for use in testing the storage battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, John S. Philbrook
  • Patent number: 8965722
    Abstract: An apparatus for calculating a residual capacity of a secondary battery is provided. The apparatus calculates the residual capacity of energy in the secondary battery which is charged/discharged. The apparatus includes an arithmetic unit which estimates and calculates a first residual capacity based on a charge/discharge voltage corresponding to a residual capacity of the secondary battery, calculates a second residual capacity based on an integrated value of a charge/discharge current of the secondary battery, weights the charge/discharge voltage of the secondary battery with the first residual capacity or the second residual capacity according to the voltage changing rate, and combines the results of the weighting to obtain the residual capacity of the secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Syuuhei Yoshida, Satoru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8912761
    Abstract: A PM-ECU executes a program including: a step (S104) of estimating pre-charge SOC(1) when a plug-in charge is started (YES in S100), a step (S108) of calculating an integrated value of charging current when integration permitting conditions are satisfied (YES in S104, YES in S106), a step (S112) of setting a final integrated value when the charge is completed, a step (S116) of estimating post-charge SOC(2) when an ignition switch is turned on (YES in S114), a step (S122) of calculating a full-charge capacity of this cycle when calculation conditions are satisfied (YES in S120), a step (S128) of calculating a new full-charge capacity when the full-charge capacity of this cycle is within a specified range (YES in S124), and a step (S130) of updating the full-charge capacity by setting the new full-charge capacity as the current full-charge capacity when the new full-charge capacity is within a specified range (YES in S128).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junta Izumi
  • Patent number: 8878539
    Abstract: A battery control module for a battery system comprises a voltage measuring module that measures battery voltage and a current measuring module that measures battery current. A state of charge (SOC) module that communicates with said current and voltage measuring modules and that estimates SOC based on a power limit ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Melichar
  • Patent number: 8835827
    Abstract: A determination circuit for measuring a current is reset each time the integration value of the current exceeds a threshold until expiration of a predefined maximum integration time. This increases the accuracy of integrating a current and also increases the dynamic range of currents that can be integrated. To further increase the dynamic range of currents, the determination circuit may further include circuits having different gain factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Jacobus Josephus Leijssen, Harry Marinus
  • Patent number: 8779784
    Abstract: Provided is an insulation resistance measuring circuit including: a source resistor unit including a first source resistor connected between a positive terminal of a battery and a second source resistor and the second source resistor connected between a negative terminal of the battery and the first source resistor; a voltage sensing unit sensing a voltage of the first source resistor as a first voltage and sensing a voltage of the second source resistor as a second voltage; and an insulation resistance measuring unit measuring an insulation resistance of the battery through a value obtained by dividing a difference between the first and second voltages by a sum between the first and second voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: SK Innovation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong Hwan Yang, Ki Seok Choi, Jae Hwan Lim
  • Patent number: 8676482
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle battery life evaluating apparatus 1 includes an actual traveling measuring section 2 measuring, for each driving pattern, actual gasoline mileage data on a hybrid vehicle equipped with a battery as a power source, a test traveling storage section 3a storing test gasoline mileage data set for each driving pattern on the basis of a traveling test on the vehicle, a battery life evaluating section 5 comparing the measured actual gasoline mileage data with the test gasoline mileage data on the corresponding driving pattern to evaluate a degradation level of the battery on the basis of a value of a decrease in gasoline mileage set for each degradation level of the battery and transmitting information on battery degradation to a battery life display section 6, and the battery life display section 6 displaying the information on battery degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masatoshi Uchida
  • Patent number: 8652697
    Abstract: A method of controlling a fuel cell system includes applying alternating current (AC) signals to an individual fuel cell. The AC signals have a plurality of different frequencies. A voltage across the individual fuel cell is determined at each of the plurality of different frequencies. An impedance characteristic of the individual fuel cell is determined based at least in part on the voltage across the individual fuel cell at each of the plurality of different frequencies. The individual fuel cell is controlled based at least in part on the impedance characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Matthias Gottmann, Patrick Muhl, Chad Pearson, James Daniel Smith
  • Patent number: 8639413
    Abstract: A power supply system comprises a chargeable power storage device; a charging device configured to perform external charging for charging the power storage device using alternating-current power supplied from an external power supply; an air conditioner receiving electric power from the charging device and the power storage device and air-conditioning a compartment in a vehicle; an auxiliary machinery load; and an ECU. The ECU controls at least one of the charging device and the auxiliary machinery load so as to increase the electric power output from the power storage device in a case where overcharging of the power storage device is expected when the air conditioner is intermittently operated during external charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroki Endo
  • Patent number: 8623190
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for performing maintenance on an apparatus. The device has a flow duct with a wall section in which at least one apparatus which projects into the flow duct and which is to be reworked after a certain operating time is arranged. A vessel which is open towards the wall section is arranged to as to be movable relative to the wall section in such a way that in an open position it is arranged at a distance from the apparatus, and in a second position forms, together with the wall section, a sealed volume which is separated from the rest of the flow duct and in which the maintenance of the apparatus is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uwe Brückner, Ingo Riesen
  • Patent number: 8618805
    Abstract: A battery circuit includes a monitoring circuit, an integrator circuit, and a comparator. The monitoring circuit can be used to monitor a cell and generate a monitoring signal indicating a cell voltage of the cell. The integrator circuit accumulates a difference between the monitoring signal and a first predetermined threshold over a time period to generate an integrating output. The comparator compares the integrating output to a second predetermined threshold and generates a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: 02Micro, Inc.
    Inventor: Guoxing Li
  • Patent number: 8569997
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying battery capacity and a charge/discharge state of a portable device are provided. The apparatus includes a charge Integrated Circuit (IC) for providing current to recharge the battery using an external charge power source, a sensing resistance interposed between the battery and the charge IC, a switch connected to the sensing resistance in parallel and opened to flow the current to the sensing resistance when a capacity of the battery is measured, and a controller for determining the capacity of the battery using voltage values at both ends of the sensing resistance measured when the switch is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Woo-Chang Lee
  • Patent number: 8564298
    Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, an energy harvesting system is provided. The system comprises a coil wound about a generally cylindrical shaped magnetic core having a first end and a second end. The coil includes wires that are wound in such a manner that the wires are generally parallel to the cylindrical shaped magnetic core axis. The cylindrical shaped magnetic core defines a core gap that extends parallel to the magnetic core axis. The cylindrical shaped magnetic core also defines an opening extending therethrough from the first end to the second end such that the cylindrical shaped magnetic core is configured to fit around current carrying conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Mohammod Ali, Rashed H. Bhulyan, Roger Dougal
  • Publication number: 20130257442
    Abstract: A power source detection circuit includes a voltage conversion module and a signal producing module. The voltage conversion module is connected to a power port, and is used to convert a voltage of a power source to a detection voltage. The signal producing module is connected to the voltage conversion module and a processing unit, and is used to compare the detection voltage with a reference voltage, and produces a high voltage signal to trigger the processing unit to control to display a remaining power of the battery when determining the detection voltage is lower than the reference voltage. The signal producing module is also used to produce a low voltage signal to trigger the processing unit to not display the remaining power of the battery when determining the detection voltage is higher than the reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventor: XING-HUA TANG
  • Publication number: 20130124121
    Abstract: A battery pack management system provides information such as remaining capacity and/or run time to empty for a battery. A time taken for a battery voltage to drop a threshold amount is measured and used to determine a remaining capacity of the battery. The time may be associated with a temperature and current of the battery. The remaining capacity of a battery is calculated by monitoring a discharge of the battery. For example, current drawn from the battery is monitored over a period of time and an initial amount by which the battery has been discharged is calculated. Compensation of this initial amount is carried out in order to take into account factors such as temperature, self-discharge rate and age of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics, Inc., STMicroelectronics PVT LTD
    Inventors: K. R. Hariharasudhan, Frank J. Sigmund
  • Publication number: 20130106426
    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: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong-Woo Kim, Yong-Gil Roh, Sung-Won Jeon
  • Patent number: 8432135
    Abstract: An object of this invention is to simultaneously resolve a decline in capacity due to undercharging of, and degradation due to overcharging of, a lead-acid battery, which occur as a result of random charging. A method of controlling a lead-acid battery of this invention is characterized in that a first region extending until an accumulated discharged capacity D1 at which a theoretical discharged capacity is the maximum value Dmax is reached, and a subsequent second region in which the accumulated discharged capacity D1 is exceeded, are set, and in that a value R1 obtained by dividing an accumulated charged capacity C1 by the accumulated discharged capacity D1 in the first region is made to be larger than a value R2 obtained by dividing an accumulated charged capacity C2 by an accumulated discharged capacity D2 in the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoya Kikuchi, Harumi Murochi, Yasuyuki Yoshihara
  • Patent number: 8423095
    Abstract: A method and system for determining standby time for a mobile station uses a battery simulator, a base station emulator, a computer to control the test equipment and MSUT for testing a mobile station. The computer includes a module for determining a radio off battery voltage, a module for deriving a battery capacity in dependence upon the radio off battery voltage, a module for measuring battery capacity usage in a predetermined time while the mobile station is in standby mode and a module for determining a standby time for the mobile station in dependence upon the battery capacity and the battery capacity usage, where the predetermined time is less than the standby time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Xin Jin, Jennifer Anne Elizabeth Mallalieu, Fiona Shearer
  • Patent number: 8421465
    Abstract: This disclosure describes methods and apparatus for indicating battery cell status on a battery pack assembly used during mechanical ventilation. Embodiments described herein seek to provide methods for indicating battery cell status on the exposed exterior of a battery assembly pack both when the battery is in use and when the battery is not in use during mechanical ventilation. Embodiments utilize power from the ventilator as well as power from the battery pack itself to light the indicators during periods of battery use and non-use, respectively. Embodiments described herein further seek to provide an apparatus indicating battery cell status on the exposed exterior of the battery pack assembly during mechanical ventilation. Embodiments described herein further seek to provide an apparatus for a battery pack assembly used during mechanical ventilation. Embodiments described herein seek to provide a system for a ventilation system with an inserted battery pack assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Danis Carter
  • Patent number: 8366895
    Abstract: A differential pH probe design uses a container having an outer surface and an inner volume, where the inner volume is divided into a first chamber and a second chamber. A first pH-sensitive area is located on the outer surface of the first chamber where the first pH-sensitive area is configured to be exposed to a sample. A second pH-sensitive area is located on the outer surface of the second chamber where the second pH-sensitive area is shielded from the sample and is exposed to a buffer solution. A first electrode is configured to detect a first voltage in the first chamber and a second electrode is configured to detect a second voltage in the second chamber. Circuitry is coupled to the first and second electrodes and configured to process the first voltage and the second voltage to determine a pH of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventors: John Robert Woodward, Leon Edward Moore, Kevin James West
  • Patent number: 8330468
    Abstract: Each time that starting of a vehicle engine is completed, a vehicle control system derives an estimated amount by which the charge in the vehicle battery is less than a predetermined upper limit value of stored charge, and subtracts the estimated amount from the difference between the upper limit value and a lower limit value of stored charge, to obtain an initial allowable discharge amount. An automatic engine stop/restart function is thereafter enabled or inhibited in accordance with whether a net amount of discharge from the battery, since completion of the preceding engine start, exceeds the initial allowable discharge amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20120299597
    Abstract: In a battery system of the invention, a BMS calculates a maximum charge rate representing a maximum value from present charge rates of plurality of secondary batteries constituting an assembled battery and a minimum charge rate. Then, the BMS generates a normal waveform signal in which the maximum charge rate is determined as a maximum peak and the minimum charge rate is determined as a minimum peak as a waveform signal which is displayed in a charge rate display range where a full charge rate in the case of a full charge state of the secondary battery is determined as an upper limit and an empty charge rate in the case of an empty charge state of the secondary battery is determined as a lower limit. Then, the BMS displays the normal waveform signal in the charge rate display range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuro Shigemizu
  • Patent number: 8279074
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for generating backup power in a wireless communications system such as a wireless communications service base station includes a communications interface, a primary power interface, a generator, rectifiers, and a battery circuit. During normal operation, the communications interface is powered from the primary power interface. During a power outage, the communications interface is powered from either the generator or the battery circuit. A battery circuit monitoring circuit detects and/or predicts loose, corroded, intermittent, high resistance, arcing, open, shorted, and/or the like connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Steve Fischer
  • Patent number: 8261109
    Abstract: A peripheral device and a method for operating a peripheral device is disclosed. The peripheral device includes one or more connection mechanisms for coupling to a computing device, a power supply, and a controller. The controller is configured to enable the peripheral device to communicate with the computing device. When the peripheral device is coupled to the computing device, the controller is configured to determine the amount of power remaining in the power supply of the peripheral device, and based at least in part on the amount of power remaining in the power supply of the peripheral device, enable the peripheral device to charge a power supply of the computing device, and enable the peripheral device to receive power from the power supply of the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Anthony Kim, Howard William Stanley