To Determine Load/no-load Voltage Patents (Class 324/429)
  • Patent number: 12214694
    Abstract: There is provided a rechargeable battery evaluation device including: a charging controller configured to switch charging current of a rechargeable battery being charged with first current to second current; and a first state estimator configured to estimate a state of the rechargeable battery based on a feature of change in at least one of a voltage and a charging amount of the rechargeable battery due to switching from the charging current to the second current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamamoto, Kaoru Koiwa, Hisaaki Hatano, Kenichi Fujiwara, Kohei Maruchi, Koji Takazawa, Yoshiyuki Isozaki, Shun Egusa, Tomokazu Morita
  • Patent number: 12150746
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring a receiver assembly configured to detect an ingestible event marker signal, the receiver including a disposable component and a reusable component. The methods can include monitoring the skin impedance experienced by the electrodes of the receiver assembly to determine whether the receiver assembly has poor contact quality or is off-body to notify the user accordingly. The methods can also include monitoring a power source level of the receiver assembly, which can be normalized according to the temperature of the receiver assembly, to determine when the power source is at a critical level to notify the user accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Neraj P. Bobra, Aditya Dua, Ronny X. Li
  • Patent number: 11936226
    Abstract: A battery control device for controlling a battery includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a state of the battery, and an estimation unit configured to estimate a full charge capacity of the battery by selecting, based on the state acquired by the acquisition unit, a first estimation method for estimating the full charge capacity of the battery based on an accumulated current value obtained by accumulating a charging current of the battery obtained by performing a charging process and a second estimation method for estimating the full charge capacity of the battery based on aging deterioration data showing a deterioration state of the battery with aging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Osamu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11733299
    Abstract: A test apparatus for testing at least one switch device for a high-voltage battery of a vehicle, includes a voltage source for generating an electrical test voltage between a positive high-voltage path and a negative high-voltage path of the at least one switch device. The test apparatus has a first connecting device and a first current source for feeding a first electrical test current into the positive high-voltage path, wherein the first connecting device, the first current source and the positive high-voltage path together form a first circuit when testing the at least one switch device. The test apparatus has a second connecting device and a second current source for feeding a second electrical test current into the negative high-voltage path, wherein the second connecting device, the second current source and the negative high-voltage path together form a second circuit when testing the at least one switch device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Suljo Hajdarbasic, Florian Pritscher, Andre Ribeiro, Wladislaw Waag
  • Patent number: 11693060
    Abstract: A battery monitoring device according to an embodiment monitors a state of a secondary battery block including parallel cell blocks connected in series each of which includes battery cells connected in parallel. A calculator calculates direct-current internal resistance values of the parallel cell blocks based on a differential current between first and second current values detected by a current detector, voltages of the parallel cell blocks corresponding to the first and second current values detected by a voltage detector. A determiner performs anomaly determination for the parallel cell blocks from the direct-current internal resistance values of the parallel cell blocks and a maximum value of the direct-current internal resistance values of the parallel cell blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Yukitaka Monden, Takenori Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11656295
    Abstract: A controller generates a first command for battery array sensors to sense voltages of battery cell arrays of a traction battery, and generates a second command to sample a value of current through the traction battery at a time following the first command that is defined by durations of analog to digital conversion operations of some of the battery array sensors and an analog to digital conversion operation associated with sampling the value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, John Paul Gibeau, Baojin Wang
  • Patent number: 11614490
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of estimating a charge state for a battery cell, specifically taking into account different operational states (402, 404, 406, 408) of the battery cell. The present disclosure also relates to a battery management arrangement (200) and to a corresponding computer program product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hanna Bryngelsson, Esteban Gelso
  • Patent number: 11413965
    Abstract: The application discloses a high voltage interlock circuit and a detection method thereof. The circuit comprises: a first switching module; a second switching module, comprising a first driving unit and a first switching unit arranged in isolation, the first switching unit is arranged between a second power supply and a second power ground; a third switching module, comprising a second driving unit and a second switching unit arranged in isolation; a fourth switching module, arranged between the fourth power supply and the first power ground; a controller. The embodiments of the application improve the accuracy of fault detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Yanhui Fu, Guoxiu Wu, Baohai Du, Changjian Liu
  • Patent number: 11375330
    Abstract: A method and device for processing information are provided. The method for processing information includes: determining a current output voltage of a power supply in a terminal device; determining a target parameter of an audio processing circuit in the terminal device according to the current output voltage; and configuring the audio processing circuit for processing an audio signal according to the target parameter. With the embodiments of the present disclosure, an impact of a change of the output voltage of the power supply on output volume of a loudspeaker can be reduced, thereby improving user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jing Chen
  • Patent number: 11322925
    Abstract: An overcurrent detection device including: a current detection resistor that is connected in series to a main circuit and is configured to cause a potential difference at both ends according to a current flowing through the main circuit; a current detection circuit that includes a pair of connection portions and is configured to detect a potential difference between the pair of connection portions; a pair of voltage detection lines connecting the both ends of the current detection resistor to the pair of connection portions in the current detection circuit; and an erroneous detection prevention unit configured to prevent an increase in the potential difference between the pair of connection portions when at least any one of the pair of voltage detection lines has a connection failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventor: Masayuki Imura
  • Patent number: 11315063
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for testing batteries, comprising: a battery tester comprising: a tester scanner or camera for capturing an obtained battery identifier; a tester network hardware for transmitting the obtained battery identifier; and a server comprising: a database having data, the data comprising at least one historic battery identifier and associated historic battery characteristic and configured to compare the data with the obtained battery identifier; wherein the battery tester is configured to capture a battery identifier from a battery and transmit the battery identifier to the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Michael R. Carlo
  • Patent number: 11280842
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery management apparatus and method, which sets a degraded SOC region based on a SOC-based voltage difference between a charging voltage and a discharging voltage according to a SOC of a battery and estimates a degree of degradation of the battery based on the voltage difference in the set degraded SOC region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventors: Eun-Ju Lee, Yoon-Jung Bae, Yong-Jun Kim
  • Patent number: 11193981
    Abstract: An insulation resistance calculation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a switching unit including a first switch and a second switch that are independently controlled, a first protective resistor and a first reference resistor connected in series between a positive electrode terminal of a battery and a ground when the first switch is turned on, a second protective resistor and a second reference resistor connected in series between a negative electrode terminal of the battery and the ground when the second switch is turned on, a voltage measuring unit configured to measure a first detection voltage applied to the first reference resistor and a second detection voltage applied to the second reference resistor, and a processor configured to determine if a measurement error occurred in measured values of the first detection voltage and measured values of the second detection voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Inventors: Ji-Hoon Kim, Chang-Hyun Sung
  • Patent number: 11181585
    Abstract: A method for detecting state of health of a battery of an electronic device is provided. An initial capacity of the battery is obtained when the battery is charged or discharged with a predetermined current and in a predetermined temperature, and a first State of Charge (SOC) value is calculated when the battery is discharged to a discharge cutoff voltage. An available capacity of the battery is calculated with the predetermined current and in the predetermined temperature based on a maximum capacity of the battery, the first State of Charge value, and a second State of Charge value, and a capacity fade is obtain based on a ratio of the available capacity and the initial capacity. Thus, the state of health is detected based on the capacity fade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: DONGGUAN AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventor: Yuan Yao
  • Patent number: 11133534
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a reconfigurable battery system and method of operating the same. The reconfigurable battery system comprising a plurality of switchable battery modules, a battery supervisory circuit, and a battery pack controller, where the plurality of switchable battery modules electrically arranged in series to define a battery string defining an output voltage. The battery pack controller operably coupled to the battery supervisory circuit to selectively switch, for each of the plurality of switchable battery modules, the battery switch between the first position and the second position based at least in part on the one or more parameters of the battery and in accordance with a predetermined switching routine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Kirleis, John Merk
  • Patent number: 11038214
    Abstract: Systems and methods to manage battery cell degradation are provided. The system determines anode stoichiometry bounds in full-cell and cathode stoichiometry bounds in full-cell. The system measures a cell open circuit voltage subsequent to a rest duration. The system identifies, via a data fitting technique and the cell open circuit voltage, a change in the anode stoichiometry bounds in full-cell and a change in the cathode stoichiometry bounds in full-cell. The system determines a total cyclable lithium ion for the battery cell, an amount of anode active material and an amount of anode cathode material. The system determines a primary capacity fade mechanism for the battery cell. The system generates a battery health indicator, selects a command, and provides the command to manage power consumption from the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: SF MOTORS, INC.
    Inventors: Saeed Khaleghi Rahimian, Sangwoo Han, Ying Liu, Yifan Tang
  • Patent number: 11001153
    Abstract: A modularised charging vehicle, aiming at solving the problem of repeated development caused by the fact that an existing charging vehicle needs to configure separate charging piles for various specifications of electric automobiles. A charging vehicle comprises a main controller and at least two charging and discharging modules, wherein the charging and discharging modules comprise a charging input end, a battery pack, a DC/DC converter and a charging output end. The battery pack is connected to the charging input end and the DC/DC converter. The DC/DC converter is connected to the charging output end. The charging and discharging modules are connected in parallel to each other, and are combined into one path for inputting and are combined into one path for outputting. The controller can control the charging and discharging modules to store and release electric energy, so as to achieve an input or output function of different power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: NIO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jiong Chen, Jianxing Zhang, Xu He, Honggang Xu
  • Patent number: 10971766
    Abstract: Provided is a management device (BMS 40) for an assembled battery 30 which uses a positive electrode active material containing lithium iron phosphate and having an electrically conductive layer formed on a surface thereof, the BMS 40 being provided with: a current sensor 43 which measures a current flowing through the assembled battery 30; a voltage sensor 45 which measures a voltage of the assembled battery 30; and a management unit 42.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Nakamoto
  • Patent number: 10950900
    Abstract: A test cell station (50) for at least one electrochemical test cell (10), comprising a housing (57), at least one receptacle (51) for the contacting insertion of at least one electrochemical test cell (10) and electrical connection means (54) for the electrical connection of a test cell (10) that has been inserted into the receptacle (51), characterized in that a thermally insulated temperature chamber (20) with a controllable cooling/heating device (27) for adjusting a temperature in the temperature chamber (20) is integrated into the test cell station (50), wherein the receptacle (51) is arranged in the test cell station (50) in such a way that the corresponding receptacle space for the electrochemical test cell (10) is arranged within the temperature chamber (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: EL-CELL GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Hahn, Matthias Hahn
  • Patent number: 10889197
    Abstract: Methods for monitoring the state of charge of a battery of a motor vehicle are disclosed in which the battery current is determined at moments at which the battery charging voltage has decreased to a defined limit value. The battery current thus determined is transmitted to an evaluation unit, which generates an alarm signal if no discharge of the battery is measured by means of the determined battery current in a defined period. The limit value for the decrease of the battery charging voltage is selected such that the algorithm as a result can identify whether the state of charge of a battery lies above or below a threshold above which a certain electrical functionality of the battery can be guaranteed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Eifert, Birger Fricke
  • Patent number: 10845417
    Abstract: A battery management device includes an SOCv calculation unit that calculates a state of charge using voltage across both ends of a battery, an SOCi calculation unit calculates a state of charge by integrating currents flowing in the battery, and an SOCw calculation unit performs weighted addition of the battery's state of charges calculated by the SOCv and the SOCi calculation unit. An SOCi biased time calculation unit calculates an SOCi biased time based on one or a plurality of elapsed time from the end of a previous system operation or the end of charging or discharging during the previous system operation to the start of the current system, temperature, degree of degradation, and polarization voltage of the battery. The SOCw increases a weight of the state of charge of the battery calculated by the SOCi calculation while the elapsed time from the activation is within the SOCi biased time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: VEHICLE ENERGY JAPAN, INC.
    Inventors: Yohei Nakamura, Keiichiro Ohkawa
  • Patent number: 10847832
    Abstract: Methods and systems for predicting lithium battery properties are presented. In one embodiment, a method includes an operation for creating an equivalent circuit of a battery cell, where the equivalent circuit includes a cathode equivalent circuit and a remainder equivalent circuit. Further, parameters for the cathode equivalent circuit are calculated using Quantum Mechanical (QM) simulation. Also included in the method are operations for obtaining parameters for the remainder equivalent circuit via experimentation, and for calculating the lithium battery properties using the equivalent circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: EOCELL LTD
    Inventors: Jun Li, Deepak Srivastava, Sang Yang
  • Patent number: 10827119
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes a charge control unit that stops charging a battery with power supplied from a power supply apparatus, a voltage detecting unit that detects a voltage of the battery in a state where the charging of the battery is stopped, and a determining unit that determines whether the image capture apparatus is operable based on the detected voltage of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yumi Toyoda
  • Patent number: 10826477
    Abstract: A monitoring circuit is implemented for comparing a sampled voltage taken from a selected sampling capacitor and a reference voltage from a voltage buffer (150). The voltage buffer (150) is configurable according to programming provided to a programmable logic controller, PLC, (570). Comparisons may be made on a periodic basis, such as a time-division multiplexed basis, in connection with register settings in the PLC (570).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Bradford Lawrence Hunter, Timothy F. Murphy
  • Patent number: 10773528
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing head that prints printing data on a printing medium by electric power supplied from a battery, and a processor. The processor is operable to estimate, on the basis of first printing data indicating information on a first printing content to be printed on the printing medium and a remaining battery level of the battery, a first printing executable range which is a range in the first printing content that can be printed on the printing medium, and transmit information indicating the first printing executable range to an external terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshihisa Kawahara
  • Patent number: 10539111
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine for executing idling stop. The control device includes a threshold setting unit and an execution prohibition unit. The threshold unit sets a threshold of a charging rate of a battery and sets the threshold when the battery temperature is low smaller than that when the battery temperature is high. The threshold is used for determining whether execution of the idling stop is permitted. The execution prohibition unit prohibits execution of the idling stop when the charging rate of the battery is less than the threshold. The threshold is set by the threshold setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kohei Tochigi
  • Patent number: 10520553
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology may include methods and system for a battery. According to various embodiments, the methods and system may operate to establish continuity between the RSOC values that are computed before and after a change in the charge mode of the battery. During a constant voltage charge mode, the methods and apparatus further estimate the RSOC value according to a linear relationship between the charging current and the RSOC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 10467823
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for transmitting and receiving data are disclosed, where an apparatus for transmitting data includes a calculator configured to calculate a difference value between a reference value and a measurement data of a battery, and a transmitter configured to transmit an initial value and the difference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sun Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 10444291
    Abstract: A method determines a potential of an anode and/or a potential of a cathode in a battery cell. The method measures a current flowing through the battery cell, determines a charge transfer resistance of the battery cell, ascertains a charge transfer resistance of the anode and a charge transfer resistance of the cathode, ascertains a depth of discharge, ascertains an anode residual voltage and a cathode residual voltage from the depth of discharge from an idle voltage, ascertains an anode excess potential from the charge transfer resistance of the anode and the current and ascertains a cathode excess potential from the charge transfer resistance of the cathode and the current. The method ascertains the potential of the anode from the anode residual voltage and the anode excess potential and ascertains the potential of the cathode from the cathode residual potential and the cathode excess potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Olivier Cois, Thomas Dufaux, Andre Boehm
  • Patent number: 10446885
    Abstract: A battery charger and method is disclosed for detecting when a battery has a low state of health while simultaneously charging or maintaining the battery. A battery charger includes a processor; a non-transitory memory device; a power management device to receive an input power and to output a charging current; a pair of electrical conductors to electrically couple with a battery, and a display electrically coupled to the processor. The display being configured to indicate a bad battery indicator when the battery has a low state of health and whether the battery is good to start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Inventors: Patrick J. Clarke, John S. Whiting
  • Patent number: 10444296
    Abstract: A control device of the present invention includes: an OCV estimating unit that estimates, based on a voltage value and a current value of a controlled device, an OCV of the controlled device; a capacity calculating unit that calculates an integrated capacity of the controlled device based on the current value of the controlled device; and a control unit that controls discharging and charging of the controlled device, and calculates a full capacity of the controlled device based on: a first SOC and a second SOC at a predetermined first OCV and a predetermined second OCV during the discharging or the charging of the controlled device; a first integrated capacity and a second integrated capacity at the first OCV and the second OCV during the discharging; and a third integrated capacity and a fourth integrated capacity at the second OCV and the first OCV during the charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Miyamoto, Yuichi Imamura, Shingo Takahashi, Sho Ohtani, Hiroshi Kajitani
  • Patent number: 10444263
    Abstract: Provided is a battery monitoring system that has a high level of safety even under a state in which characteristics of a reference voltage circuit are deteriorated. The battery monitoring system has a configuration in which: a reference voltage of a first battery monitoring IC is monitored by a second battery monitoring IC; and the second battery monitoring IC outputs, when detecting that the reference voltage reaches a value falling outside a predetermined range, a signal indicating an abnormality of the reference voltage to the first battery monitoring IC, and the first battery monitoring IC stops monitoring of a battery when the signal indicating the abnormality of the reference voltage is input to the first battery monitoring IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: ABLIC INC.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Sano, Toshiyuki Koike, Atsushi Sakurai, Hiroshi Mukainakano
  • Patent number: 10401437
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement is for determining the cell voltage of an individual cell in a cell grouping of a series circuit of individual cells of an accumulator pack. Potential points are formed between electrically adjacent individual cells of the series circuit. The potentials of the potential points which follow one another in the series circuit increase in absolute value starting from a reference potential. Each potential point is connected to a measuring input of an evaluation device via a measuring resistor and a switch. In order to measure the cell voltage of an individual cell, the measuring input is connected to the reference potential via a capacitor. The evaluation device registers the charging time of the capacitor to a predefined voltage. On the basis of the registered charging time, the evaluation device determines the cell voltage of the measured individual cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Schurr, Gernot Liebhard, Christian Heigemeyr, Markus Kulzer
  • Patent number: 10340702
    Abstract: Embodiments disclose an energy generation system including a photovoltaic (PV) array having a plurality of PV modules for generating direct current (DC) power, a plurality of Opti-battery packs coupled to the PV array, where each Opti-battery pack is coupled to a respective PV module and configured to receive DC power from the respective PV module, and an inverter configured to receive DC power from the plurality of Opti-battery packs and to convert the DC power to alternating current (AC) power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventor: Sandeep Narla
  • Patent number: 10338147
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology may comprise methods and apparatus for determining a relative state of charge of battery. According to various embodiments, the methods and apparatus may operate to establish continuity between the RSOC values that are computed before and after a change in the charge mode of the battery. During a constant voltage charge mode, the methods and apparatus further estimate the RSOC value according to a linear relationship between the charging current and the RSOC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 10288694
    Abstract: A secondary battery monitoring device is equipped with a resistance circuit and a detection circuit detecting an abnormality of a secondary battery, a current generation circuit generating a failure detection circuit for setting an output terminal of the resistance circuit to a failure diagnosis voltage, and a switch which permits the failure detection circuit to flow to the output terminal of the resistance circuit by switching. Further, a method for diagnosing failure of the secondary battery monitoring device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: ABLIC INC.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Miyamoto, Nao Otsuka, Atsushi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 10203358
    Abstract: A system for determining a voltage out-of-range high condition of a battery module is provided. A microcontroller determines first, second, and third voltage values from first, second, and third voltage sensors, respectively, coupled to first, second, and third battery cells, respectively; and determines a battery module voltage value based on a fourth signal. The microcontroller sums the first, second, and third voltage values to obtain a battery module high voltage sum value. The microcontroller generates a first control signal to induce a contactor to transition to an open operational position to electrically decouple the battery module from an electrical load, if a difference between the battery module high voltage sum value and the battery module voltage value is greater than or equal to a battery module voltage out-of-range high error value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kerfegar K. Katrak
  • Patent number: 10205329
    Abstract: An intelligent charger with a diagnostic function and a charging method. The intelligent charger includes a control module, a diagnosis module, a charging module, a multi-path switch and a detection module. The control module is sequentially connected to the diagnosis module, the charging module and the multi-path switch; and the detection module is sequentially connected to an external connection terminal of a battery, the multi-path switch and the fault diagnosis module. The charging method includes a charging mode and a diagnosis mode; the diagnosis mode includes a two part function, namely fault diagnosis and lifetime detection; the fault diagnosis is detecting a fault problem which can occur in the battery and providing a prompt; and the lifetime detection is detecting the current capacity of a battery, and determining current battery life through the ratio of current capacity to rated capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignees: XUZHOU HENGYUAN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES CO., LTD, CHINA UNIVERSITY OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Gongbo Zhou, Houlian Wang, Zhencai Zhu, Zhixiang Li, Wei Li, Guohua Cao
  • Patent number: 10193360
    Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) includes a first battery set and a second battery set. The UPS includes a charging circuit to charge the battery sets using alternating current (AC) power. The UPS includes a slot receptive to insertion of different types of output modules that each include an inverter to convert direct current (DC) power from the first and second battery sets, including a first type that connects the first and second battery sets in parallel and a second type that connects the battery first and second sets in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT LP
    Inventors: Abhishek Banerjee, Hai Ngoc Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10145901
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method for the management of the electrical current supply in a motor vehicle having a combustion engine, wherein the charge state of a battery is detected and characterized as a discrete variable that indicates whether the prevailing charge state is below or above a calibrated threshold value. If the discrete variable indicates that the prevailing charge state is below the calibrated threshold value, the battery is charged using a relatively high voltage over a predetermined time period in such a manner that all cells of the battery are charged. If the discrete variable indicates that the prevailing charge state is above the calibrated threshold value, different temperature-dependent voltage set points of an electric generator in the vehicle are set in dependence upon a prevailing energy conversion efficiency level of the drivetrain that is detected and characterized as a further discrete variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Eifert
  • Patent number: 10060429
    Abstract: A conductivity sensor is provided. The sensor comprises at least one electrode being embedded in a cylindrical non-conductive body such that one end of each one of the at least one electrode is exposed to a sample volume, wherein the sensor further comprises a support body to which the cylindrical body is engagable with, which support body comprises means for attaching said support body to a frame structure in a fluid tight manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.
    Inventors: Johan Stenbeck, Fredrik Johansson
  • Patent number: 10031188
    Abstract: A system for estimating the state of health (SOH) of a battery of an electric vehicle includes a charger recognition unit, a discharge instruction unit, and an SOH estimator. The charge recognition unit generates a charge recognition signal based on a charge state of the battery. The discharge instruction unit receives the charge recognition signal when the battery reaches at least one predetermined charge voltage value, temporarily stops charging of the battery, and discharges the battery to a certain level. Discharge is performed by operating at least one function of the electric vehicle. The SOH estimator estimates the SOH of the battery based on a voltage change measured during discharging of the battery based on the at least one predetermined current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiho Lee, Jeongmin Shin
  • Patent number: 10024922
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving a selection of a first device under test. Connecting the first device under test to a load based at least on a closed high-side driver relay and a closed low-side driver relay for a first switch, from a plurality of devices under test. Closing at a first rate a high-side driver relay of a first switch based at least on the received selection. Closing at a second rate a low-side driver relay of the first switch based at least on the received selection, wherein the first rate and second rate are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: David C. Robertson, Panagiotis D. Prezas, Lee K. Walker
  • Patent number: 9956892
    Abstract: An electrically powered vehicle includes a power storage device, a motor, a limitation control unit, a notification unit, and a changing unit. The motor generates traveling driving power using electric power output from the power storage device. The limitation control unit limits possible output power, which indicates electric power able to be output from the power storage device, based on a load state of the power storage device. The notification unit notifies a warning when the possible output power is smaller than a threshold value for notifying a driver of decrease of the traveling driving power. The changing unit increases, when the load state of the power storage device is high, the threshold value to be larger than the threshold value when the load state of the power storage device is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaya Yamamoto, Jun Yasue
  • Patent number: 9897661
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products are described herein that can automatically determine the number of functional rechargeable batteries within an electronic device that includes a plurality of rechargeable batteries without having to open up the electronic device to inspect the batteries. In an embodiment, an external computing device or the electronic device itself determines a measure of impedance associated with the plurality of rechargeable batteries based on a first voltage level of the plurality of rechargeable batteries obtained during a discharging state thereof and a second voltage level of the plurality of rechargeable batteries obtained during a charging state thereof and then determines the number of operational rechargeable batteries within the plurality of rechargeable batteries based on the measure of impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: David T. Nelson, Da Hai Hu, Hamid Shayesteh-Pour
  • Patent number: 9874595
    Abstract: An insulation detecting device includes a flying capacitor that holds a charged voltage, and a measurement and calculation unit that measures the charged voltage of the flying capacitor and calculates a ground fault resistance formed between a direct-current power supply electrically insulated from a ground, and the ground, based on the measured voltage. The flying capacitor includes one or a plurality of first capacitors, one or a plurality of second capacitors connected with the first capacitor in parallel, and a parallel cancellation switch arranged between the first capacitor and the second capacitor, and which performs parallel connection, and cancellation of the parallel connection, between the first capacitor and the second capacitor. A capacitance of the flying capacitor is variably changed by turning on or turning off of the parallel cancellation switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Kawamura, Ryosuke Arigaya
  • Patent number: 9847656
    Abstract: There are provided an energy storage system and a method for driving the energy storage system, which can exactly measure discharge current by calculating measurement times of the discharge current according to the frequency of the discharge current. An energy storage system includes a battery rack, a battery management system configured to control charging and discharging of the battery rack, and a power conversion system configured to supply discharge current of the battery rack as an alternating current having a frequency to the battery management system. The battery management system is further configured to calculate measurement times of the discharge current, measure the discharge current at the calculated measurement times, and control the charging and discharging of the battery rack based on the measured discharge currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Min Ha
  • Patent number: 9753090
    Abstract: A method for determining an internal ohmic resistance of a first battery module includes measuring a first voltage intensity of the first battery module. The first battery module is connected to at least a second battery module. The at least second battery module is under a load current. A second voltage intensity of the first battery module is measured. The first battery module is disconnected from the at least second battery module to enable the measurement of the first voltage intensity and the connection of the first battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Holger Fink
  • Patent number: 9742218
    Abstract: A charging control unit is used in a system having an engine, an electric power generator, and a battery charged by electric power generated by the electric power generator and being capable of executing stop control for prohibiting the engine from restarting in a state where the engine is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei Tochigi, Koji Ito, Michihiro Miyashita
  • Patent number: RE49976
    Abstract: The present invention provides a battery clamp, comprising: a first and second wire clamps and a control device. Each of the first and second wire clamps is electrically connected to the control device. The control device comprises: a housing; a master-control board mounted within the housing; and connectors disposed at one side of the housing, and being electrically connected to the master-control board, comprising: at least a first and second electrode connectors, which are connected to an external power supply for receiving power, and at least one communication connector connected to the external power supply for building a communication connection between the battery clamp and the external power supply. The battery clamp is communicatively connected to the external power supply by the communication connector, thereby effectively solving the problems of a lithium battery in an external power supply e.g. battery bulge or explosion resulted from improper uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN CARKU TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yun Lei