To Compare Battery Voltage With A Reference Voltage Patents (Class 324/433)
  • Patent number: 11616382
    Abstract: A battery management system for a battery comprising at least one lithium sulphur battery cell. The battery management system comprising: a charging module operable to charge a lithium sulphur battery cell of the battery by delivering a pulsed charging current to the battery cell and to vary the duty cycle of the pulsed charging current so as to reduce the duty cycle of the pulsed charging current during charging of the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey PLC
    Inventor: Christopher Hale
  • Patent number: 11605956
    Abstract: A remote controlled battery cell monitoring and control system that utilizes empirical and theoretical data to compare performance, sensor data, stored patterns, historical usage, use intensity indexes over time and tracking information to provide a sophisticated data collection system for batteries. This tracking is designed to better the specifications, designs, training, preventative maintenance, and replacement and recycling of batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Global Battery Solutions LLC
    Inventors: David W Baarman, Henry W. Sybesma, Jennifer S. Sierra, Cathy L. Wiler, Ellington L. Ellis, Kristine A. Hunter, Lynne A. Sybesma
  • Patent number: 11581590
    Abstract: An apparatus for diagnosing an insulation condition between a battery pack and the ground includes a first resistor element electrically connected between a positive terminal of the battery pack and the ground, and a control circuit. The control circuit records a current flowing through the first test port as a first test current, while a high-level voltage is being applied between the positive terminal and the ground. The controller diagnoses the insulation condition between the battery pack and the ground, based on the first test current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventor: Jin-Hwee Choi
  • Patent number: 11519968
    Abstract: A measurement arrangement for determining a complex impedance of a first electrical component, wherein the measurement arrangement comprises the first component and a measuring unit, which is coupled to the first component and adapted to determine the complex impedance of the first component. The measurement arrangement comprises at least one second electrical component, which is arranged with the first component in a parallel circuit, which is hooked up in parallel with the measuring unit, wherein the parallel circuit comprises at least one switching device by which an electrical connection between the first and second component can be broken, and wherein the measurement arrangement is designed to temporarily break the electrical connection between the first component and the second component by the associated switching device in order to determine the first complex impedance of the first component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Hinterberger, Christian Endisch, Christoph Terbrack, Bernhard Liebhart
  • Patent number: 11515719
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for diagnosing a switch using voltage distribution, and more particularly, to a device and a method for diagnosing a switch using voltage distribution, which connect one or more resistors connected in series with the switch in parallel and calculate voltage applied to one resistor among one or more resistors by using the voltage distribution to diagnose a state of the switch based on the calculated voltage, in order to diagnose the state of the switch positioned on a cathode power supply line connecting a battery and a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Inventors: Tae Youn Kim, Ho Sang Jang, Lyang Wook Jo
  • Patent number: 11469453
    Abstract: An open cell detection system includes a battery management system. The battery management system includes a control unit that transmits an open cell detection signal, to enable a balance unit for a first time period and to disable it for a second time period, and to enable an under-voltage comparison unit and an over-voltage comparison unit for a third time period. The under-voltage comparison unit compares a voltage with a first open cell threshold and outputs a first comparison result in the third time period. The over-voltage comparison unit compares a voltage with a second open cell threshold and outputs a second comparison result in the third time period. A judging unit determines whether a connection between a first battery unit and the battery management system is inoperative based on the first and second comparison results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: O2Micro, Inc.
    Inventors: Yan Li, Weidong Xue
  • Patent number: 11460507
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a non-rechargeable battery of an IoT device are described. Voltage values of the non-rechargeable battery when a load is applied to the non-rechargeable battery are determined over a first interval of time. Based at least in part on these voltage values a determination of whether a voltage of the non-rechargeable battery has decreased for more than a predetermined threshold is performed. In response to determining based at least in part on the voltage values that the voltage of the non-rechargeable battery has decreased for more than the predetermined threshold, a prediction of an end of life parameter value for the non-rechargeable battery is performed, and the end of life parameter value is transmitted to an electronic device of an administrator of the IoT device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Samsara Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Russell Coates Lloyd, Lucas Glenat
  • Patent number: 11454673
    Abstract: A method of estimating a battery current limit for operation of a battery cell over the course of a specified prediction time. The method includes generating a plurality of current limit estimations by means of a plurality of current limit estimation sub-methods, wherein at least one current limit estimation sub-method generates its current limit estimation based on an RC equivalent circuit model of the battery cell, and determining the charge current limit by finding the lowest magnitude current limit estimation in the plurality of current limit estimations. At least one parameter of the RC equivalent circuit model is set based on the specified prediction time and at least one variable from the set of: a state of charge (SOC) of the battery cell, a temperature of the battery cell, a state of health (SOH) of the battery cell, a capacity of the battery cell, and a current of the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Karma Automotive LLC
    Inventors: Jing Hong, Suvrat Ramasubramanian, Ali Jokar
  • Patent number: 11453381
    Abstract: A vehicle and a method for controlling the vehicle are provided. The vehicle may include a battery; and a motor configured to generate a driving force by using the electric power charged in the battery, perform a regenerative braking, and charge the battery through the regenerative braking. The vehicle identifies destination information entered in the input during the preparation of charging at the charging station, searches for a route from the charging station to the destination based on the position information of the charging station and the position information of the destination, acquires the charging amount by regenerative braking based on the road information in the searched route and the table, and stops controlling the charging of the battery when the charging amount charged in the battery is charged by the regenerative braking during charging of the battery at the charging station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jinyong Kim
  • Patent number: 11426055
    Abstract: A monitor device for a medical visualisation system including a visualisation device having an image sensor configured to generate image data indicative of a view, the monitor device including a display; a graphical user interface; and a power unit including a rechargeable battery and a power connection to connect an external power supply, the monitor device being operable to receive the image data as the image data is being generated by the image sensor, wherein the monitor device displays within a first portion of the graphical user interface a live representation of the image data, and wherein the monitor device displays a battery indicator indicative of a remaining charge of the rechargeable battery, wherein the battery indicator indicates an expected remaining battery time if the visualisation device is not connected and a measured power consumption if the visualisation device is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: AMBU A/S
    Inventor: Line Sandahi Ubbesen
  • Patent number: 11411421
    Abstract: A control device for controlling charging of a rechargeable battery, the control device including a rechargeable dummy cell, a first circuit configured to charge the battery and the dummy cell, and a second circuit configured to measure the open circuit voltage of the dummy cell. The control device is configured to: determine the open circuit voltage of the dummy cell by using the second circuit, and determine the maximum capacity increment of the battery, which is to be charged until full charging, based on the determined open circuit voltage of the dummy cell. Also, a corresponding method of controlling charging of a rechargeable battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE
    Inventors: Keita Komiyama, Yuki Katoh
  • Patent number: 11378598
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a semiconductor integrated circuit device has a first switching element that is connected between first and second nodes, a second switching element that is connected between the first node and a third node and outputs a current that is 1/K times as much as an output current of the first switching element, and an amplifier that controls, by a signal provided by amplifying a voltage difference between the third node and a fourth node, a conduction state of a third switching element that is connected between the fourth node and a fifth node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ando, Kazuhiro Taguchi
  • Patent number: 11372052
    Abstract: A jig pressing-type pressing short-circuiting inspection method includes the steps of: pre-aging battery cells, each of which is manufactured by inserting an electrode assembly in a battery container, injecting an electrolyte into the battery container, and sealing the battery container. The method includes inserting the plurality of battery cells in an active jig; pressing the active jig; and inspecting electric current of the battery cells. The inspection method permits detection of a low-voltage defect of a battery cell in a pre-aging state, which shows a high voltage regulation per capacity, thus greatly reducing the inspection time, and enabling simultaneous inspection of a plurality of battery cells. In addition, a micro-defect occurring in a stack-folding type battery cell can be accurately detected, which is difficult to be detected by the conventional inspection method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Tae Kim, Nak Gi Sung, Joon Sup Kang
  • Patent number: 11309718
    Abstract: A battery monitoring system according to an embodiment includes a plurality of battery monitoring apparatuses provided in accordance with battery packs. Each of the battery monitoring apparatuses includes a setting unit and a communication unit. The setting unit sets a communication system to at least one of a first communication system and a second communication system having a shorter communication period than that of the first communication system, sets the communication system to the second communication system during a failure diagnosis to be performed in a start-up of the corresponding battery monitoring apparatus, and sets the communication system to the first communication system after the failure diagnosis. The communication unit communicates with another battery monitoring apparatus of the plurality of battery monitoring apparatuses by using the communication system set by the setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignees: DENSO TEN Limited, AUTOMOTIVE ENERGY SUPPLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoya Kurahashi, Kazuomi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11262409
    Abstract: A battery management apparatus, including: a sensing unit configured to measure a pack voltage value of a battery pack configured to be charged by receiving a charging current from an engine, output a starting current to turn on the engine, and output an operating current to operate electronic components, and a processor configured to: set a first voltage region by using a first current value (CV) of the charging current and an internal resistance value (IRV) of the battery pack, set a second voltage region by using a second CV of the starting current and the IRV, set a third voltage region by using a third CV of the operating current and the IRV, calculate a voltage change amount of the pack voltage value, compare the first, second, and third voltage regions with the voltage change amount, and determine whether the battery pack is charged or discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: LG Energy Solution, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Ju Hong, Dong-Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 11196098
    Abstract: A process and system for measuring internal faults in an electrochemical cell. The process for detecting an internal fault in an electrochemical cell includes measuring a voltage difference or a rate of change in voltage difference between a common terminal of a first electrochemical cell and a second electrochemical cell. The measuring is a time measurement. The first electrochemical cell or second electrochemical cell is accepted based on the measuring, or first electrochemical cell or second electrochemical cell is rejected based on the measure of the internal fault of the electrochemical cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: CAMX Power LLC
    Inventor: Christopher H. McCoy
  • Patent number: 11135933
    Abstract: A charging control method of an eco-friendly vehicle for effectively determining an amount of charge of a battery for supplying power to a driving electric motor includes acquiring charging base information, determining a charging range depending on at least one of an upper charging limit or a lower charging limit using the acquired charging base information, and determining a target amount of charge within the determined charging range, wherein the determining of the charging range includes determining the upper charging limit based on an available charging time, and determining the lower charging limit based on a predicted remaining driving distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jea Mun Lee
  • Patent number: 11101672
    Abstract: A secondary battery protection apparatus includes a plurality of secondary battery protection apparatuses. One of two adjacent secondary battery protection apparatuses includes a voltage determination unit that is not affected by a current transfer signal and configured to receive, through a single communication line, the current transfer signal that is transmitted from the other of the two adjacent battery protection apparatuses through the single communication line and an information element based on changes of a voltage value of a voltage transfer signal, and a current determination unit that is not affected by the voltage transfer signal and configured to receive, through the single communication line, the voltage transfer signal that is transmitted from the other of the two adjacent secondary battery protection apparatuses through the single communication line and an information element based on changes of the current value of the current transfer signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kohei Shibata
  • Patent number: 11088575
    Abstract: An electronic unit includes an electricity reception section that receives power transmitted using one of a magnetic field or an electric field, a secondary battery that is charged based on a received power received by the electricity reception section, and a state notification section that provides notification to outside as to a state of its own unit. A charging period during which the secondary battery is charged based on the received power and a non-charging period are set in a time-divisional manner. The state notification section notifies of the unit state based on the received power in both of the charging period and the non-charging period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi Akiyoshi, Yoichi Uramoto
  • Patent number: 11072299
    Abstract: A method for determining an electrical capacitance in an intermediate circuit of an electric drive system. The electric drive system includes at least one first electrical energy source, which feeds the intermediate circuit, a drive unit, which has an inverter and an electrical load, the inverter being electrically connected on the input side with the intermediate circuit and on the output side with the electrical load, and a DC voltage converter, which is electrically connected with the intermediate circuit and measures a voltage in the intermediate circuit by high frequency sampling. The electrical capacitance in the intermediate circuit is determined from the voltage in the intermediate circuit measured by the DC voltage converter. Also described is a motor vehicle, which includes an electric drive system for implementing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Fassnacht, Tunan Shen
  • Patent number: 11054484
    Abstract: An assembled battery monitoring system includes: a voltage monitoring apparatus; discharging resistance elements and RC filters that are correspondingly coupled between battery cells of an assembled battery and the voltage monitoring apparatus; and discharging switches disposed in the voltage monitoring apparatus correspondingly to the battery cells. The voltage monitoring apparatus has at least three connection terminals for each of the battery cells. Two of the connection terminals are used to monitor a voltage of a corresponding battery cell through an output terminal of a corresponding RC filter, and at least one of a remainder of the connection terminals is used to form a discharging path of the corresponding battery cell when a corresponding discharging switch is turned on. Each discharging resistance element is disposed on the discharging path at a position that prohibits discharging of charges stored in a capacitor of the corresponding RC filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukihiro Tomonaga, Ryotaro Miura
  • Patent number: 11046187
    Abstract: An electrically driven vehicle comprises a battery configured by connecting a plurality of cells in series; and a motor configured to transmit electric power to and from the battery. When an abnormality occurs in a cell voltage detection system configured to detect cell voltages of the respective cells of the battery, the electrically driven vehicle prohibits regenerative control of the motor. The electrically driven vehicle determines whether the battery is being charged, based on an open circuit voltage of a block that is comprised of at least two or more cells among all the cells constituting the battery. The open circuit voltage of the block is calculated from a voltage of the block and a battery current flowing in the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11043704
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for identifying a battery type (Pb, Li ion) by means of a battery testing device (1), having the steps: application of a DC pulse having a current strength (IB) of at least 30. Ampere to a battery (18) to be tested for at least five seconds; before the application of the pulse, measurement of a pre-pulse voltage (U0) of the battery; during the application of the pulse, measurement of a pulse voltage (U1) of the battery; determination of a transition voltage difference between the pre-pulse voltage and the pulse voltage; determination of a characteristic of a transition voltage difference parameter in dependence upon the transition voltage difference; assignment of a specific battery type (Pb, Li ion) to the tested battery in dependence upon the characteristic; and a battery testing device and a battery testing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Berghof Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Philipp Miska, Christopher Görls
  • Patent number: 10988047
    Abstract: A method determines a capacity of a battery cell of a high-voltage battery of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Armin Friegel, Bernhard Kreppold, Philipp Riemann, Benno Schweiger
  • Patent number: 10969437
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electronic device and a battery abnormality monitoring method and monitoring system. The battery abnormality monitoring method includes: obtaining a battery voltage of a battery of the electronic device in real time and obtaining a consumption current of the battery in real time, when the electronic device is on; determining whether a voltage jump occurs in the battery of the electronic device according to the battery voltage obtained in real time; further determining whether an abrupt change occurs in the consumption current of the battery when the voltage jump occurs in the battery; and determining that an abnormality occurs currently in the battery when the abrupt change does not occur in the consumption current of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Wei Chen, Jialiang Zhang, Shebiao Chen
  • Patent number: 10914767
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a measuring arrangement for identifying a malfunction of an energy accumulator arrangement having a first energy accumulator and at least one further energy accumulator, the first energy accumulator and the further energy accumulator being electrically connected in parallel, comprising: a measuring device configured to capture a polarity of an electrical measurement variable of the first energy accumulator and a polarity of a further electrical measurement variable in the energy accumulator arrangement; and a processor device configured to identify the malfunction of the energy accumulator arrangement by comparing the polarity of the electrical measurement variable of the first energy accumulator and the polarity of the further electrical measurement variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Daniel Neumann, Eugen Mantler
  • Patent number: 10908221
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a battery power estimating method. The method includes: performing a discharge operation of a battery; detecting, by an impedance component, a plurality of current values generated by the discharge operation of the battery during a time range, wherein the impedance component is coupled to a discharge path of the battery; obtaining a first average current value of the current values; obtaining a value distribution status of the current values; and estimating a remaining power of the battery according to the first average current value, the value distribution status and an initial power of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventor: Chin-Yi Tsai
  • Patent number: 10892630
    Abstract: A charge control device for an in-vehicle battery includes a control unit that obtains a neglect resistance increase rate as a reversible resistance component based on an SOC of the battery and a temperature of the battery when the battery is not charged/discharged, and that obtains a permissible charge current value to the battery based on the obtained neglect resistance increase rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaru Takagi, Nobuyuki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 10862326
    Abstract: A charge control device for an in-vehicle battery includes a control unit that obtains a neglect resistance increase rate as a reversible resistance component based on an SOC of the battery and a temperature of the battery when the battery is not charged/discharged, and that obtains a permissible charge current value to the battery based on the obtained neglect resistance increase rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaru Takagi, Nobuyuki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 10838473
    Abstract: A method for protecting a computer system is performed by a smart connector is described. The smart connector tests an Internet connection provided by an Internet hub. The connector reboots the Internet hub if the testing detects a problem in the Internet connection. Then, the connector tests the Internet connection after rebooting the Internet hub. If the problem persists after rebooting the Internet hub, the connector sends a hub problem notification. The components of the smart connector are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: R. Kent Koeninger
  • Patent number: 10830821
    Abstract: This application relates to methods and apparatus for predicting power and energy availability of a battery. The prediction is made based on a given amount of time, which represents a period in which the battery may be required to operate. Additionally, a learning cycle is incorporated to update a battery model of the battery with certain parameters. The battery model is updated by introducing a time-varying current to the battery and analyzing the voltage response of the battery. A model-based predictive algorithm is used in combination with the battery model to predict battery output parameters based on variables derived from the learning cycle and additional inputs supplied to the model-based predictive algorithm. After one or more iterations, or using a simplified model-based equation, the model-based predictive algorithm can provide an accurate prediction for the maximum current that the battery can supply for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yiming Lou, Soundararajan Manthiri
  • Patent number: 10797413
    Abstract: A terminal-equipped electrical wire includes an electrical wire and a terminal that is connected to the electrical wire. The terminal includes a metal cap portion in which one end portion of a tubular portion that has a tubular shape is sealed and another end portion is an opening portion. The terminal is connected to the electrical wire in a state where the cap portion is placed over an end portion of the electrical wire. An edge portion of the opening portion has an increased width in the diameter direction of the tubular portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Takahashi, Shinichi Takase, Hiroki Shimoda
  • Patent number: 10732227
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a current state of charge value (SOC0, SOC1, SOC2) of a battery of a specific battery type, wherein a field of characteristic curves is provided, which, for certain different predetermined temperature ranges (?T), specifies an internal resistance (Ri) for the specific battery type in dependence on the state of charge (SOC) for the specific battery type, a current temperature (T) of the battery is measured, a current internal resistance value (Ri0, Ri1) of the battery is determined, and, on the basis of the current temperature (T) and the current internal resistance value (Ri0, Ri1), the current state of charge value (SOC0, SOC1, SOC2) of the battery is determined by means of the field of characteristic curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Rolf Naumann, Matthias Kraus
  • Patent number: 10712392
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for battery charging and formation are disclosed herein that charge, or discharge, one or more batteries and stop charging or discharging each battery once it has reached a desired state-of-charge, as determined by comparing calculated Tafel slope to a reference Tafel slope for the battery. Computer-readable instructions and/or hardware are also provided for installation upon a previously existing battery charging system or battery discharging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Charged Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Lukas Swan, Christopher White
  • Patent number: 10698036
    Abstract: There are provided a plurality of first ADCs that respectively have voltages of a plurality of power storage cells of a power storage module as inputs. There are provided first reference voltage portions that are provided to respectively correspond to the first ADCs and supply reference voltages VRn used as a criterion for a conversion operation. A selector selects any one of the reference voltages VRn and supplies the selected reference voltage to a second ADC. A voltage value corrector corrects a voltage value of the power storage cell obtained by a voltage value acquirer on the basis of correction data obtained by using a digital signal output from the second ADC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10677853
    Abstract: A method, a battery, and a system determine an amount of degradation of the battery. The method includes providing an autoclaveable lithium battery for a medical device, receiving a charging signal from a charging device, and initiating a charging cycle to charge a cell of the battery based on the charging signal. The charging cycle includes a constant current phase and a constant voltage phase. The method also includes monitoring a current provided to the cell during at least a portion of the constant voltage phase, calculating a current taper time based on the current provided during the constant voltage phase, and determining an amount of degradation of the battery based on the current taper time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Sean Christopher Laughery, Andrew William Esper
  • Patent number: 10640224
    Abstract: A method for controlling a motor includes obtaining a present electrical parameter of a battery, calculating a compensation amount of a control signal of the motor according to the present electrical parameter, and modifying the control signal according to the compensation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Changxing Zhou, Qiu Lan, Jinyun Ni
  • Patent number: 10644360
    Abstract: A battery management system includes a circuit board having a first region provided with a voltage measuring unit, a second region provided with a controller, a relay region that is disposed at a first insulation distance from the first region and at a second insulation distance from the second region, and a third region provided with an interface connecting unit. The third region is disposed at a third insulation distance from the second region. The third insulation distance is shorter than each of the first and the second insulation distances. The battery management system further includes a first insulating device connecting between the first region and the relay region, a second insulating device connecting between the relay region and the second region, and a third insulating device connecting between the second region and the third region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Kurosaki, Takahiro Kamikawa, Etsushi Aga
  • Patent number: 10627453
    Abstract: A integrated circuit includes a plurality of first connection terminals (410) and second connection terminals (420) for receiving an input of electrical signals, a first detection section, a second detection section, a plurality of switches (432), and a switch control section (430). The first detection section is connected to first connection terminals (410) and obtains input electrical signals. The second detection section is connected to second connection terminals (420). Each switch (432) connects adjacent second connection terminals (420) among second connection terminals (420) to each other, and are connected to each other in series. Switch control section (430) controls to turn off switches (432) and allows electrical signals input to second connection terminals (420) to be input to the second detection section, and controls to turn on any switch among switches (432) to bring adjacent second connection terminals (420) into electrical continuity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Asakura, Kimihiko Furukawa, Tomoyuki Matsubara
  • Patent number: 10630098
    Abstract: A charging control device includes a charging current control unit which sets a target value (Isp) of a charging current from an external power supply to a high-voltage battery, a charging current adjusting circuit which adjusts the charging current to the Isp, a supply voltage sensor which detects a supply voltage from the external power supply to the high-voltage battery, and a supply voltage monitoring unit which detects or predicts presence or absence of a decrease in the supply voltage from a predetermined normal charging voltage using an output of the supply voltage sensor, where when the decrease is not detected or predicted, the Isp is set to a predetermined normal target value, and when the decrease is detected or predicted, the Isp is changed to be equal to or lower than the normal target value and maintained at a value at which the supply voltage reaches a determination voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoya Sakakibara, Jun Kudo
  • Patent number: 10618415
    Abstract: A charger includes a power output interface configured to output a charging signal, a signal interface configured to acquire charging information of a battery, a balance charging interface configured to perform balance charging control over sets of battery cores of the battery, and a control circuit electrically connected to the power output interface, the signal interface, and the balance charging interface. The control circuit is configured to select the signal interface and/or the balance charging interface to perform charging control over the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuancai Liu, Lei Wang, Wentao Wang
  • Patent number: 10601084
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a secondary battery, a circuit having a consumer consuming power of the battery, terminals charging or discharging the pack, a switch that, when the voltage of the battery reaches the discharge cutoff voltage, is opened to stop discharge of the battery through the terminals, and a controller performing a first discharge operation activating the circuit and causing the consumer to consume a remaining power of the battery until a voltage of the battery reaches a first threshold value, higher than the discharge cutoff voltage, and stopping, when the voltage of the battery reaches the first threshold value, the first discharge operation. The controller also performs a second discharge operation activating the circuit and causing the consumer to consume the remaining power of the battery until the voltage of the battery reaches a third threshold value, lower than the discharge cutoff voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shoichi Toya, Kazuya Ohshima
  • Patent number: 10593991
    Abstract: An electrical combination. The combination comprises a hand held power tool, a battery pack and a controller. The battery pack includes a battery pack housing connectable to and supportable by the hand held power tool, a plurality of battery cells supported by the battery pack housing, each of the plurality of battery cells having a lithium-based chemistry, being individually tapped and having an individual state of charge. A communication path is provided by a battery pack sense terminal and a power tool sense terminal. The controller is operable to monitor a state of charge of a number of battery cells less than the plurality of battery cells and to generate a signal based on the monitored state of charge of the number of battery cells less than the plurality of battery cells, the signal being operable to control the operation of the hand held power tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Todd W. Johnson, Jay J. Rosenbecker, Gary D. Meyer, Jeffrey M. Zeiler, Kevin L. Glasgow, Jonathan A. Zick, Jeffrey M. Brozek, Karl F. Scheucher
  • Patent number: 10523029
    Abstract: A power storage system according to the present technology includes: a parameter detector that detects a parameter of a secondary battery; a table storage unit that stores a table indicating a correspondence between a parameter of the secondary battery and a charging condition; and a charging control unit configured to refer to, based on the detected parameter, a corresponding charging condition from the table and make control to charge the secondary battery in this charging condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Narumi Arai, Kentaro Marutani, Kenji Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10442306
    Abstract: A battery level management system for an electric vehicle during a powered down and uncharged period is disclosed. A current output from a low voltage battery of the electric vehicle being above a threshold can be sensed to wake up a control unit associated with the low voltage battery without waking up or fully powering other control units. Upon waking up, the control unit associated with the low voltage battery can start monitoring the current output from the low voltage battery and controlling the power drawn from the low voltage battery by enabling or disabling other control units to manage the remaining low voltage battery power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: FARADAY & FUTURE INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Arnold Sufrin-Disler, Phillip John Weicker, Anil Paryani
  • Patent number: 10436853
    Abstract: A failure in any of first switches is determined based on a voltage value of a battery assembly and a predetermined threshold. The voltage value is retained in a capacitor by turning on or off the first switches and a second switch, and obtained from a voltage detector a voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daichi Hashimoto, Takashi Nakazawa, Haruhiko Sekino
  • Patent number: 10429450
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided the battery sensor for a large-scale battery system. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to the architecture and measurement scheme for a high-accuracy battery voltage sensor based on a calibration scheme. The present disclosure also related to the architecture and measurement method for a cell-level current sensor to effectively and reliably manage a battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Navitas Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaesik Lee, Junho Moon, Inseop Lee
  • Patent number: 10386417
    Abstract: An electronic battery sensor and a method for determining an internal resistance of a battery, including at least one first detector for detecting measured values, and a battery model for ascertaining the internal resistance. Each measured value includes simultaneous information concerning at least two corresponding measured variables, in particular battery current and battery voltage, and every two successive measured values represents a measuring pair. The battery sensor includes at least one selector which is configured for selecting from a specified number of measuring pairs at least one measuring pair as a selection pair, and for providing the selection pair to the battery model in order to ascertain the internal resistance, the number of measuring pairs being greater than the number of selection pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Joachim Kizler, Eberhard Schoch, Juergen Motz, Martin Holger Koenigsmann
  • Patent number: 10365313
    Abstract: A broken conductor detection method and apparatus are disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a measurement module to measure, at a node of a distribution system, a voltage value of each distribution feeder of the distribution system; a check module to check whether the measured voltage value of each distribution feeder is less than a voltage threshold used for the distribution feeder, the voltage threshold used for the distribution feeder being calculated based on a mean value of measured voltage values of other distribution feeders in the distribution system; a generating module to, upon a checking result indicating that a measured voltage value of a distribution feeder of the distribution system is less than the voltage threshold used for the distribution feeder, generate a signal indicating that the distribution feeder of the distribution system has a broken conductor; and a sending module to send the generated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Xin Dong Li, Andre Smit
  • Patent number: 10340538
    Abstract: A performance testing apparatus of a fuel cell is provided. The apparatus includes a moving body that stacks at least one unit cell and is installed to be movable along a predetermined transporting path on a frame. A pressurizing unit is mounted to the frame, presses the unit cell on the moving body moved from a beginning stage side of the transporting path, and supplies a reaction fluid to the unit cell. A terminal connection part is mounted to the pressurizing unit side the frame and connects a terminal to output a voltage of the unit cell to the unit cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: HoKyun Ju, TaeJong Kim