To Determine Plural Cell Condition Patents (Class 324/434)
  • Patent number: 11977122
    Abstract: A battery inspection apparatus capable of self-diagnosing failure is provided. The battery inspection apparatus includes a contact probe, a power supply module, a power cable for providing a path for supplying the power generated by the power supply module to the contact probe, a voltage measuring module, a measuring cable configured to measure a voltage of the contact probe by the voltage measuring module, a switching module configured to selectively connect the voltage measuring module to the power cable or the measuring cable, and a control module configured to determine whether at least one of the contact probe or the power cable is abnormal based on the voltage measurement value of the voltage measuring module according to a connection state of the switching module. A verification device capable of diagnosing failure of the battery inspection apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventors: Chan-Hee Lee, Young-Seo Kim, Chang-Sin Yeo, Sun-Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 11926235
    Abstract: A charge control device includes a controller configured to control an in-vehicle charger. The in-vehicle charger is configured to convert external power supplied from an external power source into supply power to provide the supply power to a battery and an in-vehicle device which are attached to an electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bo Zhou
  • Patent number: 11913997
    Abstract: A voltage detection apparatus includes a capacitor and first and second differential voltage detection circuits. A reference voltage supplying unit supplies a first reference voltage from a first output terminal to the first differential voltage detection circuit, and supplies a second reference voltage from a second output terminal to the second differential voltage detection circuit. A fault determining unit determines a fault in the first or second differential voltage detection circuit based on a first voltage that is inputted from a first input terminal and a second voltage that is inputted from the second input terminal. A voltage output circuit is supplied a third reference voltage from a third output terminal between the first output terminal and the second output terminal, and outputs a third voltage to a third input terminal between the first input terminal and the second input terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomomichi Mizoguchi
  • Patent number: 11912139
    Abstract: An electric powered vehicle may include a battery ECU housed in a battery pack and a vehicle ECU mounted on a vehicle body and communicably connected to the battery ECU. The vehicle ECU may be configured to transmit first and second identification data for detecting communication disruptions to the battery ECU. The battery ECU may be configured to: when the battery ECU receives both the first and the second identification data, determine that the battery ECU is communicably connected to the vehicle ECU and enable a predetermined mutual monitoring function for the vehicle ECU; and when the battery ECU receives the first identification data but does not receive the second identification data, determine that the battery ECU is communicably connected to another ECU other than the vehicle ECU and disable the mutual monitoring function for the vehicle ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yusuke Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 11906587
    Abstract: A battery characterization system includes a drive-sense circuit (DSC), memory that stores operational instructions, and processing module(s) operably coupled to the DSC and the memory. Based on a reference signal, the DSC generates a charge signal, which includes an AC (alternating current) component, and provides the charge signal to a terminal of a battery via a single line and simultaneously to senses the charge signal via the single line to detect an electrical characteristic of the battery based on a response of the battery. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the electrical characteristic of the battery. The processing module(s), based on the operational instructions, generate the reference signal to include a frequency sweep of the AC component of the charge signal (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
    Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray, Gerald Dale Morrison, Michael Frederick David Olley, Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11909233
    Abstract: A disconnection detection device includes CR filters, discharge circuits, and a detection unit. The CR filters are provided for respective battery cells of a battery pack in which the battery cells are connected in series. Each of the discharge circuits is connected between the battery cell and the CR filter and discharging the battery cell when cell voltages of the battery cells are made balanced. The detection unit successively discharges two of the battery cells connected in series, successively detects voltages of detection lines detecting contact voltages of the two battery cells after a predetermined time has passed from finish of discharge of each of the battery cells, and detects disconnection of each of the detection lines on the basis of a difference between the two detected voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Tanaka, Toyoshige Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11852670
    Abstract: Embodiments of this application relate to the monitoring field, and disclose a method for monitoring an insulation monitoring circuit and a battery management system. In some embodiments of this application, the method for monitoring an insulation monitoring circuit includes: in a state in which a first switch and a second switch are closed and a third switch is open, obtaining a first electrical signal detected by a second monitoring module; and based on the first electrical signal and a voltage reference value between a positive electrode of a battery pack and a negative electrode of the battery pack, determining whether an insulation monitoring circuit is faulty; or obtaining a second electrical signal detected by a first monitoring module and a third electrical signal detected by a third monitoring module, and based on the second electrical signal and the third electrical signal, determining whether the insulation monitoring circuit is faulty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Meng Li, Changjian Liu, Fuming Ye, Fangjie Zhou, Liansong Wang, Lidan Yan
  • Patent number: 11828814
    Abstract: A method detects electrical fault states of a plurality of energy storage cells interconnected with one another in series and/or in parallel in a removable battery pack using a first monitoring unit integrated in the removable battery pack and a multiplexer measuring apparatus, which can be controlled by the first monitoring unit to sequentially measure cell voltages of the energy storage cells. A further monitoring unit sends a command to the first monitoring unit to control the multiplexer measuring apparatus, and is provided in an electrical device, in particular a charging device, a diagnostic device or an electrical consumer, that can be electrically connected to the removable battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Friese, Christoph Klee, Marc-Alexandre Seibert, Mickael Segret
  • Patent number: 11762030
    Abstract: One example includes a battery power system that includes a plurality of battery containers. Each of the battery containers can include a plurality of battery modules that provide output power to a point-of-interconnect associated with a power grid. Each of a portion of the plurality of battery containers includes a plurality of original battery modules and at least one of a plurality of redistributed battery modules from a redistributed battery container. The redistributed battery container includes battery modules of a substantially similar state-of-health to the plurality of original battery modules of each of the portion of the plurality of battery containers. The redistributed battery container includes a plurality of newer battery modules with a substantially similar state-of-health that is greater than the state-of-health of the plurality of original battery modules and which were subsequently installed after redistribution of the plurality of redistributed battery modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: INVENTUS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Rachana Vidhi, Ryan K. McMorrow, Carlos H. N. Alves, Matthew T. Smith
  • Patent number: 11681160
    Abstract: A contact lens battery management system (BMS) monitors battery health in an electronic contact lens. A battery made with high-internal-resistance cells is coupled on a cell-by-cell basis to input switches of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC) that monitors, detects, and isolates faulty circuit components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Tectus Corporation
    Inventors: Mohammad Hekmat, Ashkan Olyaei, Michael W Wiemer
  • Patent number: 11680991
    Abstract: A voltage measurement device is a voltage measurement device including a plurality of voltage detection circuits which measure cell voltages of a plurality of cells connected in series. Each of the plurality of voltage detection circuits includes: a communication end information holding circuit which holds communication end information specifying, as at least one communication end position, at least one of the plurality of voltage detection circuits; and a communication control circuit which controls transfer for sending a communication command received from a preceding voltage detection circuit located at a preceding stage to a next voltage detection circuit located at a next stage, according to the communication end information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION JAPAN
    Inventors: Naohisa Hatani, Jiro Miyake
  • Patent number: 11676787
    Abstract: The application relates to a power switch for breaking an electrical circuit when current and/or current time span threshold values are exceeded, including an energy converter, which on the primary side is connected to the electrical circuit, and on the secondary side provides an energy supply for at least one control unit of the power switch. A choke is connected between the secondary-side output of the energy converter and the control unit of the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Andreas Krauss, Michael Stehle
  • Patent number: 11664513
    Abstract: A system for sensing a fuel cell of a vehicle may include: an analog digital converter (ADC) configured to receive a voltage of a fuel cell stack; a calculation unit configured to calculate a total number of cells of the fuel cell stack; and a control unit configured to acquire a voltage per a unit cell of the fuel cell stack based on output values of the ADC and the calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Su Hun Yang
  • Patent number: 11631980
    Abstract: A battery management system for a plurality of battery modules, the battery management system including, for each battery module among the plurality of battery modules, a respective integrated circuit configured to perform a cell balancing control function of the battery module; and a battery controller in communication with the integrated circuits, the battery controller configured to control the integrated circuits according to a cycle that includes a first mode for sequentially activating cell balancing of the battery modules during a first period and a second mode for stopping the cell balancing of the battery modules during a second period that follows the first period, the battery controller repeating the cycle after the second period, repeating the cycle including changing an order in which the cell balancing of the battery modules is activated in the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventor: Jinwoo Kim
  • Patent number: 11620946
    Abstract: A sensing circuit includes at least a first gain stage and a controller for controlling the operation of the first gain stage. The first gain stage includes an amplifier having at least one input and one output, and a feedback loop coupled between the input and the output of the amplifier. The feedback loop includes a first capacitor coupled between the input and the output of the amplifier, and a second capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the input of the amplifier through a first switch and a second terminal coupled to the output of the amplifier through a second switch. The second capacitor is configured to be coupled in parallel to the first capacitor during a first portion of a measurement cycle, and disconnected from the first capacitor during a second portion of the measurement cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hasan Akyol, Xuebei Yang
  • Patent number: 11501117
    Abstract: In order to classify a current waveform of current estimated to be supplied to the same electric instrument, even when an operation mode of an operating electric instrument is unknown, a classification computer includes: a first classification unit to perform first classification of each piece of set information by information being included in each piece of the set information being a combination of waveform information and on/off information, and representing a similarity degree of the waveform information; a second classification unit to perform second classification of each piece of the set information by information being included in each piece of the set information and representing a similarity degree of the on/off information; and a third classification unit to classify the set information by a classification result related to the first classification and the second classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeo Hidaka
  • Patent number: 11495994
    Abstract: A balancing unit is installed on a battery cell, and includes an element for measuring state parameters of the cell, a wireless communication element, making it possible to send and receive state parameters, and a wireless power transfer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Belenos Clean Power Holding AG
    Inventors: Mariano Fasano, Antoine Toth
  • Patent number: 11462845
    Abstract: A connector assembly for mounting on and making solderless electrical contact with a printed circuit board includes a plurality of stacked wafer assemblies. Each wafer assembly includes a wafer, a plurality of terminals partially embedded in the wafer where each terminal includes a connecting portion embedded in the wafer, a resiliently compressible mating portion for making solderless contact with a corresponding conductive pad of a PCB and a contact portion. The wafer is molded over the terminals. The wafer assembly also includes a plurality of wires terminated in termination regions at the contact portions of the terminals, and a shield disposed in the recess of the wafer and extending across the wafer. The connector assembly further includes a housing molded over the stacked wafers and the termination regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Kok Hoe Lee, Saujit Bandhu, Yunlong Qiao, Rao L. Vittapalli
  • Patent number: 11424493
    Abstract: In a battery system including an assembled battery having a plurality of battery cells connected in series, each of a plurality of monitoring units includes a voltage classification unit configured to classify a terminal voltage between each pair of input terminals in the monitoring unit as a cell voltage or as a zero voltage that is a terminal voltage of substantially zero. The input terminals in each of all or all but one of the monitoring units include at least one specific terminal pair for acquiring the zero voltage at a different position and/or include a different number of specific terminal pairs for acquiring the zero voltage. Each of the plurality of monitoring units further includes an identifier generation unit configured to generate an identifier based on at least one of the position of the at least one specific terminal pair and the number of specific terminal pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoto Yamashita, Masakazu Kouda, Fumihiko Hori, Shunichi Kubo
  • Patent number: 11336198
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for generating a direct current power output from an alternating current (103) in a primary wire (3), wherein the system comprises: at least one core (104) configured to be located around the primary wire (3); at least one secondary winding (22, 24) arranged around the at least one core (104), wherein each winding (22, 24), together with the at least one core (104) and the primary wire (3), forms a current transformer unit, and wherein each secondary winding (22, 24) has a first end and a second end; for each secondary winding (22, 24), a rectifier (10), wherein each rectifier (10) is configured to convert an alternating current to a direct current, and wherein each rectifier (10) comprises two AC connections for alternating current and two DC connections for direct current, wherein the first end and the second end of the secondary winding (22, 24) are connected to the AC connections of the rectifier (10); for each secondary winding (22, 24), a shunting unit arranged
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: LAKI POWER EHF.
    Inventor: Oskar H. Valtysson
  • Patent number: 11329324
    Abstract: An energy storage system has one or more energy storage units, each energy storage unit including one or more energy storage modules, and each energy storage module including a plurality of electrochemical energy storage devices connected in series. A DC switching device is provided in series with the or each energy storage unit. The DC switching device includes a semiconductor device and a rectifying unit in parallel with the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY AS
    Inventors: Sivert Eliassen, Roy Holen
  • Patent number: 11307256
    Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus includes a capacitor capable of being connected in parallel with a first battery, first switches that switch the connection state between a plurality of the first batteries and the capacitor, a detection circuit, a second switch that switches the connection state between the capacitor and the detection circuit, a changeover switch that switches the connection state between a second battery and the capacitor, a controller, and a diagnostic unit. The controller turns on the changeover switch to apply a voltage to the capacitor from the second battery, the detection circuit subsequently detects a potential difference or a discharge current, and the diagnostic unit diagnoses at least one of the capacitor, a lowermost first switch, and the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Marelli Corporation
    Inventors: Masanao Shimazaki, Yoshiyuki Kikuchi, Junya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11243256
    Abstract: A system and a method of diagnosing a state of a low-voltage battery, in which, in order to diagnose the state of a low-voltage battery (12V aux battery) provided at a low-voltage side, a daisy chain circuit unit receives a voltage from the low-voltage battery and outputs one or more result signals, and an isolator unit, which electrically insulates a high-voltage side and the low-voltage side, converts the outputted one or more result signals and provides the converted signals to a control unit, thereby diagnosing a state of the low-voltage battery at the low-voltage side by using the control unit provided at the high-voltage side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventor: In Ho Nam
  • Patent number: 11231464
    Abstract: A monitoring apparatus includes: a monitoring portion that monitors a voltage of each of battery cells connected in series, each of the battery cells having an electrode terminal; and a wiring portion that connects the monitoring portion and the electrode terminal. The wiring portion includes a first flexible substrate and a second substrate that have flexibility and are integrally linked with each other. A linking part where the first flexible substrate and the second flexible substrate are linked is bent. The first flexible substrate is connected with the electrode terminal. The second flexible substrate is connected with the monitoring portion. One of the first flexible substrate and the second flexible substrate includes an arm. Another of the first flexible substrate and the second flexible substrate other than the one including the arm includes a slit. The arm is fixed to the slit, causing the linking part to be reinforced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu Kouda, Shinsuke Kawamoto, Hayato Mizoguchi, Ryo Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 11209493
    Abstract: A method of detecting a latent fault of at least one cell among a plurality of cells in an energy storage system, and a control unit performing the method, are provided. A method of a control unit of detecting a latent fault of at least one cell among a plurality of cells in an energy storage system is also provided. The method comprises determining State of Health Cell Capacity, SoHCC, and Open Circuit Voltage, OCV, of a selected cell; wherein the selected cell is indicated to have a latent fault if a determined value of the SoHCC of the selected cell is lower than a reference value for the SoHCC and if a determined value of the OCV of the selected cell is higher than a reference value for the OCV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Leopold Werberg, Annika Tidblad Ahlberg, Nicklas Leuchovius
  • Patent number: 11205951
    Abstract: A power conversion device comprises: a DC link capacitor charged with a DC power supplied from a power supply part; a fuse part, for breaking a current which is output from or supplied to the power supply part and has a first breaking magnitude or greater; a relay part which comprises a first relay for connecting a positive terminal of the fuse part to a positive terminal of the DC link capacitor and a second relay for connecting a negative terminal of the fuse part to a negative terminal of the DC link capacitor; an initial charge part, for charging the DC link capacitor by using DC power supplied from the power supply part; and a power conversion part for converting the direct-current power supplied from the power supply part into AC power when the DC link capacitor has been charged and supplying the alternating-current power to a load terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jae-Hoon Jang
  • Patent number: 11169210
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for diagnosing a short circuit accident occurring at a negative electrode contactor of a battery pack. This apparatus diagnoses a negative electrode contactor of a battery pack, which includes a positive electrode contactor provided on a charge-discharge path connected to a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode contactor provided on a charge-discharge path connected to a negative electrode terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Inventor: Jeong-Joo Song
  • Patent number: 11163014
    Abstract: An electrical leakage determination system that determines if an electrical leakage occurs includes a capacitor having first and second ends connected to a cathode side power supply path and a grounding section and a switch disposed in an electrical path formed parallel to the capacitor. When the capacitor discharges and a predetermined period has elapsed after the controller sets an energized state between the cathode-side power supply path and the grounding section by bringing the switch to an energizing position, the controller allows the capacitor to charge by setting an energization shut down state between the cathode-side power supply path and the grounding section by bringing the switch to an energization shut down position. The controller subsequently detects a voltage value of the capacitor and determines if the electrical leakage is either present or absent based on the voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Wakimoto, Yusuke Shindo, Masakazu Kouda
  • Patent number: 11165267
    Abstract: A cell module is provided for a traction battery of a vehicle. The cell module includes a plurality of cells arranged in a series circuit and also includes at least two cell monitoring circuits for identifying a voltage applied between two poles of each cell of the plurality of cells. Each cell monitoring circuit of the two cell monitoring circuits has first and second voltage supply connections. The first voltage supply connection is coupled to a positive pole of a first cell and the second voltage supply connection is coupled to a negative pole of a second cell. The cell module further includes a switching apparatus that selectively couples the first voltage supply connection of a first cell monitoring circuit and the second voltage supply connection of a second cell monitoring circuit to a respective one of two positive poles or to one of two negative poles of different cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Inventor: Marcus Zacher
  • Patent number: 11133533
    Abstract: Provided is a differential voltage measurement device with enhanced measurement accuracy. A differential amplifying unit outputs a voltage corresponding to a difference voltage between a voltage held by the first capacitor and a voltage held by the second capacitor. The ?COM connects a battery cell to both ends of the first capacitor, and connects the cell battery to both ends of the second after the first capacitor holds the voltage across the cell battery. SW disconnects the electrical connection between the first capacitor and the negative electrode of and the negative electrode of the cell battery. ?COM, after the first capacitor holds the voltage across the cell battery, turns off the SW.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jian Wang, Hironao Fujii
  • Patent number: 11094969
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a housing, a battery cell group accommodated in the housing, a plurality of battery pack connection terminals coupled to the connection terminals of an electrical device, including a battery pack positive power terminal electrically connected to a positive pole of the battery cell group, a battery pack negative power terminal electrically connected to a negative pole of the battery cell group, a first battery pack terminal to transmit a first type of data, and a second battery pack terminal to transmit a second type of data. Also, a data transmission method between the battery pack and the electrical device enables data collection for data analysis while ensuring normal operation of the battery pack and the electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Nanjing Chervon Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dezhong Yang, Zhao Hu, Dongyue Wang, Yang Wang, Yunfeng Hu
  • Patent number: 11041911
    Abstract: In a sampling circuit, a single cell in a series battery pack is isolated from a voltage divider resistor in a bleeder circuit by using a first isolation sampling switch, so as to prevent a drain current of the single cell. In addition, sampling errors in sampling voltages collected by the sampling circuit may be offset during differential calculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Denghai Pan, Zejie Lv, Yuanzhong Wu
  • Patent number: 10991991
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery having cells and at least one controller. The controller is programmed to charge and discharge the traction battery according to a net current for the traction battery derived from sets of temperature-based current values, each of the sets corresponding to a different one of the cells, and each of the values for a given one of the sets corresponding to a different zone of the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chuan He, Szushen Peter Ho, Xu Wang
  • Patent number: 10978751
    Abstract: A battery system has a first cell balancing circuit and a second cell balancing circuit with a bus bar disposed therebetween. The battery system further includes an integrated circuit measuring a first voltage between two sense lines coupled to opposite ends of the bus bar while the first cell balancing circuit and a second cell balancing circuit are turned off, and determining a voltage value based on the first voltage. A microcontroller receives the voltage value and determines that an open circuit condition exists in the bus bar if the voltage value is greater than a threshold voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventor: Greg Bober
  • Patent number: 10948548
    Abstract: Estimating a battery state of health (SOH) is described. The state of heath is estimated by obtaining a partial charge or discharge capacity of a target battery in a state of charge (SOC) interval of each of a plurality of SOCs. First dV/dSOC data is separately calculated for each SOC in an mth preset battery capacity based on the mth preset battery capacity and the partial charge or discharge capacity in the SOC interval of each SOC. A smallest overall dV/dSOC data deviation is determined from all overall dV/dSOC data deviations corresponding to M preset battery capacities. A preset battery capacity is determined corresponding to the smallest overall dV/dSOC data deviation as a retention capacity of an aged target battery. The retention capacity of the aged target battery is divided by a retention capacity of the target battery in a new battery state, to obtain the SOH estimate of the target battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kejie Gao, Zhongxiao Liu, Jianbo Zhang, Zhe Li, Zhiwei Wu, Zuqi Liu
  • Patent number: 10921378
    Abstract: A system for monitoring battery cells of a battery includes a capacitor, a processor, and a controller. The controller is configured to connect the capacitor with a first battery cell to charge the capacitor to a voltage of the first battery cell and then (i) connect the capacitor with a second battery cell to form a circuit having an output that is a voltage difference of the capacitor and the second battery cell and (ii) connect the output to the processor for the processor to measure the voltage difference. The voltage difference is the voltage difference between the first battery cell and the second battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chingchi Chen, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, John Paul Gibeau, Kevin Vander Laan, Baojin Wang
  • Patent number: 10908225
    Abstract: Estimating a battery state of health (SOH) is described. The state of heath is estimated by obtaining a partial charge or discharge capacity of a target battery in a state of charge (SOC) interval of each of a plurality of SOCs. First dV/dSOC data is separately calculated for each SOC in an mth preset battery capacity based on the mth preset battery capacity and the partial charge or discharge capacity in the SOC interval of each SOC. A smallest overall dV/dSOC data deviation is determined from all overall dV/dSOC data deviations corresponding to M preset battery capacities. A preset battery capacity is determined corresponding to the smallest overall dV/dSOC data deviation as a retention capacity of an aged target battery. The retention capacity of the aged target battery is divided by a retention capacity of the target battery in a new battery state, to obtain the SOH estimate of the target battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kejie Gao, Zhongxiao Liu, Jianbo Zhang, Zhe Li, Zhiwei Wu, Zuqi Liu
  • Patent number: 10845423
    Abstract: A power storage member monitoring device of the present disclosure includes a circuit that designates a monitor target power storage member based on results of voltage measurement carried out more than once on each of series-connected power storage blocks, each of the power storage blocks including at least one power storage member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masashi Murasaki
  • Patent number: 10838013
    Abstract: A voltage detection unit detects voltage between both ends of a power storage unit. A current detection unit detects current flowing through the power storage unit. A control unit estimates a state of charge (SOC) of the power storage unit using an open circuit voltage (OCV) method based on the voltage detected by the voltage detection unit and estimates the SOC of the power storage unit using a current integration method based on the current detected by the current detection unit. The control unit compares the SOC estimated using the OCV method with the SOC estimated using the current integration method to determine whether micro short circuit occurs in the power storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tenmyo, Shinichi Yuasa, Tomokazu Sada
  • Patent number: 10663510
    Abstract: An insulation detecting method for the electric machine is provided. The leakage current leakage and the leakage resistance are detected and determined by the output potential waveform resulted from the inversion operation of the first switch and the second switch of the driver. Besides, the signal is amplified through the software or the amplification circuit coupled between the electric machine and the driver to detect the leakage resistance approximately to 5M?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: HIWIN MIKROSYSTEM CORP.
    Inventors: Alecksey Anuchin, Dmitry Shpak, Alexandr Zharkov
  • Patent number: 10605836
    Abstract: A voltage detection device comprises a voltage detection circuit, which is a fully-differential type and a control circuit for controlling an operation of the voltage detection circuit. The voltage detection circuit includes a switched capacitor circuit, a differential amplifier, a common mode feedback circuit for controlling a common mode level of an output voltage of the differential amplifier and a bias circuit for supplying biases to the differential amplifier and the common mode feedback circuit. The control circuit controls the voltage detection circuit to execute intermittently a detection operation for detecting the voltage. The control circuit controls the voltage detection circuit to execute a pseudo operation of an execution period, which is shorter than that of the detection operation, during a transition period from a stop state, in which no detection operation is executed, to the operation state, in which the detection operation is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazutaka Honda
  • Patent number: 10516278
    Abstract: A measurement circuit measures a first integrated amount (integrated current amount) of a current which flows from a battery to a load. The first integrated amount is an amount in a first time period in which the measurement circuit operates. A detection circuit detects the number of operations of the load. A calculation circuit calculates a second integrated amount (total integrated-current amount) of the current on the basis of the number of operations and the first integrated amount. The second integrated amount is an amount in a third time period including a second time period in which the measurement circuit stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Kenichi Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 10502696
    Abstract: The purpose is to reliably calculate a water vapor amount at a given position. A water vapor observing apparatus may include a transmitting part (which may also be referred to as a transmitter circuitry) configured to transmit a first transmission wave and a second transmission wave having different frequencies, a receiving part (which may also be referred to as a receiver circuitry) configured to receive, as reception waves, reflection waves caused by the transmission waves reflected on and returned from a ground surface portion or a water surface after passing through water vapor, and an arithmetic processor configured to calculate an amount of the water vapor in a passing area of the transmission waves based on first reception information generated from a first reception wave obtained from the first transmission wave, and second reception information generated from a second reception wave obtained from the second transmission wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Minowa
  • Patent number: 10497990
    Abstract: A lead-acid battery has a plurality of individual cells and a plurality of measurement circuits which are mounted on the respective individual cells in a manner integrated in the lead-acid battery. Each measurement circuit is designed to measure a respective individual cell voltage. A method is provided for measuring individual cell voltages of the lead-acid battery having the plurality of measurement circuits integrated in the battery and arranged on the individual cells. In the method, the respective individual cell voltages are measured using the measurement circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Stigler, Michael Hallmannsegger
  • Patent number: 10479212
    Abstract: The present invention provides a voltage acquisition circuit. The voltage acquisition circuit includes a voltage division and sampling module, a voltage to frequency conversion module, and an isolation module. The voltage to frequency conversion module is electrically coupled to the voltage division and sampling module and the isolation module. The voltage division and sampling module is configured to divide and sample a total voltage of a battery pack, and output a voltage signal to the voltage to frequency conversion module. The voltage to frequency conversion module is configured to convert the voltage signal into a first frequency signal, and output the first frequency signal to the isolation module. The isolation module is configured to electrically isolate the first frequency signal, to generate a second frequency signal. The present invention further provides an electric vehicle with the voltage acquisition circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Shenzhen Anding New Energy Technology Development Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hong Deng
  • Patent number: 10436820
    Abstract: A signal switching device and a test system are disclosed. A printed wire which is connected with a test circuit can be selected flexibly according to actual situation, and a sufficient distance between adjacent tested printed wires/test printed wires which are used for transmitting a differential signal can be maintained, such that signal interference between the printed wires would not be easily generated. Signals can be effectively separated from each other, and thus the technical problem that signal interference would easily be generated between adjacent tested printed wires/test printed wires which are used for transmitting a differential signal can be solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qingcheng Zuo, Chao Liang
  • Patent number: 10388995
    Abstract: A monitoring apparatus for an energy storage device provided at a movable body and electrically connected to a load of the movable body via a switch, includes a monitoring unit supplied with power from the energy storage device. The monitoring unit executes monitoring operation of bringing the switch from a closed state into an opened state under a condition that the energy storage device has voltage not more than a discharge voltage threshold, and bringing the switch from the opened state into the closed state under a condition that the switch is in the opened state and the energy storage device satisfies a predetermined discharge recovery condition, and decreases power consumption by extending an interval of the monitoring operation when the load is under suspension while the switch is in the opened state, in comparison to a case where the load is in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Matsubara, Takeyuki Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 10374444
    Abstract: A battery management system is provided that controls at least a stack of battery cells. The battery management system may detect stack voltage and current. Characteristics of each battery cell in the stack may be monitored. The battery management system may detect ground fault within the stack of battery cells. Communication breakdown and/or failure in the battery management system may also be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: ELITE POWER INNOVATIONS, LLC.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Worry, John Ellis Corman, Stefan Erik Janhunen, Jonathan Thomas Malton, Nathanael Dimitro Wennyk
  • Patent number: 10365333
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a transformer relay and a battery voltage measurement system using the same and the transformer relay includes: a transformer transforming voltage of a voltage measurement signal according to a wiring ratio of a first wiring and a second wiring; and a relay transferring voltage of a battery while an operation state is changed to an On state when the transformed voltage of the voltage measurement signal is input and the battery voltage measurement system using the transformer relay, includes: the transformer; and a measurement unit measuring a battery voltage value by receiving the voltage of the battery from the relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Hyeon Jin Song, Yanglim Choi
  • Patent number: 10367365
    Abstract: A method used between a portable device and a battery pack including at least one battery cell includes: transmitting information for the battery cell from the portable device to the battery pack via the connecting interface or from the battery pack to the portable device via the connecting interface; and according to the information for the battery cell, performing at least one control operation that is associated with the battery cell; wherein there is an analog communication from the battery cell of the battery pack to the portable device to provide a voltage level actually from the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Jui-Chi Wu, Chi-Ming Lee, Chih-Yuan Hsu