Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090315519 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR A SECONDARY BATTERY AND VEHICLE - A control device for a secondary battery includes an offset addition unit ( | 12-24-2009 |
20100010707 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR POWER STORAGE DEVICE AND VEHICLE - An SOC calculating unit calculates a first value based on an open voltage of a battery upon startup of a vehicle (when the operation of the battery starts), and has a calculated second value stored in a storage unit upon stop of the vehicle (when the operation of the battery ends). An initial value selecting unit selects the first value as an initial value when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and selects the second value as the initial value when this condition is not satisfied. In a case where the first value has low reliability, the second value is set as the initial value even if the second value may be deviated from an actual SOC value. This can reduce a difference between the SOC value stored in advance and the actual SOC value as compared with that in a case where the first value is set as the initial value. | 01-14-2010 |
20100052617 | Degradation determination method for lithium-ion battery, control method for lithium-ion battery, degradation determination apparatus for lithium-ion battery, control apparatus for lithium-ion battery, and vehicle - A degradation state of a lithium-ion battery is determined on the basis of information about a voltage change in the lithium-ion battery obtained in a diagnosis mode in which the lithium-ion battery is successively charged and discharged at a constant power value. The constant power value in the diagnosis mode preferably may vary with the power storage amount and the temperature of the lithium-ion battery. As the information, the degree of a voltage drop in the lithium-ion battery obtained during the discharge can be used. | 03-04-2010 |
20110059341 | ELECTRIC VEHICLE - An electric vehicle is provided with a cell voltage sensor ( | 03-10-2011 |
20110213524 | HYBRID VEHICLE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING HYBRID VEHICLE - A battery ECU detects a state of charge and a temperature of a power storage unit, and transmits the state of charge and the temperature to an HV-ECU. The HV-ECU calculates the charge/discharge allowable power of the power storage unit based on the state of charge and the temperature of the power storage unit, and sets control-specific charge/discharge allowable power by correcting the charge/discharge allowable power so as to limit the charge/discharge allowable power to be changed at a predetermined first change speed. The HV-ECU then determines the power target value in accordance with the request from the driver within the range of the control-specific charge/discharge allowable power. The HV-ECU sets the control-specific charge/discharge allowable power such that, at start-up of the vehicle, the maximum value in the charge/discharge allowable power characteristics of the power storage unit is set as an initial value and the value is decreased from the initial value at the predetermined second change speed higher than the first change speed. | 09-01-2011 |
20120173179 | CHARGE STATE DETECTING DEVICE FOR BATTERY PACK AND METHOD FOR DETECTING CHARGE STATE - A total SOC of a battery pack including a collection of a plurality of battery blocks is calculated based on a plurality of block SOCs representing respective stored charge amounts in the plurality of battery blocks. In the case where a block SOC maximum value is higher than a control upper limit value, the total SOC is calculated to be higher than the control upper limit value. On the other hand, in the case where a block SOC minimum value is lower than a control lower limit value, the total SOC is calculated to be lower than the control upper limit value. Further, in the case where each of the block SOCs is in a range of not less than the control lower limit value and not more than the control upper limit value, the total SOC is determined to fall within the range of not less than the control lower limit value and not more than the control upper limit value. | 07-05-2012 |
20120215472 | NONAQUEOUS ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION TYPE LITHIUM ION SECONDARY BATTERY SYSTEM, METHOD FOR DETERMINING LITHIUM DEPOSITION IN THAT SYSTEM, AND VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH THAT SYSTEM - A battery system includes a discharge amount obtaining portion that obtains a discharge amount (determination zone discharge amount) from a determination start voltage until a predetermined determination end voltage of a battery; an internal resistance obtaining portion that obtains an internal resistance value of the battery; a correlation map in which a combination of internal resistance value information and determination zone discharge amount information for a battery that is the same kind as a target of a determination and in which lithium deposition has not occurred is stored for each degree of age-related deterioration of the battery; and a deposition determining portion that determines a degree of lithium deposition in the target battery by comparing the determination zone discharge amount during the determination of the target battery with the internal resistance value during the determination of the target battery on the same scale by converting at least one via the correlation map. | 08-23-2012 |
20130049973 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING RECHARGEABLE BATTERY - The calculation unit converts into a battery age each parameter calculated for a different factor of degradation of a battery. If at least one of the battery ages has reached an upper limit age, the determination unit determines that it is necessary to conduct a battery diagnosis. Once it has been determined that it is necessary to conduct the battery diagnosis, the display control unit causes a display device to display a diagnosis request message. After displaying the diagnosis request message has started if there is no result of the battery diagnosis received the electric power limiter unit limits electric power charged to and discharged from the battery. After the electric power charged to/discharged from the battery is limited if there is no result of the battery diagnosis received the start-up prohibition unit prohibits starting a system driving the vehicle. | 02-28-2013 |
20130132011 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING RECHARGEABLE BATTERY, AND VEHICLE - A diagnostic device diagnoses a lithium ion battery including a plurality of battery blocks. If a condition is established for starting a diagnosis, the diagnostic device starts discharging the battery, and after each battery block has a voltage decreased to a measurement starting voltage until the block has the voltage decreased to a measurement ending voltage the block discharges an amount of power, which the diagnostic device calculates for the battery block. If all blocks each discharge power in an amount larger than a brand-new product threshold value the diagnostic device determines that the battery is in a brand new condition. If all blocks each discharge power in an amount larger than a uselessness threshold value the diagnostic device determines that the battery is useful. If at least one block discharges power in an amount smaller than the uselessness threshold value the diagnostic device determines that the battery is useless. | 05-23-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080226349 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND DEVELOPMENT DEVICE - An image forming apparatus includes a development device for supplying a developer containing toner and carrier to an electrostatic latent image carrying member for carrying thereon an electrostatic latent image, or a process cartridge for integrally storing the development device and the electrostatic latent image carrying member. The development device includes a conveyance path for charging and conveying the developer, and a developer carrying member for developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image with the use of the developer conveyed through the conveyance path. The conveyance path includes a first conveyance member for receiving replenished toner and generating conveyance force for conveying the replenished toner and the developer in one direction, and a second conveyance member for generating conveyance force for conveying a portion of the developer conveyed by the first conveyance member in the opposite direction to the conveyance direction of the first conveyance member. | 09-18-2008 |
20080298844 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A developing device including a developing unit configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image bearing member with a developer comprising a toner and a carrier, and a circulation unit configured to collect the developer from the developing unit and return the developer to the developing unit. The circulation unit includes a container including a main body having an inverted cone shape, a supply opening provided in a top thereof, and a discharge opening provided in a bottom thereof, configured to hold a part of the developer and provided on an upstream side from the developing unit relative to a direction of circulation of the developer. The container includes a plurality of agitation members configured to agitate the developer collected from the developing unit and fresh toner so that a plurality of flows of the developer is produced in the container. | 12-04-2008 |
20080298845 | DEVELOPMENT DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The development device includes a development member and a circulation member. The development member develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrier with a developer including toner and a carrier to make the electrostatic latent image visible. The circulation member receives the developer discharged from the development member and conveys the developer back to the development member. The circulation member includes a container provided upstream from the development member in a conveyance direction of the developer to store the developer. The container includes an agitator provided inside the container and agitates and mixes the developer and fresh toner supplied to the container. The agitator includes a rotatable agitation member in which one or more holes are formed through which the developer passes to mix the fresh toner and the developer to be agitated in the container. | 12-04-2008 |
20090028611 | DEVELOPING SYSTEM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A developing system includes a developing unit, a mixing container, a rotary feeder, an air pump, and an airflow regulator. The developing unit is configured to convert a latent image into visible form using a developer. The mixing container is separated from the developing unit and is configured to hold and mix part of the developer after use. The rotary feeder is configured to dispense the developer from the mixing container to a delivery path. The air pump is configured to supply compressed air to deliver the dispensed developer to the developing unit through the delivery path. The airflow regulator is located where the rotary feeder connects to the delivery path, and is configured to prevent the compressed air from flowing toward the rotary feeder from the delivery path. | 01-29-2009 |
20090123174 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus and method for developing a latent image on an image bearing member includes the image bearing member, an air flow generator, and an air intake device. The image bearing member is configured to bear the latent image on the surface thereof. The airflow generator is configured to generate airflow to transport a developer. The air intake device is configured to connect outside the image forming apparatus with the airflow generator to draw air from outside the image forming apparatus to supply the air to the airflow generator. | 05-14-2009 |
20100124443 | DEVELOPMENT DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A development device includes a development portion to develop a latent image formed on a latent image carrying member with developer including toner and carrier particles, a circulation unit to convey the developer collected from the development portion to a supplying unit in the development portion, the circulation unit including a container to store the developer, disposed upstream from the development portion in a direction in which the developer is circulated, and a first agitator provided inside the container, to agitate and mix the collected developer and fresh toner supplied to the container, the first agitator formed by multiple linear members. | 05-20-2010 |
20100143000 | DEVELOPMENT DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A development device includes a development mechanism, an agitation unit connected to the development mechanism, to agitate and mix together the developer collected from the development mechanism and fresh toner, and a transport member to transport the agitated developer from the agitation unit to the development portion. The development mechanism includes a developer carrier to carry the developer, multiple supply ports disposed at different positions in an axial direction of the developer carrier, through which the agitated developer is supplied to the development mechanism, a discharge port, a developer supply member to supply the developer to the developer carrier while transporting the developer in the direction parallel to the axial direction of the developer carrier, and a developer collection member to collect the developer from the developer carrier. | 06-10-2010 |
20110268478 | DEVELOPMENT DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The development device includes a development member and a circulation member. The development member develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrier with a developer including toner and a carrier to make the electrostatic latent image visible. The circulation member receives the developer discharged from the development member and conveys the developer back to the development member. The circulation member includes a container provided upstream from the development member in a conveyance direction of the developer to store the developer. The container includes an agitator provided inside the container and agitates and mixes the developer and fresh toner supplied to the container. The agitator includes a rotatable agitation member in which one or more holes are formed through which the developer passes to mix the fresh toner and the developer to be agitated in the container. | 11-03-2011 |
20120213555 | POWDER CONTAINER, POWDER SUPPLY DEVICE AND IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS - A powder container which is mounted on an image-forming apparatus body, and houses a powder includes a container body configured to carry the powder housed inside thereof from a first end side to a second end side by rotating, and discharge the powder outside from the second end side, a gear formed in an outer circumference of the container body, and a cover which is mounted on the gear to cover at least a tooth section of the gear. | 08-23-2012 |
20130272750 | POWDER CONTAINER, POWDER SUPPLY DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is a powder container having a new structure capable of stable discharge and transport of a powder contained in a container by enabling the powder to be reliably discharged to the outside of the package while preventing the powder from spilling and flying out of the container. The powder container has a container body ( | 10-17-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090046277 | REFRACTOMETER - Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a refractometer including: a housing having an immersion portion, the immersion portion having an opening; a light source for emitting a light; a light sensor for converting a received light into an electrical signal; a prism including faces, including: a first face proximal to the light source and the light sensor; a second face, at least a portion of the second face configured for contacting a sample liquid through the opening, and for forming an interface between the second face and the sample liquid; and a third face, wherein the light travels by: being directed towards the second face; being reflected at least in part by the interface towards the third face; and being reflected at least in part by the third face towards the light sensor. In an embodiment, the refractometer further includes a control portion for receiving the electrical signal, and for determining a refractive index of the sample liquid based at least in part on the electrical signal. In an embodiment, the control portion determines the refractive index in at least one of: a batch mode for detecting the electrical signal once; and a sequential mode for detecting the electrical signal at least twice. In an embodiment, the refractometer further includes a substrate at least partially positioned within the housing, the substrate supporting the light source and the light sensor. In an embodiment, the refractometer further includes a display portion connected to the control portion for displaying a representation of the refractive index. | 02-19-2009 |
20140285367 | CURRENT COMPENSATION CIRCUIT - A first circuit operates in synchronization with a first clock having a first frequency, and generates N parallel data sets for every cycle period of the first clock. An interface circuit time-division multiplexes the N data sets received from the first circuit. A second circuit processes the N data set thus time-division multiplexed, in synchronization with a second clock having a second frequency which is N times the first frequency. A judgment unit judges whether or not the N data sets are effective data which instructs a flip-flop group, configured as a state holding element included in the second circuit, to generate an effective state transition. In a cycle period in which the N data sets are ineffective, a data replacement unit replaces at least a part of the N data sets with current compensation data D | 09-25-2014 |