Smartly Turning On and Off a Vehicle Battery Charger
This patent describes a smart way to turn on and off a vehicle's battery charging system by checking the generator's power output and battery health, ensuring safe and efficient charging.
Original patent title: “Circuit control method, battery and its controller and management system, and electrical apparatus”
This patent describes a smart way to turn on and off a vehicle's battery charging system by checking the generator's power output and battery health, ensuring safe and efficient charging. Owned by Contemporary Amperex Technology Co with 15 claims and 1 forward citation, and it is expected to expire in 2043.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent outlines a method for controlling a battery's charging circuit, typically in an electrical apparatus like a vehicle, connected to a generator. First, it acquires a 'wake-up signal' from the apparatus. Then, it checks two main things: if the generator's output voltage (called 'power source terminal voltage' in claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1) is above a certain 'first threshold' and if that voltage is stable, meaning its change rate over a 'first time length' is below a 'second threshold'. If both conditions are met, it sends an instruction to close a switch, turning on the charging circuit. The method can also check additional factors like the battery's charge level (SOC), whether it has faults, and its temperature before turning on the charger (claim 2). For example, in a hybrid car, this system would ensure the generator only starts charging the main battery when its power output is stable and suitable, and the battery is ready to receive a charge.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover charging systems that rely solely on a fixed voltage level to turn on, without also checking the stability or 'change rate' of that voltage.
- Does not cover charging circuits that do not include a controllable 'first switch unit' to physically connect or disconnect the battery from the generator.
- Does not cover charging from external power sources like wall outlets or dedicated charging stations, as it specifically references a 'generator'.
- Does not cover systems that ignore critical battery health metrics, such as State of Charge (SOC) or cell temperature, when deciding to initiate or terminate charging.
- Does not cover methods for actively regulating the *rate* of charge, only the discrete action of turning the charging circuit on or off.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever part is combining multiple real-time conditions—not just the generator's voltage level, but also its stability (how fast it's changing) and the battery's internal health—to make smart decisions about when to start and stop charging. This multi-factor approach ensures more reliable and safer charging than simply detecting a voltage.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Hybrid electric vehicles
Battery electric vehicles with range extenders
Vehicles with advanced auxiliary power units
Industrial equipment with integrated generators and battery packs
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is important for extending battery life and ensuring safety in vehicles, especially electric and hybrid models. By carefully controlling when the charging circuit is active, it prevents damage from unstable power sources and ensures the battery is charged under optimal conditions. This precise control helps maintain battery health over many charge cycles, which is crucial for the longevity and performance of modern vehicles.
Filed
October 18, 2023
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. (CATL) is a global leader in battery manufacturing, and this patent reflects their ongoing efforts to improve battery management systems. Other major automotive manufacturers and battery technology companies are also continuously developing sophisticated charging control methods to enhance battery performance and lifespan in electric and hybrid vehicles.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the ongoing evolution of battery management systems, which are critical components in the rapidly expanding electric vehicle market. By offering more precise and adaptive control over charging, it helps improve the reliability and longevity of vehicle batteries, potentially reducing warranty claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → and increasing consumer confidence in EV technology. Such advancements are essential for the widespread adoption of electric transportation.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent outlines a method for controlling a battery's charging circuit, typically in an electrical apparatus like a vehicle, connected to a generator. First, it acquires a 'wake-up signal' from the apparatus. Then, it checks two main things: if the generator's output voltage (called 'power source terminal voltage' in claim 1) is above a certain 'first threshold' and if that voltage is stable, meaning its change rate over a 'first time length' is below a 'second threshold'. If both conditions are met, it sends an instruction to close a switch, turning on the charging circuit. The method can also check additional factors like the battery's charge level (SOC), whether it has faults, and its temperature before turning on the charger (claim 2). For example, in a hybrid car, this system would ensure the generator only starts charging the main battery when its power output is stable and suitable, and the battery is ready to receive a charge.
The clever bit
The clever part is combining multiple real-time conditions—not just the generator's voltage level, but also its stability (how fast it's changing) and the battery's internal health—to make smart decisions about when to start and stop charging. This multi-factor approach ensures more reliable and safer charging than simply detecting a voltage.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover charging systems that rely solely on a fixed voltage level to turn on, without also checking the stability or 'change rate' of that voltage.
- Does not cover charging circuits that do not include a controllable 'first switch unit' to physically connect or disconnect the battery from the generator.
- Does not cover charging from external power sources like wall outlets or dedicated charging stations, as it specifically references a 'generator'.
- Does not cover systems that ignore critical battery health metrics, such as State of Charge (SOC) or cell temperature, when deciding to initiate or terminate charging.
- Does not cover methods for actively regulating the *rate* of charge, only the discrete action of turning the charging circuit on or off.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
10/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$27K – $86K
Midpoint $54K · 17.1 yr remaining · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
15 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Lu, F., Huang, Z., Tian, W., Ma, H., & WANG, X. Smartly Turning On and Off a Vehicle Battery Charger (U.S. Patent No. 20,240,047,988). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20240047988/circuit-control-method-battery-and-its-controller-and-management-system-and-elec
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Smartly Turning On and Off a Vehicle Battery Charger cover?
This patent describes a smart way to turn on and off a vehicle's battery charging system by checking the generator's power output and battery health, ensuring safe and efficient charging.
Who owns patent US 20240047988?
This patent is owned by Contemporary Amperex Technology Co.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on October 18, 2043, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 20240047988 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is important for extending battery life and ensuring safety in vehicles, especially electric and hybrid models. By carefully controlling when the charging circuit is active, it prevents damage from unstable power sources and ensures the battery is charged under optimal conditions. This precise control helps maintain battery health over many charge cycles, which is crucial for the longevity and performance of modern vehicles.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover charging systems that rely solely on a fixed voltage level to turn on, without also checking the stability or 'change rate' of that voltage.
Patent monitoring