Variable DC-link converter for ripple-free EV battery charging
This technology is a two-stage power converter designed to charge batteries across a wide range of voltages — useful when the battery's voltage changes significantly during charging, as with electric vehicles or large energy storage systems. The first stage dynamically adjusts an intermediate voltage level to track the battery's current state, while the second stage fine-tunes its output to eliminate unwanted current ripple that can degrade battery health. A purpose-built transformer design is also included to support this architecture. Together, these components allow a single charger to work efficiently across a broad voltage window without the usual performance compromises.
What you could build
A high-efficiency onboard or off-board EV battery charger module that maintains clean, ripple-free current across the full charge window; target buyers are EV OEMs, charging equipment manufacturers, and fleet electrification integrators.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia-based defense contractors, shipbuilding interests (Huntington Ingalls in Newport News), and fleet electrification programs tied to DoD installations would have direct use for wide-range battery charging systems.
Readiness: Prototype likely
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Bin Li, Zhengyang Liu, Fred C. Lee, Qiang Li
- Granted
- October 22, 2019
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 10454381
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.