Patents by Inventor Bill C. Davis

Bill C. Davis has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Battery management system
    Patent number: 5701068
    Abstract: A battery management system for management and control of a plurality of rechargeable batteries connected in series. A programmed central processing unit communicates with a plurality of battery modules and a bulk charger. Each of the battery modules includes a rechargeable battery, a sensor node including a plurality of battery sensors and a microcontroller that processes signals generated by the battery sensors, and a direct current charger. During a charging cycle the bulk charger provides a variable bulk charging current to the rechargeable batteries connected in series and each of the rechargeable batteries receive a charging current from individual direct current chargers positioned at each rechargeable battery. During the charging cycle, the voltage and temperature of the rechargeable batteries are monitored by the programmed central processing unit by means of the sensor nodes and the bulk charging current reduced by one half when any battery voltage reaches a predetermined clamping voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Electrosource, Inc.
    Inventors: Jose T. Baer, Bill C. Davis, Richard J. Blanyer
  • Battery management system
    Patent number: 5698967
    Abstract: A battery management system for management and control of a plurality of rechargeable batteries connected in series. A programmed central processing unit communicates with a plurality of battery modules and a bulk charger. Each of the battery modules includes a rechargeable battery, a sensor node including a plurality of battery sensors and a microcontroller that processes signals generated by the battery sensors, and a direct current charger. During a charging cycle the bulk charger provides a variable bulk charging current to the rechargeable batteries connected in series and each of the rechargeable batteries receive a charging current from individual direct current chargers positioned at each rechargeable battery. During the charging cycle, the voltage and temperature of the rechargeable batteries are monitored by the programmed central processing unit by means of the sensor nodes and the bulk charging current reduced by one half when any battery voltage reaches a predetermined clamping voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Electrosource, Inc.
    Inventors: Jose T. Baer, Bill C. Davis, Richard J. Blanyer