Patents by Inventor Cathal Sheehan

Cathal Sheehan 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).

  • Patent number: 11651922
    Abstract: A temperature-sensitive battery connector is disclosed. The connector can include a connector body and at least one conductor mounted to the connector body and configured to convey a current signal used to measure voltage from a battery pack or battery cell to a battery management system (BMS). The connector can include a thermal switching device mounted to the connector body and thermally coupled to a terminal of a battery pack or a battery cell. The thermal switching device can be configured to provide an overtemperature signal to the BMS by changing or interrupting a current conducted by at least one conductor when a temperature of the battery pack or battery cell exceeds a threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Bourns, Inc.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Tada, Cathal Sheehan, Brian Ahearne, Gordon Lee Bourns
  • Patent number: 11646145
    Abstract: A low-profile high minimum creepage housing for electronic components such as transformers is provided. The housing can include a body and a lid. The lid can have attachment members that secure the lid to the body, after an electronic component is installed into the body. The attachment members of the lid may also secure a wire routed along the outside of the body against the body. The lid may include protruding portions that extend into the body, thereby elongating a minimum creepage path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Bourns, Inc.
    Inventors: Cathal Sheehan, Tom Hennessy
  • Patent number: 10985552
    Abstract: Electromechanical circuit breakers are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the breakers can be integrated into battery management systems to simplify battery management circuitry and/or to provide redundancy to the battery management systems. In some embodiments, the breakers can be provided to reduce damage to the battery management systems during hot-swapping of a battery cell. The breakers can be automatically resettable or not automatically resettable in various embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Bourns, Inc.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Tada, Cathal Sheehan, Gordon Lee Bourns, Brian Ahearne
  • Publication number: 20210066016
    Abstract: A temperature-sensitive battery connector is disclosed. The connector can include a connector body and at least one conductor mounted to the connector body and configured to convey a current signal used to measure voltage from a battery pack or battery cell to a battery management system (BMS). The connector can include a thermal switching device mounted to the connector body and thermally coupled to a terminal of a battery pack or a battery cell. The thermal switching device can be configured to provide an overtemperature signal to the BMS by changing or interrupting a current conducted by at least one conductor when a temperature of the battery pack or battery cell exceeds a threshold temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Tada, Cathal Sheehan, Brian Ahearne, Gordon Lee Bourns
  • Publication number: 20200143971
    Abstract: A low-profile high minimum creepage housing for electronic components such as transformers is provided. The housing can include a body and a lid. The lid can have attachment members that secure the lid to the body, after an electronic component is installed into the body. The attachment members of the lid may also secure a wire routed along the outside of the body against the body. The lid may include protruding portions that extend into the body, thereby elongating a minimum creepage path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Cathal Sheehan, Tom Hennessy
  • Publication number: 20190393696
    Abstract: Electromechanical circuit breakers are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the breakers can be integrated into battery management systems to simplify battery management circuitry and/or to provide redundancy to the battery management systems. In some embodiments, the breakers can be provided to reduce damage to the battery management systems during hot-swapping of a battery cell. The breakers can be automatically resettable or not automatically resettable in various embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Tada, Cathal Sheehan, Gordon Lee Bourns, Brian Ahearne
  • Publication number: 20030066739
    Abstract: A controller that provides tactile feedback to an operator comprises a base having force-sensing elements disposed thereon, the base defining a sensing plane having first and second orthogonal axes therein, and a force-transmitting member orthogonally disposed with respect to the base, the force-transmitting member defining a third axis mutually orthogonal with the first and second axes. The force transmitting member moves at least along the third axis in response to an applied force, both to generate an electrically discernible indication and to provide tactile feedback to an operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventors: Roger D. Rickenbach, Cathal Sheehan, Steven Archibald, Malcolm R. Harvey, Padraig Keane, Tracy William Lay, Maurice O'Brien, Alexy Yessayan