Patents by Inventor Claude Leonard Benckenstein, Jr.

Claude Leonard Benckenstein, Jr. 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: 10250043
    Abstract: A battery pack system module may include a module bypass switch for allowing charge current to bypass the battery pack system module. A charge switch and a discharge switch may be coupled with the module bypass switch. When other battery pack system modules are coupled in series with the module, balancing between modules may be achieved by allowing charge current to bypass the unbalanced modules and charge other modules. For example, when an unbalanced module is at a higher level of charge than other modules, a charge switch and a discharge switch in the unbalanced module de-activate and a module bypass switch activates to allow charge current to rapidly bring other modules into balance. The discharge switch and the charge switch allow the charging current to bypass the unbalanced module creating little or no additional heat dissipation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Southwest Electronic Energy Corporation
    Inventors: David Allen White, Claude Leonard Benckenstein, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9525301
    Abstract: A battery pack system module may include a module bypass switch for allowing charge current to bypass the battery pack system module. The module bypass switch may be activated to divert charging current from the battery pack system module to other battery pack system modules. The charging current may be diverted to bring other battery pack system modules into balance with the battery pack system module. That is, to bring the state of charge of all battery pack system modules into coarse balance. When the module bypass switch is activated, charging current through the module bypass switch may be monitored by a current sensing device such as a current sensing resistor. A microprocessor may receive information about the bypass current level and use the information to determine when to de-activate the module bypass switch. Sensing current through a module bypass switch allows more accurate and quicker inter-module balancing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST ELECTRONIC ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Allen White, Claude Leonard Benckenstein, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9395420
    Abstract: Battery cells may be monitored and a historical profile of the battery generated. The historical profile may be used to analyze a state-of-health of the battery cell. For example, the historical profile may be used to determine when a battery cell has developed an internal short that creates a safety hazard. The historical profile may include a count of the number of times the battery cell was out of balance and a count of the number of Coulombs the battery cell was out of balance. The number of Coulombs may be counted for a window of time. When the number of Coulombs exceeds a Coulomb threshold, a state-of-health flag may be set for the battery cell. The Coulomb threshold may be adjusted based, in part, on the counted number of times the battery cell is out of balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST ELECTRONIC ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Allen White, Claude Leonard Benckenstein, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20160064965
    Abstract: A battery pack system module may include a module bypass switch for allowing charge current to bypass the battery pack system module. The module bypass switch may be activated to divert charging current from the battery pack system module to other battery pack system modules. The charging current may be diverted to bring other battery pack system modules into balance with the battery pack system module. That is, to bring the state of charge of all battery pack system modules into coarse balance. When the module bypass switch is activated, charging current through the module bypass switch may be monitored by a current sensing device such as a current sensing resistor. A microprocessor may receive information about the bypass current level and use the information to determine when to de-activate the module bypass switch. Sensing current through a module bypass switch allows more accurate and quicker inter-module balancing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Applicant: SOUTHWEST ELECTRONIC ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Allen White, Claude Leonard Benckenstein, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150303535
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for spreading heat, such as generated by an internal short, around battery cells when multiple battery cells are attached together in battery pack module. A tri-layer structure may be placed between battery cells, the tri-layer structure including heat spreading materials and an insulating material. The heat-spreading materials may be graphene sheets that preferentially conduct heat along one dimension. The insulating material may be polyimide. The tri-layer structure may transfer heat along a preferred direction to a location where the heat may be safely distributed or dissipated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: David Allen White, Claude Leonard Benckenstein, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150295427
    Abstract: A battery pack system module may include a module bypass switch for allowing charge current to bypass the battery pack system module. A charge switch and a discharge switch may be coupled with the module bypass switch. When other battery pack system modules are coupled in series with the module, balancing between modules may be achieved by allowing charge current to bypass the unbalanced modules and charge other modules. For example, when an unbalanced module is at a higher level of charge than other modules, a charge switch and a discharge switch in the unbalanced module de-activate and a module bypass switch activates to allow charge current to rapidly bring other modules into balance. The discharge switch and the charge switch allow the charging current to bypass the unbalanced module creating little or no additional heat dissipation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: David Allen White, Claude Leonard Benckenstein, JR.
  • Patent number: 8922166
    Abstract: A system for balancing a plurality of battery pack system modules connected in series may include in each battery pack system module a controller configured to detect that the first system module has reached a first state of charge; activate the first charge switch to physically disconnect and to prevent further charging of the first system module after detecting the first state of charge; discharge the plurality of cells after activating the first charge switch to balance the first system module with a second system module coupled to the first system module; de-activate the first charge switch after discharging the plurality of battery cells; and charge the plurality of cells after de-activating the first charge switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Southwest Electronic Energy Corporation
    Inventors: David Allen White, Claude Leonard Benckenstein, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140368207
    Abstract: The remaining capacity of a power source, such as a battery, may be monitored with a microprocessor, such as by counting electrons flowing through the power source. The microprocessor may measure electrons passing through the battery and sleep for predetermined periods, waking up to determine an updated capacity of the battery. The remaining capacity may be communicated to remote users through a network and displayed in an executive dashboard. In one example, the updates regarding remaining capacity may be pushed to users through a graphical user interface or a web page.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Claude Leonard Benckenstein, JR., Clint Alfred Davis, Dean Perkins
  • Publication number: 20140266049
    Abstract: Failure mechanisms of a battery cell may be detected and prevented by monitoring a voltage of the battery cell, and detecting when the cell voltage falls below a voltage threshold. The length of time that the voltage remains below the voltage threshold may be monitored to detect when the length of time exceeds a time threshold. When the length of time has exceeded the time threshold, the battery pack may be disabled from further charging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Claude Leonard Benckenstein, JR., David Allen White
  • Patent number: 8825418
    Abstract: The remaining capacity of a power source, such as a battery, may be monitored with a microprocessor by integrating data received from a current sensor. The microprocessor may measure electrons passing through the battery by sampling the integrator and summing the values recorded from the integrator. Each time the integrator is sampled, the microprocessor may reset the integrator to prevent the integrator from saturating. The microprocessor may sample the integrator when the integrator approaches a predetermined value. The remaining capacity of the battery may be calculated based on calibration values and the sum of electrons measured by the integrator. The remaining capacity may be communicated to remote users through a network and displayed in an executive dashboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Southwest Electronic Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Claude Leonard Benckenstein, Jr., Clint Alfred Davis, Dean Perkins
  • Patent number: 8796993
    Abstract: Battery cells may be monitored and a historical profile of the battery generated. The historical profile may be used to analyze a state-of-health of the battery cell. For example, the historical profile may be used to determine when a battery cell has developed an internal short that creates a safety hazard. The historical profile may include a count of the number of times the battery cell was out of balance and a count of the number of Coulombs the battery cell was out of balance. The number of Coulombs may be counted for a window of time. When the number of Coulombs exceeds a Coulomb threshold, a state-of-health flag may be set for the battery cell. The Coulomb threshold may be adjusted based, in part, on the counted number of times the battery cell is out of balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Southwest Electronic Energy Corporation
    Inventors: David Allen White, Claude Leonard Benckenstein, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140167780
    Abstract: Battery cells may be monitored and a historical profile of the battery generated. The historical profile may be used to analyze a state-of-health of the battery cell. For example, the historical profile may be used to determine when a battery cell has developed an internal short that creates a safety hazard. The historical profile may include a count of the number of times the battery cell was out of balance and a count of the number of Coulombs the battery cell was out of balance. The number of Coulombs may be counted for a window of time. When the number of Coulombs exceeds a Coulomb threshold, a state-of-health flag may be set for the battery cell. The Coulomb threshold may be adjusted based, in part, on the counted number of times the battery cell is out of balance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Southwest Electronic Energy Corporation
    Inventors: David Allen White, Claude Leonard Benckenstein, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140028259
    Abstract: A system for balancing a plurality of battery pack system modules connected in series may include in each battery pack system module a controller configured to detect that the first system module has reached a first state of charge; activate the first charge switch to physically disconnect and to prevent further charging of the first system module after detecting the first state of charge; discharge the plurality of cells after activating the first charge switch to balance the first system module with a second system module coupled to the first system module; de-activate the first charge switch after discharging the plurality of battery cells; and charge the plurality of cells after de-activating the first charge switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Southwest Electronic Energy Corporation
    Inventors: David Allen White, Claude Leonard Benckenstein, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130332094
    Abstract: The remaining capacity of a power source, such as a battery, may be monitored with a microprocessor by integrating data received from a current sensor. The microprocessor may measure electrons passing through the battery by sampling the integrator and summing the values recorded from the integrator. Each time the integrator is sampled, the microprocessor may reset the integrator to prevent the integrator from saturating. The microprocessor may sample the integrator when the integrator approaches a predetermined value. The remaining capacity of the battery may be calculated based on calibration values and the sum of electrons measured by the integrator. The remaining capacity may be communicated to remote users through a network and displayed in an executive dashboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: SOUTHWEST ELECTRONIC ENERGY GROUP
    Inventors: Claude Leonard Benckenstein, JR., Clint Alfred Davis, Dean Perkins
  • Patent number: 8575894
    Abstract: A system for balancing a plurality of battery pack system modules connected in series comprising: a plurality of battery pack system modules, wherein a high charge module of the plurality of battery pack system modules has a charge greater than a that of other modules. At least one zener diode connected in series with a current limiting resistor is connected in parallel to the plurality of battery pack system modules. A power source is in communication with a disconnect circuit of at least one of the battery pack system modules. The disconnect circuit is actuated when the battery pack system module reaches a predetermined state of charge. The zener diode enables current from the power source to bypass charged battery pack system modules to charge other battery pack system modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Southwest Electronic Energy Corporation
    Inventors: David Allen White, Claude Leonard Benckenstein, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8532946
    Abstract: The remaining capacity of a power source, such as a battery, may be monitored with a microprocessor by integrating data received from a current sensor. The microprocessor may measure electrons passing through the battery by sampling the integrator and summing the values recorded from the integrator. Each time the integrator is sampled, the microprocessor may reset the integrator to prevent the integrator from saturating. The microprocessor may sample the integrator when the integrator approaches a predetermined value. The remaining capacity of the battery may be calculated based on calibration values and the sum of electrons measured by the integrator. The remaining capacity may be communicated to remote users through a network and displayed in an executive dashboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Southwest Electronic Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Claude Leonard Benckenstein, Jr., Clint Alfred Davis, Dean Perkins
  • Patent number: 8229689
    Abstract: The remaining capacity of a battery may be monitored with a microprocessor by integrating a voltage measured across a current sense resistor coupled in series with the battery. The microprocessor may measure electrons passing through the battery by sampling the integrator and summing the values recorded from the integrator. Each time the integrator is sampled, the microprocessor may reset the integrator to prevent the integrator from saturating. The remaining capacity of the battery may be calculated based on calibration values and the sum of electrons measured by the integrator. The remaining capacity may be communicating to remote users through a network and displayed in an executive dashboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Southwest Electronic Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Claude Leonard Benckenstein, Jr., Clint Alfred Davis, Dean Perkins
  • Patent number: 8055462
    Abstract: A system for counting electrons including a power supply producing a current, a fuel gauge in communication with the power supply, a reader with a reader processor and display, wherein the reader is in communication with a microprocessor of the fuel gauge, and wherein the microprocessor transmits to the reader the established standard engineering unit of capacity, and wherein the reader processor displays the established standard engineering unit of capacity on the display; and a modem in communication with the fuel gauge, wherein the modem provides a communication signal over power lines of the fuel gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Southwest Electronic Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Claude Leonard Benckenstein, Jr., Clint Alfred Davis, Dean Perkins
  • Publication number: 20110089901
    Abstract: A system for balancing a plurality of battery pack system modules connected in series comprising: a plurality of battery pack system modules, wherein a high charge module of the plurality of battery pack system modules has a charge greater than a that of other modules. At least one zener diode connected in series with a current limiting resistor is connected in parallel to the plurality of battery pack system modules. A power source is in communication with a disconnect circuit of at least one of the battery pack system modules. The disconnect circuit is actuated when the battery pack system module reaches a predetermined state of charge. The zener diode enables current from the power source to bypass charged battery pack system modules to charge other battery pack system modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: David Allen White, Claude Leonard Benckenstein, JR.
  • Patent number: 7880434
    Abstract: A system for balancing a plurality of battery pack system modules connected in series comprising: a plurality of battery pack system modules, wherein a high charge module of the plurality of battery pack system modules has a charge greater than a that of other modules. At least one zener diode connected in series with a current limiting resistor is connected in parallel to the plurality of battery pack system modules. A power source is in communication with a disconnect circuit of at least one of the battery pack system modules. The disconnect circuit is actuated when the battery pack system module reaches a predetermined state of charge. The zener diode enables current from the power source to bypass charged battery pack system modules to charge other battery pack system modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Southwest Electronic Energy Corporation
    Inventors: David Allen White, Claude Leonard Benckenstein, Jr.