Patents by Inventor Eric B. Swenson

Eric B. Swenson 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: 10587130
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for an electrical component to automatically provide a discharge of a rechargeable battery to a predetermined state of charge. The apparatus includes the electrical component determining a rechargeable battery is not connected to a device and discharging the rechargeable battery. The apparatus includes the electronic component determining whether a state of charge exceeds the predetermined state of charge in the rechargeable battery and responsive to determining that the state of charge exceeds the predetermined state of charge, continuing discharging the rechargeable battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
  • Patent number: 10566903
    Abstract: A phase-redundant voltage regulator apparatus includes groups of regulator phases, each having a multi-phase controller (MPC) connected to each regulator phase. The MPC transfers, to control logic, phase fault signals and a shared current (ISHARE) phase control signal received from the regulator phases of a phase group. Spare regulator phases include output ORing devices to limit current flow into spare regulator phase outputs. Output switching devices are configured to electrically couple spare regulator phase outputs to a common regulator output. Control logic is connected to the phase groups MPC and asserts phase enable signals to, transfers ISHARE phase control signals to, and receives phase fault signals from the spare regulator phases. The control logic electrically interconnects a spare regulator phase to a phase group including a failed regulator phase in response to receiving a phase fault signal from an MPC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lee Miller, Eric B. Swenson, Patrick Egan
  • Publication number: 20190165430
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for detecting one of multiple possible abnormal conditions associated with a flexible, pouch-type energy storage device of an electronic device. The apparatus includes a stiffener, a pressure sensor and a control component. The stiffener overlies a main surface of the storage device. The pressure sensor is disposed between the stiffener and an inner surface of the electronic device to monitor for pressure between the stiffener and the inner surface indicative of an abnormal condition associated with the storage device. The control component is coupled to the pressure sensor and detects the abnormal condition based, at least in part, on the monitored pressure exceeding a specified threshold, and performs and action based thereon. The abnormal condition may include excessive external force being applied to the energy storage device, or excessive internal swelling of the energy storage device during charging, or during use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Mark MARESH, Richard John FISHBUNE, Eric B. SWENSON, Marc H. COQ
  • Patent number: 10256509
    Abstract: A wet cell battery, where a first cell in a wet-cell battery includes a set of anode electrodes and a set of cathode electrodes, and where electrically conductive debris accumulates on a surface inside the first cell to an expected height. An anode electrode in the set of anode electrodes has an anode end closest to the surface, and a cathode electrode in the set of cathode electrodes has a cathode end closest to the surface. A first gap distance between the anode end and the surface is different from a second gap distance between the cathode end and the surface. When the electrically conductive debris accumulates up to the expected height, the debris fails to make simultaneous electrical contact with the anode electrode and the cathode electrode due to the different gap distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
  • Publication number: 20190058226
    Abstract: A wet-cell in a battery is configured with a set of i-electrodes. A collection surface inside the wet-cell is identified where electrically conductive debris accumulates to an expected height. A first i-electrode of a first polarity in the set of i-electrodes is configured to be located at substantially the expected height inside the wet-cell. A second i-electrode of a second polarity in the set of i-electrodes is configured to be located at substantially the expected height inside the wet-cell. A first indication device is installed where the first i-electrode and the second i-electrode are configured in an electrical circuit via the first indication device, wherein when the electrically conductive debris has accumulated up to the expected height, makes simultaneous electrical contact with the first i-electrode and the second i-electrode and activates the first indication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
  • Patent number: 10147982
    Abstract: A wet-cell in a battery is configured with a set of i-electrodes. A collection surface inside the wet-cell is identified where electrically conductive debris accumulates to an expected height. A first i-electrode of a first polarity in the set of i-electrodes is configured to be located at substantially the expected height inside the wet-cell. A second i-electrode of a second polarity in the set of i-electrodes is configured to be located at substantially the expected height inside the wet-cell. A first indication device is installed where the first i-electrode and the second i-electrode are configured in an electrical circuit via the first indication device, wherein when the electrically conductive debris has accumulated up to the expected height, makes simultaneous electrical contact with the first i-electrode and the second i-electrode and activates the first indication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
  • Publication number: 20180226691
    Abstract: A wet cell battery, where a first cell in a wet-cell battery includes a set of anode electrodes and a set of cathode electrodes, and where electrically conductive debris accumulates on a surface inside the first cell to an expected height. An anode electrode in the set of anode electrodes has an anode end closest to the surface, and a cathode electrode in the set of cathode electrodes has a cathode end closest to the surface. A first gap distance between the anode end and the surface is different from a second gap distance between the cathode end and the surface. When the electrically conductive debris accumulates up to the expected height, the debris fails to make simultaneous electrical contact with the anode electrode and the cathode electrode due to the different gap distances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
  • Publication number: 20180226696
    Abstract: A wet-cell in a battery is configured with a set of i-electrodes. A collection surface inside the wet-cell is identified where electrically conductive debris accumulates to an expected height. A first i-electrode of a first polarity in the set of i-electrodes is configured to be located at substantially the expected height inside the wet-cell. A second i-electrode of a second polarity in the set of i-electrodes is configured to be located at substantially the expected height inside the wet-cell. A first indication device is installed where the first i-electrode and the second i-electrode are configured in an electrical circuit via the first indication device, wherein when the electrically conductive debris has accumulated up to the expected height, makes simultaneous electrical contact with the first i-electrode and the second i-electrode and activates the first indication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
  • Patent number: 10044202
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for an electrical component to automatically provide a discharge of a rechargeable battery to a predetermined state of charge. The apparatus includes the electrical component determining a rechargeable battery is not connected to a device and discharging the rechargeable battery. The apparatus includes the electronic component determining whether a state of charge exceeds the predetermined state of charge in the rechargeable battery and responsive to determining that the state of charge exceeds the predetermined state of charge, continuing discharging the rechargeable battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
  • Publication number: 20180131203
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for an electrical component to automatically provide a discharge of a rechargeable battery to a predetermined state of charge. The apparatus includes the electrical component determining a rechargeable battery is not connected to a device and discharging the rechargeable battery. The apparatus includes the electronic component determining whether a state of charge exceeds the predetermined state of charge in the rechargeable battery and responsive to determining that the state of charge exceeds the predetermined state of charge, continuing discharging the rechargeable battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
  • Publication number: 20180131206
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for an electrical component to automatically provide a discharge of a rechargeable battery to a predetermined state of charge. The apparatus includes the electrical component determining a rechargeable battery is not connected to a device and discharging the rechargeable battery. The apparatus includes the electronic component determining whether a state of charge exceeds the predetermined state of charge in the rechargeable battery and responsive to determining that the state of charge exceeds the predetermined state of charge, continuing discharging the rechargeable battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
  • Patent number: 9735564
    Abstract: A system protects electrical equipment. The system includes a backplane including electrically communicative inputs and outputs, input and output wiring, input and output detectors and a processor. Power sources respectively connect with corresponding inputs by way of the input wiring. The input detectors are respectively disposed on the input wiring to detect an amount of power provided from each of the power sources. Each of the outputs respectively connects with a corresponding load by way of the output wiring. The output detectors are respectively disposed on the output wiring to detect an amount of power provided from each of the outputs. The processor is configured to determine a relationship between the detected amounts of power and to take an action relative to at least one of the power sources based on the determined relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
  • Patent number: 9529058
    Abstract: Low-impedance pins are electrically connected to a set of corresponding nodes of a multi-phase VRM. The multi-phase VRM is activated. A failure condition is induced in a phase of the multi-phase VRM by modifying operating parameters of the phase of the multi-phase VRM using the set of low-impedance pins. The output signal of the multi-phase VRM is monitored in response to the induced failure condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yakup Bulur, Marc Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Eric B. Swenson
  • Publication number: 20150301124
    Abstract: Low-impedance pins are electrically connected to a set of corresponding nodes of a multi-phase VRM. The multi-phase VRM is activated. A failure condition is induced in a phase of the multi-phase VRM by modifying operating parameters of the phase of the multi-phase VRM using the set of low-impedance pins. The output signal of the multi-phase VRM is monitored in response to the induced failure condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yakup Bulur, Marc Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Eric B. Swenson