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).
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Patent number: 10587130Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 4, 2016Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
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Patent number: 10566903Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 26, 2019Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael Lee Miller, Eric B. Swenson, Patrick Egan
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Publication number: 20190165430Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2017Publication date: May 30, 2019Inventors: Mark MARESH, Richard John FISHBUNE, Eric B. SWENSON, Marc H. COQ
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Patent number: 10256509Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 7, 2017Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
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Publication number: 20190058226Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2018Publication date: February 21, 2019Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
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Patent number: 10147982Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 7, 2017Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
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Publication number: 20180226691Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2017Publication date: August 9, 2018Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
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Publication number: 20180226696Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2017Publication date: August 9, 2018Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
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Patent number: 10044202Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 29, 2017Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
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Publication number: 20180131203Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2016Publication date: May 10, 2018Inventors: Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
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Publication number: 20180131206Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2017Publication date: May 10, 2018Inventors: Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
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Patent number: 9735564Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 28, 2016Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark E. Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
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Patent number: 9529058Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 18, 2014Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Yakup Bulur, Marc Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Eric B. Swenson
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Publication number: 20150301124Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2014Publication date: October 22, 2015Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Yakup Bulur, Marc Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Eric B. Swenson