Patents by Inventor Eric Frank ESTES

Eric Frank ESTES 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).

  • Multi-cell battery fault indicator
    Patent number: 11933859
    Abstract: In some examples, apparatus comprises a multiplexer (MUX) adapted to be coupled to a set of battery cells and configured to provide a voltage of a different battery cell in the set of battery cells based on a MUX control signal. Apparatus comprises a comparator coupled to the MUX and configured to compare a MUX output signal to a threshold voltage to provide a comparator output signal. Apparatus comprises a digital control circuit configured to provide the MUX control signal to the MUX, to store the comparator output signal, and to use a logic AND gate to provide an AND gate output signal based on the stored comparator output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Bradford Lawrence Hunter, Eric Frank Estes, Wallace Edward Matthews
  • MULTI-CELL BATTERY FAULT INDICATOR
    Publication number: 20230003810
    Abstract: In some examples, apparatus comprises a multiplexer (MUX) adapted to be coupled to a set of battery cells and configured to provide a voltage of a different battery cell in the set of battery cells based on a MUX control signal. Apparatus comprises a comparator coupled to the MUX and configured to compare a MUX output signal to a threshold voltage to provide a comparator output signal. Apparatus comprises a digital control circuit configured to provide the MUX control signal to the MUX, to store the comparator output signal, and to use a logic AND gate to provide an AND gate output signal based on the stored comparator output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Bradford Lawrence HUNTER, Eric Frank ESTES, Wallace Edward MATTHEWS