Patents by Inventor Frank Fleming

Frank Fleming 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).

  • Publication number: 20190035237
    Abstract: Described herein are method and systems for detecting an unauthorized removal of a battery. The system comprising: a battery monitor circuit attached to or embedded in the battery; a remote device, wherein the remote device stores instructions that when executed on the remote device cause the remote device to perform operations comprising: receiving, at the remote device, a wireless signal from the battery monitor circuit comprising voltage and temperature data; evaluating, by the remote device, whether the battery is in its expected location by confirming for each battery, which is expected to be present, whether there has been an unexpected interruption in the wireless signal from the battery; providing an alert notification when there has been an unexpected interruption in the wireless signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Don Karner, Frank Fleming, Ulf Krohn, Christer Lindkvist
  • Publication number: 20190033383
    Abstract: A method of determining a reserve time of a monobloc includes detecting, by a voltage sensor, an end of discharge voltage of the monobloc after a deep discharge of the monobloc. The method further includes receiving, by a processor, the end of discharge voltage of the monobloc. The method further includes determining or receiving, by the processor, a duration of the deep discharge. The method further includes calculating, by the processor, a discharge reserve time of the monobloc based on the end of discharge voltage and the duration of the deep discharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Don Karner, Frank Fleming, Ulf Krohn, Christer Lindkvist
  • Publication number: 20190033385
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining a state of charge, a self-discharge rate, and a predicted amount of time remaining (tREMX) until the battery will self-discharge to a pre-determined minimum state-of-charge (SOCmin) under storage or transit conditions, in a disconnected battery. The method further discloses calculating a time to recharge the battery (ReChargeTime) from its current SOC to a desired SOC. A battery monitor circuit, embedded or attached to a battery, monitors an instantaneous internal temperature (Tx) and a voltage (Vx) of a disconnected battery to perform the analysis and provide notification, scheduling, and take other actions. In an example embodiment, the method further comprises displaying this determined battery information on the remote device without any physical connection between the remote device and the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Don Karner, Frank Fleming, Ulf Krohn, Christer Lindkvist
  • Publication number: 20190033393
    Abstract: A battery monitor circuit, systems and methods are disclosed. The battery monitor circuit may comprise a voltage sensor, a temperature sensor, a processor for receiving a monitored voltage signal from the voltage sensor, for receiving a monitored temperature signal from the temperature sensor, and for generating voltage data and temperature data based on the monitored voltage signal and the monitored temperature signal, an antenna, and a transmitter. The battery monitor circuit may be configured for wirelessly communicating the voltage data and the temperature data to a remote device, via the antenna. In an exemplary embodiment, the battery monitor circuit is configured to be located external to the battery and wired electrically to the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Don Karner, Frank Fleming, Ulf Krohn, Christer Lindkvist
  • Publication number: 20190033384
    Abstract: The system may be configured to perform operations including measuring a temperature and a voltage of a battery at various times producing data points, wherein each data point comprises the temperature and voltage of the battery and a respective time that the temperature and voltage was measured; assigning each data point to a respective cell in a matrix stored on a, wherein the matrix comprises a first axis comprising voltage ranges and a second axis comprising temperature ranges, wherein each cell is associated with a voltage range and a temperature range, wherein the voltage and temperature of each data point is within the voltage range and temperature range, respectively, of the respective cell; and/or generating a first value in a counter comprised in each cell reflecting a total number of data points assigned to the cell, such that the first value in each cell is stored in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Don Karner, Frank Fleming, Ulf Krohn, Christer Lindkvist
  • Publication number: 20190033395
    Abstract: The system may be configured to perform operations including receiving battery information, such as voltage data, temperature data, battery-specific data, and/or application-specific data; and displaying at least a portion of such data on a graphical user interface on a display screen. The operations may further include analyzing at least a portion of the battery information to monitor or determine battery health and performance, and displaying the results of such analysis on the display screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Don Karner, Frank Fleming, Ulf Krohn, Christer Lindkvist
  • Publication number: 20180248171
    Abstract: A process of preparing a continuous cast lead-based alloy strip for use in the manufacture of a battery grid of a lead-acid battery, the process comprising mechanically deforming, at a deformation temperature in a range of about 15 to about 150° C., a continuous cast lead-based alloy strip having a thickness of tcast that is in a range that is from about 0.6 to about 2 mm to reduce the thickness of the strip to a thickness of treduced that is in a range that is from about 0.4 to about 1.5 mm such that the reduction in thickness is in a range of about 10 to about 50%, wherein the lead-based alloy comprises lead and silver and is essentially free of calcium, and wherein the silver is at a concentration that is in a range of about 0.003 to about 0.015 weight percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Frank A. Fleming, Timothy W. Ellis, David R. Prengaman
  • Patent number: 9985276
    Abstract: A battery grid comprising a continuous cast and mechanically deformed lead-based alloy that comprises lead and silver and is essentially free of calcium, wherein the silver is at a concentration that is in a range of about 0.003 to about 0.015 weight percent, and has a predominant equiaxed grain structure that comprises grain sizes that are in a range of about 0.1 to about 5 microns. Other alloy constituents include bismuth at a concentration that is in a range of about 0.003 to about 0.002 weight percent and tin at a concentration that is in a range of about 0.2 to about 1.8 weight percent. A process for making strip of said alloy for use in manufacturing said grid. A battery comprising said grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignees: NORTHSTAR BATTERY COMPANY, LLC, RSR TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Frank A Fleming, Timothy W Ellis, David R Prengaman
  • Publication number: 20150125748
    Abstract: A battery grid comprising a continuous cast and mechanically deformed lead-based alloy that comprises lead and silver and is essentially free of calcium, wherein the silver is at a concentration that is in a range of about 0.003 to about 0.015 weight percent, and has a predominant equiaxed grain structure that comprises grain sizes that are in a range of about 0.1 to about 5 microns. Other alloy constituents include bismuth at a concentration that is in a range of about 0.003 to about 0.002 weight percent and tin at a concentration that is in a range of about 0.2 to about 1.8 weight percent. A process for making strip of said alloy for use in manufacturing said grid. A battery comprising said grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Frank A. Fleming, Timothy W. Ellis, David R. Prengaman
  • Patent number: 7923155
    Abstract: A lead-acid battery grid made from a lead-based alloy containing, in addition to lead, tin at a concentration that is at least about 0.500%, silver at a concentration that is greater than 0.006%, and bismuth at a concentration that is at least about 0.005%, and, if calcium is present in the lead-based alloy, the calcium is at concentration that is no greater than about 0.010%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignees: Northstar Battery Company, LLC, RSR Technologies
    Inventors: David R. Prengaman, Frank A. Fleming
  • Publication number: 20080233482
    Abstract: A lead-acid battery grid made from a lead-based alloy containing, in addition to lead, tin at a concentration that is at least about 0.500%, silver at a concentration that is greater than 0.006%, and bismuth at a concentration that is at least about 0.005%, and, if calcium is present in the lead-based alloy, the calcium is at concentration that is no greater than about 0.010%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicants: NorthStar Battery Company LLC, RSR Technologies
    Inventors: David R. Prengaman, Frank Fleming
  • Publication number: 20060275654
    Abstract: A battery pressure relief valve has a center stem that extends downwardly through and is secured to a fill tube opening of the battery to securely hold the valve to the battery. A circular top panel is provided on the upper end of the stem. The top panel extends over the fill tube opening. A cylindrical sidewall extends downwardly from the top panel periphery and around the fill tube. The cylindrical sidewall provides a resilient seal around the fill tube that seals the battery interior from the exterior environment of the battery. The sidewall flexes radially outwardly when subjected to fluid pressure from the batter interior, enabling the safe venting of the fluid pressure, and reseals around the fill tube when the pressure is relieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Inventors: John Hooke, Frank Fleming, Christopher Mauhar
  • Publication number: 20050271935
    Abstract: A valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) battery cell (2,40) has positive and negative plates (10,11,41,42) separated by separator media (12,43) and held together under pressure. The separator is adapted to support therein an electrolyte. Each plate has a first single or plurality of tabs (12,13,46) on a first side and a second single or plurality of tabs (15,16,47) on a second side of the plate, each tab being connected to a busbar (17,18,49,50) to form positive and negative busbars on each of the first and second sides of the plate. The cell may be alternatively configured in a spirally-wound arrangement or in a prismatic arrangement of flat plates. The cell may be constructed of a plurality of such positive and negative plates. A VLRA battery (1, 40) may be constructed of one or a plurality of such VLRA cells, in which case the busbars of neighboring cells are connected by welded joints. The busbars are serviced by at least plural pairs of positive and negative terminals (24,25,33,34,52,53,54,55).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Inventors: Frank Fleming, Russell Newnham
  • Publication number: 20050238955
    Abstract: The construction of an electrically conductive terminal of a lead-acid battery seals a terminal post from the acid in the battery box interior by an collar that is mounted on the exterior of the terminal and that sandwiches a seal between the collar and a plate strap of the battery in the interior of the battery box. The collar is sealed to the battery casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventors: John Hooke, Frank Fleming
  • Publication number: 20050185794
    Abstract: A secure wireless local or metropolitan area network and data communications device therefor are provided, where the device transmits plain text in an encrypted message including cipher text and an initialization vector. The device may include a seed generator for performing a one-way algorithm using a secret key, a device address, and a changing reference value for generating a seed. Further, a random initialization vector (IV) generator may be included for generating a random IV, and a key encryptor may generate a key sequence based upon the seed and the random IV. Additionally, a logic circuit may be included for generating cipher text based upon the key sequence and plain text, and a wireless communications device may be connected to the logic circuit and the random IV generator for wirelessly transmitting the encrypted message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Billhartz, Frank Fleming