Patents by Inventor John D. Tompkins

John D. Tompkins 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: 8502541
    Abstract: A method of evaluating battery packs is described. The method includes measuring a cell open voltage for each battery cell group in a section of battery cells; measuring a voltage under charge, or a voltage under load, or both, at a predetermined time interval for each battery cell group in the section of battery cells; determining the magnitude of the difference between the open cell voltage and the voltage under charge, or the voltage under load, or both, for each battery cell group in the section of battery cells by subtracting the voltage under charge from the cell open voltage, or subtracting the voltage under load from the cell open voltage, or both; and determining if the magnitude of the difference between the open cell voltage and the voltage under charge, or the voltage under load, or both, for each battery cell group in the section of battery cells exceeds a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert W. Chalfant, Jason A. Lupienski, John D. Tompkins
  • Patent number: 8353970
    Abstract: A method of assembling a battery assembly includes forming battery packs, each pack including battery cells and cooling passages extending along a length of the pack, connecting terminals of each pack to a dc source and charging each pack to a desired state of charge, installing battery packs on a tray located on an automatically guided cart, using the cart to carry the battery assembly to locations where method steps are performed including performing testing for fluid leaks in a cooling circuit comprising interconnected passages of each pack on the tray and installing electric circuits in the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Wells, Stephanie L. Corker, Robert H. Dietze, Michael M. Arvaneh, Gene P. Emmerich, John D. Tompkins, Edward S. Turvene, William O. Merkle
  • Publication number: 20120105071
    Abstract: A method of evaluating battery packs is described. The method includes measuring a cell open voltage for each battery cell group in a section of battery cells; measuring a voltage under charge, or a voltage under load, or both, at a predetermined time interval for each battery cell group in the section of battery cells; determining the magnitude of the difference between the open cell voltage and the voltage under charge, or the voltage under load, or both, for each battery cell group in the section of battery cells by subtracting the voltage under charge from the cell open voltage, or subtracting the voltage under load from the cell open voltage, or both; and determining if the magnitude of the difference between the open cell voltage and the voltage under charge, or the voltage under load, or both, for each battery cell group in the section of battery cells exceeds a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert W. Chalfant, Jason A. Lupienski, John D. Tompkins
  • Publication number: 20110258845
    Abstract: A method of assembling a battery assembly includes forming battery packs, each pack including battery cells and cooling passages extending along a length of the pack, connecting terminals of each pack to a dc source and charging each pack to a desired state of charge, installing battery packs on a tray located on an automatically guided cart, using the cart to carry the battery assembly to locations where method steps are performed including performing testing for fluid leaks in a cooling circuit comprising interconnected passages of each pack on the tray and installing electric circuits in the assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Wells, Stephanie L. Corker, Robert H. Dietze, Michael M. Arvaneh, Gene P. Emmerich, John D. Tompkins, Edward S. Turvene, William O. Merkle
  • Patent number: 6950525
    Abstract: A time-based audio verification system used to verify the correct installation of an audio system in a vehicle is based on the principle that the distances between a pick-up microphone and each speaker within the vehicle are different. Sound travels at a constant rate, and the wave is measured that provides the time it takes the sound emanating from each speaker to travel to the microphone. Once it is determined where in the wave each speaker is located, the presence of each speaker in the vehicle can be determined. Additionally, the level of each speaker in the curve can be analyzed to determine individual speaker output quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Harrell, Glenn M. Thompson, John D. Tompkins
  • Publication number: 20030073408
    Abstract: A time-based audio verification system used to verify the correct installation of an audio system in a vehicle is based on the principle that the distances between a pick-up microphone and each speaker within the vehicle are different. Sound travels at a constant rate, and the wave is measured that provides the time it takes the sound emanating from each speaker to travel to the microphone. Once it is determined where in the wave each speaker is located, the presence of each speaker in the vehicle can be determined. Additionally, the level of each speaker in the curve can be analyzed to determine individual speaker output quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Michael R. Harrell, Glenn M. Thompson, John D. Tompkins