Patents by Inventor Philip C. Hopkins

Philip C. Hopkins 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).

  • Multiple energy storage device controller
    Patent number: 6639383
    Abstract: A system for controlling multiple energy storage devices in an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system is provided. In one embodiment of the invention, the system generally includes a charger coupled to a direct current (DC) bus of the UPS system, and two or more energy storage circuits, each of which includes a power regulator coupled to the charger and coupled to the DC bus, at least one energy storage device coupled to the power regulator, and a processor coupled to the power regulator for controlling the charge and discharge of the at least one energy storage device. In another embodiment of the invention, digital communication between two or more controllers is accomplished over the DC bus through use of the Control Area Network (CAN) protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: American Power Conversion
    Inventors: James E. Nelson, C. Michael Hoff, Daniel C. Cohen, Philip C. Hopkins
  • Multiple energy storage device controller
    Publication number: 20030052644
    Abstract: A system for controlling multiple energy storage devices in an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system is provided. In one embodiment of the invention, the system generally includes a charger coupled to a direct current (DC) bus of the UPS system, and two or more energy storage circuits, each of which includes a power regulator coupled to the charger and coupled to the DC bus, at least one energy storage device coupled to the power regulator, and a processor coupled to the power regulator for controlling the charge and discharge of the at least one energy storage device. In another embodiment of the invention, digital communication between two or more controllers is accomplished over the DC bus through use of the Control Area Network (CAN) protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: James E. Nelson, C. Michael Hoff, Daniel C. Cohen, Philip C. Hopkins
  • Multiple energy storage device controller
    Patent number: 6424119
    Abstract: A system for controlling multiple energy storage devices in an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system is provided. In one embodiment of the invention, the system generally includes a charger coupled to a direct current (DC) bus of the UPS system, and two or more energy storage circuits, each of which includes a power regulator coupled to the charger and coupled to the DC bus, at least one energy storage device coupled to the power regulator, and a processor coupled to the power regulator for controlling the charge and discharge of the at least one energy storage device. In another embodiment of the invention, digital communication between two or more controllers is accomplished over the DC bus through use of the Control Area Network (CAN) protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: American Power Conversion
    Inventors: James E. Nelson, C. Michael Hoff, Daniel C. Cohen, Philip C. Hopkins