Patents by Inventor Bliss G. Carkhuff

Bliss G. Carkhuff 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: 11196269
    Abstract: A battery cell evaluation apparatus is provided that includes a current source configured to output a current at a frequency, measurement circuitry, and control circuitry. The control circuitry may be configured to electrically connect a cell of a battery to the current source and the measurement circuitry to apply the current across terminals of the cell and receive a measurement of an impedance phase shift of the cell as phase shift data from the measurement circuitry. The control circuitry may also be configured to compare the phase shift data to a protection profile, and trigger a protection device to prevent damage to the battery based on the comparison of the phase shift data to the protection profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Rengaswamy Srinivasan, Bliss G. Carkhuff
  • Patent number: 11067635
    Abstract: An example battery cell diagnostic apparatus is provided that may include control circuitry, a current source, measurement circuitry, and a first and a second multiplexer. The control circuitry may be configured to control the first multiplexer to electrically connect the measurement circuitry to a battery cell and control the second multiplexer to electrically connect the current source to the battery cell to apply a current, output from the current source, at each of a set of frequencies to the battery cell. The control circuitry may also be configured to receive measurements from the measurement circuitry at each of the frequencies, which may include respective frequencies that correlate to an electrolytic resistance of the battery cell, an anode impedance of the battery cell, and a cathode impedance of the battery cell. Similar measurements may also be taken for each cell in a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Rengaswamy Srinivasan, Bliss G. Carkhuff
  • Patent number: 10818981
    Abstract: A method is provided. The method is executable by a processor of a battery management system. The method includes sending a first command signal to a multiplexer to cause the multiplexer to select a cell of a battery. The method also includes sending a second command signal to a current source to apply a current to the cell of the battery. The method also includes receiving measurement information based on the application of the current to the cell from a measurement circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Rengaswamy Srinivasan, Bliss G. Carkhuff
  • Publication number: 20200014220
    Abstract: A battery cell evaluation apparatus is provided that includes a current source configured to output a current at a frequency, measurement circuitry, and control circuitry. The control circuitry may be configured to electrically connect a cell of a battery to the current source and the measurement circuitry to apply the current across terminals of the cell and receive a measurement of an impedance phase shift of the cell as phase shift data from the measurement circuitry. The control circuitry may also be configured to compare the phase shift data to a protection profile, and trigger a protection device to prevent damage to the battery based on the comparison of the phase shift data to the protection profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Rengaswamy Srinivasan, Bliss G. Carkhuff
  • Publication number: 20200014082
    Abstract: A method is provided. The method is executable by a processor of a battery management system. The method includes sending a first command signal to a multiplexer to cause the multiplexer to select a cell of a battery. The method also includes sending a second command signal to a current source to apply a current to the cell of the battery. The method also includes receiving measurement information based on the application of the current to the cell from a measurement circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Rengaswamy Srinivasan, Bliss G. Carkhuff
  • Patent number: 10461374
    Abstract: A method is provided. The method is executable by a processor of a battery management system. The method includes sending a first command signal to a multiplexer to cause the multiplexer to select a cell of a battery. The method also includes sending a second command signal to a current source to apply a current to the cell of the battery. The method also includes receiving measurement information based on the application of the current to the cell from a measurement circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Rengaswamy Srinivasan, Bliss G. Carkhuff
  • Publication number: 20190170829
    Abstract: An example battery cell diagnostic apparatus is provided that may include control circuitry, a current source, measurement circuitry, and a first and a second multiplexer. The control circuitry may be configured to control the first multiplexer to electrically connect the measurement circuitry to a battery cell and control the second multiplexer to electrically connect the current source to the battery cell to apply a current, output from the current source, at each of a set of frequencies to the battery cell. The control circuitry may also be configured to receive measurements from the measurement circuitry at each of the frequencies, which may include respective frequencies that correlate to an electrolytic resistance of the battery cell, an anode impedance of the battery cell, and a cathode impedance of the battery cell. Similar measurements may also be taken for each cell in a battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Rengaswamy Srinivasan, Bliss G. Carkhuff
  • Patent number: 9966769
    Abstract: A battery charging monitor is provided including a non-invasive sensor electrically connected to at least one battery cell of at least one battery, which is configured to measure an internal temperature of the at least one battery cell. The non-invasive internal temperature sensor is connected to the microcontroller that is configured to determine a rate of change of the internal temperature of the at least one battery cell based on the internal temperature of the at least one battery cell, determine a state of charge of the at least one battery cell based on the rate of change of the internal temperature, and cause a charging rate to be applied, by a battery charger, to the at least one battery cell based on the determined state of charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Rengaswamy Srinivasan, Bliss G. Carkhuff, Lakshminarayan Srinivasan
  • Publication number: 20170370998
    Abstract: A method is provided. The method is executable by a processor of a battery management system. The method includes sending a first command signal to a multiplexer to cause the multiplexer to select a cell of a battery. The method also includes sending a second command signal to a current source to apply a current to the cell of the battery. The method also includes receiving measurement information based on the application of the current to the cell from a measurement circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Rengaswamy Srinivasan, Bliss G. Carkhuff
  • Publication number: 20170149256
    Abstract: A battery charging monitor is provided including a non-invasive sensor electrically connected to at least one battery cell of at least one battery, which is configured to measure an internal temperature of the at least one battery cell. The non-invasive internal temperature sensor is connected to the microcontroller that is configured to determine a rate of change of the internal temperature of the at least one battery cell based on the internal temperature of the at least one battery cell, determine a state of charge of the at least one battery cell based on the rate of change of the internal temperature, and cause a charging rate to be applied, by a battery charger, to the at least one battery cell based on the determined state of charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Rengaswamy Srinivasan, Bliss G. Carkhuff, Lakshminarayan Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 9331507
    Abstract: A battery charging system includes a charging source, at least one battery cell, a battery internal temperature sensor configured to measure an internal temperature of the at least one battery cell responsive to charging of the at least one battery cell by the charging source, and a charge controller. The charge controller is configured to receive indications of the internal temperature of the at least one battery cell over time, to identify an indication that the at least one battery cell is at a point of full charge based on rate of change of the internal temperature, and to interrupt power delivery from the charging source to the at least one battery cell responsive to the indication that the at least one battery cell is at the point of full charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Rengaswamy Srinivasan, Bliss G. Carkhuff
  • Patent number: 8961004
    Abstract: Methods and systems to determine an internal temperature of a rechargeable lithium-ion cell based on a phase shift of the cell. Internal cell temperature may be determined with respect to an internal anode temperature and/or an internal cathode temperature. Internal anode temperature may be determined based on a phase shift of a frequency within a range of approximately 40 Hertz (Hz) to 500 Hz. Internal cathode temperature may be determined based on a phase shift of a frequency of up to approximately 30 Hz. A temperature sensor as disclosed herein may be powered by a monitored cell with relatively little impact on cell charge, may be electrically coupled to cell but housed physically separate from the cell, and/or may monitor multiple cells in a multiplex fashion. A rate of change in phase shift may be used to initiate pre-emptive action, without determining corresponding temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Rengaswamy Srinivasan, Michael H. Butler, Bliss G. Carkhuff, Terry E. Phillips, Jeremy D. Walker, Oscar M. Uy, Andrew C. Baisden
  • Patent number: 8736380
    Abstract: An amplifier for use in a buoyant cable antenna operable to receive signals within a frequency band includes: a first amplifier operable to provide amplified signals based on the received signals; a bandpass filter arranged to pass filtered signals within a first portion of the frequency band, the filtered signals being based on the amplified signals; an attenuator arranged in parallel with said bandpass filter and operable to attenuate signals within a second portion of the frequency band, the attenuated signals being based on the amplified signals; and a second amplifier operable to provide an amplified output including first amplified signals within the first portion of the frequency band and to provide second amplified signals within the second portion of the frequency band. The first amplified signals have a first gain, the second amplified signals have a second gain, and the first gain is more than the second gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: James B. Mitchell, Bliss G. Carkhuff, Morris L. London, Robert E. Ball, Sr., Nathaniel J. Hundley
  • Patent number: 8725449
    Abstract: A human surrogate head model (HSHM) to measure brain/skull displacement due to a physical force, such as due to an explosive, ballistic, or automotive crash type of event. A HSHM may include a plurality of magnetic field generators positioned stationary relative to a HSHM skull, each to generate a magnetic field oriented with respect to a corresponding one of multiple directions. The HSHM may include one or more electromagnetic force (EMF)-based displacement sensors, each of which may include three inductive coils oriented orthogonally with respect to one another and co-aligned about a central point. A signal processor may be implemented to separate signals generated by each coil of each EMF-based displacement sensor into a plurality of component magnitudes, each attributable to a corresponding one of the magnetic fields. A computer-implemented model may be implemented to correlate between the component magnitudes and a corresponding position and orientation of the displacement sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Jack C. Roberts, Andrew C. Merkle, Bliss G. Carkhuff, Ian D. Wing, Craig B. Leese
  • Publication number: 20140085004
    Abstract: An amplifier for use in a buoyant cable antenna operable to receive signals within a frequency band includes: a first amplifier operable to provide amplified signals based on the received signals; a bandpass filter arranged to pass filtered signals within a first portion of the frequency band, the filtered signals being based on the amplified signals; an attenuator arranged in parallel with said bandpass filter and operable to attenuate signals within a second portion of the frequency band, the attenuated signals being based on the amplified signals; and a second amplifier operable to provide an amplified output including first amplified signals within the first portion of the frequency band and to provide second amplified signals within the second portion of the frequency band. The first amplified signals have a first gain, the second amplified signals have a second gain, and the first gain is more than the second gain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James B. Mitchell, Bliss G. Carkhuff, Morris L. London, Robert E. Ball, Nathaniel J. Hundley
  • Publication number: 20130264999
    Abstract: A battery charging system includes a charging source, at least one battery cell, a battery internal temperature sensor configured to measure an internal temperature of the at least one battery cell responsive to charging of the at least one battery cell by the charging source, and a charge controller. The charge controller is configured to receive indications of the internal temperature of the at least one battery cell over time, to identify an indication that the at least one battery cell is at a point of full charge based on rate of change of the internal temperature, and to interrupt power delivery from the charging source to the at least one battery cell responsive to the indication that the at least one battery cell is at the point of full charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: Rengaswamy Srinivasan, Bliss G. Carkhuff
  • Publication number: 20120330599
    Abstract: A human surrogate head model (HSHM) to measure brain/skull displacement due to a physical force, such as due to an explosive, ballistic, or automotive crash type of event. A HSHM may include a plurality of magnetic field generators positioned stationary relative to a HSHM skull, each to generate a magnetic field oriented with respect to a corresponding one of multiple directions. The HSHM may include one or more electromagnetic force (EMF)-based displacement sensors, each of which may include three inductive coils oriented orthogonally with respect to one another and co-aligned about a central point. A signal processor may be implemented to separate signals generated by each coil of each EMF-based displacement sensor into a plurality of component magnitudes, each attributable to a corresponding one of the magnetic fields. A computer-implemented model may be implemented to correlate between the component magnitudes and a corresponding position and orientation of the displacement sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Jack C. Roberts, Andrew C. Merkle, Bliss G Carkhuff, Ian D. Wing, Craig B. Leese
  • Patent number: 8289811
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention is drawn to method of determining a location of a submersible vehicle. The method includes obtaining first bearing information based on a location of a ship at a first time relative to the submersible vehicle and receiving broadcast information from the ship, wherein the broadcast information includes location information related to a second location of the ship at a second time, a velocity of the ship at the second time and a course of the ship at the second time. The method further includes obtaining second bearing information based on the second location of the ship at the second time relative to the submersible vehicle, obtaining a velocity of the submersible vehicle at the second time and obtaining a course of the submersible vehicle at the second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: James B. Mitchell, Bliss G. Carkhuff, Morris L. London, Robert E. Ball, Nathaniel J. Hundley
  • Publication number: 20120155507
    Abstract: Methods and systems to determine an internal temperature of a rechargeable lithium-ion cell based on a phase shift of the cell. Internal cell temperature may be determined with respect to an internal anode temperature and/or an internal cathode temperature. Internal anode temperature may be determined based on a phase shift of a frequency within a range of approximately 40 Hertz (Hz) to 500 Hz. Internal cathode temperature may be determined based on a phase shift of a frequency of up to approximately 30 Hz. A temperature sensor as disclosed herein may be powered by a monitored cell with relatively little impact on cell charge, may be electrically coupled to cell but housed physically separate from the cell, and/or may monitor multiple cells in a multiplex fashion. A rate of change in phase shift may be used to initiate pre-emptive action, without determining corresponding temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Rengaswamy Srinivasan, Michael H. Butler, Bliss G. Carkhuff, Terry E. Phillips, Jeremy D. Walker, Oscar M. Uy, Andrew C. Baisden
  • Publication number: 20110051555
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention is drawn to method of determining a location of a submersible vehicle. The method includes obtaining first bearing information based on a location of a ship at a first time relative to the submersible vehicle and receiving broadcast information from the ship, wherein the broadcast information includes location information related to a second location of the ship at a second time, a velocity of the ship at the second time and a course of the ship at the second time. The method further includes obtaining second bearing information based on the second location of the ship at the second time relative to the submersible vehicle, obtaining a velocity of the submersible vehicle at the second time and obtaining a course of the submersible vehicle at the second time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: James B. Mitchell, Bliss G. Carkhuff, Morris L. London, Robert E. Ball, Nathaniel J. Hundley