Patents by Inventor Brian C. Moorhead

Brian C. Moorhead 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: 10084324
    Abstract: Systems and methods for balancing battery cells of a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, a charge imbalance is determined while battery cells operate in a high charge resolution voltage range. The charge imbalance determined during operation in the high charge resolution voltage range may be removed when the battery cells are operated in a low charge resolution voltage range. The system and method may be particularly useful for balancing battery cells that operate in the low charge resolution voltage range for a large portion of their operating time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Brian C. Moorhead, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 10079377
    Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating a state of a battery to a vehicle controller are disclosed. In one example, a battery pack outputs a signal indicative of an amount of capability the battery pack has to source or sink current at present operating conditions. The system and method may improve vehicle drivability and reduce battery pack degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Brian D. Rutkowski, Brian C. Moorhead
  • Publication number: 20180006472
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a scalable battery controller are disclosed. In one example, a circuit board coupled to a battery cell stack is designed to be configurable to monitor and balance battery cells of battery cell stacks that may vary depending on battery pack requirements. Further, the battery pack control module may configure software instructions in response to a voltage at a battery cell stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Paul W. Firehammer, Brian C. Moorhead
  • Patent number: 9793724
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a scalable battery controller are disclosed. In one example, a circuit board coupled to a battery cell stack is designed to be configurable to monitor and balance battery cells of battery cell stacks that may vary depending on battery pack requirements. Further, the battery pack control module may configure software instructions in response to a voltage at a battery cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: A123 Systems LLC
    Inventors: Paul W. Firehammer, Brian C. Moorhead
  • Patent number: 9630521
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes an air conditioning system configured to selectively cool a cabin of the vehicle and at least one electrical component of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes one or more controllers configured to determine whether the air conditioning system is operating to cool the at least one electrical component, to determine whether cabin cooling is requested, and to enable the air conditioning system to cool the cabin if the air conditioning system is operating to cool the at least one electrical component and if cabin cooling is requested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Jay Louch, Donald Charles Franks, Brian C. Moorhead, Hasdi R. Hashim
  • Publication number: 20160372941
    Abstract: Systems and methods for balancing battery cells of a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, a charge imbalance is determined while battery cells operate in a high charge resolution voltage range. The charge imbalance determined during operation in the high charge resolution voltage range may be removed when the battery cells are operated in a low charge resolution voltage range. The system and method may be particularly useful for balancing battery cells that operate in the low charge resolution voltage range for a large portion of their operating time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Brian C. Moorhead, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 9450426
    Abstract: Systems and methods for balancing battery cells of a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, a charge imbalance is determined while battery cells operate in a high charge resolution voltage range. The charge imbalance determined during operation in the high charge resolution voltage range may be removed when the battery cells are operated in a low charge resolution voltage range. The system and method may be particularly useful for balancing battery cells that operate in the low charge resolution voltage range for a large portion of their operating time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: A123 Systems LLC
    Inventors: Brian C. Moorhead, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 9160190
    Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing operation of analog digital converters (ADCs) of a battery pack supplying power to a vehicle are disclosed. One example system comprises, a first ADC for determining a voltage of at least one battery cell; a second ADC for determining a voltage of a plurality of battery cells; and a controller performing an action in response to comparing an output of said first ADC to an output of said second ADC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: A123 Systems LLC
    Inventors: Brian C. Moorhead, Paul W. Firehammer
  • Patent number: 9035610
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the output of a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, a battery pack contactor is opened in response to battery pack current. The system and method may reduce battery pack degradation and increase system flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: A123 Systems LLC
    Inventors: Brian D. Rutkowski, Brian C. Moorhead
  • Patent number: 8963500
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the output of a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, a battery pack contactor is closed after receiving a request to open the battery pack contactor during a power-up sequence. The system and method may reduce battery pack degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: A123 Systems LLC
    Inventors: Brian D. Rutkowski, Brian C. Moorhead
  • Publication number: 20140049222
    Abstract: Systems and methods for balancing battery cells of a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, a charge imbalance is determined while battery cells operate in a high charge resolution voltage range. The charge imbalance determined during operation in the high charge resolution voltage range may be removed when the battery cells are operated in a low charge resolution voltage range. The system and method may be particularly useful for balancing battery cells that operate in the low charge resolution voltage range for a large portion of their operating time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: A123 SYSTEMS, INC
    Inventors: Brian C. Moorhead, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 8629581
    Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating notice to limit battery degradation within a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, a signal is generated and passed between modules of a battery pack to provide notice to limit battery pack degradation. The system and method may be particularly useful for a battery pack with distributed battery modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: A123 Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Rutkowski, Brian C. Moorhead, Paul W. Firehammer, John W. Wagner
  • Patent number: 8531160
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting sampling and switching rates of a battery management system are provided. For example, a rate at which different battery cells of a battery cell stack are in communication with an analog to digital converter may be adjusted in response to conditions of a battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: A123 Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Moorhead, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Publication number: 20130119941
    Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing operation of ADCs of a battery pack supplying power to a vehicle are disclosed. One example system comprises, a first ADC for determining the voltage of at least one battery cell; a second ADC for determining the voltage of a plurality of battery cells; and a controller performing an action in response to comparing an output of said first ADC to an output of said second ADC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: A123 SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian C. Moorhead, Paul W. Firehammer
  • Publication number: 20130009464
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a contactor of a battery pack are disclosed. In one embodiment, the coil of the contactor is controlled by a power supply. Further, the contactor coil holding current may be adjusted in response to vehicle drive mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: A123 SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul W. Firehammer, Brian C. Moorhead, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Publication number: 20120292987
    Abstract: A system for supplying power internal to a battery pack is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a power supply that is powered by battery cells in the battery pack such that each battery cell supplies substantially the same amount of current to power the power supply. In this way, power can be distributed within the battery pack without causing imbalance between an amount of charge stored in different battery cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: A123 SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian D. Rutkowski, Brian C. Moorhead, Paul W. Firehammer, John W. Wagner
  • Publication number: 20120286794
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a scalable battery controller are disclosed. In one example, a circuit board coupled to a battery cell stack is designed to be configurable to monitor and balance battery cells of battery cell stacks that may vary depending on battery pack requirements. Further, the battery pack control module may configure software instructions in response to a voltage at a battery cell stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: A123 SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul W. Firehammer, Brian C. Moorhead
  • Publication number: 20120098543
    Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating a state of a battery to a vehicle controller are disclosed. In one example, a battery pack outputs a signal indicative of an amount of capability the battery pack has to source or sink current at present operating conditions. The system and method may improve vehicle drivability and reduce battery pack degradation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: A123 Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Rutkowski, Brian C. Moorhead
  • Publication number: 20120080938
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the output of a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, a battery pack contactor is closed after receiving a request to open the battery pack contactor during a power-up sequence. The system and method may reduce battery pack degradation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: A123 SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian D. Rutkowski, Brian C. Moorhead
  • Publication number: 20120074904
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the output of a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, a battery pack contactor is opened in response to battery pack current. The system and method may reduce battery pack degradation and increase system flexibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: A123 Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Rutkowski, Brian C. Moorhead