Patents by Inventor Brian J. SHAFFER

Brian J. SHAFFER 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: 8766597
    Abstract: A battery balancing method and system which includes a plurality of cells connected in series, a balancer for each cell, a monitor configured to determine a state of charge (SOC) of each cell, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor iteratively calculates a SOC error for each cell, based on a theoretical balancing of the Min Q cell and the Max Q cell, until the SOC error is less than or equal to a first threshold; and iteratively re-calculates SOC error based on a net charge or discharge time for each balancer until the SOC error is less than or equal to a second threshold; and when the SOC error is less than or equal to the second threshold, instructs each balancer to physically balance each respective cell based on the respective calculated net charge or discharge time when the second threshold is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Linear Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel Hodson Nork, Brian J. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20130099746
    Abstract: A battery balancing method and system which includes a plurality of cells connected in series, a balancer for each cell, a monitor configured to determine a state of charge (SOC) of each cell, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor iteratively calculates a SOC error for each cell, based on a theoretical balancing of the Min Q cell and the Max Q cell, until the SOC error is less than or equal to a first threshold; and iteratively re-calculates SOC error based on a net charge or discharge time for each balancer until the SOC error is less than or equal to a second threshold; and when the SOC error is less than or equal to the second threshold, instructs each balancer to physically balance each respective cell based on the respective calculated net charge or discharge time when the second threshold is met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Samuel Hodson NORK, Brian J. SHAFFER