Patents by Inventor Ciro A. Spigno

Ciro A. Spigno 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: 12210067
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a battery of a vehicle includes a current measuring circuit to measure a current of the battery comprising a plurality of cell groups connected to each other. A voltage measuring circuit is to measure voltages of the cell groups. A controller is configured to define a plurality operating regions in a current profile of the battery during a drive cycle of the vehicle. The controller is configured to filter the current and the voltages measured in the operating regions and calculate internal resistances of the cell groups in the operating regions based on the filtered current and voltages. The controller is configured to generate statistical values based on the internal resistances of the cell groups and determine whether one or more of the cell groups is faulty based on differences between maximum and minimum values of one of the statistical values across the cell groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chaitanya Sankavaram, Calvin Wang, Ciro A. Spigno, Garrett Michael Seeman
  • Patent number: 12202374
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a battery of a vehicle includes a processor and a memory storing instructions which when executed by the processor configure the processor to receive first features including statistics of internal resistances of a plurality of cell groups in a battery pack of the battery, compute second features for the battery pack based on the first features, determine whether the battery pack is faulty based on one or more of the second features, and determine, in response to the battery pack being faulty, whether one or more of the cell groups is faulty based on one or more of the first features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chaitanya Sankavaram, Ning Wang, Yilu Zhang, Ciro A. Spigno
  • Publication number: 20230133482
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a battery of a vehicle includes a current measuring circuit to measure a current of the battery comprising a plurality of cell groups connected to each other. A voltage measuring circuit is to measure voltages of the cell groups. A controller is configured to define a plurality operating regions in a current profile of the battery during a drive cycle of the vehicle. The controller is configured to filter the current and the voltages measured in the operating regions and calculate internal resistances of the cell groups in the operating regions based on the filtered current and voltages. The controller is configured to generate statistical values based on the internal resistances of the cell groups and determine whether one or more of the cell groups is faulty based on differences between maximum and minimum values of one of the statistical values across the cell groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Chaitanya Sankavaram, Calvin WANG, Ciro A. SPIGNO, Garrett Michael SEEMAN
  • Publication number: 20230137625
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a battery of a vehicle includes a processor and a memory storing instructions which when executed by the processor configure the processor to receive first features including statistics of internal resistances of a plurality of cell groups in a battery pack of the battery, compute second features for the battery pack based on the first features, determine whether the battery pack is faulty based on one or more of the second features, and determine, in response to the battery pack being faulty, whether one or more of the cell groups is faulty based on one or more of the first features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Chaitanya Sankavaram, Ning Wang, Yilu Zhang, Ciro A. Spigno
  • Patent number: 11034257
    Abstract: A method for estimating remaining energy in a battery pack having series-connected cells/cell groups includes measuring battery parameters, including a battery voltage, current, and temperature. The controller estimates a static state of charge difference (?SOC) value and a current-dependent ?SOC value in real-time using the parameters, including calculating the static ?SOC value as a difference between an average SOC of the battery pack and an SOC of a weakest/lowest energy cell group. The current-dependent ?SOC value is a percentage SOC per unit of the current. The static ?SOC value and current-dependent ?SOC values are filtered via a multi-parameter state estimator block. Using the filtered state values, the controller executes a control action responsive to the estimated remaining energy, including displaying the remaining energy and/or a quantity derived from the remaining energy via a display device. A powertrain system includes the controller, electric machine, and battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Garrett M. Seeman, Justin Bunnell, Ciro A. Spigno
  • Publication number: 20200249279
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing battery pack faults includes connecting a diagnostic service tool (DST) to the battery pack and measuring battery parameters using one or more electrical sensors, including a voltage of each cell/cell group. The method includes calculating, via the DST using the battery parameters, a section-average state of charge (SOC) of each battery section and identifying, from among the cells/cell groups of each respective section, a particular one of the cells or cell groups having a lowest cell SOC. For each respective battery section, a ?SOC value is calculated as a difference between the section-average and lowest cell SOC, including comparing the ?SOC value for each section to a calibrated threshold. A repair action is executed or initiated with respect to the battery pack, via the DST, responsive to the ?SOC value for one or more sections exceeding the calibrated threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Cornelli, Ciro A. Spigno
  • Publication number: 20200223322
    Abstract: A method for estimating remaining energy in a battery pack having series-connected cells/cell groups includes measuring battery parameters, including a battery voltage, current, and temperature. The controller estimates a static state of charge difference ( ?SOC) value and a current-dependent ?SOC value in real-time using the parameters, including calculating the static ?SOC value as a difference between an average SOC of the battery pack and an SOC of a weakest/lowest energy cell group. The current-dependent ?SOC value is a percentage SOC per unit of the current. The static ?SOC value and current-dependent ?SOC values are filtered via a multi-parameter state estimator block. Using the filtered state values, the controller executes a control action responsive to the estimated remaining energy, including displaying the remaining energy and/or a quantity derived from the remaining energy via a display device. A powertrain system includes the controller, electric machine, and battery pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Garrett M. Seeman, Justin Bunnell, Ciro A. Spigno
  • Patent number: 10446883
    Abstract: Methods for fast-charging battery packs having at least one lithium battery cell with an anode, a cathode, and a reference electrode (RE) comprise charging the battery in a first phase by maximizing charging current, subsequently charging the battery in a second phase by decreasing the charging current in response to an anode potential (AP) determined by a RE to maintain the AP at or above an AP threshold, and subsequently charging the battery in a third phase by decreasing the charging current in response to the cathode potential (CP) determined by the RE such that the CP is maximized without exceeding the cathode potential threshold. A controller can determine anode potential or cathode potential in real time using a cell potential signal and a cathode RE signal or an anode RE signal, respectively. The AP threshold is the AP above which substantially no lithium plating occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ciro A. Spigno, Brian J. Koch, Ryan B. Moulliet
  • Publication number: 20190280345
    Abstract: Methods for fast-charging battery packs having at least one lithium battery cell with an anode, a cathode, and a reference electrode (RE) comprise charging the battery in a first phase by maximizing charging current, subsequently charging the battery in a second phase by decreasing the charging current in response to an anode potential (AP) determined by a RE to maintain the AP at or above an AP threshold, and subsequently charging the battery in a third phase by decreasing the charging current in response to the cathode potential (CP) determined by the RE such that the CP is maximized without exceeding the cathode potential threshold. A controller can determine anode potential or cathode potential in real time using a cell potential signal and a cathode RE signal or an anode RE signal, respectively. The AP threshold is the AP above which substantially no lithium plating occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Ciro A. Spigno, Brian J. Koch, Ryan B. Moulliet