Patents by Inventor Courtney A. Gras

Courtney A. Gras 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: 9450274
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of creating a dynamically reconfigurable energy source comprised of individual, isolated, controllable energy modules, supported by software to measure and manage the energy modules and facilitate the reconfiguration, where the platform consisting of hardware, based upon an inverted H-Bridge circuitry, in combination with software which allows for real-time management, control, and configuration of the modules and uses a combination of software algorithms and localized electronic switches, to achieve a performance and functionality of the invention matching, or exceeding, traditional large, heavy, and expensive power electronics-based products used for charging, energy storage management, power inverting, and motor or load control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Inventors: Tom V. Vo, Courtney A. Gras, Kent Kristensen, Sam Mahmodicherati
  • Patent number: 9214822
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a device and method for the management of a collection of battery cells. In one embodiment, the present invention permits the management of a collection of battery cells composed of an overall battery pack manager unit, individual cell manager units, and wireless communication links between these units. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a device and method for the management of a collection of battery cells in the field of rechargeable batteries, such as batteries based on lithium-based chemistries, nickel-based chemistries, and lead-acid chemistries. In still another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method that permits the maximization of battery pack capacity during a charge-discharge cycle and/or permits the maximization of the total number of charge-discharge cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: The University of Akron
    Inventors: Thomas T. Hartley, Benjamin W. Magistro, Courtney A. Gras, Rick Clester, Andrew Faulstick
  • Publication number: 20140312828
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of creating a dynamically reconfigurable energy source comprised of individual, isolated, controllable energy modules, supported by software to measure and manage the energy modules and facilitate the reconfiguration, where the platform consisting of hardware, based upon an inverted H-Bridge circuitry, in combination with software which allows for real-time management, control, and configuration of the modules and uses a combination of software algorithms and localized electronic switches, to achieve a performance and functionality of the invention matching, or exceeding, traditional large, heavy, and expensive power electronics-based products used for charging, energy storage management, power inverting, and motor or load control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Design Flux Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tom V. Vo, Courtney A. Gras, Kent Kristensen, Sam Mahmodicherati
  • Publication number: 20120112685
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a device and method for the management of a collection of battery cells. In one embodiment, the present invention permits the management of a collection of battery cells composed of an overall battery pack manager unit, individual cell manager units, and wireless communication links between these units. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a device and method for the management of a collection of battery cells in the field of rechargeable batteries, such as batteries based on lithium-based chemistries, nickel-based chemistries, and lead-acid chemistries. In still another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method that permits the maximization of battery pack capacity during a charge-discharge cycle and/or permits the maximization of the total number of charge-discharge cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicants: Myers Motors, LLC, The University of Akron
    Inventors: Thomas T. Hartley, Benjamin W. Magistro, Courtney A. Gras, Rick Clester, Andrew Faulstick