Patents by Inventor David Frederick Lyons

David Frederick Lyons 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: 8125324
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present subject matter includes a battery mounted to a vehicle, with a charge state circuit located in the electric vehicle and coupled to the battery, the charge state circuit configured to provide a charge state signal indicative of the charge state of the battery. The embodiment includes a charging coupler port located proximate to a user accessible exterior of the electrical vehicle and coupled to the battery, the charging coupler port to conduct charging energy to the battery and to provide a charger connection signal indicative of a connection to an external power source. The embodiment also includes a lighting circuit coupled to the charging coupler port and the charge state circuit to control the brightness and color of an illuminated indicator responsive to the charge state signal and the charger connection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul DeWitt Frey, Martin Forest Eberhard, Scott Ira Kohn, Malcolm Sloan Smith, David Frederick Lyons
  • Publication number: 20120025765
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present subject matter includes a battery mounted to a vehicle, with a charge state circuit located in the electric vehicle and coupled to the battery, the charge state circuit configured to provide a charge state signal indicative of the charge state of the battery. The embodiment includes a charging coupler port located proximate to a user accessible exterior of the electrical vehicle and coupled to the battery, the charging coupler port to conduct charging energy to the battery and to provide a charger connection signal indicative of a connection to an external power source. The embodiment also includes a lighting circuit coupled to the charging coupler port and the charge state circuit to control the brightness and color of an illuminated indicator responsive to the charge state signal and the charger connection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul DeWitt Frey, Martin Forest Eberhard, Scott Ira Kohn, Malcolm Sloan Smith, David Frederick Lyons
  • Patent number: 8063757
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present subject matter includes a battery mounted to a vehicle, with a charge state circuit located in the electric vehicle and coupled to the battery, the charge state circuit configured to provide a charge state signal indicative of the charge state of the battery. The embodiment includes a charging coupler port located proximate to a user accessible exterior of the electrical vehicle and coupled to the battery, the charging coupler port to conduct charging energy to the battery and to provide a charger connection signal indicative of a connection to an external power source. The embodiment also includes a lighting circuit coupled to the charging coupler port and the charge state circuit to control the brightness and color of an illuminated indicator responsive to the charge state signal and the charger connection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul DeWitt Frey, Martin Forest Eberhard, Scott Ira Kohn, Malcolm Sloan Smith, David Frederick Lyons
  • Patent number: 7890218
    Abstract: A system for managing battery temperature is described. The system may include a cooling system which may include a fluid. A cabin circulation subsystem may be coupled to the cooling subsystem and may utilize the fluid for cabin cooling. A separate battery circulation subsystem may also may also be coupled to the cooling subsystem so that it may additionally utilize the fluid for battery cooling. A control may be present in order to regulate movement of the fluid to the cabin circulation subsystem and/or to the battery circulation subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Thomas Adams, David Frederick Lyons, Philip Wayne Luk, Eugene Michael Berdichevsky, Jeffrey Brian Straubel
  • Publication number: 20100136409
    Abstract: The adverse effects of the dielectric material covering the cylindrical case of a conventional 18650 cell are eliminated by replacing it with a ring-shaped dielectric material, wherein the ring-shaped dielectric material does not extend down or otherwise cover the cylindrical outer surface of the cell's casing. The ring-shaped dielectric material provides access to the battery terminal corresponding to the cap assembly while preventing shorting between the battery terminal and the edge of the cell casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Brian Straubel, Eugene Michael Berdichevsky, David Frederick Lyons, Robert Ferber
  • Publication number: 20090024256
    Abstract: A system for managing battery temperature is described. The system may include a cooling system which may include a fluid. A cabin circulation subsystem may be coupled to the cooling subsystem and may utilize the fluid for cabin cooling. A separate battery circulation subsystem may also may also be coupled to the cooling subsystem so that it may additionally utilize the fluid for battery cooling. A control may be present in order to regulate movement of the fluid to the cabin circulation subsystem and/or to the battery circulation subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Daniel Thomas Adams, David Frederick Lyons, Philip Wayne Luk, Eugene Michael Berdichevsky, Jeffrey Brian Straubel
  • Publication number: 20090021364
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present subject matter includes a battery mounted to a vehicle, with a charge state circuit located in the electric vehicle and coupled to the battery, the charge state circuit configured to provide a charge state signal indicative of the charge state of the battery. The embodiment includes a charging coupler port located proximate to a user accessible exterior of the electrical vehicle and coupled to the battery, the charging coupler port to conduct charging energy to the battery and to provide a charger connection signal indicative of a connection to an external power source. The embodiment also includes a lighting circuit coupled to the charging coupler port and the charge state circuit to control the brightness and color of an illuminated indicator responsive to the charge state signal and the charger connection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Paul DeWitt Frey, Martin Forest Eberhard, Scott Ira Kohn, Malcolm Sloan Smith, David Frederick Lyons
  • Patent number: 7433794
    Abstract: A method of mitigating propagation of a thermal event in an energy storage system having a plurality of cells is disclosed. The method includes the steps of identifying the heat sources within the energy storage system and plurality of cells. The method then controls a temperature of the energy storage system and plurality of cells and also detects predetermined conditions within the energy storage system. The method then performs a predetermined action based on when one of the predetermined conditions is detected. A plurality of sensors and switches along with associated hardware or software will be used to control the temperature of the energy storage system upon detection of predetermined conditions involving overheating, over current, over voltage of the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Michael Berdichevsky, Philip David Cole, Arthur Joseph Hebert, Weston Arthur Hermann, Kurt Russell Kelty, Scott Ira Kohn, David Frederick Lyons, Jeffrey Brian Straubel, Noel Jason Mendez
  • Patent number: 7404720
    Abstract: An electro mechanical connector for use in an electrical vehicle having a battery pack is disclosed. The connector includes a locking collar having a slot therein and a plug body arranged within the locking collar. The connector also has a switch mount sleeve arranged on the plug body and a micro switch connected to the switch mount sleeve at a predetermined position. The electrical connector also includes a switch actuator that is slidingly arranged within the slot and is aligned with the micro switch when the electrical mechanical connector is in its fully locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul DeWitt Frey, David Tse-Zhou Lu, David Frederick Lyons, II
  • Publication number: 20030024684
    Abstract: A module for thermal exchange with a portion of a mammal is provided. The module is used with advanced methods related to body temperature control and management. A portion of a mammal is placed in a sealed enclosure that is in thermal communication with a heat exchange fluid. The enclosure is also adapted to provide a negative pressure environment and includes an improved interface with the external environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: David Frederick Lyons, Dennis A. Grahn, Bruce G. Macgregor, Todd Allen Pelman, Mark A. Zeh, Rudy Lucas Samuels, David William Licata, Matthew D. Inouye