Patents by Inventor David Middleton

David Middleton 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: 12567614
    Abstract: Provided is a battery module and battery rack having enhanced fire safety features. The battery module includes a swelling/pressure sensor that detects swelling of a battery cell. An output signal of the sensor is used to halt operation of a battery rack/battery system containing the battery module and prevent charging and discharging of the battery module. In an embodiment, the battery module uses an AC-to-AC power supply to provide AC frequency power for balancing battery cells of the battery module. In an embodiment, the battery rack includes an internal water fire suppression system that provides battery cooling in the event of a battery cell fire to prevent the spread and/or reigniting of the fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2026
    Assignee: VLTRU SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Virgil L. Beaston, Michael W. Allen, David Middleton, Howard Scott Ryan
  • Patent number: 12476294
    Abstract: Provided is a battery module and battery rack having enhanced fire safety features. The battery module includes an applied pressure assembly with integrated sensor that detects swelling of a battery cell. An output signal of the sensor is used to halt operation of a battery system containing the battery module and an output signal of the sensor is used to halt charging and discharging of the battery module. In an embodiment, the battery module uses an AC-to-AC power supply to provide audio frequency power for balancing battery cells of the battery module. In an embodiment, the battery rack includes a directed water fire suppression system that provides battery cooling after a fire to ensure the fire does not reignite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2025
    Assignee: VLTRU SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Virgil L Beaston, Michael Allen, David Middleton, Howard Scott Ryan
  • Publication number: 20240170756
    Abstract: Provided is a battery module and battery rack having enhanced fire safety features. The battery module includes an applied pressure assembly with integrated sensor that detects swelling of a battery cell. An output signal of the sensor is used to halt operation of a battery system containing the battery module and an output signal of the sensor is used to halt charging and discharging of the battery module. In an embodiment, the battery module uses an AC-to-AC power supply to provide audio frequency power for balancing battery cells of the battery module. In an embodiment, the battery rack includes a directed water fire suppression system that provides battery cooling after a fire to ensure the fire does not reignite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Applicant: VLTRU Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Virgil L BEASTON, Michael ALLEN, David MIDDLETON, Howard Scott RYAN
  • Patent number: 11901532
    Abstract: Provided is a battery module and battery rack having enhanced fire safety features. The battery module includes a swelling/pressure sensor that detects swelling of a battery cell. An output signal of the sensor is used to halt operation of a battery rack/battery system containing the battery module and prevent charging and discharging of the battery module. In an embodiment, the battery module uses an AC-to-AC power supply to provide AC frequency power for balancing battery cells of the battery module. In an embodiment, the battery rack includes an internal water fire suppression system that provides battery cooling in the event of a battery cell fire to prevent the spread and/or reigniting of the fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: VLTRU SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Virgil L. Beaston, Michael W. Allen, David Middleton, Howard Scott Ryan
  • Publication number: 20230060396
    Abstract: Provided is a battery module and battery rack having enhanced fire safety features. The battery module includes a swelling/pressure sensor that detects swelling of a battery cell. An output signal of the sensor is used to halt operation of a battery rack/battery system containing the battery module and prevent charging and discharging of the battery module. In an embodiment, the battery module uses an AC-to-AC power supply to provide AC frequency power for balancing battery cells of the battery module. In an embodiment, the battery rack includes an internal water fire suppression system that provides battery cooling in the event of a battery cell fire to prevent the spread and/or reigniting of the fire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: VLTRU Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Virgil L. Beaston, David Middleton, Michael W. Allen, Howard Scott Ryan
  • Publication number: 20220344738
    Abstract: Provided is a battery module and battery rack having enhanced fire safety features. The battery module includes a swelling/pressure sensor that detects swelling of a battery cell. An output signal of the sensor is used to halt operation of a battery rack/battery system containing the battery module and prevent charging and discharging of the battery module. In an embodiment, the battery module uses an AC-to-AC power supply to provide AC frequency power for balancing battery cells of the battery module. In an embodiment, the battery rack includes an internal water fire suppression system that provides battery cooling in the event of a battery cell fire to prevent the spread and/or reigniting of the fire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: VLTRU Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Virgil L. BEASTON, Michael W. ALLEN, David MIDDLETON, Howard Scott RYAN
  • Publication number: 20220271357
    Abstract: Provided is a battery module and battery rack having enhanced fire safety features. The battery module includes a swelling/pressure sensor that detects swelling of a battery cell. An output signal of the sensor is used to halt operation of a battery rack/battery system containing the battery module and prevent charging and discharging of the battery module. In an embodiment, the battery module uses an AC-to-AC power supply to provide AC frequency power for balancing battery cells of the battery module. In an embodiment, the battery rack includes an internal water fire suppression system that provides battery cooling in the event of a battery cell fire to prevent the spread and/or reigniting of the fire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: VLTRU Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Virgil L. BEASTON, Michael W. ALLEN, David MIDDLETON, Howard Scott RYAN
  • Publication number: 20220181713
    Abstract: Provided is a battery module and battery rack having enhanced fire safety features. The battery module includes a swelling/pressure sensor that detects swelling of a battery cell. An output signal of the sensor is used to halt operation of a battery rack/battery system containing the battery module and prevent charging and discharging of the battery module. In an embodiment, the battery module uses an AC-to-AC power supply to provide AC frequency power for balancing battery cells of the battery module. In an embodiment, the battery rack includes an internal water fire suppression system that provides battery cooling in the event of a battery cell fire to prevent the spread and/or reigniting of the fire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: VLTRU Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Virgil L. BEASTON, Michael W. ALLEN, David MIDDLETON, Howard Scott RYAN
  • Patent number: 7644546
    Abstract: Disclosed is a utility pipe tape to act as a termite barrier and a support for a waterproof membrane to prevent gaps from forming between pipe and slab that lets ground termites in through the slab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Inventor: David Middleton
  • Publication number: 20070135103
    Abstract: Disclosed is electronic equipment (e.g., a communication device) and method directed to electronic equipment having an improved electronic phonebook application for rating electronic phonebook entries (e.g., contacts). The electronic equipment and method includes an electronic phonebook including a plurality of contacts having a plurality of entries including a cumulative time connected to one or more of contacts, a total number of calls connected to one or more of the contacts. A processor is coupled to the electronic phonebook, wherein the processor calculates a contact rating for one more of the plurality of contacts based at least in part on the cumulative time connected and the total number of calls connected to one or more of the plurality of contacts. In another embodiment, the electronic equipment and method includes an override function that allows users to override a user selected feature based on the override function associated with a particular contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventor: David Middleton
  • Publication number: 20060213117
    Abstract: Disclosed is a utility pipe tape to act as a termite barrier and a support for a waterproof membrane to prevent gaps from forming between pipe and slab that lets ground termites in through the slab.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Inventor: David Middleton
  • Publication number: 20050143124
    Abstract: Mobile terminal with ergonomic imaging functions. The present invention, by way of example embodiments, provides for a mobile terminal with ergonomic imaging or camera functions. A single display can be used, for example in portrait mode while terminal functions are being used and in landscape mode while imaging functions are being used. The change between the two orientations can be accomplished automatically. In some embodiments, the capability is also provided to process an image for assignment to a terminal function, where the image has at least one display attribute that makes it at least partly unsuitable for use with the terminal function. The processing may include resizing, cropping, and/or rotating the image. This processing can be accomplished for example, so that a landscape image can be viewed conveniently in a portrait orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Applicant: SONY ERICSSON MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB
    Inventors: Peter Kennedy, Laurie Gray, Charles Hunt, Elisabeth Gibbons, David Middleton, James Cunningham, Stacy Smith, Amy Swanson, David Bates
  • Publication number: 20040035197
    Abstract: An ultrasonic system for measuring the volume of liquid in a container having a lid in which an ultrasonic signal is emitted and received by a sensor subsystem located on the underside of the lid of the ultrasonic system. The ultrasonic system can measure the exact amount of liquid or the level of the liquid held in the container by processing the roundtrip time the ultrasonic signals took to travel from the sensor subsystem to the surface of the liquid where the ultrasonic signals are reflected back to the ultrasonic sensor subsystem. A solid state, three-phase SCR/diode bridge converts a three-phase alternating current (AC) to a direct current (DC) power source for heating the liquid in a boiler subsystem prior to its transport to the container. A second, triac controlled heater is powered by a single phase of the three phase power source, and is used to warm and maintain the liquid held within the container at a constant temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Nicholas F. D'Antonio, Nicholas J. D'Antonio, Ronald W. D'Antonio, Harold Richards, David Middleton
  • Patent number: 6166618
    Abstract: An electrical safety receptacle (10) including a dielectric housing (12), first electrical contacts (14) in the housing for electrical connection to one side of an electrical power line, second electrical contacts (16) in the housing for electrical connection to the other side of the electrical power line, and power-interruption members (48) provided as part of the second electrical contacts to interrupt the electrical power when an operating and/or environmental temperature exceeds the thermal rating thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Robertson, Harry M. Capper, Deborah Laun, Kurt Werner, David Middleton, Howard S. Ryan
  • Patent number: D390650
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Draeger Limited
    Inventor: David Middleton
  • Patent number: D747601
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Inventor: David Middleton