Patents by Inventor Dirk E. Long

Dirk E. Long 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).

  • Battery pack heat dispensing systems
    Patent number: 11916247
    Abstract: Battery packs according to some embodiments of the present technology may include a first longitudinal beam and a second longitudinal beam. The battery packs may include a plurality of cell blocks disposed between the first longitudinal beam and the second longitudinal beam. The plurality of cell blocks may include first and second cell blocks each characterized by a first side surface proximate the first longitudinal beam, a second side surface, a third side surface proximate the second longitudinal beam, and a fourth side surface. The battery packs may include a first interface material thermally coupling the first side surface of the first cell block with the first longitudinal beam. The battery packs may also include a second interface material thermally coupling the third side surface of the second cell block with the second longitudinal beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Josef L. Miler, Luke A. Wilhelm, Edward T. Hillstrom, Dirk E. Long, Russell A. McLellan, Yu-Hung Li, Maria N. Luckyanova, Evan D. Maley, Edward T. Sweet
  • Battery pack heat dispensing systems
    Patent number: 11469471
    Abstract: Battery packs according to some embodiments of the present technology may include a first longitudinal beam and a second longitudinal beam. The battery packs may include a plurality of cell blocks disposed between the first longitudinal beam and the second longitudinal beam. The plurality of cell blocks may include first and second cell blocks each characterized by a first side surface proximate the first longitudinal beam, a second side surface, a third side surface proximate the second longitudinal beam, and a fourth side surface. The battery packs may include a first interface material thermally coupling the first side surface of the first cell block with the first longitudinal beam. The battery packs may also include a second interface material thermally coupling the third side surface of the second cell block with the second longitudinal beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Josef L. Miler, Luke A. Wilhelm, Edward T. Hillstrom, Dirk E. Long, Russell A. McLellan, Yu-Hung Li, Maria N. Luckyanova, Evan D. Maley, Edward T. Sweet
  • High-density battery pack
    Patent number: 11296381
    Abstract: Battery packs are presented. The battery packs include a plurality of cell blocks, each cell block comprising a plurality of battery cells. The battery pack also includes a plenum chamber configured to fluidly couple each of the cell blocks to an exterior of the battery pack in response to a thermal event in the battery cell in a separate cell block. In some embodiments, at least one of the cell blocks is configured to be fluidly coupled to the plenum structure via a cell block vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Josef L. Miler, Alexander J. Clarabut, Mujeeb I. Ijaz, Jonathan Hall, Luke A. Wilhelm, Abraham B. Caulk, Dirk E. Long, Yu-Hung Li
  • HIGH-DENSITY BATTERY PACK
    Publication number: 20190157636
    Abstract: Battery packs are presented. The battery packs include a plurality of cell blocks, each cell block comprising a plurality of battery cells. The battery pack also includes a plenum chamber configured to fluidly couple each of the cell blocks to an exterior of the battery pack in response to a thermal event in the battery cell in a separate cell block. In some embodiments, at least one of the cell blocks is configured to be fluidly coupled to the plenum structure via a cell block vent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Josef L. Miler, Alexander J. Clarabut, Mujeeb I. Ijaz, Jonathan Hall, Luke A. Wilhelm, Abraham B. Caulk, Dirk E. Long, Yu-Hung Li