Patents by Inventor Dorian West

Dorian West 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: 8092081
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for determining when a battery, or one or more batteries within a battery pack, undergoes an undesired thermal event such as thermal runaway. The system uses an optical fiber mounted in close proximity to, or in contact with, an external surface of the battery or batteries to be monitored. A source of light is optically coupled to the input facet of the optical fiber and a detector optically coupled to the output facet of the optical fiber. Battery health is determined by monitoring the light transmitted through the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, Paul Bryan Kreiner, Scott Ira Kohn, Dorian West, Jonathan Louis Hall
  • Patent number: 8059007
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for determining when a battery, or one or more batteries within a battery pack, undergoes an undesired thermal event such as thermal runaway. The system uses a conductive member mounted in close proximity to, or in contact with, an external surface of the battery or batteries to be monitored. A resistance measuring system such as a continuity-tester or an ohmmeter is coupled to the conductive member, the resistance measuring system outputting a first signal when the temperature corresponding to the battery or batteries is within a prescribed temperature range and a second signal when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature that falls outside of the prescribed temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, Daniel Nicholas Brncic, Paul Bryan Kreiner, Scott Ira Kohn, Dorian West, Jonathan Louis Hall
  • Patent number: 7956574
    Abstract: A system and method interconnects battery packs using a flexible bus bar to prevent vibration from breaking or damaging the connections therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Dorian West, Eugene Berdichevsky, Scott Kohn
  • Publication number: 20100302051
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for determining when a battery, or one or more batteries within a battery pack, undergoes an undesired thermal event such as thermal runaway. The system uses a conductive member mounted in close proximity to, or in contact with, an external surface of the battery or batteries to be monitored. A resistance measuring system such as a continuity-tester or an ohmmeter is coupled to the conductive member, the resistance measuring system outputting a first signal when the temperature corresponding to the battery or batteries is within a prescribed temperature range and a second signal when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature that falls outside of the prescribed temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, Daniel Nicholas Brncic, Paul Bryan Kreiner, Scott Ira Kohn, Dorian West, Jonathan Louis Hall
  • Publication number: 20100135355
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for determining when a battery, or one or more batteries within a battery pack, undergoes an undesired thermal event such as thermal runaway. The system uses an optical fiber mounted in close proximity to, or in contact with, an external surface of the battery or batteries to be monitored. A source of light is optically coupled to the input facet of the optical fiber and a detector optically coupled to the output facet of the optical fiber. Battery health is determined by monitoring the light transmitted through the optical fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, Paul Bryan Kreiner, Scott Ira Kohn, Dorian West, Jonathan Louis Hall
  • Patent number: 7667432
    Abstract: A system and method interconnects battery packs using a flexible bus bar to prevent vibration from breaking or damaging the connections therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Dorian West, Eugene Berdichevsky, Scott Kohn
  • Publication number: 20090023056
    Abstract: A battery pack thermal management system for use in an electric car. The battery pack thermal management system includes a plurality of thermistors connected to a plurality of cells of a battery pack. A battery monitor board is connected to the thermistors. The system also includes a manifold and a plurality of cooling tubes connected to the manifold. A tube seal plug is arranged over an end of the cooling tube and an end fitting is arranged on an end of the cooling tube. The thermal management system will cool the battery pack to predetermined temperatures to increase the longevity of the battery pack within the electric vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: TESLA MOTORS, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel T. Adams, Gene Berdichevsky, Thomas Everett Colson, Arthur Hebert, Scott Kohn, David Lyons, Noel Jason Mendez, Jeffrey Brian Straubel, Dorian West, Andrew Simpson
  • Publication number: 20070252556
    Abstract: A system and method interconnects battery packs using a flexible bus bar to prevent vibration from breaking or damaging the connections therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Dorian West, Eugene Berdichevsky, Scott Kohn