Patents by Inventor Edward T. Hillstrom

Edward T. Hillstrom 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).

  • Publication number: 20240106076
    Abstract: A battery pack can include a plurality of battery cells arranged adjacent one another in a row. The battery pack can include a first spacer plate aligned with and positioned adjacent the first cell of the plurality of battery cells, a second spacer plate aligned with and positioned adjacent the last cell of the plurality of battery cells, and a housing enclosing the plurality of battery cells. The housing can include a first sidewall positioned adjacent the first spacer plate and a second sidewall positioned adjacent the second spacer plate such that the plurality of battery cells can be positioned between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The battery pack can include a cover. A layer of adhesive can be disposed between the battery cells and the cover. Various techniques can be employed to improve the durability of the battery pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Dylan Erb, Abraham B. Caulk, Erik C. Ostergaard, Nivay Anandarajah, Alexander Bartlett, Edward T. Hillstrom, Evan D. Maley, Matthew I. Woods
  • Publication number: 20240106058
    Abstract: A battery pack can include a plurality of battery cells arranged adjacent one another in a row. The battery pack can include a first spacer plate aligned with and positioned adjacent the first cell of the plurality of battery cells, a second spacer plate aligned with and positioned adjacent the last cell of the plurality of battery cells, and a housing enclosing the plurality of battery cells. The housing can include a first sidewall positioned adjacent the first spacer plate and a second sidewall positioned adjacent the second spacer plate such that the plurality of battery cells can be positioned between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The battery pack can include a cover. A layer of adhesive can be disposed between the battery cells and the cover. Various techniques can be employed to improve the durability of the battery pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Dylan Erb, Nivay Anandarajah, Alexander Bartlett, Abraham B. Caulk, Edward T. Hillstrom, Evan D. Maley, Erik C. Ostergaard, Matthew I. Woods
  • Publication number: 20240106062
    Abstract: A battery pack can include a plurality of battery cells arranged adjacent one another in a row. The battery pack can include a first spacer plate aligned with and positioned adjacent the first cell of the plurality of battery cells, a second spacer plate aligned with and positioned adjacent the last cell of the plurality of battery cells, and a housing enclosing the plurality of battery cells. The housing can include a first sidewall positioned adjacent the first spacer plate and a second sidewall positioned adjacent the second spacer plate such that the plurality of battery cells can be positioned between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The battery pack can include a cover. A layer of adhesive can be disposed between the battery cells and the cover. Various techniques can be employed to improve the durability of the battery pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Dylan Erb, Nivay Anandarajah, Alexander Bartlett, Abraham B. Caulk, Edward T. Hillstrom, Evan D. Maley, Erik C. Ostergaard, Matthew I. Woods
  • Patent number: 11923494
    Abstract: Energy storage devices, battery cells, and batteries of the present technology may include a base plate. The batteries may include a first circuit board overlying the base plate. The batteries may include a battery stack overlying the first circuit board and electrically coupled with the first circuit board. The battery stack may include a plurality of battery cells. The battery stack may define an aperture through an active region of the battery stack. The batteries may include a second circuit board overlying the battery stack and electrically coupled with the battery stack. The batteries may include a compression plate overlying the second circuit board. The batteries may include a retaining member compressibly coupling the compression plate with the base plate. The retaining member may extend through the aperture through the active region of the battery stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dylan Erb, Abraham B. Caulk, Ross L. Johnstal, Paul W. Firehammer, Edward T. Hillstrom, Zhongying Shi, Ian E. O'Connor, Alexander J. Clarabut
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20230387552
    Abstract: Energy storage devices, battery cells, and batteries of the present technology may include a first circuit board defining a plurality of apertures through the first circuit board. The batteries may include a battery stack overlying the first circuit board and electrically coupled with the first circuit board. The battery stack may include a plurality of battery cells. The battery stack may define a plurality of apertures axially aligned with a corresponding aperture through the first circuit board. The batteries may include a second circuit board that defines a plurality of apertures through the second circuit board. The batteries may include a plurality of fasteners, each fastener extending through a separate channel of the plurality of channels. The batteries may include a plurality of conductive extensions electrically coupling each battery cell of the battery stack with one or more fasteners of the plurality of fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Dylan Erb, Abraham B. Caulk, Ross L. Johnstal, Paul W. Firehammer, Edward T. Hillstrom, Zhongying Shi, Ian E. O'Connor, Alexander J. Clarabut
  • Patent number: 11677120
    Abstract: Energy storage devices, battery cells, and batteries of the present technology may include a first circuit board defining a plurality of apertures through the first circuit board. The batteries may include a battery stack overlying the first circuit board and electrically coupled with the first circuit board. The battery stack may include a plurality of battery cells. The battery stack may define a plurality of apertures axially aligned with a corresponding aperture through the first circuit board. The batteries may include a second circuit board that defines a plurality of apertures through the second circuit board. The batteries may include a plurality of fasteners, each fastener extending through a separate channel of the plurality of channels. The batteries may include a plurality of conductive extensions electrically coupling each battery cell of the battery stack with one or more fasteners of the plurality of fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dylan Erb, Abraham B. Caulk, Ross L. Johnstal, Paul W. Firehammer, Edward T. Hillstrom, Zhongying Shi, Ian E. O'Connor, Alexander J. Clarabut
  • Patent number: 11600891
    Abstract: Energy storage devices, battery cells, and batteries of the present technology may include a first circuit board characterized by a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface may include a conductive layer. The batteries may include a battery stack overlying the first circuit board and electrically coupled with the second surface of the first circuit board. The battery stack may include a plurality of battery cells. The batteries may include a second circuit board overlying the battery stack. The second circuit board may be characterized by a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface may include a conductive layer, and the battery stack may be electrically coupled with the second surface of the second circuit board. The batteries may include a power distribution block electrically coupled with the first and second circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dylan Erb, Abraham B. Caulk, Ross L. Johnstal, Paul W. Firehammer, Edward T. Hillstrom, Zhongying Shi, Isaac S. Harper
  • Patent number: 11588155
    Abstract: Energy storage devices, battery cells, and batteries of the present technology may include a first battery cell. The first battery cell may include an anode current collector, and an anode active material disposed on the anode current collector. The first battery cell may include a cathode current collector and a cathode active material disposed on the cathode current collector. The current collectors may be polymeric materials. The batteries may include a first conductive band electrically coupled with the first battery cell. The first conductive band may be seated on the second surface of one of the anode current collector or the cathode current collector. The first conductive band may extend about a perimeter of the one of the anode current collector or the cathode current collector. The batteries may include a cell module including a first flexible extension electrically coupled with the first conductive band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dylan Erb, Abraham B. Caulk, Ross L. Johnstal, Paul W. Firehammer, Edward T. Hillstrom, Christopher T. Campbell, Andrew C. Chu
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20220077444
    Abstract: Energy storage devices, battery cells, and batteries of the present technology may include a first circuit board defining a plurality of apertures through the first circuit board. The batteries may include a battery stack overlying the first circuit board and electrically coupled with the first circuit board. The battery stack may include a plurality of battery cells. The battery stack may define a plurality of apertures axially aligned with a corresponding aperture through the first circuit board. The batteries may include a second circuit board that defines a plurality of apertures through the second circuit board. The batteries may include a plurality of fasteners, each fastener extending through a separate channel of the plurality of channels. The batteries may include a plurality of conductive extensions electrically coupling each battery cell of the battery stack with one or more fasteners of the plurality of fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Dylan Erb, Abraham B. Caulk, Ross L. Johnstal, Paul W. Firehammer, Edward T. Hillstrom, Zhongying Shi, Ian E. O'Connor, Alexander J. Clarabut
  • Publication number: 20220077489
    Abstract: Energy storage devices, battery cells, and batteries of the present technology may include a base plate. The batteries may include a first circuit board overlying the base plate. The batteries may include a battery stack overlying the first circuit board and electrically coupled with the first circuit board. The battery stack may include a plurality of battery cells. The battery stack may define an aperture through an active region of the battery stack. The batteries may include a second circuit board overlying the battery stack and electrically coupled with the battery stack. The batteries may include a compression plate overlying the second circuit board. The batteries may include a retaining member compressibly coupling the compression plate with the base plate. The retaining member may extend through the aperture through the active region of the battery stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Dylan Erb, Abraham B. Caulk, Ross L. Johnstal, Paul W. Firehammer, Edward T. Hillstrom, Zhongying Shi, Ian E. O'Connor, Alexander J. Clarabut