Patents by Inventor Gerald W. Blanton

Gerald W. Blanton 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).

  • Flexible energy storage device with integral charging unit
    Patent number: 5626976
    Abstract: A flexible, conformal energy storage device (10) has a plurality of photovoltaic devices (40, 42, 44) formed integrally therewith. The energy source includes an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte encapsulated between layers of oxygen and water impermeable sealing materials. The sealing materials also serve as the base upon which the photovoltaic devices are deposited. The anode and cathode of the photovoltaic devices are electrically coupled to the anode and the cathode of the energy storage device to provide a recharging current thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald W. Blanton, Simon Thomas, Kenneth M. Massaroni
  • Microprocessor controlled portable battery charger and method of charging using same
    Patent number: 5565756
    Abstract: A portable battery charger (102) for use with a variety of battery packs (106) is capable of determining and applying the appropriate charge voltage and current. Electronic circuitry (128) within the portable battery charger identifies the type of battery pack to be charged and selects the appropriate set of battery banks (120) in the charger. Sensors (132) determine the state of charge of the battery pack and a controller (128) controls the functions of the charger. A multiplicity of connectors (314) on the portable battery charger are provided to allow connection to a variety of battery packs. The charger first identifies the type of battery pack and determines the charging profile to be used to charge the battery pack. The charging profile is set in the portable charger by selecting the appropriate sources of electrical power, and the battery pack is then appropriately charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn F. Urbish, Gerald W. Blanton, Robert W. McGinnis, Dale W. Dorinski
  • Electrical energy storage device and method of charging and discharging same
    Patent number: 5439756
    Abstract: Briefly, according to the invention, there is provided an energy storage device (5) with three electrodes. A first electrolyte (15)is situated between the first (10) and second (20) electrodes so that it is contact with each of the electrodes, forming a battery cell (80). A second electrolyte (25) is placed between the second (20) and third (30) electrodes so that it is also in contact with each electrode, forming an electrochemical capacitor (70). The battery and capacitor each share a common electrode (20). After charging, the energy storage device can be linked to an electrical device to power it by discharging the battery portion to provide a substantially constant voltage, and discharging the capacitor portion to provide a substantially constant current when the device requires higher levels of current than the battery portion is capable of providing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Anaba A. Anani, Frank P. Malaspina, Gerald W. Blanton