Patents by Inventor Jim Castelaz

Jim Castelaz 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: 9000727
    Abstract: A system for balancing charge within a battery pack with a plurality of cells connected in series, including a capacitor; a processor configured to select a combination of donor cells and receiver cells from the plurality of cells in one of the following two modes: (1) a first mode where the number of donor cells is equal to the number of receiver cells, and (2) a second mode where the number of donor cells is greater than the number of receiver cells; and a plurality of switches that electrically connect the capacitor to the donor cells to charge the capacitor, and that electrically connected the capacitor to the receiver cells to discharge the capacitor. The transfer of charge between cells in the plurality of cells through the capacitor balances the charge within the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Motiv Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Castelaz, Jessica Riley, Vishal Parikh, Steven Diamond, Samuel Chang
  • Publication number: 20140084870
    Abstract: A system for balancing charge within a battery pack with a plurality of cells connected in series, including a capacitor; a processor configured to select a combination of donor cells and receiver cells from the plurality of cells in one of the following two modes: (1) a first mode where the number of donor cells is equal to the number of receiver cells, and (2) a second mode where the number of donor cells is greater than the number of receiver cells; and a plurality of switches that electrically connect the capacitor to the donor cells to charge the capacitor, and that electrically connected the capacitor to the receiver cells to discharge the capacitor. The transfer of charge between cells in the plurality of cells through the capacitor balances the charge within the battery pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Jim Castelaz, Jessica Riley, Vishal Parikh, Steven Diamond, Samuel Chang
  • Patent number: 8519670
    Abstract: A system for balancing charge within a battery pack with a plurality of cells connected in series, including a capacitor; a processor configured to select a combination of donor cells and receiver cells from the plurality of cells in one of the following two modes: (1) a first mode where the number of donor cells is equal to the number of receiver cells, and (2) a second mode where the number of donor cells is greater than the number of receiver cells; and a plurality of switches that electrically connect the capacitor to the donor cells to charge the capacitor, and that electrically connected the capacitor to the receiver cells to discharge the capacitor. The transfer of charge between cells in the plurality of cells through the capacitor balances the charge within the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Motiv Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Castelaz, Jessica Riley, Vishal Parikh, Steven Diamond, Samuel Chang
  • Publication number: 20100237830
    Abstract: A system for balancing charge within a battery pack with a plurality of cells connected in series, including a capacitor; a processor configured to select a combination of donor cells and receiver cells from the plurality of cells in one of the following two modes: (1) a first mode where the number of donor cells is equal to the number of receiver cells, and (2) a second mode where the number of donor cells is greater than the number of receiver cells; and a plurality of switches that electrically connect the capacitor to the donor cells to charge the capacitor, and that electrically connected the capacitor to the receiver cells to discharge the capacitor. The transfer of charge between cells in the plurality of cells through the capacitor balances the charge within the battery pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Jim Castelaz, Jessica Riley, Vishal Parikh, Steven Diamond, Samuel Chang