Patents by Inventor John H. Floros

John H. Floros 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: 10067197
    Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing voltage threshold detection circuitry of individual battery cells within a battery pack supplying power to a vehicle are disclosed. One example system comprises, a plurality of battery cells within a battery pack, a plurality of voltage threshold detecting circuits detecting voltage of the plurality of battery cells, a voltage of a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells coupled to a first voltage threshold detecting circuit of the plurality of voltage threshold detecting circuits, and a network that selectively couples a second battery cell to the first voltage detecting circuit while the first battery cell is coupled to the first voltage detecting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: A123 Systems LLC
    Inventors: Paul W. Firehammer, John H. Floros
  • Publication number: 20180106870
    Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing voltage threshold detection circuitry of individual battery cells within a battery pack supplying power to a vehicle are disclosed. One example system comprises, a plurality of battery cells within a battery pack, a plurality of voltage threshold detecting circuits detecting voltage of the plurality of battery cells, a voltage of a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells coupled to a first voltage threshold detecting circuit of the plurality of voltage threshold detecting circuits, and a network that selectively couples a second battery cell to the first voltage detecting circuit while the first battery cell is coupled to the first voltage detecting circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Paul W. Firehammer, John H. Floros
  • Patent number: 9864014
    Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing voltage threshold detection circuitry of individual battery cells within a battery pack supplying power to a vehicle are disclosed. One example system comprises, a plurality of battery cells within a battery pack, a plurality of voltage threshold detecting circuits detecting voltage of the plurality of battery cells, a voltage of a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells coupled to a first voltage threshold detecting circuit of the plurality of voltage threshold detecting circuits, and a network that selectively couples a second battery cell to the first voltage detecting circuit while the first battery cell is coupled to the first voltage detecting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Paul W. Firehammer, John H. Floros
  • Patent number: 9641004
    Abstract: Systems and methods for balancing charge of battery cells of a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, battery cell balancing may be improved by balancing battery cells of a battery cell stack simultaneously. The system and method may be particularly useful battery packs that may be constructed with battery cell stacks that vary in a number of series battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: A123 Systems, LLC
    Inventors: John H. Floros, Paul W. Firehammer
  • Patent number: 9618544
    Abstract: Systems and methods for verifying a reference voltage within a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, an assessment of a reference voltage is made via a band-gap voltage of a microcontroller. The system and method may be particularly useful determining whether or not the reference voltage has drifted from a desired voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: A123 Systems LLC
    Inventors: John H. Floros, Paul W. Firehammer
  • Publication number: 20160003916
    Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing voltage threshold detection circuitry of individual battery cells within a battery pack supplying power to a vehicle are disclosed. One example system comprises, a plurality of battery cells within a battery pack, a plurality of voltage threshold detecting circuits detecting voltage of the plurality of battery cells, a voltage of a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells coupled to a first voltage threshold detecting circuit of the plurality of voltage threshold detecting circuits, and a network that selectively couples a second battery cell to the first voltage detecting circuit while the first battery cell is coupled to the first voltage detecting circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Paul W. Firehammer, John H. Floros
  • Patent number: 9157967
    Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing voltage threshold detection circuitry of individual battery cells within a battery pack supplying power to a vehicle are disclosed. One example system comprises, a plurality of battery cells within a battery pack, a plurality of voltage threshold detecting circuits detecting voltage of the plurality of battery cells, a voltage of a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells coupled to a first voltage threshold detecting circuit of the plurality of voltage threshold detecting circuits, and a network that selectively couples a second battery cell to the first voltage detecting circuit while the first battery cell is coupled to the first voltage detecting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: A123 Systems LLC
    Inventors: Paul W. Firehammer, John H. Floros
  • Publication number: 20140042980
    Abstract: Systems and methods for balancing charge of battery cells of a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, battery cell balancing may be improved by balancing battery cells of a battery cell stack simultaneously. The system and method may be particularly useful battery packs that may be constructed with battery cell stacks that vary in a number of series battery cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: A123 Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Floros, Paul W. Firehammer
  • Publication number: 20130265059
    Abstract: Systems and methods for verifying a reference voltage within a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, an assessment of a reference voltage is made via a band-gap voltage of a microcontroller. The system and method may be particularly useful determining whether or not the reference voltage has drifted from a desired voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: A123 SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: John H. Floros, Paul W. Firehammer
  • Publication number: 20120306503
    Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing voltage threshold detection circuitry of individual battery cells within a battery pack supplying power to a vehicle are disclosed. One example system comprises, a plurality of battery cells within a battery pack, a plurality of voltage threshold detecting circuits detecting voltage of the plurality of battery cells, a voltage of a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells coupled to a first voltage threshold detecting circuit of the plurality of voltage threshold detecting circuits, and a network that selectively couples a second battery cell to the first voltage detecting circuit while the first battery cell is coupled to the first voltage detecting circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: A123 SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul W. Firehammer, John H. Floros
  • Publication number: 20120274284
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and managing a plurality of cells within a battery pack supplying power to propel a vehicle are disclosed. One example method comprises, monitoring voltage of a plurality of battery cells of a battery pack, activating a power supply when a voltage of at least one battery cell of the plurality of battery cells exceeds a threshold, and draining a portion of charge from the at least one battery cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: A123 Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Firehammer, John H. Floros
  • Patent number: 7365503
    Abstract: A system and method for compensating the output of an uncompensated Hall Effect sensor used to monitor an output shaft of an actuator. The actuator includes an output shaft, a magnet coupled to the output shaft, a motor for rotating the output shaft between a first position and a second position and an electronic control module having a controller, a diode and an uncompensated Hall Effect sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: David J. Rutkowski, John H. Floros, Imad Sharaa
  • Patent number: 7265539
    Abstract: An actuator having an output shaft, a motor for rotating the output shaft between a first position and a second position, and an electronic control module having a controller and a sensor. The sensor is configured to output a signal to the controller indicative of the position of the output shaft, and the controller is configured to determine whether the output shaft is in the first position or the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: David J. Rutkowski, John H. Floros, Imad Sharaa
  • Patent number: 6914543
    Abstract: A method for detecting an absolute rotational position of an electromechanical device or the at least one component thereof comprising determining a first absolute position of the electromechanical device or the at least one component thereof based on a commutation index signal, obtaining a Z-index signal, and determining a second absolute position of the electromechanical device or the at least one component thereof based on the Z-index signal. The method initially determines a coarse rotational position of the electromechanical device such as a rotor or steering wheel based on the commutation index signal. When a device's position is first initialized by a commutation index signal before the Z-index pulse is detected, the device's position is re-initialized upon detection of the Z-Index pulse to provide a more accurate absolute device rotational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Floros, Nick Sarafopoulos, Paul T. Jordan
  • Publication number: 20030222798
    Abstract: A method for detecting an absolute rotational position of an electromechanical device or the at least one component thereof comprising determining a first absolute position of the electromechanical device or the at least one component thereof based on a commutation index signal, obtaining a Z-index signal, and determining a second absolute position of the electromechanical device or the at least one component thereof based on the Z-index signal. The method initially determines a coarse rotational position of the electromechanical device such as a rotor or steering wheel based on the commutation index signal. When a device's position is first initialized by a commutation index signal before the Z-index pulse is detected, the device's position is re-initialized upon detection of the Z-Index pulse to provide a more accurate absolute device rotational position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Floros, Nick Sarafopoulos, Paul T. Jordan