Patents by Inventor John J. C. Kopera
John J. C. Kopera 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).
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Patent number: 8237400Abstract: Disclosed herein is a modular battery system having at least one subsystem comprising a plurality of battery modules connected in series or parallel, wherein each subsystem preferably having a first endplate and a second endplate. The battery modules may be bound between the first and second endplates. A plurality of band members couple the first and second endplates to each other and bind the battery module between the endplates. Further, a data collection panel is in electrical communication with each of the battery modules and the data collection panel transmits status information of the modules to a master control module, which converts the electrical into a data transmission through a controller area network (CAN) bus. Status information may include module temperature, module pressure and module voltage, essentially any measurable parameter that may be conducted via an electrical signal. Depending on the needs of a given application, the battery modules may be connected in series or parallel.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2010Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Cobasys, LLCInventors: Paul Gamboa, John J. C. Kopera, Christopher Matthew Millon
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Patent number: 7960943Abstract: Disclosed herein is a modular battery system having at least one subsystem comprising a plurality of battery modules connected in series or parallel, wherein each subsystem preferably having a first endplate and a second endplate. The battery modules may be bound between the first and second endplates. A plurality of band members couple the first and second endplates to each other and bind the battery module between the endplates. Further, a data collection panel is in electrical communication with each of the battery modules and the data collection panel transmits status information of the modules to a master control module, which converts the electrical into a data transmission through a controller area network (CAN) bus. Status information may include module temperature, module pressure and module voltage, essentially any measurable parameter that may be conducted via an electrical signal. Depending on the needs of a given application, the battery modules may be connected in series or parallel.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2006Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Cobasys, LLCInventors: Paul Gamboa, John J. C. Kopera, Christopher Matthew Millon
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Publication number: 20100301807Abstract: Disclosed herein is a modular battery system having at least one subsystem comprising a plurality of battery modules connected in series or parallel, wherein each subsystem preferably having a first endplate and a second endplate. The battery modules may be bound between the first and second endplates. A plurality of band members couple the first and second endplates to each other and bind the battery module between the endplates. Further, a data collection panel is in electrical communication with each of the battery modules and the data collection panel transmits status information of the modules to a master control module, which converts the electrical into a data transmission through a controller area network (CAN) bus. Status information may include module temperature, module pressure and module voltage, essentially any measurable parameter that may be conducted via an electrical signal. Depending on the needs of a given application, the battery modules may be connected in series or parallel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2010Publication date: December 2, 2010Inventors: Paul Gamboa, John J.C. Kopera, Christopher Matthew Millon
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Patent number: 7649336Abstract: A rechargeable DC power supply includes a housing including an interior, an exterior, and an integral heat sink including a heat absorbing surface formed in said interior and a heat dissipating surface formed in said exterior. The rechargeable DC power supply includes a rechargeable battery having battery terminals positioned in said interior, power supply terminals positioned at said exterior of said housing, and a first printed circuit board (PCB) assembly including a bidirectional DC-DC converter module connected between said battery terminals and said power supply terminals. The first PCB assembly is in coplanar contact with said heat absorbing surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2007Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: Cobasys, LLCInventors: Paul Gamboa, John J C Kopera
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Publication number: 20080118819Abstract: Disclosed herein is a modular battery system having at least one subsystem comprising a plurality of battery modules connected in series or parallel, wherein each subsystem preferably having a first endplate and a second endplate. The battery modules may be bound between the first and second endplates. A plurality of band members couple the first and second endplates to each other and bind the battery module between the endplates. Further, a data collection panel is in electrical communication with each of the battery modules and the data collection panel transmits status information of the modules to a master control module, which converts the electrical into a data transmission through a controller area network (CAN) bus. Status information may include module temperature, module pressure and module voltage, essentially any measurable parameter that may be conducted via an electrical signal. Depending on the needs of a given application, the battery modules may be connected in series or parallel.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2006Publication date: May 22, 2008Inventors: Paul Gamboa, John J. C. Kopera, Christopher Matthew Millon
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Patent number: 6437460Abstract: A low power supervisor controller for an electric vehicle substantially reduces ignition-off draw current in the main control module. The supervisor controller has a sleep controller for powering down the main control module when an interrupt event has not occurred. The sleep controller powers up the main control module when the interrupt event has occurred. The supervisor controller also has an interrupt monitor for determining when the interrupt event occurs, as well as a supervisor wait module. The supervisor wait module establishes and controls an interrupt cycle, wherein the interrupt cycle is defined by an amount of time between determinations of the interrupt monitor.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1999Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventors: John Theofanopoulos, John J. C. Kopera, Erik J. Hansen, Frank Vettraino, Jr.
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Patent number: 5808469Abstract: A battery monitor for monitoring the voltage and temperature of the batteries associated with a battery pack of an electric vehicle. The battery monitor includes an opto-isolator that electrically separates an isolated portion of the battery monitor connected to the batteries from a non-isolated portion of the battery monitor that transmits battery voltage and temperature signals to a vehicle controller of the electric vehicle. The battery monitor is positioned proximate to a battery tub holding the batteries of the electric vehicle so that high voltage wires connected to the batteries within the battery tub are limited in length for safety purposes. Further, a limited number of wires transmitting the battery voltage and battery temperature signals from the battery monitor to the vehicle controller are required.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 1997Date of Patent: September 15, 1998Assignee: Chrysler CorporationInventor: John J. C. Kopera
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Patent number: 5646534Abstract: A battery monitor for monitoring the voltage and temperature of the batteries associated with a battery pack of an electric vehicle. The battery monitor includes an opto-isolator that electrically separates an isolated portion of the battery monitor connected to the batteries from a non-isolated portion of the battery monitor that transmits battery voltage and temperature signals to a vehicle controller of the electric vehicle. The battery monitor is positioned proximate to a battery tub holding the batteries of the electric vehicle so that high voltage wires connected to the batteries within the battery tub are limited in length for safety purposes. Further, a limited number of wires transmitting the battery voltage and battery temperature signals from the battery monitor to the vehicle controller are required.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 1995Date of Patent: July 8, 1997Assignee: Chrysler CorporationInventor: John J. C. Kopera
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Patent number: 5550478Abstract: In an apparatus for determining the respective percentages of first and second liquids in a mixture, the apparatus including an inductive coil for immersion in said fluid mixture such that the mixture at least partially determines the value of distributed capacitance exhibited by said coil winding, and including associated circuitry; a housing for encasing the inductive element and associated circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1992Date of Patent: August 27, 1996Assignee: Chrysler CorporationInventor: John J. C. Kopera
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Patent number: 5497753Abstract: An electronic sensor (20) for measuring methanol content in gasoline fuels for automotive engines including a sensing coil (108/108') and a paired capacitance element (42,44/42', 44') that cooperates with the coil to define an oscillating circuit wherein the gasoline methanol fuel mixture is used as a dielectric for the capacitor elements of the sensor, a change in the methanol concentration in the fuel resulting in a change in the dielectric constant of the sensor (20) which results in a change in the resonant frequency of the capacitor elements (108/108', 42/44/42', 44'), and a microprocessor circuit (160) which responds to a change in the oscillating frequency to establish a control signal that may be used by an automotive powertrain controller (24) to effect appropriate adjustments in the air/fuel ratio and ignition timing for the engine (10) to compensate for variations in the methanol content of the fuel.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1993Date of Patent: March 12, 1996Assignee: Chrysler CorporationInventor: John J. C. Kopera
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Patent number: 5400758Abstract: An electronic sensor (20) for measuring methanol content in gasoline fuels for automotive engines including a sensing coil (108/108') and a paired capacitance element (42,44/42', 44') that cooperates with the coil to define an oscillating circuit wherein the gasoline methanol fuel mixture is used as a dielectric for the capacitor elements of the sensor, a change in the methanol concentration in the fuel resulting in a change in the dielectric constant of the sensor (20) which results in a change in the resonant frequency of the capacitor elements (108/108', 42/44/42', 44'), and a microprocessor circuit (160) which responds to a change in the oscillating frequency to establish a control signal that may be used by an automotive powertrain controller (24) to effect appropriate adjustments in the air/fuel ratio and ignition timing for the engine (10) to compensate for variations in the methanol content of the fuel.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1993Date of Patent: March 28, 1995Assignees: Borg-Warner Automotive, Inc., Chrysler CorporationInventors: Richard K. Rader, Rodney E. Barr, Carl R. Vogt, John J. C. Kopera
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Patent number: 5150683Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the percentage of two different fluids having substantially different dielectric properties such as a gasoline/alcohol or a water/oil mixture. An inductive coil element immersed in the mixture exhibits a distributed capacitance level which is directly proportional to the dielectric constant of the fluid mixture surrounding the coil which, in turn, is directly proportional to the percentage of each fluid in the mixture. The loops of wire in the coil act as equivalent electrodes in creating a capacitance between each loop. The dielectric constant of a mixture will increase with the percentage of the higher dielectric fluid thus increasing the capacitance. An amplifier is constructed that oscillates at the resonant frequency of the LC circuit formed by the coil in the mixture. The resonant frequency decreases as capacitance increases.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1991Date of Patent: September 29, 1992Assignee: Chrysler CorporationInventors: Henry F. Depa, John J. C. Kopera
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Patent number: 5119671Abstract: A method of controlling preselected parameters in an engine powered by a fuel mixture of first and second liquids utilizes differing dielectric constants of the first and second liquids to alter the frequency of an oscillator using a tank circuit formed by an inductor coil immersed in the fuel mixture and the distributed capacitance of the coil. The frequency of the oscillator therefore can be used to determine the percentages in the fuel mixture of the first and second liquids. The percentages, in turn, are used to control the preselected engine parameters.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1991Date of Patent: June 9, 1992Assignee: Chrysler CorporationInventor: John J. C. Kopera
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Patent number: 5091704Abstract: An oscillator for use in a fluid detection apparatus for determining the respective percentages of first and second liquids in a mixture disposed within a chamber, including an inductive element immersed in the mixture such that the mixture at least partially determines a value of distributed capacitance exhibited by the element when energized; where the inductive element is a coil acting as a resonant element in an oscillator, and where the oscillator is of the tuned input type such that the coil and its distributed capacitance define a parallel resonant tank circuit which generates an oscillating signal at a resonant frequency of the tank circuit, the resonant frequency being inversely proportional related to the distributed capacitance of the coil.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1991Date of Patent: February 25, 1992Assignee: Chrysler CorporationInventor: John J. C. Kopera
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Patent number: D608730Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2006Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Cobasys LLCInventors: Paul Gamboa, John J. C. Kopera, Christopher Matthew Millon