Patents by Inventor John Merk
John Merk 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: 11728661Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a reconfigurable battery system and method of operating the same. The reconfigurable battery system comprising a plurality of switchable battery modules, a battery supervisory circuit, and a battery pack controller, where the plurality of switchable battery modules electrically arranged in series to define a battery string defining an output voltage. The battery pack controller operable to connect the battery string to the external bus via a pre-charge switch to perform a pre-charge cycle.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences CorporationInventors: Matthew Kirleis, John Merk, Theodor Hoffer-Schaefer
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Patent number: 11296540Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a reconfigurable battery system and method of operating the same. The reconfigurable battery system comprising a plurality of switchable battery modules, a battery supervisory circuit, and a battery pack controller, where the plurality of switchable battery modules electrically arranged in series to define a battery string defining an output voltage. The battery pack controller operably coupled to the battery supervisory circuit to selectively switch, for each of the plurality of switchable battery modules, the battery switch between the first position and the second position such that the output voltage is substantially equal to a predetermined target output voltage.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2019Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences CorporationInventors: Matthew Kirleis, John Merk
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Publication number: 20220013814Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a reconfigurable battery system and method of operating the same. An example apparatus includes at least one memory, instructions in the apparatus, and processor circuitry to execute the instructions to determine a state of charge of a battery, determine a closed circuit voltage of the battery, determine a value of a parameter based on a ratio of the state of charge and the closed circuit voltage, and control a switch coupled to the battery based on the value of the parameter, the controlling of the switch to either cause the battery to be coupled to a battery string or cause the battery to be disconnected from the battery string.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2021Publication date: January 13, 2022Inventors: Matthew Kirleis, John Merk
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Publication number: 20210391731Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a reconfigurable battery system and method of operating the same. The reconfigurable battery system comprising a plurality of switchable battery modules, a battery supervisory circuit, and a battery pack controller, where the plurality of switchable battery modules electrically arranged in series to define a battery string defining an output voltage. The battery pack controller operable to connect the battery string to the external bus via a pre-charge switch to perform a pre-charge cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2021Publication date: December 16, 2021Inventors: Matthew Kirleis, John Merk, Theodor Hoffer-Schaefer
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Patent number: 11133534Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a reconfigurable battery system and method of operating the same. The reconfigurable battery system comprising a plurality of switchable battery modules, a battery supervisory circuit, and a battery pack controller, where the plurality of switchable battery modules electrically arranged in series to define a battery string defining an output voltage. The battery pack controller operably coupled to the battery supervisory circuit to selectively switch, for each of the plurality of switchable battery modules, the battery switch between the first position and the second position based at least in part on the one or more parameters of the battery and in accordance with a predetermined switching routine.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2019Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences CorporationInventors: Matthew Kirleis, John Merk
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Patent number: 11108251Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a reconfigurable battery system and method of operating the same. The reconfigurable battery system comprising a plurality of switchable battery modules, a battery supervisory circuit, and a battery pack controller, where the plurality of switchable battery modules electrically arranged in series to define a battery string defining an output voltage. The battery pack controller operable to connect the battery string to the external bus via a pre-charge switch to perform a pre-charge cycle.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2019Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences CorporationInventors: Matthew Kirleis, John Merk, Theodor Hoffer-Schaefer
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Publication number: 20200274203Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a reconfigurable battery system and method of operating the same. The reconfigurable battery system comprising a plurality of switchable battery modules, a battery supervisory circuit, and a battery pack controller, where the plurality of switchable battery modules electrically arranged in series to define a battery string defining an output voltage. The battery pack controller operably coupled to the battery supervisory circuit to selectively switch, for each of the plurality of switchable battery modules, the battery switch between the first position and the second position based at least in part on the one or more parameters of the battery and in accordance with a predetermined switching routine.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2019Publication date: August 27, 2020Inventors: Matthew Kirleis, John Merk
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Publication number: 20200274371Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a reconfigurable battery system and method of operating the same. The reconfigurable battery system comprising a plurality of switchable battery modules, a battery supervisory circuit, and a battery pack controller, where the plurality of switchable battery modules electrically arranged in series to define a battery string defining an output voltage. The battery pack controller operable to connect the battery string to the external bus via a pre-charge switch to perform a pre-charge cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2019Publication date: August 27, 2020Inventors: Matthew Kirleis, John Merk, Theodor Hoffer-Schaefer
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Publication number: 20200274386Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a reconfigurable battery system and method of operating the same. The reconfigurable battery system comprising a plurality of switchable battery modules, a battery supervisory circuit, and a battery pack controller, where the plurality of switchable battery modules electrically arranged in series to define a battery string defining an output voltage. The battery pack controller operably coupled to the battery supervisory circuit to selectively switch, for each of the plurality of switchable battery modules, the battery switch between the first position and the second position such that the output voltage is substantially equal to a predetermined target output voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2019Publication date: August 27, 2020Inventors: Matthew Kirleis, John Merk
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Patent number: 5681986Abstract: An improved invasive acoustic sensor apparatus detects particulate matter in a flow by impingement thereon. The apparatus includes an axially extending probe body having an active length positionable in a flow and a distributed piezoelectric transducer disposed therein. The transducer is acoustically coupled to an interior surface of the body, along substantially the entire active length thereof, and may be a piezoelectric film, piezoelectric tube, or a plurality of electrically parallel connected piezoelectric tube elements. The apparatus further includes an acoustic isolation layer disposed between the probe body and positioning structure to reduce transmission of process wall vibration to the transducer.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1996Date of Patent: October 28, 1997Assignee: Auburn International, Inc.Inventors: John Merk, David R. Day, Robert E. Newton