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).

  • Patent number: 11728661
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Kirleis, John Merk, Theodor Hoffer-Schaefer
  • Patent number: 11296540
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Kirleis, John Merk
  • Publication number: 20220013814
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Matthew Kirleis, John Merk
  • Publication number: 20210391731
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew Kirleis, John Merk, Theodor Hoffer-Schaefer
  • Patent number: 11133534
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Kirleis, John Merk
  • Patent number: 11108251
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Kirleis, John Merk, Theodor Hoffer-Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20200274203
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew Kirleis, John Merk
  • Publication number: 20200274371
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew Kirleis, John Merk, Theodor Hoffer-Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20200274386
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew Kirleis, John Merk
  • Patent number: 5681986
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Auburn International, Inc.
    Inventors: John Merk, David R. Day, Robert E. Newton