Patents by Inventor John P. Dinkelman
John P. Dinkelman 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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Publication number: 20230052813Abstract: A lithium-ion battery module includes a housing having a plurality of partitions configured to define a plurality of compartments within a housing. The battery module also includes a lithium-ion cell element provided in each of the compartments of the housing. The battery module further includes a cover coupled to the housing and configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments. The cover is also configured to seal the compartments of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2022Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Jason D. FUHR, Gary P. HOUCHIN-MILLER, Gerald K. BOWEN, John P. DINKELMAN, Dharmendra PATEL, Alex A. MOLINAROLI
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Patent number: 11515599Abstract: A lithium-ion battery module includes a housing having a plurality of partitions configured to define a plurality of compartments within a housing. The battery module also includes a lithium-ion cell element provided in each of the compartments of the housing. The battery module further includes a cover coupled to the housing and configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments. The cover is also configured to seal the compartments of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: CLARIOS ADVANCED SOLUTIONS LLCInventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Gerald K. Bowen, John P. Dinkelman, Dharmendra Patel, Alex A. Molinaroli
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Publication number: 20220359954Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery module that includes a stack of battery cells, where each battery cell has a terminal, and the terminal has a first alloy of a metal. The battery module has a bus bar that includes a body having a second alloy of the metal, nickel plating on at least a portion of the body, and an indentation disposed on the body, where a thickness of the nickel plating is between 0.2% and 20% of an overall thickness of the body, and a weld physically and electrically coupling the respective terminal to the bus bar. The indentation has a depth between 10% and 90% of the overall thickness, an area of the indentation is between 5% and 20% of an overall area of the body, and the nickel plating enables the weld to be stronger than a weld between the first and second alloys.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2022Publication date: November 10, 2022Inventors: Matthew R. Tyler, John P. Dinkelman
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Publication number: 20220320633Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery module that includes a housing having a first protruding shelf along a first perimeter of the housing, a second protruding shelf along a second perimeter of the housing, where the first and second protruding shelves each include an absorptive material configured to absorb a first laser emission. The battery module also includes an electronics compartment cover configured to be coupled to the housing via a first laser weld, and a cell receptacle region cover configured to be coupled to the housing via a second laser weld. The electronics compartment cover has a first transparent material configured to transmit the first laser emission toward the first protruding shelf and the cell receptacle region cover has a second transparent material configured to transmit the first laser emission or a second laser emission toward the second protruding shelf.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2022Publication date: October 6, 2022Inventors: Matthew R. Tyler, Christopher M. Bonin, John P. Dinkelman, Richard M. DeKeuster, Dale B. Trester
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Patent number: 11400546Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a welding process for a battery module. In an embodiment, a system for welding two components in a battery module includes a laser source configured to emit a laser beam onto a workpiece having a first battery module component and a second battery module component. The system also has an actuator coupled to the laser source and configured to move the laser beam along a first axis and a second axis and a controller electrically coupled to the laser source and the actuator. The controller is configured to send a signal to the laser source and the actuator to form a sinusoidal lap weld on a surface of the workpiece, such that the first battery module component is electrically coupled to the second battery module component.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2019Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLCInventor: John P. Dinkelman
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Patent number: 11404751Abstract: A battery module that includes a stack of battery cells, where each battery cell has a terminal, and the terminal has a first alloy of a metal. The battery module has a bus bar that includes a body having a second alloy of the metal, nickel plating on at least a portion of the body, and an indentation disposed on the body, where a thickness of the nickel plating is between 0.2% and 20% of an overall thickness of the body, and a weld physically and electrically coupling the respective terminal to the bus bar. The indentation has a depth between 10% and 90% of the overall thickness, an area of the indentation is between 5% and 20% of an overall area of the body, and the nickel plating enables the weld to be stronger than a weld between the first and second alloys.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2020Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLCInventors: Matthew R. Tyler, John P. Dinkelman
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Publication number: 20220131202Abstract: A battery module includes electrochemical cells having an electrochemical cell with a terminal end. The battery module also includes a bus bar carrier configured to interface bus bars with terminals of the electrochemical cells and having a window. The battery module also includes a flex circuit disposed on the bus bar carrier, and a temperature sensor welding tab of the flex circuit. The temperature sensor welding tab includes a circuit engagement region coupled to the flex circuit, a welding region coupled to the terminal end of the first electrochemical cell, and a transverse region extending through the window of the bus bar carrier and between the circuit engagement region and the welding region.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2020Publication date: April 28, 2022Inventors: Richard M. DeKeuster, Xugang Zhang, Abed Al Fattah Isam Shafie, Christopher M. Bonin, John P. Dinkelman, Jennifer L. Czarnecki
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Patent number: 11316221Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery module that includes a housing having a first protruding shelf along a first perimeter of the housing, a second protruding shelf along a second perimeter of the housing, where the first and second protruding shelves each include an absorptive material configured to absorb a first laser emission. The battery module also includes an electronics compartment cover configured to be coupled to the housing via a first laser weld, and a cell receptacle region cover configured to be coupled to the housing via a second laser weld. The electronics compartment cover has a first transparent material configured to transmit the first laser emission toward the first protruding shelf and the cell receptacle region cover has a second transparent material configured to transmit the first laser emission or a second laser emission toward the second protruding shelf.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2019Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLCInventors: Matthew R. Tyler, Christopher M. Bonin, John P. Dinkelman, Richard M. DeKeuster, Dale B. Trester
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Publication number: 20210013479Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery module that includes a stack of battery cells, where each battery cell has a terminal, and the terminal has a first alloy of a metal. The battery module has a bus bar that includes a body having a second alloy of the metal, nickel plating on at least a portion of the body, and an indentation disposed on the body, where a thickness of the nickel plating is between 0.2% and 20% of an overall thickness of the body, and a weld physically and electrically coupling the respective terminal to the bus bar. The indentation has a depth between 10% and 90% of the overall thickness, an area of the indentation is between 5% and 20% of an overall area of the body, and the nickel plating enables the weld to be stronger than a weld between the first and second alloys.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Matthew R. Tyler, John P. Dinkelman
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Publication number: 20200365848Abstract: A method for bonding components of a lithium ion battery module includes positioning an energy absorbing insert adjacent to a first thermoplastic layer of the lithium ion battery module and to a second thermoplastic layer of the lithium ion battery module. Energy is applied to the energy absorbing insert to melt the energy absorbing insert and thereby fuse the first thermoplastic layer to the second thermoplastic layer. The first thermoplastic layer is a transmissive or semi-transmissive layer configured to allow the energy the pass through the first thermoplastic layer for absorption by the energy absorbing insert.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2018Publication date: November 19, 2020Inventors: John P. Dinkelman, Jason D. Fuhr, Richard M. DeKeuster
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Patent number: 10714730Abstract: A battery module is disclosed that includes a stack of battery cells, where each battery cell has a terminal, and the terminal has a first alloy of a metal. The battery module has a bus bar that includes a body having a second alloy of the metal, nickel plating on at least a portion of the body, and an indentation disposed on the body, where a thickness of the nickel plating is between 0.2% and 20% of an overall thickness of the body, and a weld physically and electrically coupling the respective terminal to the bus bar. The indentation has a depth between 10% and 90% of the overall thickness, an area of the indentation is between 5% and 20% of an overall area of the body, and the nickel plating enables the weld to be stronger than a weld between the first and second alloys.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2018Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings, LLCInventors: Matthew R. Tyler, John P. Dinkelman
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Publication number: 20200161614Abstract: A lithium-ion battery module includes a housing having a plurality of partitions configured to define a plurality of compartments within a housing. The battery module also includes a lithium-ion cell element provided in each of the compartments of the housing. The battery module further includes a cover coupled to the housing and configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments. The cover is also configured to seal the compartments of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2020Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: Jason D. FUHR, Gary P. HOUCHIN-MILLER, Gerald K. BOWEN, John P. DINKELMAN, Dharmendra PATEL, Alex A. MOLINAROLI
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Patent number: 10629884Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a housing with a cell receptacle region defined by walls of the housing and configured to enable passage of electrochemical cells therethrough. The battery module also includes a bus bar carrier sealed in the cell receptacle region. The bus bar carrier includes a perimeter having flexible ribs extending along at least a majority of the perimeter and configured to enable intimate contact between the walls of the housing and the perimeter of the bus bar carrier.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2018Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLCInventors: Matthew R. Tyler, Christopher M. Bonin, John P. Dinkelman, Richard M. DeKeuster, Dale B. Trester
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Patent number: 10593925Abstract: A battery module includes a housing and battery cells disposed in the housing, each of the battery cells including two terminals. The battery module also includes bus bar cell interconnects including a first material, where each bus bar cell interconnect is configured to electrically couple two adjacent battery cells via an electrical coupling with a first terminal of one of the adjacent battery cells and a second terminal of the other adjacent battery cell, where at least one of the first and second terminals includes the first material. The battery module includes welds, each weld being disposed at a corresponding welding point to directly couple one of the bus bar cell interconnects with the corresponding at least one terminal including the first material. Each welding point is accessible for welding from a position above the battery cells when the interconnects are disposed over the battery cells.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2016Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: CPS TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLCInventors: John P. Dinkelman, Lisa L. Winders, Richard M. DeKeuster, Edward J. Soleski, Mikhail S. Balk
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Patent number: 10573861Abstract: A lithium-ion battery module includes a housing having a plurality of partitions configured to define a plurality of compartments within a housing. The battery module also includes a lithium-ion cell element provided in each of the compartments of the housing. The battery module further includes a cover coupled to the housing and configured to route electrolyte into each of the compartments. The cover is also configured to seal the compartments of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2017Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: Clarios Advanced Soltuions LLCInventors: Jason D. Fuhr, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Gerald K. Bowen, John P. Dinkelman, Dharmendra Patel, Alex A. Molinaroli
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Publication number: 20190312236Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery module that includes a housing having a first protruding shelf along a first perimeter of the housing, a second protruding shelf along a second perimeter of the housing, where the first and second protruding shelves each include an absorptive material configured to absorb a first laser emission. The battery module also includes an electronics compartment cover configured to be coupled to the housing via a first laser weld, and a cell receptacle region cover configured to be coupled to the housing via a second laser weld. The electronics compartment cover has a first transparent material configured to transmit the first laser emission toward the first protruding shelf and the cell receptacle region cover has a second transparent material configured to transmit the first laser emission or a second laser emission toward the second protruding shelf.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2019Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: Matthew R. Tyler, Christopher M. Bonin, John P. Dinkelman, Richard M. DeKeuster, Dale B. Trester
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Publication number: 20190240772Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a welding process for a battery module. In an embodiment, a system for welding two components in a battery module includes a laser source configured to emit a laser beam onto a workpiece having a first battery module component and a second battery module component. The system also has an actuator coupled to the laser source and configured to move the laser beam along a first axis and a second axis and a controller electrically coupled to the laser source and the actuator. The controller is configured to send a signal to the laser source and the actuator to form a sinusoidal lap weld on a surface of the workpiece, such that the first battery module component is electrically coupled to the second battery module component.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2019Publication date: August 8, 2019Inventor: John P. Dinkelman
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Patent number: 10374211Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the field of batteries and battery modules, and more specifically, relates to a system and method for manufacturing terminal assemblies for lithium-ion battery modules. A disclosed battery module includes a terminal block assembly that is secured to a polymer housing of the battery module. The terminal block assembly includes a terminal post having a post portion and a base portion that extends outward from a central axis of the post portion. The terminal block assembly also includes a bus bar coupled to the base portion of the terminal post without welding, wherein the bus bar includes a trough disposed near the terminal post. The terminal block assembly further includes a polymer portion overmolding at least the trough of the bus bar to form a drainage channel near the terminal post.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2016Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLCInventors: Richard M. DeKeuster, Robert J. Mack, John P. Dinkelman
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Patent number: 10340483Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery module that includes a housing having a first protruding shelf along a first perimeter of the housing, a second protruding shelf along a second perimeter of the housing, where the first and second protruding shelves each include an absorptive material configured to absorb a first laser emission. The battery module also includes an electronics compartment cover configured to be coupled to the housing via a first laser weld, and a cell receptacle region cover configured to be coupled to the housing via a second laser weld. The electronics compartment cover has a first transparent material configured to transmit the first laser emission toward the first protruding shelf and the cell receptacle region cover has a second transparent material configured to transmit the first laser emission or a second laser emission toward the second protruding shelf.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2015Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLCInventors: Matthew R. Tyler, Christopher M. Bonin, John P. Dinkelman, Richard M. DeKeuster, Dale B. Trester
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Patent number: 10195688Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a welding process for a battery module. In an embodiment, a system for welding two components in a battery module includes a laser source configured to emit a laser beam onto a workpiece having a first battery module component and a second battery module component. The system also has an actuator coupled to the laser source and configured to move the laser beam along a first axis and a second axis and a controller electrically coupled to the laser source and the actuator. The controller is configured to send a signal to the laser source and the actuator to form a sinusoidal lap weld on a surface of the workpiece, such that the first battery module component is electrically coupled to the second battery module component.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2015Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventor: John P. Dinkelman