Patents by Inventor John Theofanopoulos

John Theofanopoulos 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: 8129999
    Abstract: A circuit that indicates an impedance of a battery dielectric includes a signal generator module that flows a first current from a ground to a first terminal of a battery. A sensor circuit generates a signal based on a second current that flows from a second terminal of the battery through a resistance to ground. The second current includes the first current and a third current that flows to ground via an impedance presented by a battery dielectric housing. A signal conversion module generates an output signal based on the signal. The output signal represents the impedance presented by the battery dielectric housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Cobasys, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan F. Szuba, Joshua M. Anzicek, Robert A. Galvin, John Lieske, John Theofanopoulos
  • Publication number: 20090212780
    Abstract: A circuit that indicates an impedance of a battery dielectric includes a signal generator module that flows a first current from a ground to a first terminal of a battery. A sensor circuit generates a signal based on a second current that flows from a second terminal of the battery through a resistance to ground. The second current includes the first current and a third current that flows to ground via an impedance presented by a battery dielectric housing. A signal conversion module generates an output signal based on the signal. The output signal represents the impedance presented by the battery dielectric housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: COBASYS, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan F. Szuba, Joshua M. Anzicek, Robert A. Galvin, John Lieske, John Theofanopoulos
  • Patent number: 6437460
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: John Theofanopoulos, John J. C. Kopera, Erik J. Hansen, Frank Vettraino, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6175303
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for monitoring usage of a electric vehicle's battery which offsets the display when the vehicle is in an on condition. A battery energy measuring device is provided which measures the conditions indicative of the maximum available current of the battery and generates a charge signal indicative of the conditions indicative of the maximum available current of the battery. A display is provided which is responsive to the charge signal for displaying the maximum available current of the battery. An offset device is provided which is responsive to the keyswitch to provide a keyswitch signal to the battery energy measuring device representative of the on and off condition of the keyswitch. The battery energy measuring device offsets the charge signal when the keyswitch is in an on condition such that the display displays the on and off condition of the keyswitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: John Theofanopoulos, Erik J. Hansen
  • Patent number: 6008652
    Abstract: A battery tub tester is disclosed that tests the individual batteries, battery accessories and connections as they are being assembled into a battery tub for an electric vehicle. The batteries and battery tub accessories, including temperature sensing devices and battery monitor modules, are mounted and electrically connected in the battery tub in accordance with a known battery tub assembly scheme. As the assembler mounts and connects the batteries and battery tub accessories, the tub tester determines the battery voltages of each battery after it is mounted and connected within the tub to determine if the batteries have the desirable voltage and will operate as they are intended and are connected properly. Additionally, the tester determines the temperature readings as the temperature sensors are being mounted, to determine if the temperature sensors will operate as intended and are connected properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: John Theofanopoulos, Erik J. Hansen