Patents by Inventor Kevin I. Bertness

Kevin I. Bertness 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).

  • Publication number: 20250130264
    Abstract: A maintenance device couples to electrical circuitry of an electric vehicle and performs maintenance on the vehicle. Electrical connectors couple to electrical circuitry of the vehicle. Measurement circuity couples to the electrical connectors. A controller couples to the measurement circuitry and collects information from the measurement circuitry and responsively makes a diagnostic determination. An apparatus for safety testing of electrical components in an electric vehicle includes a low voltage data connector which couples to a data port of the electric vehicle. A test connector couples a test signal to an electrical component of the vehicle and a test signal source having a signal generator couples to a voltage divider. The voltage divider generates the test signal and a monitor signal, Measurement circuitry couples to the monitor signal and to the low voltage data connector. The measurement circuitry identifies a current leakage based upon the monitor signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2024
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Patent number: 12237482
    Abstract: The present invention includes a battery pack maintenance device for performing maintenance on battery packs of hybrid and/or electrical vehicles (referred herein generally as electric vehicles). In various embodiments, the device includes one or more loads for connecting to a battery pack for use in discharging the battery pack, and/or charging circuitry for use in charging the battery pack. Optional input/output circuitry can be provided for communicating with circuitry of in the battery pack and/or circuitry of the vehicle. A method and device for determining connector configuration is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Patent number: 12196813
    Abstract: A method of repairing a used battery pack from an electric vehicle include removing the battery pack from the vehicle. Battery tests are performed on at least some of the plurality of batteries and a battery test result for each of the batteries tested are obtained and stored in a database. A plurality of replacement batteries are tested and test results for each of the replacement batteries are stored in the database. The battery test results from the database are retrieved and used to create a refurbished battery pack. An apparatus includes a database for storing test results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Publication number: 20240416770
    Abstract: A maintenance device for coupling to electrical circuitry of an electric vehicle for testing the low voltage battery system of the electric vehicle includes electrical connectors to configured to couple to terminals of a low voltage battery of the low voltage battery system of the vehicle and electrically couple to a DC-to-DC convertor of the vehicle which is used to charge the low voltage battery. Measurement circuitry couples to the electrical connectors. A controller coupled to the measurement circuitry is configured to measure a parameter of the low voltage battery and a parameter of the DC-to-DC convertor and responsively determine a condition of the low voltage battery and the DC-to-DC convertor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2024
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Inventors: Bryan Paul Roland, Thomas Hernandez, Jason Michael Dolinski, John Mark Sowder, Federico Almaraz, Kevin I. Bertness
  • Publication number: 20240222731
    Abstract: The present invention includes a battery pack maintenance device for performing maintenance on battery packs of hybrid and/or electrical vehicles (referred herein generally as electric vehicles). In various embodiments, the device includes one or more loads for connecting to a battery pack for use in discharging the battery pack, and/or charging circuitry for use in charging the battery pack. Optional input/output circuitry can be provided for communicating with circuitry of in the battery pack and/or circuitry of the vehicle. A method and device for determining connector configuration is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2024
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Patent number: 11973202
    Abstract: The present invention includes a battery pack maintenance device for performing maintenance on battery packs of hybrid and/or electrical vehicles (referred herein generally as electric vehicles). In various embodiments, the device includes one or more loads for connecting to a battery pack for use in discharging the battery pack, and/or charging circuitry for use in charging the battery pack. Optional input/output circuitry can be provided for communicating with circuitry of in the battery pack and/or circuitry of the vehicle. A method and device for determining connector configuration is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: MIDTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Patent number: 11926224
    Abstract: The present invention includes a battery pack maintenance device for performing maintenance on battery packs of hybrid and/or electrical vehicles (referred herein generally as electric vehicles). In various embodiments, the device includes one or more loads for connecting to a battery pack for use in discharging the battery pack, and/or charging circuitry for use in charging the battery pack. Optional input/output circuitry can be provided for communicating with circuitry of in the battery pack and/or circuitry of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: MIDTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Publication number: 20230391179
    Abstract: An electric vehicle battery transportation storage vessel includes a first housing portion configured to securely receive a storage battery of an electric vehicle, a second housing portion arranged to seal the storage battery in the first housing portion, and selectively open whereby the storage battery can be removed from or placed into the first housing portion. A sealing mechanism is configured to seal the first housing portion to the second housing portion. Battery monitoring equipment is configured to couple to the storage battery and perform battery maintenance on the storage battery. A memory configured to store information related to battery maintenance performed on the storage battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: William G. Sampson, Kevin I. Bertness, Lance M. Losinski, Keith Hospodarsky
  • Publication number: 20230387707
    Abstract: A battery maintenance system includes a first unit comprising a battery maintenance device, a second unit comprising a battery maintenance device, a third unit having a power supply and voltage input-output circuitry configured to couple to a battery and a fourth unit having an operator interface. Each of the first, second, third and fourth units are encased in a housing and include physical connectors that allow the first unit, the second unit, the third unit and the fourth unit to be coupled together in a stacked configuration in a user selectable order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Publication number: 20230333171
    Abstract: A method of repairing a used battery pack from an electric vehicle include removing the battery pack from the vehicle. Battery tests are performed on at least some of the plurality of batteries and a battery test result for each of the batteries tested are obtained and stored in a database. A plurality of replacement batteries are tested and test results for each of the replacement batteries are stored in the database. The battery test results from the database are retrieved and used to create a refurbished battery pack. An apparatus includes a database for storing test results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Patent number: 11740294
    Abstract: A method of repairing a used battery pack from an electric vehicle include removing the battery pack from the vehicle. Battery tests are performed on at least some of the plurality of batteries and a battery test result for each of the batteries tested are obtained and stored in a database. A plurality of replacement batteries are tested and test results for each of the replacement batteries are stored in the database. The battery test results from the database are retrieved and used to create a refurbished battery pack. An apparatus includes a database for storing test results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: MIDTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Publication number: 20230256829
    Abstract: A battery maintenance system for use in performing battery maintenance on a battery of an electric vehicle including a battery maintenance device and a high voltage connector configured to connect the battery maintenance device to the battery of the electric vehicle. When a fuse door is removed from a fuse block of the connector, a mechanical component in a first position blocks a keying post and prevents a first connector side from coupling with a second connector side of the connector When the fuse door is in place and covering an interior of the fuse block, the fuse door places the mechanical component into a second position to allow the keying post to mate with the second connector side and to activate an electric switch to connect voltages to the fuse block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Patent number: 11668779
    Abstract: A battery maintenance device for performing maintenance on a battery pack of an automotive vehicle powered by the battery pack includes communication circuitry configured to retrieve information related to condition of batteries/cells of the battery pack obtained using sensors in the battery pack. Measurement circuitry couples to batteries/cells of the battery pack and obtains measurement information related to a measured condition of batteries/cells of the battery pack. A controller verifies operation of the sensors in the battery pack by comparing the retrieved information with the measurement and provides a comparison output. Output circuitry outputs an indication of a failing sensor in the battery pack based upon the comparison output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: MIDTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Patent number: 11650259
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for repairing or testing a used battery pack from an electric vehicle include removing the battery pack from the vehicle. Battery tests are performed on at least some of the plurality of batteries and battery test results for each of the batteries tested are obtained. A cradle is configured to receive at least two different types of batteries. The cradle includes connectors to electrically couple circuitry of a battery tester to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: MIDTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Publication number: 20230063349
    Abstract: A power adapter for an automotive vehicle maintenance device includes a power input connection and a power output connection the is configured to connect to the automotive vehicle maintenance device. The power adapter also included connection circuitry the is configured to connect the power input connection to the power output connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, William G. Sampson, Justin Brown, Ryan Sweeney, Matt Szymczak, Rob Hayward, Rick Johnson, Jason Dolinski, Andrew Schulz, Bob Bach, Dan Kovarik
  • Patent number: 11566972
    Abstract: An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery includes a Kelvin connection configured to electrically couple to the storage battery and a microprocessor configured to determine a dynamic parameter of the storage battery. A forcing function source is configured to apply a forcing function signal to the storage battery through the Kelvin connection. A sensor is electrically coupled to the storage battery and configured to sense an electrical response of the storage battery to the applied forcing function signal. A tire tread gauge is arranged to be inserted into a tread of a tire. The tire tread gauge including a visual indicator. An image capture device is configured to capture an image of the tire tread gauge when the tire tread gauge is inserted into the tread of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: MIDTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: William G. Sampson, Kevin I. Bertness
  • Patent number: 11548404
    Abstract: The present invention includes a battery maintenance device for performing maintenance on battery packs of hybrid and/or electrical vehicles (referred herein generally as electric vehicles). In various embodiments, the device includes one or more loads for connecting to a battery pack for use in discharging the battery pack, and/or charging circuitry for use in charging the battery pack. Input/output circuitry can be provided for communicating with circuitry of in the battery pack and/or circuitry of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: MIDTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Patent number: 11545839
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for charging a first storage battery and a second storage battery electrically connected together in series includes a first Kelvin connection, a second Kelvin connection and a third Kelvin connection coupled to the storage batteries. At least two of the Kelvin connections are configured to charge at least one of the first and second batteries. A charging source configured to selectively couple a charge signal to a storage battery through the Kelvin connections. A switching device selectively couples the charging source and measurement circuitry to at least two of the first, second and third Kelvin connections. A microprocessor selectively controls the switching device, charges the batteries, and measures a parameter of the batteries as a function of the charging signal applied to the batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: MIDTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: William G. Sampson, Kevin I. Bertness
  • Publication number: 20220384858
    Abstract: A battery monitoring system, for monitoring condition of a plurality of batteries, includes first and second pluralities of battery testers each coupled to a storage battery stored at a respective first and second storage location The plurality of battery testers including test circuitry configured to test a storage battery and to generate test data, a memory configured to store battery tester identification information, and communication circuitry configured to transmit the test data and the identification information over a wireless communication medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Patent number: 11486930
    Abstract: A battery tester includes a pair of battery clamps, a testing unit, and a pair of holsters. Each battery clamp is configured to connect to a terminal of a battery. The testing unit includes testing circuitry that is connected to the battery clamps, and is configured to perform one or more battery tests on a battery connected to the battery clamps. Each of the holsters is attached to a housing of the testing unit, and is configured to receive and hold one of the battery clamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: MIDTRONICS, INC., INTERSTATE BATTERY SYSTEM INTERNATIONAL., INC.
    Inventors: Andrew John Salo, III, Kevin I. Bertness, Bryan James Rossman, Brian Paul Madeley, Clifford Evyn Sewing