Patents by Inventor Marc Tarpenning

Marc Tarpenning 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: 8598847
    Abstract: A method for balancing voltage for a multi-cell battery system, in which the battery system includes at least two parallel groups of cells connected in series and in which the parallel group of cells includes at least one battery cell, includes: charging the battery system by keeping the voltage of all parallel groups of cells less than or equal to a second threshold voltage value, while at least the voltage of one group of parallel cells is less than or equal to a first threshold voltage; and while at least the voltage of one group of parallel cells is less than or equal to a second threshold voltage; and while the charging current is above a predefined minimal current. The method further includes measuring the voltage of each parallel group of cells while electrical loads are shut off and dissipating energy in each of the parallel group of cells of the amount that is represented by the voltage difference between the individual parallel group of cells and the parallel group of cells with the lowest voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventors: Martin Eberhard, Steve Diamond, Marc Tarpenning, Jessica Riley, Alexander Barke, Manfred Ammler, Reinhard Hofmann
  • Patent number: 8569995
    Abstract: A method for controlling a plurality of battery cells with a control circuit coupled to the plurality of battery cells, includes: supplying the control circuit with electrical energy from the coupled battery cells; determining a number of battery cells coupled to the control circuit; and automatically adapting a power consumption drawn from the battery cells in response to the number of coupled battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventors: Martin Eberhard, Marc Tarpenning, Jessica Riley, Steven Diamond, Jaime Camhi
  • Publication number: 20120139491
    Abstract: A method for balancing voltage for a multi-cell battery system, in which the battery system includes at least two parallel groups of cells connected in series and in which the parallel group of cells includes at least one battery cell, includes: charging the battery system by keeping the voltage of all parallel groups of cells less than or equal to a second threshold voltage value, while at least the voltage of one group of parallel cells is less than or equal to a first threshold voltage; and while at least the voltage of one group of parallel cells is less than or equal to a second threshold voltage; and while the charging current is above a predefined minimal current. The method further includes measuring the voltage of each parallel group of cells while electrical loads are shut off and dissipating energy in each of the parallel group of cells of the amount that is represented by the voltage difference between the individual parallel group of cells and the parallel group of cells with the lowest voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Martin Eberhard, Steve Diamond, Marc Tarpenning, Jessica Riley, Alexander Barke, Manfred Ammler, Reinhard Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20120119705
    Abstract: A method for controlling a plurality of battery cells with a control circuit coupled to the plurality of battery cells, includes: supplying the control circuit with electrical energy from the coupled battery cells; determining a number of battery cells coupled to the control circuit; and automatically adapting a power consumption drawn from the battery cells in response to the number of coupled battery cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Martin Eberhard, Marc Tarpenning, Jessica Riley, Steven Diamond, Jaime Camhi
  • Patent number: 7698078
    Abstract: A method of communicating with an electric vehicle wherein the method includes a step of installing a communication device in the electric vehicle. The method also includes establishing a connection from the vehicle to a network. The methodology also includes controlling and monitoring a battery in the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Kelty, Marc Tarpenning, Scott Kohn
  • Publication number: 20090021385
    Abstract: A method of communicating with an electric vehicle wherein the method includes a step of installing a communication device in the electric vehicle. The method also includes establishing a connection from the vehicle to a network. The methodology also includes controlling and monitoring a battery in the electric vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: TESLA MOTORS, INC.
    Inventors: Kurt Kelty, Marc Tarpenning, Scott Kohn
  • Publication number: 20080312782
    Abstract: A method of communicating with an electric vehicle wherein the method includes a step of installing a communication device in the electric vehicle. The method also includes establishing a connection from the vehicle to a network. The methodology also includes controlling and monitoring a battery in the electric vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Gene Berdichevsky, Kurt Kelty, Jeffrey Brian Straubel, Marc Tarpenning, Colin Kenneth Campbell
  • Patent number: 6513117
    Abstract: A delivery system for managing security keys uses three key pairs to establish, register, move and revoke rights in a device to view protected information. The first and second key pairs cooperate to establish a secure certificate containing a device public and private key, and the pairs of keys are manipulated to install the appropriate keys in the device and the associated authentication server without ever exposing the keys. Thereafter, in the event of a need to authorize a new device to view content associated with a prior, authorized device, the key pairs are used to revoke the rights of an old device and establish identical viewing rights in the new device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Gemstar Development Corporation
    Inventors: Marc Tarpenning, Ben Kavanah, Brian Slesinsky
  • Publication number: 20020007454
    Abstract: A delivery system for managing security keys uses three key pairs to establish, register, move and revoke rights in a device to view protected information. The first and second key pairs cooperate to establish a secure certificate containing a device public and private key, and the pairs of keys are manipulated to install the appropriate keys in the device and the associated authentication server without ever exposing the keys. Thereafter, in the event of a need to authorize a new device to view content associated with a prior, authorized device, the key pairs are used to revoke the rights of an old device and establish identical viewing rights in the new device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 1998
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventors: MARC TARPENNING, BEN KAVANAH, BRIAN SLESINSKY