Patents by Inventor Michael C. Walker
Michael C. Walker 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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Patent number: 10998587Abstract: An electric vehicle may include a battery system with a plurality of battery packs electrically connected together. Each battery pack of the plurality of battery packs may include a plurality of battery cells. The electric vehicle may also include a cooling system configured to cool the plurality of battery packs. The electric vehicle may further include a control system configured to selectively operate the cooling system such that at least one battery pack of the plurality of battery packs is maintained at a temperature different from another battery pack of the plurality of battery packs.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2018Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Proterra Inc.Inventor: Michael C. Walker
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Publication number: 20180205123Abstract: An electric vehicle may include a battery system with a plurality of battery packs electrically connected together. Each battery pack of the plurality of battery packs may include a plurality of battery cells. The electric vehicle may also include a cooling system configured to cool the plurality of battery packs. The electric vehicle may further include a control system configured to selectively operate the cooling system such that at least one battery pack of the plurality of battery packs is maintained at a temperature different from another battery pack of the plurality of battery packs.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2018Publication date: July 19, 2018Applicant: Proterra Inc.Inventor: Michael C. Walker
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Patent number: 9905893Abstract: An electric vehicle may include a battery system with a plurality of battery packs electrically connected together. Each battery pack of the plurality of battery packs may include a plurality of battery cells. The electric vehicle may also include a cooling system configured to cool the plurality of battery packs. The electric vehicle may further include a control system configured to selectively operate the cooling system such that at least one battery pack of the plurality of battery packs is maintained at a temperature different from another battery pack of the plurality of battery packs.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2015Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: Proterra Inc.Inventor: Michael C. Walker
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Patent number: 9718367Abstract: A vehicle charging system comprises a plurality of retractable conductor bars in a housing of a vehicle. The plurality of conductor bars includes a positive conductor bar and a negative conductor bar. Individual conductor bars of the plurality are electrically isolated from one another. The vehicle charging system further comprises a charging system having a receiver mounted on a support structure. The receiver comprises a plurality of electrical contact members in electrical communication with a power source. The receiver is configured to bring individual conductor bars of the plurality in contact with the electrical contact members for charging an energy storage device of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2013Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Proterra Inc.Inventors: Seamus McGrath, Keyur Shah, Marc Gottschalk, Michael C. Walker
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Publication number: 20170187077Abstract: A battery system for an electric vehicle includes a container having a lid and a plurality of battery cells housed in the container. Each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells may include a pair of tabs to electrically connect to the battery cell, a printed circuit board housed in the container, and a pair of contact elements. The printed circuit board may include circuitry adapted to monitor at least one battery cell. And, each contact element may be attached to the printed circuit board and configured to separably contact a tab of the at least one battery cell to electrically connect the at least one battery cell to the printed circuit board.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2015Publication date: June 29, 2017Applicant: Proterra Inc.Inventors: Timothy J. McCARTNEY, Michael C. WALKER
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Publication number: 20170005375Abstract: An electric vehicle may include a battery system with a plurality of battery packs electrically connected together. Each battery pack of the plurality of battery packs may include a plurality of battery cells. The electric vehicle may also include a cooling system configured to cool the plurality of battery packs. The electric vehicle may further include a control system configured to selectively operate the cooling system such that at least one battery pack of the plurality of battery packs is maintained at a temperature different from another battery pack of the plurality of battery packs.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2015Publication date: January 5, 2017Inventor: Michael C. WALKER
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Publication number: 20160190801Abstract: A scalable energy storage system may comprise a plurality of battery packs including at least a first battery pack and a second battery pack. The system may also include a plurality of inverters. The plurality of inverters may include at least a first inverter and a second inverter. The plurality of battery packs may be electrically coupled to the plurality of inverters such that the first battery pack is individually connected to an input of the first inverter and the second battery pack is individually connected to an input of the second inverter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2014Publication date: June 30, 2016Inventors: Seamus T. McGrath, Michael C. WALKER
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Publication number: 20150314695Abstract: A vehicle charging system comprises a plurality of retractable conductor bars in a housing of a vehicle. The plurality of conductor bars includes a positive conductor bar and a negative conductor bar. Individual conductor bars of the plurality are electrically isolated from one another. The vehicle charging system further comprises a charging system having a receiver mounted on a support structure. The receiver comprises a plurality of electrical contact members in electrical communication with a power source. The receiver is configured to bring individual conductor bars of the plurality in contact with the electrical contact members for charging an energy storage device of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2013Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicant: PROTERRA INC.Inventors: Seamus McGRATH, Keyur SHAH, Marc GOTTSCHALK, Michael C. WALKER
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Publication number: 20130221919Abstract: A battery management system includes several subsystem blocks, an Energy Storage Master Charger unit, and several battery pack systems. The Energy Storage Master may interface with the Vehicle Master Controller by way of CAN or other communication method to an External Charger. Each battery module within a battery pack may include a Local Module Unit which may communicate with a Pack Master. The Pack Master may communicate with and may be controlled by the Energy Storage Master. Thus, there is a processor to monitor groups of battery cells, a second processor to collect further information about the cell groups, and a third module that takes high-level information from each cell group processor to process and pass on to other vehicle controllers or charger controllers. An integrated BMS may enable cell monitoring, temperature monitoring, cell balancing, string current monitoring, and charger control integration.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2011Publication date: August 29, 2013Inventors: Nicky G. Gallegos, Michael C. Walker