Patents by Inventor Michael F. Zawisa
Michael F. Zawisa 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: 9263754Abstract: An integrated environmental barrier for protecting the receiver portion of a fuel cell stack health monitoring system. The stack health monitoring system includes a transmitting measurement module and an optical communication module having a receiver. Measurements indicating the health of the fuel cell stack are optically communicated between the transmitter and receiver through the environmentally protective barrier. The environmentally protective barrier is disposed between the measurement module and the optical communication module such that the environmental barrier isolates the optical communication module from the environment contained within the fuel cell stack. The environmental barrier comprises light blocking and light transmitting portions enabling system variation while ensuring signal integrity.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2012Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Todd D. Bogumil, Michael F. Zawisa, Kenneth L. Kaye, Mark A. Buffa, David J. Keyes
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Patent number: 8859122Abstract: An interconnect device for a battery assembly having a plurality of battery cell assemblies and a thermistor is disclosed. The interconnect device includes a non-conductive frame; a plurality of conductive traces integrally formed with the frame, a busbar in electrical communication with at least one of the conductive traces and disposed adjacent an aperture formed in the frame, wherein the aperture receives a tab of at least one of the battery cell assemblies, and a conductive pad disposed on a lower surface of the frame, the pad in electrical communication with at least one of the conductive traces and adapted to receive a signal from the thermistor.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2010Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Stuart D. Barter, Michael F. Zawisa
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Publication number: 20140153932Abstract: An integrated environmental barrier for protecting the receiver portion of a fuel cell stack health monitoring system. The stack health monitoring system includes a transmitting measurement module and an optical communication module having a receiver. Measurements indicating the health of the fuel cell stack are optically communicated between the transmitter and receiver through the environmentally protective barrier. The environmentally protective barrier is disposed between the measurement module and the optical communication module such that the environmental barrier isolates the optical communication module from the environment contained within the fuel cell stack. The environmental barrier comprises light blocking and light transmitting portions enabling system variation while ensuring signal integrity.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2012Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Todd D. Bogumil, Michael F. Zawisa, Kenneth L. Kaye, Mark A. Buffa, David J. Keyes
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Patent number: 8450965Abstract: A system that monitors fuel cells in a fuel cell group. The system includes a plurality of voltage sensors coupled to the fuel cells in the fuel cell group, where each sensor monitors a different voltage of the fuel cells and where lower priority voltage sensors monitor higher voltages and higher priority sensors monitor lower voltages. The system also includes a plurality of oscillators where a separate oscillator is coupled to each of the sensors. Each oscillator operates at a different frequency where higher frequency oscillators are coupled to lower priority sensors and lower frequency oscillators are coupled to higher priority sensors. A light source that receives frequency signals from the oscillators and switches on and off in response to the frequency signals. A light pipe receives the switched light signals from the light source and provides light signals at a certain frequency at an end of the light pipe.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2010Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: David D. Rea, Michael F. Zawisa, Kenneth L. Kaye, Robert S. Foley
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Patent number: 8372553Abstract: A fuel cell system that includes a cell voltage monitoring sub-system that measures the cell voltage of each cell in a fuel cell stack and provides an indication of a low performing or failed cell. The fuel cell system uses the cell voltage monitoring sub-system to determine if one of the wires connected to a bipolar plate in the stack is broken or has otherwise failed. The cell voltage monitoring sub-system uses differential amplifiers to compare the positive side voltage and the negative side voltage of a cell to determine if the cell voltage is low or the cell is failing. By looking at the outputs of two differential amplifiers in the cell voltage monitoring sub-system, it can be determined whether adjacent cells provide an indication of both cells failing, which would indicate that a connection wire has failed.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2006Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Hartmut Stengelin, Bernhard Baaser, Robert S. Foley, Michael F. Zawisa
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Patent number: 8257875Abstract: A system for communicating measurement data from each fuel cell or a group of fuel cells in a fuel cell stack, including a plurality of fuel cells and a plurality of stack plates, where one stack plate is between each fuel cell and on each end of the stack. The system includes a plurality of embedded smart plates where each embedded smart plate is mechanically and electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of stack plates, and where each embedded smart plate includes optical transceivers on a top side and a bottom side of the smart plate. The system further includes at least one aggregator device having at least one optical transceiver to initiate a series of communications between the embedded smart plates to determine the location and data collected by each of the smart plates.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: David D. Rea, Michael F. Zawisa, Kenneth L. Kaye
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Patent number: 8206862Abstract: A system for communicating measurement data from each fuel cell or a group of fuel cells in a fuel cell stack, including a plurality of fuel cells, a plurality of stack plates, and a plurality of embedded smart plates. The stack plates are between each fuel cell and on each end of the stack, and the plurality of embedded smart plates are mechanically and electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of stack plates, and each smart plate including optical transceivers on the top side and the bottom side. The system further includes first and second aggregator devices, said first and second aggregator devices including at least one optical transceiver for communicating with the embedded smart plate adjacent to the first or second aggregator device, where one aggregator device initiates communication with the embedded smart plates and the other aggregator device completes communication.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Michael F. Zawisa, David D. Rea, Kenneth L. Kaye
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Publication number: 20120019255Abstract: A system that monitors fuel cells in a fuel cell group. The system includes a plurality of voltage sensors coupled to the fuel cells in the fuel cell group, where each sensor monitors a different voltage of the fuel cells and where lower priority voltage sensors monitor higher voltages and higher priority sensors monitor lower voltages. The system also includes a plurality of oscillators where a separate oscillator is coupled to each of the sensors. Each oscillator operates at a different frequency where higher frequency oscillators are coupled to lower priority sensors and lower frequency oscillators are coupled to higher priority sensors. A light source that receives frequency signals from the oscillators and switches on and off in response to the frequency signals. A light pipe receives the switched light signals from the light source and provides light signals at a certain frequency at an end of the light pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2010Publication date: January 26, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: David D. Rea, Michael F. Zawisa, Kenneth L. Kaye, Robert S. Foley
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Publication number: 20110229745Abstract: An interconnect device for a battery assembly having a plurality of battery cell assemblies and a thermistor is disclosed. The interconnect device includes a non-conductive frame; a plurality of conductive traces integrally formed with the frame, a busbar in electrical communication with at least one of the conductive traces and disposed adjacent an aperture formed in the frame, wherein the aperture receives a tab of at least one of the battery cell assemblies, and a conductive pad disposed on a lower surface of the frame, the pad in electrical communication with at least one of the conductive traces and adapted to receive a signal from the thermistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2010Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Stuart D. Barter, Michael F. Zawisa
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Publication number: 20110217613Abstract: A system for communicating measurement data from each fuel cell or a group of fuel cells in a fuel cell stack, including a plurality of fuel cells and a plurality of stack plates, where one stack plate is between each fuel cell and on each end of the stack. The system includes a plurality of embedded smart plates where each embedded smart plate is mechanically and electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of stack plates, and where each embedded smart plate includes optical transceivers on a top side and a bottom side of the smart plate. The system further includes at least one aggregator device having at least one optical transceiver to initiate a series of communications between the embedded smart plates to determine the location and data collected by each of the smart plates.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2010Publication date: September 8, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: David D. Rea, Michael F. Zawisa, Kenneth L. Kaye
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Publication number: 20110217612Abstract: A system for communicating measurement data from each fuel cell or a group of fuel cells in a fuel cell stack, including a plurality of fuel cells, a plurality of stack plates, and a plurality of embedded smart plates. The stack plates are between each fuel cell and on each end of the stack, and the plurality of embedded smart plates are mechanically and electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of stack plates, and each smart plate including optical transceivers on the top side and the bottom side. The system further includes first and second aggregator devices, said first and second aggregator devices including at least one optical transceiver for communicating with the embedded smart plate adjacent to the first or second aggregator device, where one aggregator device initiates communication with the embedded smart plates and the other aggregator device completes communication.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2010Publication date: September 8, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Michael F. Zawisa, David D. Rea, Kenneth L. Kaye
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Publication number: 20100114513Abstract: A method of estimating minimum voltage of fuel cells, and a product using same.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2008Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Kiran Mallavarapu, Sanja Sljivar-Lovria, Balasubramanian Lakshmanan, Michael F. Zawisa
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Patent number: 7579824Abstract: A high-precision Rogowski current transformer, the Rogowski coil is realized in a single printed circuit board while maintaining both the outside field rejection of a traditional Rogowski coil, and the increased output voltage similar to the multiple printed circuit board Rogowski coil arrangements.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2006Date of Patent: August 25, 2009Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: David Rea, Kenneth L. Kaye, Michael F. Zawisa
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Patent number: 7421356Abstract: A method and apparatus for a high frequency resistance measurement instrument with a reasonable dynamic range, which militates against saturation in the presence of one or more large undesirable signals, the high frequency measurement instrument capable of employing multiple alternating currents of differing frequencies to maintain measurement capability despite signal chain saturation in the presence of a large undesirable signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2006Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: David Rea, Kenneth L. Kaye, Robert S. Foley, Michael F. Zawisa, Clark G. Hochgraf
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Publication number: 20080091367Abstract: A method and apparatus for a high frequency resistance measurement instrument with a reasonable dynamic range, which militates against saturation in the presence of one or more large undesirable signals, the high frequency measurement instrument capable of employing multiple alternating currents of differing frequencies to maintain measurement capability despite signal chain saturation in the presence of a large undesirable signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2006Publication date: April 17, 2008Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: David Rea, Kenneth L. Kaye, Robert S. Foley, Michael F. Zawisa, Clark G. Hochgraf
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Publication number: 20080079418Abstract: A high-precision Rogowski current transformer, the Rogowski coil is realized in a single printed circuit board while maintaining both the outside field rejection of a traditional Rogowski coil, and the increased output voltage similar to the multiple printed circuit board Rogowski coil arrangements.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2006Publication date: April 3, 2008Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: David Rea, Kenneth L. Kaye, Michael F. Zawisa