Patents by Inventor Mikhail S. Balk
Mikhail S. Balk 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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Publication number: 20230130608Abstract: A bus bar including a first end comprising a first material and a second end comprising a second material and a method of manufacture are provided. The first end is designed to be coupled to a terminal of a first battery cell of a battery module and includes a first collar disposed on the first end designed to receive and surround the terminal of the first battery cell of the battery module. The second end is designed to be coupled to a terminal of a second battery cell of the battery module and includes a second collar disposed on the second end designed to receive and surround the terminal of the second battery of the battery module. The first and second batteries of the battery module are adjacent to one another. Moreover, the bus bar includes a joint electrically and mechanically coupling the first end and the second end.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Inventors: Matthew R. TYLER, Edward J. SOLESKI, Mikhail S. BALK, Richard M. DEKEUSTER
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Patent number: 11529873Abstract: A bus bar including a first end comprising a first material and a second end comprising a second material and a method of manufacture are provided. The first end is designed to be coupled to a terminal of a first battery cell of a battery module and includes a first collar disposed on the first end designed to receive and surround the terminal of the first battery cell of the battery module. The second end is designed to be coupled to a terminal of a second battery cell of the battery module and includes a second collar disposed on the second end designed to receive and surround the terminal of the second battery of the battery module. The first and second batteries of the battery module are adjacent to one another. Moreover, the bus bar includes a joint electrically and mechanically coupling the first end and the second end.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: CPS TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLCInventors: Matthew R. Tyler, Edward J. Soleski, Mikhail S. Balk, Richard M. DeKeuster
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Patent number: 11296389Abstract: A battery module comprising a housing, a venting assembly, a plurality of battery cells disposed in the housing, a printed circuit configured to control operations of the battery module, a vent chamber of the venting assembly, and a lid including the venting assembly. Each of the plurality of battery cells comprises a battery cell vent for venting gases from within the corresponding battery cell upward in a direction of the printed circuit. The vent chamber is disposed between the plurality of battery cells and the printed circuit. The vent chamber is configured to direct the gases vented from the battery cell vent toward an opening for venting the gases from the battery module. The lid is disposed over the plurality of battery cells and holds the printed circuit above the plurality of battery cells.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2020Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLCInventors: Ronald J. Dulle, Richard M. DeKeuster, Robert J. Mack, Edward J. Soleski, Matthew R. Tyler, Stephen D. Cash, Mikhail S. Balk
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Patent number: 10593925Abstract: A battery module includes a housing and battery cells disposed in the housing, each of the battery cells including two terminals. The battery module also includes bus bar cell interconnects including a first material, where each bus bar cell interconnect is configured to electrically couple two adjacent battery cells via an electrical coupling with a first terminal of one of the adjacent battery cells and a second terminal of the other adjacent battery cell, where at least one of the first and second terminals includes the first material. The battery module includes welds, each weld being disposed at a corresponding welding point to directly couple one of the bus bar cell interconnects with the corresponding at least one terminal including the first material. Each welding point is accessible for welding from a position above the battery cells when the interconnects are disposed over the battery cells.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2016Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: CPS TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLCInventors: John P. Dinkelman, Lisa L. Winders, Richard M. DeKeuster, Edward J. Soleski, Mikhail S. Balk
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Patent number: 10211444Abstract: Present embodiments are directed to a battery module including a venting assembly and a method of manufacturing the battery module. The venting assembly may, in certain embodiments, be designed to vent gases from a plurality of battery cells disposed in a housing of the battery module. Each of the plurality of battery cells may include a battery cell vent. The venting assembly may include a lid designed to be coupled to the housing and disposed over the battery cells in the housing. In some embodiments, the lid includes a vent chamber formed in the lid and designed to receive and direct gases vented from the plurality of battery cells away from the battery module.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Richard M. DeKeuster, Robert J. Mack, Edward J. Soleski, Matthew R. Tyler, Stephen D. Cash, Mikhail S. Balk
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Patent number: 10103374Abstract: A battery module including bus bar cell interconnects and a method of manufacture are provided. The battery module may, in certain embodiments, include a housing, a plurality of battery cells disposed in the housing, and a bus bar cell interconnect. The bus bar cell interconnect is designed to electrically couple a first battery cell and a second battery cell. In some embodiments, the bus bar cell interconnect includes a first end electrically coupled with a first terminal of the first battery cell and a second end electrically coupled with a second terminal of the second battery cell. The bus bar cell interconnect also includes a curved portion disposed between the first end and the second end, and the bus bar cell interconnect is designed to distribute stress across the curved portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Mikhail S. Balk, Edward J. Soleski, Richard M. DeKeuster
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Patent number: 10044018Abstract: A lid assembly for use in a battery module includes a lid with apertures extending through the lid in a vertical direction, where each of the apertures is configured to receive a terminal of a battery cell of the battery module. The lid assembly also includes one or more extensions extending away from the lid in the vertical direction. Each of the one or more extensions is configured to couple the lid to a printed circuit board assembly of the battery module. The lid assembly also includes walls extending away from the lid in the vertical direction. Each of the walls is configured to extend between a first terminal of a first battery cell and a second terminal of a second battery cell.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Edward J. Soleski, Mikhail S. Balk, Richard M. DeKeuster, Stephen D. Cash, Robert J. Mack, Matthew R. Tyler
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Patent number: 9985268Abstract: A battery module includes a housing configured to hold prismatic battery cells within a space defined by four interior walls of the housing. The housing includes a first interior wall that includes partitions extending upwards from a bottom of the housing and a second interior wall that includes partitions extending upwards from the bottom of the housing. The first interior wall faces opposite the second interior wall. The partitions disposed on the first interior wall and the partitions disposed on the second interior wall define slots between adjacent partitions, where each of the slots increases in width between the adjacent partitions from the bottom of the housing upwards. Each of the slots is configured to retain one of the prismatic battery cells.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Mikhail S. Balk, Richard M. DeKeuster, Stephen D. Cash
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Patent number: 9859532Abstract: A battery module includes a rigid external casing made, for example, of a metallic sheet material. Securement features, tabs, and so forth may be formed in the material of the casing. The casing may be made by stamping and bending metallic sheet. A liner is disposed in the casing, and one or more battery cells are disposed in the liner. The liner may comprise an insulative sheet material that is cut and folded to generally conform to the casing. The structure may include a bus bar assembly, compression members, a thermal component and other structural and functional elements.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2012Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY LLCInventors: Mikhail S. Balk, Richard M. DeKeuster, Binbin Fan
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Patent number: 9831482Abstract: A system includes a lid disposed over battery cells in a battery module. The lid includes flexible fingers, and each of the flexible fingers aligns with a corresponding one of the battery cells. Each of the flexible fingers is configured to exert a downward force against the corresponding one of the battery cells, and the flexible fingers are configured to accommodate varying heights of the battery cells.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Mikhail S. Balk, Richard M. DeKeuster, Stephen D. Cash
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Patent number: 9698403Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly includes a PCB and a high current interconnect mounted on the PCB. The high current interconnect is configured to electrically couple a first high current bladed component, a second high current bladed component, and a trace disposed on the PCB. The high current interconnect includes feet made of a conductive material that are coupled to the PCB. The trace is coupled to the feet via a weld.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Edward J. Soleski, Richard M. DeKeuster, Bryan L. Thieme, Ronald J. Dulle, Mikhail S. Balk
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Patent number: 9660244Abstract: A battery module includes a housing and battery cells disposed in the housing, each of the battery cells including two terminals. The battery module also includes bus bar cell interconnects including a first material, where each bus bar cell interconnect is configured to electrically couple two adjacent battery cells via an electrical coupling with a first terminal of one of the adjacent battery cells and a second terminal of the other adjacent battery cell, where at least one of the first and second terminals includes the first material. The battery module includes welds, each weld being disposed at a corresponding welding point to directly couple one of the bus bar cell interconnects with the corresponding at least one terminal including the first material. Each welding point is accessible for welding from a position above the battery cells when the interconnects are disposed over the battery cells.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: John P. Dinkelman, Lisa L. Winders, Richard M. DeKeuster, Edward J. Soleski, Mikhail S. Balk
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Publication number: 20170012271Abstract: A battery module includes a housing and battery cells disposed in the housing, each of the battery cells including two terminals. The battery module also includes bus bar cell interconnects including a first material, where each bus bar cell interconnect is configured to electrically couple two adjacent battery cells via an electrical coupling with a first terminal of one of the adjacent battery cells and a second terminal of the other adjacent battery cell, where at least one of the first and second terminals includes the first material. The battery module includes welds, each weld being disposed at a corresponding welding point to directly couple one of the bus bar cell interconnects with the corresponding at least one terminal including the first material. Each welding point is accessible for welding from a position above the battery cells when the interconnects are disposed over the battery cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2016Publication date: January 12, 2017Inventors: John P. Dinkelman, Lisa L. Winders, Richard M. DeKeuster, Edward J. Soleski, Mikhail S. Balk
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Patent number: 9457743Abstract: A terminal for a battery module and a method of manufacture of the terminal are provided. The battery module may include a plurality of battery cells and a bus bar. The bus bar may be electrically coupled to the plurality of battery cells. The battery module also may include a battery terminal that carries a voltage from the bus bar. The battery terminal may include a generally cylindrical terminal portion and a connector. The connector may be coupled to the bus bar cell interconnect. The battery terminal also may include a bent portion. The bent portion is disposed between the terminal portion and the connector.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Edward J. Soleski, Mikhail S. Balk, Richard M. DeKeuster
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Patent number: 9440601Abstract: A battery module and a method of manufacture are provided. The battery module may include a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly. The PCB assembly may include a PCB designed to be disposed in a battery module for controlling operations of the battery module. The PCB may also include voltage sensing circuitry. In addition, the PCB assembly may include a bus bar cell interconnect. The bus bar cell interconnect may electrically couple batteries of the battery module. The PCB assembly may also include a voltage sense connection tab. The voltage sense connection tab may carry a voltage between a bus bar cell interconnect of the battery module and the voltage sensing circuitry on the PCB.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Edward J. Soleski, Mikhail S. Balk, Lisa L. Winders, Richard M. DeKeuster, John P. Dinkelman
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Patent number: 9368782Abstract: A battery system includes at least a first battery module and a second battery module, and a service disconnect unit electrically coupling the first battery module to the second battery module. The service disconnect unit comprises a bus bar that includes a first portion electrically connected to the first battery module, and a second portion electrically connected to the second battery module. The service disconnect unit also comprises a removable conductive member configured to electrically connect the first portion of the bus bar to the second portion of the bus bar.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2013Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology LLCInventors: Edward J. Soleski, Stephen D. Cash, Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Mikhail S. Balk, Bryan L. Thieme, Richard M. DeKeuster
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Publication number: 20150072196Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly may include a PCB and a high current interconnect mounted on the PCB. The high current interconnect may be configured to electrically couple a first high current bladed component, a second high current bladed component, and a trace disposed on the PCB. The high current interconnect may include feet made of a conductive material that are coupled to the PCB. The trace may be coupled to the feet via a weld.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2014Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Edward J. Soleski, Richard M. DeKeuster, Brian L. Thieme, Ronald J. Dulle, Mikhail S. Balk
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Publication number: 20150072206Abstract: A battery module includes a housing configured to hold prismatic battery cells within a space defined by four interior walls of the housing. The housing includes a first interior wall that includes partitions extending upwards from a bottom of the housing and a second interior wall that includes partitions extending upwards from the bottom of the housing. The first interior wall faces opposite the second interior wall. The partitions disposed on the first interior wall and the partitions disposed on the second interior wall define slots between adjacent partitions, where each of the slots increases in width between the adjacent partitions from the bottom of the housing upwards. Each of the slots is configured to retain one of the prismatic battery cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2014Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Gary P. Houchin-Miller, Mikhail S. Balk, Richard M. DeKeuster, Stephen D. Cash
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Publication number: 20150072209Abstract: A bus bar including a first end comprising a first material and a second end comprising a second material and a method of manufacture are provided. The first end is designed to be coupled to a terminal of a first battery cell of a battery module and includes a first collar disposed on the first end designed to receive and surround the terminal of the first battery cell of the battery module. The second end is designed to be coupled to a terminal of a second battery cell of the battery module and includes a second collar disposed on the second end designed to receive and surround the terminal of the second battery of the battery module. The first and second batteries of the battery module are adjacent to one another. Moreover, the bus bar includes a joint electrically and mechanically coupling the first end and the second end.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2014Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Matthew R. Tyler, Edward J. Soleski, Mikhail S. Balk, Richard M. DeKeuster
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Publication number: 20150072208Abstract: A battery module including bus bar cell interconnects and a method of manufacture are provided. The battery module may, in certain embodiments, include a housing, a plurality of battery cells disposed in the housing, and a bus bar cell interconnect. The bus bar cell interconnect is designed to electrically couple a first battery cell and a second battery cell. In some embodiments, the bus bar cell interconnect includes a first end electrically coupled with a first terminal of the first battery cell and a second end electrically coupled with a second terminal of the second battery cell. The bus bar cell interconnect also includes a curved portion disposed between the first end and the second end, and the bus bar cell interconnect is designed to distribute stress across the curved portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2014Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Mikhail S. Balk, Edward J. Soleski, Richard M. DeKeuster