Patents by Inventor Nicholas J. Hainer

Nicholas J. Hainer 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: 10625614
    Abstract: A vehicle charging system is disclosed. The vehicle charging system includes a powerline communication module of a vehicle that is configured to transmit a power request signal via a communication network and a powerline communication evaluation module that is configured to determine one or more communication characteristics of the communication network. The vehicle charging system also includes an adjustment module that is configured to reduce a charging rate provided by a charging station based on the one or more communication characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Fremerman, Nicholas J. Hainer, Michael A. Assenmacher, Jonathan J. Stec
  • Publication number: 20180361864
    Abstract: A vehicle charging system is disclosed. The vehicle charging system includes a powerline communication module of a vehicle that is configured to transmit a power request signal via a communication network and a powerline communication evaluation module that is configured to determine one or more communication characteristics of the communication network. The vehicle charging system also includes an adjustment module that is configured to reduce a charging rate provided by a charging station based on the one or more communication characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Jonathan S. FREMERMAN, Nicholas J. HAINER, Michael A. ASSENMACHER, Jonathan J. STEC
  • Patent number: 10101397
    Abstract: A system includes a vehicle network integrated in an electric vehicle and a display device disposed in the electric vehicle. The display device is communicatively coupled to the vehicle network. The system also includes a computer processor communicatively coupled to the vehicle network and logic executable by the computer processor. The logic is configured to implement a method. The method includes monitoring, over the vehicle network, components relating to a charging function of the electric vehicle and determining from data resulting from the monitoring factors affecting the charging function. The method also includes processing the data to determine an impact of the factors and displaying results of the processing on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Robert B. Cooley, William M. Hare, Michael A. Assenmacher, Nicholas J. Hainer
  • Patent number: 10065526
    Abstract: An electrical system is usable with an offboard charging station and configured to dynamically adjust a power limit of the electrical system during a battery charging process. The system includes a battery pack, charge coupler, power electronic components, temperature sensor(s), and a controller. The components include a most-limiting component, and are electrically connected to the battery pack with corresponding temperature-based operating performance information. The information describes a maximum allowed charging current over different time intervals. The most-limiting component has a lowest allowed charging current. The controller executes a method by determining a component temperature using the measured temperature(s), and requests increased charging current from the power supply over one or more of the time intervals to supply the battery pack with the maximum allowed charging current of the most-limiting component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: William M. Hare, Michael A. Assenmacher, Nicholas J. Hainer, Christopher J. Twarog
  • Publication number: 20180050604
    Abstract: An electrical system is usable with an offboard charging station and configured to dynamically adjust a power limit of the electrical system during a battery charging process. The system includes a battery pack, charge coupler, power electronic components, temperature sensor(s), and a controller. The components include a most-limiting component, and are electrically connected to the battery pack with corresponding temperature-based operating performance information. The information describes a maximum allowed charging current over different time intervals. The most-limiting component has a lowest allowed charging current. The controller executes a method by determining a component temperature using the measured temperature(s), and requests increased charging current from the power supply over one or more of the time intervals to supply the battery pack with the maximum allowed charging current of the most-limiting component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: William M. Hare, Michael A. Assenmacher, Nicholas J. Hainer, Christopher J. Twarog
  • Patent number: 9056552
    Abstract: A system and method for charging a battery in a plug-in electric vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, the method determines if a delayed battery charging feature is active and if the battery is severely depleted. If both conditions are satisfied, the method enables a priority charging feature that temporarily overrides the delayed charging feature and begins charging the battery according to a priority charging process until it reaches a level where it is no longer severely depleted. At this point, the method may terminate the priority charging process and initiate the delayed charging process, which is designed to take advantage of off-peak electricity rates, anticipated times of vehicle use, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brett T. Muller, Nicholas J. Hainer, Adam R. Sepanak
  • Publication number: 20140207397
    Abstract: A system includes a vehicle network integrated in an electric vehicle and a display device disposed in the electric vehicle. The display device is communicatively coupled to the vehicle network. The system also includes a computer processor communicatively coupled to the vehicle network and logic executable by the computer processor. The logic is configured to implement a method. The method includes monitoring, over the vehicle network, components relating to a charging function of the electric vehicle and determining from data resulting from the monitoring factors affecting the charging function. The method also includes processing the data to determine an impact of the factors and displaying results of the processing on the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Robert B. Cooley, William M. Hare, Michael A. Assenmacher, Nicholas J. Hainer
  • Publication number: 20140117946
    Abstract: A system and method for charging a battery in a plug-in electric vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, the method determines if a delayed battery charging feature is active and if the battery is severely depleted. If both conditions are satisfied, the method enables a priority charging feature that temporarily overrides the delayed charging feature and begins charging the battery according to a priority charging process until it reaches a level where it is no longer severely depleted. At this point, the method may terminate the priority charging process and initiate the delayed charging process, which is designed to take advantage of off-peak electricity rates, anticipated times of vehicle use, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Brett T. Muller, Nicholas J. Hainer, Adam R. Sepanak