Patents by Inventor Robert Stephen Douglass

Robert Stephen Douglass 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).

  • System, method, and apparatus for power distribution in an electric mobile application using a combined breaker and relay
    Patent number: 11070049
    Abstract: A mobile application includes a motive power circuit having a power storage device and an electrical load, where the power storage device and the electrical load are selectively electrically coupled through a power bus. The application includes a power distribution unit (PDU) electrically interposed between the power storage device and the electrical load, where the PDU includes a breaker/relay positioned on one of a high side and a low side of the power storage device. The breaker/relay includes a fixed contact and a moveable contact selectively electrically coupled to the fixed contact, where the moveable contact allows power flow through the power bus when electrically coupled to the fixed contact, and prevents power flow through the power bus when not electrically coupled to the fixed contact. The breaker/relay includes an armature coupled to the moveable contact, and capable to open or close the motive power circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Martin Wayne Mensch, Brandon William Fisher, Robert Stephen Douglass, Austin Robert Zurface, Jeff Howard Urian, James David, Bharath Suda, Asheesh Soni, Karsten Gerving, Guido Völlmar, Gerd Schmitz, Christoph Bausch, Ute Molitor, Lutz Friedrichsen, Kai Schroeder, Julia Otte, Madeline Philipsohn, Norbert Roesner, Volker Lang, Johannes Meissner, Paolo D'amico, Jalpa Shah, Meng Wang, Damrongrit Piyabongkarn, Niles Stephen Ramseyer, Dennis Dukaric, Matt Haylock, Justin Keith Griffiths
  • SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR MULTI-PORT POWER CONVERTER AND INVERTER ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20210218242
    Abstract: A multi-port power converter includes a housing that includes a plurality of ports structured to electrically interface to a plurality of loads, the plurality of loads having distinct electrical characteristics. The multi-port power converter also includes a plurality of solid state components configured to provide selected electrical power outputs and to accept selected electrical power inputs and a plurality of solid state switches configured to provide selected connectivity between the plurality of solid state components and the plurality of ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Martin Wayne Mensch, Brandon William Fisher, Robert Stephen Douglass, Austin Robert Zurface, Jeff Howard Urian, James David, Bharath Suda, Asheesh Soni, Karsten Gerving, Guido Völlmar, Gerd Schmitz, Christoph Bausch, Ute Molitor, Lutz Friedrichsen, Kai Schroeder, Julia Otte, Madeline Philipsohn, Norbert Roesner, Volker Lang, Johannes Meissner, Paolo D'amico, Jalpa Shah, Meng Wang, Damrongrit Piyabongkarn, Niles Stephen Ramseyer, Dennis Dukaric, Matt Haylock, Justin Keith Griffiths
  • Power distribution unit and fuse management for an electric mobile application
    Patent number: 11052784
    Abstract: A system include a vehicle having a motive electrical power path and a power distribution unit (PDU). The PDU includes a current protection circuit disposed in the motive electrical power path, the current protection circuit including a thermal fuse and a contactor in a series arrangement with the thermal fuse, and a high voltage power input coupling having a first electrical interface for a high voltage power source. The high voltage power output coupling includes a second electrical interface for a motive power load. The current protection circuit electrically couples the high voltage power input to the high voltage power output, and the current protection circuit is at least partially disposed in a laminated layer of the PDU. The laminated layer includes an electrically conductive flow path disposed between two electrically insulating layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Martin Wayne Mensch, Brandon William Fisher, Robert Stephen Douglass, Austin Robert Zurface, Jeff Howard Urian, James David, Bharath Suda, Asheesh Soni
  • High voltage power fuse including fatigue resistant fuse element and methods of making the same
    Patent number: 10978267
    Abstract: A power fuse includes a housing, first and second conductive terminals extending from the housing, and at least one fatigue resistant fuse element assembly connected between the first and second terminals. The fuse element assembly includes at least a first conductive plate and a second conductive plate respectively connecting the first and second conductive terminals, and a plurality of separately provided wire bonded weak spots interconnecting the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Stephen Douglass, Ramdev Kanapady
  • FUSE LIFE MANAGEMENT IN AN ELECTRIC MOBILE APPLICATION
    Publication number: 20210044102
    Abstract: A system includes a vehicle including a motive electrical power path; a power distribution unit having a current protection circuit disposed in the motive electrical power path, the current protection circuit comprising a fuse; a controller, comprising: a fuse status circuit structured to determine a fuse event value; a fuse management circuit structured to provide a fuse event response based on the fuse event value; and a fuse life description circuit structured to determine a fuse life remaining value, wherein the fuse event value comprises a representation that the fuse life remaining value is below a threshold value, and wherein the fuse management circuit is further structured to provide the fuse event response further based on the fuse life remaining value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventor: Robert Stephen Douglass
  • SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR MULTI-PORT POWER CONVERTER AND INVERTER ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20200381915
    Abstract: A multi-port power converter includes a housing that includes a plurality of ports structured to electrically interface to a plurality of loads, the plurality of loads having distinct electrical characteristics. The multi-port power converter also includes a plurality of solid state components configured to provide selected electrical power outputs and to accept selected electrical power inputs and a plurality of solid state switches configured to provide selected connectivity between the plurality of solid state components and the plurality of ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Martin Wayne Mensch, Brandon William Fisher, Robert Stephen Douglass, Austin Robert Zurface, Jeff Howard Urian, James David, Bharath Suda, Asheesh Soni, Karsten Gerving, Guido Völlmar, Gerd Schmitz, Christoph Bausch, Ute Molitor, Lutz Friedrichsen, Kai Schroeder, Julia Otte, Madeline Philipsohn, Norbert Roesner, Volker Lang, Johannes Meissner, Paolo D'amico, Jalpa Shah, Meng Wang, Damrongrit Piyabongkarn, Niles Stephen Ramseyer, Dennis Dukaric, Matt Haylock, Justin Keith Griffiths
  • POWER DISTRIBUTION AND CIRCUIT PROTECTION FOR A MOBILE APPLICATION HAVING A HIGH EFFICIENCY INVERTER
    Publication number: 20200274375
    Abstract: A power electronics assembly for a mobile application includes a first power electronics component selectively coupled to a high source on a first side and coupled to a high voltage battery on a second side, a second power electronics component selectively coupled to one of a low load or a low voltage battery on a first side and coupled to the high voltage battery on a second side; and a controller, including an operating mode circuit structured to determine a discharge operating mode for the mobile application, a power electronics configuration circuit structured to provide a switch state value for the first power electronics component and the second power electronics component in response to the discharge operating mode, and wherein the first power electronics component and the second power electronics component are responsive to the switch state value to coupled selected ones of the high source, low load, and low voltage battery to the high voltage battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Justin Keith Griffiths, Nilesh Surase, Ritika Shetty, Shalini Tripathy, Somdut Dey, Madhavi Gupta, Mayura Madane, Sadiya Qureshi, Toseed Khan, Amit Chavan, Kumar Prasad Telikepalli, Atul Solvande, Hao Wang, Jiong Chen, Yueyue Deng, Jason Carroll, Srinivasan Arjun Tekalur, Jacob William Green, Chakravarthi Kandru, Cheng Luo, Tianyang Jiang, Cheng Wan, Ye Zhu, John Trublowski, Robert Stephen Douglass, Rajen Modi, Nilay Mehta, Laura Natali Valencia Fritsch, Han Li, Dongxin Jin, Lewei Qian, Jun Li, Hongrae Kim, Daniel R. Ouwenga, Patrick Herranz, Miroslav Horejs, Rohit Baranwal, Zhe Zhang, Martin Wayne Mensch, Brandon William Fisher, Austin Robert Zurface, Jeff Howard Urian, James David, Bharath Kumar Suda, Asheesh Kumar Soni, Rene Guy Gallet, Michael Scott Sullivan, Karsten Gerving, Guido Völlmar, Gerd Schmitz, Christoph Bausch, Ute Molitor, Lutz Friedrichsen, Kai Schroeder, Julia Otte, Madeline Philipsohn, Norbert Roesner, Volker Lang, Johannes Meissner, Paolo D'Amico, Jalpa Shah, Meng Wang, Damrongrit Piyabongkarn, Niles Stephen Ramseyer, Dennis Dukaric, Matt Haylock, Anvaya R. Hingangave, Devendra Patil
  • Thermal limiter fuse system for electric motor protection
    Patent number: 10749333
    Abstract: A thermal limiter system for an electric motor includes a thermal limiter fuse having a hollow contact element anchored by solder to at least one of first and second terminals of the fuse. A coaxial spring element causes the hollow contact element to slidably release and separate from one of the first and second terminals due to overheating of the solder that is not caused by a flow of electrical current. The system also includes stator mounting blocks and a stator cooling jacket for a motor to be thermally protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Stephen Douglass, Kelly Ruth Austin, Anil Pursottom Bhansali
  • FUSE LIFE MANAGEMENT IN AN ELECTRIC MOBILE APPLICATION
    Publication number: 20200195000
    Abstract: A system includes a vehicle including a motive electrical power path; a power distribution unit having a current protection circuit disposed in the motive electrical power path, the current protection circuit comprising a fuse; a controller, comprising: a fuse status circuit structured to determine a fuse event value; a fuse management circuit structured to provide a fuse event response based on the fuse event value; and a fuse life description circuit structured to determine a fuse life remaining value, wherein the fuse event value comprises a representation that the fuse life remaining value is below a threshold value, and wherein the fuse management circuit is further structured to provide the fuse event response further based on the fuse life remaining value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventor: Robert Stephen Douglass
  • Power fuse and fabrication methods with enhanced arc mitigation and thermal management
    Patent number: 10650998
    Abstract: Power fuses having filler material including hydrated zeolite material facilitates increasing power density of electrical fuses in reduced package sizes. The hydrated zeolite material releases water to cool and suppress electrical arcing conditions experienced in higher power circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Stephen Douglass, Sidharta Wiryana, Duren Huang, Dacheng Feng, Calvin Yang
  • SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR CURRENT CONTROL IN A POWER DISTRIBUTION UNIT USING A SOLID STATE SWITCH
    Publication number: 20200114783
    Abstract: A system including a vehicle having a motive electrical power path, and a power distribution unit having a current protection circuit disposed in the motive electrical power path. The current protection circuit includes a first leg of the current protection circuit comprising a thermal fuse, a second leg of the current protection circuit comprising a solid state switch, and wherein the first leg and the second leg are coupled in a parallel arrangement. The system further includes a controller that includes a current detection circuit structured to determine a current flow through the motive electrical power path, and a fuse management circuit structured to provide a switch activation command in response to the current flow, wherein the solid state switch is responsive to the switch activation command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventor: Robert Stephen Douglass
  • CURRENT CONTROL IN A POWER DISTRIBUTION UNIT USING A CONTACTOR
    Publication number: 20200114782
    Abstract: A system including a vehicle having a motive electrical power path, and a power distribution unit having a current protection circuit disposed in the motive electrical power path. The current protection circuit includes a first leg of the current protection circuit comprising a thermal fuse, a second leg of the current protection circuit comprising a contactor. The first leg and the second leg may be coupled in a parallel arrangement. The system further has a controller that includes a current detection circuit structured to determine a current flow through the motive electrical power path, and a fuse management circuit structured to provide a contactor activation command in response to the current flow. The contactor may be responsive to the contactor activation command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventor: Robert Stephen Douglass
  • FUSE MANAGEMENT FOR AN ELECTRIC MOBILE APPLICATION
    Publication number: 20200114781
    Abstract: A system including a vehicle having a motive electrical power path; a power distribution unit having a current protection circuit disposed in the motive electrical power path, the current protection circuit including: a first leg of the current protection circuit comprising a first pyro-fuse; a second leg of the current protection circuit comprising a thermal fuse in series arrangement with a second pyro-fuse; and where the first leg and the second leg are coupled in a parallel arrangement; a controller, including: a current detection circuit structured to determine a current flow through the motive electrical power path; and a pyro-fuse activation circuit structured to provide a pyro-fuse activation command in response to the current flow exceeding a threshold current flow value; and where at least one of the first pyro-fuse and the second pyro-fuse is responsive to the pyro-fuse activation command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventor: Robert Stephen Douglass
  • FUSE AND CONTACTOR MANAGEMENT FOR AN ELECTRIC MOBILE APPLICATION
    Publication number: 20200114780
    Abstract: A system includes a vehicle including a motive electrical power path; a power distribution unit including: a current protection circuit disposed in the motive electrical power path, the current protection circuit including a fuse and a contactor in a series arrangement with the fuse; a high voltage power input coupling including a first electrical interface for a high voltage power source; and a high voltage power output coupling including a second electrical interface for a motive power load, where the current protection circuit electrically couples the high voltage power input coupling to the high voltage power output coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Stephen Douglass, Brandon William Fisher, Martin Wayne Mensch, Austin Robert Zurface, Jeff Howard Urian
  • ACTIVE CURRENT INJECTION THROUGH A FUSE FOR AN ELECTRIC MOBILE APPLICATION
    Publication number: 20200114779
    Abstract: A system includes a vehicle comprising a motive electrical power path; a power distribution unit comprising a current protection circuit disposed in the motive electrical power path, the current protection circuit comprising a fuse; a current source circuit electrically coupled to the fuse and structured to inject a current across the fuse; and a voltage determination circuit electrically coupled to the fuse and structured to determine at least one of an injected voltage value and a fuse impedance value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Brandon William Fisher, Robert Stephen Douglass
  • Lockout/tagout system and method including multi-user lockout device with electronic locking and wireless control interface
    Patent number: 10614646
    Abstract: Lockout/tagout devices are configured to receive multi-user, electronically generated locking and unlocking commands over wireless interfaces to realize lockout safety chains of a desired length to assure worker safety in an industrial system. Electronically implemented systems and methods are also disclosed providing for enhanced worker safety, increased security, and improved lockout/tagout oversight involving a reduced number of locking devices and with fewer complications compared to conventional lockout/tagout devices, systems and processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Stephen Douglass, Vinicius M. Petroni, Matthew G. Mohr, John P. Stampfel
  • Electric fuse current sensing systems and monitoring methods
    Patent number: 10598703
    Abstract: Electrical current sensing and monitoring methods include connecting a compensation circuit across a conductor having a non-linear resistance such as a fuse element. The compensation circuit injects a current or voltage to the conductor that allows the resistance of the conductor to be determined. The current flowing in the conductor can be calculated based on a sensed voltage across the conductor once the resistance of the conductor has been determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Stephen Douglass, Santosh Kumar Sharma, Ameer Khan, Hrushikesh Arun Barve
  • COMPACT HIGH VOLTAGE POWER FUSE AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE
    Publication number: 20200090892
    Abstract: A high voltage power fuse having a dramatically reduced size facilitated by silicated filler material, a formed fuse element geometry, arc barrier materials and single piece terminal fabrications. Methods of manufacture are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Stephen Douglass, John Michael Fink
  • POWER FUSE AND FABRICATION METHODS WITH ENHANCED ARC MITIGATION AND THERMAL MANAGEMENT
    Publication number: 20200013575
    Abstract: Power fuses having filler material including hydrated zeolite material facilitates increasing power density of electrical fuses in reduced package sizes. The hydrated zeolite material releases water to cool and suppress electrical arcing conditions experienced in higher power circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Stephen Douglass, Sidharta Wiryana, Duren Huang, Dacheng Feng, Calvin Yang
  • MONITORING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ESTIMATING THERMAL-MECHANICAL FATIGUE IN AN ELECTRICAL FUSE
    Publication number: 20190369155
    Abstract: Thermal-mechanical fatigue assessment systems and methods include a controller operable to estimate a temperature of the conductor having a non-linear resistance based on an ambient temperature input and a current input for current flow through the conductor when connected to an energized electrical power system. A state of fatigue of the conductor may be assessed in view of an estimated first temperature differential between the conductor and an arc extinguishing medium surrounding the conductor, an estimated temperature differential between the temperature of the arc quenching medium and the ambient temperature, and the estimated temperature of the conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Gopinadh Sirigineedi, Pandarinath R, Ravishankar S, Robert Stephen Douglass, Harold Handcock