Patents by Inventor Sean S. Clarke

Sean S. Clarke 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).

  • High voltage energy storage connection monitoring system and method
    Patent number: 7586214
    Abstract: A connection monitoring system and method for a vehicle high voltage energy storage system is disclosed. The method performs a check, at initial connection of the high voltage energy storage system, to insure that the vehicle high voltage wiring system is fully connected and without short circuits prior to allowing full current to the vehicle and normal vehicle operation. The method switches in a resistor to limit current flow between the high voltage energy storage system and the vehicle high voltage wiring, and measures the voltage and a voltage rise time across the resistor. The voltage and the voltage rise time across the resistor are used to determine if a short circuit is present, and if so the high voltage energy storage system is disconnected to protect the vehicle and its users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean S. Clarke, Ronald J. Wiegand, Gery J. Kissel, Jeffrey Johnson, Ronald W. Young, James E. Tarchinski, Paul E. Boskovitch
  • High Voltage Energy Storage Connection Monitoring System and Method
    Publication number: 20080092258
    Abstract: A connection monitoring system and method for a vehicle high voltage energy storage system is disclosed. The method performs a check, at initial connection of the high voltage energy storage system, to insure that the vehicle high voltage wiring system is fully connected and without short circuits prior to allowing full current to the vehicle and normal vehicle operation. The method switches in a resistor to limit current flow between the high voltage energy storage system and the vehicle high voltage wiring, and measures the voltage and a voltage rise time across the resistor. The voltage and the voltage rise time across the resistor are used to determine if a short circuit is present, and if so the high voltage energy storage system is disconnected to protect the vehicle and its users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Sean S. Clarke, Ronald J. Wiegand, Gery J. Kissel, Jeffrey Johnson, Ronald W. Young, James E. Tarchinski, Paul E. Boskovitch