Patents by Inventor Seneca SCHEPMANN

Seneca SCHEPMANN 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: 10744899
    Abstract: A method for balancing energy in an energy storage system of an electric vehicle includes detecting a first voltage of a first energy storage unit (ESU) and a second voltage of a second energy storage unit of the energy storage system, and determining a discharge time corresponding to the detected second voltage. The method may also include discharging energy from the first energy storage unit, while not discharging energy from the second energy storage unit, for a duration of the determined discharge time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Proterra Inc.
    Inventor: Seneca Schepmann
  • Publication number: 20200247245
    Abstract: An electric vehicle may include an electric motor, a suspension system, an inverter configured to control the electric motor based on an inverter signal, and a control system. The control system may be configured to receive data indicative a desired torque and data from the suspension system, and determine the inverter signal based on (a) the operator input data and (b) the data from the suspension system, and direct the determined inverter signal to the inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Proterra Inc.
    Inventors: Seneca A. SCHEPMANN, Tyler J. ZELLMER
  • Publication number: 20200130512
    Abstract: A method for balancing energy in an energy storage system of an electric vehicle includes detecting a first voltage of a first energy storage unit (ESU) and a second voltage of a second energy storage unit of the energy storage system, and determining a discharge time corresponding to the detected second voltage. The method may also include discharging energy from the first energy storage unit, while not discharging energy from the second energy storage unit, for a duration of the determined discharge time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: Proterra Inc.
    Inventor: Seneca SCHEPMANN
  • Patent number: 10125799
    Abstract: A mounting system including a compressible structure having a first surface, a second surface, and at least one boss hole extending through the compressible structure from the first surface to the second surface. The system further including an interior plate mounted on the first surface of the compressible structure, wherein the interior plate includes a boss protruding from the interior plate and into the boss hole of the compressible structure, and an exterior plate mounted on the second surface of the compressible structure and secured to the interior plate against the boss of the interior plate, wherein the compressible structure is compressed a predetermined amount as a function of a length of the boss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Proterra Inc.
    Inventors: Seneca A. Schepmann, William Golpe
  • Publication number: 20170282774
    Abstract: A vehicle accessibility system may include an interior ramp panel movable between a first position and a second position; a first floor panel movable between a lowered position and a raised position; and a second floor panel movable between a horizontal position and a tilted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventor: Seneca SCHEPMANN
  • Publication number: 20160319851
    Abstract: A mounting system including a compressible structure having a first surface, a second surface, and at least one boss hole extending through the compressible structure from the first surface to the second surface. The system further including an interior plate mounted on the first surface of the compressible structure, wherein the interior plate includes a boss protruding from the interior plate and into the boss hole of the compressible structure, and an exterior plate mounted on the second surface of the compressible structure and secured to the interior plate against the boss of the interior plate, wherein the compressible structure is compressed a predetermined amount as a function of a length of the boss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Seneca A. SCHEPMANN, William GOLPE
  • Patent number: 9352635
    Abstract: A method of controlling an electric vehicle having an HVAC system configured to condition a passenger cabin of the electric vehicle, and one or more batteries configured to provide energy to the HVAC system, may include controlling an output of the HVAC system based on one or more of a charging state of the one or more batteries, a state of charge of the one or more batteries, and an ambient temperature outside of the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Proterra Inc.
    Inventors: Seneca A. Schepmann, Robert Clippard, Tim Stafford
  • Patent number: 9321364
    Abstract: An electric bus may include a charging interface positioned on an external surface of the electric bus. One or more heating pads may be removably attached to the charging interface and configured to heat the charging interface. The heating pads may include a rigid plate forming an exposed surface of the charging interface. The plate may be positioned such that a first side of the plate forms a charging head contact surface when the charging head engages with the charging interface. A heating device may be attached to a second side of the plate opposite the first side. The heating device may include a heating element configured to heat the plate by resistive heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Proterra Inc.
    Inventors: Taylor A. Ashworth, Seamus T. McGrath, Seneca A. Schepmann
  • Patent number: 9302702
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a steering system for an electric vehicle. The steering system may include a hydraulic pump configured to direct hydraulic fluid to a steering gearbox of the electric vehicle, and an electric motor having a shaft that is coupled to the hydraulic pump. The electric motor may be configured to drive fluid flow through the pump. The steering system may also include a sensor configured to measure a value indicative of a torque applied by the electric motor, and a control unit configured to control operation of the electric motor based on an input from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Proterra Inc.
    Inventors: Seneca A. Schepmann, Sam Shartzer, Michael Finnern