Patents by Inventor Shankar Akella

Shankar Akella 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).

  • Air distribution method and controller for a fuel cell system
    Patent number: 7348084
    Abstract: An airflow control system and method for a fuel cell includes a compressor that supplies air to a storage chamber for storing the air. Fuel cell subsystems are connected to the air storage chamber. Each of the fuel cell subsystems includes a flow controller and flow sensor. A sensor measures air pressure in the storage chamber. A controller polls the flow controllers of the fuel cell subsystems for a minimum required air pressure for the fuel cell subsystems. The controller selects a highest minimum required air pressure. The controller controls the compressor to provide the highest minimum required pressure in the air storage chamber. The air storage chamber includes tubing, a manifold or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Donald H. Keskula, Bruce J. Clingerman, Swaminathan Gopalswamy, Shankar Akella
  • Air distribution method and controller for a fuel cell system
    Publication number: 20050255343
    Abstract: An airflow control system and method for a fuel cell includes a compressor that supplies air to a storage chamber for storing the air. Fuel cell subsystems are connected to the air storage chamber. Each of the fuel cell subsystems includes a flow controller and flow sensor. A sensor measures air pressure in the storage chamber. A controller polls the flow controllers of the fuel cell subsystems for a minimum required air pressure for the fuel cell subsystems. The controller selects a highest minimum required air pressure. The controller controls the compressor to provide the highest minimum required pressure in the air storage chamber. The air storage chamber includes tubing, a manifold or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Inventors: Donald Keskula, Bruce Clingerman, Swaminathan Gopalswamy, Shankar Akella
  • Air distribution method and controller for a fuel cell system
    Patent number: 6942937
    Abstract: An airflow control system and method for a fuel cell includes a compressor that supplies air to a storage chamber for storing the air. Fuel cell subsystems are connected to the air storage chamber. Each of the fuel cell subsystems includes a flow controller and flow sensor. A sensor measures air pressure in the storage chamber. A controller polls the flow controllers of the fuel cell subsystems for a minimum required air pressure for the fuel cell subsystems. The controller selects a highest minimum required air pressure. The controller controls the compressor to provide the highest minimum required pressure in the air storage chamber. The air storage chamber includes tubing, a manifold or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Donald H. Keskula, Bruce J. Clingerman, Swaminathan Gopalswamy, Shankar Akella
  • Air distribution method and controller for a fuel cell system
    Publication number: 20030186096
    Abstract: An airflow control system and method for a fuel cell includes a compressor that supplies air to a storage chamber for storing the air. Fuel cell subsystems are connected to the air storage chamber. Each of the fuel cell subsystems includes a flow controller and flow sensor. A sensor measures air pressure in the storage chamber. A controller polls the flow controllers of the fuel cell subsystems for a minimum required air pressure for the fuel cell subsystems. The controller selects a highest minimum required air pressure. The controller controls the compressor to provide the highest minimum required pressure in the air storage chamber. The air storage chamber includes tubing, a manifold or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Donald H. Keskula, Bruce J. Clingerman, Swaminathan Gopalswamy, Shankar Akella