Patents by Inventor Sherrill Thomas

Sherrill Thomas 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).

  • Battery charging system and methods
    Patent number: 7595607
    Abstract: A method for determining whether a battery is electrically and physically connected to a battery charger includes monitoring a battery charging voltage supplied by a battery charger that has superimposed a known signal on the battery charging voltage, and determining that the battery charger is connected when the known superimposed signal is present and that the battery charger is not connected when the known superimposed signal is absent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joe Lambert, Brian N. Meyer, John S. Harrison, Sherrill Thomas
  • Battery charging system and methods
    Publication number: 20070139016
    Abstract: A method for determining whether a battery is electrically and physically connected to a battery charger includes monitoring a battery charging voltage supplied by a battery charger that has superimposed a known signal on the battery charging voltage, and determining that the battery charger is connected when the known superimposed signal is present and that the battery charger is not connected when the known superimposed signal is absent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Joe Lambert, Brian Meyer, John Harrison, Sherrill Thomas
  • Systems and methods for charging a battery
    Publication number: 20070139010
    Abstract: A system for charging a battery is described. The system includes a direct current (DC) power source configured to supply a DC power source output signal, a converter configured to convert the DC power source output signal into a converter output signal, a battery coupled to the converter and having a plurality of terminals, and a controller configured to receive a measure of a terminal charge across the terminals and configured to adjust a power that charges the battery based on the terminal charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: William Bonneau, Sherrill Thomas, Brian Meyer