Patents by Inventor Stephen Sterz

Stephen Sterz 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: 7927746
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to prevent separator failure in wound battery structures. The systems and methods employ reinforcing material that is attached or otherwise positioned relative to one or more battery structure components in area/s adjacent to a separator of a layered battery structure. The reinforcing material may be positioned relative to one or more battery structure components in a manner that reinforces or otherwise protects the area/s of the battery structure so as to reduce or substantially prevent occurrence of a conductive breach between negative active electrode material and positive active electrode material of the layered battery structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Miller, Stephen Sterz
  • Publication number: 20070247107
    Abstract: For charging a rechargeable hybrid battery pack, a first cell stack coupled in parallel with a second cell stack of the hybrid battery pack are pre-charged in parallel. The cell stack to first complete the pre-charge phase, is selected to receive a normal charge with a constant current while the non-selected one of the cell stack continues to receive the pre-charge. The first cell stack and the second cell stack receive the normal charge in the selected sequence. Upon completion of the normal charge for each cell of the hybrid battery pack, the first cell stack and the second cell stack are trickle-charged in parallel to complete the charging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Ligong Wang, Stephen Sterz
  • Publication number: 20070172726
    Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing separator failure in wound battery structures using reinforcing material attached or otherwise positioned relative to one or more battery structure components in area/s adjacent to a separator of a layered battery structure and in a manner that reinforces or otherwise protects the area/s of the battery structure so as to reduce or substantially prevent occurrence of a conductive breach between negative active electrode material and positive active electrode material of the layered battery structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Bruce Miller, Stephen Sterz
  • Publication number: 20070139008
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for charge current adjustment to enhance battery cycle life thereby allowing batteries to be charged quickly without accelerating the aging process of the battery. As the charge capacity of the battery degrades over time, the charge current for the battery charging cycles is also reduced so that the effective charge rate for the battery is adjusted to account for the reduction in charge capacity. In this way, battery capacity life is enhanced by avoiding an accelerated charge rate as the battery capacity drops over the operational life of the battery. The methods and systems disclosed are useful for battery-powered information handling systems, as well as other devices where fast charging and long cycle life is desirable, such as cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), electric vehicles and/or any other battery powered devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Stephen Sterz, Ligong Wang
  • Publication number: 20060139006
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detection of charge switching element failure (e.g., charge FET switching element) in a battery system, such as a battery system of an information handling system (e.g. notebook computer), in which an increase in cell voltage is employed as a criteria for detecting charge switching element failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventors: Ligong Wang, Bruce Miller, Stephen Sterz