Patents by Inventor Steve Tolen

Steve Tolen 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).

  • Energy transfer circuit and method
    Patent number: 8076797
    Abstract: An energy transfer circuit for connecting a load to multiple energy sources that can have different voltages. The energy transfer circuit connects the load and at least two energy sources, and has a control unit. The energy transfer circuit can transfer energy from at least one energy source to the load in response to the load's power demand; transfer energy from the load to at least one energy source in response to the load's charging current, and transfer energy between the energy sources. The energy transfer circuit also includes a first capacitor in parallel with the primary source and the load; a second capacitor in parallel with the secondary source, an inductor, a first switch between the inductor and the first capacitor, a second switch between the inductor and the second capacitor. The control unit opens and closes the first and second switches in response to the load and sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Indy Power Systems LLC
    Inventors: Quentin Wayne Kramer, Steve Tolen
  • BI-DIRECTIONAL NOMINAL CURRENT, VARIABLE POWER AND/OR VARIABLE VOLTAGE, ENERGY TRANSFER CIRCUIT
    Publication number: 20090302685
    Abstract: An energy transfer circuit for connecting a load to multiple energy sources that can have different voltages. The energy transfer circuit connects the load and at least two energy sources, and has a control unit. The energy transfer circuit can transfer energy from at least one energy source to the load in response to the load's power demand; transfer energy from the load to at least one energy source in response to the load's charging current, and transfer energy between the energy sources. The energy transfer circuit also includes a first capacitor in parallel with the primary source and the load; a second capacitor in parallel with the secondary source, an inductor, a first switch between the inductor and the first capacitor, a second switch between the inductor and the second capacitor. The control unit opens and closes the first and second switches in response to the load and sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Quentin Wayne Kramer, Steve Tolen