Patents by Inventor Steven Kent McConkey

Steven Kent McConkey 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 pack with single charge inhibit/regulator transistor
    Patent number: 5903137
    Abstract: A battery pack for use in a portable computing system includes a transistor that is used both for inhibiting charging of the batteries within the system and for limiting the voltage across the batteries in the battery pack. Rather than having two separate devices to inhibit and regulate, this single transistor performs the functions of both, thus reducing component count in a battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph F. Freiman, Steven Kent McConkey, Nathan Austin Mitchell
  • Battery pack wakeup
    Patent number: 5861812
    Abstract: A removable battery pack for powering a pen-based or portable computer system in which the battery pack blocks its terminals when inserted into an unknown system. The known system includes a power supply microcontroller which passes battery charge data back and forth between a memory located in the battery pack and the power supply microcontroller. A battery microcontroller, located in the battery pack, eavesdrops drops on the communication between the power supply microcontroller and the memory, and when it validates a known signature of this communication, the battery microcontroller then enables the terminals of the battery pack. A trickle discharge current flows from the battery pack whenever the battery pack is out of the known system to allow the power supply microcontroller to power up in the case of a dead auxiliary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Austin Mitchell, Joseph F. Freiman, Steven Kent McConkey
  • System using interchangeable nickel-based and lithium ion battery packs
    Patent number: 5831350
    Abstract: A computer system is powered by a battery pack, the battery pack including either nickel-based batteries or lithium-ion based batteries. Either of the two battery packs can be interchanged without modification to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Kent McConkey, Nathan Austin Mitchell, Joseph F. Freiman
  • Battery pack with single charge-inhibit/regulator transistor
    Patent number: 5764028
    Abstract: A battery pack for use in a portable computing system includes a transistor that is used both for inhibiting charging of the batteries within the system and for limiting the voltage across the batteries in the battery pack. Rather than having two separate devices to inhibit and regulate, this single transistor performs the functions of both, thus reducing component count in a battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph F. Freiman, Steven Kent McConkey, Nathan Austin Mitchell
  • Charging a battery having a nominal critical terminal voltage
    Patent number: 5726554
    Abstract: A battery pack of a computer system includes a battery having a nominal critical terminal voltage that may not be exceeded without hazardous failure of the battery. The battery pack includes a controller for routing power from an external power source to the battery to recharge the battery. The controller is configured to apply a time profile of charging power to the terminals of the battery. The profile includes time portions when the terminal voltage of the battery exceeds the nominal rated critical terminal voltage. The controller is also configured to control the time profile to prevent hazardous failure of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph F. Freiman, Steven Kent McConkey, Nathan Austin Mitchell
  • Battery pack with a monitoring circuit for a known system
    Patent number: 5641587
    Abstract: A removable battery pack for powering a pen-based or portable computer system in which the battery pack blocks its terminals when inserted into an unknown system. The known system includes a power supply microcontroller which passes battery charge data back and forth between a memory located in the battery pack and the power supply microcontroller. A battery microcontroller, located in the battery pack, eavesdrops drops on the communication between the power supply microcontroller and the memory, and when it validates a known signature of this communication, the battery microcontroller then enables the terminals of the battery pack. A trickle discharge current flows from the battery pack whenever the battery pack is out of the known system to allow the power supply microcontroller to power up in the case of a dead auxiliary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Austin Mitchell, Joseph F. Freiman, Steven Kent McConkey