Patents by Inventor Thomas P. Muniz
Thomas P. Muniz 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).
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Publication number: 20240027532Abstract: For each cell in a plurality of cells from a same manufacturing run, a first and a second cell characteristic are received in order to obtain a plurality of cell characteristics. For each cell, a batch compatibility number that is associated with a number of compatible cells that that cell is compatible with is determined based at least in part on the plurality of cell characteristics. The plurality of cells is sorted according to the batch compatibility numbers to obtain a sorted list of cells. A plurality of compatible cells to include in a battery is selected from the plurality of cells, including by evaluating the plurality of cells according to the order of the sorted list of cells and beginning with the lowest batch compatibility number.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2023Publication date: January 25, 2024Applicant: Wisk Aero LLCInventors: Lewis Romeo Hom, Thomas P. Muniz, Patrick K. Herring
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Patent number: 11768246Abstract: For each cell in a plurality of cells from a same manufacturing run, a first and a second cell characteristic are received in order to obtain a plurality of cell characteristics. For each cell, a batch compatibility number that is associated with a number of compatible cells that that cell is compatible with is determined based at least in part on the plurality of cell characteristics. The plurality of cells is sorted according to the batch compatibility numbers to obtain a sorted list of cells. A plurality of compatible cells to include in a battery is selected from the plurality of cells, including by evaluating the plurality of cells according to the order of the sorted list of cells and beginning with the lowest batch compatibility number.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2022Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: Wisk Aero LLCInventors: Lewis Romeo Hom, Thomas P. Muniz, Patrick K. Herring
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Publication number: 20230103521Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing aircraft includes a fuselage, at least one wing connected to the fuselage, a plurality of rotors connected to the at least one wing for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and a plurality of proprotors connected to the at least one wing and tiltable between lift configurations for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and propulsion configurations for providing forward thrust to the aircraft.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2022Publication date: April 6, 2023Applicant: Archer Aviation, Inc.Inventors: Geoffrey C. BOWER, Thomas P. MUNIZ, Brett ADCOCK, Adam GOLDSTEIN, Calder Richmond HUGHES, Zachary Robert Timm HAZEN
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Publication number: 20230020002Abstract: For each cell in a plurality of cells from a same manufacturing run, a first and a second cell characteristic are received in order to obtain a plurality of cell characteristics. For each cell, a batch compatibility number that is associated with a number of compatible cells that that cell is compatible with is determined based at least in part on the plurality of cell characteristics. The plurality of cells is sorted according to the batch compatibility numbers to obtain a sorted list of cells. A plurality of compatible cells to include in a battery is selected from the plurality of cells, including by evaluating the plurality of cells according to the order of the sorted list of cells and beginning with the lowest batch compatibility number.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Lewis Romeo Hom, Thomas P. Muniz, Patrick K. Herring
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Patent number: 11552346Abstract: A battery system includes a can with a lip around an opening. At least an interior surface of the can is anodized and the lip of the can includes a longer and shorter side. The can further includes a flange on the longer side of the lip and a plurality of layers that are inserted into the can. The plurality of layers includes a battery cell and a thermally conducting layer with a fin and the fin has a spring force that pushes the fin towards the anodized interior surface. The battery system further includes a lid that is configured to cover the opening of the can, where the flange is configured to wrap around the lid when the lid covers the opening of the can.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Wisk Aero LLCInventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Colin Charles Brey
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Patent number: 11467216Abstract: For each cell in a plurality of cells from a same manufacturing run, a first and a second cell characteristic are received in order to obtain a plurality of cell characteristics. For each cell, a batch compatibility number that is associated with a number of compatible cells that that cell is compatible with is determined based at least in part on the plurality of cell characteristics. The plurality of cells is sorted according to the batch compatibility numbers to obtain a sorted list of cells. A plurality of compatible cells to include in a battery is selected from the plurality of cells, including by evaluating the plurality of cells according to the order of the sorted list of cells and beginning with the lowest batch compatibility number.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2019Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Wisk Aero LLCInventors: Lewis Romeo Hom, Thomas P. Muniz, Patrick K. Herring
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Patent number: 11322772Abstract: Battery assembly techniques and a corresponding system are disclosed. In various embodiments, the battery assembly techniques include compressing battery cells and inserting the battery cells in a can. Battery cells are stacked and then compressed using pneumatic cylinders that exert pressure on a first external layer of the stacked battery cells. A first portion of the stacked battery cells is released from the pneumatic cylinders while a second portion of the battery cells remains compressed. The first portion of the stacked battery cells is inserted in a can. In various embodiments, friction decreasing materials are added to the stacked battery cells to compress the stacked battery cells or ease insertion.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2020Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Wisk Aero LLCInventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Nihal Murthy
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Publication number: 20220021057Abstract: A battery system includes a battery cell, a thermally insulating layer, and a thermally conducting layer which includes a fin. The fin pushes against an interior surface of a case which surrounds the battery cell, the thermally insulating layer, and the thermally conducting layer. The thermally conducting layer includes a discontinuity where the discontinuity is configured to reduce a capacitance associated with the thermally conducting layer compared to when the thermally conducting layer does not include the discontinuity.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2021Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Nihal Murthy, Sampson Lau
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Publication number: 20210362849Abstract: A vertical take-off and landing aircraft includes a fuselage, at least one wing connected to the fuselage, a plurality of rotors connected to the at least one wing for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and a plurality of proprotors connected to the at least one wing and tiltable between lift configurations for providing lift for vertical take-off and landing of the aircraft and propulsion configurations for providing forward thrust to the aircraftType: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2020Publication date: November 25, 2021Applicant: Archer Aviation, Inc.Inventors: Geoffrey C. BOWER, Thomas P. MUNIZ, Brett ADCOCK, Adam GOLDSTEIN, Calder Richmond HUGHES, Zachary Robert Timm HAZEN
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Patent number: 11114725Abstract: A battery system includes a battery cell, a thermally insulating layer, and a thermally conducting layer which includes a fin. The fin pushes against an interior surface of a case which surrounds the battery cell, the thermally insulating layer, and the thermally conducting layer. The thermally conducting layer includes a discontinuity where the discontinuity is configured to reduce a capacitance associated with the thermally conducting layer compared to when the thermally conducting layer does not include the discontinuity.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2020Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: WISK AERO LLCInventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Nihal Murthy, Sampson Lau
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Patent number: 10981469Abstract: A desired departure temperature is determined for a battery, having a temperature, in a vehicle based at least in part on trip information associated with a trip. A temperature controlling system is used to bring the temperature of the battery towards the desired departure temperature, wherein the vehicle begins the trip with the battery at the desired departure temperature.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: WISK AERO LLCInventors: Thomas P. Muniz, Ke Zhang, John Melack
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Publication number: 20210057788Abstract: A battery includes a metal can having a bottom, a top opening, and four sides. The battery also includes a plurality of cells stacked inside the metal can, wherein at least two opposing sides of the four sides of the metal can are biased inward against the plurality of cells to provide compression.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2020Publication date: February 25, 2021Inventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Nihal Murthy
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Patent number: 10903535Abstract: An aircraft hybrid cooling system is disclosed. The aircraft hybrid cooling system includes a conduit through an aircraft that is configured to allow airflow through the conduit. The aircraft hybrid cooling system additionally includes a battery assembly positioned in the conduit, configured to provide for airflow past a battery in the battery assembly in a first mode of operation and configured to provide flow of a cooling medium past the battery in a second mode of operation. In some embodiments, the battery in the battery assembly is cooled via airflow in the event the aircraft is in flight and is cooled via an applied cooling medium in the event the aircraft is grounded.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2018Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: WISK AERO LLCInventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Eric Allison
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Publication number: 20210005942Abstract: A battery system includes a can with a lip around an opening. At least an interior surface of the can is anodized and the lip of the can includes a longer and shorter side. The can further includes a flange on the longer side of the lip and a plurality of layers that are inserted into the can. The plurality of layers includes a battery cell and a thermally conducting layer with a fin and the fin has a spring force that pushes the fin towards the anodized interior surface. The battery system further includes a lid that is configured to cover the opening of the can, where the flange is configured to wrap around the lid when the lid covers the opening of the can.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2020Publication date: January 7, 2021Inventors: John MELACK, Thomas P. MUNIZ, Colin Charles BREY
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Patent number: 10873111Abstract: A battery includes a metal can having a bottom, a top opening, and four sides. The battery also includes a plurality of cells stacked inside the metal can, wherein at least two opposing sides of the four sides of the metal can are biased inward against the plurality of cells to provide compression.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2016Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: WISK AERO LLCInventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Nihal Murthy
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Patent number: 10756398Abstract: A battery system includes a can with a lip around an opening. At least an interior surface of the can is anodized and the lip of the can includes a longer and shorter side. The can further includes a flange on the longer side of the lip and a plurality of layers that are inserted into the can. The plurality of layers includes a battery cell and a thermally conducting layer with a fin and the fin has a spring force that pushes the fin towards the anodized interior surface. The battery system further includes a lid that is configured to cover the opening of the can, where the flange is configured to wrap around the lid when the lid covers the opening of the can.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2019Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: WISK AERO LLCInventors: John Melack, Thomas P. Muniz, Colin Charles Brey
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Publication number: 20200262313Abstract: A desired departure temperature is determined for a battery, having a temperature, in a vehicle based at least in part on trip information associated with a trip. A temperature controlling system is used to bring the temperature of the battery towards the desired departure temperature, wherein the vehicle begins the trip with the battery at the desired departure temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2020Publication date: August 20, 2020Inventors: Thomas P. MUNIZ, Ke ZHANG, John MELACK
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Patent number: 10727551Abstract: A liquid temperature controlling system is used to circulate a temperature controlled liquid between the liquid temperature controlling system and a battery to produce a temperature controlled battery. The battery and the liquid temperature controlling system are detachably coupled at least while the temperature controlled liquid is circulated. The temperature controlled liquid is removed from the temperature controlled battery. The battery and the liquid temperature controlling system are decoupled after the temperature controlled liquid is removed. A charger is used to charge the temperature controlled battery.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2019Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: WISK AERO LLCInventors: Thomas P. Muniz, John Melack
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Publication number: 20200194852Abstract: A liquid temperature controlling system is used to circulate a temperature controlled liquid between the liquid temperature controlling system and a battery to produce a temperature controlled battery. The battery and the liquid temperature controlling system are detachably coupled at least while the temperature controlled liquid is circulated. The temperature controlled liquid is removed from the temperature controlled battery. The battery and the liquid temperature controlling system are decoupled after the temperature controlled liquid is removed. A charger is used to charge the temperature controlled battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2019Publication date: June 18, 2020Inventors: Thomas P. MUNIZ, John MELACK
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Publication number: 20200185757Abstract: Battery assembly techniques and a corresponding system are disclosed. In various embodiments, the battery assembly techniques include compressing battery cells and inserting the battery cells in a can. Battery cells are stacked and then compressed using pneumatic cylinders that exert pressure on a first external layer of the stacked battery cells. A first portion of the stacked battery cells is released from the pneumatic cylinders while a second portion of the battery cells remains compressed. The first portion of the stacked battery cells is inserted in a can. In various embodiments, friction decreasing materials are added to the stacked battery cells to compress the stacked battery cells or ease insertion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2020Publication date: June 11, 2020Inventors: John MELACK, Thomas P. MUNIZ, Nihal MURTHY