Patents by Inventor Timothy E. Hughes
Timothy E. Hughes 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: 20230284801Abstract: A heating blanket that includes: a first heating segment comprising a first heating section and a first sensing section, the first heating section comprises one or more heating elements and the first sensing section comprises one or more sensing elements; a second heating segment comprising a second heating section, the second heating section comprises one or more heating elements; the first sensing section overlaps the second heating section and the one or more sensing elements in the first sensing section monitor or determine an amount of heat generated by the one or more heating elements in the second heating section.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2023Publication date: September 14, 2023Inventors: Florian Sandmair, Manfred Gies, Timothy E. Hughes, James Frederick Krier
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Patent number: 10938002Abstract: The following description relates to systems and methods for a vehicle battery. The vehicle battery may be a Lithium-ion battery, and may comprise a plurality of prismatic shaped battery cells, arranged and stacked to form a series of battery cell groups, and where protective casings or partitioned chambers of a protective casing enclose each battery cell group. The protective casings, or component segments of a protective casing, may be coupled to one another by a series of ridges and mating grooves. A protective casing may alternatively comprise of a monolithic extrusion comprising a plurality of partitioned chambers. The protective casing may be configured to absorb a threshold compressive force without resulting in deformation of the battery cell groups.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2016Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: A123 Systems LLCInventor: Timothy E. Hughes
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Patent number: 10008701Abstract: A battery is provided comprising a plurality of cylindrical type cells. Three cylindrical cells may be arranged in a triangular configuration with an electrical isolation spacer positioned between the three cylindrical cells, and a casing may be wrapped around the cells to restrict relative movement of the cells forming a cell group. Multiple cells groups, separated by electrical isolation spacers, may be electrically coupled via bus bars and arranged to form a cell module, where multiple cell modules may be included in the battery, and where the cell modules may be electrically coupled via inter-module connectors.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2015Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: A123 Systems, LLCInventors: Timothy E. Hughes, Lingchang Wang, Arfan Ahmad
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Publication number: 20160329538Abstract: The following description relates to systems and methods for a vehicle battery. The vehicle battery may be a Lithium-ion battery, and may comprise a plurality of prismatic shaped battery cells, arranged and stacked to form a series of battery cell groups, and where protective casings or partitioned chambers of a protective casing enclose each battery cell group. The protective casings, or component segments of a protective casing, may be coupled to one another by a series of ridges and mating grooves. A protective casing may alternatively comprise of a monolithic extrusion comprising a plurality of partitioned chambers. The protective casing may be configured to absorb a threshold compressive force without resulting in deformation of the battery cell groups.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2016Publication date: November 10, 2016Inventor: Timothy E. Hughes
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Publication number: 20160172642Abstract: A battery is provided comprising a plurality of cylindrical type cells. Three cylindrical cells may be arranged in a triangular configuration with an electrical isolation spacer positioned between the three cylindrical cells, and a casing may be wrapped around the cells to restrict relative movement of the cells forming a cell group. Multiple cells groups, separated by electrical isolation spacers, may be electrically coupled via bus bars and arranged to form a cell module, where multiple cell modules may be included in the battery, and where the cell modules may be electrically coupled via inter-module connectors.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2015Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventors: Timothy E. Hughes, Lingchang Wang, Arfan Ahmad
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Patent number: 6985060Abstract: A control unit having a circuit substrate mounted within a housing that is adapted to be mounted upon a hydraulic valve body with a coil spacer mounted upon said substrate. The coil spacer including at least one coil support ring having resilient member extending in a radial direction from the edge of the ring into the center of the ring. The control unit also including a solenoid coil and flux casing assembly mounted upon the coil spacer ring with the solenoid coil and flux casing assembly flexing the resilient member such that the resilient member urges flux casing away from the coil spacer.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2002Date of Patent: January 10, 2006Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes CompanyInventors: Dion S. Parker, Timothy E. Hughes, Douglas Lewin, Paolo Rea, David E. Collins
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Patent number: 6774330Abstract: The apparatus (10) includes a depressible member (20), a first membrane (30), and a second membrane (40). The depressible member (20) has an unactuated condition and an actuated condition. The first membrane (30) is connected with the depressible member (20). The first membrane (30) resists movement of the depressible member (20) from the unactuated condition to the actuated condition. The first membrane (30) further provides an increasing return force (91) urging the depressible member (20) to the unactuated condition as the operator moves the depressible member from the unactuated condition to the actuated condition. The second membrane (40) resists movement of the depressible member (20) to the actuated condition. The second membrane (40) further provides an increasing return force (92) to the depressible member (20) as the operator moves the depressible member from the unactuated condition to the actuated condition.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2001Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventors: Mike Blossfeld, Timothy E. Hughes
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Publication number: 20040070302Abstract: A coil assembly comprises a coil wound upon a bob-bin. A pair of terminals is upported by the bobbin. The coil has a pair of lead wires, each of which is connected to one of the terminals. Each terminal is adapted to be coupled to an electronic control unit. The coil is enclosed at least in part by a flux return casing. At least one resilient member is arranged and configured to urge the bobbin and the casing axially downward. The resilient member can be included in a coil spacer that is disposed between the coils and a printed circuit board.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2003Publication date: April 15, 2004Inventors: Dion S Parker, Timothy E Hughes, Douglas Lewin, Paola Rea, David E Collins
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Publication number: 20020139653Abstract: The apparatus (10) includes a depressible member (20), a first membrane (30), and a second membrane (40). The depressible member (20) has an unactuated condition and an actuated condition. The first membrane (30) is connected with the depressible member (20). The first membrane (30) resists movement of the depressible member (20) from the unactuated condition to the actuated condition. The first membrane (30) further provides an increasing return force (91) urging the depressible member (20) to the unactuated condition as the operator moves the depressible member from the unactuated condition to the actuated condition. The second membrane (40) resists movement of the depressible member (20) to the actuated condition. The second membrane (40) further provides an increasing return force (92) to the depressible member (20) as the operator moves the depressible member from the unactuated condition to the actuated condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2001Publication date: October 3, 2002Applicant: TRW Inc.Inventors: Mike Blossfeld, Timothy E. Hughes
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Patent number: 6198055Abstract: A manually movable switch selector (14) includes a rotary knob (16) and a thumb wheel (18). The rotary knob (16) is configured for rotation about a first axis (19). The thumb wheel (18) is supported on the rotary knob (16) for rotation relative to the rotary knob (16) about a second axis (29) perpendicular to the first axis (19).Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 1999Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventor: Timothy E. Hughes
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Patent number: 6109117Abstract: A variable resistance weight sensor incorporates a plurality of force sensitive resistance elements disposed between a pair of force distributing plates. One of the force distributing plates incorporates an associated plurality of protrusions for transferring, in cooperation with the second force distributing plate, an associated component of the compressive load to the associated force sensitive resistive element, whereby the resulting resistance of the force sensitive resistive element is inversely related to the magnitude of the associated compressive load component. The force sensitive resistive elements are interconnected in series, whereby a signal processor measures the applied load from the associated series resistance. A diode connected in parallel with the series combination of force sensitive resistive elements provides a means for diagnosing the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1997Date of Patent: August 29, 2000Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.Inventors: James G. Stanley, James A. Campbell, Timothy E. Hughes
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Patent number: 5492364Abstract: An inflator for an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a plastic housing encased in fiber windings that is rupturable upon the production of a predetermined combustion gas pressure internally of the housing to effect venting of the gases into the air bag and inflation thereof.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1994Date of Patent: February 20, 1996Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.Inventors: Steven J. Anderson, R. Mark Uzel, Steven Kmenta, Dennis W. Burnard, Timothy E. Hughes
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Patent number: 5346251Abstract: An inflator for an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a housing with an arcuate stress concentration groove therein of reduced cross section relative to the remainder of the housing whereby the groove ruptures upon the occurrence of a predetermined pressure internally of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 1993Date of Patent: September 13, 1994Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.Inventors: Dennis W. Burnard, Steven Kmenta, Timothy E. Hughes
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Patent number: 5320379Abstract: A system for mounting an airbag and airbag inflator comprises an airbag inflator having a plurality of clips that are engagable with a mounting plate. The airbag is interposed between the inflator and the mounting plate when the clips on the inflator are engaged with the mounting plate so as to support the airbag and seal the interface between the inflator and mounting plate. Gas flow incident to deflation of the airbag is vented through the mounting plate.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 1993Date of Patent: June 14, 1994Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.Inventors: Dennis W. Burnard, Timothy E. Hughes, Brian T. Seymour, Steven J. Anderson