Patents by Inventor Weston Arthur Hermann

Weston Arthur Hermann 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: 11904713
    Abstract: A system and method for mitigating the effects of a thermal event within a non-metal-air battery pack is provided in which the hot gas and material generated during the event is directed into the metal-air cells of a metal-air battery pack. The metal-air cells provide a large thermal mass for absorbing at least a portion of the thermal energy generated during the event before it is released to the ambient environment. As a result, the risks to vehicle passengers, bystanders, first responders and property are limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Weston Arthur Hermann
  • Patent number: 11884183
    Abstract: This patent application is directed to thermal management systems of vehicles with an electric powertrain. More specifically, the battery system and one or more powertrain components and/or cabin climate control components of a vehicle share the same thermal circuit as the battery module through which heat can be exchanged between the battery module and one or more powertrain or climate control components as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: QUANTUMSCAPE BATTERY, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Hettrich, Tomasz Wojcik, Weston Arthur Hermann
  • Patent number: 11777153
    Abstract: Provided are battery packs and interface modules for electrically interconnecting electrochemical cells in the packs and for providing heat distribution with the packs. An interface module interfaces one side of all electrochemical cells in a battery pack. The interface module may have a substantially planar shape such that the space occupied by the module in the battery pack is minimal. Most, if not all, conductive components of the interface module may be formed from the same sheet of metal. In some embodiments, the interface module includes multiple bus bars such that each bus bar interconnects two or more terminals of different electrochemical cells in the battery pack. Each bus bar may have a separate voltage sense lead extending from the bus bar to a connecting portion. The bus bars may be flexibly supported within the module. The interface module may also include multiple thermistors disposed on different bus bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: QUANTUMSCAPE BATTERY, INC.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, David E. Berkstresser, Stuart D. Barter, Phillip John Weicker
  • Publication number: 20230290935
    Abstract: The disclosure set forth herein is directed to battery devices and methods therefor. More specifically, embodiments of the instant disclosure provide a battery electrode that comprises both intercalation chemistry material and conversion chemistry material, which can be used in automotive applications. There are other embodiments as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy HOLME, Weston Arthur HERMANN
  • Publication number: 20230256866
    Abstract: This patent application is directed to thermal management systems of vehicles with an electric powertrain. More specifically, the battery system and one or more powertrain components and/or cabin climate control components of a vehicle share the same thermal circuit as the battery module through which heat can be exchanged between the battery module and one or more powertrain or climate control components as needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Kevin Hettrich, Tomasz Wojcik, Weston Arthur Hermann
  • Patent number: 11577626
    Abstract: This patent application is directed to thermal management systems of vehicles with an electric powertrain. More specifically, the battery system and one or more powertrain components and/or cabin climate control components of a vehicle share the same thermal circuit as the battery module through which heat can be exchanged between the battery module and one or more powertrain or climate control components as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: QuantumScape Battery, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Hettrich, Tomasz Wojcik, Weston Arthur Hermann
  • Patent number: 11557756
    Abstract: The disclosure set forth herein is directed to battery devices and methods therefor. More specifically, embodiments of the instant disclosure provide a battery electrode that comprises both intercalation chemistry material and conversion chemistry material, which can be used in automotive applications. There are other embodiments as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: QUANTUMSCAPE BATTERY, INC.
    Inventors: Tim Holme, Weston Arthur Hermann
  • Publication number: 20220118880
    Abstract: Various embodiments herein relate to the design of battery stacks, batteries and battery packs that are able to accommodate volumetric expansion in the battery materials. These designs may be especially useful in connection with batteries having negative electrodes made of lithium metal and/or positive electrodes made of an electrochemically active conversion material. These batteries may expand on the order of 10-40% during cycling. The battery designs disclosed herein include compressible regions that span a wide variety of different designs and implementations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, William H. Gardner
  • Publication number: 20210376395
    Abstract: Provided are battery packs and interface modules for electrically interconnecting electrochemical cells in the packs and for providing heat distribution with the packs. An interface module interfaces one side of all electrochemical cells in a battery pack. The interface module may have a substantially planar shape such that the space occupied by the module in the battery pack is minimal. Most, if not all, conductive components of the interface module may be formed from the same sheet of metal. In some embodiments, the interface module includes multiple bus bars such that each bus bar interconnects two or more terminals of different electrochemical cells in the battery pack. Each bus bar may have a separate voltage sense lead extending from the bus bar to a connecting portion. The bus bars may be flexibly supported within the module. The interface module may also include multiple thermistors disposed on different bus bars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Weston Arthur HERMANN, David E. BERKSTRESSER, Stuart D. BARTER, Phillip John WEICKER
  • Publication number: 20210197692
    Abstract: This patent application is directed to thermal management systems of vehicles with an electric powertrain. More specifically, the battery system and one or more powertrain components and/or cabin climate control components of a vehicle share the same thermal circuit as the battery module through which heat can be exchanged between the battery module and one or more powertrain or climate control components as needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin HETTRICH, Tomasz WOJCIK, Weston Arthur HERMANN
  • Patent number: 11011783
    Abstract: Provided are battery packs and interface modules for electrically interconnecting electrochemical cells in the packs and for providing heat distribution with the packs. An interface module interfaces one side of all electrochemical cells in a battery pack. The interface module may have a substantially planar shape such that the space occupied by the module in the battery pack is minimal. Most, if not all, conductive components of the interface module may be formed from the same sheet of metal. In some embodiments, the interface module includes multiple bus bars such that each bus bar interconnects two or more terminals of different electrochemical cells in the battery pack. Each bus bar may have a separate voltage sense lead extending from the bus bar to a connecting portion. The bus bars may be flexibly supported within the module. The interface module may also include multiple thermistors disposed on different bus bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: QuantumScape Battery, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, David E. Berkstresser, Stuart D. Barter, Phillip John Weicker
  • Patent number: 10889205
    Abstract: This patent application is directed to thermal management systems of vehicles with an electric powertrain. More specifically, the battery system and one or more powertrain components and/or cabin climate control components of a vehicle share the same thermal circuit as the battery module through which heat can be exchanged between the battery module and one or more powertrain or climate control components as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: QuantumScape Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Hettrich, Tomasz Wojcik, Weston Arthur Hermann
  • Publication number: 20200398683
    Abstract: A system and method for mitigating the effects of a thermal event within a non-metal-air battery pack is provided in which the hot gas and material generated during the event is directed into the metal-air cells of a metal-air battery pack. The metal-air cells provide a large thermal mass for absorbing at least a portion of the thermal energy generated during the event before it is released to the ambient environment. As a result, the risks to vehicle passengers, bystanders, first responders and property are limited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventor: Weston Arthur Hermann
  • Patent number: 10763477
    Abstract: A system and method for mitigating the effects of a thermal event within a non-metal-air battery pack is provided in which the hot gas and material generated during the event is directed into the metal-air cells of a metal-air battery pack. The metal-air cells provide a large thermal mass for absorbing at least a portion of the thermal energy generated during the event before it is released to the ambient environment. As a result, the risks to vehicle passengers, bystanders, first responders and property are limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Weston Arthur Hermann
  • Patent number: 10714735
    Abstract: A battery pack includes an enclosure containing a plurality of battery modules. A cooling system disposed among and electrically isolated from the plurality of battery modules uses a coolant solution that is a first mixture of a first liquid and a second liquid in a predetermined ratio to produce a first boiling point. Boiling of the coolant solution changes the predetermined ratio to produce a second boiling point that is higher than the first boiling point and that is sufficient to induce a thermal runaway condition for the plurality of battery module. A sensor monitors at least one operational characteristic of the plurality of battery modules and a controller determines a possible high voltage electrolysis within the enclosure based upon the at least one operational characteristic. A remediation system is responsive to the possible high voltage electrolysis to decrease risks associated with the possible high voltage electrolysis when operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Francisco LePort, Weston Arthur Hermann, Michael Bell
  • Publication number: 20200161696
    Abstract: Various embodiments herein relate to the design of battery stacks, batteries and battery packs that are able to accommodate volumetric expansion in the battery materials. These designs may be especially useful in connection with batteries having negative electrodes made of lithium metal and/or positive electrodes made of an electrochemically active conversion material. These batteries may expand on the order of 10-40% during cycling. The battery designs disclosed herein include compressible regions that span a wide variety of different designs and implementations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Weston Arthur HERMANN, William H. GARDNER
  • Publication number: 20200144611
    Abstract: The disclosure set forth herein is directed to battery devices and methods therefor. More specifically, embodiments of the instant disclosure provide a battery electrode that comprises both intercalation chemistry material and conversion chemistry material, which can be used in automotive applications. There are other embodiments as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Tim HOLME, Weston Arthur HERMANN
  • Publication number: 20200014055
    Abstract: Various embodiments herein provide methods and apparatus for conditioning a battery. The conditioning may be undertaken to restore charge capacity or power capability, especially when practiced on a battery having a lithium negative electrode and/or a positive electrode having a conversion material. In one embodiment, the conditioning method includes applying a substantially constant current or power until a conditioning voltage is reached, where the conditioning voltage is higher than the maximum voltage used during normal cycling. The method further includes continuing to charge the battery at the conditioning voltage until a maximum conditioning charge is reached. Next, the method includes discharging the battery to about the maximum charge voltage prior to using the battery in an end use. Also provided is a conditioning apparatus that is configured to perform the conditioning method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventor: Weston Arthur Hermann
  • Publication number: 20190356012
    Abstract: Various embodiments herein provide methods and apparatus for conditioning a battery. The conditioning may be undertaken to restore charge capacity or power capability, especially when practiced on a battery having a lithium negative electrode and/or a positive electrode having a conversion material. In one embodiment, the conditioning method includes applying a substantially constant current or power until a conditioning voltage is reached, where the conditioning voltage is higher than the maximum voltage used during normal cycling. The method further includes continuing to charge the battery at the conditioning voltage until a maximum conditioning charge is reached. Next, the method includes discharging the battery to about the maximum charge voltage prior to using the battery in an end use. Also provided is a conditioning apparatus that is configured to perform the conditioning method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventor: Weston Arthur Hermann
  • Publication number: 20190263252
    Abstract: This patent application is directed to thermal management systems of vehicles with an electric powertrain. More specifically, the battery system and one or more powertrain components and/or cabin climate control components of a vehicle share the same thermal circuit as the battery module through which heat can be exchanged between the battery module and one or more powertrain or climate control components as needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin HETTRICH, Tomasz WOJCIK, Weston Arthur HERMANN