Patents by Inventor William Jeff DeFrank

William Jeff DeFrank 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 management system utilizing stackable batteries
    Patent number: 8884582
    Abstract: An energy storage system includes a battery management system that has a plurality of loads connected in electrical series with one another, and a controller operatively connected to the plurality of loads. A first battery pack has battery cells connected in electrical series with respect to one another to establish a system voltage. The first battery pack is connected in electrical parallel to the plurality of loads. The controller is operable to balance charges of the battery cells by activating selected ones of the loads. The battery management system and the first battery pack are configured such that an additional battery pack with additional battery cells connected in electrical series with respect to one another or an additional load pack with additional loads connected in electrical series with respect to one another is connectable to the battery management system. A method of managing battery capacity is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: ALTe Powertrain Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Jeff DeFrank, Joseph Richard Bertrand, Albert W. Harrison, III
  • BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM UTILIZING STACKABLE BATTERIES
    Publication number: 20120091962
    Abstract: An energy storage system includes a battery management system that has a plurality of loads connected in electrical series with one another, and a controller operatively connected to the plurality of loads. A first battery pack has battery cells connected in electrical series with respect to one another to establish a system voltage. The first battery pack is connected in electrical parallel to the plurality of loads. The controller is operable to balance charges of the battery cells by activating selected ones of the loads. The battery management system and the first battery pack are configured such that an additional battery pack with additional battery cells connected in electrical series with respect to one another or an additional load pack with additional loads connected in electrical series with respect to one another is connectable to the battery management system. A method of managing battery capacity is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: ALTe
    Inventors: William Jeff DeFrank, Joseph Richard Bertrand, Albert W. Harrison, III
  • ACCESSORY DRIVE SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20110190083
    Abstract: An accessory drive system for a vehicle comprises an electric motor adapted for receiving power from a battery and a least one accessory component for the vehicle. A serpentine belt is connected the motor and to the at least one accessory component such that the motor drives the at least one accessory component. A frame supports the electric motor and the at least one accessory component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: ALTe
    Inventors: Albert W. Harrison, III, John D. Thomas, William Jeff DeFrank, Nam-Huan Thai-Tang