Patents by Inventor Zachary D. Bylsma

Zachary D. Bylsma 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: 9395327
    Abstract: A battery system may include a plurality of subdivisions, such as battery cells or sub-packs. A measurement system configured to determine a subdivision electrical parameter associated with each of a plurality of subdivisions. A battery control may identify a subdivision satisfying a criterion based on the plurality of subdivision electrical parameters. According to some embodiments, the battery control system may determine a ratio of the subdivision electrical parameter of the identified subdivision to the electrical parameter of the battery pack. The ratio may be used to scale the electrical parameter associated with the battery pack by the ratio. According to other embodiments, the subdivision electrical parameter associated with the identified subdivision may be provided to a battery state estimation system. The scaled electrical parameter or the electrical parameter associated with the identified subdivision may be used by a battery state estimation system to generate an estimated battery state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Baraszu, Kurt M. Johnson, Zachary D. Bylsma, Damon R. Frisch, Wei Liu, David S. Maxwell
  • Patent number: 9190853
    Abstract: Methods and systems for adjusting the voltage limits of a battery. In some implementations, voltage data may be received from each of a plurality of battery sections of a vehicle battery. A voltage offset for the vehicle battery may be calculated using the voltage data. The voltage offset may be calculated by determining a difference between an average voltage taken from each of the plurality of battery sections and at least one of a minimum voltage of all of the battery cells and an average cell voltage from a battery section having the lowest average cell voltage. The voltage offset may be applied to dynamically adjust a voltage limit associated with the vehicle battery so as to prevent any of the battery cells in the vehicle battery from exceeding the voltage limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kurt M. Johnson, Robert C. Baraszu, Zachary D. Bylsma, Ashley McAllister, George Robison
  • Patent number: 9128159
    Abstract: A method for estimating charge capacity of a lithium iron-phosphate battery pack using data from a plug-in charge event. A laboratory-measured battery pack resistance, which is known to remain constant over a battery pack's life, can be used to determine open circuit voltage from terminal voltage during charging. Actual open circuit voltage after charging can be measured later, after the battery pack has rested for a sufficient amount of time. The two values of open circuit voltage, if taken at points on the battery pack's SOC-OCV curve which have great enough slope, provide two values of battery pack state of charge. By integrating charging current over the time interval between the two open circuit voltage readings, and using the two state of charge values, the battery pack capacity can be determined from the plug-in charge data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher W. Mousseau, Michael Wahlstrom, Zachary D. Bylsma
  • Patent number: 9065278
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating the relative capacity of individual battery subdivisions in a battery system are presented. In some embodiments, a system may include calculation system configured to analyze the electrical parameters to generate derivative values of the parameters over a period of time. The calculation system may further calculate summation values associated with individual battery subdivisions based upon the derivate values. A battery control system may utilize the summation values to generate one or more commands configured to control an aspect of an operation of the battery pack based on using the summation values. The summation values associated with battery subdivisions may be used to determine a relative capacity for storing electrical energy, according to some embodiments. The determination of relative capacity may be used by a control system to prevent over-discharge of a battery subdivision having the lowest energy storage capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Baraszu, Kurt M. Johnson, Zachary D. Bylsma, Damon R. Frisch, George Robison, Ashley McAllister
  • Publication number: 20150028814
    Abstract: Methods and systems for adjusting the voltage limits of a battery. In some implementations, voltage data may be received from each of a plurality of battery sections of a vehicle battery. A voltage offset for the vehicle battery may be calculated using the voltage data. The voltage offset may be calculated by determining a difference between an average voltage taken from each of the plurality of battery sections and at least one of a minimum voltage of all of the battery cells and an average cell voltage from a battery section having the lowest average cell voltage. The voltage offset may be applied to dynamically adjust a voltage limit associated with the vehicle battery so as to prevent any of the battery cells in the vehicle battery from exceeding the voltage limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: KURT M. JOHNSON, ROBERT C. BARASZU, ZACHARY D. BYLSMA, ASHLEY MCALLISTER, GEORGE ROBISON
  • Publication number: 20140203785
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating the relative capacity of individual battery subdivisions in a battery system are presented. In some embodiments, a system may include calculation system configured to analyze the electrical parameters to generate derivative values of the parameters over a period of time. The calculation system may further calculate summation values associated with individual battery subdivisions based upon the derivate values. A battery control system may utilize the summation values to generate one or more commands configured to control an aspect of an operation of the battery pack based on using the summation values. The summation values associated with battery subdivisions may be used to determine a relative capacity for storing electrical energy, according to some embodiments. The determination of relative capacity may be used by a control system to prevent over-discharge of a battery subdivision having the lowest energy storage capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: ROBERT C. BARASZU, KURT M. JOHNSON, ZACHARY D. BYLSMA, DAMON R. FRISCH, GEORGE ROBISON, ASHLEY MCALLISTER
  • Publication number: 20140163853
    Abstract: A method for estimating charge capacity of a lithium iron-phosphate battery pack using data from a plug-in charge event. A laboratory-measured battery pack resistance, which is known to remain constant over a battery pack's life, can be used to determine open circuit voltage from terminal voltage during charging. Actual open circuit voltage after charging can be measured later, after the battery pack has rested for a sufficient amount of time. The two values of open circuit voltage, if taken at points on the battery pack's SOC-OCV curve which have great enough slope, provide two values of battery pack state of charge. By integrating charging current over the time interval between the two open circuit voltage readings, and using the two state of charge values, the battery pack capacity can be determined from the plug-in charge data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher W. Mousseau, Michael Wahlstrom, Zachary D. Bylsma
  • Publication number: 20140152317
    Abstract: A battery system may include a plurality of subdivisions, such as battery cells or sub-packs. A measurement system configured to determine a subdivision electrical parameter associated with each of a plurality of subdivisions. A battery control may identify a subdivision satisfying a criterion based on the plurality of subdivision electrical parameters. According to some embodiments, the battery control system may determine a ratio of the subdivision electrical parameter of the identified subdivision to the electrical parameter of the battery pack. The ratio may be used to scale the electrical parameter associated with the battery pack by the ratio. According to other embodiments, the subdivision electrical parameter associated with the identified subdivision may be provided to a battery state estimation system. The scaled electrical parameter or the electrical parameter associated with the identified subdivision may be used by a battery state estimation system to generate an estimated battery state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: ROBERT C. BARASZU, KURT M. JOHNSON, ZACHARY D. BYLSMA, DAMON R. FRISCH, WEI LIU, DAVID S. MAXWELL
  • Publication number: 20130043840
    Abstract: Systems and methods to perform cell balancing on a vehicle battery pack. Cell balancing regulates which cells are discharged during use of the battery pack. Individual cell capacities may be used to determine for how long individual cells are discharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Zachary D. Bylsma, Matthew A. Herrmann