John M Whiting

US Patent:

7834593, Nov 16, 2010

Filed:

Feb 29, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/040577

Inventors:

Thomas F. Johnson - Schaumburg IL, US
John S. Whiting - Arlington Heights IL, US

Assignee:

Schumacher Electric Corporation - Mt. Prospect IL

International Classification:

H02J 7/04
H02J 7/16

US Classification:

320150

Abstract:

A protection system and method for a battery charger is disclosed for detecting a thermal runaway condition in a battery during charging in order to protect the battery when such a thermal runaway condition has been detected. The protection system in accordance with the present invention does not require external temperature sensors nor does it rely on actions by the technician or user. Briefly, the protection system includes one or more electrical sensors normally provided with conventional battery chargers for sensing one or more electrical parameters during charging and providing an indication of a possible thermal runaway condition based upon the trend of the electrical charging parameters. In general, the protection system monitors the charging characteristics of a battery for a complete or partial charging cycle. If the charging characteristics deviate from a normal or otherwise indicate an anomaly, as determined by software, the system assumes there may be a thermal runaway condition and executes a protection measure, such as terminating charging of the battery.

US Patent:

D653204, Jan 31, 2012

Filed:

Oct 1, 2010

Appl. No.:

29/376140

Inventors:

John S. Whiting - Arlington Heights IL, US
Patrick J. Clarke - St. Charles IL, US
Randall L. Lawson - Hoopeston IL, US
Samuel I. Weisbard - Highland Park IL, US
Steven R. Hawkins - Burnsville MN, US
Mark F. Kurth - Chicago IL, US
Timothy J. Payne - Chicago IL, US

Assignee:

Schumacher Electric Corporation - Mt. Prospect IL

International Classification:

1302

US Classification:

D13107

US Patent:

8237412, Aug 7, 2012

Filed:

Jul 14, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/487071

Inventors:

Thomas Finis Johnson - Schaumburg IL, US
John S. Whiting - Arlington Heights IL, US
John F. Waldron - Elgin IL, US

Assignee:

Schumacher Electric Corporation - Mt. Prospect IL

International Classification:

H02J 7/04
H02J 7/16

US Classification:

320139, 320138, 320140, 320141, 320142, 320145

Abstract:

A battery charger is disclosed for use with various batteries, such as automotive and marine-type batteries. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the charging current is alternated between non-zero DC charging current levels. By alternating the charging current between non-zero DC charging levels, the battery can be charged to a higher capacity (i. e. , ampere hours) faster, thus reducing the charging time and at the same time allow the rating of the battery charger to be increased. In accordance with another important aspect of the invention, the technique for alternating the charging current can be implemented in both linear and switched-mode battery chargers.

US Patent:

8575899, Nov 5, 2013

Filed:

Jul 16, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/504223

Inventors:

John Whiting - Arlington Heights IL, US
Matthew A. Heins - Arlington Heights IL, US

Assignee:

Schumacher Electric Corporation - Mt. Prospect IL

International Classification:

H02J 7/04
G01N 27/416

US Classification:

320149, 320157, 320162, 324426

Abstract:

A battery charger is disclosed that is configured to be connected to an external battery by way of external battery cables. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the battery charger is configured with automatic voltage detection which automatically determines the nominal voltage of the battery connected to its battery charger terminals and charges the battery as a function of the detected nominal voltage irrespective of the nominal voltage selected by a user. Various safeguards are built into the battery charger to avoid overcharging a battery. For battery chargers with user selectable nominal battery voltage charging modes, battery charger is configured to over-ride a user selected battery voltage mode if it detects that the battery connected to the battery charger terminals is different than the user selected charging mode.

US Patent:

20120306437, Dec 6, 2012

Filed:

Jun 29, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/537925

Inventors:

Thomas Finis Johnson - Schaumburg IL, US
John S. Whiting - Hampshire IL, US
John F. Waldron - Elgin IL, US

Assignee:

Schumacher Electric Corporation - Mount Prospect IL

International Classification:

H02J 7/00

US Classification:

320107, 320160

Abstract:

A battery charger is disclosed for use with various batteries, such as automotive and marine-type batteries. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the charging current is alternated between non-zero DC charging current levels. By alternating the charging current between non-zero DC charging levels, the battery can be charged to a higher capacity (i.e., ampere hours) faster, thus reducing the charging time and at the same time allow the rating of the battery charger to be increased. In accordance with another important aspect of the invention, the technique for alternating the charging current can be implemented in both linear and switched-mode battery chargers.

US Patent:

20210354582, Nov 18, 2021

Filed:

Jul 26, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/385211

Inventors:

- Fort Worth TX, US
Linh Nguyen - Elk Grove Village IL, US
Patrick Clarke - St. Charles IL, US
John Whiting - North Richland Hills TX, US

International Classification:

B60L 53/60
F02N 11/14
F02N 11/12
H02J 7/00
B60L 53/68
B60L 53/22
B60L 53/30
G06Q 50/00

Abstract:

A compact battery monitoring system for monitoring a vehicle battery in a vehicle having an engine is described. The compact battery monitoring system may comprise a housing, a processor positioned within the housing, one or more sensors operatively coupled with said processor, a data port, a wireless data transceiver, and rechargeable lithium ion battery. The data port may be configured to removeably couple with a second data port positioned outside the housing to provide an electrical connection between the one or more sensors and the vehicle battery, wherein said processor is configured to monitor a parameter of the vehicle battery using said one or more sensors, yielding a monitored battery parameter. The wireless data transceiver within the housing is configured to wirelessly communicate the monitored battery parameter to a remotely situated, portable user device using, for example, ultra high frequency radio waves. A display device may be positioned on the housing, including a plurality of light emitting diodes. The rechargeable lithium ion battery is configured to supply power needed to operate the processor and the wireless data transceiver. When the engine is running, the battery monitoring system draws a charging current from the vehicle battery to charge the lithium ion battery.

US Patent:

20170066342, Mar 9, 2017

Filed:

Nov 18, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/355949

Inventors:

- Mount Prospect IL, US
Linh Nguyen - Elk Grove Village IL, US
Patrick Clarke - St. Charles IL, US
John Whiting - Hampshire IL, US

International Classification:

B60L 11/18
H02J 7/00

Abstract:

A battery charging system comprising a battery charger configured to deliver power to a rechargeable battery, wherein the battery charger comprises a wireless data transceiver; and a remote server communicatively coupled to the battery charger through a network via said wireless data transceiver and configured to communicate one or more battery charge parameters or battery charger control commands between the battery charger and a remotely situated portable user device.

US Patent:

20160046199, Feb 18, 2016

Filed:

Aug 14, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/826747

Inventors:

- Mount Prospect IL, US
Linh Nguyen - Elk Grove Village IL, US
Patrick Clarke - St. Charles IL, US
John Whiting - Hampshire IL, US

International Classification:

B60L 11/18

Abstract:

A battery charging system comprising a battery charger configured to deliver power to a rechargeable battery, wherein the battery charger comprises a wireless data transceiver; and a remote server communicatively coupled to the battery charger through a network via said wireless data transceiver and configured to communicate one or more battery charge parameters or battery charger control commands between the battery charger and a remotely situated portable user device.