United States Patents Issued to Dr. George Thomas

1.    U.S. Patent Number: 10826304; Issue Date: November 03, 2020 

Title:  Battery capacity translator and corresponding systems and methods  

Inventors: George Thomas, Sai Praturu, Ajith N Nair, Venus Desai

Abstract: A battery capacity translator (209) includes an input (301), an output (302), and a conversion circuit (305) coupled between the input and the output. The conversion circuit receives stored energy capacity information (701,702) corresponding to one or more energy storage cells of a first type at the input, and converts the stored energy capacity information to modeled stored energy capacity information (703) corresponding to one or more other energy storage cells of a second type. This modeled stored energy capacity information is delivered to the output to emulate the energy storage cells of the second type in legacy systems.

2.    Patent number: 10440542; Issue Date: October 8, 2019

Title:Wireless battery monitoring and control system for parachute deployment and auto load disengagement

Inventors: George Thomas, Sai Praturu, Ajith N Nair, Venus Desai

Abstract: A battery system includes a battery, a monitoring circuit, a wireless communication device and a remote wireless communication unit, and a deployable drone parachute. The monitoring circuit includes a processing unit and non-volatile memory that stores a unique identification of the battery. The wireless communication device is disposed on the battery and is in data communication with sensor circuits. The wireless communication device transmits real time operational parameter data sensed by the sensor circuits. The remote wireless communication unit is in wireless data communication with the wireless communication device and receives the operational parameter data therefrom.

3.    US Patent Number:  5219684; Issue Date: June 15, 1993

Title:  "Electrochemical cells containing a safety electrolyte solvent"

Inventor(s):  David Wilkinson, George Thomas, James Dudley, Perry Juric. 

Brief Summary:  The present invention is an electrolyte which provides superior safety characteristics on cells (Lithium metal based) using the electrolyte. The electrolyte allows for the preparation of cells having acceptable performance when placed in environments where safety concerns are paramount.

4.    U.S. Patent Number: 5378551; Issue Date:  January 3, 1995

Inventors:  Vernon Meadows, George Thomas, Anaba Anani.

Title:  "Rechargeable battery cell having integral vibrating means"

Brief Summary:  A rechargeable battery cell has an integral vibrating means. The cell has a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte disposed between the two electrodes. The electrolyte contains a piezoelectric material that vibrates when subjected to an alternating electric field. In one embodiment, at least one of the electrodes contains a piezoelectric material that functions as a vibrating means when subjected to an alternating electric field. In another embodiment, a piezoelectric material that functions as a vibrating means when subjected to an alternating electric field is attached as part of a current collector to at least one of the electrodes. The piezoelectric material performs an additional function of being an electronic insulator for the purpose of stacking the cells.

5.                    U.S. Patent Number: 5392191;  Issue date:  February 21, 1995

    Inventors:  George Thomas, Sathya Prasad, John Nerz.

Title:  "Transition metal oxide anodes for aqueous pseudocapacitors"

Brief Summary:  High energy density aqueous pseudocapacitors may be achieved by providing such devices with dissimilar transition metal oxide electrodes. The transition metal oxide electrodes are particularly adapted for use as the anode of a pseudocapacitor device.

6.     U.S. Patent Number 5429893; Issue Date:  July 4, 1995

Inventors:  George Thomas.

Title:  "Electrochemical capacitors having dissimilar electrodes"

Brief Summary:  Briefly, according to the invention, there is provided a high energy density, electrochemical, pseudocapacitive device having a first electrode which stores charge using a double layer electrochemical mechanism, and a second electrode fabricated of an inorganic material, which stores charge via an oxidation/reduction ("redox") reaction. Operatively disposed between the first and second electrodes of the device is an electrolyte material adapted to facilitate charge transfer.

7.    US Patent Number:  5436548; Issue Date:  July 25, 1995

Title:  "Battery charging and discharging system and corresponding method"

Inventors:  George Thomas

Brief Summary:  In core of the invention, the battery is vibrated, preferably at ultrasonic frequencies, in order to provide the needed means for convective mass transport. Vibration at ultrasonic frequencies, that is, frequencies in excess of 20,000 Hz, is effected by means of an ultrasonic transducer. During the charging process, ultrasonic vibration of the battery increases the mass transport rate of the primary ions (for example, lithium ions in a lithium battery), across the electrolyte from one electrode to another, and also within each electrode. …The higher mass transport rate also translates into a considerable increase in the rate capability of a battery which thereby considerably decreases the charging time of that battery.

8.    US Patent Number:  5587250; Issue Date:  December 24, 1996

Title: "Hybrid energy storage system"

Inventor(s):  George Thomas and Georgina More.

Brief Summary:  A hybrid energy storage system for a pulsed power communications device, said system comprising a first energy storage device consisting of a secondary battery selected from the group consisting of lead-acid batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, nickel metal hydride batteries, lithium ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, and combinations thereof for providing a constant current output, a second energy storage device consisting of an electrochemical capacitor having a first electrode fabricated of a metal oxide, a second electrode fabricated of either a metal oxide or a conducting polymer, and an electrolyte disposed between said electrodes, said second energy storage device providing power pulses of 5 amperes, for at least 10 milliseconds and a frequency of 10Hz.

9.    US Patent Number:  5629599; Issue Date: May 13, 1997

Title:  "Rechargeable battery-powered communication device having integral vibrating means"

Inventor(s): Frank Malaspina, George Thomas.

Brief Summary:  Briefly, according to the invention, there is provided a system for charging a battery in a battery powered communications device. The system includes a power supply and at least one speaker means integral to said device. The speaker is adapted to vibrate the battery while the power supply provides a charging current thereto.  Further according to an alternate embodiment of the invention, there is provided an electronic communication device including a rechargeable electrochemical cell for powering the communication device. The device further includes at least a speaker for transmitting and receiving audio frequency information via the device. The speaker is further adapted to ultrasonically vibrate said electrochemical cell during the charging thereof.

10.US Patent Number:  5670266;  Issue Date: September 23, 1997

Title:  "Hybrid energy storage system"

Inventor(s):  George Thomas, Jose Fernandez, Georgina More.

Brief Summary:  An energy storage system including a first energy storage device, such as a secondary or rechargeable battery, and a second energy storage device, such as an electrochemical capacitor. The electrochemical capacitor provides intermittent energy bursts to satisfy the power requires of, for example, pulsed power communication devices. Such devices typically require power pulses in excess of those which conventional battery cells can easily provide for numerous cycles. The system further includes circuitry for coupling the capacitor to a load in response to changes in the battery.

11.US Patent Number:  5738919;  Issue Date:  April 14, 1998

Title:  "Energy storage system"

Inventor(s):  George Thomas, Jose Fernandez, Scott Garrett, Georgina More.

Brief Summary:  A hybrid energy storage system including a first energy storage device, such as a secondary or rechargeable battery, and a second energy storage device, such as an electrochemical capacitor. The electrochemical capacitor provides intermittent energy bursts to satisfy the power requires of, for example, pulsed power communication devices. The first and second energy storage devices are coupled to a current controller to assure that pulse transients are not applied to the battery cell as a result of charging the capacitor.

12.US Patent Number:  5744258;  Issue Date: April 28, 1998

Title:  "High power, high energy, hybrid electrode and electrical energy storage device made therefrom". 

Inventor(s):  Lijun Bai, Changming Li, Anaba Anani, George Thomas, Han Wu, Keryn Lian, Frank Denton, Jason Howard.

Brief Summary:  A hybrid electrode for a high power, high energy, and electrical storage device contains both a high-energy electrode material and a high-rate electrode material. The two materials are deposited on a current collector, and the electrode is used to make an energy storage device that exhibits both the high-rate capability of a capacitor and the high energy capability of a battery. The two materials can be co-deposited on the current collector in a variety of ways, either in superimposed layers, adjacent layers, intermixed with each other or one material coating the other to form a mixture that is then deposited on the current collector.

13.US Patent Number:  5800937;  Issue Date:  September 1, 1998

Title:  "Current interrupt device for secondary batteries"

Inventor(s):  Ed Decker, George Thomas, Venus Desai, Vernon Meadows, Mark Bresin.

Brief Summary:  A secondary battery as described above includes a mechanical current interrupt device that permits current flow to and from the battery during normal cell operation. However, in response to cell expansion, as could occur in the event of overcharging, the current interrupt device functions to provide isolation between the expanded battery cell and external contacts, thereby conveniently preventing further expansion and further overcharging before the situation becomes critical.

14.US Patent Number:  5849426; Issue Date:  December 15, 1998

Title:  "Hybrid energy storage system"

Inventor(s):  George Thomas, Georgina More.

Brief Summary:  A hybrid energy storage system including a first energy storage device, such as a secondary or rechargeable battery, and a second energy storage device, such as an electrochemical capacitor. The electrochemical capacitor provides intermittent energy bursts to satisfy the power requires of, for example, pulsed power communication devices. Such devices typically require power pulses in excess of those which conventional battery cells can easily provide for numerous cycles. The first and second energy storage devices may be coupled to output electronics to condition the output of the devices prior to delivering it to the application device.

      15.  US Patent Number:  5916699; Issue Date:  June 29, 1999

Title:  "Hybrid energy storage system"

Inventor(s):  George Thomas, Jose Fernandez, Georgina More.

Brief Summary:  An energy storage system including a first energy storage device, such as a secondary or rechargeable battery, and a second energy storage device, such as a capacitor, fuel cell, or flywheel. The second energy storage device provides intermittent energy bursts to satisfy the power requires of, for example, pulsed power communication devices. Such devices typically require power pulses in excess of those which conventional battery cells can easily provide for numerous cycles. The system further includes circuitry for coupling the second energy storage device to a load in response to changes in the battery.

       16.  US Patent Number:  6087812;  Issue Date:  July 11, 2000

Title:  "Independent dual-switch system for extending battery life under transient loads"

Inventor(s):  George Thomas, Jose Fernandez, Scott Garrett, Georgina More.  

Brief Summary:  A hybrid energy storage system including a first energy storage device, such as a secondary or rechargeable battery, and a second energy storage device, such as an electrochemical capacitor, fuel cell, or flywheel. The second energy storage device provides intermittent energy bursts to satisfy the power requires of, for example, pulsed power communication devices. The first and second energy storage devices are coupled to a current controller to assure that pulse transients are not applied to the first energy storage device as a result of charging the second

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