Willard A Blevins

US Patent:

7182296, Feb 27, 2007

Filed:

Mar 28, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/112552

Inventors:

Larry J. Yount - Scottsdale AZ, US
Dale D. Davidson - Glendale AZ, US
William F. Potter - Waddell AZ, US
Alan B. Hickman - Cave Creek AZ, US
Willard A. Blevins - Glendale AZ, US

Assignee:

Honeywell International, Inc. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

B64C 13/20

US Classification:

244194, 244175

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus are provided for more reliably transferring operational control for various aircraft flight control surfaces from a first sub-system to a second sub-system. The present invention provides an Actuator Control Electronics (ACE) wrap-back module that monitors the output of the normal mode control module and switches control to the direct control module based upon the detection of an error condition. The switching function is controlled by a monitoring system that monitors the output from an integrated heartbeat module that emits a pre-programmed signal. The pre-programmed signal is encoded and sent over a communication bus where it is then decoded and validated by comparing the decoded signal to the expected results. Any irregularity in the heartbeat signal automatically triggers a change of control from the first flight control sub-system to the second flight control sub-system.

US Patent:

8384354, Feb 26, 2013

Filed:

Oct 15, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/579711

Inventors:

Andrew K. Chandler - Plymouth MI, US
Andrew H. Leutheuser - Royal Oak MI, US
Willard A. Blevins - Glendale AZ, US
Larry J. Yount - Scottsdale AZ, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

H02J 7/00
H02J 7/14
G01R 31/00
G01R 31/08

US Classification:

320132, 320116, 320134, 320148, 324500, 324522

Abstract:

A sensor arrangement and method that may be used with a variety of different energy storage devices, including battery packs found in hybrid vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and other types of vehicles. An exemplary sensor arrangement includes a number of sensor units, a controller, and several connections, wherein two or more sensor units are coupled to each node of the battery pack and are coupled to the controller over different connections. An exemplary method is divided into two aspects: an error detection aspect and an error resolution aspect. Because the sensor arrangement provides multiple sensor readings for each node being evaluated, the method can enable the sensor arrangement to continue operating accurately and with redundancy even if it experiences a loss of one or more sensor units.

US Patent:

8587318, Nov 19, 2013

Filed:

Jul 27, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/844318

Inventors:

Andrew K. Chandler - Plymouth MI, US
Andrew H. Leutheuser - Royal Oak MI, US
Willard A. Blevins - Glendale AZ, US
Larry J. Yount - Scottsdale AZ, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G01N 27/416

US Classification:

324433, 320116

Abstract:

A sensor arrangement and method that may be used with a variety of different energy storage devices, including battery packs found in hybrid vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and other types of vehicles. Some battery monitoring systems, such as those designed to monitor and/or control lithium-ion battery packs, may require individual voltage readings for each and every cell. If a battery monitoring system component—even one that provides just one of these sensor readings—malfunctions or otherwise experiences a fault condition, then it may be necessary to bring the entire vehicle in for service. The exemplary sensor arrangement and method may be used to control a series of balancing switches in the sensor arrangement in such a way that enables the vehicle to detect fault conditions and to continue operating successfully in the event that such fault conditions occur.

US Patent:

8598840, Dec 3, 2013

Filed:

Apr 14, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/086927

Inventors:

Larry James Yount - Scottsdale AZ, US
Willard Ahart Blevins - Glendale AZ, US
Inder Jit Verma - Phoenix AZ, US

Assignee:

LaunchPoint Energy and Power LLC - Scottsdale AZ

International Classification:

H02J 7/00

US Classification:

320107, 320134, 320136

Abstract:

A fault tolerant battery management system includes redundancy, with applications including electric vehicles. Portions of its circuitry are constituted in distinct fault domains with control, monitoring, and balancing of cells circuitry fault-effect-isolated from the circuitry associated with built-in real-time testing. Built-in tests are orchestrated in fault domains isolated from the functional circuitry being verified. These built-in tests provide test stimulus unique for each cell measurement. Cell balancing is performed in a fault tolerant manner. It takes at least two independent faults, in two mutually distinct fault domains, to negatively affect balancing capability or to interfere with a redundant circuit's ability to operate. The built-in tests allow operation without the requirement for data cross-compare between redundant measuring electronic elements. Testing and balancing functions are interlocked through encoded enabling methodologies and transmit enables on serial buses.

US Patent:

20130141230, Jun 6, 2013

Filed:

Jan 31, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/755294

Inventors:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC - Detroit MI, US
Andrew H. Leutheuser - Royal Oak MI, US
Willard A. Blevins - Glendale AZ, US
Larry J. Yount - Scottsdale AZ, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G01R 35/00
B60Q 1/00

US Classification:

340455, 324426

Abstract:

A sensor arrangement and method that may be used with a variety of different energy storage devices, including battery packs found in hybrid vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and other types of vehicles. An exemplary sensor arrangement includes a number of sensor units, a controller, and several connections, wherein two or more sensor units are coupled to each node of the battery pack and are coupled to the controller over different connections. An exemplary method is divided into two aspects: an error detection aspect and an error resolution aspect. Because the sensor arrangement provides multiple sensor readings for each node being evaluated, the method can enable the sensor arrangement to continue operating accurately and with redundancy even if it experiences a loss of one or more sensor units.

US Patent:

42874807, Sep 1, 1981

Filed:

Jan 10, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/111134

Inventors:

Billy K. Swift - Phoenix AZ
Anthony F. Zizzo - Phoenix AZ
Willard A. Blevins - Glendale AZ

Assignee:

Sperry Corporation - New York NY

International Classification:

H03L 710

US Classification:

331 1A

Abstract:

The out-of-lock condition of a digital phase locked loop is detected during a plurality of states such that single bit discrepancies, such as a noise pulse, are ignored, and thus the tolerable range of phase detection error is broadened. The present invention is adaptable for use with typical applications of digital phase locked loops, and can be used to control the phase detector of the digital phase locked loop such that error voltages will be introduced into the loop only during selected states.