Matthew Adam Heins

US Patent:

20110012561, Jan 20, 2011

Filed:

Jul 16, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/504223

Inventors:

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

International Classification:

H02J 7/04

US Classification:

320149

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 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:

20140021906, Jan 23, 2014

Filed:

Sep 20, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/032374

Inventors:

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

Assignee:

Schumacher Electric Corporation - Mt. Prospect IL

International Classification:

H02J 7/00

US Classification:

320107, 320162

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:

20170210234, Jul 27, 2017

Filed:

Mar 17, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/461619

Inventors:

- Mount Prospect IL, US
Matthew Adam Heins - Arlington Heights IL, US
Shenzhong Zhu - Des Plaines IL, US

International Classification:

B60L 11/18
H01F 38/42
H02J 7/04
H02J 7/00
H02J 7/02

Abstract:

A hybrid battery charger is disclosed that includes a linear charger circuit for providing vehicle starting current and battery charging and a high frequency battery charging circuit that provides battery charging current. The linear charger circuit and the high frequency battery charging circuits are selectively enabled to provide vehicle starting current, maximum charging current and optimum efficiency.

US Patent:

20170067952, Mar 9, 2017

Filed:

Nov 18, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/355218

Inventors:

- Mount Prospect IL, US
John S. Whiting - Hampshire IL, US
John B. Borke - Crystal Lake IL, US
Matthew Adam Heins - Arlington Heights IL, US
Samuel I. Weisbard - Highland Park IL, US

International Classification:

G01R 31/00
G01R 31/36
G07C 5/12

Abstract:

An interconnect device is disclosed for detecting whether an vehicle on-board diagnostics (OBD) data port includes a blocking diode or equivalent, that prevents back feeding of power through the OBD data port. If a diode is detected, the interconnect device alerts the user that the power cannot be back fed through the OBD II port connector. In such a condition, an alternate means is used to preserve the data mentioned above. Specifically, an alternative power supply can be connected directly to the battery cables that will be disconnected from the battery, for example, by way of battery clamps. In this way the alternative power supply is used to preserve the data until a new battery is reconnected to the vehicle battery cables. If a diode is not detected by the interconnect device, the interconnect device displays this fact to the user. The interconnect device includes circuitry for detecting and displaying whether a diode is connected in series with a power pin of the OBD II port connector. In addition, the interconnect device includes an OBD II port connector on one end connected by way of a cable to a connector, such as a cigarette lighter connector or hardwired directly to an alternate power supply.

US Patent:

20170059659, Mar 2, 2017

Filed:

Nov 15, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/352217

Inventors:

- Mt. Prospect IL, US
Matthew A. Heins - Arlington Heights IL, US

International Classification:

G01R 31/36
H02J 7/00

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:

20160257210, Sep 8, 2016

Filed:

May 12, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/153164

Inventors:

- Mount Prospect IL, US
Matthew Adam Heins - Arlington Heights IL, US
Shenzhong Zhu - Des Plaines IL, US

International Classification:

B60L 11/18
H02J 7/00

Abstract:

A hybrid battery charger is disclosed that includes a linear charger circuit for providing vehicle starting current and battery charging and a high frequency battery charging circuit that provides battery charging current. The linear charger circuit and the high frequency battery charging circuits are selectively enabled to provide vehicle starting current, maximum charging current and optimum efficiency.

US Patent:

20160156223, Jun 2, 2016

Filed:

Feb 4, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/015337

Inventors:

- Mount Prospect IL, US
John S. Whiting - Hampshire IL, US
John B. Borke - Crystal Lake IL, US
Matthew Adam Heins - Arlington Heights IL, US
Samuel I. Weisbard - Highland Park IL, US

International Classification:

H02J 9/06
H02J 1/06
G07C 5/08
G01R 31/00
G07C 5/02

Abstract:

An interconnect device is disclosed for detecting whether an vehicle on-board diagnostics (OBD) data port includes a blocking diode or equivalent, that prevents back feeding of power through the OBD data port. If a diode is detected, the interconnect device alerts the user that the power cannot be back fed through the OBD II port connector. In such a condition, an alternate means is used to preserve the data mentioned above. Specifically, an alternative power supply can be connected directly to the battery cables that will be disconnected from the battery, for example, by way of battery clamps. In this way the alternative power supply is used to preserve the data until a new battery is reconnected to the vehicle battery cables. If a diode is not detected by the interconnect device, the interconnect device displays this fact to the user. The interconnect device includes circuitry for detecting and displaying whether a diode is connected in series with a power pin of the OBD II port connector. In addition, the interconnect device includes an OBD II port connector on one end connected by way of a cable to a connector, such as a cigarette lighter connector or hardwired directly to an alternate power supply.

US Patent:

20150069959, Mar 12, 2015

Filed:

Nov 12, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/539561

Inventors:

- Mt. Prospect IL, US
Matthew A. Heins - Arlington Heights IL, US

International Classification:

G01R 31/36
H02J 7/00

US Classification:

320107, 320137, 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.