Patents Assigned to EFFICIENT DRIVETRAINS, INC
  • Patent number: 9914361
    Abstract: Vehicles that are capable of connecting to the AC grid are described that comprise a prime mover and at least one motor generator. In one embodiment, a vehicle may be constructed as a plug-in hybrid system and using the powertrain under controller instruction to either place power on an AC power line (to service AC grids) or to draw power from the AC power line to add electrical energy to the batteries on the vehicle. In some aspects, vehicles may test whether the power needed to service the AC power line may be satisfied by the on-vehicle batteries or, if not, whether and how much power to extract from the prime mover. In some aspects, vehicles may have a thermal management system on board to dynamically supply desired heat dissipation for the powertrain, if the powertrain is using the prime mover to supply power to the AC grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Efficient Drivetrains, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Frank, Chan-Chiao Lin, Patrick Kaufman, Sean Fountain, Bram Bonsen
  • Patent number: 9849869
    Abstract: Systems and/or methods for controlling dual motor-dual clutch powertrains for HEV and PHEV vehicles are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed comprising: determining the state of charge (SOC) of said batteries; determining the speed of the vehicle; if the SOC is greater than a given first threshold, selecting a charge-depleting operational mode of said vehicle; during operation of said vehicle, if the SOC is less than a given second threshold, selecting a charge-sustaining operating mode of said vehicle. In another embodiment, a system having a controller that operates the powertrain according to various embodiments is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: EFFICIENT DRIVETRAINS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Frank, Chan-Chiao Lin, Krishna Kumar, Anthony Serra
  • Patent number: 9505311
    Abstract: Vehicles that are capable of connecting to the AC grid are described that comprise a prime mover and at least one motor generator. In one embodiment, a vehicle may be constructed as a plug-in hybrid system and using the powertrain under controller instruction to either place power on an AC power line (to service AC grids) or to draw power from the AC power line to add electrical energy to the batteries on the vehicle. In some aspects, vehicles may test whether the power needed to service the AC power line may be satisfied by the on-vehicle batteries or, if not, whether and how much power to extract from the prime mover. In some aspects, vehicles may have a thermal management system on board to dynamically supply desired heat dissipation for the powertrain, if the powertrain is using the prime mover to supply power to the AC grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Efficient Drivetrains, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Frank, Chan-Chiao Lin, Patrick Kaufman, Sean Fountain, Bram Bonsen
  • Patent number: 9421856
    Abstract: Powertrain configurations for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: EFFICIENT DRIVETRAINS INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Frank, Joerg Ferchau, Leonhard Fahreddin, Julio Razo, Krishna Kumar, Anthony Serra
  • Patent number: 9193273
    Abstract: Vehicles that are capable of connecting to the AC grid are described that comprise a prime mover and at least one motor generator. In one embodiment, a vehicle may be constructed as a plug-in hybrid system and using the powertrain under controller instruction to either place power on an AC power line (to service AC grids) or to draw power from the AC power line to add electrical energy to the batteries on the vehicle. In some aspects, vehicles may test whether the power needed to service the AC power line may be satisfied by the on-vehicle batteries or, if not, whether and how much power to extract from the prime mover. In some aspects, vehicles may have a thermal management system on board to dynamically supply desired heat dissipation for the powertrain, if the powertrain is using the prime mover to supply power to the AC grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Efficient Drivetrains, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Frank, Chan-Chiao Lin, Patrick Kaufman, Sean Fountain, Bram Bonsen
  • Patent number: 9045136
    Abstract: Systems and/or methods for controlling dual motor-dual clutch powertrains for HEV and PHEV vehicles are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed comprising: determining the state of charge (SOC) of said batteries; determining the speed of the vehicle; if the SOC is greater than a given first threshold, selecting a charge-depleting operational mode of said vehicle; during operation of said vehicle, if the SOC is less than a given second threshold, selecting a charge-sustaining operating mode of said vehicle. In another embodiment, a system having a controller that operates the powertrain according to various embodiments is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Efficient Drivetrains, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Frank, Chan-Chiao Lin, Krishna Kumar, Anthony Serra
  • Publication number: 20140229043
    Abstract: Systems and/or methods for controlling dual motor-dual clutch powertrains for HEV and PHEV vehicles are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed comprising: determining the state of charge (SOC) of said batteries; determining the speed of the vehicle; if the SOC is greater than a given first threshold, selecting a charge-depleting operational mode of said vehicle; during operation of said vehicle, if the SOC is less than a given second threshold, selecting a charge-sustaining operating mode of said vehicle. In another embodiment, a system having a controller that operates the powertrain according to various embodiments is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: EFFICIENT DRIVETRAINS INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Frank, Chan-Chiao Lin, Krishna Kumar, Anthony Serra
  • Publication number: 20140228165
    Abstract: Powertrain configurations for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: EFFICIENT DRIVETRAINS INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Frank, Joerg Ferchau, Leonhard Fahreddin, Julio Razo, Krishna Kumar, Anthony Serra
  • Publication number: 20140228168
    Abstract: Powertrain configurations for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are disclosed. One powertrain comprises: a prime mover; an electric motor-generator, said electric motor-generator mechanically coupled to said prime mover via a first clutch; a transmission, said transmission mechanically coupled to said electric motor-generator via a second clutch; a battery, said battery electrically coupled to said electric motor-generator, said battery capable of supplying electrical energy to said electric motor-generator; and a controller, said controller capable of supplying control signals to said prime mover, said first clutch, said electric motor-generator, said second clutch and said transmission such that said controller is capable of dynamically affecting a plurality of operating modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Efficient Drivetrains Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Kaufman, Chan-Chiao Lin, Andrew Frank
  • Publication number: 20100308586
    Abstract: A wind turbine system is disclosed comprising: a plurality of turbine blades; a continuously variable transmission coupled to said plurality of turbine blades; a generator coupled to said continuously variable transmission; wherein said generator generates electricity and outputs said electricity to a load/grid; and a controller providing control signals as a filtered function of power to said continuously variable transmission. The controller of said wind turbine system may also continuously maintain the parameter dP/dR substantially zero where P is power and R is the ratio of the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: EFFICIENT DRIVETRAINS, INC
    Inventors: Andrew Alfonso Frank, James Raymond Winkelman