Patents Assigned to Tesla Motors
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Publication number: 20170177048Abstract: An energy storage system includes: a host; energy storage modules; a plurality of nodes, each implemented at a corresponding one of the energy storage modules and configured to monitor and control that energy storage module; a communications and data transmission medium forming a loop from a first portion of the host and sequentially through the nodes to a second portion of the host; and in each of the nodes, first and second devices configured to perform at least partially redundant communication and data transmission functions using the communications and data transmission medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventor: Ian C. Dimen
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Publication number: 20170152957Abstract: A multi-port, multi-mode valve includes: a valve housing; multiple ports on the valve housing, a spacing between first and second ports being smaller than a spacing between third and fourth ports; and a stemshell positioned at least partly inside the valve housing, the stemshell having at least two channels configured for selectively coupling one or more of the ports to a selected at least other one of the ports.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2016Publication date: June 1, 2017Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Albert Roche, Joseph Stratford Maxwell Mardall, Jan Kopitz, Curt Raymond O'Donnell
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Publication number: 20170144717Abstract: A method for constructing an integrated end structure for a vehicle includes placing a center module for an integrated end structure for a vehicle in a fixture separate from the vehicle, attaching a side bracket to the center module in the fixture to form an assembly, the side bracket configured for holding a light unit of the vehicle, mounting the assembly onto at least a bracket in the vehicle that provides adjustability of the assembly in at least a z-direction, and, after mounting the assembly, mounting a storage compartment module onto the center module and the side bracket.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2016Publication date: May 25, 2017Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventors: James Bellis, P Thomas Vikstrom
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Publication number: 20170133316Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a housing; a substrate inside the housing; first and second semiconductor circuits on the substrate; and first and second planar terminals electrically connected to the first and second semiconductor circuits, respectively, the first and second planar terminals stacked on top of each other, wherein each of the first and second planar terminals extends away from the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2016Publication date: May 11, 2017Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventors: Wenjun Liu, Robert James Ramm, Colin Kenneth Campbell
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Publication number: 20170130495Abstract: A closure system for a vehicle comprises: a dual-hinge closure comprising a first portion hinged to the vehicle by a first hinge, and a second portion hinged to the first portion by a second hinge; a frame that at least in part surrounds an opening in the vehicle; an adjustable bump stop subassembly mounted to the first portion, wherein the adjustable bump stop subassembly rests on the frame when the first portion is in a closed position; and a latch system comprising a latch configured to engage a horizontal striker, the latch system configured so that an end of the second portion opposite the second hinge latches to and unlatches from a distal portion of the frame by essentially horizontal motion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2016Publication date: May 11, 2017Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventors: David Wheeler, Steve Klotz, Ian Sadowski, Nermin Mujcinovic, Noam Goldberg, Robert Coleman Skelton, Andy Warburton, Adnan Esmail, Joshua Liu, Andy Wong, Padmanabhan Kumar, Jon Bennett, John Hughes, Hemant Sikaria, Jacob Warman, Chris Satkoski, Nicolas Altenburger
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Publication number: 20170125760Abstract: A system and method for mitigating the effects of a thermal event within a non-metal-air battery pack is provided in which the hot gas and material generated during the event is directed into the metal-air cells of a metal-air battery pack. The metal-air cells provide a large thermal mass for absorbing at least a portion of the thermal energy generated during the event before it is released to the ambient environment. As a result, the risks to vehicle passengers, bystanders, first responders and property are limited.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2017Publication date: May 4, 2017Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventor: Weston Arthur Hermann
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Publication number: 20170096073Abstract: A vehicle includes an energy storage configured to store electric energy for at least propulsion of the vehicle, an energy storage thermal system configured to provide thermal conditioning of the energy storage, and a coupling configured to receive thermal conditioning of the energy storage from a thermal system external to the vehicle. The coupling provides thermal conditioning of the energy storage while charging when available from the thermal system external to the vehicle. The energy storage thermal system provides thermal conditioning of the energy storage while charging when the thermal system external to the vehicle is not available.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2016Publication date: April 6, 2017Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Mardall, Christopher H. Van Dyke
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Patent number: 9614383Abstract: A system and method for providing energy management and maintenance of a high energy battery pack through use self-discharge features and processes. A battery pack is configured with self-discharger enabled-components that selectively discharge energy from the battery pack without the battery pack providing operational power.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2013Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventors: Brian Stuart Boggs, Joseph Michael Darragh, Anil Paryani, Chuen Chou
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Publication number: 20170093156Abstract: An energy storage system includes: a grid tie unit comprising at least one DC/AC converter; and multiple pods connected to the grid tie unit, each pod including: a number of cells; and a power electronics unit, wherein the cells are floating relative to the system and are galvanically isolated therefrom. The multiple pods may be organized into packs, with a pack including a thermal management system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventors: Mehmet Ozbek, Brandon Pierquet, Andrew David Baglino
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Publication number: 20170093157Abstract: An energy storage device includes: a number of cells; and a dual-active-bridge converter connected to the cells, wherein the cells are floating relative to the system and are galvanically isolated therefrom. The energy storage device can be included in an energy storage system that includes: a grid tie unit comprising at least one DC/AC converter; and multiple pods connected to the grid tie unit, each pod including: a number of cells; and a power electronics unit, wherein the cells are floating relative to the system and are galvanically isolated therefrom.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventors: Brandon Pierquet, Mehmet Ozbek, Andrew David Baglino
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Publication number: 20170074918Abstract: An apparatus and method for identifying a presence of a short circuit in a battery pack. A fault-detection apparatus for a charging system that rapidly charges a collection of interconnected lithium ion battery cells, the safety system includes a data-acquisition system for receiving a set of data parameters from the collection while the charging system is actively charging the collection; a monitoring system evaluating the set of data parameters to identify a set of anomalous conditions; and a controller comparing the set of anomalous conditions against a set of predetermined profiles indicative of an internal short in one or more cells of the collection, the controller establishing an internal-short state for the collection when the comparing has a predetermined relationship to the set of predetermined profiles.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2016Publication date: March 16, 2017Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventors: Sarah G. Stewart, Christopher Dangler, Clay H. Kishiyama, Weston A. Hermann, Scott I. Kohn, Kurt R. Kelty
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Publication number: 20170062778Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a can configured to serve as one electric contact of the electrochemical cell, the can containing active materials, a diaphragm configured to serve as an opposite electric contact of the electrochemical cell, and a gasket that is initially of generally cylindrical shape, the diaphragm positioned inside the gasket in an opening of the can wherein an outer edge of the can is crimped onto the gasket, the gasket having an inner periphery inside the can and an outer periphery outside the can, the outer periphery comprising leaves that after crimping extend along an outer surface of the diaphragm.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventors: Christophe Mille, Kunio Tsuruta, Kenjin Masumoto
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Publication number: 20170059697Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor assembly is placed against an inside surface of a panel for sensing objects on an opposite side of the panel and includes an ultrasonic sensor, a preload structure, a coupling element, and a damping material. The preload structure applies a preload on the ultrasonic sensor toward the inside surface of the panel. The coupling element interfaces between the ultrasonic sensor and the inside surface of the panel. The damping material is placed against the inside surface but not where the coupling element interfaces between the ultrasonic sensor and the inside surface. The coupling element may include a matrix material that is reinforced with a filler.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventor: Adnan Esmail
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Patent number: 9577227Abstract: A method includes: assembling a thermal-exchange tube in a module housing for an energy storage pack; assembling cells in the module housing, wherein the thermal-exchange tube runs between rows of the cells; applying an adhesive that affixes the cells and the thermal-exchange tube to the module housing; curing a first portion of the adhesive by radiation, wherein a second portion of the adhesive is shielded from the radiation by the cells or the thermal-exchange tube; and curing at least the second portion of the adhesive by a chemical cure mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2013Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventors: Robert D. Sumpf, Ernest Villanueva, David E. Hegeman, Satvik Vipin Batavia, Ganesh Singh, Alex Prilutsky, Scott I. Kohn, Bruce P. Edwards, Peter Tennessen
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Patent number: 9568534Abstract: A system and method for low-cost, fault tolerant, EMI robust data communications, particularly for an EV environment.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2015Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: TESLA MOTORS, INC.Inventors: Nathaniel B. Martin, Ian C. Dimen, S. Douglas Crowder
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Publication number: 20170030728Abstract: A method includes: receiving information corresponding at least to (i) a state of charge of an energy storage of a vehicle, (ii) route information corresponding to a planned driving route for the vehicle, and (iii) a predicted driver characteristic; determining using the received information, and presenting to a driver of the vehicle, a first energy-versus-distance measure for the planned driving route; receiving a user input indicating a proposed change in at least the driver characteristics, and determining using the received information and the user input, and presenting to the driver, a second energy-versus-distance measure for the planned driving route that takes into account the proposed change.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2015Publication date: February 2, 2017Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventors: Andrew D. Baglino, Thorsten Hayer, Brennan Boblett, Matthew Fox, Vineet H. Mehta, Keijiro Ikebe, Kevin Hsieh, Craig B. Carlson, Jeffrey B. Straubel
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Patent number: 9559532Abstract: A method for charging a metal-air battery pack at the maximum possible rate while maintaining an ambient oxygen concentration below a preset concentration is provided, thereby minimizing the risks associated with generating oxygen during the charging cycle.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2013Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: TESLA MOTORS, INC.Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, Jeffrey Brian Straubel, David G. Beck
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Patent number: 9548616Abstract: A system and method for mitigating the effects of a thermal event within a non-metal-air battery pack is provided in which the hot gas and material generated during the event is directed into the metal-air cells of a metal-air battery pack. The metal-air cells provide a large thermal mass for absorbing at least a portion of the thermal energy generated during the event before it is released to the ambient environment. As a result, the risks to vehicle passengers, bystanders, first responders and property are limited.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2011Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: TESLA MOTORS, INC.Inventor: Weston Arthur Hermann
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Patent number: D777663Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: TESLA MOTORS, INC.Inventors: Franz Von Holzhausen, Radu I Muntean, Javier Verdura
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Patent number: D780653Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: TESLA MOTORS, INC.Inventors: Bernard Lee, Julien Bilodeau, Franz Von Holzhausen, David T Imai