Patents Assigned to Zero Motorcycles Inc.
  • Patent number: 11970179
    Abstract: In a turn signal cancelation system for a two-wheeled vehicle, a controller is adapted to automatically cancel the turn signal of the vehicle upon: (a) a determined distance traveled by the vehicle after an occurrence of the predetermined operation of the vehicle exceeding a first distance threshold and a determined yaw angle traversed by the vehicle after the occurrence of the predetermined operation of the vehicle exceeding a yaw angle threshold; and (b) the determined distance traveled by the vehicle after the occurrence of the predetermined operation of the vehicle exceeding a second distance threshold, different from the first distance threshold, independent of the determined yaw angle traversed by the vehicle after the occurrence of the predetermined operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ZERO MOTORCYCLES, INC.
    Inventor: Will M. Brunner
  • Patent number: 10608446
    Abstract: When in long term storage, battery degradation is avoided by performing battery charge cycles at a voltage level where a change in the battery's voltage divided by a change in the battery's storage capacity is at a minimum, rather than discharging the battery to its minimum storage capacity and then charging to its maximum storage capacity. Further, based on physical and practical limitations, such battery charge cycles can instead be performed within a range or delta Depth of Discharge (“DOD”) and corresponding battery voltage levels rather than at a single voltage level, while still avoiding battery degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Zero Motorcycles, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Theodore Odegaard, Bryan Scott Cady, Nathan Glenn Knight
  • Patent number: 9509186
    Abstract: A reduced weight rotor design for use in an electric motor where the reduced weight rotor maintains its structural integrity. The reduced weight rotor includes a center hub, an outer ring having lobed portions extending inwardly towards the hub and located adjacent to each location of a magnetic pole pairing, and spokes connecting the hub to the outer ring where the spokes are arranged in a number of pairs equal to the total number of the magnetic pole pairings and wherein each spoke of a given pair does not cross each other spoke of the given pair but does cross a spoke of an adjacent pair thereby forming a one cross spoke pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Zero Motorcycles, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan John Biffard, Abraham Askenazi
  • Patent number: 9261563
    Abstract: Improved battery charge state determination. The estimated charge state of a battery comprising a plurality of series connected cells is updated using Coulomb counting during battery operation, for example, while operating an electric vehicle motor. The estimated charge state may be coupled to a fuel gauge. When the battery is in a no load state, a no load voltage measurement is made. During testing, a set of relationships between battery no load voltages and associated known good charge states have been determined. The measured no load voltage is compared to the set of no load voltages associated with known good charge states. A known good charge state associated with the measured no load voltage is used to update the estimated charge state, thereby providing a more accurate indication of the actual battery charge state, thus providing a more robust and accurate fuel gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Zero Motorcycles, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Glenn Knight, Kenyon Michael Kluge, Ryan John Biffard, Lucas Remington Workman
  • Patent number: 9065280
    Abstract: An energy storage system having one or more battery packs and a system controller for controlling the battery packs. Each battery pack has rechargeable storage cells and a battery pack controller in communication with the system controller. Through the operation of the system controller, battery packs with different initial charge states can be operated in parallel during a charge process and a discharge process. Discharging multiple battery packs in parallel offers not only a higher capacity and a longer run time than is available from a single battery pack, but also offers higher peak currents than available from a single battery pack, which are important in motor control applications. A battery pack design including a battery pack connector with both power and control contacts supporting user replacement of the battery packs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Zero Motorcycles, Inc.
    Inventors: Lucas Remington Workman, Nathan Glenn Knight, Andrew Martin Letton, Kenyon Michael Kluge, Abraham Askenazi
  • Patent number: 9000640
    Abstract: An electric motor configured to maximize active motive material within a given motor size by having one or more phase lead exit holes configured to prevent unwanted outside contaminants from entering the motor, phase leads each having an integral strain relief, and two or more Wye terminations that are not electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Zero Motorcycles, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan John Biffard, Micah Benjamin Bayless
  • Patent number: 8779725
    Abstract: Improved protection for a rechargeable battery from damage by being discharged below a cut-off voltage is provided. The measured voltage of a battery under load is lower than the measured voltage of the battery under no load. As the cut-off voltage for the battery is specified as a no load voltage, comparing the measured voltage of the battery under load to the cut-off voltage would result in stopping use of the battery with useable charge remaining. Through testing, a set of relationships for estimating the no load voltage of a battery under load has been determined. Using this set of relationships with battery measurements, an estimated no load voltage for the battery is determined. This estimated no load voltage is compared to the cut-off voltage. This allows for full use of the battery while stopping use of the battery when its voltage reaches the cut-off, thereby preventing damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Zero Motorcycles, Inc.
    Inventor: Nathan Glenn Knight
  • Publication number: 20140125259
    Abstract: Improved protection for a rechargeable battery from damage by being discharged below a cut-off voltage is provided. The measured voltage of a battery under load is lower than the measured voltage of the battery under no load. As the cut-off voltage for the battery is specified as a no load voltage, comparing the measured voltage of the battery under load to the cut-off voltage would result in stopping use of the battery with useable charge remaining. Through testing, a set of relationships for estimating the no load voltage of a battery under load has been determined. Using this set of relationships with battery measurements, an estimated no load voltage for the battery is determined. This estimated no load voltage is compared to the cut-off voltage. This allows for full use of the battery while stopping use of the battery when its voltage reaches the cut-off, thereby preventing damage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Zero Motorcycles, Inc.
    Inventor: Zero Motorcycles, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20140125344
    Abstract: Improved battery charge state determination. The estimated charge state of a battery comprising a plurality of series connected cells is updated using Coulomb counting during battery operation, for example, while operating an electric vehicle motor. The estimated charge state may be coupled to a fuel gauge. When the battery is in a no load state, a no load voltage measurement is made. During testing, a set of relationships between battery no load voltages and associated known good charge states have been determined. The measured no load voltage is compared to the set of no load voltages associated with known good charge states. A known good charge state associated with the measured no load voltage is used to update the estimated charge state, thereby providing a more accurate indication of the actual battery charge state, thus providing a more robust and accurate fuel gauge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Zero Motorcycles, Inc.
    Inventor: Zero Motorcycles, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20140091654
    Abstract: An electric motor configured to maximize active motive material within a given motor size by having one or more phase lead exit holes configured to prevent unwanted outside contaminants from entering the motor, phase leads each having an integral strain relief, and two or more Wye terminations that are not electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Zero Motorcycles, Inc.
    Inventor: Zero Motorcycles, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20140091751
    Abstract: Energy storage system having one or more battery packs and a system controller for controlling the battery packs. Each battery pack has rechargeable storage cells and a battery pack controller in communication with the system controller. Through the operation of the system controller, battery packs with different initial charge states can be operated in parallel during the charge or discharge process. Discharging multiple battery packs in parallel offers not only higher capacity and longer run time than is available from a single battery pack, but also offers higher peak currents than available from a single battery pack, important in motor control applications. Battery pack design including a battery pack connector with both power and control contacts supporting user replacement of the battery packs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Zero Motorcycles, Inc
    Inventor: Zero Motorcycles, Inc
  • Patent number: 7807290
    Abstract: A battery cell assembly includes a plurality of battery cells. Each battery cell comprises a first end that is positively charged and a second end that is negatively charged. One or more flexible conductors are adapted to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells. A plurality of bands secures the one or more flexible conductors to the plurality of battery cells. The flexible conductors are configured to withstand a current on the order of 300 amps and a minimum temperature of 170° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Zero Motorcycles Inc.
    Inventor: Neal T. Saiki
  • Publication number: 20080131764
    Abstract: A battery cell assembly includes a plurality of battery cells. Each battery cell comprises a first end that is positively charged and a second end that is negatively charged. One or more flexible conductors are adapted to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells. A plurality of bands secures the one or more flexible conductors to the plurality of battery cells. The flexible conductors are configured to withstand a current on the order of 300 amps and a minimum temperature of 170° F.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: ZERO MOTORCYCLES INC.
    Inventor: Neal T. Saiki