Tesla Motors Patent Applications

Tesla Motors patent applications that are pending before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20190265057
    Abstract: A method includes: determining, based, at least in part, on a predicted driver characteristic, a first energy-versus-distance measure for a planned driving route of a vehicle, the first energy-versus-distance measure determined using an energy model; presenting the first energy-versus-distance measure on a user interface associated with the vehicle; identifying an already-driven part of the planned driving route; determining, based on information associated with the already-driven part of the planned driving route, a model error associated with the energy model; determining a second energy-versus-distance measure by modifying the first energy-versus-distance measure to account for the model error; and presenting the second energy-versus-distance measure on the user interface associated with the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew D. Baglino, Thorsten Hayer, Brennan Boblett, Matthew Fox, Vineet H. Mehta, Keijiro Ikebe, Kevin Hsieh, Craig B. Carlson, Jeffrey B. Straubel
  • Publication number: 20190267583
    Abstract: A battery includes a can, a jelly roll contained in the can, a top insulator contained in the can adjacent to and above the jelly roll, and a battery cap. The battery cap is welded to an inner surface of the can adjacent to and above the top insulator and includes an outer conductive ring, an insulator ring, and a conductive top plate, wherein the outer conductive ring, the insulator ring, and the conductive top plate are crimped together. The battery cap further includes a conductive rupture plate electrically connected to the conductive top plate and a cathode electrically connected to the conductive rupture plate and extending into the jelly roll. The battery may further include an opening in a central portion of the conductive top plate and a central portion of the conductive rupture plate cover welded upon the opening in the central portion of the conductive top plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenjin MASUMOTO, Christophe MILLE
  • Publication number: 20190267677
    Abstract: A deformation detection apparatus includes a cell movement-control assembly to handle a linear motion and a rotational motion of a battery cell, a body that supports the cell movement-control assembly, a digital micrometer, and control circuitry. The control circuitry controls a displacement of the battery cell between a first position and a second position along a longitudinal axis through a scanning region of the digital micrometer and a plurality of rotational positions of the battery cell at a plurality of charge states and a plurality of discharge states. The control circuitry measures a plurality of outer diameter values of the battery cell for a plurality of linear positions and a plurality of rotational positions along the longitudinal axis of the battery cell and determines a change in a geometrical shape (deformation and/or strain) of the battery cell for the plurality of linear positions and the plurality of rotational positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Kahn
  • Publication number: 20190267938
    Abstract: One embodiment can provide a photovoltaic roof module. The photovoltaic roof module can include one or more photovoltaic roof tiles. A respective photovoltaic roof tile can include a plurality of photovoltaic structures positioned between a front cover and a back cover. The photovoltaic roof module can further include a first junction box positioned on the back cover of a first photovoltaic roof tile, and the first junction box can include a physical enclosure and an attachment pad extended substantially vertically out of a surface of the physical enclosure. The attachment pad is configured to electrically access, via a through hole, photovoltaic structures within the first photovoltaic roof tile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: TESLA, INC.
    Inventors: Seth M. Winger, Bobby Yang, Kaleb A. Klauber
  • Publication number: 20190269020
    Abstract: A method for connecting a cable with an electronic device is provided. The cable has multiple conductors of a first thickness, and the electronic device has multiple metal pads of a second thickness. The method includes removing a sheathing over the multiple conductors of the cable to expose the plurality of conductors. The method includes placing the exposed multiple conductors of the cable over the multiple metal pads of the electronic device. The method further includes focusing a laser beam over a portion of the multiple conductors, such that the laser beam welds each conductor to a corresponding metal pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Blum, Adnan Esmail, Satyan Chandra
  • Publication number: 20190267931
    Abstract: One embodiment can provide a photovoltaic roof module. The photovoltaic roof module can include a plurality of photovoltaic roof tiles positioned side by side. A respective solar roof tile comprises a plurality of photovoltaic structures positioned between a front cover and a back cover, and the photovoltaic structures are electrically coupled to each other in series. The photovoltaic roof tiles are electrically coupled to each other in parallel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: TESLA, INC.
    Inventors: Bobby Yang, Peter P. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20190260328
    Abstract: One embodiment described herein provides a photovoltaic roof module. The roof module can include at least a first photovoltaic roof tile, a second photovoltaic roof tile positioned adjacent to the first photovoltaic roof tile, and a spacer coupled to and positioned between the first and second photovoltaic roof tiles. The spacer is configured to facilitate a semi-rigid joint between the first and second photovoltaic roof tiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: TESLA, INC.
    Inventors: Peter P. Nguyen, Piotr Zajac, Bobby Yang
  • Publication number: 20190260332
    Abstract: One embodiment can provide a photovoltaic roof tile. The photovoltaic roof tile can include a plurality of photovoltaic structures positioned between a front cover and a back cover and at least one external conductive connector coupled to a busbar belonging to a photovoltaic structure. The external conductive connector is electrically and mechanically coupled to the busbar via an electrically conductive adhesive (ECA) paste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: TESLA, INC.
    Inventor: Bobby Yang
  • Publication number: 20190252812
    Abstract: A cable assembly includes a first cable and a second cable that is arranged co-axial to the first cable. Proximal ends of the first and second cables are provided with a connector assembly. The connector assembly from each proximal end is adapted to connect with one another, or a pair of receptacle ports located within a PCB, the PCB being disposed alongside the co-axially arranged first and second cables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: In Jae Chung, Zheng Gao, Ron Rosenberg, Joel Torres Diaz, Adnan Esmail, Satyan Chandra
  • Publication number: 20190250830
    Abstract: Presented are systems and methods that allow for efficient data processing that reduce data latency and, thus, power consumption and data management cost. In various embodiments, this is accomplished by using a sequencer that identifies an address pointer of a first data block within a memory and a length of data that comprises that data block and is related to an input of a matrix processor. The sequencer then calculates, based on the block length, the input length, and a memory map, a block count representative of a number of data blocks that are to be retrieved from the memory. Using the address pointer, the sequencer may retrieve a number of data blocks from the memory in a number of cycles that depends on whether the data blocks are contiguous. In embodiments, based on the length of data, a formatter then maps the data blocks to the input of the matrix processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Joseph BANNON, Kevin Altair HURD, Emil TALPES
  • Publication number: 20190248310
    Abstract: A wiring system for an automobile connecting a processor and a plurality of devices, using one or more backbone sections. The processor and devices are connected to one another to form a first loop and a second loop, such that data may be transmitted along the first loop and data may be transmitted along the second loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Adnan Esmail, In Jae Chung, Lakshya Jain, Brijesh Tripathi
  • Publication number: 20190245478
    Abstract: One embodiment can provide a non-flat photovoltaic roof tile. The non-flat photovoltaic roof tile can include a transparent front cover, a back cover, and a plurality of Si-based photovoltaic structures. The transparent front cover can include a first side and a second side, with the first side comprising at least one non-flat portion and the second side comprising a plurality of flat facets. The flat facets are arranged to follow the contour of the at least one non-flat portion. A respective Si-based photovoltaic structure is positioned between a flat facet of the transparent front cover and the back cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: TESLA, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas G. J. de Vries, Bobby Yang
  • Publication number: 20190241455
    Abstract: Systems and methods for texturing substrates (e.g., glass, metal, and the like) and the textured substrates produced using such systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary textured substrate includes a surface having a portion with a root-mean-square roughness between 40 to 1000 microns and an autocorrelation function greater than 0.5 for distances less than 50 microns. An exemplary system for texturing a substrate includes a plunger with a textured surface, where a portion of the textured surface has a root-mean-square roughness between 40 to 1000 microns and an autocorrelation function greater than 0.5 for distances less than 50 microns. An exemplary method for texturing a substrate includes the steps of generating a pattern defining a texture, and 3-D printing the pattern on the substrate to form the texture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. SWENEY, Michael PILLIOD, Christos GOUGOUSSIS
  • Publication number: 20190241465
    Abstract: Exemplary antireflective coatings that have antireflective properties for light of non-normal angular incidence are disclosed. An exemplary antireflective coating includes a multilayer having alternating optical layers of high refractive index material and low refractive index material and a second layer directly contacting a first optical layer of the multilayer. The sum of the optical thickness of the second layer and the optical thickness of the first optical layer of the multilayer is between 146 nanometers and 190 nanometers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Christos GOUGOUSSIS
  • Publication number: 20190232344
    Abstract: A system for thermally servicing a solvent-refining column includes: a first solvent-refining column, a closed-loop water-steam system; a first heat-exchanger thermally coupling the closed-loop water-steam system to the top of the first solvent-refining column, a second heat-exchanger thermally coupling the closed-loop water-steam system to a bottom of the first solvent-refining column, and a compressor positioned between the first heat-exchanger and the second heat-exchanger. The first heat-exchanger boils pressurized water to steam by transferring first heat from the top of the first solvent-refining column to the closed-loop water- steam system. The compressor compresses the steam in the closed-loop water-steam system to a higher temperature. The second heat-exchanger provides second heat to the first solvent-refining column by condensing the steam at the bottom of the first solvent-refining column after compression by the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan Melsert
  • Publication number: 20190219183
    Abstract: A valve includes a holder having an expandable material. The valve includes a retainer coupled to the holder. The valve further includes an umbrella member with a stem coupled to the holder. The expandable material is adapted to expand in size when absorbing a fluid and translate the umbrella member along an axis of the stem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel Hall-Snyder, Ian Casimir Dimen, Richard Wurden
  • Publication number: 20190217794
    Abstract: A new wiring and power and communications system for an automobile that includes a plurality of devices, wherein the devices are connected to a backbone section that has an outer sheathing, a first conductor disposed within the outer sheathing, a second conductor disposed within the outer sheathing, a pair of inner sheathing members disposed within the outer sheathing and located on opposing sides of the at least one conductor, the inner sheathing members configured to electrically insulate the first conductor from the second conductor, and a shield member disposed within the outer sheathing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Satyan Chandra, In Jae Chung, Adnan Esmail, Matthew Blum, Rishabh Bhandari
  • Publication number: 20190208914
    Abstract: A method for forming a skin-foam architecture for a seat. The method includes loading a backing cover into a first portion of the tool. The method includes applying and curing a skin on a second portion of the tool, the skin including a first layer, and a second layer under the first layer. The method includes laminating a mesh under the skin. The method includes attaching and curing a foam layer under the mesh and the skin. The method includes mating the first and second portions of the tool. The method includes introducing foam between the mated first and second portions of the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Forrest Wen Liau
  • Publication number: 20190214164
    Abstract: A cable includes a plurality of differential conductors and a plurality of drain conductors. The differential conductors and the drain conductors are arranged in the form of groups such that each group comprises a pair of differential conductors and a pair of drain conductors and defines a communication pathway for communicating signals. The cable includes a body formed around the plurality of differential conductors and the plurality of drain conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: In Jae Chung, Adnan Esmail, Lukas Josef Pankau, Lakshya Jain, Brijesh Tripathi
  • Publication number: 20190205218
    Abstract: A parallel processing system includes at least three processors operating in parallel, state monitoring circuitry, and state reload circuitry. The state monitoring circuitry couples to the at least three parallel processors and is configured to monitor runtime states of the at least three parallel processors and identify a first processor of the at least three parallel processors having at least one runtime state error. The state reload circuitry couples to the at least three parallel processors and is configured to select a second processor of the at least three parallel processors for state reload, access a runtime state of the second processor, and load the runtime state of the second processor into the first processor. Monitoring and reload may be performed only on sub-systems of the at least three parallel processors. During reload, clocks and supply voltages of the processors may be altered. The state reload may relate to sub-systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel William Bailey, David Glasco
  • Publication number: 20190205738
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods that utilize a novel hardware-based pooling architecture to process the output of a convolution engine representing an output channel of a convolution layer in a convolutional neural network (CNN). The pooling system converts the output into a set of arrays and aligns them according to a pooling operation to generate a pooling result. In certain embodiments, this is accomplished by using an aligner that aligns, e.g., over a number of arithmetic cycles, an array of data in the output into rows and shifts the rows relative to each other. A pooler applies a pooling operation to a combination of a subset of data from each row to generate the pooling result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Joseph BANNON, Kevin Altair Hurd
  • Publication number: 20190204864
    Abstract: A System-on-a-Chip includes a plurality of processing systems and channel circuitry servicing the plurality of processing systems. The channel circuitry includes a clock sprinkler circuit, a clock source, first direction data path circuitry and second direction data path circuitry. A clock sprinkler is a clock signal that propagates in a first direction only, from a source to all destinations. The first direction data path circuitry includes a plurality of first direction data flip flops and first direction combinational logic that service data flow in the first direction. The second direction data path circuitry includes a plurality of second direction data flip flops and second direction combinational logic that service data flow in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel William Bailey
  • Publication number: 20190196595
    Abstract: The proposed method relates to the field of providing physical feedback to a user from a virtual application, particularly a computer game or other software applications. The method for interactive physiological and technological synchronization of a user with a virtual environment includes taking the user's biometric and/or kinematic parameters, transferring the user's biometric and/or kinematic parameters to an application program, generating feedback signals in the application program, transmitting the feedback signals to a computing device, processing the feedback signals and supplying feedback pulses which invoke physical sensations in the nervous system of the user through contact with the user's skin, wherein the feedback pulses are supplied using the principle of cascaded distribution of electrical pulses. Also claimed are variants of a wearable apparatus for implementation of the proposed method. The proposed method and apparatus allow for creating a deep-sense reality for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: TESLA STUDIOS LIMITED
    Inventors: Dzmitry MAROZAU, Siarhei Khurs, Raman Aleksandrovich
  • Publication number: 20190176837
    Abstract: A personalization system for a vehicle includes an image-capture device configured to capture a plurality of images of one or more occupants in the vehicle and control circuitry configured to estimate a plurality of Z-heights of a plurality of body portions of each of the one or more occupants from a reference position in the vehicle, based on the plurality of images captured from the image-capture device, determine an associative relationship between the plurality of Z-heights of the plurality of body portions of each of the one or more occupants in the vehicle and a plurality of in-vehicle systems, based on defined user-preferences, and control the plurality of in-vehicle systems to direct an output from a corresponding in-vehicle system to a specific body portion of each of the one or more occupants in the vehicle, based on the estimated plurality of Z-heights and the determined associative relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Blair Williams, Adnan Esmail
  • Publication number: 20190179870
    Abstract: Presented are systems and methods that accelerate the convolution of an image and similar arithmetic operations by utilizing hardware-specific circuitry that enables a large number of operations to be performed in parallel across a large set of data. In various embodiments, arithmetic operations are further enhanced by reusing data and eliminating redundant steps of storing and fetching intermediate results from registers and memory when performing arithmetic operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Joseph BANNON, William A McGee, Emil Talpes
  • Publication number: 20190168648
    Abstract: A load-bearing fabric architecture including a soft surface material, a support system provided in contact with the soft surface material. The support system comprises a frame and structural surface material connected to the frame. The soft surface material is at least partially disposed above the support system, and the support system is configured to support an applied load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Forrest Wen Liau
  • Publication number: 20190173122
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining a concentration of a component of an electrolyte in a lithium-ion or for a lithium-ion cell is provided. The method includes providing, to a spectrometer, instructions to capture a spectrum of a sample solution of the electrolyte and generate a signal. The method includes analyzing the signal to determine one or more spectral features of the spectrum. The method includes preparing a database of spectra corresponding to solutions having predetermined concentrations of the component of the electrolyte wherein the database includes a plurality for spectral features for each solution. The method further includes determining a machine learning (ML) model using the database of spectra. The method includes determining the concentration of the component of the electrolyte in the sample solution using the machine learning model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla Motors Canada ULC
    Inventors: Leah Devorah Ellis, Samuel Buteau, Samuel Gerard Carson Hames, Jeffery R. Dahn, David Scott Hall
  • Publication number: 20190168710
    Abstract: A system for detecting improper usage of a seatbelt of a vehicle includes a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back. A shoulder belt and a lap belt are intended to restrain an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat. The system includes a sensor module associated with the shoulder belt and the lap belt. The sensor module generates signals indicative of at least one parameter associated with the vehicle seat, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt when the occupant is sitting on the vehicle seat. The system also includes a controller that receives the signals indicative of the at least one parameter associated with the seat back, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt. The controller analyzes the received one or more signals, and determines whether the seatbelt is being used improperly by the occupant, based on the analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Forrest Wen Liau
  • Publication number: 20190155678
    Abstract: A system for handling errors in a neural network includes a neural network processor for executing a neural network associated with use of a vehicle. The neural network processor includes an error detector configured to detect a data error associated with execution of the neural network and a neural network controller configured to receive a report of the data error from the error detector. In response to receiving the report, the neural network controller is further configured to signal that a pending result of the neural network is tainted without terminating execution of the neural network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hsiong, Emil Talpes, Debjit Das Sarma, Peter Bannon, Kevin Hurd, Benjamin Floering
  • Publication number: 20190138018
    Abstract: A vehicular autonomous driving system includes a time division multiplexed (TDM) bus, an autonomous driving (AD) controller coupled to the TDM bus, and a plurality of AD sensors coupled to the TDM bus. The AD sensors are configured to collect AD data and transmit collected AD data to the AD controller on the TDM bus in an assigned time slot at a first power level. A first AD sensor of the plurality of AD sensors is configured to, based upon collected AD data, detect an AD emergency event. In response to the detection, the first AD sensor is configured to transmit an AD emergency message on the TDM bus in a non-assigned time slot and at a second power level that exceeds the first power level. The AD sensor may transmit the AD emergency message in a particular sub-slot of the non-assigned time slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Cave
  • Publication number: 20190135137
    Abstract: A riser for a seat of a vehicle includes a first leg, a second leg, a first arm, a second arm, and a third arm. The first leg includes a first end and a second end. The second leg is substantially parallel to the first leg and has a first end and a second end. The third arm includes a first end and a second end, where the second end of the third arm extends from the first end of the second leg. The first arm extends from the first end of the first leg to the first end of the third arm. The second arm extends from the second end of the first leg to the first end of the third arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Pitr JAMESON, Reid M. OLSEN, David Eduardo BANALES CANO, Nathan Paul DI GIUSTO, Sekhar Reddy Biddala REDDY
  • Publication number: 20190128311
    Abstract: A disclosed tolerance compensator system reduces or avoids bending of components when the components are fastened to each other, thereby increasing the reliability of the components. The limited number of parts of the tolerance compensator system simplifies manufacturing and reduces costs. A disclosed method for fastening components together using the tolerance compensator system reduces or avoids bending of components, increases the reliability of the components, reduces fastening times, and simplifies fastening procedures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. CHEUNG, Richard J. DRISCOLL
  • Publication number: 20190127824
    Abstract: In various embodiments, aluminum alloys having yield strengths greater than 120 MPa, and typically in the range from 140 MPa to 175 MPa, are described. Further, such alloys can have electrical conductivity of greater than 45% IACS, typically in the range from 45-55% IACS. In one embodiment, the aluminum alloy comprises Si from 1 to 4.5 wt %, Mg from 0.3 to 0.5 wt %, TiB2 from 0.02 to 0.07 wt %, Fe less than 0.1 wt %, Zn less than 0.01 wt %, Cu less than 0.01 wt %, Mn less than 0.01 wt %, the remaining wt % being Al and incidental impurities. Such alloys can be used to cast a variety of automotive parts, including rotors, stators, busbars, inverters, and other parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Sivanesh Palanivel, Charlie Kuehmann, Paul Edwards, Ethan Filip
  • Publication number: 20190108958
    Abstract: An electromagnetic switch including a first stationary electric contact, a second stationary electric contact, a mechanical contact, and a moveable contact. The electromagnetic switch is configured for reciprocal motion of the moveable contact into and out of contact with the first stationary electric contact and the second stationary electric contact, wherein the moveable contact remains in contact with the mechanical contact (e.g., a non-conducting contact) throughout the reciprocal motion. In various embodiments, the moveable contact is configured so that at the end of the reciprocal motion three contact points occur, and a triangle defined by the three contact points encloses a center of force of the reciprocal motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Bennett Sprague, Ian C. Dimen, Scott I. Kohn, Andrew Titus, Jeffrey G. Reichbach, Gregory Michael Goetchius, Garland Dughi
  • Publication number: 20190106055
    Abstract: An advanced sunroof lighting system includes a sunroof having a first transparent layer and a second transparent layer substantially parallel to the first transparent layer. The sunroof also comprises a tint layer disposed between the first transparent layer and the second transparent layer. The tint layer is electrically controllable to allow a portion of light incident on the tint layer to pass through the tint layer. The sunroof further comprises a transparent lighting layer disposed between the tint layer and the second transparent layer. The transparent lighting layer comprises a plurality of light sources that are electrically controllable to emit light. The transparent lighting layer further comprises a plurality of scattering centers configured to redirect light received from the plurality of light sources towards the vehicle's cabin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Joongmin Yoon
  • Publication number: 20190097508
    Abstract: A method of making an AC induction motor includes: providing a rotor and a stator for the AC induction motor; determining, for different geometries of an end ring of the rotor, a location of a first centroid of current density in the end ring; determining, for end turns of the stator, a location of a second centroid of current density in the end turns; selecting a geometry for at least the endring of the rotor so that an axial distance between the first centroid of current density and the second centroid of current density is minimized; and assembling the AC induction motor, wherein the end turns and the end ring have the selected geometries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Konstantinos Laskaris, Andrew D. Baglino
  • Publication number: 20190097571
    Abstract: One embodiment can provide a solar roof tile. The solar roof tile can include a front cover, a back cover, one or more photovoltaic structures positioned between the front cover and the back cover, and a band-stop optical filter positioned between the front cover and the photovoltaic structures. The band-stop optical filter is configured to block light within a predetermined spectral range, thereby preventing the light from reflecting off surfaces of the photovoltaic structures to exit the solar roof tile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: TESLA, INC.
    Inventors: Ollivier J. Lefevre, John Liu
  • Publication number: 20190088802
    Abstract: One embodiment can provide a solar module. The solar module can include one or more moisture-resistant photovoltaic structures. A respective photovoltaic structure can include a base layer, an emitter layer positioned on a first side of the base layer, and a moisture barrier layer positioned on a first side of the emitter layer, thereby reducing the amount of moisture that reaches a junction between the base layer and the emitter layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: TESLA, INC.
    Inventors: Yangsen Kang, Zhigang Xie, Jianhua Hu
  • Publication number: 20190070924
    Abstract: A vehicle thermal management system includes a vehicle heat pump system, a battery system coolant loop, a drive train coolant loop, and control electronics. The vehicle heat pump system includes a compressor, a cabin condenser, a cabin evaporator, a cabin blower, and a chiller. The battery system coolant loop is in thermal communication with a battery system and with the chiller and selectively in thermal communication with the drive train coolant loop. The control electronics control the components of the vehicle thermal management system to heat the cabin, cool the cabin, heat the battery system, cool the battery system, and cool the drive train. The control electronics may control the compressor to operate in an efficient mode or a lossy mode in which the compressor generates heat. The control electronics may also control the components of the vehicle thermal management system to precondition the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Mancini, Joseph Stratford Maxwell Mardall, Jan Kopitz, Curt Raymond O'Donnell, Daniel F. Hanks, Huize Li
  • Publication number: 20190068217
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide systems, devices, and methods for decompressing encoded electronic data to increase decompression throughput using any number of decoding engines. In certain embodiments, this is accomplished by identifying and processing a next record in a pipeline operation before having to complete the decompression of a current record. Various embodiments take advantage of the knowledge of the method of how the records have been encoded, e.g., in a single long record, to greatly reduce delay time, compared with existing designs, when decompressing encoded electronic data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Joseph BANNON, Kevin Altair HURD
  • Publication number: 20190036171
    Abstract: Improved battery systems have been developed for lithium-ion based batteries. The improved battery systems consist of two-additive mixtures in an electrolyte solvent that is a carbonate solvent, an organic solvent, a non-aqueous solvent, and/or methyl acetate. The positive electrode of the improved battery systems may be formed from lithium nickel manganese cobalt compounds, and the negative electrode of the improved battery system may be formed from natural or artificial graphite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla Motors Canada ULC
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Dahn, Jing Li, Stephen Laurence Glazier
  • Publication number: 20190030867
    Abstract: Treatments are provided to strengthen adhesion of an optical filter layer in a photovoltaic (PV) module to an encapsulant layer, or generally, between inorganic materials and organic polymers. The embodiments disclosed herein can provide five or more times the adhesive forces of untreated encapsulant-filter interfaces. As a result, the system can enhance long-term reliability of PV modules by reducing interface surface charges and dangling bonds and reducing gaps and cracks, thereby preventing moisture, impurities, and particles from entering the interface. The treated optical filter layer can result in a surface modification. In some embodiments, treating the optical filter layer includes applying a chemical treatment such as an acid or alkaline wash, and/or ultrasonic cleaning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: TESLA, INC.
    Inventors: Zhi-Wen Sun, Ollivier J. Lefevre, Jiunn Benjamin Heng
  • Publication number: 20190028055
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a solar roof tile module. The module includes a plurality of solar roof tiles positioned side by side and one or more tile spacers. The tiles are electrically and mechanically coupled to each other. A tile spacer is positioned between two adjacent solar roof tiles, thereby preventing water leakage. A solar roof tile can include a front cover, a back cover, and a plurality of photovoltaic strips positioned between the front and back covers. Each photovoltaic strip includes a first edge busbar located on an edge of a first surface and a second edge busbar located on an opposite edge of a second surface, and the photovoltaic strips are arranged in such a way that the first edge busbar of a photovoltaic strip overlaps with a second edge busbar of an adjacent photovoltaic strip, thereby forming a serial connection among the photovoltaic strips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: TESLA, INC.
    Inventors: Bobby Yang, Peter P. Nguyen, Seth M. Winger, Piotr Zajac, Kaleb A. Klauber, Jennifer L. Wang, Jiunn Benjamin Heng
  • Publication number: 20190026078
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the disclosure relate to an accelerated mathematical engine. In certain embodiments, the accelerated mathematical engine is applied to image processing such that convolution of an image is accelerated by using a two-dimensional matrix processor comprising sub-circuits that include an ALU, output register and shadow register. This architecture supports a clocked, two-dimensional architecture in which image data and weights are multiplied in a synchronized manner to allow a large number of mathematical operations to be performed in parallel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Joseph BANNON, Kevin Altair HURD, Emil TALPES
  • Publication number: 20190006723
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a battery management system that provide a plurality of channels that allow communication between host and clients. This communication may operate in bi-directional modes such that commands from the host and responses from the clients are transmitted clockwise or counter-clockwise around a daisy-chain loop. This architecture provides both a high level of redundancy across multiple channels as well as transmission directions around the loop. The use of multiple channels provides a separation in signal paths akin to the provision of completely separate physical wires, preventing malfunction of spurious operation of devices using one channel from interfering with the normal operation of devices using the other channel. In addition, the signaling architecture allows a host to dynamically transmit commands and receive responses between specific client(s) and host or broadcast communication across all clients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: NATHANIEL MARTIN, ANIA MITROS, CHARLES MELLONE, IAN DIMEN
  • Publication number: 20190003572
    Abstract: Systems and method for cooling and lubricating power transmission systems include providing oil to an oil tube and then to a rotor shaft via the oil tube. Oil may also be provided through at least one channel defined in an end of the oil tube inserted into an annular region of the rotor shaft, through at least one channel defined in an end of the gear shaft and between the end and a shoulder of the rotor shaft and through at least one channel defined in side surface of the rotor shaft in a region of rotor shaft inserted into the gear shaft. Such systems and method can also include providing oil a fluid passageway in a bearing shim plate via an inlet tube. Oil may also be provided through a radial gap adjacent a bearing shim plate outlet and chamber defined in the bearing shim plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Dellal, Luke Ottaway, Scott Michael Graves, Eric Bellemare
  • Publication number: 20190006914
    Abstract: Systems and methods for cooling power transmission systems are include providing oil through an aperture defined in a housing to a stator cooling ring, through the stator cooling ring and into stator cooling channels, through the stator cooling channels and into spaces defined between the housing and jet rings, and through holes in the jet rings and onto the end-windings. The stator cooling ring, stator cooling channels and jet rings can encircle the stator and end-windings and, via the holes in the jet rings, spray pressurized jets of oil from various angles onto the end-windings, and in particular middle regions thereof. Seals may be used between the jet rings and housing, and between the jet rings and stator ends. The seals may be compressed so as to form an interference fit between the jet rings and housing or stator ends as the case may be.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Michael Graves, Eric Bellemare, Alexander Hain
  • Publication number: 20190006923
    Abstract: An electric drive unit and method of assembling the same is disclosed. The electric drive unit includes a rotor having a rotor shaft, and gear shaft, where the rotor shaft is inserted into the gear shaft. The gear shaft is supported by two bearings, while the rotor shaft supported directly at one end by a bearing and at the other by the gear shaft. A wave spring is also disclosed that provides an axial loading to the rotor shaft. Also disclosed is a balancing ring secured to an end of the rotor via a locknut. The balancing ring can be machined in order to balance the rotor. The rotor shaft can be connected to the gear shaft via a spline connection. The rotor shaft can bear against the gear shaft via a pilot journal and pilot bore defined on the rotor shaft and gear shaft respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Dellal, Scott Michael Graves, Luke Ottaway
  • Publication number: 20190003526
    Abstract: A drive unit is disclosed that includes case portions, a gasket interposed between the case portions, shafts, bearings having respective bearing races, and a bearing shim plate. One shaft includes an input oil tube which provides a fluid pathway between the bearing shim plate and a rotor of the drive unit. Interposed between bearings, and the bearing shim plate, are shims. An approach for sizing shims for use with a drive unit is also disclosed, the approach including determining the distance from a mating flange of a case portion, to different bearing races, selecting shims based on the determined distances, and attaching the bearing shim plate to the case portion with shims interposed therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Michael Graves, Luke Ottaway, Ian Felder
  • Publication number: 20190003570
    Abstract: A gear box and method of providing oil through the same is provided. The gear box includes a windage tray that includes a tray having a bleed hole therein, and another tray having another second bleed hole therein. Oil is provided through the bleed holes to respective gears situated in the trays. The windage tray may also include a magnet positioned within a magnet slot of the windage tray, for removing debris from the oil. A tube may also be attached to the windage tray, which tube can include a bleed hole therein, for spraying the oil out of the tube and towards a differential, for example. The windage tray and tube can be made from molded plastic, and can be made using the same mold. The gear box housing may further define a drain in an inner side wall to provide oil to a differential bearing, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Michael Graves, Diego Alberto Silva Rodriguez