Tesla Motors Patents

Tesla Motors, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures and sells electric vehicles, and operates a network of charging stations for Tesla electric vehicles. Tesla also sells electric vehicle powertrain components to other vehicle manufacturers, as well as battery systems for homes, commercial sites and utilities.

Tesla Motors Patents by Type
  • Patent number: 11242463
    Abstract: A self-stratifying anticorrosive coating is described herein, including a zinc-rich epoxy, a curing agent chosen from the group consisting of amines, thiols, phenols, and carboxylic anhydrides, a binding agent chosen from the group consisting of aminoalkyl dialkoxysilane, dimethoxysilane, and aminoalkyl trialkoxysilane, a graphitic material, a solvent, a water scavenger, and a moisture-cured siloxane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla Nanocoatings, Inc.
    Inventors: Jorma Virtanen, Theodore Hammer
  • Patent number: 11239454
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming an electrode film mixture can have a first source including a polymer dispersion comprising a liquid and a polymer, a second source including a second component of the electrode film mixture, and a fluidized bed coating apparatus including a first inlet configured to receive from the first source the dispersion, and a second inlet configured to receive from the second source the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Porter Mitchell, Jeffrey Nelson, Robert Crawford, Mohammed-Yazid Saidi
  • Patent number: 11227029
    Abstract: A microprocessor system comprises a matrix computational unit and a control unit. The matrix computational unit includes one or more processing elements. The control unit is configured to provide a matrix processor instruction to the matrix computational unit. The matrix processor instruction specifies a floating-point operand formatted with an exponent that has been biased with a specified bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Debjit Das Sarma, William McGee, Emil Talpes
  • Patent number: 11225156
    Abstract: A thermal protection system includes an electrical circuit and a thermal switch. The electrical circuit transmits an electrical signal between a charge source and a charge receiver during a charging process. The thermal switch is placed in-line with the electrical circuit. The thermal switch opens above a threshold temperature to block transmission of the electrical signal. Blocking the transmission of the electrical signal causes the charging process to stop. In further examples, the charge source includes and electric vehicle charging system and the charge receiver includes an electric vehicle. In further examples, the electrical signal is required for compliance with one or more electric vehicle charging standards implemented by the electric vehicle charging system and the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen Ham Miller, Paul Guerra, Pascal-Andre Fortin, Frank Spiteri
  • Patent number: 11220450
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Sweney, Michael Pilliod, Christos Gougoussis
  • Publication number: 20220001165
    Abstract: A neuromodulation apparatus and method of using the same. The neuromodulation apparatus has a plurality of active electrodes electrically isolated from each other and arranged in at least one electrodes array, at least one reference electrode, a pulse generator electrically connected to each active electrode of the plurality of active electrodes and configured to selectively transmit electric pulses to each of the plurality of active electrodes and a control unit coupled to the electrical pulse generator and adapted to measure a resistance and/or a current-voltage characteristic between each active electrode of the plurality of active electrodes and the at least one reference electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: TESLA MEDICAL S.R.O.
    Inventors: Lukas DOSKOCIL, Zdenek KRCIL
  • Patent number: 11215999
    Abstract: An image captured using a sensor on a vehicle is received and decomposed into a plurality of component images. Each component image of the plurality of component images is provided as a different input to a different layer of a plurality of layers of an artificial neural network to determine a result. The result of the artificial neural network is used to at least in part autonomously operate the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Timofey Uvarov, Brijesh Tripathi, Evgene Fainstain
  • Patent number: 11217862
    Abstract: An energy storage system includes a module housing and multiple battery cells with insulating material and discharge directing material positioned inside the module housing. Each of the battery cells has a first end and a second end. Further, each of the battery cells has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The energy storage system includes a first interconnect and a second interconnect positioned over the battery cells. Multiple first cell connectors connect the positive terminals of the battery cells to the first interconnect. Multiple second cell connectors connect the negative terminals of the battery cells to the second interconnect. A top plate having an interior side and an exterior side is positioned over the first interconnect and the second interconnect. The top plate includes one or more weak areas with reduced integrity positioned above one or more battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Augusto E. Barton, Robert Clinton Lane, Nathan Khalil Chidiac, Julian Christian Carl, Hugh Burnett Ross, William B. Stockton, Nicholas Paul Manov
  • Patent number: 11218045
    Abstract: An electric motor includes a case, a stator that includes end-windings, a rotor coupled to the case via at least one rotor bearing, at least one drive motor fluid pump, and drive motor electronics. The rotor includes a hollow cylindrical body, a first shaft portion, and a second shaft portion, a fluid feed tube having a fluid receive end and a fluid feed end, the fluid feed end extending into the hollow cylindrical body, and a plurality of fluid exit ports. The drive motor electronics power the stator with or without causing rotation of the rotor. The drive motor fluid pump pumps fluid into the hollow cylindrical body via the fluid feed tube, pumps the fluid out of the plurality of fluid ports, and onto the stator end-windings to collect heat from the rotor and the stator. The heated fluid may be used for heating a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Bozhi Yang, Tomas Vianna Martins, Scott Michael Graves, Ethan Swint, Eric Bellemare, Lev Fedoseyev, Benjamin Dellal, Leif E. Olsen, Alexander Hain
  • Patent number: 11203372
    Abstract: A steering wheel assembly includes a steering rim and a steering housing connected to the steering rim. The steering wheel assembly also includes at least one pressure sensitive component disposed within the steering housing. The at least one pressure sensitive component generates electric signals in response to force applied on the steering housing. The at least one pressure sensitive component may include any one of at least one piezoelectric switch, a piezoelectric sensor, and a capacitive array. Further, at least one pressure sensitive component may provide a haptic feedback. Additionally, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) disposed within the steering housing is electrically connected to the at least one pressure sensitive component. The PCB includes a controller that determines a user input or a gesture made by a user on the steering housing based on the electric signals received from the at least one pressure sensitive component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Joris Aerts, Felix Louis Godard, Erik Raymond Hammer
  • Patent number: 11205093
    Abstract: Systems and methods for training machine models with augmented data. An example method includes identifying a set of images captured by a set of cameras while affixed to one or more image collection systems. For each image in the set of images, a training output for the image is identified. For one or more images in the set of images, an augmented image for a set of augmented images is generated. Generating an augmented image includes modifying the image with an image manipulation function that maintains camera properties of the image. The augmented training image is associated with the training output of the image. A set of parameters of the predictive computer model are trained to predict the training output based on an image training set including the images and the set of augmented images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew John Cooper, Paras Jagdish Jain, Harsimran Singh Sidhu
  • Publication number: 20210386998
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a neuromodulation method for treating the syndromes of a low urinary tract dysfunction. The neuromodulation method comprises attaching a first active electrode to a first patient's leg in the back of the knee area in proximity of a peroneal nerve of the first leg. Attaching a second active electrode to a second patient's leg in the back of the knee area in proximity of a peroneal nerve of the second leg. Attaching a grounding electrode to the patient's body. Generating electrical pulses by a pulse generator connected to the first, the second active electrode and a grounding electrode. Stimulating by the first and the second active electrodes the peroneal nerve of the first and the second leg and controlling via control unit a flow of the generated pulses to each of the first and second active electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Applicant: TESLA MEDICAL S.R.O.
    Inventor: Lukas DOSKOCIL
  • Patent number: 11196678
    Abstract: An example SoC includes a plurality of processing systems supporting respective Quality of Service (QoS) rules, channel circuitry that is configured to service communications for the plurality of processing systems and that includes a QoS manager. The QoS manager determines that a first processing system of the plurality of processing systems that operates according to first QoS rules desires to send a communication with a first QoS selection of the first QoS rules to a second processing system that operates according to second QoS rules, determines available communication receipt resources of the second processing system of the plurality of processing systems, the second processing system supporting second QoS rules, determines a communication resources allocation for the second processing system based upon the first QoS rules, the second QoS rules, and the first QoS selection, and directs the second processing system to operate according to the communication resource allocation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: David Glasco
  • Patent number: 11190128
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Bobby Yang, Peter P. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11190129
    Abstract: Photovoltaic modules are mounted onto a solar tracker array torque tube via pairs or left-handed and right-handed photovoltaic array connectors or brackets. The left-handed and right-handed photovoltaic array connectors have orientation projections that couple with and extend into the interior body of the torque tube. Pairs of left-handed photovoltaic array connectors and pairs of right-handed photovoltaic array connectors of adjacent photovoltaic modules can further be fastened together, thereby securing the photovoltaic modules to the torque tube and distributing the load of the overall number of photovoltaic modules mounted on the solar tracker array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Kathryn Austin Pesce, Charles Bernardo Almy
  • Patent number: 11190031
    Abstract: A battery pack for an energy generation system includes a cell array of conductively interconnected power cells configured to store and discharge energy, a direct current (DC)-to-DC converter coupled to the cell array and configured to receive power from the cell array during discharging of the cell array or to output power to the cell array during charging of the cell array, a pair of output terminals coupled to the DC-to-DC converter for coupling with an external device; and an are fault detection system coupled between the DC-to-DC converter and the pair of output terminals. The are fault detection system includes a first sensor for measuring power transmitted between the DC-to-DC converter and the pair of output terminals and a controller coupled to the first sensor and configured to disable the battery pack based on a measurement of the power transmitted between the DC-to-DC converter and the output terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Sandeep Narla
  • Patent number: 11167676
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: TESLA, INC.
    Inventors: Forrest Wen Liau, Stefan Kuzmanovski
  • Patent number: 11157014
    Abstract: An autonomous control system combines sensor data from multiple sensors to simulate sensor data from high-capacity sensors. The sensor data contains information related to physical environments surrounding vehicles for autonomous guidance. For example, the sensor data may be in the form of images that visually capture scenes of the surrounding environment, geo-location of the vehicles, and the like. The autonomous control system simulates high-capacity sensor data of the physical environment from replacement sensors that may each have lower capacity than high-capacity sensors. The high-capacity sensor data may be simulated via one or more neural network models. The autonomous control system performs various detection and control algorithms on the simulated sensor data to guide the vehicle autonomously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Forrest Nelson Iandola, Donald Benton MacMillen, Anting Shen, Harsimran Singh Sidhu, Daniel Paden Tomasello, Rohan Nandkumar Phadte, Paras Jagdish Jain
  • Patent number: 11157441
    Abstract: A microprocessor system comprises a computational array and a hardware data formatter. The computational array includes a plurality of computation units that each operates on a corresponding value addressed from memory. The values operated by the computation units are synchronously provided together to the computational array as a group of values to be processed in parallel. The hardware data formatter is configured to gather the group of values, wherein the group of values includes a first subset of values located consecutively in memory and a second subset of values located consecutively in memory. The first subset of values is not required to be located consecutively in the memory from the second subset of values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Emil Talpes, William McGee, Peter Joseph Bannon
  • Patent number: 11157287
    Abstract: A microprocessor system comprises a computational array and a hardware arbiter. The computational array includes a plurality of computation units. Each of the plurality of computation units operates on a corresponding value addressed from memory. The hardware arbiter is configured to control issuing of at least one memory request for one or more of the corresponding values addressed from the memory for the computation units. The hardware arbiter is also configured to schedule a control signal to be issued based on the issuing of the memory requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Emil Talpes, Peter Joseph Bannon, Kevin Altair Hurd
  • Patent number: 11148199
    Abstract: A method for synthesizing parts using a die comprising: providing a three-dimensional model; converting the three-dimensional model into G-code; executing the G-code to deposit a metal die; determining whether one or more dimensions of the metal die are within predetermined tolerance levels; based on the determination, milling the die if the one or more dimensions are not within predetermined tolerance levels or depositing additional metal if the one or more dimensions are not within predetermined tolerance levels; and synthesizing a part using the metal die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Rajesh Prasannavenkatesan
  • Patent number: 11150664
    Abstract: A processor coupled to memory is configured to receive image data based on an image captured by a camera of a vehicle. The image data is used as a basis of an input to a trained machine learning model trained to predict a three-dimensional trajectory of a machine learning feature. The three-dimensional trajectory of the machine learning feature is provided for automatically controlling the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashok Kumar Elluswamy, Matthew Bauch, Christopher Payne, Andrej Karpathy, Dhaval Shroff, Arvind Ramanandan, James Robert Howard Hakewill
  • Patent number: 11137060
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Dellal, Luke Ottaway, Scott Michael Graves, Eric Bellemare
  • Patent number: 11132245
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hsiong, Emil Talpes, Debjit Das Sarma, Peter Bannon, Kevin Hurd, Benjamin Floering
  • Patent number: 11125315
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Michael Graves, Eric Bellemare, Alexander Hain
  • Patent number: 11122678
    Abstract: A structure having imbedded array of components is described. An example structure includes an imbedded component array layer having an array of imbedded passive devices contained therein. The structure further includes an Integrated Fan-Out (InFO) layer residing adjacent a first surface of the imbedded component array layer having traces and vias formed therein. The structure further includes an insulator layer residing adjacent a second surface of the imbedded component array layer and electrically coupled to at least the InFO layer and vias passing through the imbedded component array layer and electrically coupled to some of vias of the InFO layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Vijaykumar Krithivasan, Jin Zhao, Mengzhi Pang, Steven Wayne Butler, Ganesh Venkataramanan, Yang Sun
  • Publication number: 20210281677
    Abstract: A method is provided for interacting with audience members in an event, each of the potential attendees having available thereto a unique identifier. The method comprises creating, for an attendee, a unique ID (UID) on a mobile wireless device (MWD) by the steps of inputting to the MWD one of the unique identifiers, combining the obtained unique identifier with a UID time stamp at the time of creation of the UID; receiving with a server on a first wireless channel communications from the MWD; registering the UID at the physical location of the event; generating a visual query; displaying on the MWD response indicators; receiving at the server from the registered attendee a response, to the query over the first wireless channel; and storing in a database on the server the received response in association with the displayed query.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: Tesla Laboratories, LLC
    Inventor: Jovan Hutton PULITZER
  • Patent number: 11110896
    Abstract: A cleaning system for a vehicle includes a beam optics assembly that emits a laser beam to irradiate a region on a glass article of the vehicle, debris detection circuitry that detects debris accumulated over the region, and control circuitry. The control circuitry calibrates a set of parameters associated with the laser beam emitted from the beam optics assembly based on detection of the debris accumulated over the region on the glass article, controls an exposure level of the laser beam on the debris accumulated based on calibration of the set of parameters associated with the laser beam, wherein the exposure level is controlled based on pulsing the laser beam at a calibrated rate that limits penetration of the laser beam to a depth that is less than a thickness of the glass article, and removes the debris accumulated over the region on the glass article using the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Phiroze Dalal
  • Publication number: 20210261897
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bioreactor for RNA in vitro transcription, a method for RNA in vitro transcription, a module for transcribing DNA into RNA and an automated apparatus for RNA manufacturing. Further, the use of a bioreactor for RNA in vitro transcription as described herein is part of the present invention. The present invention relates to an RNA in vitro transcription reactor designed to be operable in an automated manner under GMP-compliant conditions. In particular, said RNA in vitro transcription reactor allows repetitive use of DNA template for various RNA in vitro transcription reactions. Further, the invention relates to an apparatus for RNA manufacturing comprising (a) a module for template DNA synthesis, (b) a module for transcribing DNA into RNA comprising said RNA in vitro transcription reactor, and, optionally, (c) a module for RNA formulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicants: CureVac AG, Tesla Grohmann Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Benyamin YAZDAN PANAH, Tilmann ROOS, Martin KUNZE, Felix BERTSCH, Aniela WOCHNER, Michael RAUEN, Philipp HOFFMANN
  • Patent number: 11090687
    Abstract: A method of providing an anticorrosive coating includes applying a first curable liquid layer to the associated substrate, the first layer having a thickness of at least about 100 micrometers, wherein the first layer includes at least one polymer or at least one monomer, quasi-one-dimensional particles or quasi-two-dimensional particles, sacrificial metal particles, and a solvent, wherein a percolation threshold of the particles is not reached in the presence of the solvent, wherein the percolation threshold of the particles is reached when between about 1% and about 20% of the solvent evaporates, applying a second curable liquid layer having a thickness of at least 100 micrometers on the top of the first layer after the percolation threshold of the particles is reached and viscosity of the first layer increases more than 50%, and allowing the first layer and the second layer to cure simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla Nanocoatings, Inc.
    Inventors: Jorma Virtanen, Joshua Armstrong, Todd Hawkins
  • Patent number: 11084404
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seating portion and a backrest portion coupled to the seating portion. The seat also includes a temperature-control system associated with at least one of the seating portion and the backrest portion. The temperature-control system includes a base layer and an intermediate layer disposed adjacent to the base layer. The intermediate layer is adapted to allow fluid to flow through it. The temperature-control system includes a cover layer disposed adjacent to the intermediate layer. The temperature-control system includes at least one heating element disposed between the intermediate layer and the cover layer. The temperature-control system further includes a fluid pump to provide fluid flow through the intermediate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Gaurang Gupta, Wentao Wang, Adnan Esmail
  • Patent number: 11084390
    Abstract: A charging connector includes a first electrical socket and a second electrical socket. A first sleeve and a second sleeve are provided, such that the first sleeve is concentrically coupled to the first electrical socket and the second sleeve is concentrically coupled to the second electrical socket. A manifold assembly is adapted to enclose the first and second electrical sockets and the first and second sleeves, such that the first and second sleeves and the manifold assembly create a hollow interior space there between. An inlet conduit and an outlet conduit within the manifold assembly such that inlet conduit, the interior space, and the outlet conduit together create a fluid flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Chuen Chou, Pascal-Andre Fortin
  • Patent number: 11088582
    Abstract: An electric motor includes a case, a stator having stator windings, a rotor having a rotor shaft, and at least one main rotor bearing coupling the rotor shaft to the case. Common mode charge builds up on the rotor due to imbalances of the stator. The at least one main rotor bearing has a first electrical resistance between the rotor shaft and the case. The electric motor further includes a rotor discharge bearing coupling the rotor shaft to the case. The rotor discharge bearing has a second electrical resistance between the rotor shaft and the case that is less than the first electrical resistance, causing the common mode charge to discharge through the rotor discharge bearing. In a differing embodiment, a rotor discharge brush coupled between the case and the rotor shaft along the longitudinal axis of the rotor shaft discharges the common mode charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Michael Graves, Diego Alberto Silva Rodriguez, Tyler Nils Grendahl, Alexander Hain
  • Patent number: 11082005
    Abstract: One embodiment can provide a photovoltaic roof tile module. The photovoltaic roof tile module can include a front glass cover, a back glass cover, a plurality of photovoltaic structures positioned between the front and back glass covers, and an internal circuit component electrically coupled to the plurality of photovoltaic structures. The internal circuit component is positioned between the front and back glass covers. The back glass cover can include at least one through hole and a metallic plug inserted inside the through hole. A first surface of the metallic plug can electrically couple to the internal circuit component, and a second opposite surface of the metallic plug can be exposed to surroundings external to the photovoltaic roof tile module, thereby facilitating electrical coupling between the photovoltaic roof tile module and another photovoltaic roof tile module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter P. Nguyen, Kaleb A. Klauber
  • Patent number: 11081739
    Abstract: A battery pack has an enclosure that contains a plurality of batteries and conductors and that resists the flow of fluid between an interior of the enclosure and an exterior of the enclosure. An exit vent formed in the enclosure at a first location allows exhaust gas to flow from the interior of the enclosure to the exterior of the enclosure. A fill port formed in the enclosure at a second location, in an impermeable state, prevent ingress of fluid from an exterior of the enclosure to an interior of the disclosure. The fill port, in a permeable state achieved by receipt of a perforation tool there through, permits ingress of a sufficient amount of a thermal-control liquid into the enclosure through the fill port to terminate a runaway thermal event in the battery pack. A fill port coupler having a passageway and an externally accessible port may be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Weston A. Hermann
  • Patent number: 11068064
    Abstract: A method for controlling application windows is provided for use with a graphical user interface (GUI) display which is divided into at least first and second application windows. Various software applications may be launched in the first and second application windows. In order to switch locations of the software applications launched in the first and second application windows the user selects a swap window button, for example by tapping or clicking on a swap window icon on the GUI display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Brennan Boblett, Evan Small, Roy Goldman, Michael Fairman
  • Patent number: 11047729
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to detect and/or classify a vehicle occupant, such as a passenger seated within the cockpit of a vehicle. An occupant classification system includes an occupant weight sensor, an occupant presence sensor, and a logic device configured to communicate with the occupant weight sensor and the occupant presence sensor. The logic device is configured to receive occupant weight sensor signals from the occupant weight sensor and occupant presence sensor signals from the occupant presence sensor, determine an estimated occupant weight and an occupant presence response based, at least in part, on the occupant weight sensor signals and the occupant presence sensor signals, and determine an occupant classification status corresponding to the passenger seat based, at least in part, on the estimated occupant weight and/or the occupant presence response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Akin Aina, Markell Baldwin, Bronson Aden, Zach Stuart
  • Patent number: 11050260
    Abstract: Embodiments disclose solar energy generation systems with automatic smart transfer switches. An energy generation system, including an energy generation device, an energy generation inverter coupled to the energy generation device and configured to convert direct current (DC) power from the energy generation device to alternating current (AC) power, a battery pack, a storage inverter coupled to the battery pack, where the storage inverter is configured to convert DC power from the battery pack to AC power and to convert AC power into DC power for storing energy into the battery pack, and a smart main electrical panel coupled to receive AC power from at least one of the energy generation inverter, the storage inverter, and a utility grid, where the smart main electrical panel includes one or more motorized circuit breakers configured to be remotely controlled to manage the power flow to one or more loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandeep Narla, Andrew Russell Lutkus
  • Patent number: 11043823
    Abstract: One embodiment can provide a system for conditioning rechargeable battery cells. The system can include a cell-group conditioning module. The cell-group conditioning module can include a cell interface block that includes a cell contact module and a circuit module. The circuit module can be configured to supply power to cells and can be positioned adjacent to the cell contact module. The cell-group conditioning module can further include a cell platform configured to accommodate a number of cells and an actuation mechanism coupled to the cell interface block or the cell platform and configured to reduce a distance between the cell interface block and cell platform, thereby allowing the cell contact module to establish electrical contact with the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Matthews, Turner Caldwell, Martin Sukup
  • Patent number: 11034315
    Abstract: A crash can for a vehicle includes a multi-cell structure that includes at least four hollow cuboids, each defined by four walls that meet at 90 degree angles and at least two of the cuboids share a wall. In another example, a crash can includes a multi-cell structure that includes a hollow cuboid having four walls, and four hollow isosceles trapezoidal prisms having a long base, a short base, and two legs. The multi-cell structures provided herein may increase energy absorption by the crash can if involved in a collision, reducing energy transfer to a vehicle frame and occupants therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Guang Dong, Sekhar Reddy Biddala Reddy
  • Patent number: 11022188
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an overload clutch, comprising a cylindrical clutch housing having a housing body and a housing cover, and comprising two clutch elements arranged within the clutch housing, via which a drive movement is transmissible in an engaged state, wherein the clutch elements, for transmitting the drive movement in the engaged state, are engaged with each other in an interlocking and/or frictional manner and, can be brought out of engagement when an overload occurs. The housing body comprises a plurality of engagement elements, and the housing cover comprises a plurality of retaining structures corresponding to the engagement elements, wherein the engagement elements are able to be brought into engagement with the retaining structures by rotating the housing cover relative to the housing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignees: MINEBEAMITSUMI TECHNOLOGY CENTER EUROPE GMBH, TESLA, INC.
    Inventors: Sasan Nawabi, Jan Egberink
  • Patent number: D926080
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Franz Von Holzhausen, David Tadashi Imai, Wootak Kim, Bernard G. Lee
  • Patent number: D926083
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Franz von Holzhausen
  • Patent number: D926085
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: TESLA, INC.
    Inventors: Franz von Holzhausen, Ian Kettle, Sahm Jafari, David Imai, Ivan Lampkin
  • Patent number: D928053
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Franz von Holzhausen
  • Patent number: D930418
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Blades-Nixon, Franz von Holzhausen
  • Patent number: D931637
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: David Tadashi Imai
  • Patent number: D932398
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Felix Louis Godard, Joris Aerts
  • Patent number: D933553
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Julien Bilodeau, Franz von Holzhausen, David Imai, Ivan Lampkin
  • Patent number: D938745
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Turac, Ivan Lampkin, David Imai, Franz von Holzhausen