Patents by Inventor Anthony Thomas Spoto

Anthony Thomas Spoto has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230044009
    Abstract: A vehicle electrical system includes a battery, a customer connection point, a switch electrically connected in series between the battery and the customer connection point, a solar panel electrically connected to a node between the battery and the switch, and a computer communicatively coupled to the switch. The computer is programmed to instruct the switch to close upon determining that a voltage of the solar panel is greater than a voltage of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Todd Ansbacher, Anthony Thomas Spoto, Hanyang Chen
  • Patent number: 11549477
    Abstract: An electrical system of a vehicle includes a first battery, a second battery, a first switch electrically connected in series between the first battery and the second battery, an external connection point, and a second switch electrically connected in series between the second battery and the external connection point. The system and a method of operating the system include determining that the first battery will need assistance to start an engine of the vehicle, opening the second switch in response to a state of charge of the second battery decreasing below a charge threshold, and closing the first switch for the second battery to assist the first battery to crank the engine for starting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Alasdair Collins, David Celinske, Anthony Thomas Spoto, Todd Ansbacher
  • Patent number: 11251646
    Abstract: A power system for a vehicle comprises a first power supply network configured to operate at a first voltage. The first power supply network comprises a first alternator, a starter motor, and a battery conductively connected to the first alternator and the starter motor. The system further comprises a second power supply network configured to operate at a second voltage. The second power supply network comprises a second alternator, a power supply receptacle configured to output power to an external accessory, and a capacitive energy storage device conductively connected to the second alternator and the power supply receptacle. A directional conduction device interconnects the first power supply network and the second power supply network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hanyang B. Chen, Michael Irby, Jason Baker, Gabriel Jim, Anthony Thomas Spoto
  • Publication number: 20210104905
    Abstract: A power system for a vehicle comprises a first power supply network configured to operate at a first voltage. The first power supply network comprises a first alternator, a starter motor, and a battery conductively connected to the first alternator and the starter motor. The system further comprises a second power supply network configured to operate at a second voltage. The second power supply network comprises a second alternator, a power supply receptacle configured to output power to an external accessory, and a capacitive energy storage device conductively connected to the second alternator and the power supply receptacle. A directional conduction device interconnects the first power supply network and the second power supply network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hanyang B. Chen, Michael Irby, Jason Baker, Gabriel Jim, Anthony Thomas Spoto
  • Patent number: 10491147
    Abstract: System and method are disclosed for power management in a vehicle having two or more alternators. An example vehicle power system includes first and second alternators, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine that a load coupled to the first and second alternators increases at greater than a threshold rate. The processor is also configured to responsively (i) reduce respective voltage setpoints of the first and second alternators, and (ii) turn off the second alternator. And the processor is further configured to, after determining that a voltage transient caused by the load has expired, turn on the second alternator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Francis Judge, Gabriel Jim, Jeffrey Raymond Mohr, James Brian Keyse, Anthony Thomas Spoto, John G. Fraser
  • Publication number: 20190165710
    Abstract: System and method are disclosed for power management in a vehicle having two or more alternators. An example vehicle power system includes first and second alternators, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine that a load coupled to the first and second alternators increases at greater than a threshold rate. The processor is also configured to responsively (i) reduce respective voltage setpoints of the first and second alternators, and (ii) turn off the second alternator. And the processor is further configured to, after determining that a voltage transient caused by the load has expired, turn on the second alternator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Alan Francis Judge, Gabriel Jim, Jeffrey Raymond Mohr, James Brian Keyse, Anthony Thomas Spoto, John G. Fraser