Patents by Inventor Christopher A. Ochocinski
Christopher A. Ochocinski 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).
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Patent number: 7398845Abstract: A parallel hybrid electric vehicle powertrain and control method wherein an internal combustion engine and an electric motor system define a split power operating mode, a generator drive mode and a parallel power mode. Provision is made, when the motor is inoperable, for preventing discharge of a battery in the electric motor system when the battery state-of-charge is low and for delivering power from the battery when the battery state-of-charge is greater than a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2007Date of Patent: July 15, 2008Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ming Lang Kuang, Christopher A. Ochocinski, David Mack, Joseph W. Anthony
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Publication number: 20070151781Abstract: A parallel hybrid electric vehicle powertrain and control method wherein an internal combustion engine and an electric motor system define a split power operating mode, a generator drive mode and a parallel power mode. Provision is made, when the motor is inoperable, for preventing discharge of a battery in the electric motor system when the battery state-of-charge is low and for delivering power from the battery when the battery state-of-charge is greater than a predetermined value.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2007Publication date: July 5, 2007Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Ming Kuang, Christopher Ochocinski, David Mack, Joseph Anthony
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Patent number: 7234552Abstract: A method for heating a battery in a hybrid electric vehicle. The hybrid electric vehicle has an engine, a battery, a motor generator powered by the engine or the battery, and a control module. The method includes the steps of determining a battery temperature and determining whether a tip-in event, a tip-out event, or a terminal voltage event has occurred. The polarity of the battery is reversed if the battery temperature is below a predetermined value and if a tip-in event, a tip-out event, or a terminal voltage event has occurred.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2003Date of Patent: June 26, 2007Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mukunda V. Prema, Shailesh S. Kozarekar, Christopher A. Ochocinski, Robert K. Taenaka, Vincent Freyermuth, Douglas Zhu
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Patent number: 7210546Abstract: A parallel hybrid electric vehicle powertrain and control method wherein an internal combustion engine and an electric motor system define a split power operating mode, a generator drive mode and a parallel power mode. Provision is made, when the motor is inoperable, for preventing discharge of a battery in the electric motor system when the battery state-of-charge is low and for delivering power from the battery when the battery state-of-charge is greater than a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2005Date of Patent: May 1, 2007Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ming Lang Kuang, Christopher A. Ochocinski, David Mack, Joseph W. Anthony
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Patent number: 7199551Abstract: A method and system for controllably transferring energy from a high voltage bus to a low voltage bus in a hybrid electric vehicle. A vehicle system controller controls a DC/DC converter coupled between the high voltage bus and the low voltage bus to control the transfer of energy therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2003Date of Patent: April 3, 2007Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Greg E. Gauthier, Joseph W. Anthony, Renuka V. Gokhale, Christopher A. Ochocinski, David J. Mack
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Publication number: 20060081405Abstract: A parallel hybrid electric vehicle powertrain and control method wherein an internal combustion engine and an electric motor system define a split power operating mode, a generator drive mode and a parallel power mode. Provision is made, when the motor is inoperable, for preventing discharge of a battery in the electric motor system when the battery state-of-charge is low and for delivering power from the battery when the battery state-of-charge is greater than a predetermined value.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2005Publication date: April 20, 2006Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ming Kuang, Christopher Ochocinski, David Mack, Joseph Anthony
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Patent number: 7023216Abstract: An indicator to indicate an amount of power available from an energy storage device. The indicator normalizes raw power values to values which are understood by the driver. The indicator indicates the normalized values to facilitate making a driving decision.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2003Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mukunda V. Prema, Ryan A. McGee, Christopher A. Ochocinski, Stephen J. Hunter, J. Anthony Lockwood
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Patent number: 6994360Abstract: A parallel hybrid electric vehicle powertrain and control method wherein an internal combustion engine and an electric motor system define a split power operating mode, a generator drive mode and a parallel power mode. Provision is made, when the motor is inoperable, for preventing discharge of a battery in the electric motor system when the battery state-of-charge is low and for delivering power from the battery when the battery state-of-charge is greater than a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2003Date of Patent: February 7, 2006Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ming Lang Kuang, Christopher A. Ochocinski, David Mack, Joseph W. Anthony
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Publication number: 20050285564Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic battery charging system for selectively charging a battery in a vehicle. The automatic charging system includes a charger capable charging a first battery in a vehicle. Coupled to the charger is a controller that determines whether or not the first battery requires electrical charging. If charging is required, the controller causes the charger to automatically provide the first voltage signal to the first battery without intervention from a user. The present invention also provides a method of charging a battery in a vehicle which is executed by the automatic battery charging system of the invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2004Publication date: December 29, 2005Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Jacob Mathews, Raymond Siciak, Patrick Maguire, Christopher Ochocinski, Tony Lockwood
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Publication number: 20050196662Abstract: A method for heating a battery in a hybrid electric vehicle. The hybrid electric vehicle has an engine, a battery, a motor generator powered by the engine or the battery, and a control module. The method includes the steps of determining a battery temperature and determining whether a tip-in event, a tip-out event, or a terminal voltage event has occurred. The polarity of the battery is reversed if the battery temperature is below a predetermined value and if a tip-in event, a tip-out event, or a terminal voltage event has occurred.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2003Publication date: September 8, 2005Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Mukunda Prema, Shailesh Kozarekar, Christopher Ochocinski, Robert Taenaka, Vincent Freyermuth, Douglas Zhu
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Publication number: 20050068003Abstract: A method and system for controllably transferring energy from a high voltage bus to a low voltage bus in a hybrid electric vehicle. A vehicle system controller controls a DC/DC converter coupled between the high voltage bus and the low voltage bus to control the transfer of energy therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2003Publication date: March 31, 2005Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Greg Gauthier, Joseph Anthony, Renuka Gokhale, Christopher Ochocinski, David Mack
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Publication number: 20050068007Abstract: An indicator to indicate an amount of power available from an energy storage device. The indicator normalizes raw power values to values which are understood by the driver. The indicator indicates the normalized values to facilitate making a driving decision.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2003Publication date: March 31, 2005Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Mukunda Prema, Ryan McGee, Christopher Ochocinski, Stephen Hunter, Anthony Lockwood
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Publication number: 20050061564Abstract: A parallel hybrid electric vehicle powertrain and control method wherein an internal combustion engine and an electric motor system define a split power operating mode, a generator drive mode and a parallel power mode. Provision is made, when the motor is inoperable, for preventing discharge of a battery in the electric motor system when the battery state-of-charge is low and for delivering power from the battery when the battery state-of-charge is greater than a predetermined value.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2003Publication date: March 24, 2005Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Ming Kuang, Christopher Ochocinski, David Mack, Joseph Anthony
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Publication number: 20020171541Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and system to monitor vehicle operation state and operator requests. The invention combines into a single, easy to read, gauge information indicating the current vehicle operating state and the ability to increase power assist. This involves a display of instantaneous rate of consumption usage superimposed over the available rate of power consumption limits. The present invention can display whether an operator is requesting power assist, regenerative braking or battery charging while also showing the amount of power assist, regenerative braking or battery charging that is possible for the vehicle under present operating conditions. Through the use of a vehicle system controller (VSC) or similar type controller connected to the display of the present invention, the instantaneous rate of consumption usage or charge can be limited to the available rate of power consumption or charge limits.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2001Publication date: November 21, 2002Inventors: Dale Scott Crombez, Steven Lee Napier, Christopher A. Ochocinski
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Patent number: 6480106Abstract: The invention is an improved method and system to monitor vehicle operation state and operator requests. It combines into a single gauge information indicating current vehicle operating state and ability to increase power assist using a display of instantaneous rate of consumption usage superimposed over available rate of power consumption limits. The invention can display whether an operator is requesting power assist, regenerative braking or battery charging while also displaying the available amount of each under present operating conditions. A vehicle system controller (VSC) or similar type controller is connected to the gauge, which can limit instantaneous rate of consumption usage or charge to the available rate of power consumption or charge limits. The invention can use analog needles or LEDs in various configurations as well as adding warning lamps or chimes when the instantaneous rate of consumption usage approaches or exceeds the available rate of power consumption limits.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2001Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Dale Scott Crombez, Steven Lee Napier, Christopher A. Ochocinski