Patents by Inventor Derek Hartl

Derek Hartl 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).

  • Patent number: 9733658
    Abstract: A primary current threshold is fit between an electrical capacity and electrical load for an electrical distribution component. When a first measured current exceeds the primary threshold, a power limit for the battery powering the component is reduced. When a second measured current is less than a secondary current threshold, the power limit is increased. The primary and secondary thresholds may be set for a plurality of time periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Vander Laan, Derek Hartl
  • Patent number: 9718359
    Abstract: A vehicle information display may include a split braking gauge for conveying information relating to braking operation and efficiency to assist drivers in maximizing energy capture during braking in vehicle with regenerative braking systems. The split braking gauge may incorporate a side-by-side or stacked configuration for conveying both regenerative braking and friction braking values. The split braking gauge may include fixed thresholds or boundaries associated with dynamic threshold values that can change based on current vehicle operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dale Scott Crombez, Ryan Skaff, Derek Hartl
  • Patent number: 9656671
    Abstract: An example method of controlling an electrified vehicle includes activating a coast switch to a place an electrified vehicle in a coast mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Kenneth James Miller, William Perkins, Derek Hartl
  • Patent number: 9630503
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle high voltage bus is connected to a power source by a circuit having a main contactor and a precharge contactor. To energize the bus, the precharge contactor is closed and then the main contactor is closed. Upon completion of precharging, the main contactor is opened and energization of the bus is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ray C. Siciak, Vineeth S. Kallur, Deborah E. Callicoat, Derek Hartl, Masahiro Kimoto
  • Patent number: 9613473
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes displaying a plurality of power consuming and producing vehicle components. The method also includes determining what components are currently consuming power and what components are currently delivering power, and to what magnitude the power is flowing between components. The method additionally includes displaying one or more arrows showing a powerflow from at least one power producing component to at least one power consuming or producing component. The method further includes displaying an indicia indicating the magnitude of the powerflow associated with the one or more arrows. Also, the method includes, for at least one power consuming component, displaying a gauge relating to a level of power being consumed by the at least one power consuming component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Derek Hartl, Ryan Skaff, Angela L. Watson
  • Publication number: 20170072799
    Abstract: An information display system for a hybrid electric vehicle configured to display one or more reasons an engine is on is provided. The information display system also indicates how close the engine is to turning on due to an engine on reason by displaying a proximity indicator representing a value associated with the engine on reason and a threshold demarcating values which cause the engine to be on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Ryan J. Skaff, Derek Hartl, Paul Stephen Bryan, Angela L. Watson, David L. Watson
  • Publication number: 20170009476
    Abstract: A wheel guide for a vehicle charging station includes front and back sides, and a top extending between the front and back sides. The top defines an aperture sized to circumscribe a wireless transmitter of the charging station. The wheel guide further includes a pair of spaced apart wheel slots recessed into the top. Each wheel slot includes an entrance defined in the front side and a pair of longitudinal walls extending from the entrance toward the back side. At least a portion of each of the walls is configured such that a slope of the wall is shallowest at the entrance and becomes increasingly vertical in a direction towards the back side to guide a wheel of a vehicle towards a centerline of the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Leann VERNON, Derek HARTL, Raymond C. SICIAK
  • Publication number: 20170012270
    Abstract: A battery assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a terminal holder, a terminal at least partially surrounded by the terminal holder, and a bus bar module connectable to the terminal holder. One of the terminal holder and the bus bar module includes at least one locating feature to position the bus bar module in a welding position relative to the terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Debbi CALLICOAT, Brian UTLEY, Steve DROSTE, Derek HARTL
  • Patent number: 9506781
    Abstract: An information display system for a hybrid electric vehicle configured to display one or more reasons an engine is on is provided. The information display system also indicates how close the engine is to turning on due to an engine on reason by displaying a proximity indicator representing a value associated with the engine on reason and a threshold demarcating values which cause the engine to be on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan J. Skaff, Derek Hartl, Paul Stephen Bryan, Angela L. Watson, David L. Watson
  • Patent number: 9478788
    Abstract: A battery assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a terminal holder, a terminal at least partially surrounded by the terminal holder, and a bus bar module connectable to the terminal holder. One of the terminal holder and the bus bar module includes at least one locating feature to position the bus bar module in a welding position relative to the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Debbi Callicoat, Brian Utley, Steve Droste, Derek Hartl
  • Patent number: 9466448
    Abstract: A high voltage relay sticking control system for a vehicle having at least one contactor, a high voltage battery pack interfacing with the contactor and a weld diagnostic detection system interfacing with the high voltage battery pack and the contactor includes an increment counter adapted to interface with the contactor, the high voltage battery pack and the weld diagnostic detection system. The increment counter is adapted to transmit at least one set of coil power cycles through the contactor if a weld exists at the contactor. A high voltage relay sticking control method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Derek Hartl
  • Patent number: 9350127
    Abstract: A self-locating bus bar assembly for locating a bus bar on a cell terminal of a battery cell includes a bus bar locating tab adapted for attachment to the bus bar; an assembly bracket; a tab opening in the assembly bracket, the tab opening sized and configured to accommodate the bus bar locating tab; and a bracket terminal opening in the assembly bracket, the bracket terminal opening sized, configured and located to accommodate the cell terminal of the battery cell when the bus bar locating tab is disposed within the tab opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Debbi Callicoat, Brian Utley, Derek Hartl, Steve Droste, Yunan Guo
  • Publication number: 20160059703
    Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, controlling an electrified vehicle by adjusting a deceleration rate based on a closing rate of the electrified vehicle to an oncoming object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Douglas Raymond Martin, William Paul Perkins, Derek Hartl
  • Publication number: 20160052519
    Abstract: An example method of controlling an electrified vehicle includes activating a coast switch to a place an electrified vehicle in a coast mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Kenneth James Miller, William Perkins, Derek Hartl
  • Patent number: 9162664
    Abstract: A total power demand including a wheel power demand may be observed. The wheel power demand may be modified to determine a modified total power demand including a modified wheel power demand if the total power demand falls within a target range of power values defined by upper and lower threshold power values such that the modified total power demand is generally equal to the lower threshold power value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard D. Nefcy, Derek Hartl, Linda K. Ringlein, Ryan J. Skaff, Christopher Adam Ochocinski, William Paul Perkins
  • Patent number: 9156470
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine and an electric machine for providing propulsion forces to wheels of the vehicle. In an electric-only propulsion mode, the engine is disabled and the electric machine acts as the power source for the wheels. In a hybrid propulsion mode, the engine is activated to act as an additional power source for the wheels. At least one controller along with a plurality of sensors and positional information devices activate an active safety control signal in response to objects surrounding the vehicle that pose a threat to a potential collision event. In response to the active safety control signal, the engine can be either automatically started or stopped to provide additional available power or a reduced available power, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Derek Hartl, Ming Lang Kuang, Bernard D. Nefcy
  • Publication number: 20150270666
    Abstract: A self-locating bus bar assembly for locating a bus bar on a cell terminal of a battery cell includes a bus bar locating tab adapted for attachment to the bus bar; an assembly bracket; a tab opening in the assembly bracket, the tab opening sized and configured to accommodate the bus bar locating tab; and a bracket terminal opening in the assembly bracket, the bracket terminal opening sized, configured and located to accommodate the cell terminal of the battery cell when the bus bar locating tab is disposed within the tab opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Debbi Callicoat, Brian Utley, Derek Hartl, Steve Droste, Yunan Guo
  • Publication number: 20150270081
    Abstract: A high voltage relay sticking control system for a vehicle having at least one contactor, a high voltage battery pack interfacing with the contactor and a weld diagnostic detection system interfacing with the high voltage battery pack and the contactor includes an increment counter adapted to interface with the contactor, the high voltage battery pack and the weld diagnostic detection system. The increment counter is adapted to transmit at least one set of coil power cycles through the contactor if a weld exists at the contactor. A high voltage relay sticking control method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Derek Hartl
  • Publication number: 20150255975
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide an alternative high voltage cutoff technique for disconnecting a high voltage battery from an electrical network of a vehicle in the event of a fault condition. Embodiments include a vehicle system comprising an electrical bus and a battery module coupled to the electrical bus via a contactor and a disconnector. The vehicle system further includes a controller configured to switch the contactor to an open state, upon receiving a fault condition signal, and if the contactor failed to open, activating the disconnector to break electrical connection between the battery module and the electrical bus. In some embodiments, the fault condition signal is generated upon detecting a vehicular impact. In some embodiments, the disconnector is a pyrotechnic device powered by a vehicle battery included in the vehicle system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ray C. Siciak, David Crist Gabriel, Bo Wu, Derek Hartl
  • Publication number: 20150217642
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle high voltage bus is connected to a power source by a circuit having a main contactor and a precharge contactor. To energize the bus, the precharge contactor is closed and then the main contactor is closed. Upon completion of precharging, the main contactor is opened and energization of the bus is complete.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ray C. Siciak, Vineeth S. Kallur, Deborah E. Callicoat, Derek Hartl, Masahiro Kimoto