Patents by Inventor Kevin Mackenzie

Kevin Mackenzie 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: 11390137
    Abstract: A thermal management system for an electrified vehicle and a method for managing such a system, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first cooling circuit, a second cooling circuit, and a third cooling circuit. The first cooling circuit cools a battery pack and includes a battery chiller in fluid communication with a cooling system inlet to the battery pack. The second cooling circuit cools the battery chiller and includes at least a first compressor and a first condenser in fluid communication with the battery chiller. The third cooling circuit cools a passenger cabin and includes at least a second compressor and a second condenser, and wherein the third cooling circuit is independent of the second cooling circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Mackenzie, Sunil Katragadda, Ronald Richard Semel
  • Publication number: 20220212691
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing haptic feedback to a driver when aligning an electrified vehicle to charging equipment in preparation for charging events. Haptic feedback may be provided at the vehicle steering wheel to guide the driver on a correct travel path both laterally and longitudinally relative to the charging equipment. In some embodiments, the haptic feedback is provided at the steering wheel in the form of distinguishable pulsing patterns that alert the driver how the travel path should change for properly aligning the vehicle to the charging equipment. In other embodiments, the haptic feedback is provided in the form of tactile cues, such as making it more difficult for the driver to rotate the steering wheel in a direction that would render the vehicle less aligned to the charging equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin MACKENZIE, Jonathan BARKER
  • Publication number: 20220212543
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle, system, and method include an electric machine, a traction battery coupled to the electric machine, and a controller programmed to control wheel slip to provide high wheel slip to traverse deformable terrain, such as sand or loose soil, and lower wheel slip to avoid excessive soil removal beneath the wheels after detecting a vertical acceleration or heave event, such as after landing when driving over a jump or bump. When vehicle vertical acceleration exceeds a first threshold, and a ratio of a wheel angular acceleration to vehicle longitudinal acceleration exceeds a second threshold, the electric machine is controlled to limit wheel slip to a lower value that provides sufficient tractive force to maintain some forward motion. Otherwise, the electric machine is controlled to limit wheel slip to a higher value to accommodate higher vehicle speeds over the deformable terrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan SULLIVAN, Kevin MACKENZIE
  • Publication number: 20220153158
    Abstract: A vehicle charging method includes, among other things, electrically connecting a first vehicle to a grid source, electrically connecting the first vehicle to a second vehicle, and charging a traction battery of the first vehicle using electricity from the second vehicle and electricity from the grid source. A vehicle charging system includes, among other things, a traction battery of a first vehicle, and a charger that is used to charge the traction battery using electricity from a grid source, electricity from a second vehicle, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Jonathan Barker, Kevin Mackenzie
  • Publication number: 20220126711
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to electrified vehicle charging systems that are equipped with multiple charging interfaces. An exemplary charging system may include a first charging interface, a second charging interface, an on-board charger module operably coupled to the first and second charging interfaces, and a control module configured to command the second charging interface to be isolated from the on-board charger module in response to a status change of a door of the first charging interface. The status of the door may be monitored by a sensor system of the charging system for determining whether or not to disable the second charging interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin MACKENZIE, Jonathan BARKER, Theodore Joseph FILIPPI, William A. Paxton
  • Publication number: 20220126712
    Abstract: This disclosure describes charging systems for electrified vehicles. Exemplary charging systems may employ a multi-voltage charging circuit that supports charging of a traction battery pack at both a first voltage level during a first charging condition and a second, different voltage level during a second charging condition. Higher voltage levels may be experienced during the second charging condition as compared to the first charging condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin Mackenzie, Jonathan Barker, Thomas J. COUPAR
  • Publication number: 20220126664
    Abstract: Integrated frame and battery pack structure for electric vehicles are disclosed. An example electric vehicle includes a frame of the electric vehicle to which a body of the electric vehicle is coupled, the frame including longitudinal frame rails, a mid-section of the frame not including frame cross-members. The example electric vehicle includes a battery pack mounted in the mid-section of the frame, the battery pack including battery pack cross-members, each of the battery pack cross-members connected to a top surface of the longitudinal frame rails and a bottom surface of the longitudinal frame rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Ari Garo Caliskan, Kevin Mackenzie, Kyle Gary Mattinson, Jude Berthault
  • Patent number: 11279247
    Abstract: A power converter for an electric vehicle include a connection interface for coupling an external battery to a first bus. The power converter includes a first set of switching devices configured to transfer power between a charge port and the first bus, and a second set of switching devices configured to transfer power between the first bus and a second bus coupled to a traction battery. The power converter includes a controller programmed to control a voltage level of the first bus to different nominal operating voltages based in different operating modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Barker, Kevin Mackenzie, Liam West, Gregory Dean Ognjanovski
  • Publication number: 20220072967
    Abstract: This disclosure describes electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) connectors for synchronizing and controlling charging between multiple electric vehicle supply equipment and an electrified vehicle. An exemplary EVSE connector is connectable to a charge port assembly of an electrified vehicle and includes a first port configured to receive a first charger coupler of a first EVSE and a second port configured to receive a second charger coupler of a second EVSE. The EVSE connector further includes a control system for coordinating charging operations between the first and second EVSE and the electrified vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin MACKENZIE, Jonathan BARKER, Liam WEST
  • Patent number: 11104244
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a bidirectional power converter, a vehicle controller configured to, in response to a pilot signal indicating a connection to a charging station, cause the converter to initiate power flow from the station to the vehicle, and an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) controller configured to, in response to detecting a connection to another vehicle, generate the pilot signal to cause the converter to generate power to transfer to the another vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Mackenzie, Jonathan Barker, Liam West
  • Publication number: 20210213798
    Abstract: A thermal management system for an electrified vehicle and a method for managing such a system, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first cooling circuit, a second cooling circuit, and a third cooling circuit. The first cooling circuit cools a battery pack and includes a battery chiller in fluid communication with a cooling system inlet to the battery pack. The second cooling circuit cools the battery chiller and includes at least a first compressor and a first condenser in fluid communication with the battery chiller. The third cooling circuit cools a passenger cabin and includes at least a second compressor and a second condenser, and wherein the third cooling circuit is independent of the second cooling circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin Mackenzie, Sunil Katragadda, Ronald Richard Semel
  • Publication number: 20210184294
    Abstract: This disclosure details thermal management systems for thermally managing battery packs and other electric drive components of electrified vehicles. An exemplary thermal management system may include a battery cooling circuit and an e-drive cooling circuit. The e-drive cooling circuit may be fluidly connected to the battery cooling circuit by a combination of valves and coolant lines during or in anticipation of certain vehicle conditions, such as high load operating conditions, to augment cooling of electric drive components during the high load operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin MACKENZIE, Sunil KATRAGADDA, Ronald Richard SEMEL
  • Publication number: 20210129678
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes a traction battery and a battery thermal control system. A controller is configured to receive an initial regenerative braking capability and operation the battery thermal control system to precondition the traction battery during a charge event to a temperature that corresponds to the initial regenerative braking capability such that, during a subsequent drive cycle, the regenerative braking capability is at least equal to the initial regenerative braking capability for at least a predetermined duration into the subsequent drive cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Jonathan Barker, Kevin Mackenzie, Liam West
  • Publication number: 20200369168
    Abstract: A power converter for an electric vehicle include a connection interface for coupling an external battery to a first bus. The power converter includes a first set of switching devices configured to transfer power between a charge port and the first bus, and a second set of switching devices configured to transfer power between the first bus and a second bus coupled to a traction battery. The power converter includes a controller programmed to control a voltage level of the first bus to different nominal operating voltages based in different operating modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Jonathan Barker, Kevin Mackenzie, Liam West, Gregory Dean Ognjanovski
  • Publication number: 20200324665
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a bidirectional power converter, a vehicle controller configured to, in response to a pilot signal indicating a connection to a charging station, cause the converter to initiate power flow from the station to the vehicle, and an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) controller configured to, in response to detecting a connection to another vehicle, generate the pilot signal to cause the converter to generate power to transfer to the another vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin Mackenzie, Jonathan Barker, Liam West
  • Patent number: 10787073
    Abstract: An electric drive system for a vehicle includes a motor housing and a gearbox housing that is mountable to the motor housing at a predetermined number of rotational positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin MacKenzie, Kyle Gary Mattinson, Jude Berthault
  • Publication number: 20200180430
    Abstract: An electric drive system for a vehicle includes a motor housing and a gearbox housing that is mountable to the motor housing at a predetermined number of rotational positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin MACKENZIE, Kyle Gary MATTINSON, Jude BERTHAULT
  • Patent number: 10471819
    Abstract: In a hybrid transmission, a traction motor is mounted between a dry clutch module and a manual gearbox. A slave cylinder is mounted within the rotor of the traction motor to reduce axial length. The rotor is fixedly coupled to an engine crankshaft. The stator may be cooled by circulating engine coolant through the housing. The stator and the rotor may be cooled by spraying transmission fluid into a sealed motor cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Anatole Frait, Mark Thomas Weston, Kyle Mattinson, Stanley L. Bower, Keith A. Devereaux, Kevin Mackenzie
  • Patent number: 10457132
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a hybrid electric vehicle including a front-wheel drive system and a rear-wheel drive system. In one example, the rear-wheel drive system includes an internal combustion engine configured to drive rear wheels of the vehicle, and the front-wheel drive system includes a first electric motor and a second electric motor mounted directly to opposing sides of the engine. The first electric motor is coupled to a first reduction gearbox to drive a first front wheel of the vehicle, and the second electric motor is coupled to a second reduction gearbox to drive a second front wheel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Mackenzie, Thomas Joseph Ciccone, James William Dunham, Adam Deibler, Kyle Mattinson
  • Publication number: 20190315221
    Abstract: In a hybrid transmission, a traction motor is mounted between a dry clutch module and a manual gearbox. A slave cylinder is mounted within the rotor of the traction motor to reduce axial length. The rotor is fixedly coupled to an engine crankshaft. The stator may be cooled by circulating engine coolant through the housing. The stator and the rotor may be cooled by spraying transmission fluid into a sealed motor cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Steven Anatole Frait, Mark Thomas Weston, Kyle Mattinson, Stanley L. Bower, Keith A. Devereaux, Kevin Mackenzie