Patents by Inventor Laura E. Bower

Laura E. Bower 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: 11987257
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide a drive system control architecture that comprises a seamless interface between original equipment manufacturer (OEM) vehicle systems or components (e.g., accelerator pedal, brake pedal, accessory components, etc.) and third-party (or non-OEM) vehicle systems or components (e.g., motor/generator (MG) and inverter systems, fuel cell and battery systems, transmission, etc.). A universal interface implemented in a vehicle may receive a request for a specified amount of torque from one or more components of a first set of vehicle components, and may determine a balance between one or more components of a second set of vehicle components for delivering the specified amount of torque. The universal interface may then instruct the one or more components of the second set of vehicle components to deliver a commensurate portion of the specified amount of torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Laura E. Bower, Arlo C. Eitzer, Daniel K. Lim, Jonathan J. Sander, Christopher M. Bulpitt, Luke A. Rippelmeyer
  • Publication number: 20230166751
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide a drive system control architecture that comprises a seamless interface between original equipment manufacturer (OEM) vehicle systems or components (e.g., accelerator pedal, brake pedal, accessory components, etc.) and third-party (or non-OEM) vehicle systems or components (e.g., motor/generator (MG) and inverter systems, fuel cell and battery systems, transmission, etc.). A universal interface implemented in a vehicle may receive a request for a specified amount of torque from one or more components of a first set of vehicle components, and may determine a balance between one or more components of a second set of vehicle components for delivering the specified amount of torque. The universal interface may then instruct the one or more components of the second set of vehicle components to deliver a commensurate portion of the specified amount of torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Laura E. BOWER, Arlo C. EITZER, Daniel K. LIM, Jonathan J. SANDER, Christopher M. BULPITT, Luke A. RIPPELMEYER
  • Publication number: 20230170508
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for modularizing a system. Parallel power systems having electronically isolated high voltage systems facilitate modulization. A control system is provided that optimizes the distribution of a power demand and/or a torque request so as to keep the efficiency, durability, drivability and/or safety of the system within an optimum range. In some cases, the distribution of power is uneven, so as to extend the battery life, while in other cases, the power draw on battery systems are kept equal and constant so as to properly manage the state of charge of the parallel power systems. In still other cases, the chosen power distribution keeps the power demand and/or torque request between minimum and maximum levels/capacity, and the power distribution avoids on/off of an individual power system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER M. BULPITT, DANIEL CHARLES FOLICK, JARED FARNSWORTH, ANDREW SATA, ARLO C. EITZER, LAURA E. BOWER, DANIEL K. LIM, JONATHAN J. SANDER, LUKE A. RIPPELMEYER, SCOTT A. FRIEDMAN, TAKEHITO YOKOO
  • Publication number: 20230170513
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to modularizing a device. In various embodiments, the harness in provided that accommodates many different configurations of the modules. The harness may function as a single element that needs to be replaced and/or connected to accommodate different configurations of modules. The harness may be modular. In various embodiments, unused lines of the harness are capped. In various embodiments, the cap completes a circuit, so that the control system interprets the systems as functioning despite the unused line, whereas the control system may shutdown the system is the unused line is left uncapped. In various embodiments, the harness is used to send control signals to elements of parallel power systems that have high voltage systems that are electronically isolated from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Scott A. FRIEDMAN, Luke A. RIPPELMEYER, Christopher M. BULPITT, Laura E. BOWER, Arlo C. EITZER, Jonathan J. SANDER, Daniel K. LIM
  • Patent number: 11293837
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing a monitoring of an engine cooling system. A transient condition associated with an engine system is identified. A determination is made as to whether the transient condition is a delay condition based on whether the transient condition exceeds a transient threshold. A determination is made, in response to a determination that the transient condition is not the delay condition, as to whether a period of time that has passed since a previously identified delay condition meets a time threshold. Monitoring of a health of the engine cooling system is enabled in response to a determination that the period of time meets the time threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Laura E. Bower
  • Patent number: 11230294
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for estimating the speed of a vehicle. The system includes a plurality of wheel rotation sensors, a grade sensor, an acceleration sensor, an accelerator pedal deflection sensor, a brake pedal deflection sensor, and a processor. The processor is configured to compute a linear wheel speed, an upper limit of vehicle speed, and a lower limit of vehicle speed, based on the grade information, the pedal deflection information, and the acceleration, and then compute an estimated speed of the vehicle based on the linear wheel speed, the upper limit of vehicle speed, and the lower limit of vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Laura E. Bower, Rebecca L. Kemph
  • Patent number: 11138813
    Abstract: A driving range estimator system for a vehicle accounting for a load on the vehicle may include an energy storage device configured to power the vehicle. Sensors may be disposed about the vehicle and may be configured to detect information relevant to a range estimate. A towing control unit may be configured to receive the detected information from the sensors, and configured to determine a) an expected range for the vehicle with the load, and b) an expected range for the vehicle without the load. A display may be configured to simultaneously display a) the expected range for the vehicle with the load and b) the expected range for the vehicle without the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Laura E. Bower
  • Publication number: 20210291844
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for estimating the speed of a vehicle. The system includes a plurality of wheel rotation sensors, a grade sensor, an acceleration sensor, an accelerator pedal deflection sensor, a brake pedal deflection sensor, and a processor. The processor is configured to compute a linear wheel speed, an upper limit of vehicle speed, and a lower limit of vehicle speed, based on the grade information, the pedal deflection information, and the acceleration, and then compute an estimated speed of the vehicle based on the linear wheel speed, the upper limit of vehicle speed, and the lower limit of vehicle speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Laura E. Bower, Rebecca L. Kemph
  • Publication number: 20200232882
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing a monitoring of an engine cooling system. A transient condition associated with an engine system is identified. A determination is made as to whether the transient condition is a delay condition based on whether the transient condition exceeds a transient threshold. A determination is made, in response to a determination that the transient condition is not the delay condition, as to whether a period of time that has passed since a previously identified delay condition meets a time threshold. Monitoring of a health of the engine cooling system is enabled in response to a determination that the period of time meets the time threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventor: Laura E. Bower
  • Publication number: 20200226850
    Abstract: A driving range estimator system for a vehicle accounting for a load on the vehicle may include an energy storage device configured to power the vehicle. Sensors may be disposed about the vehicle and may be configured to detect information relevant to a range estimate. A towing control unit may be configured to receive the detected information from the sensors, and configured to determine a) an expected range for the vehicle with the load, and b) an expected range for the vehicle without the load. A display may be configured to simultaneously display a) the expected range for the vehicle with the load and b) the expected range for the vehicle without the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventor: Laura E. Bower