Patents by Inventor Steven F. Chorian
Steven F. Chorian 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: 9397328Abstract: A traction battery assembly is provided including a support member, two battery cells, a busbar, and a segmented busbar holder. The battery cells include adjacent terminals at differing heights relative to the support member. The busbar is attached to the terminals. The segmented busbar holder includes adjacent panels configured to cover and orient the busbar relative to the terminals. The panels are also configured to move relative to one another such that the holder accommodates the differing heights of the terminals.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2014Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven F. Chorian, Steven Droste, Debbi Callicoat
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Patent number: 9318751Abstract: A traction battery thermal plate assembly may include a structure having edge portions defining a cavity and configured to support a battery cell array, a thermal plate disposed within the cavity and adjacent to the array, and a spring assembly disposed within the cavity between the structure and the plate. The spring assembly may be configured to exert a force against the plate such that plate contacts the array to transfer heat between the array and the plate. The thermal plate disposed within the cavity may be below the array. The spring assembly may include a body defining a plurality of tabs configured to extend outward from a plane defined by the body. The spring assembly may include a base portion and an upper portion configured to support one or more compression springs therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven F. Chorian, Patrick Daniel Maguire
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Patent number: 9291405Abstract: A cooling system may be operable to cool a battery pack or other device through a heat exchange operation supported, at least in part, with cycling of a coolant relative to a coldplate or other thermally conducting surface of the device and/or attached thereto. The system may include a coldplate operable to exchange heat with a battery pack; and a coolant tank operable to exchange heat with the coldplate, the tank having a channel for directing a coolant flow in a direction from an inlet of the tank to at least one outlet of the tank and an inlet accumulator between the inlet and a beginning of the channel, wherein the inlet accumulator is wider along the coolant flow direction than the channel and the inlet and having a sloped side leading towards the channel configured to pool the coolant flow prior to entry into the channel.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2011Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Sai K. Pentapati, Bhaskara Boddakayala, Vineeth Seshadri Kallur, Patrick Daniel Maguire, Steven F. Chorian, Josephine S. Lee, Edward Vann Decker
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Publication number: 20160064783Abstract: A vehicle traction battery heat sink includes a first fin having a cell contact portion in thermal contact with a plurality of battery cells. The first fin also includes a connector portion extending from the cell contact portion. The heat sink further includes a thermal plate in thermal contact with the connector portion and a thermal agent circulated within the thermal plate. The heat sink allows heat generated by the plurality of battery cells to be transferred through the fin to the thermal plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2014Publication date: March 3, 2016Inventors: Steven F. CHORIAN, George Albert GARFINKEL, Dhanunjay VEJALLA, Sai K. PERUMALLA, Steven DROSTE
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Patent number: 9203068Abstract: A battery pack for a vehicle may include a cell array defining an upper surface and a housing defining a raised portion extending along and above a length of the array such that the raised portion and upper surface define a vent manifold therebetween which may be configured to collect gases generated by the array. The housing may define a discharge opening configured to allow gases to exit the manifold. A pair of end plates may be disposed at opposing ends of the array. One of the end plates may define a pass through portion in at least partial registration with the discharge opening. An outlet tube may be configured to facilitate fluid communication between the vent manifold and exterior of the vehicle. The battery pack may also include spacers located between upper edges of adjacent cells and may be configured to prevent cooling gases from entering the vent manifold.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2014Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brian Utley, Saravanan Paramasivam, Patrick Daniel Maguire, Steven F. Chorian, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran, John Peter Bilezikjian, Hari Addanki, Debbi Callicoat
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Patent number: 9196930Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle battery pack having battery cells with an integral control circuit configured to communicate with a battery energy control module.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2011Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven F. Chorian, Jeffrey William Miller
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Publication number: 20150280291Abstract: A traction battery thermal plate assembly may include a structure having edge portions defining a cavity and configured to support a battery cell array, a thermal plate disposed within the cavity and adjacent to the array, and a spring assembly disposed within the cavity between the structure and the plate. The spring assembly may be configured to exert a force against the plate such that plate contacts the array to transfer heat between the array and the plate. The thermal plate disposed within the cavity may be below the array. The spring assembly may include a body defining a plurality of tabs configured to extend outward from a plane defined by the body. The spring assembly may include a base portion and an upper portion configured to support one or more compression springs therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2014Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven F. Chorian, Patrick Daniel Maguire
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Publication number: 20150207126Abstract: A traction battery assembly is provided including a support member, two battery cells, a busbar, and a segmented busbar holder. The battery cells include adjacent terminals at differing heights relative to the support member. The busbar is attached to the terminals. The segmented busbar holder includes adjacent panels configured to cover and orient the busbar relative to the terminals. The panels are also configured to move relative to one another such that the holder accommodates the differing heights of the terminals.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2014Publication date: July 23, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven F. Chorian, Steven Droste, Debbi Callicoat
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Patent number: 9007031Abstract: A power source is electrically connected with a battery and an electrical load. The power source has an output voltage and provides current for the battery and electrical load. A charging voltage for the battery is determined based on temperature of the battery. An offset voltage is determined based on the provided current to the battery. The output voltage is determined based on the charging and offset voltages.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2007Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven F. Chorian, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran
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Patent number: 8968912Abstract: A battery module assembly and method of assembling a battery. The battery module assembly includes a plurality of modules in which a plurality of battery cells are preassembled. The modules are compressed by end plates that are held together under compression by a plurality of linking members. The end plates may include a protrusion that applies pressure to the central portion of the battery cells within the modules. The central portion of the end plates may be partially spherical, partially cylindrical or a flat surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2012Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Patrick Daniel Maguire, Giriraj Srinivasan, Steven F. Chorian, Kanchana Pentapati
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Patent number: 8924056Abstract: A system and method is provided for balancing a storage battery for an automotive vehicle. The battery is of the type including a plurality of storage cells. The system includes a thermoelectric device and a controller. The thermoelectric device receives thermal energy and converts the thermal energy into electric energy. The controller determines a subset of the storage cells in the battery to be charged based on an amount of electric charge in each of the storage cells. Furthermore, the controller causes the electric energy to be distributed to each storage cell in the subset in an effort to balance the battery in the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2009Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven F. Chorian, Jin Wang
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Publication number: 20140205870Abstract: A battery pack for a vehicle may include a cell array defining an upper surface and a housing defining a raised portion extending along and above a length of the array such that the raised portion and upper surface define a vent manifold therebetween which may be configured to collect gases generated by the array. The housing may define a discharge opening configured to allow gases to exit the manifold. A pair of end plates may be disposed at opposing ends of the array. One of the end plates may define a pass through portion in at least partial registration with the discharge opening. An outlet tube may be configured to facilitate fluid communication between the vent manifold and exterior of the vehicle. The battery pack may also include spacers located between upper edges of adjacent cells and may be configured to prevent cooling gases from entering the vent manifold.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brian Utley, Saravanan Paramasivam, Patrick Daniel Maguire, Steven F. Chorian, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran, John Peter Bilezikjian, Hari Addanki, Debbi Callicoat
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Patent number: 8718862Abstract: A method performed by a vehicle computing system includes detecting the triggering of a vehicle sensor indicating an abnormal vehicle condition and determining one or more likely abnormal vehicle conditions associated with the triggering of the sensor. The method also includes accessing a vehicle database to determine one or more pieces of information relating to the one or more abnormal vehicle conditions. The method further includes electronically presenting the one or more pieces of information to a vehicle user.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2010Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas M. Gwozdek, Matthew Roger DeDona, James A. Lathrop, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran, Karin Lovett, Steven F. Chorian
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Publication number: 20130164592Abstract: A battery module assembly and method of assembling a battery. The battery module assembly includes a plurality of modules in which a plurality of battery cells are preassembled. The modules are compressed by end plates that are held together under compression by a plurality of linking members. The end plates may include a protrusion that applies pressure to the central portion of the battery cells within the modules. The central portion of the end plates may be partially spherical, partially cylindrical or a flat surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2012Publication date: June 27, 2013Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Patrick Daniel Maguire, Giriraj Srinivasan, Steven F. Chorian, Kanchana Pentapati
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Publication number: 20130034767Abstract: A cooling system operable to cool a battery pack or other device through a heat exchange operation supported, at least in part, with cycling of a coolant relative to a coldplate or other thermally conducting surface of the device and/or attached thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2011Publication date: February 7, 2013Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Sai K. Pentapati, Bhaskara Boddakayala, Vineeth Seshadri Kallur, Patrick Daniel Maguire, Steven F. Chorian, Josephine S. Lee, Edward Vann Decker
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Publication number: 20120242144Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle battery pack having battery cells with an integral control circuit configured to communicate with a battery energy control module.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2011Publication date: September 27, 2012Inventors: Steven F. Chorian, Jeffrey William Miller
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Patent number: 8259423Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a charge port integrated with the vehicle. The charge port includes electrical contacts configured to receive electrical power from an electric grid, and a fault interrupt circuit electrically connected with the electrical contacts.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2009Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Allan Roy Gale, Michael W. Degner, Steven F. Chorian, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran
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Publication number: 20120053782Abstract: A method performed by a vehicle computing system includes detecting the triggering of a vehicle sensor indicating an abnormal vehicle condition and determining one or more likely abnormal vehicle conditions associated with the triggering of the sensor. The method also includes accessing a vehicle database to determine one or more pieces of information relating to the one or more abnormal vehicle conditions. The method further includes electronically presenting the one or more pieces of information to a vehicle user.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Thomas M. Gwozdek, Matthew Roger DeDona, James A. Lathrop, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran, Karin Lovett, Steven F. Chorian
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Patent number: 8115446Abstract: An energy storage system for an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of energy storage units electrically connected in series and a plurality of bi-directional energy converters each having first and second sides. Each of the first sides is electrically connected with one of the plurality of energy storage units. The system also includes another energy storage unit. The second sides of the plurality of bi-directional energy converters are electrically connected in parallel with the another energy storage unit. Each of the bi-directional energy converters is capable of transferring energy between the first and second sides.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2008Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Douglas Piccard, Jin Wang, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Steven F. Chorian
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Publication number: 20110082607Abstract: A system and method is provided for balancing a storage battery for an automotive vehicle. The battery is of the type including a plurality of storage cells. The system includes a thermoelectric device and a controller. The thermoelectric device receives thermal energy and converts the thermal energy into electric energy. The controller determines a subset of the storage cells in the battery to be charged based on an amount of electric charge in each of the storage cells. Furthermore, the controller causes the electric energy to be distributed to each storage cell in the subset in an effort to balance the battery in the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2009Publication date: April 7, 2011Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Steven F. Chorian, Jin Wang