Patents by Inventor Tuyen Quoc Tran
Tuyen Quoc Tran 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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Publication number: 20170324122Abstract: Battery packs and SOC monitoring systems are disclosed. The battery pack may include first and second adjacent battery cells and a strain gauge positioned between the first and second battery cells. A stress concentrator may be positioned between the strain gauge and one of the first and second battery cells. The stress concentrator may have a first surface contacting the strain gauge and a second surface opposite the first surface, and an area of first surface may be no greater than an area of the second surface. There may be three or more adjacent battery cells and two or more strain gauges and stress concentrators. A controller may be in communication with the strain gauge(s) and configured to receive strain data therefrom. The strain data may be used to determine a state of charge (SOC) and/or a state of health (SOH) of the battery cells or pack.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2016Publication date: November 9, 2017Inventors: Eric POIRIER, Tuyen Quoc TRAN, Benjamin A. TABATOWSKI-BUSH
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Patent number: 9302595Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle having a traction battery with a plurality of cell groups each having a plurality of serially connected battery cells include balancing each cell of each cell group with a corresponding autonomous cell balancing circuit, and coupling a single output associated with each cell group to an associated battery monitoring circuit. An integrated driver and switch circuit adapts the voltage from an associated cell group for powering battery monitoring integrated circuits with a voltage range corresponding to a single cell voltage range to facilitate use of an existing battery monitoring integrated circuit design and subsequent input to a microprocessor-based battery controller. Cell balancing is performed at each cell with a battery monitor circuit associated with each group of cells.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2013Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, Tuyen Quoc Tran
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Patent number: 9114714Abstract: A portable high voltage charging apparatus (HVCA) can be configured to controllably charge a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) traction battery using energy provided by a low voltage (LV) lead acid vehicle battery. An HVCA can include a DCDC converter configured to boost a lower input voltage from the LV battery to a higher output voltage provided to the HV battery. The HVCA can be configured with a traction battery interlock, allowing offline charging of the traction battery. In an example embodiment, an HVCA can be configured to communicate with an HV battery control module via a CAN bus. An HVCA can be configured to transfer energy to the HV battery for a predetermined time period, then automatically stop the transfer process. An HVCA can be configured to receive user input to start and/or stop a charging process. An example embodiment can include a supplemental charger to boost LV battery voltage.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2012Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thanh D. Pham, Tuyen Quoc Tran, Ben A. Tabatowski-Bush, Shane Schulze, Kevin Vander Laan, Jesus Cardosa, Richard Kai Wong
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Patent number: 8896146Abstract: A power system for an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of power storage units, a multiplexer electrically connected with the power storage units, and a switching converter electrically connected with the multiplexer. The switching converter is configured to selectively act as a flyback switchmode power converter or a forward switchmode power converter.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2009Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Tuyen Quoc Tran, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush
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Publication number: 20140197682Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle having a traction battery with a plurality of cell groups each having a plurality of serially connected battery cells include balancing each cell of each cell group with a corresponding autonomous cell balancing circuit, and coupling a single output associated with each cell group to an associated battery monitoring circuit. An integrated driver and switch circuit adapts the voltage from an associated cell group for powering battery monitoring integrated circuits with a voltage range corresponding to a single cell voltage range to facilitate use of an existing battery monitoring integrated circuit design and subsequent input to a microprocessor-based battery controller. Cell balancing is performed at each cell with a battery monitor circuit associated with each group of cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2013Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, Tuyen Quoc Tran
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Publication number: 20140084843Abstract: A portable high voltage charging apparatus (HVCA) can be configured to controllably charge a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) traction battery using energy provided by a low voltage (LV) lead acid vehicle battery. An HVCA can include a DCDC converter configured to boost a lower input voltage from the LV battery to a higher output voltage provided to the HV battery. The HVCA can be configured with a traction battery interlock, allowing offline charging of the traction battery. In an example embodiment, an HVCA can be configured to communicate with an HV battery control module via a CAN bus. An HVCA can be configured to transfer energy to the HV battery for a predetermined time period, then automatically stop the transfer process. An HVCA can be configured to receive user input to start and/or stop a charging process. An example embodiment can include a supplemental charger to boost LV battery voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2012Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thanh D. Pham, Tuyen Quoc Tran, Ben A. Tabatowski-Bush, Shane Schulze, Kevin Vander Laan, Jesus Cardosa, Richard Kai Wong
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Patent number: 8030894Abstract: A vehicle may include an electric machine, a battery, a driver interface and one or more controllers. The one or more controllers may be configured to determine whether a battery imbalance condition exists, to cause an alert to be generated via the driver interface if a battery imbalance condition exists, to determine whether a response to the alert is received, and to cause the battery to be rebalanced in a single cycle if a response to the alert is received.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2010Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Philip Michael Gonzales, Tuyen Quoc Tran, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush
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Publication number: 20110163720Abstract: A vehicle may include an electric machine, a battery, a driver interface and one or more controllers. The one or more controllers may be configured to determine whether a battery imbalance condition exists, to cause an alert to be generated via the driver interface if a battery imbalance condition exists, to determine whether a response to the alert is received, and to cause the battery to be rebalanced in a single cycle if a response to the alert is received.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2010Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Philip Michael Gonzales, Tuyen Quoc Tran, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush
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Publication number: 20100225164Abstract: A power system for an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of power storage units, a multiplexer electrically connected with the power storage units, and a switching converter electrically connected with the multiplexer. The switching converter is configured to selectively act as a flyback switchmode power converter or a forward switchmode power converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2009Publication date: September 9, 2010Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Tuyen Quoc Tran, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush