Patents by Inventor William David Treharne

William David Treharne 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: 11285835
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for charging a depleted battery within a first hybrid vehicle when connected to a second hybrid vehicle using a junction box. The system may include a wire harness having high voltage interlock connectors (HVIL) and high voltage (HV) connectors that connected to both the first vehicle and second vehicle. The system may also include one or more controllers that engage the charged battery to start a first engine within the first vehicle or, alternatively, a second engine within the second vehicle. After the first engine or second engine is started, the charged battery will be disconnected and the depleted battery may be connected using a set of HV contactors. The first engine or the second engine may then be operated to charge the depleted battery. Charging may stop when the depleted battery is charged within a specified SoC range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xuemei Sun, John Paul Gibeau, William David Treharne
  • Publication number: 20220080968
    Abstract: A first fuel consumption value is determined for operating a host vehicle in a first lane on a road surface. A second fuel consumption value is predicted for operating the host vehicle in a second lane on the road surface based on acceleration data for a target vehicle operating in the second lane. A request to move the host vehicle from the first lane to the second lane is transmitted to the target vehicle based on the predicted second fuel consumption value being greater than the first fuel consumption value. After receiving an acknowledgement from the target vehicle, the host vehicle is operated from the first lane to the second lane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Di Zhu, Ben A. Tabatowski-Bush, William David Treharne
  • Patent number: 11143298
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle that includes a torque converter is described. In one example, the method adjusts torque of an electric machine in response to a requested torque converter speed. The requested torque converter speed linearizes torque output of a torque converter so that vehicle wheel torque control may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fazal Urrahman Syed, William David Treharne, Patrick Soderborg, Sassan Farahmand
  • Patent number: 11110806
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery and a controller. The controller, responsive to a command to enter a highway, confirmation the traction battery can output power to accelerate the vehicle to enter the highway via an entrance at a same speed as traffic on the highway in a vicinity of the entrance, and an increase in temperature beyond a threshold of the traction battery predicted to occur on the highway due to expected commands to maintain the same speed on the highway with power from the traction battery, increases cooling of the traction battery prior to entering the highway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Xiaohong Nina Duan, Mark Steven Yamazaki, William David Treharne
  • Patent number: 11067050
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an isolation switch disposed between a first bus that is electrically coupled to a starter for an engine and a second bus that is electrically coupled to a power converter and accessory loads. The hybrid vehicle includes a controller programmed to normally command the switch closed, and, in response to expiration of a predetermined time interval without starting the engine, command the switch to open for a predetermined duration to perform diagnostics on the isolation switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Shields, Josephine S. Lee, Jagmohan Singh, William David Treharne, George Hart Vrampas
  • Publication number: 20210171006
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle that includes a torque converter is described. In one example, the method adjusts torque of an electric machine in response to a requested torque converter speed. The requested torque converter speed linearizes torque output of a torque converter so that vehicle wheel torque control may be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Fazal Urrahman Syed, William David Treharne, Patrick Soderborg, Sassan Farahmand
  • Publication number: 20210138922
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for charging a depleted battery within a first hybrid vehicle when connected to a second hybrid vehicle using a junction box. The system may include a wire harness having high voltage interlock connectors (HVIL) and high voltage (HV) connectors that connected to both the first vehicle and second vehicle. The system may also include one or more controllers that engage the charged battery to start a first engine within the first vehicle or, alternatively, a second engine within the second vehicle. After the first engine or second engine is started, the charged battery will be disconnected and the depleted battery may be connected using a set of HV contactors. The first engine or the second engine may then be operated to charge the depleted battery. Charging may stop when the depleted battery is charged within a specified SoC range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Xuemei SUN, John Paul GIBEAU, William David TREHARNE
  • Publication number: 20210063492
    Abstract: A monitoring method includes, among other things, within a vehicle, providing a first electrical system with an auxiliary battery, and a second electrical system with a primary battery. The method further includes electrically coupling the first electrical system to the second electrical system, electrically loading the auxiliary battery and the primary battery, and comparing an electrical parameter of the auxiliary battery to a threshold value to assess a state of the auxiliary battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Hanyang B. Chen, Michael J. Irby, Matthew Thomas Loiselle, William David Treharne, Mark E. Shields, Josephine S. Lee
  • Publication number: 20200391597
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery and a controller. The controller, responsive to a command to enter a highway, confirmation the traction battery can output power to accelerate the vehicle to enter the highway via an entrance at a same speed as traffic on the highway in a vicinity of the entrance, and an increase in temperature beyond a threshold of the traction battery predicted to occur on the highway due to expected commands to maintain the same speed on the highway with power from the traction battery, increases cooling of the traction battery prior to entering the highway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Yanan ZHAO, Xiaohong Nina DUAN, Mark Steven YAMAZAKI, William David TREHARNE
  • Patent number: 10814737
    Abstract: An off-board battery charger for a vehicle may include a high-voltage connector having first, second and power supply connector ports. The first connector port connects to a vehicle controller via a first cable. The second connector port connects to a vehicle battery via a second cable. And, the power supply connector port is electrically connected with the second port and receives power via a power supply cable from a separate and external power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xuemei Sun, William David Treharne, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Robert John Link, Philip Michael Gonzales
  • Publication number: 20200317187
    Abstract: A vehicle having an engine, a battery, and an electric machine configured to propel the vehicle and selectively coupled to the engine to start the engine includes a controller configured to prompt for input to activate a cold weather mode in response to an expected ambient temperature to be below a first temperature threshold for a time period during which a subsequent engine start is anticipated, and to operate the engine and electric machine to maintain a state of charge (SOC) of the battery above a first SOC threshold in response to activation of the cold weather mode, and a second SOC threshold lower than the first SOC threshold otherwise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Marin ASSALIYSKI, Connor MCCANN, Youssef EL-MINYAWI, Kevin VANDER LAAN, William David TREHARNE
  • Patent number: 10718250
    Abstract: A vehicle has an engine, an exhaust aftertreatment system, an electric machine, and a controller configured to, in response to an actual engine torque output being less than an inferred engine torque, shut down the engine. A vehicle has an engine, an exhaust aftertreatment system, an electric machine, and a controller configured to, in response to an actual engine torque output being less than a first threshold and a torque request to the engine being greater than a second threshold, set a diagnostic code. A method includes receiving an actual engine torque output, receiving an engine torque request, and shutting down the engine when the actual engine torque output is less than a first threshold and the engine torque request is greater than a second threshold for a predetermined time period to limit temperature increase of a catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, William David Treharne, Matthew D. Smith
  • Patent number: 10604025
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery and a power interface configured to receive power from an off-board source. The vehicle also includes a controller programmed to charge the traction battery with the power until expiration of an estimated remaining charge time, and to periodically reduce the remaining charge time by an update decrement amount that increases as an amount that an estimated state of charge (SOC) is less than a measured SOC increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: William David Treharne
  • Patent number: 10392018
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine, a coolant circuit, a refrigerant circuit, and a controller. The electric machine is configured to charge a battery via regenerative braking. The coolant circuit has an electric heater. The refrigerant circuit has an electric compressor. The controller is programmed to, responsive to a capacity of the battery to receive power being less available regenerative braking power and ambient air temperature being less than a first threshold, direct regenerative braking power to the heater but not the compressor. The controller is further programmed to, responsive to the capacity of the battery to receive power being less available regenerative braking power and ambient air temperature exceeding a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold, direct regenerative braking power to the compressor but not the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin James Rhodes, William David Treharne, Charles K. Evans
  • Publication number: 20190217720
    Abstract: An exemplary charging includes, among other things, transmitting an alert and receiving a command from a user in response to the alert. In response to the command, the method includes both running an engine to charge a traction battery and charging an auxiliary battery from the traction battery. An exemplary electrified vehicle assembly includes, among other things, a traction battery, an auxiliary battery, an engine, and a controller configured to cause the engine to run to charge the traction battery in response to a command received from a user. The controller is further configured to cause the traction battery to charge the auxiliary battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: William David Treharne, Mahmoud Abdelhamid, Kevin James Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20190176632
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery and a power interface configured to receive power from an off-board source. The vehicle also includes a controller programmed to charge the traction battery with the power until expiration of an estimated remaining charge time, and to periodically reduce the remaining charge time by an update decrement amount that increases as an amount that an estimated state of charge (SOC) is less than a measured SOC increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventor: William David Treharne
  • Patent number: 10293654
    Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, automatically preconditioning a passenger cabin of an electrified vehicle during a DC fast charging event of a battery assembly if the electrified vehicle is turned OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: William David Treharne, Thomas Scott Gee, Christopher Adam Ochocinski
  • Patent number: 10286899
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery control module and a controller. The battery control module is configured to issue at regular intervals a message indicative of a state of charge (SOC) of a battery. The controller is configured to, in an absence of receiving the messages at the regular intervals while in a key-on state and a torque demand is present, restrict power flow between the battery and an electric powertrain to a limit that is based on a predicted SOC to provide limited propulsive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Trent Barkdull, William David Treharne, Jonathan Andrew Butcher
  • Patent number: 10148209
    Abstract: A method, implemented in one or more controllers in a vehicle, includes, in a presence of a propulsive demand of the vehicle that is driven by an engine and an electric machine, holding electric machine current at a predetermined magnitude and sweeping an angle, defined between a reference current and a reference Iq component, through a predetermined range. The method further includes operating the electric machine thereafter according to a resolver offset derived from a value of the angle corresponding to an Iq component crossing zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William David Treharne, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Xuemei Sun
  • Publication number: 20180335007
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an isolation switch disposed between a first bus that is electrically coupled to a starter for an engine and a second bus that is electrically coupled to a power converter and accessory loads. The hybrid vehicle includes a controller programmed to normally command the switch closed, and, in response to expiration of a predetermined time interval without starting the engine, command the switch to open for a predetermined duration to perform diagnostics on the isolation switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Mark SHIELDS, Josephine S. LEE, Jagmohan SINGH, William David TREHARNE, George Hart VRAMPAS