Patents Assigned to EFFICIENT DRIVETRAINS, INC
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Patent number: 9914361Abstract: Vehicles that are capable of connecting to the AC grid are described that comprise a prime mover and at least one motor generator. In one embodiment, a vehicle may be constructed as a plug-in hybrid system and using the powertrain under controller instruction to either place power on an AC power line (to service AC grids) or to draw power from the AC power line to add electrical energy to the batteries on the vehicle. In some aspects, vehicles may test whether the power needed to service the AC power line may be satisfied by the on-vehicle batteries or, if not, whether and how much power to extract from the prime mover. In some aspects, vehicles may have a thermal management system on board to dynamically supply desired heat dissipation for the powertrain, if the powertrain is using the prime mover to supply power to the AC grid.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2016Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Efficient Drivetrains, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Frank, Chan-Chiao Lin, Patrick Kaufman, Sean Fountain, Bram Bonsen
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Patent number: 9849869Abstract: Systems and/or methods for controlling dual motor-dual clutch powertrains for HEV and PHEV vehicles are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed comprising: determining the state of charge (SOC) of said batteries; determining the speed of the vehicle; if the SOC is greater than a given first threshold, selecting a charge-depleting operational mode of said vehicle; during operation of said vehicle, if the SOC is less than a given second threshold, selecting a charge-sustaining operating mode of said vehicle. In another embodiment, a system having a controller that operates the powertrain according to various embodiments is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2015Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: EFFICIENT DRIVETRAINS, INC.Inventors: Andrew Frank, Chan-Chiao Lin, Krishna Kumar, Anthony Serra
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Patent number: 9505311Abstract: Vehicles that are capable of connecting to the AC grid are described that comprise a prime mover and at least one motor generator. In one embodiment, a vehicle may be constructed as a plug-in hybrid system and using the powertrain under controller instruction to either place power on an AC power line (to service AC grids) or to draw power from the AC power line to add electrical energy to the batteries on the vehicle. In some aspects, vehicles may test whether the power needed to service the AC power line may be satisfied by the on-vehicle batteries or, if not, whether and how much power to extract from the prime mover. In some aspects, vehicles may have a thermal management system on board to dynamically supply desired heat dissipation for the powertrain, if the powertrain is using the prime mover to supply power to the AC grid.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2015Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: Efficient Drivetrains, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Frank, Chan-Chiao Lin, Patrick Kaufman, Sean Fountain, Bram Bonsen
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Patent number: 9421856Abstract: Powertrain configurations for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2013Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: EFFICIENT DRIVETRAINS INC.Inventors: Andrew Frank, Joerg Ferchau, Leonhard Fahreddin, Julio Razo, Krishna Kumar, Anthony Serra
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Patent number: 9193273Abstract: Vehicles that are capable of connecting to the AC grid are described that comprise a prime mover and at least one motor generator. In one embodiment, a vehicle may be constructed as a plug-in hybrid system and using the powertrain under controller instruction to either place power on an AC power line (to service AC grids) or to draw power from the AC power line to add electrical energy to the batteries on the vehicle. In some aspects, vehicles may test whether the power needed to service the AC power line may be satisfied by the on-vehicle batteries or, if not, whether and how much power to extract from the prime mover. In some aspects, vehicles may have a thermal management system on board to dynamically supply desired heat dissipation for the powertrain, if the powertrain is using the prime mover to supply power to the AC grid.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2014Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Efficient Drivetrains, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Frank, Chan-Chiao Lin, Patrick Kaufman, Sean Fountain, Bram Bonsen
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Patent number: 9045136Abstract: Systems and/or methods for controlling dual motor-dual clutch powertrains for HEV and PHEV vehicles are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed comprising: determining the state of charge (SOC) of said batteries; determining the speed of the vehicle; if the SOC is greater than a given first threshold, selecting a charge-depleting operational mode of said vehicle; during operation of said vehicle, if the SOC is less than a given second threshold, selecting a charge-sustaining operating mode of said vehicle. In another embodiment, a system having a controller that operates the powertrain according to various embodiments is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2013Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Efficient Drivetrains, Inc.Inventors: Andrew Frank, Chan-Chiao Lin, Krishna Kumar, Anthony Serra
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Publication number: 20140228165Abstract: Powertrain configurations for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2013Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: EFFICIENT DRIVETRAINS INC.Inventors: Andrew Frank, Joerg Ferchau, Leonhard Fahreddin, Julio Razo, Krishna Kumar, Anthony Serra
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Publication number: 20140228168Abstract: Powertrain configurations for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are disclosed. One powertrain comprises: a prime mover; an electric motor-generator, said electric motor-generator mechanically coupled to said prime mover via a first clutch; a transmission, said transmission mechanically coupled to said electric motor-generator via a second clutch; a battery, said battery electrically coupled to said electric motor-generator, said battery capable of supplying electrical energy to said electric motor-generator; and a controller, said controller capable of supplying control signals to said prime mover, said first clutch, said electric motor-generator, said second clutch and said transmission such that said controller is capable of dynamically affecting a plurality of operating modes.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2013Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: Efficient Drivetrains Inc.Inventors: Patrick Kaufman, Chan-Chiao Lin, Andrew Frank
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Publication number: 20140229043Abstract: Systems and/or methods for controlling dual motor-dual clutch powertrains for HEV and PHEV vehicles are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed comprising: determining the state of charge (SOC) of said batteries; determining the speed of the vehicle; if the SOC is greater than a given first threshold, selecting a charge-depleting operational mode of said vehicle; during operation of said vehicle, if the SOC is less than a given second threshold, selecting a charge-sustaining operating mode of said vehicle. In another embodiment, a system having a controller that operates the powertrain according to various embodiments is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2013Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: EFFICIENT DRIVETRAINS INC.Inventors: Andrew Frank, Chan-Chiao Lin, Krishna Kumar, Anthony Serra
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Publication number: 20100308586Abstract: A wind turbine system is disclosed comprising: a plurality of turbine blades; a continuously variable transmission coupled to said plurality of turbine blades; a generator coupled to said continuously variable transmission; wherein said generator generates electricity and outputs said electricity to a load/grid; and a controller providing control signals as a filtered function of power to said continuously variable transmission. The controller of said wind turbine system may also continuously maintain the parameter dP/dR substantially zero where P is power and R is the ratio of the transmission.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2009Publication date: December 9, 2010Applicant: EFFICIENT DRIVETRAINS, INCInventors: Andrew Alfonso Frank, James Raymond Winkelman