Patents Assigned to Tesla, Inc.
  • Intermittently coated dry electrode for energy storage device and method of manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 11367864
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing intermittently coated dry electrodes for energy storage devices and energy storage devices including the intermittently coated dry electrodes are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a metal layer and providing an electrochemically active free-standing film formed of a dry active material. The method also includes combining the electrochemically active free-standing film and the metal layer to form a combined layer. The method further includes removing a portion of the electrochemically active free-standing film from the combined layer so that the electrochemically active free-standing film is intermittently formed on the metal layer in a longitudinal direction of the metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Hieu Minh Duong, Yudi Yudi, Ziying Wang, Joon Ho Shin
  • Annotation cross-labeling for autonomous control systems
    Patent number: 11361457
    Abstract: An annotation system uses annotations for a first set of sensor measurements from a first sensor to identify annotations for a second set of sensor measurements from a second sensor. The annotation system identifies reference annotations in the first set of sensor measurements that indicates a location of a characteristic object in the two-dimensional space. The annotation system determines a spatial region in the three-dimensional space of the second set of sensor measurements that corresponds to a portion of the scene represented in the annotation of the first set of sensor measurements. The annotation system determines annotations within the spatial region of the second set of sensor measurements that indicates a location of the characteristic object in the three-dimensional space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Anting Shen
  • Secure initial provisioning of a system on a chip
    Patent number: 11354449
    Abstract: Securely provisioning a System on a Chip (SoC) includes generating a public/private key pair having a public key and a private key, securely storing the private key external to the SoC, embedding the public key in Resistor Transistor Logic (RTL) of the SoC during manufacture of the SoC, encrypting provisioning data using the private key to create encrypted provisioning data, and programming the SoC using the encrypted provisioning data. The secure provisioning may further include generating a secret shared key, embedding the secret shared key in the RTL of the SoC during manufacture of the SoC, and encrypting the provisioning data using the secret shared key. The RTL may be the boot Read Only Memory (ROM) of the SoC. The secure provisioning technique may also be used for subsequent provisioning after the SoC is deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Patryk Kaminski
  • Manual transfer switch for onsite energy generation and storage systems
    Patent number: 11316471
    Abstract: A manually controlled coupling mechanism for onsite energy generation and storage systems includes a first contact portion having a first electrical contact for coupling to an utility grid and a second electrical contact for coupling to an on-grid AC terminal of an inverter, a second contact portion having a third electrical contact for coupling to an off-grid output terminal of the inverter, and a manually activated multi-position switch, wherein in a first position, only the first contact portion is activated to allow power transfer between the utility grid, the on-grid AC terminal of the inverter and a main electrical panel, and in the second position, only the second contact portion is activated to allow power transfer from the off-grid output terminal of the inverter to the main electrical panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandeep Narla, Eric Daniel Carlson, Andrew Russell Lutkus
  • Micro-batteries for energy generation systems
    Patent number: 11309714
    Abstract: Embodiments disclose an energy generation system including a photovoltaic (PV) array including a plurality of PV modules for generating direct current (DC) power, a plurality of power converter pairs coupled to the plurality of PV modules and configured to convert the generated DC power to alternating current (AC) power, and a plurality of battery packs coupled to the plurality of power converter pairs. Each power converter pair of the plurality of power converter pairs includes a DC-to-DC converter coupled to a DC-to-AC inverter, where the DC-to-DC converter is directly coupled to a respective PV module. Furthermore, each battery pack is directly coupled to a respective DC-to-DC converter and configured to store DC power from the respective PV module and output stored DC power to the respective power converter pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Sandeep Narla
  • Grid synchronisation
    Patent number: 11303134
    Abstract: The invention relates to a grid synchroniser for connecting an AC output of a power converter to the AC grid mains. In one aspect the invention provides a grid synchroniser comprising an inverter controller to control an AC output of the inverter, the controller including a receiver to receive grid data from a grid sensor location remote from said inverter. In another aspect we describe techniques for rapid removal of charge from a control terminal of a power switching device such as a MOSFET, IGBT or Thyristor using a particular driver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Gehan Anil Joseph Amaratunga, Lesley Chisenga, Andrabadu Viraj
  • Estimating object properties using visual image data
    Patent number: 11288524
    Abstract: A system is comprised of one or more processors coupled to memory. The one or more processors are configured to receive image data based on an image captured using a camera of a vehicle and to utilize the image data as a basis of an input to a trained machine learning model to at least in part identify a distance of an object from the vehicle. The trained machine learning model has been trained using a training image and a correlated output of an emitting distance sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: James Anthony Musk, Swupnil Kumar Sahai, Ashok Kumar Elluswamy
  • Steering system for a vehicle
    Patent number: 11260898
    Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle includes a drive motor having a motor shaft. The steering system also includes a first gear reduction stage for receiving a first rotational input from the motor shaft and providing a first rotational output. The steering system further includes a second gear reduction stage for receiving the first rotational output from the first gear reduction stage and providing a second rotational output. The second gear reduction stage may include at least one of a strain wave gearing, a worm drive, and a planetary gearing. The steering system includes an output shaft for receiving the second rotational output from the second gear reduction stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Kaufman
  • Wiring system architecture
    Patent number: 11260809
    Abstract: A new wiring and power and communications system for an automobile that includes a plurality of devices, wherein the devices are connected to a backbone section that has an outer sheathing, a first conductor disposed within the outer sheathing, a second conductor disposed within the outer sheathing, a pair of inner sheathing members disposed within the outer sheathing and located on opposing sides of the at least one conductor, the inner sheathing members configured to electrically insulate the first conductor from the second conductor, and a shield member disposed within the outer sheathing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Satyan Chandra, In Jae Chung, Adnan Esmail, Matthew Blum, Rishabh Bhandari
  • Multi-region solar roofing modules
    Patent number: 11258398
    Abstract: Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing to an observer. BIPV systems can be incorporated as part of roof surfaces as built into the structure of the roof, particularly as multi-region roofing modules that have photovoltaic elements embedded or incorporated into the body of the module, in distinct tiles-sized regions. Such multi-region photovoltaic modules can replicate the look of individual roofing tiles or shingles. Further, multi-region photovoltaic modules can include support structures between the distinct regions having a degree of flexibility, allowing for a more efficient installation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Almy, Kathryn Austin Pesce, David Molina
  • Automatic tire inflation system with thru-hub air feed
    Patent number: 11254170
    Abstract: An Automatic Tire Inflation System (ATIS) for use with a vehicle includes a controller, valves controlled by the controller and, for at least one drive axle having inner bearings and outer bearings, a channel formed in a spindle, first hosing coupling controlled by the controller to the channel formed in the spindle, a channel formed in a hub, a rotary air seal coupling the channel formed in the spindle to the channel formed in the hub, and second hosing coupling the channel formed in the hub to at least one wheel. The rotary air seal may transition from a sealed state that forms a seal between the spindle and the hub to support air flow between the channel formed in the spindle and the channel formed in hub and reside in an unsealed state to negate the seal between the spindle and the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: John Furtado
  • Solar roof tile spacer with embedded circuitry
    Patent number: 11245354
    Abstract: One embodiment can provide a photovoltaic roof tile module. The photovoltaic roof tile module can include a first photovoltaic roof tile and a second photovoltaic roof tile positioned adjacent to each other and a spacer coupled to and positioned between the first and second photovoltaic roof tiles. A respective photovoltaic roof tile can include a front glass cover and a back cover, which includes a glass substrate and a pre-laid circuit attached to the glass substrate. The pre-laid circuit is electrically coupled to the plurality of photovoltaic structures. The spacer can include a thermal plastic body and one or more metallic strips embedded within the thermal plastic body, and both ends of a respective metallic strip extend beyond edges of the thermal plastic body to facilitate electrical coupling between pre-laid circuits of the first and second photovoltaic roof tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter P. Nguyen, Piotr Zajac
  • Solar roof tile module
    Patent number: 11245355
    Abstract: One embodiment can provide a photovoltaic roof tile module. The photovoltaic roof tile module can include a photovoltaic roof tile module. The photovoltaic roof tile module can include at least: a first photovoltaic roof tile and a second photovoltaic roof tile positioned adjacent to each other, and a spacer coupled to and positioned between the first and second photovoltaic roof tiles. A respective photovoltaic roof tile can include front and back glass covers, and multiple cascaded strings encapsulated between the front and back glass covers. A respective cascaded string can include a plurality of photovoltaic structures electrically coupled to each other in series, and the multiple cascaded strings can be electrically coupled to each other in parallel. The first and second photovoltaic roof tiles can be electrically coupled to each other in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhavananda R. Nadimpally, Peter P. Nguyen, Mykola O. Pashkevych, Bobby Yang
  • Methods and apparatuses for energy storage device electrode fabrication
    Patent number: 11239454
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming an electrode film mixture can have a first source including a polymer dispersion comprising a liquid and a polymer, a second source including a second component of the electrode film mixture, and a fluidized bed coating apparatus including a first inlet configured to receive from the first source the dispersion, and a second inlet configured to receive from the second source the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Porter Mitchell, Jeffrey Nelson, Robert Crawford, Mohammed-Yazid Saidi
  • Charging system with thermal protection
    Patent number: 11225156
    Abstract: A thermal protection system includes an electrical circuit and a thermal switch. The electrical circuit transmits an electrical signal between a charge source and a charge receiver during a charging process. The thermal switch is placed in-line with the electrical circuit. The thermal switch opens above a threshold temperature to block transmission of the electrical signal. Blocking the transmission of the electrical signal causes the charging process to stop. In further examples, the charge source includes and electric vehicle charging system and the charge receiver includes an electric vehicle. In further examples, the electrical signal is required for compliance with one or more electric vehicle charging standards implemented by the electric vehicle charging system and the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen Ham Miller, Paul Guerra, Pascal-Andre Fortin, Frank Spiteri
  • Scalable matrix node engine with configurable data formats
    Patent number: 11227029
    Abstract: A microprocessor system comprises a matrix computational unit and a control unit. The matrix computational unit includes one or more processing elements. The control unit is configured to provide a matrix processor instruction to the matrix computational unit. The matrix processor instruction specifies a floating-point operand formatted with an exponent that has been biased with a specified bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Debjit Das Sarma, William McGee, Emil Talpes
  • Process to make textured glass
    Patent number: 11220450
    Abstract: Systems and methods for texturing substrates (e.g., glass, metal, and the like) and the textured substrates produced using such systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary textured substrate includes a surface having a portion with a root-mean-square roughness between 40 to 1000 microns and an autocorrelation function greater than 0.5 for distances less than 50 microns. An exemplary system for texturing a substrate includes a plunger with a textured surface, where a portion of the textured surface has a root-mean-square roughness between 40 to 1000 microns and an autocorrelation function greater than 0.5 for distances less than 50 microns. An exemplary method for texturing a substrate includes the steps of generating a pattern defining a texture, and 3-D printing the pattern on the substrate to form the texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Sweney, Michael Pilliod, Christos Gougoussis
  • Electric motor waste heat mode to heat battery
    Patent number: 11218045
    Abstract: An electric motor includes a case, a stator that includes end-windings, a rotor coupled to the case via at least one rotor bearing, at least one drive motor fluid pump, and drive motor electronics. The rotor includes a hollow cylindrical body, a first shaft portion, and a second shaft portion, a fluid feed tube having a fluid receive end and a fluid feed end, the fluid feed end extending into the hollow cylindrical body, and a plurality of fluid exit ports. The drive motor electronics power the stator with or without causing rotation of the rotor. The drive motor fluid pump pumps fluid into the hollow cylindrical body via the fluid feed tube, pumps the fluid out of the plurality of fluid ports, and onto the stator end-windings to collect heat from the rotor and the stator. The heated fluid may be used for heating a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Bozhi Yang, Tomas Vianna Martins, Scott Michael Graves, Ethan Swint, Eric Bellemare, Lev Fedoseyev, Benjamin Dellal, Leif E. Olsen, Alexander Hain
  • Energy storage system
    Patent number: 11217862
    Abstract: An energy storage system includes a module housing and multiple battery cells with insulating material and discharge directing material positioned inside the module housing. Each of the battery cells has a first end and a second end. Further, each of the battery cells has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The energy storage system includes a first interconnect and a second interconnect positioned over the battery cells. Multiple first cell connectors connect the positive terminals of the battery cells to the first interconnect. Multiple second cell connectors connect the negative terminals of the battery cells to the second interconnect. A top plate having an interior side and an exterior side is positioned over the first interconnect and the second interconnect. The top plate includes one or more weak areas with reduced integrity positioned above one or more battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Augusto E. Barton, Robert Clinton Lane, Nathan Khalil Chidiac, Julian Christian Carl, Hugh Burnett Ross, William B. Stockton, Nicholas Paul Manov
  • Data pipeline and deep learning system for autonomous driving
    Patent number: 11215999
    Abstract: An image captured using a sensor on a vehicle is received and decomposed into a plurality of component images. Each component image of the plurality of component images is provided as a different input to a different layer of a plurality of layers of an artificial neural network to determine a result. The result of the artificial neural network is used to at least in part autonomously operate the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Timofey Uvarov, Brijesh Tripathi, Evgene Fainstain