Patents Assigned to Tesla, Inc.
  • Packaged device having imbedded array of components
    Patent number: 11122678
    Abstract: A structure having imbedded array of components is described. An example structure includes an imbedded component array layer having an array of imbedded passive devices contained therein. The structure further includes an Integrated Fan-Out (InFO) layer residing adjacent a first surface of the imbedded component array layer having traces and vias formed therein. The structure further includes an insulator layer residing adjacent a second surface of the imbedded component array layer and electrically coupled to at least the InFO layer and vias passing through the imbedded component array layer and electrically coupled to some of vias of the InFO layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Vijaykumar Krithivasan, Jin Zhao, Mengzhi Pang, Steven Wayne Butler, Ganesh Venkataramanan, Yang Sun
  • Pulsed laser cleaning of debris accumulated on glass articles in vehicles and photovoltaic assemblies
    Patent number: 11110896
    Abstract: A cleaning system for a vehicle includes a beam optics assembly that emits a laser beam to irradiate a region on a glass article of the vehicle, debris detection circuitry that detects debris accumulated over the region, and control circuitry. The control circuitry calibrates a set of parameters associated with the laser beam emitted from the beam optics assembly based on detection of the debris accumulated over the region on the glass article, controls an exposure level of the laser beam on the debris accumulated based on calibration of the set of parameters associated with the laser beam, wherein the exposure level is controlled based on pulsing the laser beam at a calibrated rate that limits penetration of the laser beam to a depth that is less than a thickness of the glass article, and removes the debris accumulated over the region on the glass article using the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Phiroze Dalal
  • Electric motor rotor discharge protection
    Patent number: 11088582
    Abstract: An electric motor includes a case, a stator having stator windings, a rotor having a rotor shaft, and at least one main rotor bearing coupling the rotor shaft to the case. Common mode charge builds up on the rotor due to imbalances of the stator. The at least one main rotor bearing has a first electrical resistance between the rotor shaft and the case. The electric motor further includes a rotor discharge bearing coupling the rotor shaft to the case. The rotor discharge bearing has a second electrical resistance between the rotor shaft and the case that is less than the first electrical resistance, causing the common mode charge to discharge through the rotor discharge bearing. In a differing embodiment, a rotor discharge brush coupled between the case and the rotor shaft along the longitudinal axis of the rotor shaft discharges the common mode charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Michael Graves, Diego Alberto Silva Rodriguez, Tyler Nils Grendahl, Alexander Hain
  • Vehicle seat with integrated temperature-control system
    Patent number: 11084404
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seating portion and a backrest portion coupled to the seating portion. The seat also includes a temperature-control system associated with at least one of the seating portion and the backrest portion. The temperature-control system includes a base layer and an intermediate layer disposed adjacent to the base layer. The intermediate layer is adapted to allow fluid to flow through it. The temperature-control system includes a cover layer disposed adjacent to the intermediate layer. The temperature-control system includes at least one heating element disposed between the intermediate layer and the cover layer. The temperature-control system further includes a fluid pump to provide fluid flow through the intermediate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Gaurang Gupta, Wentao Wang, Adnan Esmail
  • Liquid-cooled charging connector
    Patent number: 11084390
    Abstract: A charging connector includes a first electrical socket and a second electrical socket. A first sleeve and a second sleeve are provided, such that the first sleeve is concentrically coupled to the first electrical socket and the second sleeve is concentrically coupled to the second electrical socket. A manifold assembly is adapted to enclose the first and second electrical sockets and the first and second sleeves, such that the first and second sleeves and the manifold assembly create a hollow interior space there between. An inlet conduit and an outlet conduit within the manifold assembly such that inlet conduit, the interior space, and the outlet conduit together create a fluid flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Chuen Chou, Pascal-Andre Fortin
  • External electrical contact for solar roof tiles
    Patent number: 11082005
    Abstract: One embodiment can provide a photovoltaic roof tile module. The photovoltaic roof tile module can include a front glass cover, a back glass cover, a plurality of photovoltaic structures positioned between the front and back glass covers, and an internal circuit component electrically coupled to the plurality of photovoltaic structures. The internal circuit component is positioned between the front and back glass covers. The back glass cover can include at least one through hole and a metallic plug inserted inside the through hole. A first surface of the metallic plug can electrically couple to the internal circuit component, and a second opposite surface of the metallic plug can be exposed to surroundings external to the photovoltaic roof tile module, thereby facilitating electrical coupling between the photovoltaic roof tile module and another photovoltaic roof tile module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter P. Nguyen, Kaleb A. Klauber
  • Electric vehicle battery pack
    Patent number: 11081739
    Abstract: A battery pack has an enclosure that contains a plurality of batteries and conductors and that resists the flow of fluid between an interior of the enclosure and an exterior of the enclosure. An exit vent formed in the enclosure at a first location allows exhaust gas to flow from the interior of the enclosure to the exterior of the enclosure. A fill port formed in the enclosure at a second location, in an impermeable state, prevent ingress of fluid from an exterior of the enclosure to an interior of the disclosure. The fill port, in a permeable state achieved by receipt of a perforation tool there through, permits ingress of a sufficient amount of a thermal-control liquid into the enclosure through the fill port to terminate a runaway thermal event in the battery pack. A fill port coupler having a passageway and an externally accessible port may be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Weston A. Hermann
  • Method of selecting an application target window in a user interface
    Patent number: 11068064
    Abstract: A method for controlling application windows is provided for use with a graphical user interface (GUI) display which is divided into at least first and second application windows. Various software applications may be launched in the first and second application windows. In order to switch locations of the software applications launched in the first and second application windows the user selects a swap window button, for example by tapping or clicking on a swap window icon on the GUI display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Brennan Boblett, Evan Small, Roy Goldman, Michael Fairman
  • Smart main electrical panel for energy generation systems
    Patent number: 11050260
    Abstract: Embodiments disclose solar energy generation systems with automatic smart transfer switches. An energy generation system, including an energy generation device, an energy generation inverter coupled to the energy generation device and configured to convert direct current (DC) power from the energy generation device to alternating current (AC) power, a battery pack, a storage inverter coupled to the battery pack, where the storage inverter is configured to convert DC power from the battery pack to AC power and to convert AC power into DC power for storing energy into the battery pack, and a smart main electrical panel coupled to receive AC power from at least one of the energy generation inverter, the storage inverter, and a utility grid, where the smart main electrical panel includes one or more motorized circuit breakers configured to be remotely controlled to manage the power flow to one or more loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandeep Narla, Andrew Russell Lutkus
  • Vehicle occupant classification systems and methods
    Patent number: 11047729
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to detect and/or classify a vehicle occupant, such as a passenger seated within the cockpit of a vehicle. An occupant classification system includes an occupant weight sensor, an occupant presence sensor, and a logic device configured to communicate with the occupant weight sensor and the occupant presence sensor. The logic device is configured to receive occupant weight sensor signals from the occupant weight sensor and occupant presence sensor signals from the occupant presence sensor, determine an estimated occupant weight and an occupant presence response based, at least in part, on the occupant weight sensor signals and the occupant presence sensor signals, and determine an occupant classification status corresponding to the passenger seat based, at least in part, on the estimated occupant weight and/or the occupant presence response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Akin Aina, Markell Baldwin, Bronson Aden, Zach Stuart
  • System and method for facilitating conditioning and testing of rechargeable battery cells
    Patent number: 11043823
    Abstract: One embodiment can provide a system for conditioning rechargeable battery cells. The system can include a cell-group conditioning module. The cell-group conditioning module can include a cell interface block that includes a cell contact module and a circuit module. The circuit module can be configured to supply power to cells and can be positioned adjacent to the cell contact module. The cell-group conditioning module can further include a cell platform configured to accommodate a number of cells and an actuation mechanism coupled to the cell interface block or the cell platform and configured to reduce a distance between the cell interface block and cell platform, thereby allowing the cell contact module to establish electrical contact with the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Matthews, Turner Caldwell, Martin Sukup
  • Advanced thin-walled structures for enhanced crash performance
    Patent number: 11034315
    Abstract: A crash can for a vehicle includes a multi-cell structure that includes at least four hollow cuboids, each defined by four walls that meet at 90 degree angles and at least two of the cuboids share a wall. In another example, a crash can includes a multi-cell structure that includes a hollow cuboid having four walls, and four hollow isosceles trapezoidal prisms having a long base, a short base, and two legs. The multi-cell structures provided herein may increase energy absorption by the crash can if involved in a collision, reducing energy transfer to a vehicle frame and occupants therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Guang Dong, Sekhar Reddy Biddala Reddy
  • Overload clutch
    Patent number: 11022188
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an overload clutch, comprising a cylindrical clutch housing having a housing body and a housing cover, and comprising two clutch elements arranged within the clutch housing, via which a drive movement is transmissible in an engaged state, wherein the clutch elements, for transmitting the drive movement in the engaged state, are engaged with each other in an interlocking and/or frictional manner and, can be brought out of engagement when an overload occurs. The housing body comprises a plurality of engagement elements, and the housing cover comprises a plurality of retaining structures corresponding to the engagement elements, wherein the engagement elements are able to be brought into engagement with the retaining structures by rotating the housing cover relative to the housing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignees: MINEBEAMITSUMI TECHNOLOGY CENTER EUROPE GMBH, TESLA, INC.
    Inventors: Sasan Nawabi, Jan Egberink
  • Interlocking BIPV roof tile with backer
    Patent number: 11012025
    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 photovoltaic modules having the appearance of a plurality of roofing tiles that each have photovoltaic cells. Each photovoltaic module may include a metal backer, photovoltaic cells, and light transmissive top sheets adhered to both the metal backer and the photovoltaic cells. BIPV systems can also include non-photovoltaic modules that appear similar to photovoltaic modules, but do not collect solar energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Seery, Charles Bernardo Almy, Kathryn Austin Pesce
  • Autonomous driving controller encrypted communications
    Patent number: 11005649
    Abstract: An autonomous driving controller includes a plurality of parallel processors operating on common input data received from the plurality of autonomous driving sensors. Each of the plurality of parallel processors includes communication circuitry, a general processor, a security processor subsystem (SCS), and a safety subsystem (SMS). The communication circuitry supports communications between the plurality of parallel processors, including inter-processor communications between the general processors of the plurality of parallel processors, communications between the SCSs of the plurality of parallel processors using SCS cryptography, and communications between the SMSs of the plurality of parallel processors using SMS cryptography, the SMS cryptography differing from the SCS cryptography. The SCS and/or the SMS may each include dedicated hardware and/or memory to support the communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Thaddeus Fortenberry, Samuel Douglas Crowder, Patryk Kaminski, Daniel William Bailey, David Glasco
  • Automatic reset flood valve
    Patent number: 10995867
    Abstract: A valve includes a holder having an expandable material. The valve includes a retainer coupled to the holder. The valve further includes an umbrella member with a stem coupled to the holder. The expandable material is adapted to expand in size when absorbing a fluid and translate the umbrella member along an axis of the stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel Hall-Snyder, Ian Casimir Dimen, Richard Wurden
  • Vehicle
    Patent number: D926080
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Franz Von Holzhausen, David Tadashi Imai, Wootak Kim, Bernard G. Lee
  • Vehicle
    Patent number: D926083
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Franz von Holzhausen
  • Vehicle body
    Patent number: D926085
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: TESLA, INC.
    Inventors: Franz von Holzhausen, Ian Kettle, Sahm Jafari, David Imai, Ivan Lampkin
  • Door
    Patent number: D928053
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Franz von Holzhausen