Patents by Inventor Bob Taenaka
Bob Taenaka 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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Patent number: 10099532Abstract: An environmental control system for a battery in a vehicle includes an air intake for receiving ambient air from outside the vehicle. A duct system provides communication between the air intake and the battery. The duct system includes a movable door which can facilitate or inhibit movement of air between the air intake and the battery. An air outlet facilitates air flow from the duct system to the ambient environment outside the vehicle. A fan cooperates with the duct system for moving the air through a heat exchanger in the duct system and across the battery. A control system controls operation of the fan and the movable door, and is configured to determine whether the battery environment requires fresh air or recirculated air.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2012Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Douglas Zhu, Patrick Maguire, Bob Taenaka
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Patent number: 8736230Abstract: A system and method for rebalancing a battery in a vehicle during vehicle operation, the battery including a plurality of modules, is provided. The method may include determining when an automatic rebalance mode start condition is satisfied, modifying a target state of charge for the battery at least in part in response to the start condition being satisfied such that the target state of charge is raised from a standard operating value to a rebalance value, operating the vehicle with the target state of charge at the rebalance value, determining when an automatic rebalance mode end condition or an interrupt condition is satisfied, and modifying the target state of charge in response to the automatic rebalance mode end condition or the interrupt condition being satisfied such that the target state of charge is lowered from the rebalance value to the standard operating value.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2009Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Patrick Maguire, Bob Taenaka, Jacob Mathews, Ronald Elder
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Publication number: 20120302149Abstract: An environmental control system for a battery in a vehicle includes an air intake for receiving ambient air from outside the vehicle. A duct system provides communication between the air intake and the battery. The duct system includes a movable door which can facilitate or inhibit movement of air between the air intake and the battery. An air outlet facilitates air flow from the duct system to the ambient environment outside the vehicle. A fan cooperates with the duct system for moving the air through a heat exchanger in the duct system and across the battery. A control system controls operation of the fan and the movable door, and is configured to determine whether the battery environment requires fresh air or recirculated air.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2012Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Douglas Zhu, Patrick Maguire, Bob Taenaka
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Patent number: 8241097Abstract: An environmental control system for a battery in a vehicle includes an air intake for receiving ambient air from outside the vehicle. A duct system provides communication between the air intake and the battery. The duct system includes a movable door which can facilitate or inhibit movement of air between the air intake and the battery. An air outlet facilitates air flow from the duct system to the ambient environment outside the vehicle. A fan cooperates with the duct system for moving the air through a heat exchanger in the duct system and across the battery. A control system controls operation of the fan and the movable door, and is configured to determine whether the battery environment requires fresh air or recirculated air.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2005Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Douglas Zhu, Patrick Maguire, Bob Taenaka
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Publication number: 20090206793Abstract: A system and method for rebalancing a battery in a vehicle during vehicle operation, the battery including a plurality of modules, is provided. The method may include determining when an automatic rebalance mode start condition is satisfied, modifying a target state of charge for the battery at least in part in response to the start condition being satisfied such that the target state of charge is raised from a standard operating value to a rebalance value, operating the vehicle with the target state of charge at the rebalance value, determining when an automatic rebalance mode end condition or an interrupt condition is satisfied, and modifying the target state of charge in response to the automatic rebalance mode end condition or the interrupt condition being satisfied such that the target state of charge is lowered from the rebalance value to the standard operating value.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2009Publication date: August 20, 2009Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Patrick Maguire, Bob Taenaka, Jacob Mathews, Ronald Elder
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Patent number: 7573241Abstract: A method for operating a battery having a plurality of battery cells includes determining when certain end of life criteria for the battery are met. A counter is incremented when the certain end of life criteria are met. The battery is rebalanced when it is determined that the end of life criteria are met, and the counter is not greater than a predetermined value. An end of life of the battery is indicated when it is determined that the end of life criteria are met, and the counter is greater than the predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2005Date of Patent: August 11, 2009Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Richard Anderson, Bruce Blakemore, Ted Miller, Bob Taenaka
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Publication number: 20070080664Abstract: A system and method for rebalancing a battery in a vehicle during vehicle operation, the battery including a plurality of modules, is provided. The method may include determining when an automatic rebalance mode start condition is satisfied, modifying a target state of charge for the battery at least in part in response to the start condition being satisfied such that the target state of charge is raised from a standard operating value to a rebalance value, operating the vehicle with the target state of charge at the rebalance value, determining when an automatic rebalance mode end condition or an interrupt condition is satisfied, and modifying the target state of charge in response to the automatic rebalance mode end condition or the interrupt condition being satisfied such that the target state of charge is lowered from the rebalance value to the standard operating value.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2005Publication date: April 12, 2007Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Patrick Maguire, Bob Taenaka, Jacob Mathews, Ronald Elder
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Publication number: 20070029971Abstract: A method for operating a battery having a plurality of battery cells includes determining when certain end of life criteria for the battery are met. A counter is incremented when the certain end of life criteria are met. The battery is rebalanced when it is determined that the end of life criteria are met, and the counter is not greater than a predetermined value. An end of life of the battery is indicated when it is determined that the end of life criteria are met, and the counter is greater than the predetermined value.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2005Publication date: February 8, 2007Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Richard Anderson, Bruce Blakemore, Ted Miller, Bob Taenaka
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Patent number: 7154068Abstract: A system for heating a vehicle battery and a method for using the same. The system and method enable energy flow from the battery to a heater to heat the battery after determining a shut-down condition.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2004Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Douglas Zhu, Jacob Mathews, Bob Taenaka, Patrick Maguire
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Publication number: 20060033468Abstract: An environmental control system for a battery in a vehicle includes an air intake for receiving ambient air from outside the vehicle. A duct system provides communication between the air intake and the battery. The duct system includes a movable door which can facilitate or inhibit movement of air between the air intake and the battery. An air outlet facilitates air flow from the duct system to the ambient environment outside the vehicle. A fan cooperates with the duct system for moving the air through a heat exchanger in the duct system and across the battery. A control system controls operation of the fan and the movable door, and is configured to determine whether the battery environment requires fresh air or recirculated air.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2005Publication date: February 16, 2006Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Douglas Zhu, Patrick Maguire, Bob Taenaka
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Publication number: 20050274705Abstract: A system for heating a vehicle battery and a method for using the same. The system and method enable energy flow from the battery to a heater to heat the battery after determining a shut-down condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2004Publication date: December 15, 2005Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Douglas Zhu, Jacob Mathews, Bob Taenaka, Patrick Maguire