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).

  • Patent number: 10099532
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Zhu, Patrick Maguire, Bob Taenaka
  • Patent number: 8736230
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Patrick Maguire, Bob Taenaka, Jacob Mathews, Ronald Elder
  • Publication number: 20120302149
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Zhu, Patrick Maguire, Bob Taenaka
  • Patent number: 8241097
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Zhu, Patrick Maguire, Bob Taenaka
  • Publication number: 20090206793
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Maguire, Bob Taenaka, Jacob Mathews, Ronald Elder
  • Patent number: 7573241
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Anderson, Bruce Blakemore, Ted Miller, Bob Taenaka
  • Publication number: 20070080664
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Maguire, Bob Taenaka, Jacob Mathews, Ronald Elder
  • Publication number: 20070029971
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Anderson, Bruce Blakemore, Ted Miller, Bob Taenaka
  • Patent number: 7154068
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Zhu, Jacob Mathews, Bob Taenaka, Patrick Maguire
  • Publication number: 20060033468
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Zhu, Patrick Maguire, Bob Taenaka
  • Publication number: 20050274705
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Zhu, Jacob Mathews, Bob Taenaka, Patrick Maguire