Patents by Inventor Brett Allen Dunn

Brett Allen Dunn 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).

  • Publication number: 20240042831
    Abstract: While a speed of a first compressor during operation is less than a threshold speed, a speed of a second compressor during operation is prevented from falling below a minimum threshold speed that is defined by a sum of the speed of the first compressor and a predefined offset speed delta such that the minimum threshold speed changes as the speed of the first compressor changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Jennifer Helen Chang, Rohan Shrivastava, Brett Allen Dunn, Jordan Mazaira
  • Patent number: 11890914
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery, an electric machine powered by the traction battery and configured to power wheels of the vehicle, and a thermal-management system. The thermal-management system includes a battery loop, a cabin heating loop, and a valve configured to fluidly connect the battery loop and the cabin heating loop when in a first position and configured to fluidly isolate the battery loop and the cabin heating loop when in a second position. A controller is programmed to, responsive to (i) battery heating being requested, (ii) a temperature of the battery being greater than a lower threshold, and (iii) cabin heating being requested, actuate the valve to the first position to heat a cabin and the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Mazaira, Angel Fernando Porras, Brett Allen Dunn, Zachary March, Alan Gutowski
  • Publication number: 20240001805
    Abstract: A system is provided that includes at least one battery, motor electronics, and at least one vehicle controller. The at least one battery is positioned about a battery coolant loop that provides first coolant to change a temperature of the at least one battery. The motor electronics are positioned about a motor electronics coolant loop that provides second coolant to change a temperature of the motor electronics. The at least one vehicle controller is programmed to receive a first signal indicative of a temperature of the at least one battery positioned about the battery coolant loop and to control a valve to combine the battery coolant loop with the motor electronics coolant loop such that the second coolant flows to the battery coolant loop responsive to at least a temperature of the second coolant being greater than the temperature of the at least one battery and a first offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Jordan MAZAIRA, Brett Allen DUNN, Zachary MARCH, Justin BARSANO
  • Patent number: 11718148
    Abstract: A thermal system for an electrified vehicle including a thermal loop and a controller is provided. The thermal loop may include a rear evaporator and a compressor fluidly connected thereto, a conduit to distribute oil throughout the thermal loop, and an evaporator valve. The controller may be programmed to, responsive to receipt of a signal indicating evaporator valve shut-off and detection of a vehicle plug-in event, cycle the compressor to promote oil movement through the compressor. The controller may be further programmed to, responsive to receipt of the signal, open the evaporator valve to force oil back to the compressor. The thermal loop may further include a first expansion valve up stream of a chiller fluidly connected to the compressor, a second expansion valve between the evaporator valve and the rear evaporator, and a third expansion valve up stream of a front evaporator fluidly connected to the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Angel Fernando Porras, Timothy Noah Blatchley, Brett Allen Dunn, Rohan Shrivastava
  • Publication number: 20230074313
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery, an electric machine powered by the traction battery and configured to power wheels of the vehicle, and a thermal-management system. The thermal-management system includes a battery loop, a cabin heating loop, and a valve configured to fluidly connect the battery loop and the cabin heating loop when in a first position and configured to fluidly isolate the battery loop and the cabin heating loop when in a second position. A controller is programmed to, responsive to (i) battery heating being requested, (ii) a temperature of the battery being greater than a lower threshold, and (iii) cabin heating being requested, actuate the valve to the first position to heat a cabin and the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Jordan Mazaira, Angel Fernando Porras, Brett Allen Dunn, Zachary March, Alan Gutowski
  • Patent number: 11518209
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle configured to power limit a battery based on a thermal exchange capacity, and a corresponding method. In particular, an example electrified vehicle includes a battery, a thermal management system configured to circulate thermal exchange fluid relative to the battery, and a controller configured to power limit the battery based on a thermal exchange capacity of the thermal exchange fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Mazaira, Brett Allen Dunn, Joseph George, Justin Barsano
  • Patent number: 11273686
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle having a control strategy for managing battery and cabin cooling. A corresponding method is also disclosed. An example electrified vehicle includes a cabin thermal management system configured to thermally condition a cabin of the electrified vehicle. The cabin thermal management system includes a compressor. The vehicle further includes a battery thermal management system configured to thermally condition a battery of the electrified vehicle, and a controller configured issue an instruction to reduce the speed of the compressor based, at least in part, on a speed of the electrified vehicle and a temperature of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jennifer Helen Chang, Christopher Michael Kava, Craig Lechlitner, Brett Allen Dunn
  • Publication number: 20210291629
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle having a control strategy for managing battery and cabin cooling. A corresponding method is also disclosed. An example electrified vehicle includes a cabin thermal management system configured to thermally condition a cabin of the electrified vehicle. The cabin thermal management system includes a compressor. The vehicle further includes a battery thermal management system configured to thermally condition a battery of the electrified vehicle, and a controller configured issue an instruction to reduce the speed of the compressor based, at least in part, on a speed of the electrified vehicle and a temperature of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Jennifer Helen Chang, Christopher Michael Kava, Craig Lechlitner, Brett Allen Dunn
  • Patent number: 11014431
    Abstract: A vehicle thermal management system including a refrigerant circuit, a coolant circuit, a chiller, and a controller is provided. The refrigerant circuit may include an electric air conditioning (eAC) compressor and a pressure sensor. The coolant circuit may include a high-voltage battery. The chiller selectively thermally links the circuits. The controller may be programmed to, responsive to receipt of a sensor signal indicating refrigerant pressure exiting the eAC compressor is greater than a high threshold, output a pressure sensor fault error indicating the pressure sensor is faulty. The system may further include a timer to monitor operational timing of the eAC compressor. The controller may be further programmed to direct the system to operate without monitoring the eAC compressor responsive to the timer indicating the eAC compressor has been off for a time-period less than a time threshold reflective of the eAC compressor not being in an at rest state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rohan Shrivastava, Angel Fernando Porras, Brett Allen Dunn
  • Publication number: 20210129620
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle configured to power limit a battery based on a thermal exchange capacity, and a corresponding method. In particular, an example electrified vehicle includes a battery, a thermal management system configured to circulate thermal exchange fluid relative to the battery, and a controller configured to power limit the battery based on a thermal exchange capacity of the thermal exchange fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Jordan Mazaira, Brett Allen Dunn, Joseph George, Justin Barsano
  • Publication number: 20200231024
    Abstract: A vehicle thermal management system including a refrigerant circuit, a coolant circuit, a chiller, and a controller is provided. The refrigerant circuit may include an electric air conditioning (eAC) compressor and a pressure sensor. The coolant circuit may include a high-voltage battery. The chiller selectively thermally links the circuits. The controller may be programmed to, responsive to receipt of a sensor signal indicating refrigerant pressure exiting the eAC compressor is greater than a high threshold, output a pressure sensor fault error indicating the pressure sensor is faulty. The system may further include a timer to monitor operational timing of the eAC compressor. The controller may be further programmed to direct the system to operate without monitoring the eAC compressor responsive to the timer indicating the eAC compressor has been off for a time-period less than a time threshold reflective of the eAC compressor not being in an at rest state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Rohan Shrivastava, Angel Fernando Porras, Brett Allen Dunn
  • Patent number: 10514191
    Abstract: A vapor compression heat pump (VCHP) system for an electrified vehicle and a method for de-icing the VCHP system is provided. The electrified vehicle may include a vehicle cabin, the VCHP system, and a controller. The VCHP system may be in thermal communication with the cabin and include an outside heat exchanger and a compressor. The controller may be configured to, in response to detection of a predefined ice condition associated with the outside heat exchanger, output commands to adjust a speed of the compressor to influence a temperature of refrigerant flowing through the compressor such that the refrigerant carries an amount of heat sufficient to eliminate the predefined ice condition within a preselected time period. The predefined ice condition may be a condition in which the heat exchanger has accumulated ice or is likely to accumulate ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yu Liu, Anthony David Tsakiris, Brett Allen Dunn
  • Patent number: 10500923
    Abstract: Methods and system for operating a heat pump in different operating modes and providing a predictable heat pump response when the heat pump is transitioned between the different operating modes are presented. In one example, a controller that includes executable instructions for providing a bumpless compressor command for operating the heat pump is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yu Liu, Anthony David Tsakiris, Brett Allen Dunn
  • Patent number: 10486495
    Abstract: A vehicle climate control system for an electrified vehicle including a thermal circuit and a controller is provided. The thermal circuit includes a heat pump and a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater. The controller is programmed to direct operation of the heat pump and the PTC heater responsive to receipt of a request for simultaneous cooling and heating based on a heat source mode table and detection of a system configuration in which flow is permitted through one of a fixed orifice expansion device (FOT), a thermal expansion valve (TXV), and an electronic expansion valve (EXV). The heat source mode table may call for the heat pump to operate in a cool mode and the PTC heater to operate in a heat mode when heater core coolant is identified as warm and ambient temperature is above a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Angel Fernando Porras, Timothy Noah Blatchley, Brett Allen Dunn, Anthony David Tsakiris, James George Gebbie
  • Publication number: 20190225047
    Abstract: A thermal system for an electrified vehicle including a thermal loop and a controller is provided. The thermal loop may include a rear evaporator and a compressor fluidly connected thereto, a conduit to distribute oil throughout the thermal loop, and an evaporator valve. The controller may be programmed to, responsive to receipt of a signal indicating evaporator valve shut-off and detection of a vehicle plug-in event, cycle the compressor to promote oil movement through the compressor. The controller may be further programmed to, responsive to receipt of the signal, open the evaporator valve to force oil back to the compressor. The thermal loop may further include a first expansion valve up stream of a chiller fluidly connected to the compressor, a second expansion valve between the evaporator valve and the rear evaporator, and a third expansion valve up stream of a front evaporator fluidly connected to the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Angel Fernando Porras, Timothy Noah Blatchley, Brett Allen Dunn, Rohan Shrivastava
  • Patent number: 10293658
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided for a traction battery of an electrified motor vehicle. That cooling system includes a cooling circuit, a refrigerant circuit, a plurality of flow control valves and a control system. That control system includes a controller configured to (a) control operation of the plurality of flow control valves and (b) prioritize cabin cooling over traction battery cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Angel Fernando Porras, Timothy Noah Blatchley, Mark G. Smith, Brett Allen Dunn
  • Publication number: 20180361825
    Abstract: A vehicle climate control system for an electrified vehicle including a thermal circuit and a controller is provided. The thermal circuit includes a heat pump and a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater. The controller is programmed to direct operation of the heat pump and the PTC heater responsive to receipt of a request for simultaneous cooling and heating based on a heat source mode table and detection of a system configuration in which flow is permitted through one of a fixed orifice expansion device (FOT), a thermal expansion valve (TXV), and an electronic expansion valve (EXV). The heat source mode table may call for the heat pump to operate in a cool mode and the PTC heater to operate in a heat mode when heater core coolant is identified as warm and ambient temperature is above a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Angel Fernando Porras, Timothy Noah Blatchley, Brett Allen Dunn, Anthony David Tsakiris, James George Gebbie
  • Patent number: 9878703
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an energy recovery mechanism, and a controller configured to selectively activate at least a battery cooling mode to dissipate excess power from the energy recovery mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Michael Kava, Kent Hancock, Angel Fernando Porras, Mark Anthony Rockwell, Justin Reuel Badger, Brett Allen Dunn
  • Publication number: 20170320379
    Abstract: Methods and system for operating a heat pump in different operating modes and providing a predictable heat pump response when the heat pump is transitioned between the different operating modes are presented. In one example, a controller that includes executable instructions for providing a bumpless compressor command for operating the heat pump is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Yu Liu, Anthony David Tsakiris, Brett Allen Dunn
  • Publication number: 20170313158
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided for a traction battery of an electrified motor vehicle. That cooling system includes a cooling circuit, a refrigerant circuit, a plurality of flow control valves and a control system. That control system includes a controller configured to (a) control operation of the plurality of flow control valves and (b) prioritize cabin cooling over traction battery cooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Angel Fernando Porras, Timothy Noah Blatchley, Mark G. Smith, Brett Allen Dunn