Patents by Inventor Bruce Carvell Blakemore
Bruce Carvell Blakemore 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: 10140781Abstract: A vehicle wireless information system includes a vehicle, an onboard vehicle computer provided in the vehicle and at least one external access point adapted to wirelessly access the onboard vehicle computer.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2009Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Allan Roy Gale, Bala Chander, David W Schultz, Paul Theodore Momcilovich, Dale Gilman
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Patent number: 10093303Abstract: A vehicle may include an engine and electric machine each configured to generate motive power for the vehicle, a battery configured to store energy for the electric machine, and a tank configured to store fuel for the engine. The vehicle may further include one or more controllers configured to determine a vehicle drive range based on an amount of fuel in the tank and an available charge depletion energy in the battery.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2010Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Duane M. Grider, Bruce Carvell Blakemore
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Patent number: 9987942Abstract: A powertrain having a battery system including at least two batteries of different chemical types connected in parallel is operated according to predicted responses of the batteries to a demanded current command for the battery system to output a demanded current. The battery responses are predicted directly from the demanded current using a backward-looking model of the battery system.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2014Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Tae-Kyung Lee, Bruce Carvell Blakemore
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Patent number: 9925878Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed having a traction battery and an electrical impedance connected by a contactor. A pre-charge circuit is disclosed that controls current flow from the traction battery through the pre-charge circuit to the electrical impedance to increase voltage at the electrical impedance such that as the voltage approaches a voltage of the traction battery, a duty cycle of the pre-charge circuit approaches a maximum value and a current through the pre-charge circuit approaches a minimum value. In response to current falling below a predetermined value, the contactor is closed. A current sensor is disclosed that is located in the pre-charge circuit. A method of operating the pre-charge circuit is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2013Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Hasdi R. Hashim, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Arnold Kweku Mensah-Brown
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Patent number: 9915239Abstract: A vehicle starter assembly includes a switching circuit configured to operate in a charging state and a discharging state, and a first energy storage device and a second energy storage device electrically connected to the switching circuit. The first energy storage device and the second energy storage device are connected in parallel to one another in the charging state and in series with one another in the discharging state. The processor is programmed to detect an engine start request and output a switch control signal that toggles the switching circuit between the charging state and the discharging state to start an internal combustion engine of a host vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2016Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Hasdi R. Hashim, Arnold Kweku Mensah-Brown, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Mark Douglas Malone
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Patent number: 9821810Abstract: A vehicle includes an auxiliary battery and one or more accessory loads. An accessory load command is modulated such that the auxiliary battery outputs a discharge current to an accessory load. The discharge current has, in addition to a current component for driving the accessory load, an alternating current (AC) component to cause a temperature of the auxiliary battery to increase.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Allan Roy Gale, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Paul Theodore Momcilovich
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Patent number: 9796288Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine, a traction battery to power the electric machine, and a starting, lighting and ignition (SLI) battery. The vehicle also includes a galvanically isolated DC-DC converter connecting the batteries and having a bus capacitance in parallel therewith. The vehicle further includes a contactor to electrically connect the traction battery in parallel with the bus capacitance, and a controller. The controller, in response to a command to close the contactor, activates switches of the DC-DC converter to drive energy from the SLI battery to the bus capacitance before closing the contactor.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2014Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Arnold Kweku Mensah-Brown, Allan Roy Gale, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Chih-Lun Wang
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Patent number: 9800069Abstract: A linear current regulator is provided for precharging a high voltage bus, such as within a hybrid electric vehicle, in a quick, efficient, and optimal manner. The linear current regulator can include a battery; a bus; a transistor having, a base, a collector coupled to the bus, and an emitter; a resistor coupled between a precharge switch and the base; the precharge switch coupled to the battery and the resistor; and a main contactor coupled to the battery, the emitter, and the bus. When the recharge switch is closed, the bus is connected to the battery through the resistor and the transistor so that the bus is charged. When the voltages of the bus and the battery are nearly equal, the transistor turns off, the precharge switch is opened, and the main contactor is closed for normal operation of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2014Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Hasdi R Hashim, Arnold Kweku Mensah-Brown, Bruce Carvell Blakemore
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Publication number: 20170276113Abstract: A vehicle starter assembly includes a switching circuit configured to operate in a charging state and a discharging state, and a first energy storage device and a second energy storage device electrically connected to the switching circuit. The first energy storage device and the second energy storage device are connected in parallel to one another in the charging state and in series with one another in the discharging state. The processor is programmed to detect an engine start request and output a switch control signal that toggles the switching circuit between the charging state and the discharging state to start an internal combustion engine of a host vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2016Publication date: September 28, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Hasdi R. Hashim, Arnold Kweku Mensah-Brown, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Mark Douglas Malone
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Patent number: 9753093Abstract: A method for diagnosing a battery may include applying a generally constant current to the battery for a period of time, measuring a response voltage of the battery to the applied current, determining battery impedance parameters based on at least one of the applied current, period of time, and response voltage, and determining a degradation condition of the battery based on the battery impedance parameters.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2010Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Allan Roy Gale, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Michael W. Degner, Paul Theodore Momcilovich
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Patent number: 9702917Abstract: A system includes an isolation detection unit (IDU) having a first leakage detection circuit and being configured to determine an isolation characteristic for a voltage bus; and a circuit detection and response unit (CDRU) configured to determine whether the first leakage detection circuit is coupled to a second leakage detection circuit by a common ground. The CDRU can use a change in isolation characteristic of the voltage bus to determine whether a second detection circuit is coupled, and can characterize a coupled circuit. IDU operation and fault detection thresholds can be altered to mitigate confounding effects caused by simultaneous operation of both circuits. A system can be disposed at an electric vehicle to detect coupling of a detection circuit at a charging apparatus, or disposed at a charging apparatus to detect coupling of a leakage detection circuit at an electric vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2014Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Allan Roy Gale, John Peter Bilezikjian, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Paul Theodore Momcilovich
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Patent number: 9705353Abstract: An electric vehicle such as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and a battery-only electric vehicle (BEV) includes a traction battery. A torque command is generated for a motor such that a traction battery electrically connected therewith outputs a discharge current having an alternating current (AC) component to cause a temperature of the traction battery to increase.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2012Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Paul Theodore Momcilovich, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Allan Roy Gale
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Publication number: 20160121749Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine, a traction battery to power the electric machine, and a starting, lighting and ignition (SLI) battery. The vehicle also includes a galvanically isolated DC-DC converter connecting the batteries and having a bus capacitance in parallel therewith. The vehicle further includes a contactor to electrically connect the traction battery in parallel with the bus capacitance, and a controller. The controller, in response to a command to close the contactor, activates switches of the DC-DC converter to drive energy from the SLI battery to the bus capacitance before closing the contactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2014Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventors: Arnold Kweku MENSAH-BROWN, Allan Roy GALE, Bruce Carvell BLAKEMORE, Chih-Lun WANG
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Patent number: 9325181Abstract: An exemplary battery charge monitoring method includes, among other things, calculating expected charge data for a battery using at least a capacity of the battery and a charge rate, and comparing actual charge data to the expected charge data to identify differences between the actual charge data and the expected charge data.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2013Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Paul Theodore Momcilovich, Allan Roy Gale, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Michael W. Degner
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Publication number: 20160059728Abstract: A powertrain having a battery system including at least two batteries of different chemical types connected in parallel is operated according to predicted responses of the batteries to a demanded current command for the battery system to output a demanded current. The battery responses are predicted directly from the demanded current using a backward-looking model of the battery system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2014Publication date: March 3, 2016Inventors: Tae-Kyung Lee, Bruce Carvell Blakemore
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Publication number: 20150362543Abstract: A system includes an isolation detection unit (IDU) having a first leakage detection circuit and being configured to determine an isolation characteristic for a voltage bus; and a circuit detection and response unit (CDRU) configured to determine whether the first leakage detection circuit is coupled to a second leakage detection circuit by a common ground. The CDRU can use a change in isolation characteristic of the voltage bus to determine whether a second detection circuit is coupled, and can characterize a coupled circuit. IDU operation and fault detection thresholds can be altered to mitigate confounding effects caused by simultaneous operation of both circuits. A system can be disposed at an electric vehicle to detect coupling of a detection circuit at a charging apparatus, or disposed at a charging apparatus to detect coupling of a leakage detection circuit at an electric vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2014Publication date: December 17, 2015Inventors: Allan Roy Gale, John Peter Bilezikjian, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Paul Theodore Momcilovich
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Publication number: 20150295421Abstract: An active isolated circuit is provided for precharging and discharging a high voltage bus, such as within a hybrid electric vehicle, in a quick, efficient, and optimal manner. The circuit can include a battery, a DC-DC converter coupled between the battery and a main contactor, the main contactor coupled between the converter and a bus for selectively connecting the battery to the bus through the converter, and a control module for controlling the converter to selectively precharge the bus from the battery and selectively discharge the bus to the battery. The converter can be configured to isolate the battery and the bus. When a precharge signal is generated, the bus can be precharged from the battery through a transformer in the converter. The bus can be discharged to the battery through the transformer in the converter when a discharge signal is generated.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2014Publication date: October 15, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Allan Roy Gale, Michael W. Degner, Arnold Kweku Mensah-Brown, Chih-Lun Wang
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Publication number: 20150288211Abstract: A linear current regulator is provided for precharging a high voltage bus, such as within a hybrid electric vehicle, in a quick, efficient, and optimal manner. The linear current regulator can include a battery; a bus; a transistor having, a base, a collector coupled to the bus, and an emitter; a resistor coupled between a precharge switch and the base; the precharge switch coupled to the battery and the resistor; and a main contactor coupled to the battery, the emitter, and the bus. When the recharge switch is closed, the bus is connected to the battery through the resistor and the transistor so that the bus is charged. When the voltages of the bus and the battery are nearly equal, the transistor turns off, the precharge switch is opened, and the main contactor is closed for normal operation of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2014Publication date: October 8, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Hasdi R. Hashim, Arnold Kweku Mensah-Brown, Bruce Carvell Blakemore
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Patent number: 9145064Abstract: A vehicle may include an electric machine that generates motive power for the vehicle, a plurality of cells that store energy for the electric machine, and at least one controller. The at least one controller may cause the cells to receive current for a period of time and, during the period of time, cause at least some of the cells to supply cell load current such that at the expiration of the period of time, the amount of energy stored by the cells is at least equal to a predetermined target energy level.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2011Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Allan Roy Gale, Larry Dean Elie
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Patent number: 9139103Abstract: A power system for a vehicle may include at least one controller and a battery having a plurality of cells. The at least one controller may, for each of the cells, determine a capacity of the cell, determine a duration of time to supply cell load current to reduce the determined capacity of the cell to a value approximately equal to a minimum of the determined capacities, and cause the cell to supply cell load current for the determined duration of time to balance the battery.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2011Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Allan Roy Gale, Larry Dean Elie