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).

  • Patent number: 8121802
    Abstract: A vehicle may include one or more controllers configured to determine a remaining energy of the vehicle's battery, to determine a series of energy consumption rates of the vehicle, and to select a set of energy consumption rates from the series. The one or more controllers may be further configured to determine an expected drive range for the vehicle based on the remaining energy and the selected set of energy consumption rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Duane M. Grider, Bruce Carvell Blakemore
  • Patent number: 8115446
    Abstract: An energy storage system for an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of energy storage units electrically connected in series and a plurality of bi-directional energy converters each having first and second sides. Each of the first sides is electrically connected with one of the plurality of energy storage units. The system also includes another energy storage unit. The second sides of the plurality of bi-directional energy converters are electrically connected in parallel with the another energy storage unit. Each of the bi-directional energy converters is capable of transferring energy between the first and second sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Piccard, Jin Wang, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Steven F. Chorian
  • Publication number: 20110264319
    Abstract: A plug-in vehicle includes a vehicle body having an outer panel, a propulsion unit such as an electric motor, a rechargeable battery, a recharging port supported on the outer panel to receive power from an external electric power source, and a display subassembly connected to the battery. The display subassembly has a plurality of lights positioned around the recharging port to illuminate the recharging port and to illuminate in a manner corresponding to a condition of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bala S. Chander, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Jenny Brzozowski, Dale Gilman, Duane M. Grider
  • Publication number: 20110221392
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Allan Roy Gale, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Michael W. Degner, Paul Theodore Momcilovich
  • Patent number: 7999665
    Abstract: A plug-in vehicle includes a vehicle body having an outer panel, a propulsion unit such as an electric motor, a rechargeable battery, a recharging port supported on the outer panel to receive power from an external electric power source, and a display subassembly connected to the battery. The display subassembly has a plurality of lights positioned around the recharging port to illuminate the recharging port and to illuminate in a manner corresponding to a condition of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bala S. Chander, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Jenny Brzozowski, Dale Gilman, Duane M. Grider
  • Patent number: 7982437
    Abstract: A battery control module monitors discharge voltages associated with a traction battery of an automotive vehicle. The battery control module cycles the traction battery at a discharge-voltage dependent charge/discharge profile to generate heat within the traction battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Viet Quoc To, Joseph Stanek, Bijal Patel, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Philip Michael Gonzales, Josephine S. Lee
  • Publication number: 20110163722
    Abstract: A method for charging a battery may include determining a degradation condition of the battery based on impedance parameters of the battery, altering a default charge profile for the battery based on the degradation condition, and charging the battery with the altered charge profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Allan Roy Gale, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Paul Theodore Momcilovich, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20110166810
    Abstract: A vehicle may include one or more controllers configured to determine a remaining energy of the vehicle's battery, to determine a series of energy consumption rates of the vehicle, and to select a set of energy consumption rates from the series. The one or more controllers may be further configured to determine an expected drive range for the vehicle based on the remaining energy and the selected set of energy consumption rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Duane M. Grider, Bruce Carvell Blakemore
  • Publication number: 20110143227
    Abstract: A battery system includes a metal oxygen battery. The metal oxygen battery includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode includes a metal material (M). The metal oxygen battery is in communication with an oxygen storage material. In certain instances, the oxygen storage material is contained within an oxygen containment unit. The metal oxygen battery and the oxygen containment unit may be in a closed-loop with respect to each other. The battery system further includes a conduit for providing fluid communication from one of the metal oxygen battery and the oxygen containment unit to the other of the metal oxygen battery and the oxygen containment unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Pulskamp, Andrew Robert Drews, Donald J. Siegel, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Ronald David Brost, Jun Yang, Shinichi Hirano, Michael Alan Tamor
  • Publication number: 20110043355
    Abstract: A plug-in vehicle includes a vehicle body having an outer panel, a propulsion unit such as an electric motor, a rechargeable battery, a recharging port supported on the outer panel to receive power from an external electric power source, and a display subassembly connected to the battery. The display subassembly has a plurality of lights positioned around the recharging port to illuminate the recharging port and to illuminate in a manner corresponding to a condition of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bala S. Chander, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Jenny Brzozowski, Dale Gilman, Duane M. Grider
  • Publication number: 20110046834
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Duane M. Grider, Bruce Carvell Blakemore
  • Publication number: 20110047102
    Abstract: A vehicle may include at least one controller and a battery configured to be selectively charged with energy from an off-board energy source. The at least one controller may be configured to receive user input specifying a cost minimization mode of battery charging. The at least one controller may be further configured to, in response to the input, determine a time period available for charging the battery, determine when, during the time period, a cost of energy from the off-board energy source is at a minimum or below a threshold cost, and cause the battery to be charged during at least a portion of the time period when the cost is at the minimum or below the threshold cost to minimize the cost of charging the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Duane M. Grider, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Julie D'Annunzio
  • Publication number: 20100268401
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Allan Roy Gale, Bala Chander, David W. Schultz, Paul Theodore Momcilovich, Dale Gilman
  • Publication number: 20100231169
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes an electrical circuit capable of being electrically connected with an electrical grid, a propulsion electrical bus electrically connected with the circuit, a power conversion module electrically connected with the propulsion electrical bus, and a power storage unit electrically connected with the power conversion module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Hasdi R. Hashim, Donald Charles Franks, Bruce Carvell Blakemore
  • Publication number: 20100235016
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle has a propulsion system including an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor each configured to operate in parallel and each configured to propel the vehicle individually. A rechargeable battery is configured to deliver power to the electric motor to enable the electric motor to propel the vehicle for a certain distance without operation of the ICE. The rechargeable battery is further configured to receive power from a household power outlet. A controller is configured to control the propulsion system to operate in either a normal emissions mode or a no-emissions mode wherein the ICE is disabled. The controller is further configured to direct the propulsion system to operate in the no-emissions mode in response to the broadcast of an external control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Duane M. Grider, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Daniel William Forthoffer
  • Publication number: 20100117593
    Abstract: An energy storage system for an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of energy storage units electrically connected in series and a plurality of bi-directional energy converters each having first and second sides. Each of the first sides is electrically connected with one of the plurality of energy storage units. The system also includes another energy storage unit. The second sides of the plurality of bi-directional energy converters are electrically connected in parallel with the another energy storage unit. Each of the bi-directional energy converters is capable of transferring energy between the first and second sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Piccard, Jin Wang, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Steven F. Chorian
  • Publication number: 20090278500
    Abstract: A battery control module monitors discharge voltages associated with a traction battery of an automotive vehicle. The battery control module cycles the traction battery at a discharge-voltage dependent charge/discharge profile to generate heat within the traction battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Viet Quoc To, Joseph Stanek, Bijal Patel, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Philip Michael Gonzales, Josephine S. Lee