Patents by Inventor Christopher Michael Kava
Christopher Michael Kava 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: 12168434Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, and a controller. The engine and the electric machine are configured to simultaneously generate power in a hybrid mode. The controller is programmed to, responsive to a power demand decreasing to less than a first threshold while the vehicle is operating in the hybrid mode, shutdown the engine. The controller is further programmed to, responsive to the power demand decreasing to less than the first threshold and an operator input to extend the hybrid mode, override shutting down the engine.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2020Date of Patent: December 17, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christopher Michael Kava, Kenneth Frederick, Floyd Cadwell, Justin Reuel Badger
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Patent number: 11548485Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle configured to address an excess braking request, such as a braking request in excess of what can be met by an energy recovery mechanism, by selectively increasing the drag of the electrified vehicle. A corresponding method is also disclosed. An example electrified vehicle includes an energy recovery mechanism, an actuator configured to adjust a position of a moveable component influencing a drag of the electrified vehicle, and a controller. The controller is configured to instruct the energy recovery mechanism to meet a braking request and, when the braking request cannot be met by the energy recovery mechanism, the controller is configured to instruct the actuator to adjust the position of the moveable component to increase the drag of the electrified vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christopher Michael Kava, Shevon Vannitamby, Joshua Boerger
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Patent number: 11273686Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 19, 2020Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jennifer Helen Chang, Christopher Michael Kava, Craig Lechlitner, Brett Allen Dunn
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Patent number: 11241968Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, battery, electric machine, and controller. The engine is configured to propel the vehicle. The electric machine is configured to draw energy from the battery to propel the vehicle and to recharge the battery during regenerative braking. The controller is programmed to, in response to operation of the electric machine to propel the vehicle while the vehicle is in a nominal vehicle operation mode and depletion of a battery charge to a nominal value, terminate operation of the electric machine and propel the vehicle via the engine. The controller further is programmed to, in response to operation of the electric machine to propel the vehicle while the vehicle is in a reserve vehicle operation mode and depletion of the battery charge to a reserve value that is greater than the nominal value, terminate operation of the electric machine and propel the vehicle via the engine.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2019Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christopher Michael Kava, Alan Robert Dona, Brandon R. Masterson
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Patent number: 11173892Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a transmission are described. In one example, various vehicle operating modes may be entered from a baseline vehicle operating mode and the vehicle operating modes may revert back to the baseline vehicle operating mode in a plurality of stages so that returning to the baseline operating mode may be less noticeable to vehicle occupants.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2017Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mark Anthony Rockwell, Kent Hancock, Christopher Michael Kava
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Publication number: 20210291629Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2020Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Jennifer Helen Chang, Christopher Michael Kava, Craig Lechlitner, Brett Allen Dunn
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Patent number: 11117483Abstract: A method of charging a traction battery of a vehicle includes, among other things, partitioning the traction battery of the electrified vehicle into a plurality of partitions. Each of the partitions is separately chargeable. The method then includes evaluating at least one characteristic of the plurality of partitions, and prioritizing a charging of the plurality of partitions from at least one external power source based on the evaluating.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christopher Michael Kava, Shevon Vannitamby, Lori Kohrs, Mike Padgett
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Publication number: 20210245720Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle configured to address an excess braking request, such as a braking request in excess of what can be met by an energy recovery mechanism, by selectively increasing the drag of the electrified vehicle. A corresponding method is also disclosed. An example electrified vehicle includes an energy recovery mechanism, an actuator configured to adjust a position of a moveable component influencing a drag of the electrified vehicle, and a controller. The controller is configured to instruct the energy recovery mechanism to meet a braking request and, when the braking request cannot be met by the energy recovery mechanism, the controller is configured to instruct the actuator to adjust the position of the moveable component to increase the drag of the electrified vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2020Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Christopher Michael Kava, Shevon Vannitamby, Joshua Boerger
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Publication number: 20210101495Abstract: A method of charging a traction battery of a vehicle includes, among other things, partitioning the traction battery of the electrified vehicle into a plurality of partitions. Each of the partitions is separately chargeable. The method then includes evaluating at least one characteristic of the plurality of partitions, and prioritizing a charging of the plurality of partitions from at least one external power source based on the evaluating.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2019Publication date: April 8, 2021Inventors: Christopher Michael Kava, Shevon Vannitamby, Lori Kohrs, Mike Padgett
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Publication number: 20210086628Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, battery, electric machine, and controller. The engine is configured to propel the vehicle. The electric machine is configured to draw energy from the battery to propel the vehicle and to recharge the battery during regenerative braking. The controller is programmed to, in response to operation of the electric machine to propel the vehicle while the vehicle is in a nominal vehicle operation mode and depletion of a battery charge to a nominal value, terminate operation of the electric machine and propel the vehicle via the engine. The controller further is programmed to, in response to operation of the electric machine to propel the vehicle while the vehicle is in a reserve vehicle operation mode and depletion of the battery charge to a reserve value that is greater than the nominal value, terminate operation of the electric machine and propel the vehicle via the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2019Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Christopher Michael Kava, Alan Robert Dona, Brandon R. Masterson
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Publication number: 20210053551Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, and a controller. The engine and the electric machine are configured to simultaneously generate power in a hybrid mode. The controller is programmed to, responsive to a power demand decreasing to less than a first threshold while the vehicle is operating in the hybrid mode, shutdown the engine. The controller is further programmed to, responsive to the power demand decreasing to less than the first threshold and an operator input to extend the hybrid mode, override shutting down the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2020Publication date: February 25, 2021Inventors: Christopher Michael Kava, Kenneth Frederick, Floyd Cadwell, Justin Reuel Badger
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Patent number: 10857991Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, and a controller. The engine and the electric machine are each configured to generate power. The controller is programmed to, responsive to a power demand exceeding a first threshold while the electric machine is generating power alone, start the engine. The controller is further programmed to, responsive to the power demand exceeding the first threshold and an operator input to suppress an engine startup, override starting the engine for a predetermined period of time.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2018Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christopher Michael Kava, Kenneth Frederick, Floyd Cadwell, Justin Reuel Badger
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Publication number: 20190276001Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, and a controller. The engine and the electric machine are each configured to generate power. The controller is programmed to, responsive to a power demand exceeding a first threshold while the electric machine is generating power alone, start the engine. The controller is further programmed to, responsive to the power demand exceeding the first threshold and an operator input to suppress an engine startup, override starting the engine for a predetermined period of time.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2018Publication date: September 12, 2019Inventors: Christopher Michael KAVA, Kenneth FREDERICK, Floyd CADWELL, Justin Reuel BADGER
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Patent number: 10377243Abstract: An exemplary electrified vehicle assembly includes a coolant circuit and a controller configured to selectively direct energy into at least one component of the coolant circuit to provide a negative wheel torque.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Justin Reuel Badger, Christopher Michael Kava, Mark Anthony Rockwell, Donald Mitchem
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Patent number: 10308237Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, motor, powertrain, and controller. The engine and the motor are each configured generate power within the powertrain. The controller is programmed to, in response to full depression of accelerator and brake pedals while the vehicle is stopped and the powertrain is in drive, increase engine power to a maximum power output capacity and increase a motor torque to a predetermined torque output that is less than a maximum torque capacity.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2017Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christopher Michael Kava, Alan Robert Dona
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Publication number: 20190111912Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a transmission are described. In one example, various vehicle operating modes may be entered from a baseline vehicle operating mode and the vehicle operating modes may revert back to the baseline vehicle operating mode in a plurality of stages so that returning to the baseline operating mode may be less noticeable to vehicle occupants.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2017Publication date: April 18, 2019Inventors: Mark Anthony Rockwell, Kent Hancock, Christopher Michael Kava
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Publication number: 20180334160Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, motor, powertrain, and controller. The engine and the motor are each configured generate power within the powertrain. The controller is programmed to, in response to full depression of accelerator and brake pedals while the vehicle is stopped and the powertrain is in drive, increase engine power to a maximum power output capacity and increase a motor torque to a predetermined torque output that is less than a maximum torque capacity.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2017Publication date: November 22, 2018Inventors: Christopher Michael KAVA, Alan Robert DONA
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Publication number: 20170144550Abstract: An exemplary electrified vehicle assembly includes a coolant circuit and a controller configured to selectively direct energy into at least one component of the coolant circuit to provide a negative wheel torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2017Publication date: May 25, 2017Inventors: Justin Reuel Badger, Christopher Michael Kava, Mark Anthony Rockwell, Donald Mitchem
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Patent number: 9637112Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a traction battery having a battery fan, an engine, an electric machine coupled to the battery, and a controller or at least one powertrain module having a controller. The controller is programmed to respond to a change in a user selected powertrain operating mode to a performance mode. This change may occur while a pedal demand is generally constant. The controller may increase an available power of the battery to drive the electric machine without altering state of charge operating limits of the battery. The increase in available power of the battery may include increasing a state of charge of the battery or reducing the battery temperature such that a current may flow from the battery for a longer time period. Also, the overall available power for the vehicle may include operation of the engine at a higher rotational speed.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mark Anthony Rockwell, Justin Reuel Badger, Christopher Michael Kava
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Patent number: 9586485Abstract: An exemplary electrified vehicle assembly includes a coolant circuit and a controller configured to selectively direct energy into at least one component of the coolant circuit to provide a negative wheel torque.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2015Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Justin Reuel Badger, Christopher Michael Kava, Mark Anthony Rockwell, Donald Mitchem