Patents by Inventor Daniel F. Hanks

Daniel F. Hanks 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: 12365215
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for an enhanced heat pump are provided. An example embodiment includes a housing, the housing having a particular number of connection ports, each connection port being connected to a component of the electric vehicle, and the connection ports being configured to pass fluid; and a stemshell positioned within the housing, the stemshell comprising a plurality of channels, wherein at least a portion of the channels are in fluidic connection with the connection ports, wherein the stemshell is configured to rotate within the housing, and wherein rotation causes adjustment of the connection ports correspond which correspond to the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Prem Pinto, Daniel F. Hanks
  • Publication number: 20250177591
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for sanitizing an enclosed space that can be shared among multiple persons. In some embodiments, a sanitation system detects a current environmental condition associated with the enclosed space to generate sensor data. The sanitation system then obtains or generates a sanitation routine based at least in part on the sensor data. Based on the sanitation routine, the sanitation system causes a component associated with the enclosed space to adjust the current environmental condition toward a target environmental condition, where the sanitation routine specifies the component and the target environmental condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Forrest Wen Liau, Jorge C. Fialho, Daniel F. Hanks
  • Publication number: 20240278617
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for an enhanced heat pump are provided. An example embodiment includes a housing, the housing having a particular number of connection ports, each connection port being connected to a component of the electric vehicle, and the connection ports being configured to pass fluid; and a stemshell positioned within the housing, the stemshell comprising a plurality of channels, wherein at least a portion of the channels are in fluidic connection with the connection ports, wherein the stemshell is configured to rotate within the housing, and wherein rotation causes adjustment of the connection ports correspond which correspond to the channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2024
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: Prem Pinto, Daniel F. Hanks
  • Publication number: 20240140163
    Abstract: A vehicle thermal management system includes a vehicle heat pump system, a battery system coolant loop, a drive train coolant loop, and control electronics. The vehicle heat pump system includes a compressor, a cabin condenser, a cabin evaporator, a cabin blower, and a chiller. The battery system coolant loop is in thermal communication with a battery system and with the chiller and selectively in thermal communication with the drive train coolant loop. The control electronics control the components of the vehicle thermal management system to heat the cabin, cool the cabin, heat the battery system, cool the battery system, and cool the drive train. The control electronics may control the compressor to operate in an efficient mode or a lossy mode in which the compressor generates heat. The control electronics may also control the components of the vehicle thermal management system to precondition the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Nicholas Mancini, Joseph Stratford Maxwell Mardall, Jan Kopitz, Curt Raymond O'Donnell, Daniel F. Hanks, Huize Li
  • Patent number: 11932078
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for an enhanced heat pump are provided. An example embodiment includes a housing, the housing having a particular number of connection ports, each connection port being connected to a component of the electric vehicle, and the connection ports being configured to pass fluid; and a stemshell positioned within the housing, the stemshell comprising a plurality of channels, wherein at least a portion of the channels are in fluidic connection with the connection ports, wherein the stemshell is configured to rotate within the housing, and wherein rotation causes adjustment of the connection ports correspond which correspond to the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Prem Pinto, Daniel F. Hanks
  • Patent number: 11807067
    Abstract: A vehicle thermal management system includes a vehicle heat pump system, a battery system coolant loop, a drive train coolant loop, and control electronics. The vehicle heat pump system includes a compressor, a cabin condenser, a cabin evaporator, a cabin blower, and a chiller. The battery system coolant loop is in thermal communication with a battery system and with the chiller and selectively in thermal communication with the drive train coolant loop. The control electronics control the components of the vehicle thermal management system to heat the cabin, cool the cabin, heat the battery system, cool the battery system, and cool the drive train. The control electronics may control the compressor to operate in an efficient mode or a lossy mode in which the compressor generates heat. The control electronics may also control the components of the vehicle thermal management system to precondition the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Mancini, Joseph Stratford Maxwell Mardall, Jan Kopitz, Curt Raymond O'Donnell, Daniel F. Hanks, Huize Li
  • Publication number: 20220314735
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for an enhanced heat pump are provided. An example embodiment includes a housing, the housing having a particular number of connection ports, each connection port being connected to a component of the electric vehicle, and the connection ports being configured to pass fluid; and a stemshell positioned within the housing, the stemshell comprising a plurality of channels, wherein at least a portion of the channels are in fluidic connection with the connection ports, wherein the stemshell is configured to rotate within the housing, and wherein rotation causes adjustment of the connection ports correspond which correspond to the channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Prem Pinto, Daniel F. Hanks
  • Publication number: 20210331554
    Abstract: A vehicle thermal management system includes a vehicle heat pump system, a battery system coolant loop, a drive train coolant loop, and control electronics. The vehicle heat pump system includes a compressor, a cabin condenser, a cabin evaporator, a cabin blower, and a chiller. The battery system coolant loop is in thermal communication with a battery system and with the chiller and selectively in thermal communication with the drive train coolant loop. The control electronics control the components of the vehicle thermal management system to heat the cabin, cool the cabin, heat the battery system, cool the battery system, and cool the drive train. The control electronics may control the compressor to operate in an efficient mode or a lossy mode in which the compressor generates heat. The control electronics may also control the components of the vehicle thermal management system to precondition the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Nicholas Mancini, Joseph Stratford Maxwell Mardall, Jan Kopitz, Curt Raymond O'Donnell, Daniel F. Hanks, Huize Li
  • Patent number: 10967702
    Abstract: A vehicle thermal management system includes a vehicle heat pump system, a battery system coolant loop, a drive train coolant loop, and control electronics. The vehicle heat pump system includes a compressor, a cabin condenser, a cabin evaporator, a cabin blower, and a chiller. The battery system coolant loop is in thermal communication with a battery system and with the chiller and selectively in thermal communication with the drive train coolant loop. The control electronics control the components of the vehicle thermal management system to heat the cabin, cool the cabin, heat the battery system, cool the battery system, and cool the drive train. The control electronics may control the compressor to operate in an efficient mode or a lossy mode in which the compressor generates heat. The control electronics may also control the components of the vehicle thermal management system to precondition the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Mancini, Joseph Stratford Maxwell Mardall, Jan Kopitz, Curt Raymond O'Donnell, Daniel F. Hanks, Huize Li
  • Publication number: 20190070924
    Abstract: A vehicle thermal management system includes a vehicle heat pump system, a battery system coolant loop, a drive train coolant loop, and control electronics. The vehicle heat pump system includes a compressor, a cabin condenser, a cabin evaporator, a cabin blower, and a chiller. The battery system coolant loop is in thermal communication with a battery system and with the chiller and selectively in thermal communication with the drive train coolant loop. The control electronics control the components of the vehicle thermal management system to heat the cabin, cool the cabin, heat the battery system, cool the battery system, and cool the drive train. The control electronics may control the compressor to operate in an efficient mode or a lossy mode in which the compressor generates heat. The control electronics may also control the components of the vehicle thermal management system to precondition the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Mancini, Joseph Stratford Maxwell Mardall, Jan Kopitz, Curt Raymond O'Donnell, Daniel F. Hanks, Huize Li