Patents by Inventor Fan Xu

Fan Xu 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).

  • Common-mode choke for paralleled power semiconductor
    Patent number: 10476380
    Abstract: A power module includes a plurality of switching devices. The switching devices are electrically coupled in parallel and triggered by a common gate signal. The switching devices are further attached to a substrate that includes a first coil and a second coil formed around a common axis to define a common mode choke in a gate path and a Kelvin source/emitter path of each of the switching devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fan Xu, Lihua Chen, Shahram Zarei
  • Variable resistance power switch feedback
    Patent number: 10432186
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain has a power inverter that includes a load switch with a main emitter and a current mirror emitter, a variable resistor coupled between the current mirror emitter and the main emitter, and a controller. The controller may be configured to adjust a gate voltage based on a voltage across the variable resistor, and responsive to the gate voltage exceeding a Miller plateau gate voltage, increase a variable resistor resistance such that feedback increases as the load switch saturates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shuitao Yang, Yan Zhou, Lihua Chen, Fan Xu, Mohammed Khorshed Alam, Baoming Ge
  • WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER WITH GENERALIZED HARMONIC CURRENT
    Publication number: 20190296573
    Abstract: A wireless charging arrangement has primary side circuitry including a voltage source, switches, and a primary coil arranged to couple with a secondary coil. The primary side circuitry forms a series resonant converter when transferring power from the primary coil to the secondary coil. The wireless charging arrangement also includes a controller to selectively activate the switches to cause the transferring such that for each fundamental cycle, a pair of consecutive active resonant cycles have same polarity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Shuitao Yang, Fan Xu, Baoming Ge, Lihua Chen, Mohammed Khorshed Alam
  • Power module with multi-layer substrate
    Patent number: 10403558
    Abstract: A power system has a single-side-cooled power module including a contiguous five-layer substrate of two insulative layers interleaved with three conductive layers. A center one of the conductive layers is partitioned to define discrete spaced apart positive terminal and output terminal portions, and an outer of the conductive layers defines a negative terminal portion such that the positive terminal and negative terminal portions overlap. The power system also has semiconductors respectively in direct contact with the positive terminal and output terminal portions without directly contacting the other layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fan Xu, Lihua Chen, Sadashi Seto, Shuitao Yang, Yan Zhou, Baoming Ge
  • GATE LOOP DIFFERENTIAL MODE CHOKE FOR PARALLEL POWER DEVICE SWITCHING CURRENT BALANCE
    Publication number: 20190267986
    Abstract: A power electronics module is arranged to pass power between a traction battery and electric machine, and includes a pair of parallel power transistors and a differential mode choke arranged to, responsive to current flow through the choke, drive gate voltages of the power transistors apart to reduce differences in current magnitudes output by the transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Fan Xu, Lihua Chen, Baoming Ge, Yan Zhou, Shuitao Yang
  • INTERLEAVED VARIABLE VOLTAGE CONVERTER
    Publication number: 20190267888
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes a direct-current (DC)-DC power converter and a controller. The DC-DC power converter includes first, second, and third legs in parallel, wherein the first leg is configured to carry a first DC current substantially equal to a sum of DC currents of the second and third legs. The controller may be configured to modulate switches of the first leg at a frequency greater than at least twice that of the second and third legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Baoming Ge, Lihua Chen, Shahram Zarei, Fan Xu
  • Gate loop differential mode choke for parallel power device switching current balance
    Patent number: 10389352
    Abstract: A power electronics module is arranged to pass power between a traction battery and electric machine, and includes a pair of parallel power transistors and a differential mode choke arranged to, responsive to current flow through the choke, drive gate voltages of the power transistors apart to reduce differences in current magnitudes output by the transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fan Xu, Lihua Chen, Baoming Ge, Yan Zhou, Shuitao Yang
  • Active discharge circuit for link capacitor using phase leg switches
    Patent number: 10384561
    Abstract: A DC link capacitor in a drive system for an electric vehicle is quickly discharged using only local action within an inverter module and without any extra components to dissipate the charge. The inverter has a phase leg comprising an upper switching device and a lower switching device coupled across the capacitor. A gate driver is coupled to the phase leg to alternately switch the switching devices to ON state according to a PWM signal during pulse-width modulation of the drive system. The gate driver is configured to discharge the link capacitor during a discharge event by simultaneously activating the upper and lower switching devices to transitional states. Thus use of transitional states ensures that the switching devices provide an impedance that dissipates the capacitor charge while protecting the devices from excessive temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Shuitao Yang, Yan Zhou, Fan Xu, Mohammed Khorshed Alam, Lihua Chen
  • VEHICULAR TRACTION INVERTER TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20190223330
    Abstract: A vehicular system includes a pump, configured to circulate coolant for a traction inverter, and a controller, The controller may be configured to, responsive to each of a temperature of the traction inverter falling outside a first range or a requested flow rate of the pump falling outside a second range, operate the pump at a predefined speed, otherwise, operate the pump at a speed based on a difference between the temperature and a temperature associated with the coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Lihua Chen, Baoming Ge, Fan Wang, Shahram Zarei, Fan Xu, Mohammed Khorshed Alam, Yan Zhou, Shuitao Yang, Petros G. Taskas
  • COMMON-MODE CHOKE FOR PARALLELED POWER SEMICONDUCTOR
    Publication number: 20190222118
    Abstract: A power module includes a plurality of switching devices. The switching devices are electrically coupled in parallel and triggered by a common gate signal. The switching devices are further attached to a substrate that includes a first coil and a second coil formed around a common axis to define a common mode choke in a gate path and a Kelvin source/emitter path of each of the switching devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Fan XU, Lihua CHEN, Shahram ZAREI
  • INTERLEAVED DC-DC CONVERTER FOR ELECTRIFIED VEHICLES
    Publication number: 20190181766
    Abstract: A DC-DC voltage converter for an electric vehicle connects between a battery pack and a DC link having upper and lower link capacitors. When a target voltage on the link is less than twice the battery voltage, the capacitors are charged in series from two interleaved switching legs of the converter simultaneously for part of the time, and charged in series from only one of the switching legs for part of the time. When the target voltage is between 2 and 4 times the battery voltage, the upper capacitor is charged alone from both legs for part of the time, the upper capacitor is charged alone from only one of the legs for part of the time, the lower capacitor is charged alone from both legs for part of the time, and the lower capacitor is charged alone from only one of the legs for part of the time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Baoming GE, Lihua CHEN, Fan XU, Shuitao YANG
  • Configurable hybrid drive systems
    Patent number: 10320220
    Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle includes an electric machine and a controller. The electric machine has electrically isolated windings and is coupled with an inverter. The controller may be programmed to configure respective terminals of the windings to form a Y-connection, and responsive to an electrical connection between the vehicle and a 3-phase power grid, reconfigure the respective terminals such that each is coupled to a respective phase of the 3-phase power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Baoming Ge, Lihua Chen, Shuitao Yang, Yan Zhou, Fan Xu, Mohammed Khorshed Alam
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING RELEVANT MEDIA CONTENT
    Publication number: 20190166397
    Abstract: Present example embodiments relate generally to systems, devices, and methods for managing video content. The method may include receiving an input video having one or more video frames. The method may also include selecting a video frame from the input video that displays a target product and/or other feature. The method may also include generating an alternative representation of the target product and/or other feature displayed in the selected video frame. The method may also include searching a content database for media content that is likely to pertain to the target product and/or other feature displayed in the selected video frame. The searching of the content database may be performed using the alternative representation of the target product and/or other feature. The method may also include associating a most likely matching media content found, in the searching, to the selected video frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Guangda Li, Zheng Song, Fan Xu
  • POWER DEVICE PARAMETER ADJUSTMENT
    Publication number: 20190152322
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor; and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to determine, based on a measurement performed in a vehicle, that a parameter of a power device is outside of a predetermined range; and actuate components in the vehicle to heat the power device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Petros Taskas, Lihua Chen, Shuitao Yang, Fan Xu, Mohammed Khorshed Alam, Baoming Ge
  • VARIABLE RESISTANCE POWER SWITCH FEEDBACK
    Publication number: 20190149145
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain has a power inverter that includes a load switch with a main emitter and a current mirror emitter, a variable resistor coupled between the current mirror emitter and the main emitter, and a controller. The controller may be configured to adjust a gate voltage based on a voltage across the variable resistor, and responsive to the gate voltage exceeding a Miller plateau gate voltage, increase a variable resistor resistance such that feedback increases as the load switch saturates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Shuitao Yang, Yan Zhou, Lihua Chen, Fan Xu, Mohammed Khorshed Alam, Baoming Ge
  • Fault detection of a bypass diode in a variable voltage convert system
    Patent number: 10272785
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes a variable voltage converter, a bypass diode and a controller. The bypass diode may be coupled in parallel with the converter and configured to clamp an output of the converter to a battery voltage. The controller may be configured to, while in a boost mode and in response to a rate of change of a converter inductor current exceeding a boost threshold, open switches of the converter to divert propulsive energy through the bypass diode. The controller may also be configured to, while in buck mode and in response to a magnitude of a converter inductor current exceeding a buck threshold, open switches of the converter to divert regenerative energy through the bypass diode, while reversed biased, to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammed Khorshed Alam, Yan Zhou, Shuitao Yang, Fan Xu, Lihua Chen
  • ISOLATED DUAL BUS HYBRID VEHICLE DRIVETRAIN
    Publication number: 20190084444
    Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle includes a Y-wound generator, a Y-wound motor, a generator inverter, a motor inverter, and a traction battery. The Y-wound generator and Y-wound motor are coupled via each respective neutral terminal. The generator inverter is coupled between the Y-wound generator and a generator bus and the motor inverter is coupled between the Y-wound motor and a motor bus. The traction battery has a first terminal coupled to each neutral terminal and a second terminal coupled to bus terminals of the generator and motor bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Baoming Ge, Lihua Chen, Yan Zhou, Shuitao Yang, Fan Xu
  • BG1 compositions and methods to increase agronomic performance of plants
    Patent number: 10221425
    Abstract: Methods and compositions that affect yield and other agronomic characteristics in plants are disclosed. Methods of transgenic modulation and marker-assisted breeding methods improve grain size and grain yield in rice are also disclosed. Increased expression of BG1 results in increased grain size and yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF GENETICS AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Chengcai Chu, Linchuan Liu, Hongning Tong, Bin Hu, Chengzhen Liang, Ronghui Che, Fan Xu
  • CONFIGURABLE HYBRID DRIVE SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20190061537
    Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle includes an electric machine and a controller. The electric machine has electrically isolated windings and is coupled with an inverter. The controller may be programmed to configure respective terminals of the windings to form a Y-connection, and responsive to an electrical connection between the vehicle and a 3-phase power grid, reconfigure the respective terminals such that each is coupled to a respective phase of the 3-phase power grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Baoming Ge, Lihua Chen, Shuitao Yang, Yan Zhou, Fan Xu, Mohammed Khorshed Alam
  • POWER MODULE WITH MULTI-LAYER SUBSTRATE
    Publication number: 20190067160
    Abstract: A power system has a single-side-cooled power module including a contiguous five-layer substrate of two insulative layers interleaved with three conductive layers. A center one of the conductive layers is partitioned to define discrete spaced apart positive terminal and output terminal portions, and an outer of the conductive layers defines a negative terminal portion such that the positive terminal and negative terminal portions overlap. The power system also has semiconductors respectively in direct contact with the positive terminal and output terminal portions without directly contacting the other layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Fan Xu, Lihua Chen, Sadashi Seto, Shuitao Yang, Yan Zhou, Baoming Ge