Patents by Inventor Franco Leonardi

Franco Leonardi 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: 8134333
    Abstract: A battery and ultracapacitor device for use in a vehicle includes a positive electrode, a first negative electrode, a second negative electrode, a first separator disposed between the positive electrode and the first and second negative electrodes, and a controller communicating with the positive electrode, the first negative electrode, and the second negative electrode. A first negative electrode has a first composition and communicates with the first positive electrode. The second negative electrode has a second composition and is adjacent to the first negative electrode and a second separator. The second negative electrode communicates with the positive electrode and the first negative electrode. The first negative electrode comprises a secondary battery negative electrode. The second negative electrode comprises an ultracapacitor negative electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Carl Elder, Xiao Guang Yang, Franco Leonardi
  • Patent number: 8120223
    Abstract: An internal permanent magnet machine has multiple rotor sections, each section having multiple rotor laminations. Permanent magnets are placed asymmetrically in lamination openings to attenuate oscillations in torque caused by harmonic components of magnetic flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner, Feng Liang
  • Publication number: 20110285239
    Abstract: An internal permanent magnet machine has multiple rotor sections, each section having multiple rotor laminations. Permanent magnets are placed asymmetrically in lamination openings to attenuate oscillations in torque caused by harmonic components of magnetic flux.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner, Feng Liang
  • Patent number: 8018109
    Abstract: An internal permanent magnet machine has multiple rotor sections, each section having multiple rotor laminations. Permanent magnets are placed asymmetrically in lamination openings to attenuate oscillations in torque caused by harmonic components of magnetic flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner, Feng Liang
  • Patent number: 7979171
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle including a permanent magnet (PM) synchronous motor is provided. The motor is controlled based on direct-axis (d-axis) and quadrature-axis (q-axis) current commands. The method includes estimating permanent magnet flux linkage based on q-axis voltage and electrical angular speed, and estimating permanent magnet temperature based on permanent magnet flux linkage and the temperature coefficient of the permanent magnet. The vehicle is controlled based on the estimated permanent magnet temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ji Wu, Franco Leonardi, Feng Liang, Michael W. Degner, Daniel Luedtke
  • Publication number: 20110163699
    Abstract: A battery and ultracapacitor device for use in a vehicle includes a positive electrode, a first negative electrode, a second negative electrode, a first separator disposed between the positive electrode and the first and second negative electrodes, and a controller communicating with the positive electrode, the first negative electrode, and the second negative electrode. A first negative electrode has a first composition and communicates with the first positive electrode. The second negative electrode has a second composition and is adjacent to the first negative electrode and a second separator. The second negative electrode communicates with the positive electrode and the first negative electrode. The first negative electrode comprises a secondary battery negative electrode. The second negative electrode comprises an ultracapacitor negative electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Carl Elder, Xiao Guang Yang, Franco Leonardi
  • Publication number: 20110144843
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle including a permanent magnet (PM) synchronous motor is provided. The motor is controlled based on direct-axis (d-axis) and quadrature-axis (q-axis) current commands. The method includes estimating permanent magnet flux linkage based on q-axis voltage and electrical angular speed, and estimating permanent magnet temperature based on permanent magnet flux linkage and the temperature coefficient of the permanent magnet. The vehicle is controlled based on the estimated permanent magnet temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ji Wu, Franco Leonardi, Feng Liang, Michael W. Degner, Daniel Luedtke
  • Publication number: 20110074243
    Abstract: A stator for an electric machine has a circular stator body surrounding a rotor with an air gap therebetween. The stator has radially extending slots that define radially extending stator teeth. Multiple electric windings are located in the slots to define peripherally spaced magnetic poles. Separate coil groups establish multiple phases for the electric machine. Motor torque ripple is attenuated by forming the stator teeth with different widths for a given coil group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Feng Liang, Michael W. Degner, Wei Wu, Franco Leonardi
  • Publication number: 20110031843
    Abstract: An internal permanent magnet machine has multiple rotor sections, each section having multiple rotor laminations. Permanent magnets are placed asymmetrically in lamination openings to attenuate oscillations in torque caused by harmonic components of magnetic flux. Asymmetry is achieved by placing adjacent permanent magnets or magnet sets on the rotor periphery with different rotor magnetic pole arc angles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Feng Liang, Wei Wu, Michael W. Degner, Franco Leonardi
  • Publication number: 20110001382
    Abstract: An internal permanent magnet machine has multiple rotor sections, each section having multiple rotor laminations. Permanent magnets are placed asymmetrically in lamination openings to attenuate oscillations in torque caused by harmonic components of magnetic flux.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner, Feng Liang
  • Publication number: 20100117475
    Abstract: An internal permanent magnet machine has multiple rotor sections, each section having multiple rotor laminations. Permanent magnets are placed asymmetrically in lamination openings to attenuate oscillations in torque caused by harmonic components of magnetic flux.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner, Feng Liang
  • Patent number: 7258183
    Abstract: A stabilized electric distribution system for use in a vehicle having electric assist. The system electrically couples an electric assist bus to an accessory load bus while protecting the first electrical bus from electric assist and regenerative braking induced voltage variations. An energy management controller selectively controls each of a electric motor/generator, a DC/DC converter, and an alternator to affect electric energy distribution within the system. Preferably, the electric energy distribution is controlled to maintain the first electrical bus voltage within a predefined voltage range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, David J. Berels, John M. Miller, Ronald D. Brost, Steven G. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7244512
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing electric machines comprised of geometrically patterned arrays of permanent magnets, soft magnetic materials, and electrical conductors deposited by kinetic spraying methods directly atop a carrier. The magnets and planar coils of the present invention may be integrally formed atop carriers to form electrical machines such as motors, generators, alternators, solenoids, and actuators. The manufacturing techniques used in this invention may produce highly defined articles that do not require additional shaping or attaching steps. Very high-purity permanent and soft magnetic materials, and conductors with low oxidation are produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Ginder, Robert McCune, Franco Leonardi
  • Patent number: 7179539
    Abstract: An electric machine made from kinetically sprayed permanent magnet material and a binder material form a composite admixture having microstructure of permanent magnet material embedded in the binder material. The admixture has a permanent magnetic moment. The magnets of the present invention may be integrally formed atop carriers to form electrical machines such as motors, generators, alternators, solenoids, and actuators. The manufacturing techniques used in this invention may produce highly defined articles that do not require additional shaping or attaching steps. Very high-purity permanent and soft magnetic materials, and conductors with low oxidation are produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, John Matthew Ginder, Robert Corbly McCune
  • Patent number: 7097885
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing electric machines comprised of geometrically patterned arrays of permanent magnets, soft magnetic materials, and electrical conductors deposited by kinetic spraying methods directly atop a carrier. The magnets and planar coils of the present invention may be integrally formed atop carriers to form electrical machines such as motors, generators, alternators, solenoids, and actuators. The manufacturing techniques used in this invention may produce highly defined articles that do not require additional shaping or attaching steps. Very high-purity permanent and soft magnetic materials, and conductors with low oxidation are produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, John Matthew Ginder, Robert Corbly McCune
  • Patent number: 6984954
    Abstract: A strategy to control and diagnose the operation of an electric motor using a sensorless control system augmented by feedback from a position and speed sensor is disclosed. The strategy can improve the robustness of operation and diagnose potential faults in electric motors. The present invention includes a method for diagnosing operation of an electric motor and a method and system for controlling an electric motor. In the diagnostic method, a sensorless system and a sensor based system are checked against each other to determine if either of the systems is faulted. In the control method, the sensor based control system is used when the motor speed is below a predetermined threshold and the sensorless system is used when the motor speed is above the predetermined threshold. The position sensor can be a low resolution position sensor, an engine crankshaft sensor, an engine camshaft sensor, or a transmission sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Henry Heping Huang, John Michael Miller, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20050061561
    Abstract: A stabilized electric distribution system for use in a vehicle having electric assist. The system electrically couples an electric assist bus to an accessory load bus while protecting the first electrical bus from electric assist and regenerative braking induced voltage variations. An energy management controller selectively controls each of a electric motor/generator, a DC/DC converter, and an alternator to affect electric energy distribution within the system. Preferably, the electric energy distribution is controlled to maintain the first electrical bus voltage within a predefined voltage range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, David Berels, John Miller, Ronald Brost, Steven Thomas
  • Publication number: 20040202797
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing electric machines comprised of geometrically patterned arrays of permanent magnets, soft magnetic materials, and electrical conductors deposited by kinetic spraying methods directly atop a carrier. The magnets and planar coils of the present invention may be integrally formed atop carriers to form electrical machines such as motors, generators, alternators, solenoids, and actuators. The manufacturing techniques used in this invention may produce highly defined articles that do not require additional shaping or attaching steps. Very high-purity permanent and soft magnetic materials, and conductors with low oxidation are produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: John Ginder, Robert McCune, Franco Leonardi
  • Publication number: 20040189223
    Abstract: A strategy to control and diagnose the operation of an electric motor using a sensorless control system augmented by feedback from a position and speed sensor is disclosed. The strategy can improve the robustness of operation and diagnose potential faults in electric motors. The present invention includes a method for diagnosing operation of an electric motor and a method and system for controlling an electric motor. In the diagnostic method, a sensorless system and a sensor based system are checked against each other to determine if either of the systems is faulted. In the control method, the sensor based control system is used when the motor speed is below a predetermined threshold and the sensorless system is used when the motor speed is above the predetermined threshold. The position sensor can be a low resolution position sensor, an engine crankshaft sensor, an engine camshaft sensor, or a transmission sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Henry Heping Huang, John Michael Miller, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 6773763
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a permanent magnet by the steps of preparing an admixture of magnetic material and binder material, the admixture material having a particle size of less than 325 mesh. Then heating a carrier gas to a temperature substantially below the melting point of either component of the admixture. The admixture is introduced into the carrier gas and the admixture is sprayed atop a ductile carrier. The admixture adheres to the carrier and forms a solid permanent magnet. An electric field is applied to the sprayed admixture to create a permanent magnetic moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, John Matthew Ginder, Robert Corbly McCune