Patents by Inventor Goro Tamai
Goro Tamai 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: 12148946Abstract: An immersion cooling system for a battery system includes a battery enclosure and G battery cell groups arranged in the battery enclosure. Each of the G battery cell groups include C battery cells, where G and C are integers greater than one. A plurality of dividers are arranged between each of the G battery cell groups. A gas manifold removes vent gases from each of the G battery cell groups.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2022Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Taeyoung Han, Ryan Patrick Hickey, Matthew Swift, Chih-hung Yen, William Yu Chen, Goro Tamai, Bahram Khalighi
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Publication number: 20240300381Abstract: A thermal management system for a rechargeable battery pack assembly includes a conduit having an upstream end and a downstream end, the downstream end operatively connectable to an enclosure of the rechargeable battery pack assembly at a port of the rechargeable battery pack assembly. A sealing mechanism is configured to transition from a first state in which the sealing mechanism blocks flow of an applied stream of water through the conduit from the upstream end through the port, to a second state in which the sealing mechanism permits flow from the upstream end to the port and through the port into the interior cavity to cool the interior cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2023Publication date: September 12, 2024Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Andrew P. Oury, Roger M. Brisbane, Goro Tamai, Mohammed Bahauddin, Galen E. Ressler, Calvin Goodman, Giles D. Bryer
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Patent number: 12087927Abstract: A battery module includes a first pouch battery cell and a neighboring second pouch battery cell. The battery module also includes a dielectric fluid in direct contact with and in circulation over and around each of the first and second pouch cells. The battery module additionally includes an immersion barrier positioned between the first and second pouch cells and defining an opening for controlling passage of the dielectric fluid between the first and the second pouch cells. The barrier thereby facilitates localization of a thermal runaway event in the first pouch cell by minimizing transfer of high temperature gases between the first and the second pouch cells via the dielectric fluid and controls propagation of the thermal runaway event in the module. The battery module further includes an enclosure housing and retaining each of the first and second pouch cells, the dielectric fluid, and the immersion barrier.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2022Date of Patent: September 10, 2024Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Ryan P. Hickey, Matthew Swift, Goro Tamai
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Publication number: 20240186811Abstract: A charging system of a vehicle includes an inverter of a propulsion system, the inverter connected to an electric motor and a battery system of the vehicle, and a switching assembly including a plurality of switches. The charging system also includes a controller configured to control the switching assembly to connect the inverter and the electric motor to a charge port of the vehicle and define a conversion circuit including one or more inverter switches and the electric motor by selectively connecting the charge port to the inverter or the electric motor and selectively connecting the battery system to the electric motor by the switching assembly. The controller is configured to operate the conversion circuit to adjust at least one of an input voltage for charging the battery system from a power source, and an output voltage for discharging the battery system to charge an external energy storage system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2022Publication date: June 6, 2024Inventors: Chandra S. Namuduri, Rashmi Prasad, Goro Tamai, Minh-Khai Nguyen
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Publication number: 20230369678Abstract: An immersion cooling system for a battery system includes a battery enclosure and C metal-encased, pouch-type battery cells including C metal cases, C pouch-type battery cells arranged in the C metal cases, respectively, where C is an integer greater than one, and C vents on the C metal cases, respectively. A vent gas manifold is in fluid communication with the C vents of the C metal cases and is configured to remove vent gas passing through the C vents of the C metal cases from the battery enclosure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2022Publication date: November 16, 2023Inventors: Taeyoung HAN, Chih-hung Yen, Ryan Patrick Hickey, Matthew Swift, William Yu Chen, Goro Tamai, Bahram Khalighi
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Publication number: 20230369708Abstract: An immersion cooling system for a battery system includes a battery enclosure and G battery cell groups arranged in the battery enclosure. Each of the G battery cell groups include C battery cells, where G and C are integers greater than one. A plurality of dividers are arranged between each of the G battery cell groups. A gas manifold removes vent gases from each of the G battery cell groups.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2022Publication date: November 16, 2023Inventors: Taeyoung HAN, Ryan Patrick Hickey, Matthew Swift, Chih-hung Yen, William Yu Chen, Goro Tamai, Bahram Khalighi
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Publication number: 20230299379Abstract: A battery module includes a first pouch battery cell and a neighboring second pouch battery cell. The battery module also includes a dielectric fluid in direct contact with and in circulation over and around each of the first and second pouch cells. The battery module additionally includes an immersion barrier positioned between the first and second pouch cells and defining an opening for controlling passage of the dielectric fluid between the first and the second pouch cells. The barrier thereby facilitates localization of a thermal runaway event in the first pouch cell by minimizing transfer of high temperature gases between the first and the second pouch cells via the dielectric fluid and controls propagation of the thermal runaway event in the module. The battery module further includes an enclosure housing and retaining each of the first and second pouch cells, the dielectric fluid, and the immersion barrier.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2022Publication date: September 21, 2023Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Ryan P. Hickey, Matthew Swift, Goro Tamai
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Patent number: 11662013Abstract: A vehicle stalactite passive lubrication system includes a drive unit having an electric motor and a gear. A sump has a sump extension. A lubricant is collected in the sump for gravity flow into the sump extension. A stalactite member is fixed to the drive unit and is positioned above an element to be filled with a fluid, lubricated or cooled. The stalactite member is directed downwardly toward the sump with the lubricant splashed by gear rotation collected on neighboring walls and the stalactite member and directed downwardly by gravity into the sump or target element. The stalactite member includes: a drip edge oriented at an angle to a horizontal plane; and a tip defining an end of the drip edge. The angle is selected to direct the lubricant to discharge off the stalactite member at the tip as a lubricant stream into the sump or target element.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Goro Tamai, Robert P. McCleary, Marc R. Yarnall, David J. Varda
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Publication number: 20220258571Abstract: A vehicle system is described that includes a multi-phase rotary electric motor rotatably coupled via a rotatable member to an air-conditioning compressor, and a remotely located rechargeable energy storage system (RESS). The RESS includes a first power inverter that is electrically coupled to the multi-phase rotary electric motor via a plurality of electric power cables, a second power inverter that is electrically coupled to a second electric machine, a DC power source, and a chiller. A controller is in communication with and controllably coupled to the first power inverter and the second power inverter. The controller is operative to control the first power inverter to operate the multi-phase rotary electric motor in an open-loop control scheme.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2021Publication date: August 18, 2022Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Goro Tamai, Marco A. Lopes, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Matthew Swift
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Publication number: 20220090673Abstract: A vehicle stalactite passive lubrication system includes a drive unit having an electric motor and a gear. A sump has a sump extension. A lubricant is collected in the sump for gravity flow into the sump extension. A stalactite member is fixed to the drive unit and is positioned above an element to be filled with a fluid, lubricated or cooled. The stalactite member is directed downwardly toward the sump with the lubricant splashed by gear rotation collected on neighboring walls and the stalactite member and directed downwardly by gravity into the sump or target element. The stalactite member includes: a drip edge oriented at an angle to a horizontal plane; and a tip defining an end of the drip edge. The angle is selected to direct the lubricant to discharge off the stalactite member at the tip as a lubricant stream into the sump or target element.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2020Publication date: March 24, 2022Inventors: Goro Tamai, Robert P. McCleary, Marc R. Yarnall, David J. Varda
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Patent number: 11224147Abstract: A switch of an inverter module is disposed in a coolant channel, is configured to be immersed in coolant in the coolant channel, and includes: a first terminal disposed on a first plane and configured to connect to a direct current (DC) reference potential; a second terminal disposed on a second plane and configured to connect to an alternating current (AC) reference potential; a gate, an emitter, and a collector; first cooling features that extend away from the first and second planes, that directly contact the first terminal, and that are configured to allow coolant flow therethrough; and second cooling features that extend away from the first cooling features, the first plane, and the second plane, that directly contact the second terminal, and that are configured to allow coolant flow therethrough.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2020Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Chih-hung Yen, Goro Tamai, Konstantinos Triantos, David R. Clark, Tim M. Grewe
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Publication number: 20210376411Abstract: A temperature regulation system for a battery is provided. The temperature regulation system includes an electrochemical cell, which may be in the form of a battery. The electrochemical cell includes a housing having a first side surface that extends from a first end to a second end, and a first temperature control chamber containing a dielectric fluid. The first temperature control chamber is located along the first side surface of the housing or along at least one of the first end or the second end of the housing. The dielectric fluid is in direct contact with the housing at the first side surface or at the first end or the second end.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2020Publication date: December 2, 2021Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Chih-hung YEN, David R. CLARK, Matthew SWIFT, Taeyoung HAN, Kuo-huey CHEN, Bahram KHALIGHI, Goro TAMAI, Chih-cheng HSU
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Patent number: 11146132Abstract: A permanent magnet electric machine (PM machine) includes a rotor with rotatable magnets and a stator defining an air gap with the rotor. An actuator rotates the rotatable magnets at predetermined operating points through an angular distance sufficient for changing magnetic pole orientations of the rotatable magnets, and thus modifies magnetic flux linkage with stator windings across the air gap. Fixed magnets may be arranged around a circumference of the rotor. The actuator may be actively or passively driven. Flux-shunting elements are optionally disposed in the rotor to further modify the flux linkage. A gear set connected to torque transfer elements may be driven by the actuator to rotate the rotatable magnets. A vehicle includes drive wheels, a transmission, and the PM machine. A method controls magnetic flux linkage in the PM machine noted above.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2020Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Shawn H. Swales, Khwaja M. Rahman, Craig S. Ross, Goro Tamai
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Patent number: 11121595Abstract: A permanent magnet electric machine (PM machine) for a vehicle or other system includes a rotor assembly, fixed permanent magnets, a stator, an actuator, and one or more repositionable/moveable flux-shunting elements. The flux-shunting element is repositioned to control flux at specific operating points of the PM machine. The rotor assembly has a rotor coaxially surrounding and coupled to a rotor shaft. The permanent magnets are mounted to or in the rotor, and the moveable flux-shunting element is positioned between the rotor shaft and a respective one of the permanent magnets. Inboard and outboard ends of each respective permanent magnet may be oriented toward the rotor shaft and stator, respectively. The actuator selectively positions the moveable flux-shunting element at one or more operating points of the PM machine to vary reluctance in a magnetic circuit formed by the stator and rotor assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Craig S. Ross, Khwaja M. Rahman, Goro Tamai, Shawn H. Swales
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Patent number: 11054001Abstract: An electric drive unit includes an electric motor, a differential assembly, and a double-helical gearset positioned between and interconnecting the electric motor and the differential assembly and adapted to transfer rotational motion from the electric motor to the differential assembly, the double-helical gearset including a driving double-helical gear rotationally mounted onto a transfer shaft of the electric motor and including a right-hand helix, a left-hand helix and a gap extending circumferentially between the right-hand helix and the left-hand helix, and a driven double-helical gear rotationally mounted onto a housing of the differential assembly and including a right-hand helix, a left-hand helix and a gap extending circumferentially between the right-hand helix and the left-hand helix, and a park gear positioned within the gap between the right hand helix and the left hand helix of one of the driving double-helical gear and the driven double-helical gear, wherein one of the driving double-helical geType: GrantFiled: July 15, 2020Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Goro Tamai, Shawn H. Swales, Mohammad Hotait
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Patent number: 10969236Abstract: A system and method of determining a vehicle route based on user-provided trip constraints. The method includes the steps of: receiving user trip parameters for a vehicle trip from a vehicle user via a human-machine interface, wherein the vehicle trip includes a start location and an end location, and wherein the user trip parameters include a nausea reduction option; accessing geographical roadway map data for an area corresponding to the vehicle trip; determining a plurality of potential routes for the vehicle trip based on the user trip parameters and the geographical roadway map data; determining a cumulative nausea index score for each of the potential routes; and selecting one of the potential routes as the vehicle route for the vehicle trip based on the cumulative nausea index score.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLCInventors: Goro Tamai, Birendra P. Bhattarai, Steven A. Tarnowsky
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Patent number: 10960883Abstract: A powertrain system for a vehicle is described, and includes an internal combustion engine that is selectively coupled to a driveline. The engine is configured to operate in a coasting mode, wherein the coasting mode includes operating the powertrain system with the engine in an OFF state and decoupled from the driveline. Devices are configured to monitor an output torque request, vehicle speed, and vehicle operating conditions. An executable instruction set monitors the vehicle speed and the output torque request. The engine is controlled to operate in the coasting mode when the output torque request is within the predetermined torque region and the vehicle speed is greater than a minimum speed threshold. The engine is controlled to discontinue operating in the coasting mode in response to the output torque request being outside the torque region of the vehicle speed being less than a minimum speed threshold.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2018Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Goro Tamai, Birendra P Bhattarai, Daniel E Nicholson
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Patent number: 10688881Abstract: A communication module is configured to obtain, from a first computing device associated with an energy receiver, an energy request. The energy request includes a location of the energy receiver and an amount of energy requested. A selection module is configured to generate a list of energy sources available to satisfy the energy request. The communication module is further configured to: transmit the list of energy sources to the first computing device for display; receive, from the first computing device, a selection of one energy source from the list of energy sources; and transmit, to the first computing device and a second computing device associated with the selected one energy source, a location at which the energy request is to be fulfilled. An energy transfer module is configured to selectively enable an electrical energy transfer from the selected one energy source to the energy receiver.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2018Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Steven A. Tarnowsky, Goro Tamai, Anthony J. Corsetti, Kunaal Verma, Donald R. Gignac, Freddy V. Rayes, Apral S. Hara, Allan K. Lewis, William Marsh
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Publication number: 20200191589Abstract: A system and method of determining a vehicle route based on user-provided trip constraints. The method includes the steps of: receiving user trip parameters for a vehicle trip from a vehicle user via a human-machine interface, wherein the vehicle trip includes a start location and an end location, and wherein the user trip parameters include a nausea reduction option; accessing geographical roadway map data for an area corresponding to the vehicle trip; determining a plurality of potential routes for the vehicle trip based on the user trip parameters and the geographical roadway map data; determining a cumulative nausea index score for each of the potential routes; and selecting one of the potential routes as the vehicle route for the vehicle trip based on the cumulative nausea index score.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2018Publication date: June 18, 2020Inventors: Goro Tamai, Birendra P. Bhattarai, Steven A. Tarnowsky
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Publication number: 20200153299Abstract: A permanent magnet electric machine (PM machine) includes a rotor with rotatable magnets and a stator defining an air gap with the rotor. An actuator rotates the rotatable magnets at predetermined operating points through an angular distance sufficient for changing magnetic pole orientations of the rotatable magnets, and thus modifies magnetic flux linkage with stator windings across the air gap. Fixed magnets may be arranged around a circumference of the rotor. The actuator may be actively or passively driven. Flux-shunting elements are optionally disposed in the rotor to further modify the flux linkage. A gear set connected to torque transfer elements may be driven by the actuator to rotate the rotatable magnets. A vehicle includes drive wheels, a transmission, and the PM machine. A method controls magnetic flux linkage in the PM machine noted above.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2020Publication date: May 14, 2020Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Shawn H. Swales, Khwaja M. Rahman, Craig S. Ross, Goro Tamai