Patents by Inventor Insu Chang

Insu Chang 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).

  • Publication number: 20250070351
    Abstract: A pressure management system includes a pressure plate disposed at an initial position relative to a battery cell, the battery cell disposed in a housing, the pressure plate and the housing defining an enclosure, where an increase in an internal pressure of the battery cell causes an expansion force to be applied to the pressure plate. The system includes a mechanical linkage attached to the pressure plate, the mechanical linkage configured to translate the expansion force to a reverse force that is opposed to the expansion force, and a rotatable component connected to the mechanical linkage, the rotatable component configured to rotate from a first orientation to a second orientation based on lateral movement of the mechanical linkage to allow the pressure plate to move and increase a volume of the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Yongjie Zhu, Chunhao J. Lee, Jun-mo Kang, Insu Chang
  • Publication number: 20250030037
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an apparatus for performing a method of controlling a pressure within a battery. The battery is disclosed between a support plate at a first side of the battery and a pressure plate disposed at a second side of the battery opposite the first side. The pressure plate is movable with respect to the support plate to control the pressure of the battery and including a first plate wedge. The first actuator wedge is moved parallel to the pressure plate with the first actuator wedge in contact with the first plate wedge to control a force applied by the first actuator wedge to the first plate wedge to move the pressure plate with respect to the support plate. Moving the pressure plate controls the pressure within the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Alexander Millerman, Chunhao J. Lee, Yongjie Zhu, Insu Chang, Jun-mo Kang, Chen-fang Chang
  • Publication number: 20250030039
    Abstract: A pressure management system includes a pressure plate configured to be disposed at an initial position relative to a battery cell in a housing, the initial position including a first orientation, a tilting assembly configured to allow the pressure plate to change from a first orientation to a second orientation based on the expansion force being non-uniform. The system includes a mechanical linkage attached to the pressure plate and configured to move laterally in response to the expansion force and translate the expansion force to a reactive force, and a biasing system including a biasing member configured to resist a lateral movement of the mechanical linkage. The biasing system is configured to apply a biasing force that causes the mechanical linkage to apply the reactive force, and based on the expansion force being non-uniform, is controllable to change the biasing force to balance an internal pressure of the cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Jun-mo Kang, Insu Chang, Yongjie Zhu, Chunhao J. Lee, Chen-fang Chang
  • Publication number: 20250023120
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a propulsion system having multiple electric motors. A battery system is connected to the electric motors via a direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converter and an inverter. The battery system includes a battery assembly having a plurality of battery modules. Each of the battery modules has multiple individual battery cells arranged in battery packs, a set of sensors configured to monitor a set of parameters of each battery pack, and a plurality of battery pack mounts. Each battery pack mount includes a base plate and a top plate and an actuator configured to alter a distance between plates. A monitoring unit is configured to monitor a value representative of a battery pack pressure, determine whether the value falls within a pressure threshold window, and maintain the value within the pressure threshold window by actively altering the battery pack pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Inventors: Insu Chang, Chen-fang Chang, Jun-mo Kang, Hanho Yun, Chunhao J. Lee, Yongjie Zhu, Nicholas W. Pinto
  • Publication number: 20250020723
    Abstract: A battery monitoring system for a vehicle includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions for causing the processor to estimate a state of charge of a battery based on a current cell pressure of the battery while the state of charge of the battery is below a threshold state of charge and to estimate a state of charge of the battery based on a voltage output by the battery while the state of charge of the battery is greater than or equal to the threshold state of charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Inventors: Jun-mo Kang, Hanho Yun, Insu Chang
  • Publication number: 20250015423
    Abstract: A pressure control apparatus for a battery cell includes a housing in which the battery cell is positioned, and a cell plate movably positioned in the housing and separating an interior of the housing into a cell chamber having the battery cell therein, and a pressure chamber having a volume of pressurized fluid therein. The apparatus further includes a valve configured to allow a portion of the pressurized fluid to be removed from the pressure chamber when the pressure in the pressure chamber exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: Yongjie Zhu, Meng Jiang, Chunhao J. Lee, Chen-fang Chang, Insu Chang, Jun-mo Kang
  • Publication number: 20250007019
    Abstract: Some embodiments disclosed herein are directed to vehicular battery management systems for determining the pressure of lithium-based batteries. Some embodiments may include generating a pressure measurement for a lithium-based battery based on a normalized pressure and an initial pressure value associated with the lithium-based battery, and adjusting or maintaining a compression level applied to the lithium-based battery based on the generated pressure measurement. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventors: Insu Chang, Jun-mo Kang
  • Publication number: 20250006976
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a pressure control device for controlling a pressure at a battery of a vehicle and a method of controlling the pressure of the battery. A support plate is disposed at a first side of the battery. A pressure plate disposed at a second side of the battery opposite the first side. The pressure plate movable with respect to the support plate to control the pressure of the battery. A cam disposed at the pressure plate is configured to rotate to move the pressure plate with respect to the support plate. A cam shaft rotates the cam to move the pressure plate. A motor generates a rotation at the cam shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventors: Insu Chang, Jun-mo Kang, Yongjie Zhu, Chunhao J. Lee, Chen-fang Chang
  • Publication number: 20240424945
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure include the detection of battery cell degradation. An exemplary battery management system can include a memory, computer readable instructions, and one or more processors that perform operations that include: responsive to determining that a charging state has completed, measuring a first cell voltage of a cell of the battery pack; responsive to the first cell voltage exceeding a reference voltage, measuring a second cell voltage of the cell of the battery pack; responsive to the second cell voltage being equal to the reference voltage, measuring a cell pressure of the cell of the battery pack at the reference voltage; determining a difference between the cell pressure and a prior cell pressure at the reference voltage; and responsive to the difference between the cell pressure and the prior cell pressure exceeding a threshold, identifying the cell of the battery pack as a degraded cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Insu Chang, Hanho Yun, Jun-mo Kang, Chen-fang Chang
  • Publication number: 20240429580
    Abstract: A vehicle, a pressure control device and method for controlling a pressure within a battery of the vehicle. The pressure control device includes a support plate, a pressure plate and an actuator. The pressure plate is configured to move with respect to the support plate. The battery is disposed between the support plate and the pressure plate. The actuator changes between a first shape and a second shape to move the pressure plate with respect to the support plate to control the pressure within the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Alexander Millerman, Chunhao J. Lee, Yongjie Zhu, Insu Chang, Jun-mo Kang, Chen-fang Chang
  • Patent number: 12074505
    Abstract: In various embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to distribute coolant to an electric motor. The apparatus includes a pan configured with a set of holes for coolant flow; an assembly including a set of bar linkages, a set of discs, and a single actuator motor wherein the assembly is attached to the pan wherein the single actuator motor is linked via bar linkages to discs that enable configuring a planar angle of the pan to obtain an optimum hole location of holes for coolant flow; and in response to external disturbances to the apparatus that redirect the coolant flow from the target region of the electric motor, the single actuator motor is controlled by an algorithm to change the planar angle of the pan to obtain the optimum hole location to direct coolant flow to the target region of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: SeungHwan Keum, Jun-mo Kang, Insu Chang, Young J. Kim
  • Patent number: 12015327
    Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicle apparatuses are provided. A system provides a gravity drive to distribute coolant oil flow including a nozzle for directing a flow of coolant oil over a surface of an electric motor wherein the flow of the coolant oil is caused by a gravity drive; a connector that is coupled to the nozzle that enables the nozzle to sway in response to external forces encountered by a vehicle operation and to distribute coolant oil over the exterior surface of the electric motor; and a counterweight that is coupled to the nozzle that provides a countermeasure to the external forces encountered by the vehicle operation to cause the nozzle to sway in a manner that enables the coolant oil distributed evenly across the exterior surface of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: SeungHwan Keum, Jun-mo Kang, Insu Chang, Young J. Kim
  • Patent number: 11722037
    Abstract: An interior permanent magnet motor having controllable coolant distribution is provided. The motor comprises a motor housing and a rotary shaft connected to a rotor rotatably disposed in the housing. The motor further comprises a stator unit disposed in the housing and comprising conductive windings arranged about the rotor. The windings have a straight portion radially extending to an end-turn portion. The motor further comprises an oil sump disposed on the housing above the stator unit. The oil sump comprises a reservoir having an inner side and an outer side. The reservoir has at least one aperture formed therethrough over the end-turn portion. The motor further comprises a movable nozzle having a first open end extending to a second open end. The first open end is connected to the at least one aperture such that the movable nozzle and reservoir are in fluid communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: SeungHwan Keum, Insu Chang, Jun-mo Kang, Young J. Kim
  • Patent number: 11705781
    Abstract: A system and method of active endturn cooling of an electric motor of a vehicle is provided. The method comprises providing a motor having a coolant nozzle and a cam, and measuring speed, lateral acceleration, and road tilt angle of coolant due to road tilt. The method further comprises calculating coolant angle and coolant acceleration angle based on the road tilt angle and the lateral acceleration if the speed is greater than zero. The method further comprises comparing the coolant angle with a critical angle. The method further comprises calculating a first control angle and a first coolant distance based on the road tilt angle and the lateral acceleration of the vehicle if the acceleration angle is greater than the critical angle. The method further comprises determining a cam position based on the first control angle. The method further comprises moving the cam to the position to move the nozzle and compensate for the lateral acceleration such that coolant drops within a target area of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Insu Chang, SeungHwan Keum, Jun-mo Kang, Young J. Kim
  • Patent number: 11702133
    Abstract: A yaw stability control system is provided for a motor vehicle. The system includes one or more cameras, a plurality of wheel speed sensors, a yaw angle sensor, and a steering angle sensor. The system further includes an electric motor connected to a reaction wheel. The system further includes a processor and a memory including instructions such that the processor is programmed to: determine a desired yaw angle of the motor vehicle based on a video signal, speed signals, a yaw signal, and a steering signal. The processor is further programmed to generate an actuation signal associated with the desired yaw angle. The electric motor angularly rotates the reaction wheel at a predetermined angular rate in a predetermined rotational direction to produce a counter-acting torque that rotates the motor vehicle to the desired yaw angle, in response to the electric motor receiving the actuation signal from the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Insu Chang, Jun-mo Kang, SeungHwan Keum
  • Patent number: 11660979
    Abstract: A method and system for estimating state of charge of a lithium battery cell of a vehicle is provided. The method comprises providing a non-linear function of the lithium battery cell, a normalized lithium surface density and an actual voltage at a current of the lithium battery cell having an internal resistance. The method further comprises determining an actual lithium surface density based on the actual voltage relative to an inverse of the non-linear function. The method further comprises determining a varying parameter based on the actual lithium surface density relative to a first diffusion model. The method further comprises determining a predicted lithium surface density based on the varying parameter relative to a second diffusion model. The method further comprises determining an estimated state of charge of the lithium battery cell when a difference between the predicted and actual lithium surface densities is less than a first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jun-mo Kang, Insu Chang
  • Publication number: 20230020219
    Abstract: A system and method of active endturn cooling of an electric motor of a vehicle is provided. The method comprises providing a motor having a coolant nozzle and a cam, and measuring speed, lateral acceleration, and road tilt angle of coolant due to road tilt. The method further comprises calculating coolant angle and coolant acceleration angle based on the road tilt angle and the lateral acceleration if the speed is greater than zero. The method further comprises comparing the coolant angle with a critical angle. The method further comprises calculating a first control angle and a first coolant distance based on the road tilt angle and the lateral acceleration of the vehicle if the acceleration angle is greater than the critical angle. The method further comprises determining a cam position based on the first control angle. The method further comprises moving the cam to the position to move the nozzle and compensate for the lateral acceleration such that coolant drops within a target area of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Insu Chang, SeungHwan Keum, Jun-mo Kang, Young J. Kim
  • Publication number: 20230010156
    Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicle apparatuses are provided. A system provides a gravity drive to distribute coolant oil flow including a nozzle for directing a flow of coolant oil over a surface of an electric motor wherein the flow of the coolant oil is caused by a gravity drive; a connector that is coupled to the nozzle that enables the nozzle to sway in response to external forces encountered by a vehicle operation and to distribute coolant oil over the exterior surface of the electric motor; and a counterweight that is coupled to the nozzle that provides a countermeasure to the external forces encountered by the vehicle operation to cause the nozzle to sway in a manner that enables the coolant oil distributed evenly across the exterior surface of the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: SeungHwan Keum, Jun-mo Kang, Insu Chang, Young J. Kim
  • Publication number: 20230009660
    Abstract: In various embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to distribute coolant to an electric motor. The apparatus includes a pan configured with a set of holes for coolant flow; an assembly including a set of bar linkages, a set of discs, and a single actuator motor wherein the assembly is attached to the pan wherein the single actuator motor is linked via bar linkages to discs that enable configuring a planar angle of the pan to obtain an optimum hole location of holes for coolant flow; and in response to external disturbances to the apparatus that redirect the coolant flow from the target region of the electric motor, the single actuator motor is controlled by an algorithm to change the planar angle of the pan to obtain the optimum hole location to direct coolant flow to the target region of the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: SeungHwan Keum, Jun-mo Kang, Insu Chang, Young J. Kim
  • Publication number: 20220360144
    Abstract: An interior permanent magnet motor having controllable coolant distribution is provided. The motor comprises a motor housing and a rotary shaft connected to a rotor rotatably disposed in the housing. The motor further comprises a stator unit disposed in the housing and comprising conductive windings arranged about the rotor. The windings have a straight portion radially extending to an end-turn portion. The motor further comprises an oil sump disposed on the housing above the stator unit. The oil sump comprises a reservoir having an inner side and an outer side. The reservoir has at least one aperture formed therethrough over the end-turn portion. The motor further comprises a movable nozzle having a first open end extending to a second open end. The first open end is connected to the at least one aperture such that the movable nozzle and reservoir are in fluid communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: SeungHwan Keum, Insu Chang, Jun-mo Kang, Young J. Kim