Patents by Inventor John Paul Gibeau

John Paul Gibeau 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: 20170210235
    Abstract: An exemplary electrified vehicle assembly includes a charging system having a luminescent portion. The charging system is configured to electrically couple together a charging station and an electrified vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Juan Lopez, Sriram Jala, John Paul Gibeau, Kevin Layden, Susan Curry
  • Patent number: 9649948
    Abstract: Electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles include a rechargeable traction battery. An automated vehicle charging system is configured to charge the traction battery with minimal operator intervention. The vehicle charging system includes a carousel, including a plurality of transmit coils, configured to move in a longitudinal direction and rotate about an axis. The vehicle charging system further includes at least one controller programmed to move the carousel in the longitudinal direction and rotate the carousel about the axis to align a selected transmit coil from the plurality of transmit coils with a vehicle receive coil. The vehicle charging system may receive positioning data from a vehicle and may move and rotate the carousel according to the positioning data to align the selected transmit coil with the vehicle receive coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher W. Bell, Brittany Connolly, James A. Lathrop, John Paul Gibeau
  • Patent number: 9653720
    Abstract: A traction battery assembly includes adjacent battery cells supported by a tray and a busbar electrically connecting the adjacent battery cells. The busbar includes a longitudinal midpoint and a pair of bowed sections joined at the midpoint. Each of the bowed sections has an actuate portion in contact with a terminal on one of the cells. The bowed sections provide increased contact with the cells when the cells have different elevations with respect to the tray. A busbar module is also disclosed. The busbar module comprises a housing and a busbar supported within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Daniel Maguire, John Paul Gibeau
  • Patent number: 9630518
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery configured to be coupled to a power network that is controlled by a grid management system. The vehicle further includes a controller. The controller charges the traction battery and activates vehicle loads based on a request from the grid management system to consume an amount of power from the power network. When the traction battery is fully charged, one or more vehicle loads are activated to consume the amount of power. When a charge power limit of the traction battery is greater than or equal to the amount of power requested, the traction battery is charged to consume the amount of power requested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John Paul Gibeau
  • Patent number: 9577230
    Abstract: A traction battery includes a battery housing having a tray and a cover cooperating to define an interior. A plurality of battery cells are arranged in an array and disposed on the tray within the interior. A service disconnect base is disposed on an exterior surface of the housing and includes a uni-terminal connector having a receptacle disposed within the base and electrically connected to the battery cells. A service disconnect plug is integrally incorporated with a single high voltage cable that is partially disposed in the plug. The service disconnect plug includes a body configured to mechanically engage the base and a prong mechanically connected to the high voltage cable and configured to be received within the receptacle to create an electrical connection between the battery cells and a high voltage bus when the body is engaged with the base. The plug may include a cover portion that enclosures a terminal disposed on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John Paul Gibeau
  • Publication number: 20170025661
    Abstract: An exemplary electrified vehicle assembly includes a sensor lead, and a busbar having a protrusion that secures the sensor lead to electrically connect the sensor lead with the busbar. A method of holding a sensor lead includes securing a busbar to at least one terminal of a battery cell, and securing a sensor lead to the busbar using a protrusion of the busbar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: John Paul Gibeau, Francisco Fernandez, Tom M. Gunther, Rajaram Subramanian
  • Publication number: 20160362013
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery configured to be coupled to a power network that is controlled by a grid management system. The vehicle further includes a controller. The controller charges the traction battery and activates vehicle loads based on a request from the grid management system to consume an amount of power from the power network. When the traction battery is fully charged, one or more vehicle loads are activated to consume the amount of power. When a charge power limit of the traction battery is greater than or equal to the amount of power requested, the traction battery is charged to consume the amount of power requested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventor: John Paul Gibeau
  • Publication number: 20160332572
    Abstract: Electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles include a rechargeable traction battery. An automated vehicle charging system is configured to charge the traction battery with minimal operator intervention. The vehicle charging system includes at least one tire pad including a plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors arranged at known locations of the tire pad and outputting signals having a magnitude indicative of a pressure applied by a tire at the known locations. The vehicle charging system also includes at least one controller programmed to receive the signals and control movement of a transmit coil according to a position of the tire on the tire pad that is derived from the signals. The known locations may be generally equally spaced or unevenly spaced across the tire pad. The tire pad may include a tire stop to limit motion of the tire in one direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: John Paul GIBEAU, Christopher W. BELL, Ali HASSANI, Brad Alan IGNACZAK, Adil Nizam SIDDIQUI
  • Publication number: 20160294119
    Abstract: A high voltage connector assembly includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector has two tiers of pins and a first portion of an identification mark. The second connector includes a second portion of the mark and has two tiers of wells sized to engage the pins without other mechanical fasteners. The first and second portions are arranged on the connectors such that the portions are aligned to define the mark when the connectors are completely engaged. The mark may include one or more electronically readable indicators identifying each of the first and second connectors. The connectors may electrically connect a first vehicle component in communication with the pins and a second vehicle component in communication with the wells when the connectors are completely engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventor: John Paul Gibeau
  • Publication number: 20160291095
    Abstract: An exemplary assembly for testing a wireless charge transmit system includes a portable tester that is configured to mimic a vehicle mounted charge receive system and to wirelessly interface with a wireless charge transmit system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher W. Bell, John Paul Gibeau, James A. Lathrop
  • Publication number: 20160280086
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a charging port configured to couple to a connector of an external power source in order to recharge a battery, a lock to secure the connector to the charging port, an electrical actuator configured to transition the lock between a locked condition and an unlocked condition when energized and maintain the locked or unlocked condition when de-energized, and a mechanical lock override configured to transition the lock to the unlocked condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Juan LOPEZ, John Paul GIBEAU, Nondo G. BASOUKEAS, Susan CURRY
  • Patent number: 9428070
    Abstract: A vehicle charging system may include a charge receptacle and an alignment pin mounted to a vehicle and a ground station. The ground station may include a guide having a locating region configured to receive the alignment pin and in response to the alignment pin contacting the locating region translate along a track. An electrical connector may be configured to engage the charge receptacle. The electrical connector may be disposed within a housing associated with the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher W. Bell, Frank Kallio, John Paul Gibeau, James A. Lathrop
  • Publication number: 20160200211
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a motor that is adapted to provide drive torque and a storage device that is connected to the motor and adapted to receive power for charging from an external supply. The vehicle also includes a user interface and a controller. The user interface is adapted to provide a charge level selection. The controller is configured to receive a present charge value of the storage device and to disable charging from the external supply in response to the present charge value corresponding to the charge level selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventor: John Paul GIBEAU
  • Patent number: 9337680
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery having a thermal circuit, and a controller. The controller is configured to: (i) charge the traction battery using a maximum charging current defined by the lowest temperature cell while the traction battery is connected to the charger, and (ii) heat the traction battery if the lowest temperature cell is below a predetermined temperature while the traction battery is charging. A method for controlling an electric vehicle while connected to a charger includes charging the battery using a first portion of power from the charger while heating the battery using a second portion of power from the charger in response to a low cell temperature in a traction battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Paul Gibeau, Jeffery R. Grimes, Neil Robert Burrows, James Lawrence Swoish
  • Patent number: 9296309
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a motor that is connected to a storage device. The motor is configured to provide drive torque and the storage device is configured to receive power from an external supply for facilitating charging. The vehicle also includes a user interface and a controller. The user interface is configured to provide a charge level selection. The controller is configured to receive input that is indicative of a present charge value. The controller is further configured to disable charging when the present charge value corresponds to the charge level selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John Paul Gibeau
  • Publication number: 20160052415
    Abstract: Electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles include a rechargeable traction battery. An automated vehicle charging system is configured to charge the traction battery with minimal operator intervention. The vehicle charging system includes a carousel, including a plurality of transmit coils, configured to move in a longitudinal direction and rotate about an axis. The vehicle charging system further includes at least one controller programmed to move the carousel in the longitudinal direction and rotate the carousel about the axis to align a selected transmit coil from the plurality of transmit coils with a vehicle receive coil. The vehicle charging system may receive positioning data from a vehicle and may move and rotate the carousel according to the positioning data to align the selected transmit coil with the vehicle receive coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher W. Bell, Brittany Connolly, James A. Lathrop, John Paul Gibeau
  • Publication number: 20160052414
    Abstract: Electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles include a rechargeable traction battery. An automated vehicle charging system is configured to charge the traction battery with minimal operator intervention. The vehicle charging system includes at least one tire pad including a plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors arranged at known locations of the tire pad and outputting signals having a magnitude indicative of a pressure applied by a tire at the known locations. The vehicle charging system also includes at least one controller programmed to receive the signals and control movement of a transmit coil according to a position of the tire on the tire pad that is derived from the signals. The known locations may be generally equally spaced or unevenly spaced across the tire pad. The tire pad may include a tire stop to limit motion of the tire in one direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher W. Bell, Brittany Connolly, James A. Lathrop, John Paul Gibeau
  • Publication number: 20160023565
    Abstract: A vehicle charging system may include a charge receptacle and an alignment pin mounted to a vehicle and a ground station. The ground station may include a guide having a locating region configured to receive the alignment pin and in response to the alignment pin contacting the locating region translate along a track. An electrical connector may be configured to engage the charge receptacle. The electrical connector may be disposed within a housing associated with the guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher W. BELL, Frank KALLIO, John Paul GIBEAU, James A. LATHROP
  • Publication number: 20160028265
    Abstract: A wireless battery charging system for an electric vehicle can include a transmitter assembly configured to send a charging signal to a vehicle, an ultrasonic sensor configured to sense an unwanted object adjacent the transmitter assembly, and an infrared sensor configured to sense an unwanted object adjacent the transmitter assembly. The transmitter assembly includes a primary coil. The infrared sensor and the ultrasonic sensor can sense at least partially overlapping regions to sense an unwanted object in a coil region between the primary coil and a secondary coil of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher W. BELL, John Paul GIBEAU, James A. LATHROP
  • Publication number: 20150357615
    Abstract: A battery assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a tray, a battery array mounted to the tray, a cover positioned about the battery array and a reinforcement member disposed between the cover and the battery array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Daniel Maguire, John Paul Gibeau