Patents by Inventor Karin Lovett

Karin Lovett 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: 10798154
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a control module and a plurality of vehicle control modules in networked communication with the control module. The control module may be configured to receive an indication from a user interface to transition the vehicle into an extended park mode, and responsive to the indication, instruct the plurality of vehicle control modules to perform operations to reduce their respective key-off loads on the vehicle. A cloud service may be configured to receive, over a wide-area network responsive to user input to a mobile device, an indication to transition a vehicle associated with the mobile device into an extended park mode, and responsive to the indication, provide a message over the network to the vehicle to instruct the vehicle to perform operations to reduce key-off loads of a plurality of vehicle control modules of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Karin Lovett, Andrew Eugene Burt, James Michael Weinfurther, Zeljko Deljevic
  • Patent number: 10596984
    Abstract: A high-voltage system for a vehicle includes a module having a resonant circuit coupled across powerlines, and a controller. The controller is programmed to, during a power up of the high-voltage system, propagate on the powerlines a first signal at a fundamental frequency for a first period. The controller is further programmed to, in response to a first impedance measured across the powerlines at the fundamental frequency during the period being less than a predetermined value, close main contactors to energize the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Crist Gabriel, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, Karin Lovett
  • Patent number: 10486681
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing torque arbitration for a hybrid powertrain. In one example, a method may include operating the hybrid powertrain over a predetermined route with a torque arbitration, and updating the torque arbitration based on a vehicle mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Mario D'Amato, Karin Lovett, Mark Warren Muddiman, John Jeffrey Pfeiffer
  • Publication number: 20180326993
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a control module and a plurality of vehicle control modules in networked communication with the control module. The control module may be configured to receive an indication from a user interface to transition the vehicle into an extended park mode, and responsive to the indication, instruct the plurality of vehicle control modules to perform operations to reduce their respective key-off loads on the vehicle. A cloud service may be configured to receive, over a wide-area network responsive to user input to a mobile device, an indication to transition a vehicle associated with the mobile device into an extended park mode, and responsive to the indication, provide a message over the network to the vehicle to instruct the vehicle to perform operations to reduce key-off loads of a plurality of vehicle control modules of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Karin LOVETT, Andrew Eugene BURT, James Michael WEINFURTHER, Zeljko DELJEVIC
  • Patent number: 10124725
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an audio transducer and a controller. The controller is configured to, in response to a state of charge (SOC) of a battery crossing a charge level threshold (CLT) set by a user of the vehicle, activate the audio transducer to generate an indication that the SOC has crossed the CLT and that is defined by data provided by the user and linked with the CLT according to a rule specified by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Karin Lovett, Bryan Michael Bolger, Robert David Hancasky
  • Publication number: 20180215247
    Abstract: A vehicle comprising an electric motor configured to drive power to rear wheels of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a mechanical disconnect configured to engage, when closed, a plurality of half shafts corresponding to the rear wheels and a drive shaft coupled to a differential, and to engage, when open, the drive shaft but not the plurality of half shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Anthony Mario D'AMATO, Karin LOVETT
  • Patent number: 10035517
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a control module and a plurality of vehicle control modules in networked communication with the control module. The control module may be configured to receive an indication from a user interface to transition the vehicle into an extended park mode, and responsive to the indication, instruct the plurality of vehicle control modules to perform operations to reduce their respective key-off loads on the vehicle. A cloud service may be configured to receive, over a wide-area network responsive to user input to a mobile device, an indication to transition a vehicle associated with the mobile device into an extended park mode, and responsive to the indication, provide a message over the network to the vehicle to instruct the vehicle to perform operations to reduce key-off loads of a plurality of vehicle control modules of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Karin Lovett, Andrew Eugene Burt, James Michael Weinfurther, Zeljko Deljevic
  • Publication number: 20180201250
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing torque arbitration for a hybrid powertrain. In one example, a method may include operating the hybrid powertrain over a predetermined route with a torque arbitration, and updating the torque arbitration based on a vehicle mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Anthony Mario D'Amato, Karin Lovett, Mark Warren Muddiman, John Jeffrey Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 10000129
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a traction battery, a generator coupled to the engine and battery, and a controller. The controller may be configured to, in response to a current flowing from a battery charge station to the battery being less than a maximum charge current, a selection of a fast charge mode, and a temperature of the engine being less than a predetermined temperature, operate the engine to generate a supplemental current to charge the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brock Dunlap, Karin Lovett, Bryan Michael Bolger, William David Treharne
  • Publication number: 20180105125
    Abstract: A high-voltage system for a vehicle includes a module having a resonant circuit coupled across powerlines, and a controller. The controller is programmed to, during a power up of the high-voltage system, propagate on the powerlines a first signal at a fundamental frequency for a first period. The controller is further programmed to, in response to a first impedance measured across the powerlines at the fundamental frequency during the period being less than a predetermined value, close main contactors to energize the module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: David Crist Gabriel, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, Karin Lovett
  • Patent number: 9827950
    Abstract: An exemplary locking assembly includes, among other things, a lock that transitions between a first state that prevents disengaging electric vehicle supply equipment from a charge port and a second state that permits the disengaging. A control module is configured to command the lock to transition from the first to the second state in response to a user interaction with a selector device and an authentication of the user interaction. An exemplary securing method includes, among other things, receiving a request to disengage electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) from a charge port of a vehicle, permitting a disengaging if the request can be authenticated, and preventing the disengaging if the request cannot be authenticated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Karin Lovett, Ray C. Siciak, James Michael Weinfurther, Ahmet Cinar
  • Publication number: 20170259785
    Abstract: An exemplary locking assembly includes, among other things, a lock that transitions between a first state that prevents disengaging electric vehicle supply equipment from a charge port and a second state that permits the disengaging. A control module is configured to command the lock to transition from the first to the second state in response to a user interaction with a selector device and an authentication of the user interaction. An exemplary securing method includes, among other things, receiving a request to disengage electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) from a charge port of a vehicle, permitting a disengaging if the request can be authenticated, and preventing the disengaging if the request cannot be authenticated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Karin Lovett, Ray C. Siciak, James Michael Weinfurther, Ahmet Cinar
  • Publication number: 20170253180
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an audio transducer and a controller. The controller is configured to, in response to a state of charge (SOC) of a battery crossing a charge level threshold (CLT) set by a user of the vehicle, activate the audio transducer to generate an indication that the SOC has crossed the CLT and that is defined by data provided by the user and linked with the CLT according to a rule specified by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Karin LOVETT, Bryan Michael BOLGER, Robert David HANCASKY
  • Patent number: 9713965
    Abstract: An example method includes intentionally precharging a powertrain of an electric vehicle for an first time period that is different than a second precharge time period. An example electric vehicle assembly includes a precharge contactor transitionable back and forth between an open state and a closed state, a first main contactor, a second main contactor, and a controller configured to selectively close the second main contactor after the precharge contactor has been closed for a first time period that is different than a second precharge time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley Edward Burkman, Ryan J. Skaff, Karin Lovett, Bryan Michael Bolger
  • Patent number: 9682671
    Abstract: A vehicle system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a DC/DC converter bus adapted to operate at a first voltage set-point and a low voltage battery bus adapted to operate at a second voltage set-point different from the first voltage set-point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark J. Ferrel, David Anthony Symanow, Karin Lovett, Cathleen Tistle
  • Publication number: 20170080817
    Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, controlling charging of a battery pack of an electrified vehicle including prioritizing charging using a wired charging system over a wireless charging system if power is available from both the wired charging system and the wireless charging system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Robert David HANCASKY, Bryan Michael BOLGER, Karin LOVETT
  • Publication number: 20170015208
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a traction battery, a generator coupled to the engine and battery, and a controller. The controller may be configured to, in response to a current flowing from a battery charge station to the battery being less than a maximum charge current, a selection of a fast charge mode, and a temperature of the engine being less than a predetermined temperature, operate the engine to generate a supplemental current to charge the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Brock Dunlap, Karin Lovett, Bryan Michael Bolger, William David Treharne
  • Publication number: 20160352120
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery, an auxiliary battery, a voltage converter selectively coupled with the traction battery and coupled with the auxiliary battery, an indicator, and a controller. The controller may be programmed to activate the indicator to indicate presence of a voltage on a high-voltage bus indicative of a current from the traction battery to the auxiliary battery during an ignition-off period in response to detecting an auxiliary voltage on a low-voltage bus less than a minimum voltage and a voltage on the high-voltage bus greater than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Karin Lovett, Cathleen Tistle, William David Treharne
  • Publication number: 20160303992
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery and an auxiliary battery. A battery management system may be configured to transfer energy from the traction battery to the auxiliary battery during an ignition-off period. A controller is programmed to, in response to detecting conditions during the ignition-off period inhibiting an energy transfer from the traction battery to the auxiliary battery while a voltage of the auxiliary battery is less than a threshold and the traction battery is decoupled from the auxiliary battery, output a low-voltage alert. Conditions inhibiting the energy transfer include a state of charge of the traction battery being less than a predetermined state of charge and a traction battery voltage being less than a predetermined value. The low-voltage alert may be output via a wireless communications network to a device remote from the vehicle to alert the operator of the condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Karin Lovett, Ryan J. Skaff
  • Patent number: 9446772
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes changing a scheduled preconditioning cycle of an electrified vehicle in response to a period without a key cycle of the electrified vehicle. Another exemplary method includes communicating an alert to an operator of an electrified vehicle in response to at least one preconditioning cycle of the electrified vehicle without a key cycle of the electrified vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Karin Lovett, Angel Fernando Porras, Christopher Adam Ochocinski, Ryan J. Skaff