Patents by Inventor Ke ZOU

Ke ZOU 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: 10800279
    Abstract: An exemplary charging system includes, among other things, a first portable charger that electrically couples to an electrified vehicle to charge a traction battery of the electrified vehicle while a second portable charger is providing electrical energy to charge the traction battery. An exemplary charging method includes, among other things, electrically coupling both a first and a second portable charger to an electrified vehicle to charge a traction battery of the electrified vehicle using electrical energy from both the first and the second portable chargers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Krishna Prasad Bhat, Michael W. Degner, Allan Roy Gale, Ke Zou, Xi Lu
  • Publication number: 20200290461
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an inverter configured to power an external device. The vehicle further includes a controller programmed to cause the inverter to output a voltage at a steady-state amplitude and a steady-state frequency and, responsive to detecting an inrush current event in progress that is caused by the external device, operate the inverter to reduce the voltage to prevent an overcurrent. The controller is programmed to identify the type of load connected and return the voltage to the steady-state amplitude and steady-state frequency based on the type of load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Xi LU, Michael W. DEGNER, Krishna Prasad BHAT, Ke ZOU
  • Publication number: 20200122586
    Abstract: A vehicle power system includes a power converter including one or more phase leg lines and a negative rail line. The system also includes a controller that operates the power converter to flow current through some of the phase leg lines and the negative rail line to output DC power, and operates the power converter to flow current through the some of the phase leg lines and not the negative rail line to output AC power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Xi Lu, Ke Zou, Krishna Prasad Bhat, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20200122585
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a converter, outlets, and a switching arrangement electrically between the outlets and the converter. A controller is programmed to, responsive to a first request, operate the switching arrangement to electrically connect a line and a neutral to a first outlet and operate the converter to output single-phase power to the first outlet. Responsive to a second request, the controller is configured to operate the switching arrangement to electrically connect a plurality of lines and not the neutral to a second outlet, and operate the converter to output three-phase power to the second outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Krishna Prasad BHAT, Jacek BRAUNER, Xi LU, Theodore Joseph FILIPPI, Ke ZOU, Allan Roy GALE, Michael W. DEGNER
  • Publication number: 20200122580
    Abstract: A power converter cartridge for a vehicle includes a housing slidably insertable into a body cavity of the vehicle and including electrical outlets and coolant, data, and power interface ports configured to connect to corresponding ports of the cavity, a converter, and a controller configured to, responsive to a signal from the vehicle via the data port, cause the converter to convert power received from a traction battery of the vehicle via the power interface port to supply corresponding external loads connected to the outlets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Ke Zou, Theodore Joseph Filippi, Jacek Brauner, Allan Roy Gale, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20200114765
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a pair of power converters. The vehicle includes a socket having an array of power terminals arranged to accept outlets of different power terminal configurations to interconnect the pair therewith. The vehicle includes a panel having an outlet engaged with the socket. The panel includes a controller configured to communicate an electrical rating of the outlet via the socket to define a switching scheme for the pair. The communication is responsive to detecting panel and socket engagement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Jacek BRAUNER, Theodore Joseph FILIPPI, Allan Roy GALE, Ke ZOU, Krishna Prasad BHAT, Michael W. DEGNER
  • Publication number: 20200086747
    Abstract: An exemplary charging system includes, among other things, a first portable charger that electrically couples to an electrified vehicle to charge a traction battery of the electrified vehicle while a second portable charger is providing electrical energy to charge the traction battery. An exemplary charging method includes, among other things, electrically coupling both a first and a second portable charger to an electrified vehicle to charge a traction battery of the electrified vehicle using electrical energy from both the first and the second portable chargers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Krishna Prasad Bhat, Michael W. Degner, Allan Roy Gale, Ke Zou, Xi Lu
  • Publication number: 20200076217
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a converter configured to, responsive to a first signal from a first adaptor indicating a first plug type having a first electrical parameter configuration, output power to the adaptor according to the first electrical parameter configuration, and responsive to a second signal from a second adaptor indicating a second plug type having a second electrical parameter configuration, output power to the adaptor according to the second configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Theodore Joseph Filippi, Allan Roy Gale, Ke Zou, Jacek Brauner, Krishna Prasad Bhat, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20200062125
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a controller programmed to receive power outlet data from an interchangeable outlet panel via a communication channel and operate an inverter to supply power to the interchangeable outlet panel via a power interface according the power outlet data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Jacek BRAUNER, Theodore Joseph Filippi, Allan Roy Gale, Ke Zou
  • Patent number: 10277719
    Abstract: A method includes receiving inputs including a serial communication protocol specification and serial port settings associated with a serial communication channel. The method includes determining a transmission speed, a request size, and a response size of the serial communication channel based on the inputs. The method includes determining a timeout value corresponding to the serial communication channel based on the transmission speed, the request size, and the response size. The method includes automatically setting a timeout parameter for the serial communication using the determined timeout value. The timeout parameter defines a length of time between a start time of a transmission of a request through the serial communication channel and an end time of waiting to receive a response. The method includes in response to not receiving the response before the end time, determining that a first device is not connected to a second device through the serial communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Junyu Chen, Haifeng Liang, Enkui Lv, Ke Zou, Huagang Xu
  • Patent number: 10189357
    Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle includes a DC/DC converter and a controller. The DC/DC converter includes an inductor and output capacitor and is coupled between a traction battery and an electric drive unit. The controller may be configured to, in response to an electrical connection between the vehicle and an AC grid, couple the output capacitor and inductor in series and across terminals of the traction battery to absorb reactive power from the AC grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ke Zou, Chingchi Chen, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20180334043
    Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle includes a DC/DC converter and a controller. The DC/DC converter includes an inductor and output capacitor and is coupled between a traction battery and an electric drive unit. The controller may be configured to, in response to an electrical connection between the vehicle and an AC grid, couple the output capacitor and inductor in series and across terminals of the traction battery to absorb reactive power from the AC grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Ke Zou, Chingchi Chen, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 10122357
    Abstract: An inverter for an electric vehicle drive has a bridge including a plurality of power switching devices having respective insulated gate terminals and emitter terminals. A PWM circuit determines switching commands for controlling the bridge. A plurality of gate drivers receive the switching commands and provide gate drive signals to respective gate terminals. A plurality of gate capacitors are each thermally coupled to a respective switching device and are electrically connected between the respective gate and emitter terminals. Each gate capacitor has a negative temperature coefficient adapted to counter changes in a switching speed of the switching devices over a predetermined range of temperature. As a result, a consistent switching speed is maintained so that power loss and switching device reliability are optimal across the full temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Xi Lu, Chingchi Chen, Michael W. Degner, Zhuxian Xu, Ke Zou
  • Patent number: 10116249
    Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle includes a wye wound electric machine and a controller. The electric machine is coupled with an inverter. The controller is configured to, in response to an electrical connection between the vehicle and an AC grid, couple a capacitor between a neutral terminal of the electric machine and a negative terminal of the inverter to absorb reactive power from the AC grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ke Zou, Chingchi Chen
  • Patent number: 10099574
    Abstract: A vehicle power stage assembly is disclosed which may include a power stage housing, a power stage supported by the housing, and a pair of stacked DC leadframes. The pair of stacked DC leadframes are of opposite polarity and spaced apart from one another. Each of the DC leadframes may extend from the power stage and each has distal and proximal ends. The spacing between the leadframes may be such that parasitic inductances associated with current flowing through each of the leadframes at least partially cancel one another. Each of the leadframes may define a first and second side surface opposite one another. The first side surfaces may be coplanar and the second side surfaces may be coplanar. A distance between the spaced apart pair of DC leadframes may be based on a preselected amount of current and a material of the DC leadframes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Guangyin Lei, Chingchi Chen, Ke Zou, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 10071652
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an electric machine, an inverter including an IGBT having a gate configured to flow current through a phase of the electric machine, and a gate driver. The gate driver is configured to supply power onto the gate via a voltage regulated source, and in response to a collector current of the IGBT exceeding a previous steady state current through the phase, transition to a current regulated source to drive the gate. The gate driver may be configured to delay the transition by a predetermined time that is based on a difference between the previous steady state current and a reverse recovery peak current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xi Lu, Chingchi Chen, Zhuxian Xu, Ke Zou
  • Patent number: 10071634
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an IGBT that conducts current between a supply and load. The vehicle powertrain also includes a controller that applies voltage to a gate of the IGBT at a first level for a first duration that depends on a capacitance of the gate, and increases the voltage over a second duration based on a rate of change of the current falling below a threshold defined by a supply voltage for the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zhuxian Xu, Chingchi Chen, Xi Lu, Ke Zou
  • Publication number: 20180241337
    Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle includes a wye wound electric machine and a controller. The electric machine is coupled with an inverter. The controller is configured to, in response to an electrical connection between the vehicle and an AC grid, couple a capacitor between a neutral terminal of the electric machine and a negative terminal of the inverter to absorb reactive power from the AC grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Ke Zou, Chingchi Chen
  • Publication number: 20180138902
    Abstract: An inverter for an electric vehicle drive has a bridge including a plurality of power switching devices having respective insulated gate terminals and emitter terminals. A PWM circuit determines switching commands for controlling the bridge. A plurality of gate drivers receive the switching commands and provide gate drive signals to respective gate terminals. A plurality of gate capacitors are each thermally coupled to a respective switching device and are electrically connected between the respective gate and emitter terminals. Each gate capacitor has a negative temperature coefficient adapted to counter changes in a switching speed of the switching devices over a predetermined range of temperature. As a result, a consistent switching speed is maintained so that power loss and switching device reliability are optimal across the full temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: XI LU, CHINGCHI CHEN, MICHAEL W. DEGNER, ZHUXIAN XU, KE ZOU
  • Patent number: 9973447
    Abstract: A system includes a remote terminal unit (RTU) controller module. Each RTU controller module comprises a controller board configured to couple to a carrier board that includes first and second Ethernet ports. Each controller module comprises computer processing circuitry including the first and second MACs and configured to select to transmit a packet to the first Ethernet port through the first MAC and to alternatively select to transmit the packet to the second Ethernet port through the second MAC. Each controller module comprises an Ethernet switch configured to receive the packet from the first media access control (MAC) and transmit the packet to the first Ethernet port. Each controller module comprises a physical Ethernet interface (PHY) configured to receive the packet from the second MAC and transmit the packet to the second Ethernet port. The computer processing circuitry, the Ethernet switch, and the PHY are mounted on the controller board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Haifeng Liang, Lei Zou, Jie Lv, Zhi Yang, Ke Zou