Patents by Inventor Kenneth Ramon Ferguson
Kenneth Ramon Ferguson 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: 11970082Abstract: A system for mitigating thermal runaway in a battery-powered electric vehicle (EV). The system includes a gas sensor configured to measure a level of at least one type of gas in a vicinity of a battery of the EV, a thermal event detector configured to determine, based on the measured level of the at least one type of gas, that the battery is experiencing out-gassing, and a communications interface configured to transmit an alert to a fleet management system regarding the out-gassing of the battery. The fleet management system alters an assignment of the EV in response to the out-gassing of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings LLCInventors: Kenneth Ramon Ferguson, Erik Nielsen, Chase Kaufman
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Patent number: 11833921Abstract: A battery assessment station for an electric vehicle (EV) battery includes an impedance spectroscopy device that applies an electrical signal at a set of frequencies and measures the impedance response of the battery. A battery analyzer determines a battery parameter, such as remaining useful life or state-of-health, based on the impedance response. A fleet management system manages a fleet of EVs according to their determined battery parameters. For example, the fleet management system applies operational rules regarding the use or charging of the EVs in order to respond to battery degradation and improve battery life.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2020Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLCInventor: Kenneth Ramon Ferguson
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Patent number: 11807132Abstract: A system for mitigating thermal runaway in a battery-powered electric vehicle (EV). The system includes a gas sensor configured to measure a level of at least one type of gas in a vicinity of a battery of the EV, a thermal event detector configured to determine, based on the measured level of the at least one type of gas, that the battery is experiencing out-gassing, and a communications interface configured to transmit an alert to a fleet management system regarding the out-gassing of the battery. The fleet management system alters an assignment of the EV in response to the out-gassing of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLCInventors: Kenneth Ramon Ferguson, Erik Nielsen, Chase Kaufman
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Patent number: 11771786Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automated detection and disinfection of microbes in autonomous vehicles, to prevent possible transmission of diseases or illness to subsequent users. Automated detection and disinfection of a vehicle includes autonomously scanning various parts of the autonomous vehicle for microbes, selecting a disinfectant based on detected microbes, and autonomously disinfecting at least a portion of the autonomous vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLCInventors: Samuel Harrison Glidden, Erik Nielsen, Sriram Salem Kannan, Kenneth Ramon Ferguson, Maximilian Gerrit Euchenhofer, Michael Frank Schmidt
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Publication number: 20230258769Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for distance calibration of an autonomous vehicle in a nominally short distance calibration environment. In particular, apparatus, methods and systems are provided using reflective materials to artificially augment a distance to a known target. In various implementations, reflective planes are disposed in pathway between the autonomous vehicle and target. Targets of known sizes can be used to calculated a distance from the autonomous vehicle to the target. Utilizing the known optical pathway, a calibration can be performed. With the aid of an Autonomous Vehicle Rotation Table, the autonomous vehicle is rotated such that a matrix of range-angle calibrations can be executed. Frequency spectra include LiDAR and radar, but any suitable bandwidth and/or detection protocol is not beyond the scope of the present disclosure.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2022Publication date: August 17, 2023Applicant: GM Cruise Holdings LLCInventors: Kenneth Ramon Ferguson, David Xuan Vu Tran, Zachary Matthew Logan Edwards, Philip David Aufdencamp
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Patent number: 11654935Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method comprising receiving a rideshare request from a user, the rideshare request including a destination; transporting the passenger to the destination using an autonomous vehicle (AV) having a plurality of windows comprising electrically switchable smart glass; during the transporting, monitoring a metric related to arrival of the AV at the destination; and untinting the windows when the monitored metric has a prescribed relationship to a threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2020Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLCInventors: Kenneth Ramon Ferguson, Samuel Harrison Glidden, Maximilian Gerrit Euchenhofer, Jeffrey Brandon, Michael Frank Schmidt
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Publication number: 20230141841Abstract: A system for powering an electric vehicle (EV) includes a battery, a power distribution module, and a battery bypass module. The power distribution module receives power from a charging station, draws power from the battery in a discharging mode, distributes power from the charging station to the battery in a charging mode, and distributes power to a plurality of subsystems of the EV. The battery bypass module is coupled to the battery and the power distribution module. When the battery bypass module is engaged in a charging bypass mode, power distributed by the power distribution module bypasses the battery and is distributed to at least a subset of the plurality of subsystems of the EV.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2023Publication date: May 11, 2023Applicant: GM Cruise Holdings LLCInventors: Kenneth Ramon Ferguson, Adam Mandel-Senft, Brett Lee Rogers, Chase Kaufman, Jeffrey Brandon
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Publication number: 20230098889Abstract: A system for mitigating thermal runaway in a battery-powered electric vehicle (EV). The system includes a gas sensor configured to measure a level of at least one type of gas in a vicinity of a battery of the EV, a thermal event detector configured to determine, based on the measured level of the at least one type of gas, that the battery is experiencing out-gassing, and a communications interface configured to transmit an alert to a fleet management system regarding the out-gassing of the battery. The fleet management system alters an assignment of the EV in response to the out-gassing of the battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Applicant: GM Cruise Holdings LLCInventors: Kenneth Ramon Ferguson, Erik Nielsen, Chase Kaufman
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Publication number: 20230089243Abstract: A system for mitigating thermal runaway in a battery-powered electric vehicle (EV). The system includes a gas sensor configured to measure a level of at least one type of gas in a vicinity of a battery of the EV, a thermal event detector configured to determine, based on the measured level of the at least one type of gas, that the battery is experiencing out-gassing, and a communications interface configured to transmit an alert to a fleet management system regarding the out-gassing of the battery. The fleet management system alters an assignment of the EV in response to the out-gassing of the battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Applicant: GM Cruise Holdings LLCInventors: Kenneth Ramon Ferguson, Erik Nielsen, Chase Kaufman
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Patent number: 11560066Abstract: A system for powering an electric vehicle (EV) includes a battery, a power distribution module, and a battery bypass module. The power distribution module receives power from a charging station, draws power from the battery in a discharging mode, distributes power from the charging station to the battery in a charging mode, and distributes power to a plurality of subsystems of the EV. The battery bypass module is coupled to the battery and the power distribution module. When the battery bypass module is engaged in a charging bypass mode, power distributed by the power distribution module bypasses the battery and is distributed to at least a subset of the plurality of subsystems of the EV.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2020Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings LLCInventors: Kenneth Ramon Ferguson, Adam Mandel-Senft, Brett Lee Rogers, Chase Kaufman, Jeffrey Brandon
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Publication number: 20230015366Abstract: An electric vehicle (EV) is charged according to a selected charging rate. An available dispatch time is determined based on a current charge level of a battery of the EV, a first charging rate, and a target charge level. An anticipated dispatch time is determined based on predicted demand for a fleet of EVs that includes the EV. If the available dispatch time is later than the anticipated dispatch time, the first charging rate is selected; if the available dispatch time is earlier than the anticipated dispatch time, a second charging rate that is lower than the first charging rate is selected. The second charging rate may be a rate that charges the battery of the EV to at least the target charge level in time for the anticipated dispatch time.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Applicant: GM Cruise Holdings LLCInventors: Kenneth Ramon Ferguson, Chase Kaufman, Adam Mandel-Senft, Jeffrey Brandon, Brett Lee Rogers
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Patent number: 11541778Abstract: A system for mitigating thermal runaway in a battery-powered electric vehicle (EV). The system includes a gas sensor configured to measure a level of at least one type of gas in a vicinity of a battery of the EV, a thermal event detector configured to determine, based on the measured level of the at least one type of gas, that the battery is experiencing out-gassing, and a communications interface configured to transmit an alert to a fleet management system regarding the out-gassing of the battery. The fleet management system alters an assignment of the EV in response to the out-gassing of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2020Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings LLCInventors: Kenneth Ramon Ferguson, Erik Nielsen, Chase Kaufman
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Patent number: 11485247Abstract: An electric vehicle (EV) is charged according to a selected charging rate. An available dispatch time is determined based on a current charge level of a battery of the EV, a first charging rate, and a target charge level. An anticipated dispatch time is determined based on predicted demand for a fleet of EVs that includes the EV. If the available dispatch time is later than the anticipated dispatch time, the first charging rate is selected; if the available dispatch time is earlier than the anticipated dispatch time, a second charging rate that is lower than the first charging rate is selected. The second charging rate may be a rate that charges the battery of the EV to at least the target charge level in time for the anticipated dispatch time.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings LLCInventors: Kenneth Ramon Ferguson, Chase Kaufman, Adam Mandel-Senft, Jeffrey Brandon, Brett Lee Rogers
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Publication number: 20220289069Abstract: There is disclosed herein examples of system and procedure for assigning state-of-charge profiles to vehicles to extend battery lives of batteries of the vehicles. Determining an optimal state-of-charge profile for the vehicle may take into account battery degradation of the battery of the vehicle and/or characteristics of an operational assignment to which the vehicle is being assigned. The state-of-charge profiles assigned to the vehicles may extend the battery life of the battery of the vehicle and reduce battery replacements of the battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2022Publication date: September 15, 2022Applicant: GM Cruise Holdings LLCInventor: Kenneth Ramon Ferguson
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Patent number: 11390184Abstract: There is disclosed herein examples of system and procedure for assigning state-of-charge profiles to vehicles to extend battery lives of batteries of the vehicles. Determining an optimal state-of-charge profile for the vehicle may take into account battery degradation of the battery of the vehicle and/or characteristics of an operational assignment to which the vehicle is being assigned. The state-of-charge profiles assigned to the vehicles may extend the battery life of the battery of the vehicle and reduce battery replacements of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings LLCInventor: Kenneth Ramon Ferguson
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Publication number: 20220135073Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method comprising receiving a rideshare request from a user, the rideshare request including a destination; transporting the passenger to the destination using an autonomous vehicle (AV) having a plurality of windows comprising electrically switchable smart glass; during the transporting, monitoring a metric related to arrival of the AV at the destination; and untinting the windows when the monitored metric has a prescribed relationship to a threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: GM Cruise Holdings LLCInventors: Kenneth Ramon Ferguson, Samuel Harrison Glidden, Maximilian Gerrit Euchenhofer, Jeffrey Brandon, Michael Frank Schmidt
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Publication number: 20220126723Abstract: A battery assessment station for an electric vehicle (EV) battery includes an impedance spectroscopy device that applies an electrical signal at a set of frequencies and measures the impedance response of the battery. A battery analyzer determines a battery parameter, such as remaining useful life or state-of-health, based on the impedance response. A fleet management system manages a fleet of EVs according to their determined battery parameters. For example, the fleet management system applies operational rules regarding the use or charging of the EVs in order to respond to battery degradation and improve battery life.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2020Publication date: April 28, 2022Applicant: GM Cruise Holdings LLCInventor: Kenneth Ramon Ferguson
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Publication number: 20210291687Abstract: An electric vehicle (EV) is charged according to a selected charging rate. An available dispatch time is determined based on a current charge level of a battery of the EV, a first charging rate, and a target charge level. An anticipated dispatch time is determined based on predicted demand for a fleet of EVs that includes the EV. If the available dispatch time is later than the anticipated dispatch time, the first charging rate is selected; if the available dispatch time is earlier than the anticipated dispatch time, a second charging rate that is lower than the first charging rate is selected. The second charging rate may be a rate that charges the battery of the EV to at least the target charge level in time for the anticipated dispatch time.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2020Publication date: September 23, 2021Applicant: GM Cruise Holdings LLCInventors: Kenneth Ramon Ferguson, Chase Kaufman, Adam Mandel-Senft, Jeffrey Brandon, Brett Lee Rogers
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Publication number: 20210291693Abstract: A system for powering an electric vehicle (EV) includes a battery, a power distribution module, and a battery bypass module. The power distribution module receives power from a charging station, draws power from the battery in a discharging mode, distributes power from the charging station to the battery in a charging mode, and distributes power to a plurality of subsystems of the EV. The battery bypass module is coupled to the battery and the power distribution module. When the battery bypass module is engaged in a charging bypass mode, power distributed by the power distribution module bypasses the battery and is distributed to at least a subset of the plurality of subsystems of the EV.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2020Publication date: September 23, 2021Applicant: GM Cruise Holdings LLCInventors: Kenneth Ramon Ferguson, Adam Mandel-Senft, Brett Lee Rogers, Chase Kaufman, Jeffrey Brandon
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Publication number: 20210245627Abstract: A system for mitigating thermal runaway in a battery-powered electric vehicle (EV). The system includes a gas sensor configured to measure a level of at least one type of gas in a vicinity of a battery of the EV, a thermal event detector configured to determine, based on the measured level of the at least one type of gas, that the battery is experiencing out-gassing, and a communications interface configured to transmit an alert to a fleet management system regarding the out-gassing of the battery. The fleet management system alters an assignment of the EV in response to the out-gassing of the battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2020Publication date: August 12, 2021Applicant: GM Cruise Holdings LLCInventors: Kenneth Ramon Ferguson, Erik Nielsen, Chase Kaufman