Patents by Inventor Kyle Matthew Foley
Kyle Matthew Foley 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: 11813946Abstract: An electrical system can include a power supply configured to provide electrical power to components at a time at which the electrical system experiences an electrical fault. The electrical system can include a first battery electrically coupled in parallel to a second battery via an electrical bus, whereby the first and second batteries can provide electrical power to a first electrical load and a second electrical load. Upon experiencing a fault, a first circuit element can electrically decouple the first battery and the second battery by opening a circuit provided by the electrical bus, thereby isolating the first battery from the second battery. Next, the battery experiencing the fault can include a second circuit element that can electrically decouple the battery experiencing the fault from a respective electrical load, while the battery isolated from the fault can continue to provide electrical power to components.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2020Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Moritz Boecker, Robert Ng, Kyle Matthew Foley, Bryan Booth, Timothy David Kentley-Klay
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Patent number: 11777167Abstract: A battery pack for a vehicle electrical system includes a casing for receiving one or more battery modules. The battery modules are insertable into a casing of the battery pack by sliding couplers along pairs of rails and are securable to the ends of the rails. After insertion, the rails thermally insulate one battery module from other battery modules coupled to the casing. In some examples, a first stiffness or a first mechanical frequency of the casing with the one or more battery modules inserted may differ from a second stiffness or a second mechanical frequency associated with a body of a vehicle or another component associated therewith by a threshold amount. Additionally, the casing may be configured with vents for venting the hot gases, such as those generated by a battery module in a thermal runaway event.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Robert Alan Ng, Moritz Boecker, Kyle Matthew Foley, Jason Jaspreet Singh Haer, David Sands
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Patent number: 11685456Abstract: Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2022Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Timo Birnschein, Andrew Piper, Adriano Di Pietro, Kyle Matthew Foley, Timothy David Kentley-Klay
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Publication number: 20230019223Abstract: Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Timo Birnschein, Andrew Piper, Adriano Di Pietro, Kyle Matthew Foley, Timothy David Kentley-Klay
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Patent number: 11541765Abstract: A system for charging one or more batteries of a vehicle may include a charging box mounted to a vehicle to facilitate connection to a charge coupler from under the vehicle. The charge coupler may be configured to provide an electrical connection between an electrical power source and the charging box. A vehicle including the charging box may maneuver to a position above the charge coupler, after which electrical contacts of the charging box and the charge coupler may be brought into contact with one another. The charge coupler and/or the charging box may be configured to provide electrical communication between the electrical power source and the one or more batteries, so that the electrical power source may charge one or more of the batteries. Thereafter, the electrical contacts may be separated from one another, and the vehicle may maneuver away from the charge coupler.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2020Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Bryan Emrys Booth, Moritz Boecker, Kyle Matthew Foley, Da Liu, Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Robert Alan Ng
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Patent number: 11485238Abstract: A vehicle can include a battery architecture configured to provide electrical power to motors, accessories, and other components of the vehicle. The architecture can include a controller coupled to multiple battery units. Each battery unit can include a battery and a battery management system. Additionally, each battery unit can be coupled to a controller and to other battery units. Through the use of redundant coupling and redundant data transmitted to and from the controller, battery units, and other components, the architecture can detect a fault and continue to operate while providing an indication of the fault.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2021Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Kyle Matthew Foley, Robert Alan Ng, Moritz Boecker, Chong Zhang Tao, Vincent Richard Tannahill, Efren Alonzo Cabebe, Derek Redfern
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Patent number: 11407462Abstract: Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Timo Birnschein, Adriano Di Pietro, Kyle Matthew Foley, Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Andrew Piper
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Patent number: 11104394Abstract: Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2020Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Timo Birnschein, Adriano Di Pietro, Kyle Matthew Foley, Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Andrew Piper
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Publication number: 20210213838Abstract: A vehicle can include a battery architecture configured to provide electrical power to motors, accessories, and other components of the vehicle. The architecture can include a controller coupled to multiple battery units. Each battery unit can include a battery and a battery management system. Additionally, each battery unit can be coupled to a controller and to other battery units. Through the use of redundant coupling and redundant data transmitted to and from the controller, battery units, and other components, the architecture can detect a fault and continue to operate while providing an indication of the fault.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2021Publication date: July 15, 2021Inventors: Kyle Matthew Foley, Robert Alan Ng, Moritz Boecker, Chong Zhang Tao, Vincent Richard Tannahill, Efren Alonzo Cabebe, Derek Redfern
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Patent number: 11034254Abstract: A system for charging one or more batteries of a vehicle may include a charging box mounted to a vehicle to facilitate connection to a charge coupler from under the vehicle. The charge coupler may be configured to provide an electrical connection between an electrical power source and the charging box. A vehicle including the charging box may maneuver to a position above the charge coupler, after which electrical contacts of the charging box and the charge coupler may be brought into contact with one another. The charge coupler and/or the charging box may be configured to provide electrical communication between the electrical power source and the one or more batteries, so that the electrical power source may charge one or more of the batteries. Thereafter, the electrical contacts may be separated from one another, and the vehicle may maneuver away from the charge coupler.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2017Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Bryan Emrys Booth, Moritz Boecker, Kyle Matthew Foley, Robert Alan Ng, Da Liu, Timothy David Kentley-Klay
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Publication number: 20210175569Abstract: A battery pack for a vehicle electrical system includes a casing for receiving one or more battery modules. The battery modules are insertable into a casing of the battery pack by sliding couplers along pairs of rails and are securable to the ends of the rails. After insertion, the rails thermally insulate one battery module from other battery modules coupled to the casing. In some examples, a first stiffness or a first mechanical frequency of the casing with the one or more battery modules inserted may differ from a second stiffness or a second mechanical frequency associated with a body of a vehicle or another component associated therewith by a threshold amount. Additionally, the casing may be configured with vents for venting the hot gases, such as those generated by a battery module in a thermal runaway event.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2021Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventors: Robert Alan Ng, Moritz Boecker, Kyle Matthew Foley, Jason Jaspreet Singh Haer, David Sands
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Publication number: 20210114536Abstract: An electrical system can include a power supply configured to provide electrical power to components at a time at which the electrical system experiences an electrical fault. The electrical system can include a first battery electrically coupled in parallel to a second battery via an electrical bus, whereby the first and second batteries can provide electrical power to a first electrical load and a second electrical load. Upon experiencing a fault, a first circuit element can electrically decouple the first battery and the second battery by opening a circuit provided by the electrical bus, thereby isolating the first battery from the second battery. Next, the battery experiencing the fault can include a second circuit element that can electrically decouple the battery experiencing the fault from a respective electrical load, while the battery isolated from the fault can continue to provide electrical power to components.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2020Publication date: April 22, 2021Inventors: Moritz Boecker, Robert Ng, Kyle Matthew Foley, Bryan Booth, Timothy David Kentley-Klay
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Patent number: 10985352Abstract: A battery pack for a vehicle electrical system includes a casing for receiving one or more battery modules. The battery modules are insertable into a casing of the battery pack by sliding couplers along pairs of rails and are securable to the ends of the rails. After insertion, the rails thermally insulate one battery module from other battery modules in the battery pack. Additionally, the battery modules may include a top cover with an insulating material to further thermally insulate one battery module from another battery module. The battery pack may additionally be configured with vents for venting the hot gases, such as those generated by a battery module in a thermal runaway event. Additionally, the battery modules may include a second insulating material disposed between cells and configured to thermally insulate the cells from one another.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2018Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Robert Alan Ng, Moritz Boecker, Kyle Matthew Foley, Jason Jaspreet Singh Haer, David Sands
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Patent number: 10960776Abstract: A vehicle can include a battery architecture configured to provide electrical power to motors, accessories, and other components of the vehicle. The architecture can include a controller coupled to multiple battery units. Each battery unit can include a battery and a battery management system. Additionally, each battery unit can be coupled to a controller and to other battery units. Through the use of redundant coupling and redundant data transmitted to and from the controller, battery units, and other components, the architecture can detect a fault and continue to operate while providing an indication of the fault.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2018Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Kyle Matthew Foley, Robert Alan Ng, Moritz Boecker, Chong Zhang Tao, Vincent Richard Tannahill, Efren Alonzo Cabebe, Derek Redfern
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Patent number: 10916758Abstract: A battery pack for a vehicle electrical system configured with high-voltage bus bars. A positive bus bar and a negative bus bar may provide power generated by the battery pack to a drive module of the vehicle, to power one or more components of the vehicle. The drive module may additionally couple to high-voltage positive and negative bus bars. The high-voltage bus bars may be configured to provide additional power to the drive module from another battery pack, such as via a battery balance box. Additionally, the high-voltage bus bars may be configured to carry excess power from the drive module to another drive module associated with the vehicle via the battery balance box. The high-voltage bus bars may be configured to de-energize in the event of a thermal runaway or other failure of a battery module of the associated battery pack.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2018Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Robert Alan Ng, Moritz Boecker, Kyle Matthew Foley, Jason Jaspreet Singh Haer, David Sands
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Publication number: 20200406767Abstract: A system for charging one or more batteries of a vehicle may include a charging box mounted to a vehicle to facilitate connection to a charge coupler from under the vehicle. The charge coupler may be configured to provide an electrical connection between an electrical power source and the charging box. A vehicle including the charging box may maneuver to a position above the charge coupler, after which electrical contacts of the charging box and the charge coupler may be brought into contact with one another. The charge coupler and/or the charging box may be configured to provide electrical communication between the electrical power source and the one or more batteries, so that the electrical power source may charge one or more of the batteries. Thereafter, the electrical contacts may be separated from one another, and the vehicle may maneuver away from the charge coupler.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Inventors: Bryan Emrys Booth, Moritz Boecker, Kyle Matthew Foley, Da Liu, Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Robert Alan Ng
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Publication number: 20200398915Abstract: Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2020Publication date: December 24, 2020Inventors: Timo Birnschein, Adriano Di Pietro, Kyle Matthew Foley, Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Andrew Piper
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Publication number: 20200385074Abstract: Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2020Publication date: December 10, 2020Inventors: Timo Birnschein, Adriano Di Pietro, Kyle Matthew Foley, Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Andrew John Piper
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Patent number: 10829066Abstract: An electrical system can include a power supply configured to provide electrical power to components at a time at which the electrical system experiences an electrical fault. The electrical system can include a first battery electrically coupled in parallel to a second battery via an electrical bus, whereby the first and second batteries can provide electrical power to a first electrical load and a second electrical load. Upon experiencing a fault, a first circuit element can electrically decouple the first battery and the second battery by opening a circuit provided by the electrical bus, thereby isolating the first battery from the second battery. Next, the battery experiencing the fault can include a second circuit element that can electrically decouple the battery experiencing the fault from a respective electrical load, while the battery isolated from the fault can continue to provide electrical power to components.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2017Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Moritz Boecker, Bryan Booth, Kyle Matthew Foley, Robert Ng, Timothy David Kentley-Klay
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Patent number: 10737737Abstract: Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2017Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Timo Birnschein, Adriano Di Pietro, Kyle Matthew Foley, Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Andrew Piper