Patents by Inventor Mark Eifert

Mark Eifert 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: 10145901
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method for the management of the electrical current supply in a motor vehicle having a combustion engine, wherein the charge state of a battery is detected and characterized as a discrete variable that indicates whether the prevailing charge state is below or above a calibrated threshold value. If the discrete variable indicates that the prevailing charge state is below the calibrated threshold value, the battery is charged using a relatively high voltage over a predetermined time period in such a manner that all cells of the battery are charged. If the discrete variable indicates that the prevailing charge state is above the calibrated threshold value, different temperature-dependent voltage set points of an electric generator in the vehicle are set in dependence upon a prevailing energy conversion efficiency level of the drivetrain that is detected and characterized as a further discrete variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Eifert
  • Patent number: 10126372
    Abstract: An internal temperature of a battery is determined at defined intervals at different moments in time and is transmitted to an evaluation unit, which continuously determines a temperature gradient at least from the temperature values by dividing the temperature change in an interval by the time change in this interval. At least one limit value for the temperature gradient is stored in the evaluation unit, and the evaluation unit generates an alarm signal when the temperature gradient determined by the evaluation unit reaches this limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Eifert, Eckhard Karden
  • Patent number: 10093198
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining a lower voltage set-point, an upper voltage set-point, a temperature-dependent upper current set-point, a time limit value, and a lower current hysteresis threshold set-point based on a measured temperature of a battery. A charge current from a battery charging circuit is provided. If a charge voltage is above the lower voltage set-point and below the upper voltage set-point and the charge current exceeds the temperature-dependent upper current set-point, timer is started. If the timer reaches a time limit value while the charge current exceeds the temperature-dependent upper current set-point and the charge voltage is between the lower voltage set-point and the upper voltage set-point, the charge current is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Cathleen Tistle, Mark Eifert, Christopher Semanson
  • Patent number: 10052965
    Abstract: A method for charging the starter battery of a motor vehicle at a voltage source includes charging the starter battery after a traction battery of the vehicle has been charged up to a defined value. The starter battery is charged if a charge state of the starter battery is established that is below a defined threshold value. If the charge state of the starter battery is of such a low level, the starter battery is charged until one or more defined termination conditions are fulfilled. The termination conditions may include the total charging period since the low charge state of the starter battery has been established exceeds a defined threshold value and/or the total time period charging the traction battery and the starter battery at the voltage source exceeds a defined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Eifert, Eckhard Karden
  • Patent number: 10050467
    Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to a system, apparatus, and method for diagnosing a vehicle battery for further charging purposes. A battery diagnostic tool is provided to receive temperature information on the vehicle battery during a vehicle battery charging operation. The temperature information is referenced to generate a temperature gradient that will be further referenced to identify temperature changes to the vehicle battery over a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Semanson, Jeremy L. Russell, Cathleen Tistle, Jeff Raymond Mohr, Mark Eifert
  • Publication number: 20180102670
    Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to a system, apparatus, and method for diagnosing a vehicle battery for further charging purposes. A battery diagnostic tool is provided to receive temperature information on the vehicle battery during a vehicle battery charging operation. The temperature information is referenced to generate a temperature gradient that will be further referenced to identify temperature changes to the vehicle battery over a period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Semanson, Jeremy L. Russell, Cathleen Tistle, Jeff Raymond Mohr, Mark Eifert
  • Patent number: 9906069
    Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to a system, apparatus, and method for diagnosing a vehicle battery for further charging purposes. A battery diagnostic tool is provided to receive temperature information on the vehicle battery during a vehicle battery charging operation. The temperature information is referenced to generate a temperature gradient that will be further referenced to identify temperature changes to the vehicle battery over a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Semanson, Jeremy L. Russell, Cathleen Tistle, Jeff Raymond Mohr, Mark Eifert
  • Publication number: 20180037133
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining a lower voltage set-point, an upper voltage set-point, a temperature-dependent upper current set-point, a time limit value, and a lower current hysteresis threshold set-point based on a measured temperature of a battery. A charge current from a battery charging circuit is provided. If a charge voltage is above the lower voltage set-point and below the upper voltage set-point and the charge current exceeds the temperature-dependent upper current set-point, timer is started. If the timer reaches a time limit value while the charge current exceeds the temperature-dependent upper current set-point and the charge voltage is between the lower voltage set-point and the upper voltage set-point, the charge current is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cathleen Tistle, Mark Eifert, Christopher Semanson
  • Publication number: 20180029546
    Abstract: An on-board electrical system for motor vehicles has a battery, a generator and at least one normal consumer that is connected to the battery in a switchable manner. A DC voltage/DC voltage converter is connected on its primary side to the battery and on its secondary side to a high-load resistor. A switch connects the high-load consumer to a storage device in a first switching position, and to the primary side in a second switching position. A controller controls and operates the switch between the first and the second switching position. A device that detects the actual electrical power of the high-load consumer is associated with the high-load consumer, and is connected at the output end to the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bjoern MOHRMANN, Peter SCHMITZ, Armin WARM, Manuel BOJAHR, Engbert SPIJKER, Mark EIFERT
  • Publication number: 20180029545
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an on-board electrical system for a motor vehicle that includes one or more power sources and an electrical subsystem with a switch that can be actuated to selectively bypass a DC/DC converter and a storage device, responsive to electrical parameters such as the power demand of high-power consumers. In one example, when high-power consumers have low and constant power requirements, the switch may be positioned to bridge the DC/DC converter and storage device. Further, the method includes selectively controlling the power source in order to meet peak power demands with the power source operating at the greatest efficiency for the given operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Bjoern Mohrmann, Armin Warm, Peter Schmitz, Manuel Bojahr, Engbert Spijker, Mark Eifert
  • Patent number: 9789784
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining a lower voltage set-point, an upper voltage set-point, a temperature-dependent upper current set-point, a time limit value, and a lower current hysteresis threshold set-point based on a measured temperature of a battery. A charge current from a battery charging circuit is provided. If a charge voltage is above the lower voltage set-point and below the upper voltage set-point and the charge current exceeds the temperature-dependent upper current set-point, timer is started. If the timer reaches a time limit value while the charge current exceeds the temperature-dependent upper current set-point and the charge voltage is between the lower voltage set-point and the upper voltage set-point, the charge current is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cathleen Tistle, Mark Eifert, Christopher Semanson
  • Patent number: 9744857
    Abstract: A system and method for charging a vehicle having a first battery, such as a high-voltage traction battery, and a second battery, such as a low-voltage battery, include controlling a DC converter or relay to effectively decouple the second battery from the converter when the vehicle is connected to an external power source to reduce or prevent damage to the second battery from extended or prolonged charging. The second battery may be effectively decoupled from the converter by controlling the relay or converter voltage based on state of charge of the second battery so that substantially zero current flows to and from the second battery relative to the converter and any vehicle low voltage consumers/accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Eifert, Peter Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20160332533
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining a lower voltage set-point, an upper voltage set-point, a temperature-dependent upper current set-point, a time limit value, and a lower current hysteresis threshold set-point based on a measured temperature of a battery. A charge current from a battery charging circuit is provided. If a charge voltage is above the lower voltage set-point and below the upper voltage set-point and the charge current exceeds the temperature-dependent upper current set-point, timer is started. If the timer reaches a time limit value while the charge current exceeds the temperature-dependent upper current set-point and the charge voltage is between the lower voltage set-point and the upper voltage set-point, the charge current is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cathleen Tistle, Mark Eifert, Christopher Semanson
  • Publication number: 20160308259
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method for operating a battery of a motor vehicle, wherein parameters are continuously monitored by means of a system of the motor vehicle, said parameters representing the state of the battery, and at least one risk minimizing strategy that includes measures for changing the battery situation is implemented if an evaluating unit of the system generates an alarm signal on the basis of a parameter that is being monitored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Mark EIFERT, Eckhard KARDEN
  • Publication number: 20160121750
    Abstract: A method for controlling a voltage source is used to charge a battery of a motor vehicle, wherein the desired voltage value of the voltage source is selected and controlled. The method changes between at least two charging modes at planned time intervals, wherein a first charging mode applies a different desired voltage value for charging the battery than a second charging mode. In particular, the two charging modes are a process of equalization charging the battery and a process of float charging the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Mark EIFERT, Eckhard KARDEN
  • Publication number: 20160117906
    Abstract: An internal temperature of a battery is determined at defined intervals at different moments in time and is transmitted to an evaluation unit, which continuously determines a temperature gradient at least from the temperature values by dividing the temperature change in an interval by the time change in this interval. At least one limit value for the temperature gradient is stored in the evaluation unit, and the evaluation unit generates an alarm signal when the temperature gradient determined by the evaluation unit reaches this limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Mark EIFERT, Eckhard KARDEN
  • Publication number: 20160114696
    Abstract: Methods for monitoring the state of charge of a battery of a motor vehicle are disclosed in which the battery current is determined at moments at which the battery charging voltage has decreased to a defined limit value. The battery current thus determined is transmitted to an evaluation unit, which generates an alarm signal if no discharge of the battery is measured by means of the determined battery current in a defined period. The limit value for the decrease of the battery charging voltage is selected such that the algorithm as a result can identify whether the state of charge of a battery lies above or below a threshold above which a certain electrical functionality of the battery can be guaranteed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Mark EIFERT, Birger FRICKE
  • Publication number: 20160103188
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for monitoring the state of a battery, in which method a battery with an internal short-circuit is identified by an alarm signal of an evaluation unit when the battery current does not fall after the battery has been charged over a long time period, or when the no-load voltage or discharge voltage of the battery drops or rapidly drops after a relatively long charging operation. These two identification methods, which are integrated into two separate algorithms, can be implemented in parallel in an internal short-circuit identification strategy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Mark EIFERT, Eckhard KARDEN
  • Publication number: 20160104920
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for monitoring the state of a battery. In the process, the internal temperature of the battery during a charging process is determined in defined intervals at different time points, and an evaluation unit continuously determines a temperature gradient at least from the temperature values. At least one limit value for the temperature gradient is stored in the evaluation unit, and the evaluation unit generates a signal when the temperature gradient which is determined by the evaluation unit reaches this limit value. When this signal from the evaluation unit is present, the charging voltage of the battery is driven such that there is no battery current, while the internal temperature of the battery is further periodically detected, and the evaluation unit generates an alarm signal when the temperature has fallen after suppression of the battery current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Mark EIFERT, Eckhard KARDEN
  • Publication number: 20160097821
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method for monitoring the state of a battery of a motor vehicle, with which method internal corrosion in the battery can be identified. In this case, the water loss from the battery is estimated by means of a model, and an evaluation unit generates an alarm signal if the estimated water loss exceeds a defined limit value. The water loss model provides, in particular, that the z-curve, which is used in the charging strategy of the battery, and the battery temperature are used, and the mass flow of the water loss on account of gas development is determined as a function of the used z-curve and the battery temperature from a correlation, which is stored in the evaluation unit, at least between the mass flow of the water loss on account of gas development, a z-curve of the charging strategy and the battery temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Mark EIFERT, Eckhard KARDEN