Patents by Inventor Michael W. Degner

Michael W. Degner 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).

  • Publication number: 20240355514
    Abstract: A permanent magnet formed by additively manufacturing magnetic phases and buffer phases is disclosed. The buffer phase(s) may improve performance, enhance mechanical properties and allow the magnet to better tolerate stresses such that defects such as cracking do not occur or are less likely to occur. The buffer phase may be a magnetic or non-magnetic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Chuanbing Rong, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20240345635
    Abstract: An internal component and external interface arrangement for a cylindrical compact computing system is described that includes at least a structural heat sink having triangular shape disposed within a cylindrical volume defined by a cylindrical housing. A computing engine having a generally triangular shape is described having internal components that include a graphics processing unit (GPU) board, a central processing unit (CPU) board, an input/output (V/O) interface board, an interconnect board, and a power supply unit (PSU).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Caitlin Elizabeth Kalinowski, Richard D. Kosoglow, Joshua D. Banko, David H. Narajowski, Jonathan L. Berk, Michael E. Leclerc, Michael D. McBroom, Asif Iqbal, Paul S. Michelsen, Mark K. Sin, Paul A. Baker, Harold L. Sontag, Wai Ching Yuen, Matthew P. Casebolt, Kevin S. Fetterman, Alexander C. Calkins, Daniel L. McBroom
  • Patent number: 12113413
    Abstract: A vehicle, electric machine, and method of manufacturing an electric machine include a stator having teeth extending from a yoke portion toward a rotor and defining slots between adjacent teeth with windings positioned within the slots, wherein the slots are coated with an electrically insulating material having an arcuate surface exiting the slots and extending at least partially over the teeth on at least one end face of the stator to form a winding guide for bending/positioning the windings. The winding guide may be formed by a molded epoxy that replaces insulating paper slot liners while providing a template for forming the hairpin bends of end windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner, Man Prakash Gupta, Christopher White, Steven White, Gary Thomas Martini, Singar Rathnam
  • Patent number: 12106892
    Abstract: A three-dimensional magnetic printer includes at least one induction head assembly including an induction heater to heat magnetic material to form an alloy melt and at least one nozzle operable to eject the alloy melt, a coating apparatus, and a base aligned with the at least one nozzle. The induction head assembly deposits at least one alloy melt layer and the coating apparatus forms at least one insulating layer onto the base in accordance with a predetermined pattern to form a three-dimensional article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chuanbing Rong, Feng Liang, Leyi Zhu, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 12097776
    Abstract: An electric drive system is actively controlled while an electrified vehicle is being towed. The inverter switches are manipulated to preclude exceeding a maximum voltage of a DC bus and also to preclude exceeding a maximum phase current magnitude. During a transition from an inverter off state to a short-circuit state, field-oriented control is utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ji Wu, Yang Xu, Michael W. Degner, Wei Wu
  • Patent number: 12088156
    Abstract: A controller, responsive to a signal indicating deactivation of a vehicle and disconnection of a traction battery from an inverter, generates a d-axis current command for the inverter having a ramp portion that defines a rate of change in current magnitude that depends on an electric angle between a rotor and stator of an electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ji Wu, Michael W. Degner, Wei Wu
  • Patent number: 12071021
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a rotor and a stator. The rotor is configured to generate rotational motion. The stator is disposed radially about the rotor. The stator has a core and windings. The core defines a first array of orifices about an inner diameter of the core and a second array of orifices radially outward from the first array of orifices. The windings are disposed within the first array of orifices. A magnetic material is configured to advance into and retract from the second array of orifices to adjust a magnetic flux within an airgap defined between the rotor and the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wenbo Liu, Jiyao Wang, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20240262217
    Abstract: Systems and methods for commanding an electric drive system for an electric or hybrid vehicle are described. In one example, the drive system is commanded by a controller that supplies a pulsed torque command that varies in magnitude as a function of time when a driver of a vehicle requests a constant driver demand torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Chris Wolf, Michael W. Degner, Yue Nie, Monty Anderson
  • Patent number: 12055984
    Abstract: A computing device can include an enclosure that defines an internal volume and an external surface. An input component can be positioned at the external surface. A processing unit and a memory can be communicatively coupled and disposed within the internal volume. A singular input/output port can be positioned at an orifice defined by the enclosure. The singular input/output port can be communicatively coupled to the processing unit and the memory. The singular input/output port can be configured to receive data and power and configured to output data from the processing unit. The computing device can include an air-moving apparatus to move air along an airflow pathway. The enclosure can include a thermally conductive base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael E. Leclerc, Brett W. Degner, Ian P. Shaeffer
  • Publication number: 20240258888
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a stack of interlocked rotor core laminations, individual rotor core laminations of the interlocked rotor core laminations including a mortise extending therein and an integrally-formed tenon extending therefrom, wherein the tenons interface with the mortises to interlock adjacent rotor core laminations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2024
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Inventors: Leyi ZHU, Michael W. DEGNER, Feng LIANG
  • Patent number: 12050494
    Abstract: An internal component and external interface arrangement for a cylindrical compact computing system is described that includes at least a structural heat sink having triangular shape disposed within a cylindrical volume defined by a cylindrical housing. A computing engine having a generally triangular shape is described having internal components that include a graphics processing unit (GPU) board, a central processing unit (CPU) board, an input/output (I/O) interface board, an interconnect board, and a power supply unit (PSU).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brett W. Degner, Caitlin Elizabeth Kalinowski, Richard D. Kosoglow, Joshua D. Banko, David H. Narajowski, Jonathan L. Berk, Michael E. Leclerc, Michael D. McBroom, Asif Iqbal, Paul S. Michelsen, Mark K. Sin, Paul A. Baker, Harold L. Sontag, Wai Ching Yuen, Matthew P. Casebolt, Kevin S. Fetterman, Alexander C. Calkins, Daniel L. McBroom
  • Publication number: 20240249877
    Abstract: A method of processing an anisotropic permanent magnet includes forming anisotropic flakes from a bulk magnet alloy, each of the anisotropic flakes having an easy magnetization direction with respect to a surface of the flake and combining the anisotropic flakes with a binder to form a mixture. The method further includes extruding or rolling the mixture without applying a magnetic field such that the easy magnetization directions of the anisotropic flakes align to form one or more layers having a magnetization direction aligned with the easy magnetization directions of the anisotropic flakes, and producing the anisotropic permanent magnet from the layers having the magnetization direction such that the anisotropic permanent magnet has a magnetization with a specific orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Wanfeng LI, Chuanbing RONG, Franco LEONARDI, Michael W. DEGNER
  • Patent number: 12046399
    Abstract: A permanent magnet formed by additively manufacturing magnetic phases and buffer phases is disclosed. The buffer phase(s) may improve performance, enhance mechanical properties and allow the magnet to better tolerate stresses such that defects such as cracking do not occur or are less likely to occur. The buffer phase may be a magnetic or non-magnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Chuanbing Rong, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 12046534
    Abstract: This application relates to modifications and enhancements to assemblies used with integrated circuits. In the described embodiments, multiple thermal components (e.g., vapor chambers, fin stacks, heat pipes) can be used to provide a dual-sided thermal energy extraction solution for a circuit board and an integrated circuit located on the circuit board. The thermal components can provide thermal energy dissipation capabilities for additional heat-generating components on the circuit board. Additionally, multiple plates can provide a compression force used to maintain contact between the integrated circuit and the circuit board, and in particular, between contact pads of the integrated circuit and pins, or springs, of a socket located on the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Simon J. Trivett, Brett W. Degner, Mahesh S. Hardikar, Michael E. Leclerc, Eric R. Prather, Kevin J. Ryan
  • Patent number: 12045099
    Abstract: A desktop computing system having at least a central core surrounded by housing having a shape that defines a volume in which the central core resides is described. The housing includes a first opening and a second opening axially displaced from the first opening. The first opening having a size and shape in accordance with an amount of airflow used as a heat transfer medium for cooling internal components, the second opening defined by a lip that engages a portion of the airflow in such a way that at least some of the heat transferred to the air flow from the internal components is passed to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Eugene A. Whang, Christopher J. Stringer, Brett W. Degner, David H. Narajowski, Patrick Kessler, Eric R. Prather, Caitlin Elizabeth Kalinowski, Adam T. Stagnaro, Daniel L. McBroom, Matthew P. Casebolt, Michael D. McBroom
  • Publication number: 20240239328
    Abstract: Systems and methods for commanding an electric drive system for an electric or hybrid vehicle are described. In one example, the drive system is commanded by a controller that supplies a pulsed torque command that varies in frequency as a function of electric machine speed when a driver of a vehicle requests a constant driver demand torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Chris Wolf, Michael W. Degner, Yue Nie
  • Publication number: 20240227581
    Abstract: An automotive power system includes a traction battery, an electric machine, and one or more power cards each containing at least one power semiconductor switch and at least one Y-snubber that includes a series connected capacitor and resistor. The power semiconductor switches are arranged to form an inverter electrically connected between the traction battery and electric machine. The resistors are tuned to dissipate common mode noise associated with operation of the power semiconductor switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Krishna Prasad Bhat, Chingchi Chen, Nitin Parsa, Varittha Sanphuang, Michael W. Degner, Hongjie Wu
  • Publication number: 20240212396
    Abstract: A signal is received from a sensor or other controller of the vehicle. A bucket state is incremented responsive to the signal exceeding a signal threshold. An event is generated responsive to the bucket state exceeding a bucket threshold value. The event is sent, in an event message, to a cloud server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher WOLF, Michael W. DEGNER
  • Publication number: 20240170988
    Abstract: An energy system of a building includes a power storage device, and a controller that, during a period of time for which energy costs are lowest, charges a power storage device to a maximum state of charge, and during a period of time for which energy costs are not lowest and an immediate subsequent period of time is predicted to have higher energy costs, charges the power storage device to a target state of charge that is less than the maximum state of charge and that depends on predicted power demand during the subsequent period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Lan YU, Michael W. DEGNER
  • Publication number: 20240170967
    Abstract: A method includes responsive to indication that a predicted electricity price will exceed a predefined threshold during a timeframe, charging one or more power storage devices to a target amount, that is based on a predicted power demand of the building during the timeframe, before the timeframe begins, and discharging the one or more power storage devices to supply power to the building during the timeframe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Lan YU, Michael W. DEGNER