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).

  • Patent number: 11411516
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine having a number of pole pairs, N, a position sensor having a number of pole pairs, M, that generates output indicative of a rotational position of the electric machine, and one or more controllers. The one or more controllers generate a remapped rotational position according to a product of the rotational position and L/N, generate a scaled position according to a product of the remapped rotational position and N/M, and command the electric machine to produce a specified torque or speed based on the scaled position. M is not equal to and not a factor of N, and L is a minimum common multiplier of N and M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Silong Li, Jiyao Wang, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20220225548
    Abstract: A vehicle power module assembly including first and second power modules is provided. The first power module may include a first lock feature extending from a lower portion of a first minor side at a first central axis. The second power module may include a second lock feature at an upper portion of a second minor side at a second central axis. The lock features may be sized for interlock with one another to secure the power modules to one another. The first lock feature may be a loop element defining a through-hole and the second lock feature may be a wedge. The through-hole may be sized for the wedge to extend therein and to interlock the first power module and the second power module to one another. The first lock feature may be a flexible hook element and the second lock feature may be a slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Akash Changarankumarath Pradeepkumar, Alfredo R. Munoz, Michael W. Degner, Edward Chan-Jiun Jih, Guangyin Lei
  • Publication number: 20220223937
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine, a battery, an inverter, and a controller. The controller switches the inverter at a switching frequency selected to generate an AC current to heat the battery, adjusts a d-axis current of the electric machine to increase a battery heating power, and adjusts a q-axis current of the electric machine according to the adjusted d-axis current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yang XU, Jiyao WANG, Silong LI, Joseph Sherman KIMMEL, Michael W. DEGNER
  • Publication number: 20220214382
    Abstract: An electrical current sensing arrangement includes a busbar, a dielectric material containing therein a magnetic field sensor, and a ferromagnetic over-mold encapsulating a portion of the busbar and the dielectric material. The dielectric material is disposed against the busbar such that the magnetic field sensor is spaced away from the busbar and the ferromagnetic over-mold is not between the busbar and the magnetic field sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher Wolf, Michael W. Degner, Franco Leonardi, Seth Avery
  • Patent number: 11376973
    Abstract: A system of a vehicle includes a processor configured to control output current of a remote power distribution circuit (PDC) connected to the vehicle according to a temperature change of a power line or return line of the PDC. The temperature change is derived from a PDC output voltage or output current change. The PDC output voltage and output current are measured at an input to a load connected to the PDC. And, the PDC output voltage is measured between a ground line of the PDC and one of the power and return lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Allan Roy Gale, Michael W. Degner, Larry Dean Elie
  • Publication number: 20220209606
    Abstract: A winding assembly for a stator has a plurality of bridges each including an arcuate center section extending circumferentially over an end surface of a core at a first axial level relative thereto, first and second necks contiguous with respective first and second ends of the center section and extending therefrom axially away from the end surface, and first and second blocks contiguous with the respective necks and connected to the respective terminals of a pair of conductors at a second axial level farther from the end surface than the first axial level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Becky Sue Morris, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20220203857
    Abstract: A charge system includes a charge cable containing a coolant to be circulated therethrough, and wires submersed and in direct contact with the coolant. The charge system also includes a controller that alters a pressure of the coolant within the charge cable to maintain nucleate boiling of the coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Myung Ki Sung, Michael W. Degner, lssam Mudawar, Seunghyun Lee, Devahdhanush Vijayaraju Swathibanu
  • Patent number: 11370315
    Abstract: A hands-free charging system includes an electrical power source and a ground unit electrically connected to the power source. The ground unit includes an energy-storage device and a robotic coupler having a connector and an actuator configured to move the connector into engagement with a vehicle charge port. The energy-storage device is configured to power the actuator. A switching arrangement is configured to selectively electrically connect the power source to the energy-storage device and to the connector. A controller is programmed to, in response to a request to charge a vehicle, connect the connector to a charge port when the connector is electrically disconnected from the power source using an internal power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lan Yu, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20220200365
    Abstract: An electric machine stator includes a soft magnetic yoke having a cylindrical yoke body extending along a central axis, with an outer surface and an inner periphery defining a central opening about the central axis, and a plurality of soft magnetic stator teeth. Each stator tooth defines a first set of air pockets, and a second set of air pockets. An electric machine rotor and permanent magnet material with air pockets are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Leyi ZHU, Chun TANG, Franco LEONARDI, Michael W. DEGNER
  • Publication number: 20220194258
    Abstract: A vehicle-based microgrid includes a controller and a vehicle having a power source and a network. The controller is operable to operate the power source to supply power to the network for consumption by loads on the network and to adjust operation of the power source in supplying power to the network upon a battery source being added to the network. The power source may be (i) a traction battery, (ii) an electrical generator, or (iii) a non-traction battery. The battery source may be (i) a battery that is on-board the vehicle and that is not the power source or (ii) a battery that is off board the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lan Yu, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20220185120
    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: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Wenbo Liu, Jiyao Wang, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 11362552
    Abstract: An electric machine rotor including a first stamped rotor lamination and a first stamped sheet of a material different than the first stamped rotor lamination is provided. The first stamped rotor lamination may define a pair of magnet pockets. The first stamped sheet may be coplanar with and scarf jointed to the first stamped rotor lamination to define a center bridge between the magnet pockets that has a magnetic permeability less than, and a mechanical strength greater than, the first stamped rotor lamination. The rotor may further include a second stamped sheet of a material different than the first stamped rotor lamination coplanar with and scarf jointed to the first stamped rotor lamination to define a top bridge adjacent to one of the magnet pockets at a perimeter of the rotor that has a magnetic permeability less than, and a mechanical strength greater than, the first stamped rotor lamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Leyi Zhu, Feng Liang, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20220169137
    Abstract: This disclosure details systems and methods for selectively implementing new features within home energy storage systems based on a unique usage pattern associated with each individual home energy storage system. In exemplary embodiments, the unique usage patterns are used to predict the life and capability of each individual home energy storage system for supporting the launch, such as via a cloud-based update, of new features within such systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2020
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Rachel A. BLASER, Lan YU, Michael W. DEGNER
  • Publication number: 20220130607
    Abstract: A magnet structure includes columnar grains of rare earth permanent magnet phase aligned in a same direction and arranged to form bulk anisotropic rare earth alloy magnet having a boundary defined by opposite ends of the columnar grains and lacking triple junction regions, and rare earth alloy diffused onto opposite ends of the bulk anisotropic rare earth alloy magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Feng Liang, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 11317546
    Abstract: A vehicle power module assembly including first and second power modules is provided. The first power module may include a first lock feature extending from a lower portion of a first minor side at a first central axis. The second power module may include a second lock feature at an upper portion of a second minor side at a second central axis. The lock features may be sized for interlock with one another to secure the power modules to one another. The first lock feature may be a loop element defining a through-hole and the second lock feature may be a wedge. The through-hole may be sized for the wedge to extend therein and to interlock the first power module and the second power module to one another. The first lock feature may be a flexible hook element and the second lock feature may be a slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Akash Changarankumarath Pradeepkumar, Alfredo R. Munoz, Michael W. Degner, Edward Chan-Jiun Jih, Guangyin Lei
  • Patent number: 11296644
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery, an inverter, and a controller. The inverter includes a plurality of pairs of switches. Each of the pairs includes an upper switch that is directly electrically connected with a positive terminal of the traction battery and a lower switch that is directly electrically connected with a negative terminal of the traction battery. The controller, responsive to presence of a fault condition and during each of consecutive switching periods, deactivates all of the switches for a predetermined portion of the switching period, activates only the upper switches for another predetermined portion of the switching period, deactivates all of the switches for yet another predetermined portion of the switching period, and activates only the lower switches for still yet another predetermined portion of the switching period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xuemei Sun, Jiyao Wang, Hongjie Wu, William Reynolds, Silong Li, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20220080852
    Abstract: A system for managing energy of a building includes a controller in communication with a charger and configured to responsive to predicting (i) a coming power outage of an expected duration and (ii) a total energy reserve of a battery of a vehicle and an electric energy storage being less than an anticipated amount of energy to be used by the building during the expected duration, instruct the vehicle to recharge the battery at a target charge station and return before stored energy of the energy storage falls below a predefined value, and responsive to encountering the power outage, command the charger to supply electric energy to the building from the battery and electric energy storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lan YU, Michael W. DEGNER
  • Publication number: 20220072972
    Abstract: A hands-free charging system includes a power source and a charging unit electrically connected to the power source. The charging unit includes an energy-storage device and a robotic coupler connectable to a charge port of a vehicle. The charging unit is configured to charge the vehicle with the power source, and the energy-storage device is configured to independently power the robotic coupler irrespective of an energization state of the power source. A controller is programmed to, in response to the power source becoming de-energized during a vehicle charging session, retract the robotic coupler from the charge port using power from the energy-storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Lan Yu, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20220063430
    Abstract: A hands-free charging system includes an electrical power source and a ground unit electrically connected to the power source. The ground unit includes an energy-storage device and a robotic coupler having a connector and an actuator configured to move the connector into engagement with a vehicle charge port. The energy-storage device is configured to power the actuator. A switching arrangement is configured to selectively electrically connect the power source to the energy-storage device and to the connector. A controller is programmed to, in response to a request to charge a vehicle, connect the connector to a charge port when the connector is electrically disconnected from the power source using an internal power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Lan Yu, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20220069646
    Abstract: An electric machine rotor that is configured to rotate about a first axis includes a plurality of plates and plurality of permanent magnets. The plurality of plates are stacked along the first axis. Each of the plates defines V-shaped pairs of cavities. Each V-shaped pair of cavities defines a pole arc angle. Each cavity has a permanent magnet pocket and a magnetic field guide chamber extending radially outward from the permanent magnet pocket relative to the first axis. Offset angles between the magnetic field guide chambers and the permanent magnet pockets vary within each plate. The plates are stacked such that the permanent magnet pockets between adjacent plates are axially aligned and such that the magnetic field guide chambers between adjacent plates are axially offset. Each permanent magnet extends through a set of permanent magnet pockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Chun Tang, Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner, Jacob Krizan