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).

  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AVOIDING INRUSH CURRENT IN A VEHICLE MICROGRID
    Publication number: 20200290461
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an inverter configured to power an external device. The vehicle further includes a controller programmed to cause the inverter to output a voltage at a steady-state amplitude and a steady-state frequency and, responsive to detecting an inrush current event in progress that is caused by the external device, operate the inverter to reduce the voltage to prevent an overcurrent. The controller is programmed to identify the type of load connected and return the voltage to the steady-state amplitude and steady-state frequency based on the type of load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Xi LU, Michael W. DEGNER, Krishna Prasad BHAT, Ke ZOU
  • Coolant system pressure drop reduction
    Patent number: 10760672
    Abstract: A vehicle system is disclosed. The vehicle system includes an automatic transmission fluid cooling conduit. The automatic transmission fluid cooling conduit includes an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and an elbow portion connecting the inlet and outlet portions and having an inner surface defining a cavity in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet portions. The automatic transmission fluid cooling conduit also includes an oleophobic or hydrophobic coating on the inner surface. The oleophobic or hydrophobic coating is configured to reduce eddy currents in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Myung Ki Sung, Edward Chan-Jiun Jih, Michael W. Degner
  • Electric machine rotor
    Patent number: 10749391
    Abstract: A rotor includes a unitary, single material substrate defining a rotor lamination having pockets defining legs and configured to contain permanent magnets therein to establish a magnetic pole of the rotor. The rotor includes a first region having a predefined magnetic permeability. The rotor includes a second region defined between the legs and an outer periphery of the lamination. The second region has a magnetic permeability less than the first region to reduce torque ripple of a predetermined harmonic order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael W. Degner, Feng Liang, Lusu Guo, Leyi Zhu
  • Terminal connector assembly in overmolded single unit with coil end windings, temperature sensors, and cooling channel
    Patent number: 10749404
    Abstract: A vehicle electric machine assembly including a stator core and a terminal block is provided. The stator core includes one or more three-phase terminals connected to end windings. The terminal block includes a connector for each of the three-phase terminals. A portion of the end windings extending from the stator core, the three-phase terminals, and the terminal block are overmolded as a single unit such that a portion of each of the connectors is exposed for connection to an inverter. The terminal block may further include one or more threaded apertures, each sized to receive a threaded stud to facilitate an electrical connection between one of the one or more three-phase terminals and the inverter. Each of the one or more three-phase terminals may extend axially along an axis substantially parallel to a central axis of a rotor disposed within a cavity defined by the stator core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael W. Degner, Prasad Dev Hanumalagutti, Franco Leonardi
  • COMPOSITE MAGNET WITH MAGNETICALLY HARD AND SOFT PHASES
    Publication number: 20200258663
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a composite permanent magnet includes a matrix of magnetically hard phase grains having an average grain size of 10 nm to 50 ?m; and magnetically soft phase grains embedded within the matrix, and having an average grain size of at least 50 nm, each grain having an elongated shape with an aspect ratio of at least 2:1. According to another embodiment, a composite permanent magnet includes a matrix of magnetically hard phase grains having an average grain size of 10 nm to 50 ?m; and magnetically soft phase grains embedded within the matrix, and having an average grain width of at least 50 nm, an average grain height of 20 to 500 nm, and an aspect ratio of at least 2:1. According to yet another embodiment, a method of forming a composite permanent magnet is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: CHUANBING RONG, MICHAEL W. DEGNER, FENG LIANG
  • Fixtures and methods for forming aligned magnetic cores
    Patent number: 10734848
    Abstract: Magnetic cores and method and fixtures for forming the same are disclosed. The magnetic core may comprise a magnetic body including magnetic grains and a magnetic flux path, the magnetic grains aligned in a plurality of distinct directional alignments to conform to the magnetic flux path. The grain orientation of the cores may be provided by fixtures including electrical circuits and/or permanent magnets. The fixtures may be configured to produce magnetic fields that approximate, mimic, or correspond to a magnetic flux path in the magnetic core, once it is consolidated and in use. The magnetic fields may orient the grains of the magnetic core when they are in an unconsolidated state, such that the grains are aligned in a plurality of directional alignments that approximate, mimic, or correspond to a magnetic flux path in the magnetic core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael W. Degner, Feng Liang, C Bing Rong
  • High frequency voltage injection-based cable swap detection
    Patent number: 10723294
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller programmed to, responsive to injecting a high frequency voltage signal to an electric machine, determine an estimated negative sequence current phase associated with an electric machine current, and responsive to a rotor of the electric machine being at a predetermined rotor position, inject a pulse torque command to the electric machine and observe a speed change of the electric machine to determine a cable sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Silong Li, Wei Xu, Jiyao Wang, Michael W. Degner
  • Balanced hairpin winding electric machine
    Patent number: 10707713
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator core defining slots having radial layers that each include adjacent first and second pin positions. Pins are disposed in corresponding ones of the slots and are interconnected to form a winding path. The path occupies the first and second positions of each layer, and, for each of the corresponding slots, the pins are in a same layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Feng Liang, Franco Leonardi, Becky Sue Morris, Michael W. Degner
  • Thermal management system for vehicle power inductor assembly
    Patent number: 10699840
    Abstract: A power inductor assembly including a power inductor, a vehicle component, and a pair of distribution conduits is provided. The power inductor has a housing supporting a pair of coils. The vehicle component is located above the pair of coils. Each of the pair of distribution conduits is oriented relative to one of the pair of coils below the vehicle component and has one or more openings adjacent the coils to distribute coolant thereto. Each of the one or more openings may define one of a circular shape or a slot shape. Each of the one or more openings may be sized such that exiting coolant substantially uniformly covers the adjacent coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Myung Ki Sung, Edward Chan-Jiun Jih, Michael W. Degner
  • HAIRPIN WINDING ELECTRIC MACHINE WITH MULTI-CONDUCTOR HAIRPIN ASSEMBLIES
    Publication number: 20200169149
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator core defining slots and a first hairpin assembly installed in the stator core. The first hairpin assembly includes first and second same hairpins, each having first and second ends and separately coated to have first and second outer coating surfaces, respectively. The hairpin assembly is in first and second ones of the slots such that the first and second outer surfaces are touching. A weld material joins the first ends and another weld material joins the second ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Feng LIANG, Michael W. DEGNER
  • ANISOTROPIC MISCHMETAL- Fe-B PERMANENT MAGNET AND PROCESSING OF AN ANISOTROPIC MISCHMETAL-Fe-B PERMANENT MAGNET
    Publication number: 20200161033
    Abstract: A method of forming a permanent magnet includes processing a mixture of mischmetal-Fe—B particles having an average MM2Fe14B grain size below 500 nm and low melting point (LMP) alloy particles into a compact defining grain boundaries between MM2Fe14B grains; hot-pressing the compact; and hot-deforming the compact to diffuse the LMP alloy particles into the grain boundaries, thickening the grain boundaries and modifying a surface region composition of the MM2Fe14B grains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Wanfeng LI, Feng LIANG, Michael W. DEGNER, Chuanbing Rong
  • Double-pulse test systems and methods
    Patent number: 10640003
    Abstract: The methods and systems for correcting for an inductive load when testing high voltages devices are described. A high voltages device is a device under test (DUT) in a double-pulse test, which may require the inductive load. The method can include in a low current, high voltage time period, estimating an inductor current contribution range after a turn on of the device-under-test connected to an inductive load with an air core inductor. The method subtracts the estimated inductor current contribution from a device-under-test collector current to output a corrected collector current. This allows the double pulse test to be conducted with an air-core inductor. Vehicles can use the DUT in traction power applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xi Lu, Chingchi Chen, Zhuxian Xu, Krishna Prasad Bhat, Lan Yu, Michael W. Degner
  • Electrified vehicle powertrain sound control method and assembly
    Patent number: 10636411
    Abstract: A sound control method includes altering at least one characteristic of power delivered within an electrified vehicle powertrain to cause at least one component of the electrified vehicle powertrain to emit different acoustic tones that follow a predetermined sequence. A sound control assembly includes a power characteristic control system that alters at least one characteristic of power delivered within an electrified vehicle powertrain to cause at least one component of the electrified vehicle powertrain to emit different acoustic tones that follow a predetermined sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Wolf, Michael W. Degner
  • Alert method and assembly using sounds emitted from an electrified vehicle powertrain
    Patent number: 10632909
    Abstract: A vehicle alert method includes, among other things, in response to an alert event, altering at least one characteristic of power delivered within an electrified vehicle powertrain to provide an alert. A vehicle alert assembly includes, among other things, a power characteristic control system that, in response to an alert event, alters at least one characteristic of power delivered within an electrified vehicle powertrain to provide alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technlogies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Wolf, Michael W. Degner, Yue Nie, Seth Avery
  • RECONFIGURABLE MICRO-GRID
    Publication number: 20200122585
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a converter, outlets, and a switching arrangement electrically between the outlets and the converter. A controller is programmed to, responsive to a first request, operate the switching arrangement to electrically connect a line and a neutral to a first outlet and operate the converter to output single-phase power to the first outlet. Responsive to a second request, the controller is configured to operate the switching arrangement to electrically connect a plurality of lines and not the neutral to a second outlet, and operate the converter to output three-phase power to the second outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Krishna Prasad BHAT, Jacek BRAUNER, Xi LU, Theodore Joseph FILIPPI, Ke ZOU, Allan Roy GALE, Michael W. DEGNER
  • RECONFIGURABLE ELECTRICAL POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20200122580
    Abstract: A power converter cartridge for a vehicle includes a housing slidably insertable into a body cavity of the vehicle and including electrical outlets and coolant, data, and power interface ports configured to connect to corresponding ports of the cavity, a converter, and a controller configured to, responsive to a signal from the vehicle via the data port, cause the converter to convert power received from a traction battery of the vehicle via the power interface port to supply corresponding external loads connected to the outlets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Ke Zou, Theodore Joseph Filippi, Jacek Brauner, Allan Roy Gale, Michael W. Degner
  • VEHICLE POWER SYSTEM WITH CONFIGURABLE OUTPUT CONVERTER
    Publication number: 20200122586
    Abstract: A vehicle power system includes a power converter including one or more phase leg lines and a negative rail line. The system also includes a controller that operates the power converter to flow current through some of the phase leg lines and the negative rail line to output DC power, and operates the power converter to flow current through the some of the phase leg lines and not the negative rail line to output AC power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Xi Lu, Ke Zou, Krishna Prasad Bhat, Michael W. Degner
  • Vehicle power module assembly
    Patent number: 10631429
    Abstract: A vehicle power module assembly including an array of stacked switch unit assemblies, a front cover, first and second side rails, and an end cover is provided. Each of the assemblies may include a power stage frame having a mid-cutout located at a substantially central side frame region such that a mid-cutout region is defined along each side of the array. The front cover may be disposed at a first end of the array. The first and second side rails may each extend from the front cover and each may be disposed within one of the mid-cutout regions such that an outer surface of each side rail is substantially flush with an outer surface of a respective power stage frame. The end cover may be arranged with the front cover to retain the assemblies therebetween. The assembly may further include a clamping plate and a spring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Akash Changarankumarath Pradeepkumar, Alfredo R. Munoz, Michael W. Degner, Edward Jih, Guangyin Lei
  • ALERT METHOD AND ASSEMBLY USING SOUNDS EMITTED FROM AN ELECTRIFIED VEHICLE POWERTRAIN
    Publication number: 20200114818
    Abstract: A vehicle alert method includes, among other things, in response to an alert event, altering at least one characteristic of power delivered within an electrified vehicle powertrain to provide an alert. A vehicle alert assembly includes, among other things, a power characteristic control system that, in response to an alert event, alters at least one characteristic of power delivered within an electrified vehicle powertrain to provide alert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Wolf, Michael W. Degner, Yue Nie, Seth Avery
  • CONFIGURABLE VEHICLE POWER OUTLET SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20200114765
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a pair of power converters. The vehicle includes a socket having an array of power terminals arranged to accept outlets of different power terminal configurations to interconnect the pair therewith. The vehicle includes a panel having an outlet engaged with the socket. The panel includes a controller configured to communicate an electrical rating of the outlet via the socket to define a switching scheme for the pair. The communication is responsive to detecting panel and socket engagement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Jacek BRAUNER, Theodore Joseph FILIPPI, Allan Roy GALE, Ke ZOU, Krishna Prasad BHAT, Michael W. DEGNER