Patents by Inventor Ming LANG

Ming LANG 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: 11951842
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle configured to selectively deactivate a restricted power mode based on an acceleration request, such as an imminent or current acceleration request. A corresponding method is also disclosed. An example electrified vehicle includes a battery and a controller configured to apply a restricted power mode when a state of health of the battery is below a predefined lower threshold. Further, when in the restricted power mode, the controller is configured to limit an amount of power drawn from the battery. Additionally, the controller is configured to selectively deactivate the restricted power mode in response to a signal indicating a current or imminent request for acceleration of the electrified vehicle requiring power to be drawn from the battery above an upper limit of the restricted power mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Xiaohong Nina Duan, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Patent number: 11912164
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle with a thermal management system for a battery. A corresponding method is also disclosed. An example electrified vehicle includes a battery and a thermal management system configured to thermally condition the battery at one of a plurality of thermal conditioning levels. Each of the thermal conditioning levels corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of battery temperature thresholds. The electrified vehicle further includes a controller. The controller is configured to determine which of the plurality of battery temperature thresholds is met or exceeded based on a temperature of the battery and to command the thermal management system to thermally condition the battery at corresponding one of the plurality of thermal conditioning levels. Further, when a state of health of the battery is outside a predefined range, the controller is configured to adjust each of the plurality of battery temperature thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaohong Nina Duan, Yanan Zhao, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Patent number: 11904727
    Abstract: A power system includes a primary bus connected to a traction battery, a secondary bus connected to an auxiliary battery, a power converter between the traction and auxiliary batteries, and a controller. The controller commands the power converter to increase a magnitude of current output to the secondary bus when an amount of charge current received by the traction battery exceeds a first amount threshold and commands the power converter to decrease the magnitude when an amount of charge current received by the auxiliary battery exceeds a second amount threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaohong Nina Duan, Yanan Zhao, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Patent number: 11897447
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle includes generating initial state of charge and vehicle velocity profiles for a travel route, for each initial velocity setpoint defining the vehicle velocity profile, generating a plurality of updated state of charge setpoints, for each of the initial velocity setpoints, selecting one of the updated state of charge setpoints to define an updated state of charge profile, for each of the updated state of charge setpoints that defines the updated state of charge profile, generating a plurality of updated velocity setpoints, for each of the updated state of charge setpoints that defines the updated state of charge profile, selecting one of the updated velocity setpoints to define an updated velocity profile, and controlling operation of an electric machine and engine according to the updated state of charge profile and updated velocity profile over the travel route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ming Cheng, Bokai Chen, Yousaf Rahman, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Patent number: 11820254
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle having one or more controllers, at least two independently driven electric machines (EMs) that are each coupled to separate drive wheels, and controllers configured to generate a torque split ratio responsive to lateral acceleration and/or unequal friction coefficients detected during braking, and to generate electric power with the motors by regeneratively braking each wheel with unequal torques adjusted by the ratio, such that combined wheel braking torques do not exceed a total braking torque limit for the vehicle. In some configurations, the controller(s) generate the torque split ratio by a predetermined lookup table that maps a plurality of torque split ratios to lateral accelerations, the coefficients, and other parameters. Further arrangements include the controller(s) coupled with sensors that detect wheel slip and yaw rate, and responsive to a braking signal, the controller(s) disengage regenerative braking when the wheel slip and/or vehicle yaw are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dale Scott Crombez, Ming Lang Kuang, Yanan Zhao
  • Publication number: 20230339333
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided, including a method for an electric vehicle battery distribution among at least three motors. The method may comprise selecting a first drive path with at least first and second motors for an open-loop power allocation control, designating a second drive path with at least a third motor for an open-loop or a closed-loop power allocation control, determining a power allocation ratio of each motor relative to a total power; and operating the each motors with adjusted power limits based on the determined power allocation ratios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Ming Lang Kuang, Carol Louise Okubo
  • Publication number: 20230234451
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes a traction battery, an engine, and a controller. The controller is configured to generate a request for the engine in response to an input passing a threshold and to adjust the threshold when a state of health (SOH) of the traction battery is at a chance of violating a target, such as a warranty target. The request for the engine may be an engine pull up (EPU) request for starting the engine with the threshold being an EPU threshold in which case the controller lowers the EPU threshold when the battery SOH is at a chance of violating the target. The request for the engine may be an engine pull down (EPD) request for stopping the engine with the threshold being an EPD threshold in which case the controller lowers the EPD threshold when the battery SOH is at a chance of violating the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Xiaohong Nina Duan, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Publication number: 20230094070
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle with a thermal management system for a battery. A corresponding method is also disclosed. An example electrified vehicle includes a battery and a thermal management system configured to thermally condition the battery at one of a plurality of thermal conditioning levels. Each of the thermal conditioning levels corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of battery temperature thresholds. The electrified vehicle further includes a controller. The controller is configured to determine which of the plurality of battery temperature thresholds is met or exceeded based on a temperature of the battery and to command the thermal management system to thermally condition the battery at corresponding one of the plurality of thermal conditioning levels. Further, when a state of health of the battery is outside a predefined range, the controller is configured to adjust each of the plurality of battery temperature thresholds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Xiaohong Nina Duan, Yanan Zhao, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Publication number: 20230094310
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle configured to selectively deactivate a restricted power mode based on an acceleration request, such as an imminent or current acceleration request. A corresponding method is also disclosed. An example electrified vehicle includes a battery and a controller configured to apply a restricted power mode when a state of health of the battery is below a predefined lower threshold. Further, when in the restricted power mode, the controller is configured to limit an amount of power drawn from the battery. Additionally, the controller is configured to selectively deactivate the restricted power mode in response to a signal indicating a current or imminent request for acceleration of the electrified vehicle requiring power to be drawn from the battery above an upper limit of the restricted power mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Xiaohong Nina Duan, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Patent number: 11584225
    Abstract: A vehicle with one-pedal driving mode includes a first axle having a first electric machine configured to power first wheels and a second axle having a second electric machine configured to power second wheels. A controller is programmed to, in response to a request for one-pedal driving mode, map pedal positions of the accelerator pedal to speeds of the first and second wheels such that each of the pedal positions corresponds to a driver-demanded speed of the first and second wheels, and control one or more of the electric machine so that the vehicle is propelled according to the driver-demanded speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jose Velazquez Alcantar, Joseph Jay Torres, Ming Lang Kuang, Michael Edward Brewer
  • Patent number: 11584376
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle that includes a driveline disconnect clutch is described. In one example, the method adjusts torque of an electric machine in response to a estimated torque capacity of the driveline disconnect clutch. The estimated torque capacity of the driveline disconnect clutch is based on a combined inertia of a dual mass flywheel and the driveline disconnect clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fazal Urrahman Syed, Rajit Johri, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar, Thomas Scott Gee, Ming Lang Kuang, Kevin Ray Ruybal
  • Patent number: 11529886
    Abstract: A power system for a vehicle includes a control module, a low-voltage battery electrically coupled to the control module, a high-voltage battery electrically coupled to the control module, an engine electrically coupled to the high-voltage battery, and a computer. The computer is programmed to, while the vehicle is in an off state, in response to a pending download to the control module, provide power to the control module with one of the low-voltage battery, the high-voltage battery, or the engine upon determining whether the low-voltage battery and the high-voltage battery have sufficient charge to power the control module for the download.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yuming Niu, Ming Lang Kuang, Mark Douglas Malone, Daniel M. King
  • Publication number: 20220354883
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for inhibiting pathogenic infection and inhibiting growth of pathogens using a conductive polymer material including a conductive component. The conductive component contains poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate), and a molar ratio of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) to poly(styrenesulfonate) in the poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) ranges from 1:1 to 1:25.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Ming-Lang LEE, Chuan-Te YEN, Yan-Jun WEN, Hsiu-Hui HUNG
  • Publication number: 20220281352
    Abstract: A power system includes a primary bus connected to a traction battery, a secondary bus connected to an auxiliary battery, a power converter between the traction and auxiliary batteries, and a controller. The controller commands the power converter to increase a magnitude of current output to the secondary bus when an amount of charge current received by the traction battery exceeds a first amount threshold and commands the power converter to decrease the magnitude when an amount of charge current received by the auxiliary battery exceeds a second amount threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Xiaohong Nina Duan, Yanan Zhao, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Patent number: 11391257
    Abstract: A system includes a virtual-driver module, a DC/DC converter electrically coupled to the virtual-driver module, a low-voltage battery electrically coupled to the virtual-driver module, a high-voltage battery electrically coupled to the DC/DC converter, and a computer communicatively coupled to the DC/DC converter. The computer is programmed to, in response to a request to start a vehicle including the virtual-driver module in a manual mode, the vehicle being in an off state at the time of the request, set a setpoint of the DC/DC converter at a first voltage; then perform at least one pre-drive test on the vehicle; and then set the setpoint of the DC/DC converter at a second voltage lower than the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yuming Niu, Ming Lang Kuang, Mark Douglas Malone, Daniel M. King
  • Patent number: 11351975
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, a battery, and at least one controller. The vehicle may further comprise a port for supplying power to a load external to the vehicle. The controller is programmed to operate the engine at a power level based on a difference between a battery voltage and a reference voltage such that a power output by the electric machine reduces the difference. The power level may define an engine operating point that minimizes fuel consumption. The operating point may be an engine torque and an engine speed. The power level may be further based on a state of charge of the battery. The electric machine may be operated to cause the engine to rotate at an engine speed corresponding to the selected power level. The difference may be caused by varying power drawn by a load external to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wei Liang, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Xiaoyong Wang, Rajit Johri, Ryan Abraham McGee, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Publication number: 20220169235
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle includes generating initial state of charge and vehicle velocity profiles for a travel route, for each initial velocity setpoint defining the vehicle velocity profile, generating a plurality of updated state of charge setpoints, for each of the initial velocity setpoints, selecting one of the updated state of charge setpoints to define an updated state of charge profile, for each of the updated state of charge setpoints that defines the updated state of charge profile, generating a plurality of updated velocity setpoints, for each of the updated state of charge setpoints that defines the updated state of charge profile, selecting one of the updated velocity setpoints to define an updated velocity profile, and controlling operation of an electric machine and engine according to the updated state of charge profile and updated velocity profile over the travel route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Ming Cheng, Bokai Chen, Yousaf Rahman, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Publication number: 20220169145
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle includes generating initial state of charge and vehicle velocity profiles for a travel route, for each initial state of charge setpoint defining the initial state of charge profile, generating a plurality of updated velocity setpoints, for each of the initial state of charge setpoints, selecting one of the updated velocity setpoints to define an updated velocity profile, for each of the updated velocity setpoints that defines the updated velocity profile, generating a plurality of updated state of charge setpoints, for each of the updated velocity setpoints that defines the updated velocity profile, selecting one of the updated state of charge setpoints to define an updated state of charge profile, and repeating the previous operations until values of the updated state of charge setpoints fall within a first predefined range and values of the updated velocity setpoints fall within a second predefined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Bokai Chen, Yousaf Rahman, Ming Cheng, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Patent number: 11345326
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle that may be automatically stopped and started is described. In one example, the method includes starting an engine via expansion stroke combustion in response to a request to urgently start the engine. In addition, the method includes adjusting a position of a compression relief valve in response to a predicted urgency of an engine start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Doering, Kevin Ray Ruybal, Jason Meyer, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Rajit Johri, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Patent number: 11292346
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine, a traction battery, a low-voltage power system, a DC to DC converter, and a controller. The electric machine is configured to accelerate the vehicle and to slow the vehicle. The traction battery is configured to deliver electrical power to the electric machine and to receive electrical power from the electric machine via a high-voltage bus. The low-voltage power system has vehicle accessories, an accessory battery, and a low-voltage bus. The DC to DC converter is configured to transfer electrical power between the high-voltage bus and the low-voltage bus. The accessory battery is configured to deliver electrical power to the vehicle accessories and to receive or deliver power from or to DC to DC converter via the low-voltage bus. The controller is configured to controller the transfer of electrical power between the high-voltage bus and the low-voltage bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaohong Nina Duan, Yanan Zhao, Ming Lang Kuang