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).

  • Publication number: 20180306454
    Abstract: Disclosed is a drying device which includes desiccant wheels or desiccant wheels combined with adsorbent, and a drying apparatus using thereof. The desiccant wheel drying device includes a plurality of desiccant wheels made of direct heating desorption substrates. The drying apparatus using the drying device includes: two pressure tanks capable of performing adsorption dehumidification and regeneration desorption of moisture in compressed air. The two pressure tanks exchange functions in batches to achieve the moisture adsorption of the compressed air and the regeneration desorption of the adsorbent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Ming-Lang HUNG, Yu-Hao KANG, Chih-Hao CHEN, Jyi-Ching PERNG, Ching-Eenn TSAI, Hsing-Ting CHEN
  • Patent number: 10107390
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a controller configured to, in response to an accelerator pedal release and an expected regenerative braking event, increase an engagement pressure of a torque converter clutch prior to occurrence of the event to a threshold that is based on a regenerative braking torque estimate associated with the event such that during the event, the clutch transfers more torque than the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Bernard D. Nefcy, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Patent number: 10106149
    Abstract: A vehicle system may include a controller configured to increase, after a specified delay, an engagement pressure of a torque converter clutch prior to occurrence of the event to a target pressure that is based on a regenerative braking torque estimate associated with the event such that a portion of energy associated with the event is converted to electricity. The controller may increase the engagement pressure in response to an accelerator pedal release and an expected regenerative braking event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Bernard D. Nefcy, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Patent number: 10106150
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a transmission are described. In one example, gears of a transmission may be unlocked from layshafts while an engine is stopped to conserve energy. Alternatively, the gears may be locked and unlocked from layshafts in response to vehicle operating conditions while the engine is stopped to improve driveline response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Walter Joseph Ortmann, Yanan Zhao, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Publication number: 20180297475
    Abstract: An autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle is provided that is capable of braking itself without a driver depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle has a powertrain that includes an engine, a transmission, and a motor with a connected battery to provide regenerative braking capabilities. Friction brakes are provided to apply when necessary, such as when the battery has a high state of charge and further regenerative braking would overcharge the battery. The braking may be activated in response to a sensor detecting a distance to an object in front of the vehicle. A vehicle controller is programmed to automatically control amounts of regenerative braking and friction braking during a braking event based on a comparison between a regenerative torque limit of the powertrain and a desired brake torque over the brake event to safely brake the vehicle during the brake event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Yanan ZHAO, Ming Lang KUANG, Zheng LIU
  • Publication number: 20180290645
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, and a battery, coupled to a controller(s) configured to, in response to a virtual-driver signal, predict and maintain a constant-speed from a plurality of candidate speeds, to have a lowest fuel consumption and a minimum number of battery-charge-cycles, for a predicted distance and wheel-torque-power. A predicted engine-power is established from the wheel-torque-power required to maintain the constant-speed, and to power vehicle accessories and battery charging, such that fuel consumption and battery-charge-cycles are minimized over the predicted distance at the constant-speed. The controller(s) are configured to generate the predicted distance, from one or more of position and moving-map sensors, by detecting a current location, and identifying an open-road distance between the current location and at least one detected and/or predetermined way-point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Chen Zhang, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Publication number: 20180281778
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes a controller, a torque converter, and an engine and electric machine coupled by a clutch. The torque converter may be configured to couple the electric machine to an output shaft. The controller may be programed to generate a command for the electric machine to output torque to drive the torque converter toward a desired rotational speed, and to modify the command according to a difference between the desired rotational speed and an actual rotational speed to reduce the difference, wherein values of the difference are limited by thresholds that change with powertrain operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Chen Zhang, Jason Meyer, Bernard D. Nefcy, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Publication number: 20180257634
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, a rear drive unit electric machine, an integrated starter/generator, and a transmission are described. In one example, charging of an electric energy storage device may be allocated between the rear drive unit electric machine and the integrated starter/generator to increase charge stored in the electric energy storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Ming Lang Kuang, Walter Joseph Ortmann
  • Publication number: 20180257638
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a transmission are described. In one example, gears of a transmission may be unlocked from layshafts while an engine is stopped to conserve energy. Alternatively, the gears may be locked and unlocked from layshafts in response to vehicle operating conditions while the engine is stopped to improve driveline response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Walter Joseph Ortmann, Yanan Zhao, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Publication number: 20180257656
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a transmission are described. In one example, regenerative torque and torque of an electronically controlled differential clutch are adjusted to increase utilization of a vehicle's kinetic energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Joseph Jay Torres, Ming Lang Kuang, Lucian Lippok, Hai Yu
  • Patent number: 10071724
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain and at least one controller programmed to, in response to a brake request and a shaft speed associated with a speed of the vehicle achieving a starting speed that is defined by a torque of the powertrain that changes with brake demand at a given shaft speed, reduce a regenerative torque limit that constrains regenerative braking torque over a blend-out duration based on the shaft speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Ming Lang Kuang, Stuart N. Ford, Bernard D. Nefcy, Todd McCullough
  • Patent number: 10065636
    Abstract: A vehicle and associated method for calculating tire saturation is provided. The method may include the stability control computer calculating slip ratio and longitudinal force for the tire, calculating tire longitudinal stiffness by dividing longitudinal force by slip ratio, calculating tire saturation from tire longitudinal stiffness, and the stability control computer altering dynamic control of the vehicle based on calculated tire saturation. The stability control computer may calculate tire saturation from a tire saturation membership function which includes a first tire longitudinal stiffness value representing an unsaturated tire, a second tire longitudinal stiffness value representing a saturated tire, and a function line connecting the first tire longitudinal stiffness value to the second tire longitudinal stiffness value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Varnhagen, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Patent number: 10029670
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and an electric machine coupled to a gearbox through a torque converter. The vehicle includes a controller programmed to command an engine torque and an electric machine torque to achieve a predetermined positive torque at the input of the torque converter when a driver demand torque at the torque converter input decreases to fall within a range between the predetermined positive torque and a predetermined negative torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rajit Johri, Ming Lang Kuang, Francis Thomas Connolly, Bernard D. Nefcy, Yanan Zhao, Fazal Urrahman Syed
  • Patent number: 9988038
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a hybrid vehicle driveline that includes an engine and a motor are presented. In one example, the systems and methods include one or more control modes where engine and/or motor speed or torque is adjusted responsive to different control parameters during a vehicle launch from zero speed or a creep speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chen Zhang, Rajit Johri, Xiaoyong Wang, Ming Lang Kuang, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Felix Nedorezov, Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Walter Joseph Ortmann
  • Publication number: 20180141557
    Abstract: A vehicle may include an engine selectively coupled to a motor and a transmission. The vehicle may include a controller configured to, in response to actuation of a brake pedal, command the transmission to downshift during a regenerative braking event based on a regenerative braking downshift torque. The regenerative braking downshift torque may be determined from a predicted brake pedal input rate. The predicted brake pedal input rate may be based on road grade, vehicle headway range and a driver history. The predicted brake pedal input rate may be classified as Low, Medium, or High. The regenerative braking downshift torque may also be determined from a predicted brake torque rate that is based on a predicted deceleration rate of the vehicle, a vehicle speed prediction and a road grade prediction within a future time interval that begins upon actuation of the brake pedal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Bernard D. NEFCY, Yanan ZHAO, Ming Lang KUANG
  • Publication number: 20180134276
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain and at least one controller programmed to, in response to a brake request and a shaft speed associated with a speed of the vehicle achieving a starting speed that is defined by a torque of the powertrain that changes with brake demand at a given shaft speed, reduce a regenerative torque limit that constrains regenerative braking torque over a blend-out duration based on the shaft speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Yanan ZHAO, Ming Lang KUANG, Stuart N. FORD, Bernard D. NEFCY, Todd McCULLOUGH
  • Publication number: 20180135744
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain and a controller. The powertrain includes a transmission mechanically coupled to an electric machine and configured to transfer torque between a wheel and the electric machine. The transmission has a gearbox configured to establish gear ratios through a shift. The controller is programmed to, in response to an indication of an expected regenerative braking event having a timing falling within a shift window of the transmission, prevent a clutch of the transmission from disengaging until first occurrence of application of an accelerator pedal or removal of the indication to inhibit the shift prompted by a shift schedule of the gearbox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Ming Lang Kuang, Bernard D. Nefcy, Yanan Zhao
  • Publication number: 20180126975
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and an electric machine coupled to a gearbox through a torque converter. The vehicle includes a controller programmed to command an engine torque and an electric machine torque to achieve a predetermined positive torque at the input of the torque converter when a driver demand torque at the torque converter input decreases to fall within a range between the predetermined positive torque and a predetermined negative torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Rajit JOHRI, Ming Lang KUANG, Francis Thomas CONNOLLY, Bernard D. NEFCY, Yanan ZHAO, Fazal Urrahman SYED
  • Patent number: 9963041
    Abstract: A charging apparatus with status indication for charging an electric vehicle. The charging apparatus includes a power supply device and a coupler. The power supply device includes a processing module, an indicator control unit and a signal modulation unit. The coupler is electrically connected to the power supply device through a power cable and includes a signal demodulation unit and an indicator unit. The processing module instructs the indicator control unit to output a status control signal to the signal modulation unit according to the connection status of the coupler and the electrical vehicle. The signal modulation unit modulates the status control signal and transmits the modulated status control signal through the power cable to the signal demodulation unit. The signal demodulation unit demodulates the modulated status control signal into the status control signal and outputs the status control signal to the indicator unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: GREATLINK ELECTRONICS TAIWAN LTD.
    Inventors: Ming-Lang Huang, Yih-Chung Huang
  • Publication number: 20180118193
    Abstract: A vehicle system may include a controller configured to increase, after a specified delay, an engagement pressure of a torque converter clutch prior to occurrence of the event to a target pressure that is based on a regenerative braking torque estimate associated with the event such that a portion of energy associated with the event is converted to electricity. The controller may increase the engagement pressure in response to an accelerator pedal release and an expected regenerative braking event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Bernard D. Nefcy, Ming Lang Kuang