Patents by Inventor Qunfang WU

Qunfang WU 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: 11938875
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for wireless power transfer in a vehicle. A wireless power transfer system can include a high-frequency alternating current (HFAC) inverter electrically coupled to the power source and a transmitter to wirelessly transmit a HFAC power signal to at least one device of a vehicle, such as sensors (e.g., LiDAR, GPS etc.) and cameras. The HFAC power signal provides wireless power and a data signal to the at least one device of a vehicle. The wireless power transfer system can eliminate the need for cabling and wires to provide power to the device. Wireless power transfer can include use or a data modulation circuit and a pulse current source to inject a pulse current to the HFAC power signal as superimposed data. System configurations can power a plurality of devices. Systems can includes a plurality of HFAC inverters and transmitters to power multiple sets of devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Yanghe Liu, Chungchih Chou, Hiroshi Ukegawa, Qunfang Wu, Mengqi Wang, Weiyang Zhou
  • Patent number: 11590850
    Abstract: A vehicle power system includes a coil that, in a first operational mode, receives power wirelessly from an external source, a first battery connected to the coil to receive power transferred from the coil while the coil is in the first operational mode, a second battery that receives power from the first battery, and a switch that switches the coil between the first operational mode and a second operational mode in which the coil receives power from the second battery and wirelessly transfers power from the second battery to an electrical load in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Yanghe Liu, Qunfang Wu, Mengqi Wang, Weiyang Zhou, Chungchih Chou
  • Publication number: 20220247331
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems provide technology for a high frequency alternating-current (HFAC) distribution network for a vehicle that includes a plurality of HFAC zones coupled to a direct-current (DC) power source, the plurality of HFAC zones disbursed within the vehicle, where each HFAC zone includes a HFAC resonant inverter to convert DC power to HFAC power and a HFAC bus coupled to the HFAC resonant inverter, the HFAC bus to distribute the HFAC power to one or more loads. The technology includes a CLCL resonant tank circuit having two capacitors and two inductors, a push-pull circuit coupled to the CLCL resonant tank circuit, the push-pull circuit including a pair of switches, and a transformer to couple the inverter to the HFAC bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc
    Inventors: Yanghe Liu, Qunfang Wu, Mengqi Wang, Weiyang Zhou, Chungchih Chou, Hiroshi Ukegawa
  • Publication number: 20220242255
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a vehicle power system includes a coil that, in a first operational mode, receives power wirelessly from an external source, a first battery connected to the coil to receive power transferred from the coil while the coil is in the first operational mode, a second battery that receives power from the first battery, and a switch that switches the coil between the first operational mode and a second operational mode in which the coil receives power from the second battery and wirelessly transfers power from the second battery to an electrical load in the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Yanghe Liu, Qunfang Wu, Mengqi Wang, Weiyang Zhou, Chungchih Chou
  • Publication number: 20220194306
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for wireless power transfer in a vehicle. A wireless power transfer system can include a high-frequency alternating current (HFAC) inverter electrically coupled to the power source and a transmitter to wirelessly transmit a HFAC power signal to at least one device of a vehicle, such as sensors (e.g., LiDAR, GPS etc.) and cameras. The HFAC power signal provides wireless power and a data signal to the at least one device of a vehicle. The wireless power transfer system can eliminate the need for cabling and wires to provide power to the device. Wireless power transfer can include use or a data modulation circuit and a pulse current source to inject a pulse current to the HFAC power signal as superimposed data. System configurations can power a plurality of devices. Systems can includes a plurality of HFAC inverters and transmitters to power multiple sets of devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The Regents Of The University Of Michigan
    Inventors: Yanghe LIU, Chungchih CHOU, Hiroshi UKEGAWA, Qunfang WU, Mengqi WANG, Weiyang ZHOU