Patents by Inventor Richard Dyche Anderson

Richard Dyche Anderson 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: 11541775
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery, an electric machine, and a controller. The battery has a state of charge. The electric machine is configured to draw electrical power from the battery to propel the vehicle in response to an acceleration request and to deliver electrical power to the battery to recharge the battery. The controller is programmed to adjust an estimation of battery state of charge based on a feed forward control that includes a coulomb counting algorithm, a first feedback control that includes a first battery model, and a second feedback control that includes a second battery model. The controller is further programmed to control the electrical power flow between the battery and the electric machine based on the estimation of the state of charge of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yixin Yao, Xiaohong Duan, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Patent number: 11285814
    Abstract: A system includes at least one load in a vehicle, a battery electrically connected to the load, a power source electrically connected to the load, and a computer communicatively connected to the power source. The computer is programmed to reduce a voltage supplied by the power source to the load so that the battery discharges to supply power to the load, and then, in response to an electrical quantity of the system being outside an electrical-quantity range while the battery is discharging, perform a minimal risk condition or prevent the vehicle from movably operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Awad Alla, David Celinske, Mathew Alan Boesch, Sami Dagher, Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Publication number: 20210237614
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery, an electric machine, and a controller. The battery has a state of charge. The electric machine is configured to draw electrical power from the battery to propel the vehicle in response to an acceleration request and to deliver electrical power to the battery to recharge the battery. The controller is programmed to adjust an estimation of battery state of charge based on a feed forward control that includes a coulomb counting algorithm, a first feedback control that includes a first battery model, and a second feedback control that includes a second battery model. The controller is further programmed to control the electrical power flow between the battery and the electric machine based on the estimation of the state of charge of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Yixin Yao, Xiaohong Duan, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Publication number: 20200398671
    Abstract: A system includes at least one load in a vehicle, a battery electrically connected to the load, a power source electrically connected to the load, and a computer communicatively connected to the power source. The computer is programmed to reduce a voltage supplied by the power source to the load so that the battery discharges to supply power to the load, and then, in response to an electrical quantity of the system being outside an electrical-quantity range while the battery is discharging, perform a minimal risk condition or prevent the vehicle from movably operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: MICHAEL AWAD ALLA, DAVID CELINSKE, MATHEW ALAN BOESCH, SAMI DAGHER, RICHARD DYCHE ANDERSON
  • Patent number: 10814742
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring a vehicle power supply system having a primary and a secondary power source. An example vehicle includes a primary power source, a secondary power source comprising a low voltage battery, and a processor. The processor is configured for reducing an output of the primary power source, determining an operational characteristic of the low voltage battery while the output of the primary power source is reduced, and providing an alert based on the operational characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Patent number: 10793019
    Abstract: A high voltage battery pack comprises series-connected battery units, each separately powering a respective DC/DC converter. The converter outputs are coupled in parallel to supply a low-voltage DC bus. A central module has 1) an outer loop controller generating a target current to regulate the bus voltage and 2) an allocator distributing the target current via allocated current commands for respective converters. Local controllers each regulate an output current of a respective converter. The allocator identifies battery units having a predetermined deviation from a reference metric that characterizes the battery pack, allocates reverse currents to respective converters for the identified battery units, and increases the target current commanded for the DC/DC converters not allocated to have a reverse current by the allocated reverse currents. Battery units with extremely low or high states as compared with the other units are quickly balanced, thereby improving overall performance of the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaohong Duan, Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Patent number: 10766371
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery comprising a plurality of cells. The vehicle also includes a plurality of power converters each electrically coupled between a corresponding group of cells and an electrical bus. A controller is programmed to allocate current demand to the power converters and operate the power converters to minimize energy consumption and losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaohong Nina Duan, Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Publication number: 20200269704
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery comprising a plurality of cells. The vehicle also includes a plurality of power converters each electrically coupled between a corresponding group of cells and an electrical bus. A controller is programmed to allocate current demand to the power converters and operate the power converters to minimize energy consumption and losses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Xiaohong Nina DUAN, Richard Dyche ANDERSON
  • Publication number: 20200055405
    Abstract: A high voltage battery pack comprises series-connected battery units, each separately powering a respective DC/DC converter. The converter outputs are coupled in parallel to supply a low-voltage DC bus. A central module has 1) an outer loop controller generating a target current to regulate the bus voltage and 2) an allocator distributing the target current via allocated current commands for respective converters. Local controllers each regulate an output current of a respective converter. The allocator identifies battery units having a predetermined deviation from a reference metric that characterizes the battery pack, allocates reverse currents to respective converters for the identified battery units, and increases the target current commanded for the DC/DC converters not allocated to have a reverse current by the allocated reverse currents. Battery units with extremely low or high states as compared with the other units are quickly balanced, thereby improving overall performance of the battery pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Xiaohong Duan, Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Patent number: 10374266
    Abstract: A traction battery of a vehicle includes a temperature compensated passive wireless surface acoustic wave sensor within the traction battery and a controller. The temperature compensated passive wireless surface acoustic wave sensor is configured to receive a broadcast signal and transmit a reflected signal. The controller is programmed to transmit the broadcast signal and receive the reflected signal, and based on a difference in phase and amplitude between the broadcast and reflected signals indicative of an increase in pressure within the traction battery, stop charging the traction battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Arnold Kweku Mensah-Brown, Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Publication number: 20190176638
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring a vehicle power supply system having a primary and a secondary power source. An example vehicle includes a primary power source, a secondary power source comprising a low voltage battery, and a processor. The processor is configured for reducing an output of the primary power source, determining an operational characteristic of the low voltage battery while the output of the primary power source is reduced, and providing an alert based on the operational characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventor: Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Patent number: 10298026
    Abstract: An apparatus for model predictive control (“MPC”) is disclosed. A method and system also perform the functions of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a measurement module that receives battery status information from one or more sensors receiving information from a battery cell, and a Kalman filter module that uses a Kalman filter and the battery status information to provide a state estimate vector. The apparatus includes a battery model module that inputs the state estimate vector and battery status information into a battery model and calculates a battery model output, the battery model representing the battery cell, and an MPC optimization module that inputs one or more battery model outputs and an error signal in a model predictive control algorithm to calculate an optimal response. The optimal response includes a modification of the error signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Utah State University
    Inventors: Michael Scott Trimboli, Gregory L. Plett, Regan A. Zane, Kandler Smith, Dragan Maksimovic, Michael Evzelman, Daniel Costinett, Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Patent number: 10277041
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a battery state module that determines a battery state of each of a plurality of battery cells forming a battery unit. A battery state includes a health of the battery cell. A battery state of a battery cell differs from a battery state of other battery cells of the battery unit. Each battery cell is connected to a shared bus through a bypass converter that provides power from the battery cell to the shared bus. A charge/discharge modification module determines, based on battery state, an amount to vary a charging characteristic for each battery cell compared to a reference charging characteristic. Each charging characteristic varies as a function of a reference state. A charge/discharge module adjusts charging/discharging of a battery cell of the battery unit based on the charging characteristic of the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignees: UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY, ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC, FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, A BODY CORPORATE
    Inventors: Regan A. Zane, Michael Evzelman, Daniel Costinett, Dragan Maksimovic, Richard Dyche Anderson, Kandler Smith, Michael Scott Trimboli, Gregory L. Plett
  • Patent number: 10214111
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle high voltage battery pack has series-connected battery units or cells combining to provide the high voltage. To power a low voltage bus (e.g., for low voltage accessories or charging a low voltage battery) in a balanced manner, a plurality of DC/DC converters each has an input coupled to a respective battery unit and the converters have respective outputs coupled in parallel to the low voltage bus. A first loop controller receives an actual bus voltage. The first controller generates a target current in response to the bus voltage adapted to regulate the actual bus voltage to a target voltage less than the high voltage. A second controller distributes the target current into a plurality of allocated current commands for respective converters according to respective states of charge of the battery units connected to the converters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Hand, III, Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Patent number: 10207596
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery and a controller coupled to the traction battery and having a memory, the controller being programmed to control the traction battery based on a difference between a total resistance indicated by voltage and current at a first operating condition and a battery cell resistance associated with the first operating condition previously stored in the memory, the difference being indicative of a wiring resistance associated with electrical connectors such as wires, cables, bus bars, and the like of the battery. The battery or the vehicle may be controlled in response to the adaptively determined wiring resistance by adjusting subsequent voltage or current determinations used to determine state of charge and battery capacity and/or to control charging or discharging of the battery and selection of various vehicle operating modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xinfan Lin, Yonghua Li, Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Patent number: 10131245
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle has a battery pack comprising series-connected battery units providing a main voltage. To supply a lower voltage bus equally from all battery units, a plurality of DC/DC converters are powered by respective units and have their outputs in parallel. A central module has an outer loop controller generating a target current to regulate the bus voltage to a predetermined voltage and has an allocator distributing the target current into a plurality of allocated current commands according to respective states of charge of the battery units. A plurality of local controllers each adjusts a current of a respective DC/DC converter. Each local controller receives a respective allocated current command as a respective feedforward control variable. Each local controller uses an error between the bus voltage and the predetermined voltage to be integrated as a respective feedback control variable only when the error is above a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Hand, III, Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Patent number: 10124696
    Abstract: A hybrid or electric vehicle includes a traction battery to store and provide energy for the vehicle. The traction battery includes a number of battery cells. For effective operation of the traction battery, operating parameters, such as state of charge and battery power limits, may need to be known. The operating parameters may be a function of battery cell voltage and impedance parameters. A parameter estimation scheme may use measured cell voltages and a measured traction battery current as inputs. A current measurement bias may be modeled that incorporates measurement bias caused by asynchronous current and voltage measurements. The current measurement bias may be estimated for each cell and the value may differ between cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yonghua Li, Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Patent number: 10107847
    Abstract: A diagnostic method for contact resistance failure includes estimating electrical contact surface resistance of at least one contactor, determining a faulted status of the at least one contactor and indicating the faulted status of the at least one contactor if the at least one contactor is in the faulted status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaoguang Chang, Chuan He, Xu Wang, Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Patent number: 10063066
    Abstract: For battery control, an apparatus includes a shared bus and a plurality of isolated direct current (DC) to DC bypass converters. Each bypass converter is associated with one battery unit. Inputs of each bypass converter are in parallel electrical communication with the associated battery unit. Outputs of each bypass converter are in parallel electrical communication with the shared bus. Each bypass converter estimates a battery state for each battery unit and controls the battery state to a reference state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Utah State University
    Inventors: Regan A. Zane, Michael Evzelman, Daniel Costinett, Dragan Maksimovic, Richard Dyche Anderson, Kandler Smith, Michael Scott Trimboli, Gregory Loren Plett
  • Patent number: 9970993
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing internal states of vehicle batteries are described. From this internal state information, various physical characteristics of the battery can be measured, calculated or inferred. A vehicle can include an electric motor, a battery to store electrical energy for the electric motor, and a sensor connected to the battery to sense a battery state, to receive an input signal, and to wirelessly transmit an output signal indicating the battery state. The sensor may be passive and built into the structure of the battery. The sensor can be a surface wave acoustic sensor with a magnetic field sensor, which can be a magnetoimpedance sensing device and a temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Arnold Kweku Mensah-Brown, Xinfan Lin, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, Richard Dyche Anderson