Patents by Inventor Sheldon Z. Brown

Sheldon Z. Brown 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: 10793157
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a drivetrain and multiple motors. The drivetrain includes at least one wheel, and is mechanically connected to the motors. The vehicle additionally includes multiple control modules communicatively connected to the motors. The control modules include a power control module per motor. Each power control module is assigned a motor, communicatively connected to the assigned motor, and configured to operate the assigned motor. In response to a traction event, the control modules are configured to switch from a drive mode to a traction control mode. In the drive mode, the power control modules are configured to operate the respective assigned motors to contributorily satisfy at least one propulsion demand global to the vehicle. In the traction control mode, one of the control modules is configured to operate the motors to contributorily satisfy at least one propulsion demand global to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheldon Z. Brown, Giorgio L. Zoia, Takehito Yokoo
  • Patent number: 10518652
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle includes, using a master power control module, and in response to a propulsion demand global to the vehicle, operating a master-assigned motor to which a wheeled drivetrain is mechanically connected to satisfy a share of the propulsion demand. The method additionally includes, using a slave power control module, and in response to the propulsion demand, operating a slave-assigned motor to which the drivetrain is mechanically connected to satisfy a remaining share of the propulsion demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheldon Z. Brown, Giorgio L. Zoia, Takehito Yokoo
  • Patent number: 10442297
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a drivetrain and multiple power modules. The drivetrain includes at least one wheel. Each power module includes an energy system, and a propulsion system to which the drivetrain is mechanically connected. The energy system is operable to generate electrical energy using fuel. The propulsion system is electrically connected to the energy system, and operable to contributorily power the at least one wheel using electrical energy from the energy system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheldon Z. Brown, Giorgio L. Zoia, Takehito Yokoo, Stephen Hodges
  • Publication number: 20180339594
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a drivetrain and multiple power modules. The drivetrain includes at least one wheel. Each power module includes an energy system, and a propulsion system to which the drivetrain is mechanically connected. The energy system is operable to generate electrical energy using fuel. The propulsion system is electrically connected to the energy system, and operable to contributorily power the at least one wheel using electrical energy from the energy system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Sheldon Z. Brown, Giorgio L. Zoia, Takehito Yokoo, Stephen Hodges
  • Publication number: 20180339604
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle includes, using a master power control module, and in response to a propulsion demand global to the vehicle, operating a master-assigned motor to which a wheeled drivetrain is mechanically connected to satisfy a share of the propulsion demand. The method additionally includes, using a slave power control module, and in response to the propulsion demand, operating a slave-assigned motor to which the drivetrain is mechanically connected to satisfy a remaining share of the propulsion demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Sheldon Z. Brown, Giorgio L. Zoia, Takehito Yokoo
  • Publication number: 20180339705
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a drivetrain and multiple motors. The drivetrain includes at least one wheel, and is mechanically connected to the motors. The vehicle additionally includes multiple control modules communicatively connected to the motors. The control modules include a power control module per motor. Each power control module is assigned a motor, communicatively connected to the assigned motor, and configured to operate the assigned motor. In response to a traction event, the control modules are configured to switch from a drive mode to a traction control mode. In the drive mode, the power control modules are configured to operate the respective assigned motors to contributorily satisfy at least one propulsion demand global to the vehicle. In the traction control mode, one of the control modules is configured to operate the motors to contributorily satisfy at least one propulsion demand global to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Sheldon Z. Brown, Giorgio L. Zoia, Takehito Yokoo