Patents by Inventor Venkateswa Anand Sankaran

Venkateswa Anand Sankaran 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: 9931954
    Abstract: A park assist system may, in response to receiving a signal indicating that a remote inductive charge source is within a vicinity of a vehicle, transition from a park assist mode to a wireless charging mode. During the wireless charging mode, the park assist system generates instructions to assist a driver in positioning the vehicle relative to the inductive charge source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Venkateswa Anand Sankaran, John Paul Gibeau, James A. Lathrop, Christopher W. Bell
  • Patent number: 9496751
    Abstract: A vehicle may include an electric machine, a traction battery, and a solar panel array. The vehicle may further include circuitry electrically connected with the battery and array. The circuitry may include at least one switch configured to close when activated by a calibrated maximum holding power to permit energy to flow from the array to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fazal Urrahman Syed, Venkatapathi Raju Nallapa, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar, Michael Edward Loftus, Shane Schulze, Robert K. Taenaka, Donald Charles Franks, Ming Lang Kuang, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran
  • Patent number: 9203068
    Abstract: A battery pack for a vehicle may include a cell array defining an upper surface and a housing defining a raised portion extending along and above a length of the array such that the raised portion and upper surface define a vent manifold therebetween which may be configured to collect gases generated by the array. The housing may define a discharge opening configured to allow gases to exit the manifold. A pair of end plates may be disposed at opposing ends of the array. One of the end plates may define a pass through portion in at least partial registration with the discharge opening. An outlet tube may be configured to facilitate fluid communication between the vent manifold and exterior of the vehicle. The battery pack may also include spacers located between upper edges of adjacent cells and may be configured to prevent cooling gases from entering the vent manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Utley, Saravanan Paramasivam, Patrick Daniel Maguire, Steven F. Chorian, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran, John Peter Bilezikjian, Hari Addanki, Debbi Callicoat
  • Publication number: 20150217655
    Abstract: A park assist system may, in response to receiving a signal indicating that a remote inductive charge source is within a vicinity of a vehicle, transition from a park assist mode to a wireless charging mode. During the wireless charging mode, the park assist system generates instructions to assist a driver in positioning the vehicle relative to the inductive charge source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Venkateswa Anand SANKARAN, John Paul GIBEAU, James A. LATHROP, Christopher W. BELL
  • Patent number: 9090163
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle may include a plurality of solar cells electrically connected to form a solar panel array having a minimum output voltage at a specified standard solar irradiance. The vehicle may also include a battery pack having an output voltage at least equal to the minimum output voltage of the array and configured to provide energy for moving the vehicle. The vehicle may further include a controller configured to selectively electrically connect the array and battery pack to trickle charge the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fazal Urrahman Syed, Ming Lang Kuang, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar, Venkatapathi Raju Nallapa, Robert K. Taenaka, Ryan Abraham McGee, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran
  • Patent number: 9026393
    Abstract: A High Voltage Interlock Strategy (HVIS) uses feedback current to detect cable connectivity status for a high-voltage cable configured to connect a power conversion circuit with a remote permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM). One or more feedback factors are calculated based on detected feedback current. Various algorithms for calculating a feedback factor, and for determining connectivity status based on calculated feedback factors, can be practiced, according to the PMSM operational mode. Fault detection action can be performed in response to detecting a cable disconnect. The HVIS can be implemented by software, making it a safe, economical solution for cable connectivity detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joe Youqing Xiang, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 9007031
    Abstract: A power source is electrically connected with a battery and an electrical load. The power source has an output voltage and provides current for the battery and electrical load. A charging voltage for the battery is determined based on temperature of the battery. An offset voltage is determined based on the provided current to the battery. The output voltage is determined based on the charging and offset voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven F. Chorian, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran
  • Publication number: 20140205870
    Abstract: A battery pack for a vehicle may include a cell array defining an upper surface and a housing defining a raised portion extending along and above a length of the array such that the raised portion and upper surface define a vent manifold therebetween which may be configured to collect gases generated by the array. The housing may define a discharge opening configured to allow gases to exit the manifold. A pair of end plates may be disposed at opposing ends of the array. One of the end plates may define a pass through portion in at least partial registration with the discharge opening. An outlet tube may be configured to facilitate fluid communication between the vent manifold and exterior of the vehicle. The battery pack may also include spacers located between upper edges of adjacent cells and may be configured to prevent cooling gases from entering the vent manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Utley, Saravanan Paramasivam, Patrick Daniel Maguire, Steven F. Chorian, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran, John Peter Bilezikjian, Hari Addanki, Debbi Callicoat
  • Patent number: 8718862
    Abstract: A method performed by a vehicle computing system includes detecting the triggering of a vehicle sensor indicating an abnormal vehicle condition and determining one or more likely abnormal vehicle conditions associated with the triggering of the sensor. The method also includes accessing a vehicle database to determine one or more pieces of information relating to the one or more abnormal vehicle conditions. The method further includes electronically presenting the one or more pieces of information to a vehicle user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas M. Gwozdek, Matthew Roger DeDona, James A. Lathrop, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran, Karin Lovett, Steven F. Chorian
  • Patent number: 8259423
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a charge port integrated with the vehicle. The charge port includes electrical contacts configured to receive electrical power from an electric grid, and a fault interrupt circuit electrically connected with the electrical contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Allan Roy Gale, Michael W. Degner, Steven F. Chorian, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran
  • Publication number: 20120053782
    Abstract: A method performed by a vehicle computing system includes detecting the triggering of a vehicle sensor indicating an abnormal vehicle condition and determining one or more likely abnormal vehicle conditions associated with the triggering of the sensor. The method also includes accessing a vehicle database to determine one or more pieces of information relating to the one or more abnormal vehicle conditions. The method further includes electronically presenting the one or more pieces of information to a vehicle user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas M. Gwozdek, Matthew Roger DeDona, James A. Lathrop, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran, Karin Lovett, Steven F. Chorian
  • Patent number: 7977814
    Abstract: A centralized high voltage interlock system includes an electrical source, an interlock control unit electrically connected to the electrical source, at least one high voltage component disposed in direct electrical contact with the interlock control unit and a high voltage electrical interlock disposed in electrical contact with the at least one high voltage component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marc Lucas, Bo Wu, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran
  • Publication number: 20110163710
    Abstract: A vehicle may include an electric machine, a traction battery, and a solar panel array. The vehicle may further include circuitry electrically connected with the battery and array. The circuitry may include at least one switch configured to close when activated by a calibrated maximum holding power to permit energy to flow from the array to the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Fazal Urrahman Syed, Venkatapathi Raju Nallapa, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar, Michael Edward Loftus, Shane Schulze, Robert K. Taenaka, Donald Charles Franks, Ming Lang Kuang, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran
  • Publication number: 20110162897
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle may include a plurality of solar cells electrically connected to form a solar panel array having a minimum output voltage at a specified standard solar irradiance. The vehicle may also include a battery pack having an output voltage at least equal to the minimum output voltage of the array and configured to provide energy for moving the vehicle. The vehicle may further include a controller configured to selectively electrically connect the array and battery pack to trickle charge the battery pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Fazal Urrahman Syed, Ming Lang Kuang, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar, Venkatapathi Raju Nallapa, Robert K. Taenaka, Ryan Abraham McGee, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran
  • Publication number: 20110013322
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a charge port integrated with the vehicle. The charge port includes electrical contacts configured to receive electrical power from an electric grid, and a fault interrupt circuit electrically connected with the electrical contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Allan Roy Gale, Michael W. Degner, Steven F. Chorian, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran
  • Publication number: 20110010126
    Abstract: A High Voltage Interlock Strategy (HVIS) uses feedback current to detect cable connectivity status for a high-voltage cable configured to connect a power conversion circuit with a remote permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM). One or more feedback factors are calculated based on detected feedback current. Various algorithms for calculating a feedback factor, and for determining connectivity status based on calculated feedback factors, can be practiced, according to the PMSM operational mode. Fault detection action can be performed in response to detecting a cable disconnect. The HVIS can be implemented by software, making it a safe, economical solution for cable connectivity detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Joe Youqing XIANG, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20100187904
    Abstract: A centralized high voltage interlock system includes an electrical source, an interlock control unit electrically connected to the electrical source, at least one high voltage component disposed in direct electrical contact with the interlock control unit and a high voltage electrical interlock disposed in electrical contact with the at least one high voltage component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: Marc Lucas, Bo Wu, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran
  • Publication number: 20090051325
    Abstract: A power source is electrically connected with a battery and an electrical load. The power source has an output voltage and provides current for the battery and electrical load. A charging voltage for the battery is determined based on temperature of the battery. An offset voltage is determined based on the provided current to the battery. The output voltage is determined based on the charging and offset voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Steven F. Chorian, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran
  • Patent number: 6933692
    Abstract: A method and an electrical drive assembly 10 which operates in accordance with the method. Particularly, the drive assembly 10 includes a diagnostic portion 18 which compares a voltage signal which is communicated to an electrical machine 28 and a voltage signal which is selected by use of a desired torque command signal 33 and which provides a diagnostic of the electrical drive assembly 10 based upon the comparison, effective to provide a positive indication to a user of the drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: David Crist Gabriel, Feng Liang, Michael W. Degner, Raj Prakash, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran
  • Patent number: 6701880
    Abstract: 15 A method and an assembly 61 for use with a vehicle 10 having a high voltage battery 42 and an internal combustion engine 12 of the type having a selectively rotatable crankshaft 13 After the high voltage battery 42 receives a donor charge, the assembly 61 causes the crankshaft 13 to be rotated at a slow speed for a predetermined period of time before electrical energy is transferred to the internal combustion engine 12 and before combustion occurs within the engine 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Greg Edward Gauthier, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran