Patents by Inventor Wesley Edward Burkman

Wesley Edward Burkman 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: 20230415580
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes a contactor having a coil operable by a low-voltage control signal to selectively electrically couple a terminal of a high-voltage bus to a charger receiving power from an external source. A programmed controller predicts the time it will take for the contactor to close after receiving a command based on the coil temperature and voltage of the command signal. The controller generates the low-voltage control signal responsive to a difference between bus voltage and charger voltage being less than a first threshold at the predicted closing time of the contactor. The control signal may also depend on the rate of change of the charger voltage being below a second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rui WANG, Wesley Edward BURKMAN, Patterson Kaduvinal ABRAHAM, Ai KERAMIDAS
  • Patent number: 11529875
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle configured to disconnect a battery from a load, and a corresponding method. An example electrified vehicle includes an array of battery cells and an electrical conductor connecting the array to a load. A disconnect is arranged along the electrical conductor. Further, the electrified vehicle includes an electronic circuit with a switch and an igniter. When a voltage drop across the electrical conductor exceeds a threshold, the switch is configured to permit current to flow from at least one of the battery cells through the igniter to trigger the disconnect thereby disconnecting the array of battery cells from the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley Edward Burkman, Thomas Joseph Wand
  • Publication number: 20220379729
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller that, responsive to data indicating a voltage associated with an inrush current through a main contactor exceeds a first threshold, commands the main contactor to open and inhibits the vehicle from being driven, and responsive to data indicating the voltage exceeds a second threshold less than the first threshold, commands the main contactor to sequentially open and then close.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, Wesley Edward Burkman, Baojin Wang, John Paul Gibeau
  • Publication number: 20220158148
    Abstract: A traction battery assembly includes a traction battery having a plurality of cells secured in one or more arrays by support structure. A contactor is electrically connected to the traction battery and has a housing mounted to the support structure, a pair of terminals extending from the housing, and a switching arrangement configured to electrically connect the terminals when closed. A pre-charge module is connected to the traction battery solely through direct attachment to the contactor. The module has a pre-charge circuit electrically connected to the terminals and a case that is directly attached to the housing of the contactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventor: Wesley Edward Burkman
  • Patent number: 10967754
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a controller and contactor arranged to close responsive to current magnitude through a coil thereof exceeding a first threshold. The controller, following a request to open the contactor, applies current to the coil at a magnitude less than the first threshold for a duration, and responsive to peak current through the contactor during the duration being less than a second threshold, prevents start of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, Wesley Edward Burkman, Baojin Wang, John Paul Gibeau
  • Patent number: 10910621
    Abstract: This disclosure details electrical modules that include integrated bus bar locating and separating features. An exemplary electrical module may include a first housing, a second housing, and a bus bar coupon. The first housing, the second housing, or both may include one or more locating and separating features. The bus bar coupon may be automatically separated into a plurality of individual bus bars by the separating features as the first and second housings of the electrical module are moved together. The electrical module could be utilized within electrified vehicle battery packs or various other electrified components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Wesley Edward Burkman
  • Patent number: 10725106
    Abstract: A contactor assembly including a housing, an accessible contactor assembly component, a contact bar, and a module is provided. The accessible contactor assembly component may be disposed within the housing. The contact bar may be electrically connected to the accessible contactor assembly component and translatable between an open and a closed position. The module may be programmed to identify whether the contact bar is in the open or closed position based on detected voltage of the accessible contactor assembly component. The assembly may further include a pair of coil terminals, a pair of power terminals, and a diagnostic terminal arranged for electrical communication with the accessible contactor assembly component. The module may be further programmed to detect whether the contact bar is in the open or closed position responsive to detection of a voltage status of the diagnostic terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Wesley Edward Burkman
  • Publication number: 20200152946
    Abstract: This disclosure details electrical modules that include integrated bus bar locating and separating features. An exemplary electrical module may include a first housing, a second housing, and a bus bar coupon. The first housing, the second housing, or both may include one or more locating and separating features. The bus bar coupon may be automatically separated into a plurality of individual bus bars by the separating features as the first and second housings of the electrical module are moved together. The electrical module could be utilized within electrified vehicle battery packs or various other electrified components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventor: Wesley Edward BURKMAN
  • Publication number: 20200124671
    Abstract: A contactor assembly including a housing, an accessible contactor assembly component, a contact bar, and a module is provided. The accessible contactor assembly component may be disposed within the housing. The contact bar may be electrically connected to the accessible contactor assembly component and translatable between an open and a closed position. The module may be programmed to identify whether the contact bar is in the open or closed position based on detected voltage of the accessible contactor assembly component. The assembly may further include a pair of coil terminals, a pair of power terminals, and a diagnostic terminal arranged for electrical communication with the accessible contactor assembly component. The module may be further programmed to detect whether the contact bar is in the open or closed position responsive to detection of a voltage status of the diagnostic terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Wesley Edward Burkman
  • Publication number: 20200079222
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a controller and contactor arranged to close responsive to current magnitude through a coil thereof exceeding a first threshold. The controller, following a request to open the contactor, applies current to the coil at a magnitude less than the first threshold for a duration, and responsive to peak current through the contactor during the duration being less than a second threshold, prevents start of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, Wesley Edward Burkman, Baojin Wang, John Paul Gibeau
  • Patent number: 10549643
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a relay and coil of a contactor. The relay is configured to transfer current between a traction battery and an electrical load when closed. The system also includes a controller configured to operate a switch such that current flow from the traction battery through the coil and switch, and bypassing the relay, causes the relay to close to permit pre-charging of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, Arnold Kweku Mensah-Brown, Wesley Edward Burkman, Robert Bolduc
  • Patent number: 10534030
    Abstract: A power system for a vehicle includes a traction battery that provides power to drive the vehicle, a load, and a harness having wires electrically connecting the traction battery and load, and shielding covering the wires. The power system further includes one or more control blocks that drive a signal onto the shielding, and responsive to an absence of detecting feedback from the signal, issue an interlock integrity alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley Edward Burkman, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush
  • Patent number: 10476262
    Abstract: A power control system for a vehicle includes a precharge circuit that is configured to selectively couple a resistor across either a main or return contactor that are configured to selectively couple terminals of a battery to a load bus. The power control system includes a controller programmed to, in response to a precharge request in a presence of the main contactor being closed when commanded to open and the return contactor being open, couple the resistor across the return contactor to precharge the load bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley Edward Burkman, John Sturza
  • Patent number: 10384627
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a contactor including a coil and relay, a traction battery, a load, and a controller configured to transfer current from the traction battery through the coil to pre-charge the load without causing the relay to close such that a voltage drop across the relay falls below a threshold value, and subsequently cause the relay to close.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley Edward Burkman, Robert Bolduc, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, Arnold Kweku Mensah-Brown
  • Patent number: 10377247
    Abstract: A charging system for a high voltage battery includes a pair of contactors each electrically connected to one of positive and negative terminals of the battery and configured to enable charging of the battery when closed; and a controller programmed to generate a notification indicating that one of the contactors is welded closed based on port voltage values achieved while issuing a predetermined sequence of open and close commands to the contactors after charge completion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Philip Michael Gonzales, Vineeth Seshadri Kallur, Masahiro Kimoto, Wesley Edward Burkman, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush
  • Patent number: 10252635
    Abstract: A high-voltage interlock system includes a first module including a contactor and a shunt connection, and a second module, having first and second circuits, coupled with the first module via first and second wires. The second module, in response to impedance of the shunt connection exceeding a threshold, inhibits a signal to engage the contactor. The impedance is measured across the first and second wires while the first wire is multiplexed with low-voltage power to energize a coil of the contactor, and the second circuit is multiplexed with the signal to engage the contactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley Edward Burkman, Robert Bolduc
  • Publication number: 20180356454
    Abstract: A power system for a vehicle includes a traction battery that provides power to drive the vehicle, a load, and a harness having wires electrically connecting the traction battery and load, and shielding covering the wires. The power system further includes one or more control blocks that drive a signal onto the shielding, and responsive to an absence of detecting feedback from the signal, issue an interlock integrity alert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Wesley Edward Burkman, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush
  • Publication number: 20180272870
    Abstract: A power control system for a vehicle includes a precharge circuit that is configured to selectively couple a resistor across either a main or return contactor that are configured to selectively couple terminals of a battery to a load bus. The power control system includes a controller programmed to, in response to a precharge request in a presence of the main contactor being closed when commanded to open and the return contactor being open, couple the resistor across the return contactor to precharge the load bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Wesley Edward BURKMAN, John STURZA
  • Patent number: 10044022
    Abstract: A fuse assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a housing, a fuse received within a receptacle of the housing and a retention device configured to retain the fuse within the receptacle and cover a conductive surface of the fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley Edward Burkman, Eric Scott Smolen
  • Publication number: 20180072179
    Abstract: A high-voltage interlock system includes a first module including a contactor and a shunt connection, and a second module, having first and second circuits, coupled with the first module via first and second wires. The second module, in response to impedance of the shunt connection exceeding a threshold, inhibits a signal to engage the contactor. The impedance is measured across the first and second wires while the first wire is multiplexed with low-voltage power to energize a coil of the contactor, and the second circuit is multiplexed with the signal to engage the contactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Wesley Edward Burkman, Robert Bolduc