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).
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Publication number: 20230415580Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2022Publication date: December 28, 2023Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Rui WANG, Wesley Edward BURKMAN, Patterson Kaduvinal ABRAHAM, Ai KERAMIDAS
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Patent number: 11529875Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 30, 2021Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Wesley Edward Burkman, Thomas Joseph Wand
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Publication number: 20220379729Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2021Publication date: December 1, 2022Inventors: Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, Wesley Edward Burkman, Baojin Wang, John Paul Gibeau
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Publication number: 20220158148Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2020Publication date: May 19, 2022Inventor: Wesley Edward Burkman
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Patent number: 10967754Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 6, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, Wesley Edward Burkman, Baojin Wang, John Paul Gibeau
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Patent number: 10910621Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 13, 2018Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventor: Wesley Edward Burkman
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Patent number: 10725106Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 18, 2018Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Wesley Edward Burkman
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Publication number: 20200152946Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2018Publication date: May 14, 2020Inventor: Wesley Edward BURKMAN
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Publication number: 20200124671Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2018Publication date: April 23, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Wesley Edward Burkman
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Publication number: 20200079222Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2018Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, Wesley Edward Burkman, Baojin Wang, John Paul Gibeau
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Patent number: 10549643Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 9, 2016Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, Arnold Kweku Mensah-Brown, Wesley Edward Burkman, Robert Bolduc
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Patent number: 10534030Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 9, 2017Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Wesley Edward Burkman, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush
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Patent number: 10476262Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 24, 2017Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Wesley Edward Burkman, John Sturza
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Patent number: 10384627Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 9, 2016Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Wesley Edward Burkman, Robert Bolduc, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, Arnold Kweku Mensah-Brown
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Patent number: 10377247Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 27, 2015Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Philip Michael Gonzales, Vineeth Seshadri Kallur, Masahiro Kimoto, Wesley Edward Burkman, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush
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Patent number: 10252635Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 9, 2016Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Wesley Edward Burkman, Robert Bolduc
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Publication number: 20180356454Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2017Publication date: December 13, 2018Inventors: Wesley Edward Burkman, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush
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Publication number: 20180272870Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2017Publication date: September 27, 2018Inventors: Wesley Edward BURKMAN, John STURZA
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Patent number: 10044022Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 28, 2015Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Wesley Edward Burkman, Eric Scott Smolen
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Publication number: 20180072179Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2016Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Wesley Edward Burkman, Robert Bolduc