Patents by Inventor Yifan Tang

Yifan Tang 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: 20190280611
    Abstract: Provided herein are power converter of a drive unit for an electric vehicle. The power converter includes an inverter having a first transistor, a second transistor, and a capacitor, and a laminated bus-bar having a positive bus-bar segment, a negative bus-bar segment and a phase bus-bar segment. The positive bus-bar segment, the negative bus-bar segment, and the phase bus-bar segment can be disposed about the capacitor to form a lead frame coupled with the capacitor. The lead frame can include a first lead coupled with the first transistor. The first lead can include portions of the positive bus-bar segment and the phase bus-bar segment. The lead frame can include a second lead coupled with the second transistor. The second lead can include portions of the negative bus-bar segment and the phase bus-bar segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Nathan Chung, Kangwei Mao, Zhong Nie, Duanyang Wang, Yifan Tang, Jinzhu Li
  • Patent number: 10339400
    Abstract: Various arrangements for imaging a traffic light are presented. A distance to the traffic light from a vehicle may be determined. A camera mode may be selected based on the determined distance to the traffic light. One or more images from one or more cameras may be captured and received based on the selected camera mode. A state of the traffic light within the one or more received images may then be determined. The vehicle may then be driven autonomously based on the determined state of the traffic light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignees: CHONGQING JINKANG NEW ENERGY AUTOMOBILE CO., LTD., SF MOTORS INC.
    Inventors: Huajun Chai, Chen Cui, Ke Huang, Fan Wang, Yifan Tang
  • Patent number: 10321613
    Abstract: A heat sink is provided. The heat sink includes a single-piece housing having a floor and two walls, the walls perpendicular to the floor and the walls are parallel to each other. The heat sink includes the housing having an inlet and an outlet. The housing is configured to attach power modules to an outer surface of the floor and to outer surfaces of the two walls. The housing is configured to cool the power modules in response to fluid flow into the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventors: Yifan Tang, James Jan, Benson Tsai
  • Publication number: 20190126773
    Abstract: Provided herein is an inverter module that can include a first inverter cell and a second inverter cell, each including at least one transistor device, and a cold plate placed in contact with or proximate to the at least one transistor device. The cold plate can have a coolant channel through the cold plate. A connector can connect a coolant outlet of the cold plate of the first inverter cell to a coolant inlet of the cold plate of the second inverter cell in series, to form a continuous channel that extends from the first coolant inlet of the cold plate of the first inverter cell into the coolant channel of the cold plate of the second inverter cell. The coolant inlet of the cold plate of the first inverter cell can receive coolant fluid into the continuous channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Nathan Chung, Zhong Nie, Duanyang Wang, Yifan Tang
  • Patent number: 10272767
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for cooling an electric drivetrain of an electric vehicle. The electric drivetrain can include an inverter, a gearbox and a motor. A first cooling system can use ethylene glycol and water (EGW) based coolant, and can include an EGW coolant loop to distribute the EGW based coolant to remove heat from a cold plate of the inverter, a housing of the gearbox, and a housing of the motor. A second cooling system can use an oil based coolant, and can include an oil coolant loop to distribute the oil based coolant to remove heat from internal components and the housing of the gearbox, and to remove heat from internal components and the housing of the motor. The second cooling system can include an oil coolant pump to control a flow of the oil based coolant through the oil coolant loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignees: SF Motors, Inc., Chongqing Jinkang New Energy Vehicle Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Yifan Tang, Zhichun Ma
  • Patent number: 10263407
    Abstract: A laminated bus bar of an inverter module to power an electric vehicle is provided. The laminated bus bar can include a first insulating layer and a current layer disposed over the first insulting layer. The current layer can include an output terminal. The laminated bus bar can include a second insulating layer disposed over the current layer. The laminated bus bar can include a third insulating layer disposed over the second insulating layer. The laminated bus bar can include a first polarity (e.g., negative) layer disposed over the third insulating layer. The first polarity layer can include a first polarity (e.g., negative) input terminal. The laminated bus bar can include a fourth insulating layer disposed over the first polarity layer. The laminated bus bar can include a second polarity (e.g., positive) layer disposed over the fourth insulating layer and that includes a second polarity (e.g., positive) input terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignees: CHONGQING JINKANG NEW ENERGY VEHICLE CO., LTD., SF MOTORS, INC.
    Inventors: Yunan Song, Kangwei Mao, Jinzhu Li, Colin Haag, Nathan Chung, Zhong Nie, Duanyang Wang, Yifan Tang
  • Patent number: 10239521
    Abstract: Systems and methods of deep neural network based parking assistance is provided. A system can receive data sensed by one or more sensors mounted on a vehicle located at a parking zone. The system generates, from a first neural network, a digital map based on the data sensed by the one or more sensors. The system generates, from a second neural network, a first path based on the three-dimensional dynamic map. The system receives vehicle dynamics information from a second one or more sensors located on the vehicle. The system generates, with a third neural network, a second path to park the vehicle based on the first path, vehicle dynamics information and at least one historical path stored in vehicle memory. The system provides commands to control the vehicle to follow the second path to park the vehicle in the parking zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignees: CHONGQING JINKANG NEW ENERGY VEHICLE CO., LTD., SF MOTORS, INC.
    Inventors: Xinhua Xiao, Yifan Tang
  • Patent number: 10236791
    Abstract: Provided herein is a power converter component to power a drive unit of an electric vehicle drive system. The power converter component includes an inverter module formed having three half-bridge modules arranged in a triplet configuration for electric vehicle drive systems. Positive inputs, negative inputs, and output terminals of the different half-bridge inverter modules are aligned with each other. The inverter module includes a positive bus-bar coupled with the positive inputs and a negative bus-bar coupled with the negative inputs of the half-bridge inverter modules. The positive bus-bar is positioned adjacent to and parallel with the negative bus-bar. The inverter module can be coupled with a drive train unit of the electric vehicle and provide three phase voltages to the drive train unit. Each of the half bridge modules can generate a single phase voltage and three half-bridge modules arranged in a triplet configuration can provide three phase voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SF Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Chung, Jinzhu Li, Kangwei Mao, Colin Haag, Zhong Nie, Duanyang Wang, Yifan Tang
  • Publication number: 20180364188
    Abstract: A sensor array comprising multiple discrete sensors for providing detection and prognosis of various diseases. The array is made up of multiple discrete sensors, each of which has a first and a second noble metal electrode on a silicon substrate, said electrodes separated by a gap. An electrically conductive pathway across the gap between the first and second noble electrodes is provided by a nano-network of functionalized polymer nanowires or carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) the arrangement providing a sensor. The multiple discrete sensors comprise a reference cell and multiple detection sensors functionalized using a panel of capture molecules to detect the same or different diseases or biological functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Anamika Ray, Yifan Tang, Maksudul M. Alam, Jeffrey Paul, Corey Selman, Uma Sampathkumaran
  • Patent number: 10131248
    Abstract: An electric vehicle drive system includes first and second electric motors, first and second torque limiters and a torque splitter. The first and second torque limiters correspond to the first and second electric motors, respectively, and generate respective first and second maximum torques. The torque splitter receives a first input that includes at least a total torque request for the first and second electric motors and the first and second maximum torques and generates at least respective first and second torque requests for the first and second electric motors, wherein the torque splitter is configured to direct a torque request to the second motor only if the first maximum torque is less than a threshold. The torque splitter may generate a zero second torque request if a motor speed of the first electric motor exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: TESLA, INC.
    Inventor: Yifan Tang
  • Patent number: 10106153
    Abstract: Systems and methods of deep neural network based parking assistance is provided. A system can receive data sensed by one or more sensors mounted on a vehicle located at a parking zone. The system generates, from a first neural network, a digital map based on the data sensed by the one or more sensors. The system generates, from a second neural network, a first path based on the three-dimensional dynamic map. The system receives vehicle dynamics information from a second one or more sensors located on the vehicle. The system generates, with a third neural network, a second path to park the vehicle based on the first path, vehicle dynamics information and at least one historical path stored in vehicle memory. The system provides commands to control the vehicle to follow the second path to park the vehicle in the parking zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignees: Chongqing Jinkang New Energy Vehicle Co., Ltd., SF Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Xinhua Xiao, Yifan Tang
  • Patent number: 9899900
    Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a rotor assembly for an electric motor which utilizes pre-fabricated conductive rotor bars and die cast end rings. Containment rings, which may be installed on the end rings either before or after casting, may be used to inhibit end ring creep at high rotational speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Mayer, Yifan Tang
  • Patent number: 9762106
    Abstract: A motor assembly with an integrated cooling system is provided in which a coolant (e.g., oil) is injected into a hollow region of the rotor shaft. The coolant is expelled out of the rotor shaft and into the motor enclosure via multiple thru-holes, thereby allowing efficient cooling of both the stator and the rotor assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Gauthier, Jeremy Mayer, Yifan Tang
  • Publication number: 20170253143
    Abstract: Electric vehicles and, more particularly, a control system for an all-wheel drive electric vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventor: Yifan Tang
  • Publication number: 20170229378
    Abstract: A heat sink is provided. The heat sink includes a single-piece housing having a floor and two walls, the walls perpendicular to the floor and the walls are parallel to each other. The heat sink includes the housing having an inlet and an outlet. The housing is configured to attach power modules to an outer surface of the floor and to outer surfaces of the two walls. The housing is configured to cool the power modules in response to fluid flow into the inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Yifan TANG, James JAN, Benson TSAI
  • Patent number: 9719860
    Abstract: A power device temperature monitor is provided. The power device temperature monitor includes a power device having a control terminal and an output terminal, where the output terminal is configured to output a current as directed by a voltage of the control terminal. The power device temperature monitor includes an inductor coupled to the output terminal of the power device and an amplifier coupled to the inductor. The power device temperature monitor includes a computing device that receives an output of the amplifier, the computing device is configured to derive a temperature of the power device based upon the output of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventor: Yifan Tang
  • Patent number: 9578788
    Abstract: A heat sink is provided. The heat sink includes a single-piece housing having a floor and two walls, the walls perpendicular to the floor and the walls are parallel to each other. The heat sink includes the housing having an inlet and an outlet. The housing is configured to attach power modules to an outer surface of the floor and to outer surfaces of the two walls. The housing is configured to cool the power modules in response to fluid flow into the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventors: Yifan Tang, James Jan, Benson Tsai
  • Patent number: 9527406
    Abstract: An electric vehicle drive system comprising first and second electric motors; a torque split unit configured to receive first input that includes at least a total torque request for the first and second electric motors, and respective first and second maximum torques for the first and second electric motors, the torque split unit configured to process the first input without taking into account wheel slip, and to generate at least respective first and second torque requests for the first and second electric motors; and a traction and stability control unit configured to receive second input that includes at least the first and second torque requests, the total torque request, a computed vehicle speed, and respective first and second slip errors relating to the first and second electric motors, the traction and stability control unit configured to process the second input and to generate respective first and second torque commands for the first and second electric motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Inventor: Yifan Tang
  • Patent number: 9444384
    Abstract: An AC motor controller is provided that utilizes a direct torque controller and primary and secondary control loops. The primary control loop operates in a relatively conventional manner, determining a voltage vector that sets the inverter switching variables for the motor's power inverter, where the voltage vector is based on the motor's torque and flux as estimated from the measured voltage and current of the motor. The voltage vector determined by the primary loop is selected and applied immediately upon completion of the corresponding primary control loop computational cycle. The secondary loop, utilizing a faster sampling rate than that of the primary loop, compares the measured phase current to a preset current limit. If the secondary loop determines that the measured phase current has exceeded the preset current limit, it sets a null voltage vector, thereby limiting transient over currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: ATIEVA, INC.
    Inventor: Yifan Tang
  • Publication number: 20160261217
    Abstract: An induction motor controller is provided. The induction motor controller includes a first module that derives a commanded stator voltage vector, in a stator flux reference frame, via a rotor flux regulator loop and a torque regulator loop, which process at least partially in the stator flux reference frame. The induction motor controller includes a second module that processes the commanded stator voltage vector to produce AC (alternating current) power for an induction motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventor: Yifan Tang