Patents by Inventor Zhengyu Dai

Zhengyu Dai 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: 20250187433
    Abstract: Methods and system are described for allocating power to two electric machines when closing of a disconnect clutch is requested. In one example, the allocation of power may be based on a level of urgency for closing the disconnect clutch. Priority for supplying power to a secondary drive unit may be increased in response to a high urgency level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Publication date: June 12, 2025
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Kyle Culek, Guopeng Hu, Matthew Shelton, Yang Xu, Zhengyu Dai, Ashok Rodrigues
  • Publication number: 20250135954
    Abstract: A vehicle, among other things, may use predicted rates of change in vehicle speed based on past driving data of a particular user to allocate resources within the vehicle, to recreate the behavior of particular user in an automated driving system, or to accurately predict a capability of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2023
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Inventors: Ankit Saini, Zhengyu Dai, Guopeng Hu, Yanan Zhao
  • Publication number: 20250123310
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a fluid level in a power unit relies on a neural network model. The model is used to predict lateral acceleration during air ingestion events. These predictions are compared to measured values of lateral acceleration. When the measured values and the predicted values are not well correlated, a controller takes corrective action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2023
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Inventors: Yijing Zhang, Ankit Saini, Benjamin J. Graves, Hossein Gholizadeh, Deepthi Antony, Zhengyu Dai, Steven Anatole Frait
  • Patent number: 12146536
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle transmission system having a clutch system includes generating a torque-pressure (T-P) gain deviation based on a T-F characteristic and a nominal T-F characteristic for the clutch system, generating a pressure magnitude deviation based on the set of pressure values and the set of nominal pressure values, determining whether a T-F characteristic deviates from the nominal T-F characteristic based on the T-P gain deviation and the pressure magnitude deviation, identifying the T-F characteristic as deviating in response to the T-F characteristic departing from the nominal transfer characteristic, and issuing a notification regarding the deviating T-F characteristic to perform a corrective action related to the clutch system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Weitian Chen, Stuart N. Ford, Ankit Saini, Qingyu Zhang, Scott Joseph Gittins, Zhengyu Dai, Brandon M. Dawson
  • Patent number: 11878677
    Abstract: A method includes estimating a first pressure at a first location of a clutch based on a flow rate of a fluid in the clutch, computing a first torque lead value based on the first pressure, computing a second torque lead value based on a second pressure, computing a third torque lead value by combining the first torque lead value and the second torque lead value, and applying torque from a motor of the vehicle based on the third torque lead value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yang Xu, Akshay Bichkar, Zhengyu Dai, Hiral Jayantilal Haria, Hong Jiang, Jason Meyer
  • Patent number: 11820371
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an accelerator pedal, and a controller. The controller is programmed to command torque to the engine based on a set speed of adaptive cruise control and is programmed to, in response to the adaptive cruise control being active, a measured lateral acceleration of the vehicle exceeding a user-defined lateral acceleration threshold during a road curve, and the accelerator pedal being released, reduce a speed of the vehicle below the set speed until the measured lateral acceleration is less than the lateral acceleration threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Guopeng Hu, Yang Xu, Zhengyu Dai, Hong Jiang
  • Patent number: 11752865
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a primary axle drivably connected to the engine, and a secondary axle drivably connected to the engine by a clutch. A controller is programmed to, in response to map data indicating that the vehicle is off-road, enable an off-road transfer torque control mode in which temperatures of the clutch are compared to a lower threshold. The controller is further programmed to, in response to the temperature of the clutch exceeding the lower threshold, display a message to a driver indicative of rising temperatures of the clutch, and, in response to a temperature of the clutch exceeding an upper limit, enable a power limiting mode in which torque of the engine is limited to a predefined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Guopeng Hu, Ashok Eugene Rodrigues, Zhengyu Dai, Peter James Barrette
  • Publication number: 20230166721
    Abstract: A method includes estimating a first pressure at a first location of a clutch based on a flow rate of a fluid in the clutch, computing a first torque lead value based on the first pressure, computing a second torque lead value based on a second pressure, computing a third torque lead value by combining the first torque lead value and the second torque lead value, and applying torque from a motor of the vehicle based on the third torque lead value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yang Xu, Akshay Bichkar, Zhengyu Dai, Hiral Jayantilal Haria, Hong Jiang, Jason Meyer
  • Patent number: 11643067
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an electric motor and a combustion engine. A K0 clutch couples the combustion engine to a drivetrain of the vehicle. A control module of the vehicle calculates a torque to be applied by the motor to the K0 clutch when initiating engagement of the combustion engine to the drivetrain. The control module calculates two separate torque lead values by two separate methods and calculates the torque by combining the two torque lead values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yang Xu, Akshay Bichkar, Zhengyu Dai, Hiral Jayantilal Haria, Hong Jiang, Jason Meyer
  • Publication number: 20230115418
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an accelerator pedal, and a controller. The controller is programmed to command torque to the engine based on a set speed of adaptive cruise control and is programmed to, in response to the adaptive cruise control being active, a measured lateral acceleration of the vehicle exceeding a user-defined lateral acceleration threshold during a road curve, and the accelerator pedal being released, reduce a speed of the vehicle below the set speed until the measured lateral acceleration is less than the lateral acceleration threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Guopeng Hu, Yang Xu, Zhengyu Dai, Hong Jiang
  • Patent number: 11524679
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an accelerator pedal, and a controller. The controller is programmed to command torque to the engine based on a set speed of adaptive cruise control and is programmed to, in response to the adaptive cruise control being active, a measured lateral acceleration of the vehicle exceeding a user-defined lateral acceleration threshold during a road curve, and the accelerator pedal being released, reduce a speed of the vehicle below the set speed until the measured lateral acceleration is less than the lateral acceleration threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Guopeng Hu, Yang Xu, Zhengyu Dai, Hong Jiang
  • Publication number: 20220379874
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an electric motor and a combustion engine. A K0 clutch couples the combustion engine to a drivetrain of the vehicle. A control module of the vehicle calculates a torque to be applied by the motor to the K0 clutch when initiating engagement of the combustion engine to the drivetrain. The control module calculates two separate torque lead values by two separate methods and calculates the torque by combining the two torque lead values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yang XU, Akshay BICHKAR, Zhengyu DAI, Hiral Jayantilal HARIA, Hong JIANG, Jason MEYER
  • Patent number: 11499626
    Abstract: Methods and system are described for changing a driveline gear range from a higher gear range to a lower gear range. The driveline may include two electric machines and four clutches in a four wheel drive configuration. The methods and systems permit a driveline to change from a higher gear range to a lower gear range without stopping a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Weitian Chen, Matthew John Shelton, Pinzhi Liu, Jose Velazquez Alcantar, Zhengyu Dai, Hong Jiang
  • Patent number: 11493127
    Abstract: Methods and system are described for changing a driveline gear range from a lower gear range to a higher gear range. The driveline may include two electric machines and four clutches in a four wheel drive configuration. The methods and systems permit a driveline to change from a lower gear range to a higher gear range in a way that may reduce torque disturbances that may result from gear lash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Weitian Chen, Matthew John Shelton, Zhengyu Dai, Pinzhi Liu, Jose Velazquez Alcantar, Joseph Jay Torres
  • Patent number: 11440395
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle torque transfer system includes, among other things, an engine having an engine shaft, an electric machine having an electric machine shaft, a first clutch that is selectively engaged to rotatably couple together the engine shaft and the electric machine shaft such that the engine can drive rotation of the electric machine, and a second clutch that is selectively engaged to rotatably couple together the engine shaft and the electric machine shaft such that the electric machine can drive rotation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Guopeng Hu, Zhengyu Dai, Michael Tekletsion Berhan
  • Publication number: 20220250620
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an accelerator pedal, and a controller. The controller is programmed to command torque to the engine based on a set speed of adaptive cruise control and is programmed to, in response to the adaptive cruise control being active, a measured lateral acceleration of the vehicle exceeding a user-defined lateral acceleration threshold during a road curve, and the accelerator pedal being released, reduce a speed of the vehicle below the set speed until the measured lateral acceleration is less than the lateral acceleration threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Guopeng Hu, Yang Xu, Zhengyu Dai, Hong Jiang
  • Patent number: 11364892
    Abstract: Methods and system are described for changing a driveline gear range from a higher gear range to a lower gear range. The driveline may include two electric machines and four clutches in a four wheel drive configuration. The methods and systems permit a driveline to change from a higher gear range to a lower gear range without stopping a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Weitian Chen, Zhengyu Dai, Hong Jiang
  • Publication number: 20220065346
    Abstract: Methods and system are described for changing a driveline gear range from a lower gear range to a higher gear range. The driveline may include two electric machines and four clutches in a four wheel drive configuration. The methods and systems permit a driveline to change from a lower gear range to a higher gear range in a way that may reduce torque disturbances that may result from gear lash.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Weitian Chen, Matthew John Shelton, Zhengyu Dai, Pinzhi Liu, Jose Velazquez Alcantar, Joseph Jay Torres
  • Patent number: 11254297
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle driveline are presented. In one example, a margin torque for closing a torque converter clutch is adjusted responsive to a state of engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard D. Nefcy, Zhengyu Dai, Daniel Colvin
  • Patent number: 11097732
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle are described. In one example, vehicle launch is controlled according to a linear quadratic regulator that provides feedback control according to torque converter slip error and vehicle speed error. The vehicle launch is also controlled according to feed forward control that is based on requested torque converter slip and requested vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Weitian Chen, Zhengyu Dai, Hong Jiang