Patents Issued in April 19, 2018
  • Publication number: 20180105021
    Abstract: To provide an air conditioner for a vehicle having a simple configuration and capable of controlling temperature in a wide range. In a dehumidification heating operation in which a refrigerant is circulated through a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, an evaporator and a compressor in the order named so as to radiate the heat of the refrigerant into the first heat exchanger, there is provided a refrigerant heating means which heats the refrigerant when an outside air temperature is not higher than a predetermined temperature and when an opening degree of the second expansion valve which expands the refrigerant flowing out from the second heat exchanger is larger than an opening degree of the first expansion valve which expands the refrigerant flowing out from the first heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Isao Tsunoda
  • Publication number: 20180105022
    Abstract: A vehicle climate system includes a blower and a controller. The controller is configured to, responsive to input of a particular user selected climate setting, operate the blower with an initial power having a predetermined value corresponding to the climate setting provided that cabin temperature is outside a predetermined range. The controller is also configured to operate the blower with an initial power having a value less than the predetermined value provided that the cabin temperature is within the predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Curtis Mark JONES, Manfred KOBERSTEIN, Alan Douglas WALLINGTON, Zhengyu LIU
  • Publication number: 20180105023
    Abstract: A vehicle air condition display device used together with a vehicle air-conditioning apparatus includes a display unit and a display controller. The vehicle air-conditioning apparatus is capable of adjusting a direction of an air blown out from an outlet port in response to an operation made on an operation portion located away from the outlet port, and has a mechanism for adjusting a direction of the air blown out from the outlet port. The mechanism is located on upstream of the outlet port in a flow path of the air. The vehicle air condition display device includes a display unit disposed at a visually recognizable position from a driver's seat in a vehicle compartment and a display controller displaying a direction of the air blown out from the outlet port on the display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Yuko NAKAMURA, Takeshi YAMAMOTO, Yoshinori WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20180105024
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a sunshade associated with a sunroof system of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining, by a processor, a mode of the sunshade to be at least one of a linked mode and an unlinked mode; and selectively controlling, by a processor, a position of the sunshade based on one of a requested position of the sunshade and a requested position of a sunroof window, wherein the selectively is based on the mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: ALEX J. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20180105025
    Abstract: A vehicle roof module having a transparent roof element and a roller blind apparatus arranged under the roof element and having a roller blind track, which is wound on a winding shaft and can be pulled out to cover the underside of the roof element, and which is guided by a drain edge when pulled out from the winding shaft, wherein, according to the invention, foam material attached on or around the roof element contains a drain edge body having the drain edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventor: Guido BOTT
  • Publication number: 20180105026
    Abstract: A profiled strip includes a first connecting area configured to connect to an edge area of a windshield of a motor vehicle, and a second connecting area configured to connect to a component to be adjoined to the windshield. The second connecting area has an open profile along at least one first partial section of a lengthwise extension of the profiled strip, which allows a connecting element of the adjoining component to be inserted into a receiving area delimited by the open profile. The second connecting area has a closed profile along at least one second partial section of the lengthwise extension of the profiled strip, which prevents the insertion of the connecting element into the closed profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Ortmueller, David Landeck
  • Publication number: 20180105027
    Abstract: In a vehicle axle for a motor vehicle, two electric drives are arranged in a frame construction for driving the wheels of an axle. The frame construction is provided with at least one transverse carrier, which is at its ends connected to longitudinal carriers. The two electric drives are arranged approximately axially parallel next to each other with their axes of rotation arranged transversely to the direction of travel. The at least one transverse carrier extends between the two electric drives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Langhoff, Sven Schmalzrieth, Vladimir Idelevitch, Christian Meixner
  • Publication number: 20180105028
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dog-bone type rear roll rod in which a body bracket, which is fixed to a vehicle body, and front and rear rubbers, which are disposed at front and rear sides of the body bracket, respectively, are connected together through an inner pipe and fastened to a rod by means of a fastening member, the dog-bone type rear roll rod including: an extrusion plate which has a through hole formed such that the inner pipe penetrates a center of the extrusion plate, has a width length greater than a width length of the rod, and is press-fitted between the rod and the front rubber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventor: Seung Won Kim
  • Publication number: 20180105029
    Abstract: An energy efficient vehicle is provided. Wheels are disposed on the front and rear sides of the car body. A gasoline engine in the car body is used to drive an electricity generator to produce electric energy transferred to a capacitive battery, and then to a multi-loop disc-type dynamic motor. The multi-loop disc-type dynamic motor drives the car by rotating the wheels through a transmission and a differential. The multi-loop disc-type dynamic motor can produce large torque and horsepower through multiple stator rings disposed on a stator base and multiple permanent magnetic sheets disposed on the multiple annular ribs of a rotor base. Therefore, the electricity can be saved to elevate the endurance of the vehicle, and the vehicle does not need to stop for charging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: RICHARD CHI-HSUEH, CHUNG-YEH HSU
  • Publication number: 20180105030
    Abstract: A toroidal type continuously variable transmission system is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of input disks (124 & 126) and at least one output disk (128), which are arranged noncoaxially; and a plurality of tiltable rollers (136, 138 & 140) for operatively coupling the input disks (124 & 126) and the output disk (128) for transmitting the torque. The transmission system is adapted to be operated by the torque transmitted by at least one of the plurality of input disks (124 & 126) to the at least one output disk (128).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventor: Atul RANADE
  • Publication number: 20180105031
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes a manual transmission with an input shaft including a plurality of input gears and at least one main shaft including a plurality of driven gears engaged with the input gears. An engine includes a drive shaft drivingly connected to the input shaft via an engine disconnect clutch and a launch clutch. An electric motor is non-concentric with the input shaft and is drivingly connected to the input shaft via the launch clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Daryl A. WILTON, James M. HART
  • Publication number: 20180105032
    Abstract: Provided is a work vehicle in which a seat support frame that supports a driver seat is equipped on a vehicle body frame, the vehicle body frame includes: a front portion vehicle frame at which a floor surface of a driving portion is provided; and a rear portion vehicle frame disposed at a position higher than the floor surface of the driving portion and rearward of the front portion vehicle frame. An engine is equipped below the rear portion vehicle frame, a battery that supplies power to an electric motor is equipped above the front portion vehicle frame and below the seat support frame, and a frame portion of the seat support frame that exists above the battery at a position opposing the battery is configured to be detachable from another frame portion that is fixed to the vehicle body frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Yoshinori Oyama, Takeshi Satozono, Rei Tokuda, Kazuyuki Tashiro, Masatoshi Sakai, Yuki Nakaoka
  • Publication number: 20180105033
    Abstract: A two-wheeled vehicle is provided. The two-wheeled vehicle includes a chassis having a height, a length and a width, a first wheel rotatably connected to the chassis, the first wheel having a perimeter, a diameter and a geometric center, and the diameter of the first wheel being at least 75% of the height of the chassis, a motor for providing a drive energy to the first wheel, an axle rotated by the motor, a drive gear connected with the axle such that the drive gear rotates with a rotation of the axle, and a plurality of teeth disposed about the first wheel and mechanically engaged with the drive gear at a location closer to the perimeter of the first wheel than to the geometric center of the first wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Schnapp, Gregory Stewart Lynn, Joshua Eldred Elvander, Sasha Priya Hoffman, Suhas Subhaschandra Malghan, Nazareth V. Ekmekjian, Rossitza Dimitrova Kotelova, Bethanne Altringer, Jamar A. Bromley
  • Publication number: 20180105034
    Abstract: A fuel tank system constructed in accordance to one example of the present disclosure includes a fuel tank, a purge canister and a valve assembly. The valve assembly can be fluidly coupled between the fuel tank and the purge canister. The valve assembly can include a main valve and a safety check valve. The main valve can have a main valve first port fluidly coupled to an outlet of the fuel tank and a main valve second port fluidly connected to the purge canister. The safety check valve can be configured to move from an open position to a closed position upon a pressure drop at the fuel tank outlet exceeding a predetermined threshold. The safety check valve can have a safety check valve first port fluidly coupled to the outlet of the fuel tank and a safety check valve second port fluidly coupled to the purge canister.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Ambrose, Jeffrey B. Smith, Raymond Bruce McLauchlan
  • Publication number: 20180105035
    Abstract: A filling pipe arrangement for filling an automobile fluid tank with fluid, especially aqueous urea solution, with a passage passing through a predetermined passageway along the filling pipe arrangement, wherein the passage extends from an inserting mouth to a discharge opening, wherein an inserting end section of the passage comprising the inserting mouth is designed to hold at least temporarily an output end section of a delivery device, such as a spigot, a Kruse bottle, or the like, wherein the passage comprises, at a distance from the inserting mouth, a conducting section designed to lead fluid introduced into the filling pipe arrangement through the filling pipe arrangement, wherein the filling pipe arrangement comprises a magnetic arrangement whose magnetic field reaches into the passage in one section of the passageway, the magnetic arrangement is received in the filling pipe arrangement so that it is movable along the passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventor: Andi-Ionut Radu
  • Publication number: 20180105036
    Abstract: A closing system includes a module having a tubular body with a duct suitable for communicating with a fuel tank of a vehicle; a door hinged to the body of the module, and a lock mounted in the body of the module. The lock has a box with a shell and a lid, a closing pin suitable for fastening the pin of the door, a spring that stresses the closing pin, a cam obtained in the closing pin, a follower with a tip that acts in the cam, a latch that engages and locks the closing pin, an actuator suitable for actuating the latch, and an emergency mechanism that can be manually actuated by the user to unlock the closing pin from the latch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventor: Daniele GUARDIANELLI
  • Publication number: 20180105037
    Abstract: A PTO transmission includes a PTO control system, an input shaft, a first output shaft, a parallel intermediate shaft, a second output shaft coaxially disposed with respect to the first output shaft, four gear pairs disposed so that the input shaft comprises two gears, the first output shaft comprises three gears, the intermediate shaft comprises two gears, and the second output shaft comprises one gear. Two gear pairs are in engagement between the input shaft and the first output shaft, one gear pair is in engagement between the first output shaft and the intermediate shaft, and one gear pair is in engagement between the input shaft and the second output shaft. At least one gear of each gear pair is shiftable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: David Müller, Rainer Gugel
  • Publication number: 20180105038
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal unit for a motor vehicle, having a base body on which an accelerator pedal is accommodated rotatably mounted in a rotary joint and which, starting from a resting position, can be moved by actuation in an actuating direction. A sensor unit is accommodated in the base body, which senses the position of the accelerator pedal via a feeler element. A return spring is provided, with which the accelerator pedal is prestressed into the initial position. A moveable counter-stop element can be moved into a stop position in which, when the accelerator pedal is actuated, the stop element comes into contact with the counter-stop element and runs into the sprung unit when an additional force is applied to the accelerator pedal and can be moved into a release position in which, when the accelerator pedal is actuated, the stop element can move freely in a movement region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Claus VIETHEN
  • Publication number: 20180105039
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure may include a vehicle that may detect the presence and/or absence of an operator of the vehicle. The vehicle may determine that the operator is present and/or absent from a control area of the vehicle (e.g., an area where the operator may provide instructions for the piloting of the vehicle) and/or from the entire area of the vehicle and provide instructions responsive to the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventor: Christopher Yeomans
  • Publication number: 20180105040
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an assistance apparatus for driving of a vehicle including a display unit displaying the virtual preceding vehicle corresponding to one virtual preceding mode, which is selected by a user, of a plurality of virtual preceding modes, an interface unit receiving route information including destination information that is set by a driver and sensing information detected by a sensing unit, and a processor controlling the virtual preceding vehicle on the basis of the route information and the sensing information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Seungwon RYU, Junsic PARK, Yoonna SOH, Jieun SONG
  • Publication number: 20180105041
    Abstract: A method for a high-voltage energy system of a vehicle wherein a pre-accident error state is determined which shows the current existing error of the high-voltage energy system prior to the time of an accident. Then an accident event is determined. A post-accident error state is determined which shows the current existing error of the high-voltage energy system according to the time of the accident. The high-voltage energy system is deactivated in accordance with the accident, the pre-accident error state, and the post-accident error state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Andreas ORTNER, Sebastian SCHAAB, Heiner BARTOSZEWSKI, Erik HAHN
  • Publication number: 20180105042
    Abstract: A first control device connected with a second power line and configured to control a drive system is configured to send a start prohibition signal of the first control device to a second control device connected with the second power line and configured to control a solar power generation system, upon satisfaction of a prohibition condition including a condition that an abnormality occurs in the drive system. When the second control device receives the start prohibition signal from the first control device, the second control device is configured not to send a start instruction signal for charging to the first control device in spite of a request for solar charging provided to supply electric power from the solar power generation system to a first electrical storage device at a system-off time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Fumiyoshi KURIBARA
  • Publication number: 20180105043
    Abstract: There is provided a power supply system that is mounted on a vehicle and that comprises an accumulator connected with a power line via a system main relay including a precharge circuit; a smoothing capacitor mounted to the power line; and a power converter configured to use a DC power from the power line and supply an AC power to an electric load. When a precharge control that uses the precharge circuit to pre-charge the capacitor at a system start time fails in pre-charging the capacitor, the power supply system diagnoses a place of a failure, based on a change in common voltage of the accumulator during the precharge control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tsubasa MIGITA
  • Publication number: 20180105044
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first induction section comprising a first core and a first coil on the first core. A second induction section comprises a second core and a second coil on the second core. The first core comprises rail extensions, where at least two of the rail extensions extend from opposite ends of the first core. The second core comprises shoe portions located at respective ones of the rail extensions, where a gap is provided between each of the rail extensions and respective ones of the shoe portion. The second induction section is configured to move relative to the first induction section in a path along the extensions. The first induction section is configured to induce current in the second induction section, including when the second core moves relative to the first core along the extensions, to provide a contactless induction coupling between the first induction section and the second induction section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Martin Hosek, Sripati Sah
  • Publication number: 20180105045
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first induction section comprising a first core and a first coil on the first core. A second induction section comprises a second core and a second coil on the second core. The first core comprises rail extensions, where at least two of the rail extensions extend from opposite ends of the first core. The second core comprises shoe portions located at respective ones of the rail extensions, where a gap is provided between each of the rail extensions and respective ones of the shoe portion. The second induction section is configured to move relative to the first induction section in a path along the extensions. The first induction section is configured to induce current in the second induction section, including when the second core moves relative to the first core along the extensions, to provide a contactless induction coupling between the first induction section and the second induction section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Martin Hosek, Sripati Sah
  • Publication number: 20180105046
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a battery and a controller programmed to set a bus voltage threshold such that during a next charging event a voltage of the battery achieves a desulfation value. The controller may set the bus voltage threshold in response to charge acceptance of the battery falling below a predetermined sulfation value. The controller may be programmed to lower the threshold such that the voltage of the battery falls below the desulfation value. The controller may lower the threshold in response to the charge acceptance exceeding the predetermined sulfation value during the event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventor: David Anthony Symanow
  • Publication number: 20180105047
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is provided. The hybrid vehicle includes an acceleration pedal, an engine configured to generate an engine torque based on a position of the acceleration pedal, an electronic control unit communicatively coupled to the engine and configured to calculate a target torque based on the position of the acceleration pedal, and estimate a motor-generated (MG)-assist torque based on difference between the target torque and the engine torque, a motor generator communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit and configured to generate the estimated MG-assist torque, and a power distribution unit configured to deliver the generated MG-assist torque combined with the engine torque to one or more wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Dae Keun Yoo, Hiroki Sato, Jordan Choby, Shingo Eto
  • Publication number: 20180105048
    Abstract: A charging system, comprising: a charging apparatus; and at least one guiding apparatus, comprising at least one light emitting device provided in at least one target apparatus. The charging apparatus moves to a charging location according a light emitting state of the light emitting device, to charge the target apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: En-Feng Hsu, Ting-Yang Chang
  • Publication number: 20180105049
    Abstract: A wireless power supply system of the present invention performs wireless power supply between a power transmission coil installed at a parking space and a power reception coil mounted on a vehicle, transmits judging power for judging a parking position from the power transmission coil to the power reception coil in an operation of parking the vehicle in the parking space, and sets an excitation frequency of the judging power to a frequency lower than an in-phase resonance point or higher than an anti-phase resonance point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kengo MAIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20180105050
    Abstract: An actuation device for a connector includes a mounting element and an arm extending along an arm axis. The arm has a front section with a connection interface configured to receive the connector, a rear section and a bearing section between the front section and the rear section. The actuation device also includes a pivot element which is in connection with the bearing section of the arm and with the mounting element so as to connect the arm pivotably to the mounting element. The pivot element includes a pivot axle. A balance element is connected to the rear section of the arm and is configured to balance the arm regarding a movement around the pivot axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Christian Hengel, Louis Delorenzi, Laurence Lombardo
  • Publication number: 20180105051
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing charging stations for electric vehicles are described. According to one aspect of the present invention, an identity of a user driving a vehicle and contact information are obtained when the vehicle is detected to occupy a charging station or charger for charging the vehicle. The user is then periodically updated of the charging status and notified of the completion when the charging has reached to the full capacity of battery in the vehicle or a predefined charging level set by the user. A fee is assessed when the vehicle has not been removed from the charger after a predefined period (e.g., 5 minutes). As a result, a charging station or a charger can be used more efficiently as the demand for charging stations and the EVs are getting popular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Joyce A. Zheng, Joe Zheng
  • Publication number: 20180105052
    Abstract: An electric vehicle charging device includes a processing unit having a memory with a routine stored therein which, when executed by the processing unit causes the processing unit to control circuitry to prevent the electric vehicle charging device from charging an electric vehicle for a random delay period and to allow the electric vehicle charging device to charge the electric vehicle starting when the random delay period ends, wherein the random delay period starts at a predetermined start time and lasts a random delay length of time. The random delay reduces the peak load on a transformer that the electric vehicle charging device and other electric vehicle charging devices receive power from.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: CHINMAYA BABURAO PATIL, YIGANG WANG, RONALD L. THOMPSON, JOSE ANTONIO TRUJILLO
  • Publication number: 20180105053
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to detect communication signals from an access point. The processor is also configured to determine an access point affiliation with a wireless charging pad based on data included in the communication signals, the data also providing charging pad compatibility characteristics. The processor is further configured to determine vehicle compatibility with the charging pad based on the compatibility characteristics and responsive to a vehicle being compatible with the charging pad, connect to the access point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Hanan J. AHMED, John Scott TURIK
  • Publication number: 20180105054
    Abstract: The disclosure involves wireless electric power sharing between vehicles. A first vehicle sends a charging request, wherein the first vehicle is at least partially powered by a first on-board rechargeable electricity storage. The first vehicle receives a response to the charging request from a second vehicle which is at least partially powered by a second on-board rechargeable electricity storage, and a communication channel is established between the first and second vehicles. The first on-board rechargeable electricity storage is charged using energy stored in the second on-board rechargeable electricity storage and wirelessly transferred from the second vehicle to the first vehicle. The charging is controlled with information exchanged between the first and second vehicles over the communication channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Si Bin Fan, Ge Liang, Hao Sheng, Hai Dong Zhang, Jinfan Zhu
  • Publication number: 20180105055
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a charging control method and device and an charging system for an electric vehicle. A method applied to a gun-shaped charging coupler comprises: detecting a press state of a latch button of the gun-shaped charging coupler; and sending a control signal to a charging pile connected with the gun-shaped charging coupler according to a detection result, the control signal being used for allowing the charging pile to obtain a charging control strategy, and controlling the charging pile to execute an operation corresponding to the charging control strategy. In such a way, when an electric vehicle is charged, the safety in the charging process can be improved with prolonging of the service lives of the gun-shaped charging coupler and a charging outlet and protection on the safety of people.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Sujuan CHAI, Yanchao ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20180105056
    Abstract: The disclosure involves wireless electric power sharing between vehicles. A first vehicle sends a charging request, wherein the first vehicle is at least partially powered by a first on-board rechargeable electricity storage. The first vehicle receives a response to the charging request from a second vehicle which is at least partially powered by a second on-board rechargeable electricity storage, and a communication channel is established between the first and second vehicles. The first on-board rechargeable electricity storage is charged using energy stored in the second on-board rechargeable electricity storage and wirelessly transferred from the second vehicle to the first vehicle. The charging is controlled with information exchanged between the first and second vehicles over the communication channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Si Bin Fan, Ge Liang, Hao Sheng, Hai Dong Zhang, Jinfan Zhu
  • Publication number: 20180105057
    Abstract: The present invention provides a voltage acquisition circuit. The voltage acquisition circuit includes a voltage division and sampling module, a voltage to frequency conversion module, and an isolation module. The voltage to frequency conversion module is electrically coupled to the voltage division and sampling module and the isolation module. The voltage division and sampling module is configured to divide and sample a total voltage of a battery pack, and output a voltage signal to the voltage to frequency conversion module. The voltage to frequency conversion module is configured to convert the voltage signal into a first frequency signal, and output the first frequency signal to the isolation module. The isolation module is configured to electrically isolate the first frequency signal, to generate a second frequency signal. The present invention further provides an electric vehicle with the voltage acquisition circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventor: Hong Deng
  • Publication number: 20180105058
    Abstract: electrical load. A vehicle voltage control system includes a controller programmed command an output voltage of the power converter to a voltage that is a maximum of target voltages associated with electrical loads that are electrically coupled to the auxiliary battery and activated, a battery charging voltage when a demand for auxiliary battery charging is present, and a float voltage associated with the auxiliary battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: David Anthony SYMANOW, Marvin Paul KRASKA, Michael Duane WALLACE, Evan PERRY, Derek HARTL
  • Publication number: 20180105059
    Abstract: An electrical system includes a voltage bus, battery pack, power inverter module (PIM), electric machine, first contactor, and controller. The PIM is connected to the battery pack and has a capacitor, voltage sensor, and semiconductor switches. The electric machine having phase legs with a corresponding phase winding and resistive path. The first contactor connects the PIM to a positive rail of the bus. The controller opens the first contactor in response to a power-off event, commands a discharge of the capacitor through the resistive paths, diagnoses a state of health (SOH) of the first contactor using a first threshold decay rate of the capacitor output voltage upon opening the first contactor, and executes a control action with respect to the electrical system using the diagnosed SOH. The three possible SOH are unhealthy/hard-welded contactor, unhealthy/soft-welded contactor, and healthy/normally-functioning contactor condition. A vehicle and method are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Namou, Syed M. Kadry, Ahmad Albanna, Mohammad N. Anwar, David J. Mifsud
  • Publication number: 20180105060
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes an interpack switch configured to connect portions of a traction battery when closed to transfer electric charge therebetween, and a controller configured to, responsive to a request, operate the switch to disconnect the portions and to initiate transfer of electric charge to each of the portions in parallel and at a same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Michael MCQUILLEN, Philip Michael GONZALES, Gopichandra SURNILLA
  • Publication number: 20180105061
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid construction machine, includes: a fluid pressure pump; a regeneration motor rotationally driven by refluxed working fluid; a rotating electric machine rotationally driven by the regeneration motor; an energy storage part into which regenerated electric power is charged; and a temperature detecting part adapted to detect a temperature of the energy storage part, a control part charging with regenerated electric power when a temperature of the storage part becomes below a first set temperature, until achieving a voltage higher than a charge termination voltage of when the temperature of the storage part is equal to or more than the first set temperature by an amount of internal resistance according to the temperature of the storage part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: KYB Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro EGAWA, Haruhiko KAWASAKI
  • Publication number: 20180105062
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a battery module compartment chamber is configured for deployment with one or more other battery module compartment chambers within a battery module mounting area of an energy storage system. The battery module compartment chamber includes exterior walls and at least one interior firewall that define multiple battery module compartments into which battery modules may be inserted and/or removed. Each battery module compartment includes an insertion-side configured to be closed via a respective insertion-side cover to seal the respective battery module compartment. In a further embodiment, the battery module compartment may be stacked longitudinally with one or more other battery module compartment chambers to form a battery module mounting area. A type of the battery module compartment chamber and/or a number of longitudinally stacked battery module compartment chambers may be selected to satisfy a size requirement for the battery module mounting area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Heiner FEES, Andreas TRACK, Alexander EICHHORN, Ralf MAISCH, Jörg DAMASKE, Martin EBERHARD, Michael John MISKOVSKY
  • Publication number: 20180105063
    Abstract: The present invention provides a container, a transportation system comprising such a container, and a method of using the transportation system. The container includes a battery that provides electricity to a vehicle such as an unmanned aerial vehicle that is carrying and shipping the container. The battery functions as a supplemental power supply to the vehicle and hence improves the endurance of the vehicle, so that heavier cargo can be shipped over longer distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicants: Ningbo Wise Digital Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Xibo Wei, Yuanyuan Li, Jingjing Wei
  • Publication number: 20180105064
    Abstract: A drive device includes a motor, an inverter, an electric power storage device, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to generate a first pulse width modulation (PWM) signal of the switching elements by comparison of a voltage command of each phase according to a torque command of the motor and a carrier wave voltage, as a first PWM control. The electronic control unit is configured to generate a second PWM signal of the switching elements based on a modulation factor and a voltage phase of a voltage according to the torque command and a pulse count per unit cycle of an electric angle of the motor, as a second pulse width modulation control. The electronic control unit is configured to limit execution of the second PWM control when high controllability of the motor is requested rather than when the high controllability is not requested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiyotaka MATSUBARA, Kenji YAMADA, Toshihiro YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20180105065
    Abstract: When two motors are in a locked state in which electric current is flowed in a concentrated manner in a specific phase in the two motors, a lock protection control is performed to rotate the two motors to change over a phase in which electric current is flowed in a concentrated manner in the two motors. The lock protection control rotates the two motors such that a vehicle is turned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiko IDE
  • Publication number: 20180105066
    Abstract: An object is to provide an in-train transmission control system which can minimize delay in transmission of command data to devices further than the conventional art, in which a central unit provided in any car of a train formation composed of one or more cars and controlling operation of the entire train formation transmits command data to devices provided in some or all of the cars and in which the devices transmit device data to the central unit. The control system comprises relay device provided in the car, and line concentrator allowing the command data to pass therethrough, and when receiving device data from the devices, transmitting the device data to the relay device. The relay device aggregates the device data received from the line concentrator to transmit the aggregated data to the central unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shogo TATSUMI, Shingo HONDA, Tomoyuki HIRATA
  • Publication number: 20180105067
    Abstract: A vehicle seat placement structure and vehicle are obtained capable of securing space for respective occupants seated on a driver seat and on rear seats, and securing comfort of the occupants. In a vehicle cabin of the vehicle, a pair of seats are each disposed adjacent to a first seat such that seat cushions of the pair of seats do not overlap the seat cushion of the first seat as viewed along the vehicle width direction. This enables a driver seated in the first seat and occupants seated in the pair of seats to be seated such that at least the upper body of the driver and the upper bodies of the occupants do not overlap each other as viewed along the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi AJISAKA
  • Publication number: 20180105068
    Abstract: An input device has operation shafts whose tips project through a first elongate hole and a second elongate hole formed through an upper plate portion of a case main body and that are movable along the upper plate portion of the case main body. An operation knob is movably attached to the tips of the operation shafts. The case main body is provided with elastic support pieces that deform following the movement of the operation knob and elastically support the operation knob.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventor: Yoshiteru TAKAYANAGI
  • Publication number: 20180105069
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a first member and a second member located proximate to the first member. An adjustment system for adjustably positioning the first and second members of the seat assembly includes at least one positioning mechanism operatively connected to one or more of the first member and the second member and at least one actuator connected to the at least one positioning mechanism. A control assembly including a housing having a control region, one or more guide surfaces extending from the control region and one or more recessed areas cooperating with the one or more guide surfaces. At least one of the guide surfaces or recessed areas cooperates with at least one switch configured to send a first signal to a controller when a user activates the at least one switch. The controller is configured to generate an activation signal to activate the at least one actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jeff E. Nasca, Daniel W. Booth, William Otto, Leigh A. Berger, Scott D. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20180105070
    Abstract: A method of configuring a vehicle seating assembly includes the step of providing a vehicle seating assembly that has a seat rotational member that rotatably couples a lower leg support to a seat and a seatback rotational member that rotatably couples the seat to a seatback. The method further includes the step of receiving input of a user's desired configuration of the vehicle seating assembly. The method still further includes the step of actuating at least one of the seat rotational member and the seatback rotational member responsive to the input received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventor: Alan George Dry