Patents Issued in May 15, 2018
  • Patent number: 9969251
    Abstract: An exemplary adjustable and flexible recreational or large vehicle cover may have one or more first securing systems and one or more second securing system, and any combination thereof. The first and second securing systems may be used to dynamically change the size and/or configuration of the cover to correspond more closely with an underlying RV or covered object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventor: Morgan Ein
  • Patent number: 9969252
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical drive arrangement for driving a motor vehicle comprising an electric motor, a drive shaft driven by means of the electric motor, a housing in which the electric motor is accommodated, which housing has an envelope surface and a substantially annular cross section wherein the horizontal direction of the envelope surface of said housing and hereby said drive shaft are arranged to run substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction of said vehicle, comprising a pendulum suspension for suspension of the electrical drive arrangement, where the pendulum suspension comprises a fastening configuration fixedly connected to the vehicle and at least one pendulum attachment fixedly connected to the envelope surface of the housing and pivotally journaled relative to said fastening configuration by means of a bearing configuration. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: BAE Systems Hägglunds Aktriebolag
    Inventor: Daniel Engblom
  • Patent number: 9969253
    Abstract: A hybrid energy system is provided in a vehicle including an autonomous power supply and being connectable to an external power supply infrastructure along the route of the vehicle, and which vehicle is arranged to operate in an autonomous power supply mode and/or in an external power supply mode. The system includes a first high voltage circuit including a first traction motor connected to an energy storage system by a first power converter for propelling the vehicle; a second high voltage circuit including a second traction motor connectable to an external power supply by a second power converter for propelling the vehicle; and where the first high voltage circuit and the second high voltage circuit are connectable by a third power converter between the first and the second power converters. A method for operating the hybrid energy system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Martin West, Richard Sebestyen, John Simonsson, Jonas Storm
  • Patent number: 9969254
    Abstract: A powertrain system is described, and includes an internal combustion engine having a crank member, a torque machine having a rotatable shaft member, and a transmission having an input member and an output member. The crank member of the internal combustion engine is couplable to the input member of the transmission. The rotatable shaft member of the torque machine is couplable to the crank member of the internal combustion engine at a first gear ratio. The rotatable shaft member of the torque machine is couplable to the input member of the transmission at a second gear ratio. The first gear ratio is less than the second gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Alan G. Holmes
  • Patent number: 9969255
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a power transmission apparatus for a hybrid vehicle including a one-directional rotation limiting device disposed on an engine torque delivery path so as to prevent a torque from reversely transmitting from the final drive gear to the planetary gear set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Shin Jong Kim, Taewon Kim
  • Patent number: 9969256
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hybrid module including a clutch, an electric machine, an internal combustion engine end, a transmission end, and a housing that includes a radially extending housing section located axially next to the electric machine at the internal combustion engine end as well as an axially extending housing section surrounding at least part of the hybrid module; the housing has two separate parts, the first one of which forms the radially extending housing section and the second one of which forms the axially extending housing section. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a hybrid module of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Mackowiak, Matthias Eisele, Robert Maier
  • Patent number: 9969257
    Abstract: A vehicle fuel door assembly includes a cover comprising a plurality of alignment features fixedly disposed relative to the cover, the plurality of alignment features formed of an elastically deformable material. The assembly also includes a hinge comprising a plurality of alignment elements fixedly disposed relative to the hinge, each of the alignment features interferingly, deformably and matingly engageable with a respective alignment element, the alignment features elastically deforming to an elastically averaged final configuration that aligns the cover relative to the hinge in six planar orthogonal directions by averaging the elastic deformation of the respective alignment features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Robert Dallos, Jr., Gordan N. Noll, Jennifer P. Lawall, Steven E. Morris
  • Patent number: 9969258
    Abstract: A zero turn vehicle having an operator platform at the rear and a compact transmission design featuring a pair of transmissions disposed in a common housing and separate gear boxes permits a smaller, more efficient arrangement for the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Raymond Hauser
  • Patent number: 9969259
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a CVT unit or a power source which requires ambient air. An air inlet for an air intake system coupled to the CVT unit or the power source which requires ambient air may be provided in a side of a cargo carrying portion of the vehicle. The vehicle may include a rear radius arm suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. Safranski, Robbi L. Peterson, Richard L. Sunsdahl, Aaron D. Deckard, Louis J. Brady
  • Patent number: 9969260
    Abstract: A glide system for a vehicle shift mechanism includes a steering column having a stationary portion and a moveable portion in telescoping engagement with the stationary portion. Also included is a shifter operatively coupled to the moveable portion of the steering column and slidably engaged with the stationary portion of the steering column. Further included is a de-lashing element engaged with a sliding member of the shifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael C. Vermeersch, Arthur W. Nellett
  • Patent number: 9969261
    Abstract: A vehicle assistance control apparatus includes: an obstacle detection unit that detects a prescribed obstacle in the periphery of a vehicle; a vehicle speed detection unit that detects a speed of the vehicle; an accelerator operation detection unit that detects presence of an accelerator operation; a drive power restriction unit that detects, when the prescribed obstacle is detected, a drive power that is to be generated in the vehicle by an accelerator operation performed by a driver, compared to when the prescribed obstacle is not detected; and a cancellation unit that enables cancellation of the restriction of the drive power by the drive power restriction unit, when the speed is equal to or lower than a prescribed value and when a state where the accelerator operation detection unit detects that the accelerator operation is not being performed has continued for a prescribed period of time or longer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinya Kodama
  • Patent number: 9969262
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system comprising: a first controller operable to assume one of a plurality of respective states, in each of a predetermined one or more first states the first controller being configured automatically to generate a torque control signal to request an amount of positive torque applied by at least a first torque control system to one or more wheels of a vehicle and cause a vehicle to operate in accordance with a target speed value, and in each of a predetermined one or more second states the first controller being configured not to request by means of the torque control signal the amount of positive torque applied by the first torque control system to one or more wheels, wherein when the first controller switches from a first state to a second state the first controller is configured to cause a reduction, over time, in an amount of any torque that the torque control signal is causing the first torque control system to apply to one or more wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventor: Jonathan Woodley
  • Patent number: 9969263
    Abstract: An on-vehicle system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention causes a mobile terminal device 40 and an on-vehicle device 50 to work together, and allocates and displays two pieces of application software information about a widget from the mobile terminal device 40 on two display areas of gadget displays 61V and 62V connected to the on-vehicle device 50. Also, the allocation of the application software information is conducted via a touch panel 3 on the mobile terminal device 40 provided with a display device 6 for displaying a widget setting screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiichi Tsunoda, Daiki Isogai, Yasutomo Kato
  • Patent number: 9969264
    Abstract: A vehicle instrument device includes: a display device accommodated in the vehicle instrument device; a display control circuit board which controls an operation of the display device and which is attached to a rear surface of the display device; and an instrument control circuit board which controls display except for the display device and which is formed as a separate member from the display control circuit. The display device, which is integrated with the display control circuit board to serve as a display unit, is accommodated in the vehicle instrument device together with the instrument control circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuaki Kondo
  • Patent number: 9969265
    Abstract: A fuel door status indicating system for a pressurized fuel system is provided. The status indicating system includes pressure sensing means configured to measure a pressure in the fuel system, a controller operatively connected to the pressure sensing means and configured to compare a measured fuel-system pressure with a predetermined pressure, and a display operatively connected to the controller and configured to provide an indication as to whether the fuel door may be opened. The controller is configured to control operation of the display to provide the indication responsive to the comparison of the measured pressure with the predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paxton S. Williams, Paul E. Harmon
  • Patent number: 9969266
    Abstract: In a display control device, in accordance with speed limit information input from an input unit, a control unit senses change in a speed limit of a road where a vehicle travels and after that, in accordance with vehicle information input from the input unit, determines whether or not whether necessity to increase conspicuity of notification of the change in the speed limit. When it is determined that the necessity is high, a display unit is caused to switch display on a display medium from a first presentation image to a second presentation image that indicates a second speed limit by a first switching method. When it is determined that the necessity is not high, the display of the first presentation image is switched to the display of the second presentation image by a second switching method different from the first switching method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Mochizuki, Koichi Emura, Shigeru Kobayashi, Takenori Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9969267
    Abstract: An ego-vehicle for displaying a behavior of a target object in a spatio-temporal manner may include one or more processors. One or more memory modules are communicatively coupled to the one or more processors. A display is communicatively coupled to the one or more processors. One or more sensors are communicatively coupled to the one or more processors. Machine readable instructions are stored in the one or more memory modules and cause the one or more processors to display on the display an object indicator associated with a position of a target object relative to the ego-vehicle, wherein the object indicator depicts a spatio-temporal patterning indicating the behavior of the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: John-Michael McNew
  • Patent number: 9969268
    Abstract: An in-vehicle computer is programmed to determine that a driver's hands are at least one predetermined location in the vehicle, the at least one predetermine location including a location on a steering wheel, determine that a vehicle passenger is in a safe position with respect to a human-machine interface; and provide passenger access to the human-machine interface such that the passenger may access operations of the computer that are inaccessible to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Leonard Van Wiemeersch, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • Patent number: 9969269
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an electronic control unit that executes first discharge control in a state where an engine is stopped in the case where a collision detector detects a collision of the hybrid vehicle. The first discharge control includes bringing all switching elements on either one of an upper arm side and a lower arm side of either one of a first inverter and a second inverter into ON states; bringing another inverter into a gate blocking state; and discharging electric charges of a capacitor by using a discharge device until a voltage of the capacitor becomes lower than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Nomura, Tomoko Oba
  • Patent number: 9969270
    Abstract: Electrically powered vehicles may be equipped with both mechanical braking systems and regenerative braking systems. Regenerative braking systems improve vehicle efficiency by returning a portion of the energy lost in deceleration to the battery of the electrically powered vehicle. An electrically powered vehicle controller that provides collision avoidance functionality can maximize the energy returned to the battery of the electrically powered vehicle by maximizing the use of regenerative braking for collision avoidance. A first braking mode can include only regenerative braking for objects greater than the minimum regenerative stopping distance. A second braking mode can include composite braking using both mechanical and regenerative braking. The electrically powered vehicle controller determines the maximum regenerative braking level at least based on data provided by battery charge level or battery state sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
    Inventors: Hok-Sum Horace Luke, Matthew Whiting Taylor
  • Patent number: 9969271
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a motor, and a storage battery and configured to charge the storage battery with electric power generated as a result of regenerative braking and electric power generated by using output of the engine. When a planned travel route of the vehicle includes a downhill section, the control apparatus executes a downhill control which decreases the remaining capacity of the storage battery before the vehicle enters the downhill section. In addition, when the downhill section includes a congestion section and the total distance of the congestion section is greater than a predetermined threshold, the control apparatus does not execute the downhill control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9969272
    Abstract: A master device supplies a power supply voltage through a power transmission line to a slave device that generates an operation signal indicating the contents of an operation received by an operation unit. The slave device includes an operation execution switch that is turned on to apply a reference voltage to the power transmission line, upon reception of the operation by the operation unit. The master device determines whether or not a current accompanying a pilot signal is flowing through the power transmission line, while intermittently sending the pilot signal to the power transmission line in the state of stopping the supplying of the power supply voltage to the slave device. If it is determined that the current is flowing, the master device supplies the power supply voltage to the slave device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroji Akahori
  • Patent number: 9969273
    Abstract: A power system architecture for a vehicle includes a source management unit having at least a generator, a first stored energy component, and a second stored energy component. A high voltage DC bus connects a high voltage load to the source management unit. At least one low voltage DC bus connects at least one low voltage DC load to the source management unit. The source management unit includes a plurality of multi-functional power modules configured such that the source management unit includes a multi-level active rectifier connecting the generator to a multi-level DC bus, a first multi-level multi-function converter connecting the first stored energy component to the multi-level active rectifier, a second multi-level multi-function converter connecting the second stored energy component to a multi-level isolated DC bus, and an isolated multi-level DC-DC converter connecting the multi-level DC bus to the multi-level isolated DC bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Steven J. Moss
  • Patent number: 9969274
    Abstract: A power conversion module for a vehicle is provided. The module includes a housing and a power conversion unit installed on an inside surface of a bottom panel of the housing. The power conversion unit includes a capacitor module, a power module of an inverter and a LDC. A water-cooling-type cooling unit is installed on an outside surface of the bottom panel of the housing and is in a corresponding position to the power module of the inverter and the LDC, with the bottom panel of the housing interposed therebetween. An air-cooling-type cooling fin is installed on the exterior surface of the bottom panel and is in a corresponding position to a capacitor module, with the bottom panel of the housing interposed therebetween. A radiator blower adjacent to a radiator of a vehicle is configured to generate cooling-air wind to cool the radiator and the air-cooling-type cooling fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Hoon Yoon, Jung Hong Joo, Dong Min Shin, Kang Hoon Ko
  • Patent number: 9969275
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for operating a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Joerg Heyse
  • Patent number: 9969276
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery, an auxiliary battery, a charger, and two DC-DC converters. A first DC-DC converter is connected between the traction battery and the auxiliary battery through a main contactor. A second DC-DC converter is connected between the charger and the auxiliary battery. The charger is configured to charge the auxiliary battery via the second DC-DC converter when the charger is receiving power. The second DC-DC converter is configured to charge the auxiliary battery when the first DC-DC converter is disconnected from the traction battery. The second DC-DC converter can charge the auxiliary battery independent of the charger charging the traction battery. The second DC-DC converter may be configured to generally maximize power conversion efficiency in a range of power outputs associated with charging the auxiliary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Roger DeDona, Arthur M. Rutyna, Mark J. Ferrel, Bo Wu, Hilde Anne Heremans, Christopher W. Bell
  • Patent number: 9969277
    Abstract: An AC power adapter for a plug-in electric vehicle has a connector for reception in a charging port of the plug-in electric vehicle, at least one AC outlet coupled to the connector and command generation circuitry coupled to the connector for generating a command that causes the plug-in electric vehicle to put itself into a power feedback mode wherein AC power generated by the plug-in electric vehicle and provided to its charging port is coupled through the connector to the AC outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Wendell David Williams, Gary J Burlak
  • Patent number: 9969278
    Abstract: An electric vehicle charging assembly includes a cord reel, a cord reel locking mechanism, and a master control unit for selectively unlocking the cord reel in response to an authorization signal. The electric vehicle charging assembly monitors the rotational position of the cord reel to prevent unauthorized use, and to record or relay information related to the improper use or malfunction of the electric vehicle charging assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Konnectronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Veiga, Richard Unetich, Frank Ray, John Alford
  • Patent number: 9969279
    Abstract: A two part closure for a combo chargeport for use on an electric vehicle is provided. The closure comprises: an inner part including a dust cover for a DC chargeport; and an outer part configured to cover the AC chargeport. The inner and outer parts are hingeably attached to the vehicle such that the closure can be closed with a single action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Southey, Andrew John Murray
  • Patent number: 9969280
    Abstract: A contactless electric power supply device 100 to charge a battery 28 of a vehicle includes a power transmitting circuit 101 having a power transmitting coil 12 and a charging circuit 201 having a power receiving coil 22. An electric power is transmitted from power transmitting coil 12 to power receiving coil 22 in a contactless manner. When the vehicle approaches power supply device 100, a trial power supply in which a electric power transmission through a minute electric power is carried out is executed and a power transmission efficiency from power transmitting coil 12 to power receiving coil 22 is estimated on a basis of a current flowing through power transmitting circuit 101. From this power transmission efficiency, a determination of whether power receiving coil 22 falls in a range in which battery 28 is chargeable with respect to power transmitting coil 12 is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kengo Maikawa, Hiroshi Tanaka, Tomoya Imazu
  • Patent number: 9969281
    Abstract: The vehicle includes a floor panel, a power reception device configured to receive power in a non-contact manner from a power transmission device disposed in the external, and a battery connected to the power reception device. The battery is disposed above the floor panel. The power reception device is disposed below the floor panel. The power reception device and the battery are disposed to overlap each other at least partially in planar view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toru Nakamura, Shinji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9969282
    Abstract: Invention described herein relates to wireless power transfer systems and methods that efficiently and safely transfer power to electronic devices. In an aspect of the invention, an apparatus for wirelessly receiving power is provided. The apparatus comprises a receiver circuit comprising a receiver coil configured to receive wireless power from a wireless power transmitter via a magnetic field sufficient to charge or power a load of the apparatus. The receiver circuit further comprises a ferrite material having a first side coupled to the receiver coil. The apparatus further comprises a first heat exchanger coupled to a second side of the ferrite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Edward van Boheemen, Simon Islinger, Felix Weidner, Michael Werner
  • Patent number: 9969283
    Abstract: A battery changing system includes a grasping assembly and an actuation assembly. The grasping assembly is configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle and to engage a battery box having one or more batteries disposed therein. The actuation assembly is configured to move the grasping assembly away from the vehicle toward the battery box. The actuation assembly also is configured to move the grasping assembly into engagement with a securing assembly of the battery box. The actuation assembly is configured to move the grasping assembly back toward the vehicle while the grasping assembly engages the securing assembly of the battery box to lift the battery box onto the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Deahl, Derek Brumfield
  • Patent number: 9969284
    Abstract: The present invention is a state of charge monitor to aid in choosing the correct battery when changing batteries. The present invention is battery based instead of charger based. A monitor unit is mounted on each battery and is wired to measure the voltage on a certain number of battery cells. By monitoring this voltage, a microcontroller in the unit can tell if the battery in use, under charge or completed charge. The microcontroller has programming allowing it to add timers to each state event to make sure a true transition has occurred and not just a transient voltage. The microcontroller will then indicate the state of the battery, so that a user can determine which batteries are suitable for use in an exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventor: James Kenneth Davis
  • Patent number: 9969285
    Abstract: A reconfigurable system capable of autonomously exchanging material from unmanned vehicles of various types and sizes. The system comprises an environmental enclosure, a landing area, a universal mechanical system to load and unload material from the unmanned vehicle, and a central processor that manages the aforementioned tasks. The landing area may comprise a one or more visible or non-visible markers/emitters capable of generating composite images to assist in landing the unmanned vehicle upon the reconfigurable, autonomous system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Asylon, Inc.
    Inventors: Damon C. Henry, Adam I. Mohamed, Brent McLaughlin, David Dones
  • Patent number: 9969286
    Abstract: A smart, integrated charging device for electric vehicles is provided. The alternating current input module is connected to an electricity metering module via an alternating current input switch. The charging module is connected to the electricity metering module via a module alternating current switch and an alternating current bus, and is connected to an output monitoring module via a direct current bus. The output monitoring module is connected to the monitoring and general control module (13). The direct current output module is connected to the output monitoring module (4) via a direct current output switch. The lightning protection module is connected to the direct current bus. The charging module utilizes smart power combination and multiple output coordination to enable output with current sharing and the automatic balance control technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: SHANDONG LUNENG INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Bin Jiang, Mengchao Fu, Juntian He, Song Chen, Antai Zuo, Xiangjun Meng, Shiyou Mu, Yong Yang, Yong Hu, Yabo Zhao, Hailong Zhang, Tao Cao
  • Patent number: 9969287
    Abstract: A vehicle charging system may include a parking area, indicia, and a wireless charging station. The indicia may be disposed on the parking area and define a plurality of vehicle parking spots. The wireless charging station may include a primary charge coil and a mechanical conveyor having the primary charge coil mounted thereon. The mechanical conveyor may be configured to move the primary charge coil across and between the parking spots defined by the indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Paul Roberts, William Najib Mansur, Beth Ann Dalrymple, Mark Douglas Malone
  • Patent number: 9969288
    Abstract: A power control system, a power control method, a power control device and a power control program supplies power to an electric device and charge an electric vehicle. A control device and method includes a receiver that receives charge information pertaining to the charging of the rechargeable battery prior to an arrival of the electric vehicle at a location where power is supplied to the electric vehicle, and a control determination unit that determines an operation start time of starting the operation of the electric device on the basis of the charge information received by the receiver. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium stores a control program that controls the charging of a rechargeable battery of an electric vehicle and controls operation of the electric device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihisa Ikeda, Yasuo Yoshimura, Satoshi Tsujimura, Naofumi Nakatani, Kazunori Kurimoto, Tetsuya Kouda
  • Patent number: 9969289
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring coordination/control of a multi-output integrated charger for electric automobiles, comprising a voltage/current demand collection module, an optimal-policy design module, and a policy execution module. The voltage/current demand collection module transmits demand information to the optimal-policy design module; the optimal-policy design module provides policy design results to the policy execution module; the policy execution module feeds back execution results to the optimal-policy design module; and, the optimal-policy design module feeds back the results to the voltage/current demand collection module. By means of real-time selection of an optimal power output policy, the present invention solves the safety, timeliness, and versatility issues concerning demand for power, voltage, and current during the charging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: SHANDONG LUNENG INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Shiyou Mu, Antai Zuo, Juntian He, Xiangjun Meng, Chongguang Fu, Mengchao Fu, Yong Yang, Song Chen, Zonghui Zhang
  • Patent number: 9969290
    Abstract: A charging system for an electric vehicle and an electric vehicle including the same are provided. The charging system includes: a power battery; a first charging interface and a second charging interface connected with an external power source respectively; a first charging control branch connected between the power battery and the first charging interface, and a second charging control branch connected between the power battery and the second charging interface; and a controller connected with the first charging interface and the second charging interface respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignees: SHENZHEN BYD AUTO R&D COMPANY LIMITED, BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Zheqing Tang, Zhiyong Du, Fu Tang
  • Patent number: 9969291
    Abstract: A switching board includes: a control circuit board that has, on a first surface thereof, a control circuit, a connection circuit, a first mounting window, and a second mounting window; a circuit structure including an input bus bar and an output bus bar are arranged on a second surface of the control circuit board; and a first and second semiconductor switching element. The first semiconductor switching element is arranged inside the first mounting window. The drain terminal, the source terminal, and the gate terminal of the first semiconductor switching element are connected respectively to the input bus bar, the connection circuit, and the control circuit. The second semiconductor switching element is arranged inside the second mounting window. The drain terminal, the source terminal, and the gate terminal of the second semiconductor switching element are connected respectively to the output bus bar, the connection circuit, and the control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Haraguchi, Manabu Hashikura, Hideo Morioka, Hideaki Tahara
  • Patent number: 9969292
    Abstract: An automotive battery system that includes a lead-acid battery electrically coupled to a first bus, in which the lead-acid battery supplies electrical power to a starter via the first bus to cold crank an internal combustion engine of a vehicle; a lithium-ion battery electrically coupled to a second bus, in which the lithium-ion battery captures and stores electrical energy generated by a regenerative braking system when the vehicle brakes and supplies electrical power to the second bus using the electrical energy captured from the regenerative braking system such that a first portion of the second electrical power is supplied to an electrical system; and a DC/DC converter electrically coupled between the first bus and the second bus, in which the DC/DC converter controls supply of a second portion of the second electrical power to charge the lead-acid battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Bryan L. Thieme, Daniel B. Le
  • Patent number: 9969293
    Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, conditioning a battery assembly of an electrified vehicle to a desired thermal level in a manner that extends useful life of the battery assembly, the conditioning step including heating or cooling the battery assembly with a thermal management system operable during both vehicle ON conditions and vehicle OFF conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mazen Hammoud, Thomas Scott Gee, Kevin Layden
  • Patent number: 9969294
    Abstract: A power supply control system includes a first controller that performs auxiliary-machine power reduction control for reducing electric power consumed by auxiliary machines, a second controller that performs high-voltage power generation control for making the generated voltage of the generator higher than the voltage set during the auxiliary-machine power reduction control, a frequency determining unit that determines whether the frequency of switching between the auxiliary-machine power reduction control and the high-voltage power generation control becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency, and a lower-limit voltage setting unit that sets a lower-limit voltage of the generator under the auxiliary-machine power reduction control to a higher value when the frequency of switching is equal to or higher than the predetermined frequency, than when the frequency of switching is lower than the predetermined frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Michihiro Miyashita
  • Patent number: 9969295
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery system, a battery pack, and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed herein. The rechargeable battery system and/or battery pack can be for an electric vehicle. The rechargeable battery system and/or battery pack can include a plurality of battery cells arranged into one or more rows, a busbar, and a housing. The housing can include a plurality of receptacles that can engage with the plurality of battery cells to secure a relative position of the plurality of battery cells with respect to each other. The housing can define a cooling duct in thermal connection with the plurality of receptacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: THUNDER POWER NEW ENERGY VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Francesco Mastrandrea
  • Patent number: 9969296
    Abstract: A battery module includes a cell assembly including a lamination of battery cells and expansible members interspersed within the battery cells, the battery cells and the expansible members being laminated in layers along a first direction. The battery module also includes a cell housing enclosing the cell assembly and forming an external appearance of the battery module. The cell housing includes first and second sides corresponding to first and second ends of the laminated layers of the cell assembly along the first direction. The cell housing is configured to fix the first and second ends of the cell assembly to inner surfaces of the first and second sides of the cell housing, respectively, by pressure generated by changes in a thickness of the battery cells and the expansible members along the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Inseok Kim, Hyunchang Kang
  • Patent number: 9969297
    Abstract: The performance of a fuel cell power plant that decays, in an electric vehicle which makes frequent starts, is recovered by partially shutting down the power plant. Recovery is enabled by a recovery enable flag upon conditions such as vehicle using low or no power, vehicle speed at or near zero, electric storage SOC above a threshold, and no recovery during the last half-hour (or other duration). The recovery restart resets a timer to ensure that recovery is not attempted too often. The power plant then remains in a recovery stand-by mode until a recovery restart flag is set to 1. The restart causes start-up of the fuel cell power plant, reaching an operational mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Sitaram Ramaswamy, Venkateshwarlu Yadha, Matthew P. Wilson
  • Patent number: 9969298
    Abstract: A low voltage battery charger is provided that includes a fuel cell stack that generates electrical energy by a reaction of hydrogen and oxygen and an air blower that supplies air to the fuel cell stack. A high voltage DC converter converts an output voltage generated at the fuel cell stack to a high voltage. A high voltage battery is charged with the output voltage converted by the high voltage DC converter. A low voltage DC converter converts the output voltage generated at the fuel cell stack to a low voltage and a low voltage battery is charged with the output voltage converted by the low voltage DC converter. A controller then variably adjusts a charge voltage of the low voltage battery based on an air amount supplied to the fuel cell stack through the air blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Boung Ho Min, Kyuil Lee, Sung Gone Yoon
  • Patent number: 9969299
    Abstract: A traffic system includes: a vehicle having a power-receiving section on an outer surface thereof; and a ground facility having a power-supply section for supplying the power-receiving section with power by coming in contact with the power-receiving section. The power-supply section has a spring for applying a biasing force to a power-supply shoe in the power-supply section toward the power-receiving section. The power-receiving section has a flat surface that extends along the outer surface of the vehicle, and tapered surfaces that are connected to the flat surface in the forward and backward moving directions of the vehicle and guide the power-supply shoe to the flat surface against the biasing force to bring the power-supply shoe into contact with the flat surface when the vehicle moves backward and forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kosaku Murase, Yukihide Yanobu, Hisashi Motoyama, Masato Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9969301
    Abstract: A rotational device (10) for a vehicle seat includes a base element (20) and a seat part support (30) which can be rotated about a rotational axis (S) with respect to the base element (20). The rotational device (10) can be moved from a base position into a rotated position by rotating the seat part support (30) with respect to the base element (20). A catch hook (37) is provided on the base element (20) and/or on the seat part support (30). The catch hook protrudes in the radial direction over the base element (20) and/or over the seat part support (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS COMPONENTS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Joerg Adam