Patents Issued in July 30, 2019
  • Patent number: 10363793
    Abstract: A novel housing for an electronic device is located in the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The housing is used to maintain the temperature of the electronic device within its operating temperature range. The housing includes air inlets and outlets through which the temperature-regulated air current from the air conditioning system of the vehicle passes. The temperature-regulated air currents from the air conditioning system that are used to maintain a comfortable temperature in the passenger compartment are also used to regulate the temperature of the electronic device. Thus, the housing allows the temperature of the electronic device to be regulated exclusively using the air current from the air conditioning system. The air duct from the air conditioning system can be connected directly to the housing or can end a distance from the housing so that the air current from the duct is directed to strike the outside of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Mekra Lang GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Werner Lang, Stefan Bauer, Simon Deffner, Sebastian Heger, Matthias Zink
  • Patent number: 10363794
    Abstract: An air-conditioning control method for calculating an optimum operation amount of an air-conditioning blower in an air-conditioning system of a vehicle includes: determining a heater heat quantity after an engine of the vehicle is started under a maximum heating condition of the air-conditioning system and the air-conditioning system is turned on according to current vehicle state information and air-conditioning information; determining a lost heat quantity discharged outside the vehicle during a current air-conditioning mode; determining an effective heating energy efficiency by calculating a difference between the heater heat quantity and the lost heat quantity; calculating the optimum operation amount of the air-conditioning blower where the effective heating energy is maximized; and controlling operation of the air-conditioning blower according to the determined optimum operation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Tae Woong Lim, Jae Hyun Park, Chun Kyu Kwon, Jung Ho Kwon
  • Patent number: 10363795
    Abstract: A chiller system includes an intercooler configured to cool compressed charge air received from a turbocharger or a supercharger, a low temperature cooling circuit fluidly coupled to the intercooler, the low temperature cooling circuit circulating a coolant to provide cooling to the intercooler and including a low temperature radiator configured to cool the coolant, a chiller-accumulator loop having a combined chiller-accumulator, a chiller bypass line bypassing the chiller-accumulator, and a charging valve configured to selectively provide coolant to at least one of the chiller-accumulator loop and the chiller bypass line, and an air conditioner circuit circulating a refrigerant and having a primary circuit and a bypass circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Eric M Lott, Alfred Piggott
  • Patent number: 10363796
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for control module activation of vehicles in a key-off state. An example system includes a vehicle at a location in a key-off state that includes a battery, a communication module, and an infotainment unit to activate and present media responsive to the communication module receiving an activation signal. The example system also includes a remote processor to determine a charge level of the battery, identify a parking duration for the location, and send the activation signal responsive to the charge level being less than a threshold associated with the parking duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nunzio DeCia, David A. Herman, Arun Dutta, Bill Dierker, Justin Cartwright
  • Patent number: 10363797
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle heater, comprising at least one pipe, which has a plurality of chambers, ceramic heating elements, which are arranged in the chambers, and contact plates, which rest against the heating elements in the chambers via a front side and face an upper side or underside of the chamber via a rear side, wherein at least two chambers of the pipe are separated by an intermediate wall, which runs from the upper side to the underside of these two chambers. The contact plates have a slit, in which the intermediate wall is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH
    Inventors: Victor Ritzhaupt, Alexander Dauth, Michael Luppold, Sisay Tadele, Jörg Baginski
  • Patent number: 10363798
    Abstract: An insert for a vehicle door that has one part that is separable from another part of the door. The insert may have a body having a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end and through the center of mass of the body, an opening at the first end, and an inner surface that defines a cavity extending from the opening toward the second end. The inner surface has a first portion and an opposing second portion wherein the distance from the first portion to the axis decreases from the first end toward the second end of the cavity along at least a portion of the cavity. The distance from the second portion to the axis increases from the first end toward the second end of the cavity along at least a portion of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Richard M Kleinhoffer
  • Patent number: 10363799
    Abstract: A coach door of a vehicle is provided. The door includes a hinge assembly that has a first hinge hinged to a vehicle body and a second hinge hinged to the first hinge and engaged with a rear end of a rear door. An opening start device rotates the rear end of the rear door to the outside of the vehicle at an early stage of opening of the rear door and a closing end device rotates the rear end of the rear door to the inside of the vehicle at a last stage of closing of the rear door. A guide unit is configured to guide a front end of the rear door to move the front end of the rear door in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle at the initial stage of opening of the rear door and the last stage of closing of the rear door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Dong-Hee Ma
  • Patent number: 10363800
    Abstract: A tarpaulin system for an open cargo hold. The tarpaulin system includes a tarpaulin, a plurality of bows, a plurality of connectors, a cable, and a tail end system. The plurality of connectors connects the plurality of bows to the cable while the tarpaulin is draped atop the plurality of bows. The tarpaulin bracket system allows for quick, and easy, replacement, or fixing, of the plurality of connectors or damaged bows allowing for much easier and efficient replacement while traveling in harsh environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Precision Tarp Inc.
    Inventor: Sor Philavong
  • Patent number: 10363801
    Abstract: A tonneau cover access panel assembly connectable to a tonneau cover assembly that eliminates the need for side rails to both locate and tension the top cover. The tension works to seal out environmental elements and holds the tonneau cover and locating bows of the tonneau cover in place. The tonneau cover access panel holds the rear of the tonneau in the closed tension state keeping the tonneau secured and tight until the cover is opened by an operator. The tonneau cover access panel assembly is movable between a closed position and a fully open position, and, is movable between at least a first open position and the closed position for more limiting access to the cargo bed of the vehicle when desired. The tonneau cover access panel assembly also reduces weight and complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Bestop, Inc.
    Inventors: Tavis Lutzka, Stephen J. Lewis, David A. Smith
  • Patent number: 10363802
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a body, a roof which is adjustable between a closed position and an opened position and has at least one front roof part and a rear roof part, two opposite side pillars, and two opposite rear pillars. The front roof part is connected rotatably to the two side pillars and the rear roof part is connected rotatably to the two rear pillars. The two side pillars and the two rear pillars are movably connected to the body. In the opened position of the roof, the rear roof part forms a folding top compartment lid, below which the front roof part, the two side pillars, and the two rear pillars are stowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Mario Rossetti
  • Patent number: 10363803
    Abstract: An encapsulation assembly and a forming method thereof, and a vehicle window are provided. The method includes: forming a trim which includes a decoration section and a connection section with a penetration structure formed therein; and forming a gasket which includes a fixing section covering the connection section of the trim, wherein a part of the fixing section is filled into the penetration structure of the connection section. The encapsulation assembly includes: a trim which includes a decoration section and a connection section with a penetration structure formed therein; and a gasket which includes a fixing section covering the connection section of the trim, wherein a part of the fixing section is filled into the penetration structure of the connection section. The vehicle window includes a piece of glass and the above encapsulation assembly. A part of the fixing section of the gasket can be filled into the penetration structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Jun Zhou, Ran Weng
  • Patent number: 10363804
    Abstract: A vehicle electrically driving assembly, connected to the rear or front axle half shaft of the vehicle, that includes: an electric motor, a speed reducer, an electromagnetic tooth-mounted clutch and a differential. The speed reducer has multiple stages of gears, an input shaft and an intermediate shaft; the differential is connected between the axle half shafts; the electromagnetic tooth-mounted clutch is installed on the input shaft or the intermediate shaft of the speed reducer or on the axle half shafts. When the electromagnetic tooth-mounted clutch is in engagement, driving force of the electric motor is transmitted to the vehicle axle via the speed reducer and the electromagnetic jaw clutch, to provide an auxiliary driving force to the vehicle. When the power of the entire vehicle is insufficient at the acceleration phase, the electrically driving assembly, by using the electromagnetic jaw clutch, provides an auxiliary driving force to the entire vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Jing-Jin Electric Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ping Yu, Changqi Yang, Ting Wang, Jianwen Li, Xixian Yang
  • Patent number: 10363805
    Abstract: A handling strut connects the powertrain of an automobile to a structural member, such as a panel in the engine bay. The handling strut is comprised of two strut members, one connected to the powertrain, the other connected to the structural member. A shaft attached to one strut member, extends through a bushing provided in the other strut member and an air gap is provided between the bushing and the shaft, such that when the engine is idle, or not accelerating, and in the absence of hard cornering, the strut members are decoupled. The isolation of the strut members when not required to control engine roll, reduces/avoids transmission of noise, vibration and/or harshness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: BENTLEY MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Thomas Gallagher, Jonathan Layfield, Paul Kennings, Paul Furnival, Martin Robert Peel
  • Patent number: 10363806
    Abstract: A power transmission system for a vehicle and a vehicle including the same are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Dongsheng Yang, Yubo Lian, Jintao Zhang, Hongbin Luo
  • Patent number: 10363807
    Abstract: A control device for performing start assist control for an internal combustion engine includes: a first start assist processing unit that executes a first start assist process that brings a first engagement device into slip engagement at a first engagement pressure while increasing a torque generated by a rotating electrical machine; and a second start assist processing unit that increases, when the first start assist process fails to start the internal combustion engine, an engagement pressure of the first engagement device to a second engagement pressure higher than the first engagement pressure while increasing the torque generated by the rotating electrical machine. The second start assist processing unit determines the second engagement pressure on the basis of a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine in the first start assist process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kobayashi, Takashi Yoshida, Kohei Tsuda
  • Patent number: 10363808
    Abstract: The wheel drive motor according to the invention includes a motor shaft (35) having a large diameter portion (35d) located at a central part in the axial direction and a small diameter portion (35b) located on a first side in the axial direction, a bearing (36b) rotatably supporting the small diameter portion (35b), and a rotor (24) secured to an outer circumferential surface (35j) of the large diameter portion (35d). An end part (24p) of the rotor (24) located on the first side in the axial direction projects over an end face (35e) of the large diameter portion (35d) located on the first side in the axial direction toward the side on which the small diameter portion (35b) is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohisa Uozumi, Masaru Kuroda, Kenichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10363809
    Abstract: A radiator screen device for a construction machine, an agricultural machine, or an industrial vehicle, each having a vehicle body and a radiator, includes a screen to filter dust contained in cooling air flowing toward the radiator, and a dust removing member disposed upstream of the radiator with respect to a flowing direction of cooling air and movable relative to the screen in contact with a surface of the screen to remove dust attached to the screen. The dust removing member and the screen are supported by the vehicle body. One of the dust removing member and the screen is vibrated relative to the other of the dust removing member and the screen by vibration of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventor: Manabu Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 10363810
    Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to an air intake grille assembly of a vehicle operable in forward and backward directions of travel across a surface. The air intake grille assembly can include a frame defining an opening. The air intake assembly can also include a plurality of louvers extending laterally across the opening, at least one of the plurality of louvers having a double curve shape defining first and second curve portions, wherein the first and second curve portions each have a different radius of curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zachary Roger Blackford, Pradyumna Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 10363811
    Abstract: An active grille shutter system for use in a moving vehicle is provided herein and includes at least one vane angularly displaceable between an open position and a closed position, a motor having a hold current applied thereto for maintaining the at least one vane in a vane position, and a controller for adjusting the amount of hold current being applied to the motor based on vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Peter Klop, Steven James Parks, Joseph James Gallo
  • Patent number: 10363812
    Abstract: A vapour recovery system recovers vapour coming from a vehicle tank. The system includes a valve that is positionable in a closed position, an open position creating a passageway with a first size, and one or more intermediate positions each creating a passageway with a size smaller than the first size. The system also includes an electronic controller to control an actuator to position the valve in a sequence of positions over time. The sequence includes at least one of the intermediate positions during a time period larger than 1 second. The valve is arranged in a line of the vapour recovery system between a vapour outlet of the vehicle tank and the atmosphere. The actuator is a stepper-motor based linear actuator. The controlling includes selecting at least one intermediate position, and the selection includes selecting a number of steps to be set from a predetermined reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Plastic Omnium Advanced Innovation and Research
    Inventor: David Hill
  • Patent number: 10363813
    Abstract: An apparatus (e.g., for a vehicle) includes a housing, an oscillation bearing, and a hollow rotor shaft. The housing has a first end and a second end, and includes a first end cap at the first end thereof and a second end cap at the second end thereof. The oscillation bearing is housed within the second end cap. The hollow rotor shaft extends through the housing from the first end to the second end, and has a first shaft end having an interior spline surface, and a second shaft end. The interior spline surface of the hollow rotor shaft is configured to receive a splined end of an internal rear drive shaft and a splined end of a front drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Richter, Patrick Jansen
  • Patent number: 10363814
    Abstract: A transfer case includes a primary output shaft, a secondary output shaft, a clutch, and a hub. The clutch includes a plurality of interleaved plates for selectively rotationally coupling the primary output shaft to the secondary output shaft. The hub rotationally couples the primary output shaft and the clutch. The hub includes an outer annular member and an inner annular member. The inner annular member is rotatable within the outer annular member for the hub to selectively release oil into the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10363815
    Abstract: A device and a method for operating a multi-axle drive device. The multi-axle drive device has a synchronizing clutch present in an operative connection between a first output shaft and a connecting shaft and at least one separating clutch present in an operative connection between the connecting shaft and a second output shaft. The synchronizing clutch and the separating clutch are disengaged in a first operating state and are engaged in a second operating state. When a shifting variable exceeds a first shifting threshold during the first operating state, the synchronizing clutch is at least partially engaged and the separating clutch is engaged only when a second shifting threshold is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dieter Weidemann, Heiko Hanickel, Florian Kolb, Hans Jörg Brühl
  • Patent number: 10363816
    Abstract: A pedal unit includes an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, a first bracket, a second bracket, and a connector. The first bracket includes a first plate including a first surface and a second surface that rotatably supports the accelerator pedal disposed adjacent to the first surface and the brake pedal disposed adjacent to the second surface. The second bracket includes a second plate including a third surface that rotatably supports the brake pedal disposed adjacent to the third surface of the second plate. The connector connects the first bracket, the brake pedal, and the second bracket in a state in which the brake pedal is disposed between the second surface and the third surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazunari Takata
  • Patent number: 10363817
    Abstract: A vehicle computer includes a memory a processor programmed to execute instructions stored in the memory. The instructions include commanding a lighting system controller to flash tail lamps of a host vehicle toward a follow vehicle immediately behind the host vehicle, receiving a response from the follow vehicle, and commanding the host vehicle to autonomously proceed to a loading area upon receipt of the response from the follow vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Pietro Buttolo, Stuart C. Salter, Annette Lynn Huebner, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Patent number: 10363818
    Abstract: A display unit for a vehicle includes an electronic display and a light guide coupled to a portion of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Nathaniel Coser, Erik Glaser, William Brian Lathrop, Maria Mejia
  • Patent number: 10363819
    Abstract: A meter cluster assembly including a bezel and a meter cluster body for an instrument panel. The bezel includes a finished surface on an aspect, with at least one tab and a plurality of interspaced fins on an opposite aspect. The fins are of sufficient dimensions to, in part, provide the structural integrity necessary to reduce the profile of the finished surface. The fins and tabs allow for seating of the bezel within a trench of the meter cluster body, thus framing the instrument panel. The meter cluster body is generally a wall bounding a space configured to accommodate meters. The meter cluster body includes a lip at the front edge of the wall. The lip may provide a tactile feature and may provide indicia on a visible surface, aiding installation of a clip disposed on a hidden surface of the meter cluster body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Samuel L. Sowles, James R. Sand
  • Patent number: 10363820
    Abstract: Systems to wirelessly power transfer to a tailgate are disclosed. An example disclosed vehicle includes a transmitting circuit in a body of the vehicle configured to transmit power via wireless capacitive transfer. The example vehicle also includes a receiving circuit in a tailgate of the vehicle configured to receive power via wireless capacitive transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hadi Malek, Jacob Mathews, Sara Dadras
  • Patent number: 10363821
    Abstract: A method for controlling regenerative braking of a vehicle is provided, in which a driving area of a motor is decided when shifting gears during regenerative braking, and an amount of regenerative braking is determined based on the decided result. The method includes a first process of deciding whether motor torque is in a constant power mode, a second process of deciding whether the motor torque is in a constant torque mode, and a third process of deciding whether the mode of the motor torque is converted into the constant torque mode from the constant power mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyoung Cheol Oh, Deok Keun Shin, Jee Wook Huh
  • Patent number: 10363822
    Abstract: A braking control method for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle distributes and transmits a driving force of a vehicle driving source to front and rear wheels based on a power distribution rate. The method includes determining a total braking force based on a brake signal corresponding to brake pedal manipulation, calculating a front and rear wheel braking force satisfying the total braking force, and calculating a regenerative and frictional braking force satisfying the total braking force. The method further includes determining a power distribution rate range to the front and rear wheels during braking using the calculated front and rear wheel braking force and regenerative braking force, determining a power distribution rate to the front and rear wheels based on a vehicle driving condition, within the determined power distribution rate range; and adjusting distribution of the power to the front and rear wheels at the power distribution rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Joon Young Park
  • Patent number: 10363823
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising an onboard energy storage device, an onboard power conversion device configured to be electrically coupled to an external power source for receiving electrical power therefrom, and at least one drive system electrically coupled to the onboard energy storage device and the onboard power conversion device, wherein the onboard energy storage device and the onboard power conversion device cooperatively provide electrical power for the at least one drive system. A vehicle and a method for managing power supply are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Fei Li, Xi Lu, Jian Zhou, Pengju Kang, Ronghui Zhou, Xiangming Shen, Fengcheng Sun, Hai Qiu
  • Patent number: 10363824
    Abstract: The vehicle jumpstarting system is a safe and convenient alternative to the use of traditional jumper cables. The system provides a multiplicity of battery ports providing electrical access to the vehicle battery at the front, rear, and both sides of a vehicle, a cabling harness tying the ports to each other and to the vehicle battery, fuse protection from high currents, and a detachable cable that connects between a battery port on a first vehicle and a battery port on a second vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Inventor: Kourtney Lumpkin
  • Patent number: 10363825
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, a battery management system and a vehicle for charging awakening. The battery management system includes a wake-up module, used for generating a wake-up signal when the battery management system is in a dormant or power-off state and an external charging plug is connected with a charging interface; and a power management module, used for conducting a power supply circuit between a battery module and a preset function module in the battery management system when receiving the wake-up signal. According to the system for charging wake-up provided by the present invention, the battery management system is automatically woken up when the external charging plug is accessed to charge the vehicle, so the battery management system automatically enters a normal working state from the power-off state or the dormant state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: BORGWARD TRADEMARK HOLDINGS GMBH
    Inventors: Hang Rao, Zhongmin Wang
  • Patent number: 10363826
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for swapping the battery on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The UAV may be able to identify and land on an energy provision station autonomously. The UAV may take off and/or land on the energy provision station. The UAV may communicate with the energy provision station. The energy provision station may store and charge batteries for use on a UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mingxi Wang
  • Patent number: 10363827
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electrical storage device, a notifier, a communication device, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit predicts the amount of charging power of the electrical storage device and the use time in a case where external charging is performed, in accordance with the state of the electrical storage device. The electronic control unit predicts cost performance of the external charging in accordance with the amount of charging power and the use time that are predicted, and information relating to a fee-charging system. The electronic control unit controls the notifier so as to execute the notification of the cost performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeki Kinomura
  • Patent number: 10363828
    Abstract: A converter includes a plurality of switching elements, at least one capacitance, and a resonant circuit. The plurality of switching elements include a first switching element coupled to a first control signal line that controls switching of the first switching element, a second switching element coupled to a second control signal line that controls switching of the second switching element, a third switching element coupled to a third control signal line that controls switching of the third switching element, and a fourth switching element coupled to a fourth control signal line that controls switching of the fourth switching element. The plurality of switching elements, the resonant circuit, and the at least one capacitance operate to convert a first voltage into a second voltage that charges a first battery and a second battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Miaosen Shen, Feng Guo
  • Patent number: 10363829
    Abstract: Portable convertible rechargeable battery power supplies are described. The battery power supplies generally comprise a casing enclosing one or more battery power cells and associated electronics and electrical interconnections. The power cells are interconnected with a plurality of external ports allowing for at least one recharge input and at least two outputs: one configured for use with an electronic apparatus, such as a vehicle, and at least one configured for use with one or more personal electronic devices. The apparatus may be an electric vehicle, and the battery power supply may be configured to be secured within the electric vehicle. The outputs for the personal electronic devices may include any suitable port, such as, for example, USB, mini-USB, USB-c, lightning, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: URBAN626, LLC
    Inventors: Sven Etzelsberger, Grant Delgatty, Peter Lee
  • Patent number: 10363830
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle includes a fuel cell stack, a fuel tank, a body-side mounting portion, a main fuel pipe, a securing mechanism, and an elastic pipe. The fuel cell stack is disposed in a front section of the fuel cell vehicle. The fuel tank is disposed in a rear section of the fuel cell vehicle. The main fuel pipe connects the fuel tank and the body-side mounting portion. The elastic pipe is connected to the fuel cell stack at a first end of the elastic pipe and connected, via the securing mechanism, to the body-side mounting portion at a second end of the elastic pipe opposite to the first end such that the second end of the elastic pipe is disengaged from the body-side mounting portion when a load larger than a predetermined threshold load is applied to the securing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Fukuda, Takashi Kuwayama
  • Patent number: 10363831
    Abstract: A power system has a first converter; a second converter; a first controller for generating a first command and a second command, controlling the first converter on the basis of the first command, and transmitting the second command to a second controller; and the second controller for controlling the second converter on the basis of the second command. The first controller adjusts the first command to cancel at least one of shortage and excess of second current by first current. The second controller controls the second converter on the basis of the second command when the first command is smaller than first upper limit. The second controller controls the second converter on the basis of second upper limit when the first command reaches the first upper limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshifumi Yamakawa, Masaki Okamura
  • Patent number: 10363832
    Abstract: At a time that a parking operation is performed, a vehicle parking control device detects that a power receiving pad of an electric vehicle lies within a characteristics modifying range. Furthermore, the vehicle parking control device detects that other predetermined conditions are satisfied. In the case that the power receiving pad is positioned inside of the characteristics modifying range, and if all of the predetermined conditions have been satisfied, an acceleration-OFF-state movement characteristic of the vehicle, for example, a creep torque characteristic or a brake hydraulic pressure characteristic, is switched to an appropriate characteristic from a characteristic thereof at normal times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10363833
    Abstract: A vehicle computer includes a processor and a memory storing processor-executable instructions. The processor is programmed to determine a target charging height based on charging information received from a remote server and adjust a height of an inductive pick-up in a host vehicle in accordance with the target charging height prior to an inductive charging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 10363834
    Abstract: In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle has an electric traction motor and a high voltage module having a low voltage section and a high voltage section. The low voltage section includes a power over fiber receive module and a first optical data module. A low voltage supply is electrically connected to a power over fiber transmit module. The power over fiber transmit module is optically coupled by a power over fiber cable to the power over fiber receive module of the low voltage section of the high voltage module. An electronic motor control unit includes a second optical data module that is optically coupled by an optical fiber data bus cable to the first optical data module of the low voltage section of the high voltage module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Qian Turner, Yuriy Taborisskiy
  • Patent number: 10363835
    Abstract: A railroad system includes a first vehicle and a second vehicle. The first vehicle includes a drive-part, an inverter, an electric storage device, and a control part. The control part controls feasibility of charge or discharge of the electric storage device based on a detection value of any of a charge accumulation amount of the electric storage device, a distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle, or a voltage value of a power line. When it is assumed that the detection value when charge or discharge of the electric storage device is switched from an allowable state to a prohibited state is a first set value, and the detection value when charge or discharge of the electric storage device is switched from a prohibited state to an allowable state is a second set value, the first set value and the second set value are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Takafumi Domoto
  • Patent number: 10363836
    Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure provides a seatback fastening structure for fastening a seatback to a body of a vehicle. A body bracket includes a main body portion covered by a seat bracket. The main body portion includes a receiving surface, an upper surface extending from a vertical upper end of the receiving surface, and a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface extending from both ends of the receiving surface in a width direction. The seat bracket includes a base portion covering the receiving surface, a retaining portion retaining the upper surface from vertically above, a first side wall and a second side wall respectively abutting on the first lateral surface and the second lateral surface. The main body portion and the base portion are fastened with a bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuji Goto
  • Patent number: 10363837
    Abstract: Provided a method for controlling the driving of an electric seat, the method including a step of detecting a motor driving signal of an electric seat; a stop determination step of determining whether the motor is forcibly terminated or normally terminated during the previous driving; and a driving step of driving the motor with a preset driving output value when previous driving of the motor is forcibly terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI DYMOS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ho Cheoul Lee, Seung Kyu Lee, Chang Won Lee, Dong Gi Kim
  • Patent number: 10363838
    Abstract: A power adjuster (30) for adjusting the position of an upper track (16) relative to a lower track (18) of a seat track assembly (10). The power adjuster includes a lead screw (22) fixedly secured to the upper track, a drive assembly (32) operatively coupled to the upper track and selectively coupled to the lead screw, a driven assembly (34) operatively coupled to the lead screw and selectively coupled to the drive assembly, and a release mechanism (36) coupled to the upper track. The release mechanism is operable between a locked condition coupling the driven assembly to the drive assembly and the upper track wherein the driven assembly and the drive assembly move longitudinally along the lead screw with the upper track relative to the lower track and an unlocked condition wherein the driven assembly is decoupled from the upper track and retained along the lead screw during movement of the upper track relative to the lower track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Runde, Jason R Davis
  • Patent number: 10363839
    Abstract: A seat slide adjuster suited to weight-saving has a structure in which two rows of engaged portions are provided at a predetermined interval in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of a locking plate that constitutes a locking mechanism, and the engaged portions engage with locking tooth parts on both sides of a lower rail during locking. Force that works between the locking plate and the lower rail acts on the locking tooth parts on both sides in a well-balanced manner and is not biased to either side. As a result, the durability of the components thereof can be improved. In addition, because two rows of hole portions in the locking plate engage, rattling of the locking plate is not likely to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: DELTA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Fukuda, Katsuhiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 10363840
    Abstract: An assembly includes a first vehicle seat component, a second vehicle seat component that can pivot relative to the first vehicle seat component, a fastener to secure the first vehicle seat component and second first vehicle seat component together, and a spacer to absorb radial vibrations. The spacer includes a body and at least one flexible leaflet located between the body and the fastener to absorb axial vibrations. The body and the at least one leaflet are integral and monolithic to define a single component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku America, Inc.
    Inventors: Chandra Jinka, Yeshwanth Naveen
  • Patent number: 10363841
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided herein. The vehicle seat includes a seatback pivotally coupled to a seat bottom. An adjustment assembly is operably coupled with the seat and includes a linear actuator. The linear actuator is configured to release a recliner mechanism when moved in a first direction and is configured to release a track assembly when moved in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Diego Santillan Gutierrez, Alejandro Rosas Vazquez, Fernando Paisano Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 10363842
    Abstract: A child restraint includes a seat-support frame adapted to set on a passenger seat and retained on the passenger seat using an anchor belt. A juvenile seat included in the child restraint is configured to be mounted in a stationary position on the seat-support frame. The anchor belt can be a lap belt associated with the passenger seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Anderson, David A. Lehman, Mei-Hui Lin