Patents Issued in February 6, 2020
  • Publication number: 20200039338
    Abstract: A vehicle control system comprises: a roof opening-closing button (12) provided inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle and configured to accept opening and closing manipulations for a roof unit (4); and a control unit (25) configured to control an engine (2) and a roof actuator (10) of the roof unit, wherein the control unit is operable, when the roof opening-closing button accepts the opening manipulation for shifting the roof unit from a closed state to an opened state, in a situation where the roof unit is in the closed state, and the engine is in an idle-stop state, to control the engine such that the engine being in an idle-stop state is restarted, and control the roof actuator such that the roof unit being in the closed state is shifted to the opened state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryohei YASUTOMI, Shohei KIYAMA, Jun NAITO, Hidemasa TOMIYORI, Miwa SHINOHARA, Yuta TSUDA, Hisanobu OKADA
  • Publication number: 20200039339
    Abstract: A relay (25) connects and disconnects an electrical circuit to which an inverter (16) and an electricity storage device (19) are connected. A BCU (22) controls the electricity storage device (19). An HC (27) controls an electric motor (15), the inverter (16) and the BCU (22). The HC (27) and the BCU (22) respectively have FET switches (30, 31) for controlling supply and stop of the excitation current in the relay (25). When the electricity storage device (19) is determined to be in an abnormal state, the BCU (22) transmits an abnormal signal to the HC (27), and when a predetermined time has elapsed, turns off (opens) the first FET switch (30) of the BCU (22). The HC (27) executes stop processing based upon the abnormal signal received from the BCU (22) and then turns off (opens) the second FET switch (31) of the HC (27).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Itaru NAYA, Seiji ISHIDA, Ken TAKEUCHI, Mutsumi KIKUCHI
  • Publication number: 20200039340
    Abstract: A hybrid module for a motor vehicle drive train includes an electric machine, a rotor bearing carrier, a first bearing, a second bearing, and an intermediate shaft. The electric machine has a rotor unit with a rotor. The roller bearing carrier is for rotatably supporting the rotor unit. The intermediate shaft is for transmitting a torque between an internal combustion engine and a transmission or an output. The internal combustion engine and, the transmission or the output, can be connected to the hybrid module. The intermediate shaft is rotatably supported by the first bearing and the second bearing. The first bearing or the second bearing is supported on the rotor bearing carrier, supported or on the rotor unit, or is arranged to be supported on an output shaft of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Aurelie Keller, Dirk Reimnitz, Michael Baumann
  • Publication number: 20200039341
    Abstract: A drive train includes a first gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, a second gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, a first motor/generator coupled to the first gear set, a second motor/generator coupled to the second gear set, a first clutch that selectively engages the second motor/generator with the first gear set, and a second clutch that selectively engages the ring gear of the second gear set with the planetary gear carrier of at least one of the first gear set and the second gear set. The planetary gears of both sets are rotatably supported by respective planetary gear carriers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Jon Morrow, Dave Steinberger, Eric Braun, Andrew Kotloski, Nader Nasr
  • Publication number: 20200039342
    Abstract: A dual clutch transmission which can reduce the overall length of a transmission and improve mountability in the vehicle by simplifying the constituent elements of the transmission, is configured by reducing the number of synchronizers and external gears and shafts, and a drive motor is not disposed on the same axle as other constituent elements to reduce the overall length of the transmission, reducing cost and weight of the transmission to improve mountability of the transmission in the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ju Hyeon PARK, Seong Wook JI, Ki Tae KIM, Dong Woo KIM, Hyun Sik KWON, II Han YOO, Seong Wook HWANG, Won Min CHO
  • Publication number: 20200039343
    Abstract: Provided is an in-wheel motor drive device (21) including: a motor (28); a wheel bearing (53); and a speed reducer (38). The speed reducer (38) includes: a speed reducer input shaft (Sin) having an input gear (34); a speed reducer output shaft (Sout) having an output gear (37); and an intermediate shaft (Sm) including: a first intermediate gear (35) and a second intermediate gear (36). The speed reducer input shaft (Sin) and the speed reducer output shaft (Sout) are arranged with offset in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction so that the input gear (34) and the output gear (37) are prevented from being superimposed with each other as viewed in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Shinya TAIKOU, Shiro TAMURA, Tomohisa UOZUMI
  • Publication number: 20200039344
    Abstract: Provided is an in-wheel motor drive device (21) including: a motor (28); a wheel bearing (53); and a speed reducer (38). The speed reducer (38) comprises: a speed reducer input shaft (Sin) including an input gear (34); a speed reducer output shaft (Sout) including an output gear (37); and an intermediate shaft (Sm) including a small-diameter intermediate gear (36) and a large-diameter intermediate gear (35). The large-diameter intermediate gear (35) has a circumscribed circle which is superimposed with a pitch circle of a plurality of rolling elements (42) of the wheel bearing (53) when viewed from an axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Shinya TAIKOU, Shiro TAMURA, Tomohisa UOZUMI
  • Publication number: 20200039345
    Abstract: An active grille system for a vehicle includes a plurality of active shutter vanes each respectively rotatably coupled to a frame portion. Each vane includes a hollow body portion having an inner and outer wall portion extending between a first and second end. The vane also includes a first solid end cap secured to the first end and a second solid end cap secured to the second end of the hollow body portion. The active shutter vane has decreased weight, increased torsional strength and increased bending rigidity as compared with active shutter vanes of the same shape and size and having a one-piece solid construction formed by injection molding process. Moreover, the use of extrusion or pultrusion to form the hollow body portion reduces warpage associated with one-piece solid construction active shutter vanes formed by injection molding process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Thomas KORSON, Tushar PATEL
  • Publication number: 20200039346
    Abstract: A grille shutter control device is employed for a grille shutter that includes a frame, which is provided in a front grille of a vehicle and has an outside air inlet, and an opening-closing unit for opening and closing the outside air inlet. The grille shutter control device controls an opening-closing operation of the opening-closing unit such that the outside air inlet is opened or closed in accordance with a condition of the vehicle. The grille shutter controller includes an actuator and a controlling section. The actuator performs an anti-sticking operation for preventing the opening-closing unit from being stuck. The controlling section controls the actuator such that the anti-sticking operation is periodically performed by the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventor: Bunpei MORITA
  • Publication number: 20200039347
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel fill opening structure which includes: a holder which forms a fuel supply passage; a main on-off valve which is arranged in the holder, and opens or closes the fuel supply passage; a drain opening which is drilled on an upstream side from the main on-off valve of the holder; a drain flap which is pivotably arranged at a position to come in contact with a fuel gun inserted into the holder; and a drain on-off valve which pivots along with pivot of the drain flap to open or close the drain opening. A first pivot amount of the drain flap, which is pivoted by being brought in contact with the fuel gun, is set to be larger than a second pivot amount of the drain on-off valve required to close the drain opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventor: Daesung KIM
  • Publication number: 20200039348
    Abstract: A wheel hub for tandem axles including a housing, a reduction system, sun gears, planetary gears and a connection sleeve. The housing contains the reduction system, which is formed by the conical sun gears and the conical planetary gears that are accommodated in a supporting structure. The sun gears are mounted in a yoke that is attached to the supporting structure. The conical planetary gears are attached, respectively, to a differential housing in a fixed way and to an end of a semi-draft having free rotation. The connection sleeve is mounted in the end of the semi-draft having concentric mobility in relation to the conical planetary gear through an actuator system placed in an end of the supporting structure. The connection sleeve is formed by a body having a surface with double connection toothing disclosing a toothing of the yoke, and the toothing of the conical planetary gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: José Francivaldo Peira De Lemos, Fabio Nicora
  • Publication number: 20200039349
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit system for mobile service vehicles is provided that can provide DC power to DC-powered equipment. The system attaches to the power take-off port of the transmission and can provide power to the DC-powered equipment without idling the engine of the mobile service vehicle, thereby reducing fossil fuel consumption and engine exhaust emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventor: Darryl Weflen
  • Publication number: 20200039350
    Abstract: The accelerator pedal device includes a first reaction force applying unit that applies a normal reaction force to the accelerator pedal in a direction opposite to the step-on direction during manual driving, and a second reaction force applying unit that applies an additional reaction force to the accelerator pedal in the direction opposite to the step-on direction during automatic driving. Upon starting of automatic driving, the accelerator pedal is swung and moved by the additional reaction force of the second reaction force applying unit in the direction opposite to the step-on direction beyond a reference position (P0), at which the accelerator pedal is not being stepped on, so as to reach a first or second swing position and kept at the position to serve as a footrest which cannot be further pressed downward unless a tread force equal to or greater than the additional reaction force is applied thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventor: Shuichi TAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20200039351
    Abstract: A safety system for an automobile includes a safety device with containing areas in which two premixed liquids are stored during an initial state and which are in fluid communication with a fuel tank. Two valves are mounted internally in the safety device and are closed in the initial state to separate the premixed liquids. The valves are spaced apart at an initial distance, in the initial state, that is greater than a triggered distance, in a triggered state. A cylindrical ring is mounted in the safety device near the valves and has evacuation holes around its periphery that are adjacent to a respective pair of flow-mix channels. The flow-mix channels form a flow-path between the containing areas and a respective evacuation hole via which, in the triggered state, the premixed liquids are combined into a mixed liquid that is subsequently expelled for neutralizing fuel flammability in the fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventor: Alexandru Balan
  • Publication number: 20200039352
    Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle, may include a first planetary gear set having three rotation elements, with an input shaft connected to a first rotation element of the three rotation elements; an output shaft connected to a second rotation element of the first planetary gear set; a differential connected to the output shaft; a brake configured to lock or release a third rotation element of the first planetary gear set; a hub connected to the second rotation element through a clutch; and a sleeve unit restricted in rotation with respect to the hub and configured to be linearly slidable along an axial direction of the first planetary gear set to change a restriction state of relative rotation between a selected driveshaft of two driveshafts receiving power from the differential, the second rotation element, the third rotation element, and the hub by linear sliding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Min Ho CHAE, Yong Uk SHIN, Soon Ki EO, Sun Sung KWON, Chon Ok KIM
  • Publication number: 20200039353
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a materials handling vehicle configured to navigate along a warehouse environment inventory transit surface, the vehicle including control architecture in communication with a drive mechanism, a materials handling mechanism, a speed zone sensing subsystem configured to provide an indication of whether the vehicle is in a speed zone, and a speed control processor configured to prompt the operator to reduce a vehicle speed of the vehicle to under a speed zone limit when the vehicle speed is approaching or in the speed zone, determine whether the vehicle speed is under the speed zone limit in the speed zone, and apply a speed cap to limit a maximum vehicle speed of the vehicle to a magnitude that is at or below the speed zone limit when the speed control processor has determined that the vehicle speed is under the speed zone limit in the speed zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventor: Kashyap Chandrasekar
  • Publication number: 20200039354
    Abstract: A brake control system includes a display, a processor, and a light sensor. The processor controls brakes of a towed vehicle. The processor also controls a brightness of the display based on information received from the light sensor. The light sensor may include a light dependent resistor or a photoresistor. The processor selectively sets or adjusts the brightness of the display based on sensed ambient light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Chandrakumar D. Kulkarni, Joseph Bradford Wells
  • Publication number: 20200039355
    Abstract: A switching control device includes a controller, a prediction unit, and a calculator. The calculator calculates, based on a schedule, a first electricity storage amount of a first electricity storage functional unit required for driving a motor to a second position excepting a charging amount charged to the first electricity storage functional unit at a first position corresponding to a charging time based on the schedule. When an electricity storage amount of the first electricity storage functional unit is equal to or smaller than the first electricity storage amount, the controller controls a switching unit to switch a power source of an air conditioning appliance to a predetermined power source from the first electricity storage functional unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, TOSHIBA INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiko KOYAMA, Tatsuro ABE
  • Publication number: 20200039356
    Abstract: A locomotive propulsion system onboard a locomotive platform includes a traction motor, a propulsion electrical storage device, an ancillary electrical storage device, and a controller. The propulsion electrical storage device is electrically connected to the traction motor via a propulsion circuit, and the ancillary electrical storage device is electrically connected to the traction motor via an ancillary circuit. The controller is configured to direct the ancillary electrical storage device to supply electric current to the traction motor via the ancillary circuit to power the traction motor during an elevated demand period. At an end of the elevated demand period, the controller is configured to control the ancillary circuit to stop conducting electric current from the ancillary electrical storage device and to direct the propulsion electrical storage device to supply electric current to the traction motor via the propulsion circuit to power the traction motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventor: Joel Terence Montione
  • Publication number: 20200039357
    Abstract: This disclosure describes vehicle systems and methods for controlling charging of an auxiliary (i.e., low voltage) battery of an electrified vehicle. Exemplary charging methods may dynamically adjust a low voltage setpoint of a power converter during the low voltage support. The proposed systems and methods therefore achieve constrained low voltage support by controlling the power drawn by the power converter at an appropriate level during the low voltage support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Changjian HU, Josephine S. LEE, James Brian KEYSE
  • Publication number: 20200039358
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery comprising a plurality of cells. The vehicle also includes a plurality of power converters each electrically coupled between a corresponding group of cells and an electrical bus. A controller is programmed to satisfy a current demand of the electrical bus by operating a subset of the power converters to each draw a current that exceeds a threshold corresponding to a power converter efficiency exceeding a predetermined efficiency. Power converters not assigned to the subset are operated at zero current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventor: Xiaohong Nina DUAN
  • Publication number: 20200039359
    Abstract: A storage and charging system for a motor vehicle includes a drawer assembly front portion comprising a portion of the front grille. The drawer assembly is movable between open and closed positions by an actuator and provides a storage space that may be used for a charging cable. An electrical connection is disposed within the drawer assembly and provides an electrical coupling between a charging cable and a battery of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Dave Brian Glickman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Mark Wisneski
  • Publication number: 20200039360
    Abstract: A hybrid electrodynamic levitation system that utilizes both superconducting and conductive tracks. The hybrid system reduces the overall drag induced upon the system and reduces the amount of power required to achieve operating speeds, while resolving the issue of requiring velocity relative to the track for levitation. The total initial and operating costs of the hybrid system can be lower than utilizing a superconductive or conductive track alone, while still enabling a fail-safe levitation system for high speed transportation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Brett D. Sjostrom
  • Publication number: 20200039361
    Abstract: A system for reducing motor drive loss in a vehicle. The system includes a motor designed to convert electrical energy into torque. The system also includes a sensor designed to detect motor data corresponding to at least one of a motor torque or a motor speed of the motor. The system also includes a memory designed to store testing data including optimized current commands for multiple combinations of motor torques that were determined during testing of the motor or a similar motor. The system also includes a speed or torque controller coupled to the motor, the sensor, and the memory and designed to receive a speed or torque command and to determine a current command signal usable to control the motor based on the speed or torque command, the testing data, the detected motor data, and an artificial intelligence algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventor: Benjamin M. Geller
  • Publication number: 20200039362
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a drive system for a vehicle. The drive system may have an electronic drive unit (EDU) subsystem including at least one synchronous motor and at least one asynchronous motor, controllable independently from one another. An electronic controller may be used which is responsive to a torque request input signal and configured to control the EDU subsystem. A memory may be included which is operably associated with the electronic controller and configured to store at least one blending map containing information on percentage outputs from the synchronous and asynchronous motors for the electronic controller to select in response to different torque request input signals, the percentage outputs being selected to optimize a characteristic of the EDU subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. RONNING, John MORGANTE
  • Publication number: 20200039363
    Abstract: A driving assistance method for assisting a power-intensive driving maneuver of a subject vehicle includes predicting the power-intensive driving maneuver of the subject vehicle, and determining whether driving maneuver criteria, which comprise at least one energy criterion and at least one traffic criterion, are satisfied for the predicted power-intensive driving maneuver. Determining if the at least one energy criterion is satisfied includes determining a peak power profile required for a full execution of the predicted power-intensive driving maneuver, determining an available drive power of the subject vehicle, and evaluating whether the available drive power is sufficient for the peak power profile, wherein the at least one energy criterion is satisfied if the available drive power is sufficient for the peak power profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Christoph DEGAND, Pablo FRITZSCHE, Alexander KOWALLIK, Boris ZUEV
  • Publication number: 20200039364
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine having independently selectable delta and wye windings. The electric machine has a lower torque producing limit with one of the windings than an other of the windings at a given speed. The vehicle includes a controller configured to select the other of the windings such that torque of the electric machine increases without increasing the given speed. The selection is responsive to operating with the one of the windings and a torque demand greater than the lower torque producing limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew JOSEPH, Prasad VENKITESWARAN, Shehan HAPUTHANTHRI, Jacob KRIZAN
  • Publication number: 20200039365
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a power supply system capable of supplying electric power to a vehicle, in particular, an electric vehicle, while reducing the number of components and improving stability. An embodiment of the present invention discloses a power supply system comprising: a battery comprising battery cells; a first switching device formed between one electrode of the battery and a power load unit comprising a motor that receives power from the battery; a pre-charge resistor having one end electrically connected to the other electrode of the battery; and a second switching device formed between the other end of the pre-charge resistor and the other electrode of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Seok Chae CHANG, Se Ryong OH, Jong Rock CHOI, Yong Jun TAE
  • Publication number: 20200039366
    Abstract: An electric vehicle component (1) for an at least partially electrically driven motor vehicle (100) that has a drive device (2) with an electric drive unit (12) and a carrying unit (22) for fastening the drive unit (12) to a vehicle load-bearing structure (101). The electric vehicle component has a battery device (3) for supplying the drive unit (12) with electric energy. A run-on element (4) is arranged on the drive device (2) and is configured for running onto the battery device (3) in a targeted manner with a run-on geometry (14) in the case of an accident-induced movement of the drive unit (12) so that a punctiform and/or inhomogeneous loading situation of the battery device (3) is counteracted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Philipp Neurath, Eduard Ewert
  • Publication number: 20200039367
    Abstract: An electric or hybrid electric and fossil fuel vehicle includes at least one battery and a wireless device adapted to communicate electromagnetic energy to at least one component in the vehicle as the vehicle is moving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventor: Robert M. Lyden
  • Publication number: 20200039368
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for an extended-range positioning system based on foreign-object detection (FOD). In particular, a power-transfer apparatus is disclosed that includes a coil and a foreign-object-detection (FOD) system. The coil is configured to generate a magnetic field based on an electric current running through the coil for transferring power to a receiver device. the FOD system includes a plurality of FOD sense loops, FOD circuitry, and active-beacon receive circuitry. The FOD sense loops detect metal objects within the magnetic field based on changes to an electrical characteristic(s) of one or more of the FOD sense loops. The FOD circuitry processes a modulation pattern of the electrical characteristic(s) of the one or more FOD sense loops and provides first positioning information. The active-beacon receive circuitry processes induced voltage in at least two sense loops to provide second positioning information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Lukas Sieber, Andreas Daetwyler, Marcel Fischer
  • Publication number: 20200039369
    Abstract: A charging station charges an electric vehicle. The charging station has: a housing, a number of first power electronics components and a number of second power electronics components different from the first power electronics components, wherein the power electronics components are arranged spatially in the housing, and a first air cooling circuit and a second air cooling circuit separate from the first air cooling circuit. The air cooling circuits are arranged spatially in the housing. The first air cooling circuit serves to cool the number of first power electronics components. The second air cooling circuit serves to cool the number of second power electronics components. The charging station is designed such that a first protection class of at least one region of the first air cooling circuit is higher than a second protection class of the second air cooling circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Andreas BURGERMEISTER, Dirk SCHEKULIN, Erich SIDLER
  • Publication number: 20200039370
    Abstract: A method of locating an electric vehicle at a charging station having multiple chargers is includes, receiving at multiple fixed transceivers positioned at different locations in the charging station, signals from the electric vehicle as the electric vehicle moves in the charging station, and determining, at a controller, a current location of the electric vehicle in the charging station using the signals received by the multiple fixed transceivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: Proterra Inc.
    Inventors: Jason HOM, Hayley CASHDOLLAR, Dustin GRACE
  • Publication number: 20200039371
    Abstract: A method for bringing a vehicle closer to a vehicle-external primary charging unit configured to inductively charge the vehicle, where the vehicle includes a secondary charging unit, a camera system and a display device, includes the steps of a) capturing a real-time image of a vehicle environment using the camera system, wherein the primary charging unit is included in the real-time image, b) displaying the real-time image on the display device, and c) inserting at least one guide line into the real-time image. The direction and/or curvature of the guide line coincides with a steering angle lock of the vehicle such that the guide line corresponds to the trajectory of the vehicle in the case of the steering angle lock. The position of the at least one guide line in the real-time image of the vehicle environment is selected such that the guide line indicates a movement curve of the secondary charging unit of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Torsten HERZOG, Armin WAGNER
  • Publication number: 20200039372
    Abstract: Provided s a non-contact power transmission system with which it is possible to individually detect the position of a receiving unit with respect to a transmission unit, even if there are positions at which the same microvoltage values are indicated, even if the distance differs, due to the shape of the transmission coil of the transmission unit and the receiving coil of the receiving unit. At a position at which the position differential value of the detected microvoltage exceeds a zero value, said positions set to the initial position (+xint) of the movement displacement of the vehicle, and the movement displacement on the basis of vehicle velocity is calculated to a position (+xc) at which the microvoltage value characteristics can be used from said initial position to (+xc to 0).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventor: Akira SAITA
  • Publication number: 20200039373
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for charging an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in flight. A method comprises controlling motions of a UAV via a locomotion system, wherein the UAV comprises a charging antenna coupled to and extending away from a body of the UAV, the charging antenna comprises a wireless charge receiver positioned along a length of the charging antenna and a contact charge tip positioned at an end of the charging antenna away from the body. The UAV is configured to hover near the wireless charger of the host vehicle to charge a power storage device of the UAV via the charging antenna of the charging antenna and cause the contact charge tip of the charging antenna to contact the contact charge surface of the host vehicle to charge the power storage device while hovering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Robert L. Cantrell, Donald R. High, Brian G. McHale, David J. Schuhardt
  • Publication number: 20200039374
    Abstract: A charging device for electric vehicles, with multiple charging points, to each of which an electric vehicle can be connected, and with multiple power electronics units each providing a maximum charging power, and a method for charging an electric vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Roman STRAßER
  • Publication number: 20200039375
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a two-stage on-board battery charger that can generate a wide range of output voltages is described herein. Generally, the battery charger employs a first stage buck and boost Power Factor Correction (PFC) converter, and a second stage DC-DC converter. The buck and boost PFC converter is capable of generating variable intermediate DC-link voltages which allow the on-board battery charger to efficiently generate the wider range of output voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Jaya Sai Praneeth Ammanamanchi Venkata, Lalit Patnaik, Najath Abdul Azeez, Sheldon S. Williamson
  • Publication number: 20200039376
    Abstract: A charging device is provided. The charging device switches to a (n+1)-th charging rate from a n-th charging rate when constant current charging is performed on a secondary battery at the n-th charging rate, at an SOC smaller than an SOC at which a voltage local minimum value appears when an experimental battery is charged at the n-th charging rate. The (n+1)-th charging rate is lower than the n-th charging rate, and n is a natural number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Yukio MIYAKI, Sho TAKAHASHI, Takahisa ISHIMATSU, Takahiro SHIRAI, Takamasa ONO
  • Publication number: 20200039377
    Abstract: A power network management system for managing distribution of electric energy to a multitude of power consumers by means of a power grid, the system comprising a plurality of software agents and a convergence unit. Each software agent is adapted to be connected to one of the power consumers and to exchange data with the power consumer, wherein each software agent is adapted to exchange data with the power consumer, and wherein the convergence unit is adapted to request and receive consumption-related data of the consumers, to estimate energy consumption needs of each of the consumers within a defined time period, to generate an optimized energy distribution plan for distributing available electric energy among the consumers, to generate consumption plan data for each of the consumers, and to provide the consumption plan data to the software agents of the consumers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventor: Bo PETTERSSON
  • Publication number: 20200039378
    Abstract: A charging station for electric automobiles having a variable number of power electronics modules and a variable number of charging connections electrically connected to the power electronics modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicants: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft, ads-tec GmbH
    Inventors: Raoul Heyne, Florian Joslowski, Michael Kiefer, Thomas Speidel, Ali Natour, Matthias Bohner
  • Publication number: 20200039379
    Abstract: Example aspects relate to a device for at least partially discharging an electrical energy store or an electrical intermediate circuit, comprising a discharge path, which extends between a first junction point and a second junction point and includes a setting device and an adjusting device, wherein the electrical energy store or the electrical intermediate circuit is electrically conductively connectable or connected to the discharge path via the first junction point and the second junction point, wherein, during an occurring, at least partial discharge of the electrical energy store or of the electrical intermediate circuit via the discharge path, a temperature of the setting device changes due to the discharge, and comprising a control device connected to the setting device in a signal-conducting manner, wherein the setting device can be brought into an electrically non-conductive open position and into an electrically conductive closed position, depending on a control signal of the control device, wherein
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventor: Andreas Schlosser
  • Publication number: 20200039380
    Abstract: An energy supply device for a motor vehicle has a high-voltage energy storage device and a control device for controlling the charging and discharging operations of the high-voltage energy storage device. The control device is designed to determine a temperature of the high-voltage energy storage device and to adjust a predetermined working range of the high-voltage energy storage device, which is defined by an upper limit and a lower limit, as a function of the determined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventor: Arnaud KREJCI
  • Publication number: 20200039381
    Abstract: Lower seat assembly for a vehicle seat, including a compressible cushion, with an upper face for supporting a seat occupant, and a lower face, such that the cushion is compressed when a load is applied on the upper face by an occupant. The lower seat assembly further includes a cushion supporting element, disposed below the cushion for supporting the cushion, and at least one sensing device comprising a proximity sensor, configured to sense a distance to a proximity sensor target facing the sensor. Either the sensor or the target is fixed to the lower face of the cushion, and the other one is fixed to the cushion supporting element. The lower face bends when the cushion is compressed and generates a relative movement between the sensor and the target, and the sensing device is configured to derive a weight class of an occupant from the distance between the sensor and the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Ingrid SCHECKENBACH, Oleg ZEILER, Guenter GOEDERT, Andrej MATTHEIS, Jan MARCINCIN
  • Publication number: 20200039382
    Abstract: An arrangement structure for a biological sensor includes a biological sensor of a non-contact type provided in a seat on which a human is seated. The biological sensor detecting biological information of the human with electromagnetic waves. The biological sensor is arranged at a position in the seat avoiding a member that constitutes the seat and interferes with passage of the electromagnetic waves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi OZAWA, Takayoshi ITO, Kazuyuki TAKASAWA, Yuta IHA
  • Publication number: 20200039383
    Abstract: The structure for mounting a seat rail includes a floor panel constituting the floor of a cabin; a seat rail disposed on the upper surface of the floor panel; and a retainer for supporting the floor panel at a position where the seat rail is present thereabove with the floor panel in-between. The seat rail, the floor panel, and the retainer are attached to one another with a bolt and a nut (a first attachmenting portion) at a position where the seat rail, the floor panel, and the retainer are placed overlapping one on the other. The floor panel is welded on the retainer at a position (a second attachmenting portion) away from the first attachment portion. The retainer has a bead formed between the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion. The bead extends along the longitudinal direction of a seat rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventor: Takahiro Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20200039384
    Abstract: A vehicle includes multiple seats arranged in a fore and aft direction in a cabin of the vehicle. Each of the multiple seats are disposed to face obliquely forward such that the seats are parallel to one another, and a partition wall is provided between each adjoining pair of seats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventor: Yuki TAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20200039385
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a protruding body that protrudes upward from a floor surface in a central part of a cabin of the vehicle, wherein the protruding body includes one or more seating portions on an outer periphery thereof such that multiple passengers can sit on the one or more seating portions with a back of each passenger facing inward of the cabin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventor: Yuki TAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20200039386
    Abstract: A vehicle provides a comfortable space for a wide range of passengers. The vehicle (1) includes a plurality of seats (31) arranged in a fore and aft direction in a cabin (5) of the vehicle, each seat being supported in the cabin so as to be rotatable around a vertically extending rotational axis. Preferably, at least one of the seats includes a support column (32) extending vertically from a floor (6) of the cabin, and a seat cushion (33) supported at an upper end of the support column so as to be rotatable around the vertically extending rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventor: Yuki TAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20200039387
    Abstract: A communication unit obtains transport plan information for transport of a plurality of persons using an automobile, and a processor generates seat control information for moving, to an entrance or an exit, a seat specified from the transport plan information among a plurality of seats provided in the automobile by using the transport plan information, and outputs the seat control information to a seat movement control unit which controls movement of the plurality of seats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo UMETANI