Patents Issued in September 8, 2020
  • Patent number: 10766336
    Abstract: An air conditioning device for a vehicle includes a seat air conditioning unit that blows out air from a front side of a seat and an interior air conditioning unit that blows out air whose temperature has been adjusted by a cooling heat exchanger and a heating heat exchanger toward the vehicle interior space. The air conditioning device for a vehicle includes a first duct member for guiding the air flowing between the cooling heat exchanger and the heating heat exchanger in the interior air conditioning unit to the seat air conditioning unit. The air conditioning device for a vehicle further includes a second duct member for guiding the air higher in temperature than the air flowing between the cooling heat exchanger and the heating heat exchanger to the seat air conditioning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahisa Fujii, Hideaki Kako, Masafumi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 10766337
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control system (1) for the heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning system of a motor vehicle, said control system (1) comprising: a first camera (2) sensitive to wavelengths in the mid-infrared spectrum, and a device (5) for processing and analysis of images, capable of performing temperature measurements on the images of the first camera (2) and of calculating, from said measurements, at least one thermal comfort coefficient of at least one occupant (4) of the motor vehicle, the thermal comfort coefficient being used for regulating the air temperature, the air flow rate and the air distribution within the heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning system, the control system (1) further comprising a second camera (3) sensitive to wavelengths in the visible and/or near-infrared spectra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventors: Daniel Neveu, Gilles Rivet, Thierry Elbhar, Vincent Feuillard, Stefan Karl, Didier Barat, Josselin Gour
  • Patent number: 10766338
    Abstract: An HVAC system of a vehicle includes: a battery line configured to thermally interconnect a first radiator and a high-voltage battery core and provided with a first pump; a refrigerant line having a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator; an indoor cooling line interconnecting an indoor HVAC cooling core and the evaporator and having a second pump; an indoor heating line thermally interconnecting an indoor HVAC heating core and a condenser and having a third pump; battery cooling lines branching from opposite side points of the high-voltage battery core in the battery line, respectively, and connected to the indoor cooling line; battery heating lines branching from the opposite side points of the high-voltage battery core in the battery line, respectively, and connected to the indoor heating line; and a first valve disposed at one of the opposite branching points in the battery line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Man Ju Oh, Jae Woong Kim, Sang Shin Lee
  • Patent number: 10766339
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes spaced roof rails and a structural air duct. The air duct has at least two bows connecting between the roof rails and defining first and second channels. An interconnecting member is connected between the bows and defines a third channel connecting the first and second channels in fluid communication with each other. At least one of the bows defines an outlet port configured to supply air to a cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ari Garo Caliskan, Nicolas Zagorski, Andrew J. Stankovich
  • Patent number: 10766340
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an air conditioner system, in which an air-cooled condenser mounted on a refrigerant circulation line between a water-cooled condenser and an expansion valve and a blower fan for blowing air to the air-cooled condenser are arranged at one side of the water-cooled condenser in a state of being disposed in a row in the air flow direction and are arranged within the width of the one side of the water-cooled condenser, thereby enabling the enhancement of installability and assemblability inside an engine room by simplifying and reducing the package, reducing noise of the blower fan and securing adequate cooling performance because of the blower fan disposed between two air-cooled heat exchangers even when inflowing air is insufficient, such as in an idling condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Hae Jun Lee, Yong Nam Ahn, Sang Min Lee, Jun Young Choi
  • Patent number: 10766341
    Abstract: A ventilating duct for a ventilation device of a motor vehicle includes a housing through which a flow can pass, with a main duct and at least one flow-directing element mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation in the housing. The housing has a first housing portion and a second housing portion, and the first housing portion is designed facing an air conditioning system of the ventilation device and is configured to be connectable to the latter such that the flow can pass through. The second housing portion faces a passenger cell of the motor vehicle and is configured to be arranged with the passenger cell such that the flow can pass through. The main duct is divided in the second housing portion into at least two sub-ducts with the aid of a partition which is arranged downstream of the flow-directing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.f. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Tolga Yueksel
  • Patent number: 10766342
    Abstract: A shading device comprises: a shading member formed using a dimming glass plate capable of changing light transmittance, the shading member having a plate shape; a display apparatus being capable of transmitting light and disposed on a surface of the shading member, the surface being to face an operator during use of the shading member, in such a manner that a display portion faces the operator; an image pickup device to pick up, as an image, a region which an opposite surface of the surface faces, and generate image pickup data; a data processing circuit to generate display image data to be displayed on the display portion during use of the shading member, based on the image pickup data generated by the image pickup device; and a switch to change light transmittance of the dimming glass plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Sakai Display Products Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 10766343
    Abstract: A door assembly for a vehicle. The door assembly has a door body and a hinge. The hinge is connected to the door body and is rotatable about an axis of the hinge. The hinge is configured to expand along the axis from a contracted position to an expanded position when rotated in a first direction, and is configured to contract along the axis from the expanded position to the contracted position when rotated in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. In the contracted position, the door body is in a closed, lowered position. In the expanded position, the door body is in an open, raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Randall J. Sullwold, Jeremiah S. Schweitzer
  • Patent number: 10766344
    Abstract: A top of a convertible vehicle is provided having a displaceable top cover and a top linkage on both sides with respect to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the top, each linkage arrangement having two main links, pivotably mounted on a main bearing fixed to the vehicle and one of which is driven by means of a main drive, panel bows extending between the bilaterally arranged linkage arrangements, a first one of said panel bows being a front bow, a second one being a front center bow, a third one being a rear center bow and a fourth one being a rear window bow, wherein a tension bow is arranged between the bilaterally arranged linkage arrangements, which limits the top cover at the rear in the closed position and is displaceable between a lowered position and a lifted position by means of a tension rod arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventors: Heinrich Wüllrich, Magnus Sviberg, Franz Haberl, Alexander Haimerl
  • Patent number: 10766345
    Abstract: A hail-resistant cover for a vehicle is provided which may include a plurality of cover panels, each cover panel including a cover panel sleeve and an impact resistant cover panel insert. The cover panels may be affixed to each other by flexible cover panel joints which allow the cover panels to fold over onto the adjacent cover panels. The cover may also include anchors for anchoring the cover to the top of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the cover panels are removably affixed to the adjacent cover panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: MALLEE CORP.
    Inventor: Ming Wai Ching
  • Patent number: 10766346
    Abstract: A liquid-cooled electric drive system for a motor vehicle and a method of operating the drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Martin Hüttl, Stefan Till
  • Patent number: 10766347
    Abstract: A battery unit (38F) comprising a plurality of batteries (3) and a connection control device (35a, 35b, 36a, 36b, 36d, 36e) which controls electrical connection relating to the battery unit (38F) are provided in a vehicle (1). The battery unit (38F) comprises two groups (S1R, S1L) of the batteries (3) disposed to have a space (G) there-between, and the connection control device (35a, 35b, 36a, 36b, 36d, 36e) is disposed in the space (G). The layout of the connection control device (35a, 35b, 36a, 36b, 36d, 36e) is thereby optimized and the length of a harness (34) can be shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Iwasa, Hidetoshi Kadota, Tadayoshi Hashimura, Satoshi Shigematsu, Nobuhiro Mori, Kentaro Hatta
  • Patent number: 10766348
    Abstract: A vehicle rear structure secures a battery pack to rear side members by suspension. Each rear side member includes a less-strengthened portion further rearward of a vehicle with respect to a coupling portion with a rear cross member. The coupling portion is a suspending portion configured to fasten the rear end of the battery pack by suspension. The less-strengthened portion causes the rear side member to deform by bending when a collision load F is applied from rearward of the vehicle to the rear side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryosuke Fukui, Masahiro Tsuchida
  • Patent number: 10766349
    Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and a transfer case. The transfer case includes a primary output shaft, an electric motor, and a planetary gear set. The primary output shaft receives engine torque from the internal combustion engine. The electric motor includes a rotor and a stator. The planetary gear set includes a sun gear rotatably fixed to the rotor, a ring gear, planet gears arranged radially between and engaging the sun gear and the ring gear, and a planet carrier coupled to the planet gears and rotatably fixed to the primary output shaft. The ring gear is selectively groundable for selectively transferring torque between the electric motor and the primary output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Larry A. Pritchard
  • Patent number: 10766350
    Abstract: A transmission for a motor vehicle having an input shaft, an output shaft, a plurality of planetary gear sets, a plurality of shift elements, and an electric machine arranged axially parallel to the input shaft and operatively connected to the input shaft with a constant transmission ratio via a spur gear drive or a flexible traction drive mechanism. Various gear steps are formable between the input shaft and the output shaft through the planetary gear sets by selectively engaging shift elements of the plurality of shift elements. An actuating element of one of the plurality of shift elements is arranged, at least partially, radially within an element of the spur gear drive or the flexible traction drive mechanism arranged coaxially to the input shaft, and together with the spur gear drive or the flexible traction drive mechanism in a plane orthogonal to an axis of rotation of the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Peter Ziemer, Michael Roske, Juri Pawlakowitsch, Thomas Rosemeier, Raffael Kuberczyk
  • Patent number: 10766351
    Abstract: A method of controlling reverse driving of a hybrid vehicle is provided, in which a reverse gear train of a gear box of a transmission for reverse driving is omitted. When a gear stage enters a reverse stage or is changed from a drive stage to a reverse stage, an engine performs an electric energy charging function on a battery via a hybrid starter generator and a motor transmits driving power for reverse driving to travelling wheels. Accordingly, the battery is charged with electric energy and simultaneously, the motor is reversely driven based on the electric energy supplied from the battery, thereby enabling a hybrid vehicle to be more easily reversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Seok Young Yun, Song Il Park, Tae Young Chung
  • Patent number: 10766352
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus for a vehicle may include: first, second, and third input shafts disposed coaxially with each other and each selectively connected with a motor/generator; a torque mediating shaft disposed coaxially with the first input shaft; a first intermediate shaft in parallel with the first input shaft; a second intermediate shaft in parallel with the first input shaft, and selectively connected with a transmission housing; a first shifting section including five gear sets, selectively receiving torques through the first and third input shafts, and providing intermediate shift-stages; and a second shifting section including a planetary gear set, forming an output torque by combination of torques from the first shifting section and the second input shaft, and outputting the output torque to the output shaft through one gear set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juhyeon Park, Yong Uk Shin, Seongwook Ji, Wonmin Cho, Hyun Sik Kwon, Ilhan Yoo, Seong Wook Hwang, Ki Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 10766353
    Abstract: A vehicle front portion structure that includes connecting members that each have a front side connecting portion that is disposed at a vehicle longitudinal direction front side and at which a first joined portion that is joined to a radiator support and a second joined portion that is joined to a lover member are formed, a rear side connecting portion that is disposed at a vehicle longitudinal direction rear side and at which the first joined portion and the second joined portion are formed, and an outer side cut-out portion that is cut out from a vehicle transverse direction outer side and that is formed at a position that, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, is between the second joined portions of both a front side connecting portion and a rear side connecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 10766354
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor configured to drive a vehicle wheel, a battery configured to supply electric power to the motor, and a radiator configured to exchange heat between a coolant for cooling the motor and outside air. The radiator is disposed below a floor surface of the vehicle and in a gap between the motor and the battery in a front-rear direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Takai, Yuji Koga, Yoshiaki Konishi, Makoto Tsuchihashi
  • Patent number: 10766355
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a rear region, a covering, a drive system arranged in the rear region, and an air-directing component arranged above the drive system. The air-directing component is configured to direct an air flow along a first side of the air-directing component. The drive system is arranged below the covering. At least one recess is arranged on a second side of the air-directing component, the at least one recess being configured to provide an air flow under the covering in the direction of the drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Riccardo Bauer, Tobias Posch
  • Patent number: 10766356
    Abstract: An active grille shutter arrangement having an assembled modular frame with a plurality of primary frame pieces formed by extrusion. Each one of the plurality of primary frame pieces has a first end, a second end and at least one key slot extending between the first end and the second end. Each of the plurality of frame pieces also includes a hollow bore extending through the each one of the plurality of primary frame pieces forming an aperture at the first end and an aperture at the second end. When the modular frame is assembled there is an upper frame portion and lower frame portion, both formed from one of the plurality of primary frame pieces. The arrangement also includes a number of alternate frame and vane pieces that allow several different active grille shapes and configurations to be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Inventors: Braendon Lindberg, Ross Parpart, Jeffrey B. Manhire
  • Patent number: 10766357
    Abstract: In a fuel tank, a pressure regulator is placed at an outside of a sub-tank and regulates a pressure of fuel of a pressure-regulation path, which is discharged from a fuel pump and is fed toward an outside of the fuel tank. A fuel recovery passage portion recovers excess fuel, which becomes excess at the pressure-regulation path, to the sub-tank. The sub-tank has an opening at a location that is higher than the suction filter. The fuel recovery passage portion is inserted from the outside of the sub-tank into the inside of the sub-tank through the opening while a gap is formed between the fuel recovery passage portion and the opening, so that the fuel recovery passage portion has an excess fuel outlet that discharges the excess fuel at a location that is on an inner side of the opening where an inside of the sub-tank is placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rui Adachi, Kiyomori Kobayashi, Norihiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10766358
    Abstract: A reinforcement structure made of plastic material for plastic vehicle tank. The reinforcement structure has a first portion comprising at least one weak section and at least one strong section, which are designed so that the weak section breaks before the strong section, when the first portion is under mechanical stress, the reinforcement structure also has at least one second portion designed to reduce the slosh noise, the second portion extends from the strong section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Plastic Omnium Advanced Innovation and Research
    Inventors: Hyeon-Gyun Kim, Se-Hyung Park, Young-Man Kim, Laurent Duez
  • Patent number: 10766359
    Abstract: The fuel filler neck device is attached to a filler pipe and is opened and closed by a fueling nozzle. The device has a cover member which has an introduction opening for the fueling nozzle and which is engaged with the filler pipe side with engagement parts formed on the filler pipe side being fitted in window holes. Insertion parts are respectively formed adjacent to the engagement parts in the circumferential direction of the filler pipe. The engagement parts can be each disengaged by deforming or breaking the cover member side by inserting a portion of a tool into the insertion part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Takatsugu Hirose, Shunpei Nabeya, Kensuke Ogose
  • Patent number: 10766360
    Abstract: A closure system for a pressurized container system for a motor vehicle includes a fuel filler flap and at least one refueling connection. The refueling connection has a non-return valve and a protective cap. The protective cap is designed to be pluggable onto an end of the refueling connection. The fuel filler flap covers a refueling compartment which is set back from the vehicle body. On the side facing the refueling compartment, the fuel filler flap has such a contour that the fuel filler flap can be closed only if the protective cap is fitted on the refueling connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans-Ulrich Stahl
  • Patent number: 10766361
    Abstract: A multistage wheel drive includes primary and secondary planetary stages, in which the ring gear of the primary (i.e., input-side) planetary stage is formed from a single machined part which also includes the planet gear carrier of the secondary (i.e., output-side) planetary stage. This dual-function “combination” component includes a splined exterior surface which interfaces with a correspondingly splined interior surface on the spindle in order to rotationally fix the combination component to the spindle. This arrangement ensures concentricity between the primary and secondary planetary stages, while allowing a desired amount of radial tolerance between the spindle, the combination component, and the hub of the wheel drive. In addition, the present arrangement can be produced efficiently and inexpensively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Auburn Gear, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Forrest, Steve M. Juhasz, Dan M. Metzger, Joseph A. Beals
  • Patent number: 10766362
    Abstract: A transfer case comprises a primary output shaft, and a secondary output shaft selectively coupleable to the primary output shaft with a plate clutch to transfer torque therebetween. The plate clutch includes a housing, a plurality of interleaved plates that are engaged alternatingly with the primary output shaft and the housing to rotate therewith, and an apply plate non-selectively coupled to the primary output shaft to rotate therewith. The apply plate is moveable axially along the primary output shaft into a first configuration in which the apply plate is positively coupled to the housing to rotate therewith, a second configuration in which the apply plate rotates independent of the housing, and a third configuration in which the apply plate compresses the interleaved plates to form a friction coupling between the primary output shaft and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Larry A. Pritchard, Thaddeus R. Kopp, Jr., Branden L. Reeves, Philip J. Francis, Joseph D. Mastie
  • Patent number: 10766363
    Abstract: A surface panel is attached to an instrument panel so as to cover a display surface of a display unit disposed on the instrument panel of a vehicle. When the display unit is turned on, light L from the display unit is projected toward the driver's seat side via a thin hole formed in the surface panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Takamatsu, Tai Inoue, Masahide Nagata, Takayuki Ogawa, Gosei Sato, Takao Kanai
  • Patent number: 10766364
    Abstract: A vehicle dashboard structure is provided. A steering unit of a vehicle is provided with a screen-included dashboard. The screen-included dashboard includes a screen-based display zone, which is operable to display different message modes. The steering unit includes a steering grip, which is provided with a control operator seat, which is provided with a control operator module that is operable to control the screen-based display zone for switching of the different message displaying mode. As such, one the one hand, switching of the display mode contents of the screen-based display zone is made easy to ensure riding safety of a rider, and on the other hand, the space of the control operator seat that is provided on the steering grip can be better used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: KWANG YANG MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Yang Tsai, Nai-Kun Yeh, Cheng-Tao Cheng
  • Patent number: 10766365
    Abstract: A vehicle trim element including a body defining the shape of an outer surface and an information display system, the trim element being able to be positioned in a first configuration and in a second configuration, wherein the display system is moved along a first direction between the first configuration and the second configuration and in that the shape of the outer surface is modified between the first configuration and the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: FAURECIA INTERIEUR INDUSTRIE
    Inventors: Nicolas Pegorier, Rayar Fernandez, Jérémy Floc'h, Eric Vanel
  • Patent number: 10766366
    Abstract: An operating method in a vehicle having a menu of an operating structure displayed on a display surface arranged in the vehicle. The operating structure includes a main menu and additional menus. Inputs can be detected, by which a change of the displayed menu can be caused and by which switching elements of the menus can be actuated. A special switching element is displayed at the edge of the display surface which can be actuated by a swipe gesture and, if the swipe gesture associated with the special switching element has been detected, the main menu is displayed. Also disclosed is an operating device for performing the operating method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Mi-Ran Jun
  • Patent number: 10766367
    Abstract: A train control device includes a train position detector, a storage, and an in-vehicle controller. The train position detector detects a traveling position of a train. The storage stores therein a traveling position of the train when a loss of contact of the current collector occurs, as a loss-of-contact position. When the train travels in a predetermined section including the loss-of-contact position with reference to the traveling position of the train and the storage, the in-vehicle controller causes the train to perform coasting traveling in the predetermined section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Junko Yamamoto, Hirotoshi Kawai, Satoshi Iba, Yohei Hattori, Yasuyuki Miyajima
  • Patent number: 10766368
    Abstract: An energy storage system for supporting dual electrical functions of a vehicle includes an energy storage unit having a plurality of energy storage modules connected in series, a plurality of sensing units for sensing state of charges of the plurality of energy storage modules, and a pair of primary voltage terminals. The series connected plurality of energy storage modules is connectable across the pair of primary voltage terminals during a key-on state of the vehicle to supply energy storage power at a first voltage level to support primary electrical functions of the vehicle. The energy storage system is further configured to select a subset of the plurality of energy storage modules during a key-off state of the vehicle to connect across a pair of secondary voltage terminals using a switch network to supply energy storage power at a second voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: CPS TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Junwei Jiang, Patrick T. Hurley, Perry M. Wyatt, Thomas M. Watson
  • Patent number: 10766369
    Abstract: A system for using the Earth's magnetic field to provide supplemental power to a machine having a motor, the system comprising: a computer; wires; and energy storing devices all in controlled electrical communication with each other; wherein the wires can collect electrical energy from the Earth's magnetic field while the machine is put in motion by a power source powering the motor; wherein the collected electrical energy is stored in the energy storing devices or used to power the motor; and wherein each wire from the wires is folded and placed radially in a cylinder, to extend across a diameter of the cylinder, to achieve a maximum length for each of the wires, a maximum total length of the plurality of wires, and such that at least a wire has a correct position relative to the Earth's magnetic field lines of flux at any given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Inventors: Albert James Lovshin, Neal Rogers
  • Patent number: 10766370
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating grid alerts for an electric grid, and performing actions in response to the grid alerts, such as shaping, shifting, or otherwise modifying a load applied to the grid, are described. In some embodiments, the systems and methods access information identifying states of charging events for one or more electric vehicles at one or more charging stations, the one or more charging stations coupled to an electric grid and providing charge to the one or more electric vehicles, determine that the information identifying the states of the charging events for the one or more electric vehicles at the one or more charging stations coupled to the electric grid indicates a condition of the electric grid that is outside threshold condition of the electric grid, and perform an action in response to determining the condition of the electric grid is outside the predetermined threshold condition of the electric grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: RECARGO, INC.
    Inventors: Forrest North, Lucas Manfield
  • Patent number: 10766371
    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 allocate current demand to the power converters and operate the power converters to minimize energy consumption and losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaohong Nina Duan, Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Patent number: 10766372
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a controller configured to receive sensor feedback from a high voltage storage device and from a low voltage storage device, compare the sensor feedback to operating limits of the respective high and low voltage storage device, determine, based on the comparison a total charging current to the high voltage storage device and to the low voltage storage device and a power split factor of the total charging current to the high voltage device and to the low voltage device, and regulate the total power to the low voltage storage device and the high voltage storage device based on the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ruediger Soeren Kusch, Robert Dean King, Robert Louis Steigerwald
  • Patent number: 10766373
    Abstract: To minimize excessively high output or increases in magnetic-flux leakage by controlling power feeding on the power-feeding side if an unforeseen situation occurs. This power-feeding device (100) feeds power to an external power-receiving device (150) in a contactless manner. A power-feeding coil (103) uses electromagnetic power to feed electrical power to a power-receiving coil (154) in the power-receiving device (150). While power is being fed from said power-feeding coil (103), a power-feeding-side control unit (107) determines the amount of displacement of the power-feeding coil (103) and, on the basis of the determined displacement amount, controls the amount of electrical power being fed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Nishio, Osamu Ohashi, Noriaki Asaoka, Masayoshi Koizumi
  • Patent number: 10766374
    Abstract: A motor vehicle charging cable for direct current charging of an electric energy storage device of a vehicle, having a cable jacket, a first electric conductor for a first direct current phase and a second electric conductor for a second direct current phase. The electric conductors are surrounded on the outside by the cable jacket. The electric conductors each have a conductor sheath including an outer and an inner sheathing layer. The electric conductors each have conductor cores extending within the conductor sheath and forming a conductor core strand. The electric conductors each have a first coolant duct for cooling the respective conductor core strand from the inside, which duct is surrounded by the respective conductor cores. The electric conductors furthermore each have a second coolant duct for cooling the respective conductor core strand from the outside. The second coolant duct encloses the respective conductor cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Raoul Heyne, Jari Rönfanz
  • Patent number: 10766375
    Abstract: A position-determining system is provided for a charging station for a vehicle being driven at least partially electrically. The position-determining system serves to determine a position of a contact interface of the vehicle in relation to a charging interface of the charging station. The position-determining system determines the position visually in at least two dimensions. As a result of the at least two-dimensional determination of the position, the vehicle is not tied to a predefined route. This increases the reliability of the positioning of the vehicle when it approaches the charging station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
    Inventor: Andre Rompe
  • Patent number: 10766376
    Abstract: The apparatus includes: a power feeding side identification information acquiring unit that acquires power feeding side identification information for identifying the power feeding side from a device or a user's communication terminal in the power feeding side; a power receiving side identification information acquiring unit that acquires power receiving side identification information for identifying the power receiving side from a device or a user's communication terminal in the power receiving side; a power feeding information acquiring unit that acquires power feeding information about a power amount fed from the device in the power feeding side or a power amount fed to the device in the power receiving side; and a transmission unit that associates with one another: the power feeding side identification information; the power receiving side identification information; and the power feeding information, and transmits them to a transaction management apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Haneda
  • Patent number: 10766377
    Abstract: A charging device and method for controlling the same may include a charging connector connectable to a vehicle; a power connector connectable to a power source; a communication module configured to receive beacon signals from a plurality of beacons and send beacon information included in the received beacon signals to a charging management server; and a controller configured to, upon reception of a charging authorization signal from the charging management server, charge the vehicle connected to the charging connector and control the communication module to send information related to an amount of power used for charging the vehicle to the charging management server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Yura Corporation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yun Jae Jung, Sohyun Jang, Daehwan Kwon
  • Patent number: 10766378
    Abstract: An ECU is configured to perform output restriction control if first and second conditions are satisfied when a cell temperature is more than a threshold temperature determined based on a thermal destruction temperature of a sealing member. On the other hand, the ECU is configured not to perform the output restriction control if one of the first and second conditions is not satisfied even when the cell temperature is more than the threshold temperature. The first condition is satisfied when an acceleration time period is more than a predetermined time period. The second condition is satisfied when the temperature increase ratio of the cell is more than a restriction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Obata
  • Patent number: 10766379
    Abstract: A charging apparatus for a vehicle includes a housing accommodating a charging portion, a case mounted to the housing, a PCB disposed inside the case and having a light source, a light guide plate configured to guide light emitted from the light source, a reflection plate configured to reflect the light through the light guide plate, a lens coupled to the case to form a region for accommodating the light guide plate and the reflection plate, and a cover hinged to the housing to open or close the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: In Hwang, SoYeon Park, ByungJoo Lee, Kiwon Kim, Byounghaan Choi
  • Patent number: 10766380
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for controlling a temperature of a battery of a vehicle. The battery management system includes a battery for storing and distributing an electrical charge. The battery management system includes a temperature for measuring or detecting a temperature of the battery. The battery management system includes one or more temperature control devices for controlling the temperature of the battery. The battery management system includes an electronic control unit configured to obtain the temperature of the battery and determine whether the temperature of the battery exceeds an optimal temperature range. The electronic control unit is configured to operate the one or more temperature control devices when the temperature of the battery exceeds the optimal temperature range to adjust the temperature to be within the optimal temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Geoffrey D. Gaither, Tapan V. Patel, Justin J. Chow, Joshua D. Payne
  • Patent number: 10766381
    Abstract: One example of a system to monitor a presence of a body in a seat of an automobile can implement a method using processing circuitry. After an automobile engine has stopped operating, the system determines a presence of a body in a seat of the automobile. The system provides a notification indicating the presence of the body in the seat in response to determining the presence of the body in the seat of the automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Cornerstone 5:20, Inc.
    Inventors: Kaci Kay Bradley, Justin Morgan Bradley
  • Patent number: 10766383
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a lifter device lifting/lowering a seat cushion. The lifter device includes a link member coupling a side frame and a riser to each other, and a clinching pin coupling the riser or the side frame and the link member to each other. The clinching pin includes a first portion located on the opposite side of the link member from the riser, a second portion located in a position corresponding to a hole of the link member, a third portion located in a position corresponding to a hole of the riser, and a fourth portion that is located on the opposite side of the riser from the link member. A surface of the second portion facing the riser has a portion adjacent to the third portion, and the portion is away from a surface of the riser facing the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko Mike, Yudai Shouji
  • Patent number: 10766384
    Abstract: A child safety seat includes a base having an attachment point, and a shell having a guiding element mounted on an upper portion of the shell. The child safety seat additionally includes a top tether connected to the attachment point of the base, and the guiding element is configured to abut against and slidably support the top tether when the top tether is secured to an anchoring point of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Britax Römer Kindersicherheit GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Schmitz, Richard Henseler
  • Patent number: 10766385
    Abstract: A child safety seat includes a seat shell having a seat region for receiving a child, two extension parts and a locking mechanism. The two extension parts are respectively disposed at a left and a right side of the seat region, are connected with the seat shell, and are coupled to each other via a linking assembly. The two extension parts are movable together relative to the seat shell to protrude forward from a front of the seat shell or retract toward the seat shell, the two extension parts being disconnected from each other at the front of the seat shell. The locking mechanism is operable to lock the two extension parts in position relative to the seat shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: WONDERLAND SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Kyle S. Mason, David A. Lehman
  • Patent number: 10766386
    Abstract: A foldable integrated child car seat apparatus for eliminating the need to install and remove a child car seat includes a main seat back coupled to a main seat base. A front side of a back cushion of the main seat back has a storage cavity. A child seat back is slidingly coupled to the storage cavity to slide between a forward position and an alternate stored position adjacent a back face of the storage cavity. A child seat bottom is pivotably coupled to the child seat back to move between an open position and an alternate folded position adjacent the child seat back. A cover plate is coupled to the child seat bottom and conforms to a profile of the storage cavity such that with the child seat back in the stored position and the child seat bottom in the folded position the cover plate covers the storage cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Inventor: Annie West