Patents Issued in May 9, 2023
  • Patent number: 11642932
    Abstract: A bushing assembly for a stabilizer bar in a vehicle includes a split ring defining a passageway engaging with an outer surface of the stabilizer bar, an outer diameter surface, a first split ring end, a second split ring end, and at least one axial retention flange disposed at either the first split ring end or the second split ring end. The bushing assembly includes an elastomer bushing defining an inner diameter, an outer diameter, a first bushing end, a second bushing end, a first axial flange disposed at the first bushing end, and a second axial flange at the second bushing end. At least one of the first axial flange and the second axial flange abut against the at least one axial retention flange of the split ring to create a zero clearance condition. The bushing assembly also includes a strap clamp securing the bushing assembly to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Gregory Wieczorek, Joshua P. Dupuis
  • Patent number: 11642933
    Abstract: A vehicle heat transfer system includes a flow through heat exchanger, a surface heat exchanger, at least a first vehicle component, and a controller that is operable to selectively transfer heat to or from the first vehicle component with either or both of the flow through heat exchanger and the surface heat exchanger based on one or more operating conditions. In a further aspect, a vehicle heat transfer system includes, a vehicle component positioned on a vehicle that is heated or cooled by a fluid, and a surface heat exchanger positioned on the vehicle, the surface heat exchanger having an inlet that receives the fluid used to heat or cool the vehicle component, an outlet that returns the fluid to heat or cool the vehicle component, and a closed fluid path extending between the inlet and the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Pirooz Moradnia, Daniel A. Favela Tentori, David Wayne Halt, Matthew L. Metka, Pratap Thamanna Rao, Brian R. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 11642934
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner is disclosed. The present invention provides the vehicle air conditioner, which: can directly control the amount of air passing through an evaporator and a heater core since a blower is disposed between the evaporator and the heater core; has front and rear seat discharge units respectively having heater cores, thereby having a simple form, minimizing energy consumption, and independently enabling four or more zones, including front and rear seats, the left and right of the front seats, and the left and right of the rear seats, to be air-conditioned; and can discharge an offensive smell to the outside during initial driving of a vehicle since the air outside a vehicle, flowing in from an air inlet, and indoor air flowing in from an inside air suction port, disposed at the center of the vehicle, are discharged to the outside of the vehicle by means of a second blower, and not by a front seat blower, for discharging the air to the rear seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Seong Seok Han, Sung Ho Kang, Jeong Eun Lee, Jeong Jae Lee, Jung Won Cho
  • Patent number: 11642935
    Abstract: A heat exchange module for an energy storage module, having a module housing for heat-transferring contact with an energy storage module; at least one operating medium channel for an operating fluid for heat transport; and at least one fluid connection for at least one external line for the operating fluid of the operating medium channel. There is formed by the at least one operating medium channel at least one receiving opening with a predetermined cross section in a channelward extension of the operating medium channel, in which a plug with a shape filling the predetermined cross section of the receiving opening is received such that the receiving opening is bonded thereto in a fluid-tight manner. With the heat exchange module, efficient use is made of a structural space, while the heat exchange module at the same time is able to be manufactured at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher Volkmer, Dieter Schiebel, Sascha Mostofi, Thomas Neuhauser, Immanuel Vogel, Philipp Kellner
  • Patent number: 11642936
    Abstract: A recreational vehicle air conditioning system supports multiple recreational vehicle air conditioning units having closed air conditioning circuits and a controller that is electronically coupled to each of the recreational vehicle air conditioning units to control each of the closed air conditioning circuits to regulate an overall power consumption of the multiple recreational vehicle air conditioning units. A recreational vehicle air conditioning system may also support multiple recreational vehicle air conditioning units where a refrigerant line set is coupled between the recreational vehicle air conditioning units such that a compressor in one of the recreational vehicle air conditioning units is capable of supplying refrigerant to the evaporators of the multiple recreational vehicle air conditioning units, and such that valves coupled in series with each of the evaporators may be regulated to control cooling by each recreational vehicle air conditioning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eric Scalf, David Leezer
  • Patent number: 11642937
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a position identifying unit, a route information acquiring unit, a control information determining unit, and a control unit. The position identifying unit is configured to identify an expected boarding position where an occupant is to get in a vehicle. The route information acquiring unit is configured to acquire route information of the occupant to the expected boarding position. The control information determining unit is configured to determine, on the basis of the route information, a set temperature, a control start timing, or both as control information to be used for pre-air conditioning control for a vehicle compartment space of the vehicle. The control unit is configured to perform at least the pre-air conditioning control on the basis of the control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takako Mizuno, Takuya Arai, Koutarou Kimura
  • Patent number: 11642938
    Abstract: A detector detects physical quantities relating to an operation of a vehicle air-conditioning device at a predetermined sampling frequency to generate groups of time-series data items. A volatile tracking memory has a work area to which the groups of time-series data items for a tracking period is writable. A record holding power accumulator supplies, to the tracking memory, power used for holding in the work area the groups of time-series data items. A writer sequentially overwrites the groups of time-series data to the work area of the tracking memory and stops overwriting of the groups of time-series data items to the work area when an abnormality occurs in the vehicle air-conditioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Miyazaki, Koichi Harada
  • Patent number: 11642939
    Abstract: A capsule of a volatile substance distribution system is configured for use with a base unit having a fan and an air outlet configured to direct air driven by the fan away from the base unit. The capsule includes a housing that extends along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end. The first end defines an inlet port and the second end defines an outlet port. The housing houses a volatile substance member. The capsule further includes an outlet seal member that seals and unseals the outlet port. The housing, when engaged with the base unit and with the outlet seal member in the unsealed position, is configured to receive the air from the air outlet that flows into the inlet port, past the volatile substance member, and out of the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Anne Elizabeth Lindert Nixon, Daniel Nelsen, Glenn W. Kaye, Artem O. Kirshon, Kevin M. Hafer, Terannie Vazquez Alvarez, Jamie Scott Anderson, Martin Haupt, Jonathan Rolland, Pau Mauri Piñol, Roman Prager, Ismael Castellvi Anguera, Joan Marc Escudero Vericat, Amanda Williams, Alex Dupont
  • Patent number: 11642940
    Abstract: Described herein is a system and method for detecting malodor within a cabin of an autonomous vehicle, wherein initiation of a remediation system and/or dispatch of the autonomous vehicle to a service hub for mitigating the malodor is based upon sensor signals that monitor the cabin of the autonomous vehicle. The remediation system can include devices such as an HVAC system or a window, which are operated to reduce the concentration of airborne molecules in the cabin of the autonomous vehicle when the concentration of airborne molecules exceeds an air quality threshold. A dispatch protocol may be initiated to dispatch the autonomous vehicle to a service hub when the malodor is associated with certain predefined incidents or when remediation fails to reduce the concentration of airborne molecules below the air quality threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Michael Frank Schmidt, Samuel Harrison Glidden, Chase Brian Kaufman, Kyle Vogt
  • Patent number: 11642941
    Abstract: A nebulizer system for a motor vehicle may include a tank for a liquid, a nebulizer chamber, and a filter system capable of filtering the liquid contained in the tank for the liquid before it passes into the nebulizer chamber. The nebulizer chamber may have a nebulizer nozzle provided with an acoustic wave output device such that the liquid from the tank forms a mist of droplets of the liquid. The mist is intended to pass into a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. Additionally, the nebulizer system may have an input module for air. The inlet module may have an air injection volute capable of channeling the air in the direction of the internal volume of the nebulizer chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventors: Nicolas Decorde, Michel Gschwind, Frédéric Richard, Stéphane Petit, Yves Rousseau, Vincent Feuillard
  • Patent number: 11642942
    Abstract: A smart multi-modal vehicular air filtration management system including a first filter element and a second filter element disposed in a fresh air housing, wherein the fresh air housing has an inlet and an outlet. Additionally, a third filter element is provided which is disposed in a cabin housing, the cabin housing having one or more inlet. A fluid channel arranged between the fresh air and cabin housing. Finally, a diverter is included which is disposed near an outlet of the fresh air housing, wherein the diverter is configured to cause air to flow through the fresh air housing selectively through one or both of the first filter element and the second filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Bauer, Thomas Heininger, Dominik Haider, Tobias Schwimmbeck, Mathias Hoesl, Matthias Heinzmann, Andreas Weber, Mirco Schoen, Mario Schoen, Martin Klein, Pascal Thau
  • Patent number: 11642943
    Abstract: The principles and embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to complexly curved laminates made from a complexly curved substrate and a flat substrate, such as automotive window glazings, and methods of cold forming complexly-curved glass products from a curved substrate and a flat substrate. In one or more embodiments, the laminate includes first complexly-curved glass substrate with a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, a second complexly-curved glass substrate with a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface with a thickness therebetween; and a polymer interlayer affixed to the second convex surface and third surface, wherein the third surface and fourth surface have compressive stress values respectively that differ such that the fourth surface has as compressive stress value that is greater than the compressive stress value of the third surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: William Keith Fisher, Mark Stephen Friske, Steven Luther Moyer, Paul George Rickerl
  • Patent number: 11642944
    Abstract: A rear window construction for a Jeep type vehicle having a foldable soft top with a window connected with the top is provided. The window is not connected to any frame member of the vehicle. The rear window construction includes a flexible foldable top having means of releasable connection with the frame structure of the vehicle. Additionally a rear window structure is provided. The rear window structure has a heating element for defrosting the rear window structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: BESTOP, INC
    Inventors: George C. Stickles, Eric D. Getzschman
  • Patent number: 11642945
    Abstract: A door curtain hook device for a vehicle may include a frame mount configured to be fixed to a door frame of the vehicle; a curtain hook having a wedge portion configured to be coupled with the frame mount and a curtain locking portion in which a door curtain is hooked integrally formed thereon; and a door curtain mounting gap formed to have a hook structure in the curtain locking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Do-Won Kim, Dong-Keun Yoo, Jae-Seung Lee
  • Patent number: 11642946
    Abstract: A vehicle door includes a window and further includes window glass, an outer panel made of resin, and a belt molding. The outer panel is placed outwardly in the vehicle width direction from the window glass and faces the window glass in at least part of the peripheral edge of the opening. The belt molding is fixed to the inner surface of the outer panel facing the window glass and seals a gap between the window glass and the outer panel. The belt molding includes a base member and a belt molding body. The base member is bonded to the inner surface of the outer panel and has an attachment surface facing the window glass. The belt molding body is supported on the attachment surface of the base member via a plurality of fixed points provided such that the fixed points are distanced from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaru Toyota, Sho Tsumita, Yoshiyuki Ryuno
  • Patent number: 11642947
    Abstract: A tonneau cover assembly that selectively covers a truck bed of a truck is provided. The tonneau cover assembly includes a cover and a longitudinally extending rail located adjacent a sidewall of the truck bed. The longitudinally extending rail includes an attachment member. The attachment member extends longitudinally along with the rail and at least a portion of the attachment member is located over a portion of the bed. The cover includes a stiffener located adjacent the attachment member of the longitudinally extending rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Leer Group
    Inventors: Eugene A. Dylewski, II, Christopher David Mattison, John William Bevis, III
  • Patent number: 11642948
    Abstract: A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment to a cargo box of a pickup truck including a support frame assembly and a cover assembly. The cover assembly includes a plurality of pivotally interconnected rigid panels that can be folded up and secured to the cargo box such that respective upper surfaces of at least two of the plurality of rigid panels reside in an upright folded orientation. The tonneau cover apparatus further includes a mechanism for securing the at least two of the plurality of rigid panels in the upright folded orientation. A method of removably securing the tonneau cover apparatus to the pickup truck is also described, as is an alternate embodiment of the tonneau cover apparatus, wherein the cover assembly includes first and second pivotally interconnected rigid panels and a pair of hinge support mechanisms that generally restrict the way the second rigid panel pivots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Agri-Cover, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Schmeichel, Brendan T. Bohn, Mark E. Beam, John W. Simon
  • Patent number: 11642949
    Abstract: Window seals can be configured to divert water away from an area of the vehicle where the presence of water is not desired, such as a door latch. A window seal can include a first body member and a second body member. The first body member can include a main body and a lip extending from the main body. The lip can include an upper end and a lower end. The second body member can be angled relative to the first body member. The second body member can include a liquid diverter that has a collector portion in fluid communication with a gutter portion. The collector portion can include an inlet opening. The inlet opening can be operatively positioned to receive a liquid from the lower end of the lip, and the gutter portion can route the liquid away from undesired areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kashif Zia, Kentaro Adachi, Ruben Vazquez
  • Patent number: 11642950
    Abstract: A transmission (1) for an electric drive of a vehicle includes a first input shaft (10), a second input shaft (11), an output shaft (12), two shift elements (3, 4) for connecting the transmission (1) to an electric machine of the electric drive, and a planetary gear set (5) configured as a stepped planetary gear set. A first sun gear (5.1) of the planetary gear set (5) is rotationally fixed to the first input shaft (10). A second sun gear (5.2) of the planetary gear set (5) is rotationally fixed to the second input shaft (11). A ring gear (5.5) of the planetary gear set (5) is fixed at a rotationally fixed component (0) of the transmission (1). A planet carrier (5.6) of the planetary gear set (5) is rotationally fixed to the output shaft (12). A first shift element (3) is configured for connecting the first input shaft (10) to the electric machine of the electric drive. A second shift element (4) is configured for connecting the second input shaft (11) to the electric machine of the electric drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Thomas Martin, Michael Wechs, Fabian Kutter, Oliver Schaudt
  • Patent number: 11642951
    Abstract: A multi-mode torque vectoring electric drive axle, including a main motor, an auxiliary motor, a differential, a first half shaft, a second half shaft, a primary reducer, a secondary reducer, a planetary gear set, a dual-gear mechanism and a three-phase actuator. The main motor and the auxiliary motor are respectively connected to input ends of the primary reducer and the secondary reducer. Output ends of the primary reducer and the secondary reducer are respectively connected to a differential housing and an input end of the planetary gear set. Two output ends of the planetary gear set are respectively connected to the three-phase actuator and the dual-gear mechanism. An output end of the dual-gear mechanism is connected to the differential housing. The three-phase actuator is a synchronous shifting mechanism for enabling locking, decoupling of the planetary gear set, and connection to the first half shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Jilin University
    Inventors: Junnian Wang, Chunlin Zhang, Zhe Liu, Changyang Guan, Shoulin Gao
  • Patent number: 11642952
    Abstract: A riding lawn mower comprising, a pair of rear drive wheels, a pair of front wheels, a deck positioned between the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear drive wheels, a rotatable cutting blade, and multiple battery packs removably coupled to the riding lawn mower and structured to provide power to the riding lawn mower, each battery pack graspable and removable by a user, wherein the multiple battery packs jointly provide power to the riding lawn mower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
  • Patent number: 11642953
    Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a powertrain of a four-wheeled vehicle of a body-on-frame type, wherein the powertrain is mounted on a chassis in an orientation transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The mounting arrangement comprises a right-side powertrain mounting assembly 310 for supporting the powertrain 100 on the right-hand side, a left-side powertrain mounting assembly 320 for supporting the powertrain 100 on the left-hand side of the vehicle, and a powertrain roll-restricting and mounting assembly 330 for supporting the powertrain 100 on the rear side of the powertrain 100. The right-side powertrain mounting assembly 310 and the left-side powertrain mounting assembly 320 comprise a right isolating element 316 and a left isolating element 326 respectively, and the powertrain roll-restricting and mounting assembly 330 comprises a roll restricting and isolating element 334.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: MAHINDRA AND MAHINDRA LIMITED
    Inventors: Samir Ramesh Rawte, Radhakrishnan Janakiraman, Christopher Nelander, Karl Plattenberger, Keith Takasawa, Richard Paul Haas
  • Patent number: 11642954
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a fuel cell system configured for generating electrical energy used in the vehicle using hydrogen, an engine system including an engine and configured for generating power of the vehicle using hydrogen, an exhaust system that purifies exhaust gas discharged from the engine, and a hydrogen supply system connected to the fuel cell system, the engine system and the exhaust system, and configured for supplying the hydrogen used in the fuel cell system and the engine system, and ammonia (NH3) used in the exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Do Sun Choi
  • Patent number: 11642955
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus of a hybrid vehicle having an engine and first and second motor-generators includes: a planetary gear set disposed on a first motor shaft of the first motor-generator, and including a planet carrier connected to an engine shaft, a sun gear connected to the first motor shaft, and a ring gear connected to a drive gear through a one-way clutch, a second motor shaft gear connected to a second motor shaft of the second motor-generator, an output shaft disposed between the engine shaft and the second motor shaft, and a brake unit to selectively connect the sun gear and the ring gear to a transmission housing. In particular, the output shaft is externally gear-meshed with the drive gear and the second motor shaft gear respectively through a driven gear, and externally gear-meshed with a final reduction gear of the differential gear through an output gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seong Wook Hwang, Tae Whan Kim, Youngbae Ryu, Jong Hyo Park, Hyung-Min Kim, Juhyeon Park, YongDal Choi, Jaewook Lee, Wonmin Cho
  • Patent number: 11642956
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus of a hybrid vehicle including an engine and a first motor-generator and a second motor-generator includes a compound planetary gear set engaged to a first motor shaft of the first motor-generator, and configured to receive an engine torque from the engine through a one-way clutch, to receive a motor torque of the first motor-generator, and to output an output torque as a combination of the engine torque and the motor torque through a drive gear, a motor shaft gear connected to a second motor shaft of the second motor-generator, and an output shaft disposed between an engine torque shaft connected to the engine and the second motor shaft connected to the second motor, and gear-engaged with the drive gear and the motor shaft gear respectively through a driven gear, and a brake unit configured to selectively connect one of a first sun gear and a second sun gear of the compound planetary gear set to a transmission housing to act as a fixed element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Seong Wook Hwang
  • Patent number: 11642957
    Abstract: A hybrid drive includes a control unit, an internal combustion engine, an electrical machine and a dual clutch transmission having an output shaft. The dual clutch transmission includes a first sub-transmission and a second sub-transmission, each couplable to the output shaft. A drive shaft of the internal combustion engine is couplable to a first input shaft of the first sub-transmission via a first clutch and to a second input shaft of the second sub-transmission via a second clutch. The control unit is configured to permit the second clutch to be closed even when the hybrid drive is being operated purely electrically so that the driveshaft of the internal combustion engine is driven by the electrical machine. A control unit and a method for operation of a hybrid drive are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Etzel, Michael Friedrich, Sebastian Liebert
  • Patent number: 11642958
    Abstract: A heat exchange system includes a first thermal circuit, a second thermal circuit, and a controller. A first thermal circuit includes a first device, a first pump, and a first flow path and a second flow path configured to cool the first device. A second thermal circuit includes a second device, a second pump, and a third flow path and a fourth flow path configured to cool the second device. A controller is configured to switch, when the controller switches a flow path of the first thermal circuit from the first flow path to the second flow path and switches a flow path of the second thermal circuit from the fourth flow path to the third flow path, the fourth flow path to the third flow path and the first flow path to the second flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takayuki Kawabe
  • Patent number: 11642959
    Abstract: A transfer for a four wheel drive vehicle includes first and second distribution mechanisms that respectively include first and second clutches configured to be controlled to a half-engaged state. The first and second distribution mechanisms distribute a portion of power outputted from a power source to a second transmission mechanism respectively through the first and second clutches. A first difference is different from a second difference. The first difference is a difference between a gear ratio from an input shaft of the first clutch to a first driving wheel and a gear ratio from an output shaft of the first clutch to a second driving wheel. The second difference is a difference between a gear ratio from an input shaft of the second clutch to the first driving wheel and a gear ratio from an output shaft of the second clutch to the second driving wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki Ushiki, Katsuya Higuchi
  • Patent number: 11642960
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selectively engaging an electric machine to an electric axle of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include engaging or disengaging the electric machine to a differential of the electric-axle by adjusting pressure in a piston coupled to an axle shaft of the electric-axle via a disconnect clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew T. Brammer, Mark Leber, Benjamin J. Passino, George A. Willford
  • Patent number: 11642961
    Abstract: An optical arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a head up display light field emitter that emits a light field. At least one mirror is positioned to reflect the light field such that the light field is again reflected by a windshield of the vehicle, and such that the light field is visible to a driver of the vehicle as a virtual image. The at least one mirror has a transparent section. A driver monitoring camera is positioned to capture an image of a face of the driver through the transparent section of the at least one mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventor: John Avery
  • Patent number: 11642962
    Abstract: A center information display system includes a center information display; a capturing device configured to obtain information on an occupant inside a vehicle; a rotating structure configured to adjust a view angle of the center information display; and a control device in communication with the capturing device, being configured to determine whether there is an occupant in a driver seat or a passenger seat, and control the rotating structure to rotate the center information display to a predetermined view angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: FUDING PRECISION COMPONENTS (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD., FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventor: Chia-Yen Lee
  • Patent number: 11642963
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for diagnosing damage to drive-train hardware of a vehicle in which a disconnector may obtain speed of an auxiliary drive wheel motor of the vehicle and speed of a main drive wheel motor of the vehicle and determines damage to the drive-train hardware including the disconnector that controls whether to interrupt delivery of power through engagement or disengagement between auxiliary drive wheel motor-side drive-train hardware and auxiliary drive wheel-side drive-train hardware, based on whether a difference between the speed of the auxiliary drive wheel motor and the speed of the main drive wheel motor exceeds a threshold value, Accordingly, preventing divergence of motor RPM by diagnosing damage to the drive-train hardware of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Se Hoon Park
  • Patent number: 11642964
    Abstract: A display device includes a display having a segment display portion that is configured to display a first icon and a dot matrix display portion, a display portion drive circuit outputting a drive signal for segment display to the segment display portion and outputting a drive signal for dot matrix display to the dot matrix display portion, a display abnormality detection circuit detecting a display abnormality of the first icon, a control circuit controlling the display portion drive circuit, and a processing unit providing the control circuit with an instruction to display a second icon, which is a substitute for the first icon, on the dot matrix display portion instead of an instruction to display the first icon on the segment display portion, when the display abnormality of the first icon is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventor: Kazuaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11642965
    Abstract: A system and a method of powering an external device with a vehicular battery system allow a user to charge electrically-powered devices with the electrical power source of his or her vehicle. The system includes an electrically-driven vehicle which includes a high-voltage battery. The system further includes a power modifier, an auxiliary battery, at least one external device, at least one on/off relay, and a user controller. The power modifier modifies the high-voltage DC drawn from the high-voltage battery to safely charge the auxiliary battery. The auxiliary battery stores electrical power. The external device may be any electrically-powered device. The on/off relay allows a user to turn the system on or off when desired. The user controller is communicably coupled to the on/off relay through a relay wireless communication module. The user controller allows a user to remotely operate the on/off relay and, thus, remotely turn the system on or off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventor: Keith Johnson
  • Patent number: 11642966
    Abstract: A control device that controls an in-vehicle battery and a charger in a demand and supply control system is configured to obtain total demand for electric power or the like generated in in-vehicle equipment, determine whether or not the total demand is able to be satisfied with electric power or the like suppliable from the in-vehicle battery, when the total demand is not able to be satisfied solely with the in-vehicle battery, and bring the charger into a drive state in a case where the total demand is able to be satisfied with total electric power or the like suppliable from the in-vehicle battery and the charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Patent number: 11642967
    Abstract: A machine may a first high voltage interlocking loop (HVIL) system to provide power to one or more components of the machine, the first HVIL system comprising: a plurality of groups of batteries; a plurality of disconnect components connected to the plurality of groups of batteries; a plurality of sets of contactors, a set of contactors, of the plurality of sets of contactors, being connected to a group of batteries of the plurality of groups of batteries. The machine may a second HVIL system to receive power from a power source, the second HVIL system comprising: a port configured to receive a connector of the power source and receive power, from the power source via the connector, to charge the plurality of groups of batteries, wherein the second HVIL system is independent with respect to the first HVIL system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Baumann, Justin D. Middleton, Jason Lee Miller, Dustin Craig Selvey, Alexander C. Crosman, III
  • Patent number: 11642968
    Abstract: At least one power line is connected to a battery mounted at a vehicle. Plural ECUs are each connected to the at least one power line. A processor switches one ECU at a time of the plural ECUs from a second state to a first state by sending state switching signals to the plural ECUs. A power line to which plural ECUs are connected is a target power line. On the basis of current values of the target power line measured by a current measurement section when these plural ECUs are switched to the first state one at a time, the processor determines whether or not each ECU is in an abnormal condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuaki Okada, Satoshi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 11642969
    Abstract: A regenerative torque control unit is configured to reduce a regenerative torque and increase a rising gradient of the regenerative torque at a start of regeneration when a road surface friction coefficient acquired by a road surface friction coefficient acquisition unit is low as compared to when the road surface friction coefficient is high. Thus, it is possible to suppress occurrence of a slip on a low ? road, and it is less likely to provide a feeling of strangeness from a change between a low ? road and a high ? road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makio Tsuchiyama
  • Patent number: 11642970
    Abstract: A trailer to be attached to a cycle such as a bicycle, or a trailer-cycle set includes a device for controlling the steering and speed or deceleration of the trailer according to input control commands, the controlling device being equipped with means for measuring signals representing the longitudinal force and transverse force applied by the cycle to the trailer, the measuring means comprising sensors, including at least one deformation sensor for measuring the signal representing the longitudinal force applied by the cycle to the trailer and two sensors on the wheels of the trailer for measuring the signals representing the transverse force applied by the cycle to the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: K-RYOLE
    Inventors: Gilles Vallier, Nicolas Duvaut, Damien Duvaut
  • Patent number: 11642971
    Abstract: An all-solid-state battery that includes a battery element and an exterior material covering a surface of the battery element, wherein the exterior material includes one or more glass state materials and one or more crystalline state materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kato, Keisuke Shimizu, Masamitsu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11642972
    Abstract: A configuration instruction associated with configuring a plurality of batteries which supply power to a plurality of motors in a vehicle is received. The batteries are configuring as specified by the configuration instruction, where the batteries are able to be configured in a plurality of configurations, including: a first configuration where at least some of the batteries are electrically connected together in parallel and a second configuration where at least some of the batteries are electrically connected together in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Orender, Christopher Scott Saunders, Derek Wong
  • Patent number: 11642973
    Abstract: A charge system for a vehicle includes a traction battery and a controller. The controller, responsive to passage of a predetermined period of time following activation of the vehicle without detecting a wake up signal, sets a diagnostic flag. The controller further, responsive to deactivation of the vehicle, presence of the diagnostic flag, and presence of a request designating a future start time for a charge event of the traction battery, initiates the charge event regardless of the future start time. The controller may further, responsive to deactivation of the vehicle, absence of the diagnostic flag, and presence of the request designating the future start time for the charge event of the traction battery, inhibit start of the charge event until the future start time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Toussaint Carpenter, Charles Everett Badger, II
  • Patent number: 11642974
    Abstract: A connection device for electrical connection of a vehicle to a charging cord provided with a charging socket is presented herein. The connection device includes a housing, at least a first and a second power contact disposed within the housing. Each power contact has a front section disposed in a front part of the housing which extends in a connection base and a rear section disposed in a rear part of the housing which extends in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of connection of the charging socket. The connector device also includes a printed circuit board mounted in the rear part of the housing. The printed circuit board extends in a plane substantially parallel to the direction of connection. The printed circuit board has a first face provided with a first metal pad which is compressed between the printed circuit board, an axial surface of the rear section of the first power contact, and a second face provided with a first temperature sensor which is arranged opposite the first metal pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Olivier Malandain, Stephane Barlerin
  • Patent number: 11642975
    Abstract: An automated valet parking method includes: activating an automated valet parking procedure, determining whether electrical charging of a vehicle is needed, setting a wireless charging service zone as a first target position when it is determined that the electrical charging of the vehicle is needed, transmitting the first target position and a first guide route leading to the first target position to the vehicle, setting an empty parking space as a second target position when the electrical charging of the vehicle is completed, and transmitting the second target position and a second guide route leading to the second target position to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sung Won Yoon
  • Patent number: 11642976
    Abstract: In external charging, a first threshold voltage and a second threshold voltage which is lower than the first threshold voltage are set. The ECU permits start of charging of a battery when a voltage of the battery is lower than the second threshold voltage. The ECU stops charging of the battery and notifies the user that the battery has been fully charged using an HMI when the voltage of the battery is higher than the first threshold voltage during charging of the battery. The ECU notifies the user that the battery has been fully charged using the HMI when the voltage of the battery after charging of the battery has been stopped is lower than the first threshold voltage and is higher than the second threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kentaro Munemoto
  • Patent number: 11642977
    Abstract: Techniques are presented for scheduling the charging of electric vehicles (EVs) that protect the resources of local low voltage distribution networks. From utilities, data on local low voltage distribution networks, such as the rating of a distribution transformer through which a group of EVs are supplied, is provided to a load manager application. Telematics information on vehicle usage is provided from the EVs, such as by way of the original equipment manufacturer. From these data, the load manager application determines schedules for charging the group of EVs through a shared low voltage distribution network so that the capabilities of the local low voltage distribution network are not exceeded while meeting the needs of the EV user. Charging schedules are then transmitted to the on-board control systems of the EVs for implementation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Weave Grid, Inc.
    Inventors: Apoorv Bhargava, John Marshall Taggart
  • Patent number: 11642978
    Abstract: A system and method for an electric vehicle (EV) battery resource sharing system is provided. One embodiment has a plurality of battery modules and a plurality of battery exchange facilities. Each different EV contains a battery swap cabinet that is configured to releasably secure at least one of the plurality of battery modules within the EV. A user of an EV, while at the battery exchange facility, exchanges a discharged first battery module for a second battery module that has been recharged. The battery exchange facility releases the recharged second battery module to the user after a payment has been made by the user. The battery exchange facility subsequently recharges the discharged first battery module after the user has placed the discharged first battery module into the battery exchange facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventors: Lixiong Wu, Elric Wu
  • Patent number: 11642979
    Abstract: Control device for controlling a switch in a charging line disposed between a first power line and a second power line in a power distribution architecture. The control device includes a current level input for receiving a current measurement of the current conducted through the charging line, a voltage level input for receiving a voltage measurement of the voltage applied on the charging line. A monitor monitors the relationship between the current and voltage measurements and generates a control signal for controlling the switch in response to a coherent change in the current and voltage measurements exceeding a threshold. A control signal is not generated when a change in one of the current and voltage measurements exceeding a threshold is not associated with a coherent change in the other of the current and voltage measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Guillaume Tournabien, Markus Heinrich
  • Patent number: 11642980
    Abstract: An obtaining unit obtains attribute information of an occupant of a vehicle, and an extraction unit extracts related facilities having predetermined relations to replenishing places for replenishing driving energy of the vehicle. A notification unit notifies the occupant of a replenishing place corresponding to a predetermined related facility among the related facilities extracted by the extraction unit, which is associated with the attribute information of the occupant obtained by the obtaining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryo Takebayashi
  • Patent number: 11642981
    Abstract: Controlling a charging current while transferring energy from a source battery to a target battery in an electric vehicle (EV) includes operating, by control circuitry, a buck converter at a fixed switching frequency to transfer power from the source battery to the target battery, in a first operational mode; in response to detecting a first trigger event, transitioning from the first operational mode to a second operational mode to operate the buck converter at a variable switching frequency; and in response to detecting a second trigger event, transitioning to a third operational mode to activate a boost converter coupled to the source battery and the target battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: FREEWIRE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Rogers, Nathan Biesterfeld, Nikola Milivojevic