Patents Issued in May 14, 2024
  • Patent number: 11981186
    Abstract: A method and system for a responsive climate control interface are disclosed. The climate control interface includes an interactive element further comprised of a climate settings map and a climate setting selector. The climate setting selector can be moved to different locations on the climate settings map in order to select a climate setting with a particular temperature and fan speed. The appearance of both the climate settings map and the climate setting selector can be changed as the climate change selector is moved in order to visually indicate temperature and fan speed settings. The system also includes a haptic feedback module that can convert climate settings into haptic feedback levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher Tarchala, Hanna Gee, Megan Colleen Sundquist
  • Patent number: 11981187
    Abstract: An embodiment hook assembly for a door curtain to be installed on a door panel of a vehicle, the hook assembly includes a hook body installed to penetrate a through hole formed in the door panel, and a hook pin having an upper end hinge-connected to an upper portion of the hook body, wherein in a state in which an upper portion of the hook pin is completely inserted into the hook body, a part of the hook body is in an opened state and the hook body is locked to a circumference of the through hole such that the hook body is fastened to the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, NIFCO KOREA INC.
    Inventors: Min-Jung Kim, Jong-Woo Shim, Do-Won Kim, Yoo-Sung Doh
  • Patent number: 11981188
    Abstract: The invention relates to an extendable sun visor for a vehicle, comprising a base plate for providing a base area of shadowing, a first movable plate which is connected to the base plate and which is movable in relation to the base plate for providing a first additional area of shadowing, at least one second movable plate which is connected to the base plate and which is movable in relation to both the base plate and the first movable plate for providing at least one second additional area of shadowing, the at least one second additional area of shadowing being different from said first additional area of shadowing, and an actuating structure for actuating a movement of the at least one second movable plate when the first moveable plate is moved. A vehicle comprising such an extendable sun visor is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventor: Harshad Sawant
  • Patent number: 11981189
    Abstract: A method controls a plurality of assigned electrically controlled transmission switch elements of a first set in a vehicle sunroof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Florian Manz, Rayan Hammoud
  • Patent number: 11981190
    Abstract: A vehicle enclosure system may include a top rail and a bottom rail coupled to a side of a vehicle. The vehicle enclosure system may also include a housing coupled to the side of the vehicle. The housing may include a covering coupled to at least one handle. The at least one handle may be configured to facilitate a movement of the covering by a user. The housing may include a roller configured to facilitate the movement and storage of the covering. The vehicle enclosure system may include a rear cover assembly coupled to the housing and the covering. The covering may enclose an interior of the vehicle and extend the rear cover assembly simultaneously when the covering is moved to a deployed position. The covering may expose the interior of the vehicle and store the rear cover assembly simultaneously when the covering is moved to a storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: TopHat Cart Enclosures and Accessories LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey H. Yormak
  • Patent number: 11981191
    Abstract: An opening and closing structure of a sliding door for a vehicle includes: a sliding door disposed on a side surface of the vehicle and configured to be slidably open and closed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; at least one rail arranged in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle on one of a vehicle body of the vehicle and the sliding door; at least one roller arranged on the other one of the vehicle body and the sliding door, the at least one roller configured to slide while being fitted in the at least one rail; and a sliding unit disposed on a side of the vehicle body or the sliding door on which the at least one roller is arranged, the sliding unit configured to slide the at least one roller in a direction in which the sliding door slides. The at least one roller is configured to slide with respect to the vehicle body and the sliding door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: In-Chul Baik
  • Patent number: 11981192
    Abstract: An electric driveline for an electric vehicle, comprising: a battery unit, a motor unit and a motor control unit which are fixed to a vehicle chassis. A drive axle unit supporting the vehicle chassis. The motor unit placed in a cradle member, and directly coupled to the drive axle unit by means of a coupling member. The electric driveline allowing for a transmission to be eliminated from vehicles, thereby simplifying the production process of the vehicles and reducing manufacturing costs of the vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: DANA (WUXI) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Chun Zhang, Yang Liu, Shailesh Dalvi, Sushil Patil, Pradip Jasud
  • Patent number: 11981193
    Abstract: An electrically driven vehicle axle is provided, including an electrical machine, a left drive shaft, a right drive shaft, a first clutch connecting the electrical machine to the left drive shaft and a second clutch connecting the electrical machine to the right drive shaft. The first and second clutches are arranged concentrically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: BORGWARNER SWEDEN AB
    Inventors: Isak Andersson, Ted Brink
  • Patent number: 11981194
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive train for a mobile machine, including a first electric motor driving a working drive of the mobile machine via a first transmission arrangement, and a second electric motor driving a propulsion drive of the mobile machine via a second transmission arrangement, wherein a rotational speed of the second electric motor increases during a shifting operation of the second transmission arrangement out of a higher gear stage into a lower gear stage, and wherein during the shifting operation, a drive connection is established via a first clutch between the first electric motor and the propulsion drive, such that the propulsion drive is driven by the first electric motor during the shifting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Rico Glöckner, Lukas Jäger
  • Patent number: 11981195
    Abstract: Embodiments of a surface heat exchanger for a vehicle are described. In one embodiment, a surface heat exchanger includes a plurality of fins on a first outer surface The surface heat exchanger is mounted within an interior of a duct of a vehicle. An inlet of the duct is located on a side of the vehicle forward of a rear axle of the vehicle and an outlet of the duct is located rearward of the inlet. The plurality of fins of the surface heat exchanger are exposed to the interior of the duct. The plurality of fins are configured to transfer heat to airflows interacting with the plurality of fins as the airflows pass through the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Pirooz Moradnia, Matthew L. Metka, Pratap Thamanna Rao, Daniel A. Favela Tentori, Brian R. Reynolds, David W. Halt
  • Patent number: 11981196
    Abstract: Ride-on equipment includes a pair of front wheels, a pair of rear wheels, a main frame, a subframe pivotally coupled to the main frame about a pivot axis, a power source, and a transaxle assembly. The power source is coupled to and supported by the main frame and includes a drive pulley. The transaxle assembly is configured to pivot with respect to the power source, is operably coupled to the pair of rear drive wheels, and includes at least one driven pulley. The drive pulley and the at least one driven pulley are operably coupled by a belt such that the at least one driven pulley of the transaxle assembly is configured to be driven by the drive pulley of the source via the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Mark J. Melone, James F. Marshall, Richard Smith, Mark Lynch, Travis Rasch, Erik Slegelis, Steven J. Weber, Denis Oswald
  • Patent number: 11981197
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle powertrain, comprising: first and second power units (PUs), a propeller shaft, (PS) a power take-off, (PTO), a transmission comprising: first and second input shafts connected to the PUs, an output shaft connected to the PS, and a countershaft connected to the PTO, first and second input shaft gearwheels (ISGs) on the input shafts, first and second countershaft gearwheels (CSGs), the first CSG being in driving connection with the second ISG, first, second and third output shaft gearwheels (OSGs) in driving connection with the first ISG and the first and second CSGs, first and second gear engaging devices (GEDs), wherein, in a mode of operation, the first GED rotationally connects the first OS G to the output shaft, and the second GED rotationally disconnects the output shaft from the second and third OSGs, no parts of the powertrain being drivingly connected to both of the PUs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Johan Folkesson, Anders Hedman
  • Patent number: 11981198
    Abstract: A mover includes a body, an axle, a drive wheel, a motor, a speed reducer, and a shaft coupling. The wheel is arranged rotatably around the axle. The reducer is attached to the axle to reduce and transmit rotational power of the motor and includes an output shaft aligned with a center axis of the axle. The coupling transmits the rotational power of the reducer to the wheel and includes a cylindrical portion having an annular shape when viewed along the center axis and housing the reducer at least partially inside. The cylindrical portion includes an input portion and an output portion at first and second ends, respectively, along the center axis. The cylindrical portion further includes an absorber between the input and output portions to absorb deviation and an angle of deviation between respective rotational center axes of the output shaft and the drive wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sato, Yumiko Oshima
  • Patent number: 11981199
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating axles of a vehicle are provided. In one example, a propulsion source of a first axle is operated in a speed control mode at a first speed and a propulsion source of a second axle is operated in a speed control mode at a second speed. The propulsion sources are operated at different speeds to reduce a turning radius of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: DANA HEAVY VEHICLE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas L. Nahrwold
  • Patent number: 11981200
    Abstract: When temperature of a second power source of a vehicle becomes higher than a threshold value during a first mode in which three rotating elements of a differential gear can make differential movement and when four-wheel drive is needed, switching is performed to a second mode in which the three rotating elements are unified, and when four-wheel drive is not needed even when the temperature of the second power source becomes higher than the threshold value during the first mode, output of the second power source is restricted, while the first mode is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yosuke Akiyama, Akira Ijichi, Taichi Kobayashi, Koji Takaira, Akinori Homan, Yoshio Itou, Kunihiko Usui
  • Patent number: 11981201
    Abstract: A drive mechanism that connects to a rotary drive component for transferring rotary motion to another component. The drive mechanism may be a conversion assembly to facilitate a connection to an existing rotary drive component and transfer the rotary motion to another component. The drive mechanism may include a drive shaft, a housing with a rotary bearing and seal, an enclosure and a drive pulley or other transfer component. The drive shaft may include a cap and flange to connect to a rotary drum and extend to a drive pulley in an enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: TSI Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen William O'Brien, Todd Michael Coleman, Christopher Delmont Corfman, Charles J. Martis, Kerry Wayne Whitaker
  • Patent number: 11981202
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal device according to the present invention is provided with: a pedal arm (30) having an accelerator pedal; a resin housing (10) for supporting the pedal arm such that the pedal arm is swivelable about a prescribed axial line (S) between a rest position and a maximum stepping position; and a return spring (40) that applies a biasing force for returning the pedal arm to the rest position. The housing includes: a boss section (11i) through which a bolt (B) for fixing the housing to a vehicle body is made to pass; and a full open stopper (11n) for specifying the maximum stepping position in the vicinity of the boss section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: MIKUNI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Nagashima, Satoshi Miyazaki, Takahiro Urano
  • Patent number: 11981203
    Abstract: A system comprises a computer having a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to monitor conditions of a roadway as a vehicle travels the roadway while an adaptive cruise control feature of the vehicle is active, identify an expected condition change based on the monitoring the conditions of the roadway, determine a preferred power state for an engine of the vehicle based on the expected condition change, determine that an engine power state transition is planned for the engine, the engine power state transition including transitioning the engine from a current power state to a planned power state, and resolve the engine power state transition based on the preferred power state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Barrett, Keith Weston, Brendan Francis Diamond, Andrew Denis Lewandowski
  • Patent number: 11981204
    Abstract: The operating unit comprises an operating element which is adapted to be mechanically excited by means of a piezo driver. The piezo driver comprises a piezo actuator made from a piezoelectric material. The longitudinal extension ends of the piezo actuator have mechanically coupled thereto a conversion gear for converting a length change of the piezo actuator occurring in the effective direction of the piezo actuator into a movement of an element, which is coupled to the conversion gear and to be moved, at an angle not equal to 0 degree relative to the longitudinal extension of the piezo actuator. The conversion gear comprises a first bracket which is of an elastic configuration and/or comprises an elastic material and which, in the area of the longitudinal extension ends of the piezo actuator, is mechanically coupled to the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: BEHR-HELLA THERMOCONTROL GMBH
    Inventors: Pasi Kemppinen, Stefan Kirsch
  • Patent number: 11981205
    Abstract: A system and method for locating a portable electronic device that is paired with a vehicle that uses a plurality of antennas located on an exterior of a body of the vehicle, within an interior cabin of the vehicle, or located on the exterior of the body and within the interior cabin of the vehicle to communicate with the portable electronic device, and displays a location of the portable electronic device within or near the vehicle based on the communication between the plurality of antennas and the portable electronic device on a graphic display interface of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Jason C Hedlund
  • Patent number: 11981206
    Abstract: A vehicle display control device includes a processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions to perform. The processor is configured to estimating curvature of a road on which a host vehicle will travel based on at least an output of a detection device that detects a target object present in a traveling direction of the host vehicle, causing a display device to display a surrounding situation display image including a host vehicle icon representing the host vehicle and an image of a road marking whose shape is determined based on the curvature, and decreasing reference curvature of the image of the road marking included in the surrounding situation display image if a prescribed condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya Sakai, Satoko Yokochi
  • Patent number: 11981207
    Abstract: A method for presenting one or more images to an observer on a reconfigurable electronic display includes prompting the observer to select a portion of the display that is visible to the observer and, if the observer has selected a portion of the display, presenting the images to fit within the selected portion of the display. Subsequent to presenting the images to fit within the selected portion of the display and in response to at least partial obstruction of the observer's view of the images by a visual obstruction, the images are reconfigured to be fully visible to the observer notwithstanding the visual obstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Blodgett, Dustin H. M. Smith
  • Patent number: 11981208
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle comprises a controller comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions. The system comprises a transformable knob manipulated between first and second states. The knob comprises a body having a periphery wall arranged to flex between first and second configurations with the first and second states, respectively. The system comprises an output device arranged to change between first and second settings. Manipulation of the transformable knob from the first state to the second state transmits an input signal to the controller and facilitates flexing of the periphery wall from the first configuration to the second configuration. The controller receives the input signal, and the processor compares the input signal to the instructions in the non-transitory computer-readable medium and transmit an output signal to the output device to change the output device from the first setting to the second setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joseph F. Szczerba, Ki Hyun Ahn
  • Patent number: 11981209
    Abstract: An engine-and-electric-machine assembly, including an engine (8) and an electric machine (9). The crankshaft (7) of the engine has an extension section (7-3) that extends to the exterior of the engine, and the rotor (3) of the electric machine is mounted to the extension section. The present disclosure improves the integration level of the engine-and-electric-machine assembly, and reduces the weight and volume of the engine-and-electric-machine assembly. A vehicle driving device including the engine-and-electric-machine assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: JING-JIN ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ping Yu, Zhicheng Guo, Xueliang Wang
  • Patent number: 11981210
    Abstract: A controller for a hybrid vehicle capable of making a first control rule and a second control rule cooperate with each other is provided. In the first control rule, a gear ratio is controlled such that output from an internal combustion engine via a transmission satisfies requested drive power. In the second control rule, the gear ratio is controlled such that a sum of drive power by a motor and drive power by the internal combustion engine becomes the requested drive power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignees: Bosch Corporation, Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Masashi Yukawa, Bryan Mani, Michael Just
  • Patent number: 11981211
    Abstract: An electric power system for a vehicle having an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). The electric power system includes a first power source arranged for supplying electric power to the ADAS. The electric power system includes a second power source arranged for supplying electric power to the ADAS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Ningbo Geely Automobile Rese arch & Dev. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heza Mahmoud, Fadi Almoosawi, Thomas Klintberg
  • Patent number: 11981212
    Abstract: A cooperative control method and system for electro-hydraulic hybrid braking of a middle-low speed maglev train is provided, which relates to the field of vehicle braking control. The method includes: denoising operation data of a middle-low speed maglev train; using a controlled autoregressive integrated moving average model as an electro-hydraulic hybrid braking process model for the middle-low speed maglev train, and processing denoised operation data by using a least square method to determine parameters in the controlled autoregressive integrated moving average model; establishing a generalized predictive control model with time lag compensation according to the controlled autoregressive integrated moving average model and a Smith predictor; and performing cooperative control on an electro-hydraulic hybrid braking process of the middle-low speed maglev train by using the generalized predictive control model with time lag compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignees: CRSC RESEARCH & DESIGN INSTITUTE GROUP CO., LTD., EAST CHINA JIAOTONG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ling Liu, Hui Yang, Junfeng Cui, Kunpeng Zhang, Qi Wang, Changyuan Wang, Qi Wang, Yanli Zhou
  • Patent number: 11981213
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an electric drivetrain. In one example, the electric drivetrain system includes a first and a second electric motor-generator rotationally coupled to a planetary assembly that is rotationally coupled to a drive axle via an output gear. The system further includes a controller that is configured to, during a first operating condition, operate each of the first and second electric motor-generators in a motor mode or a generator mode and hold the output gear at a zero speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: DANA HEAVY VEHICLE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. David, Travis J. Miller
  • Patent number: 11981214
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle motion management system as well as an actuator control system of a vehicle. The vehicle motion management system and actuator control system are arranged to control operation of at least one actuator configured to apply a torque to at least one wheel of the vehicle. The vehicle motion management system is configured to transmit a control signal to the actuator control system, wherein the actuator control system is configured to, based on the control signal, generate an operating torque to be executed subject to the torque limit and the desired wheel speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Adithya Arikere, Leon Henderson, Leo Laine, Ray Sidhant
  • Patent number: 11981215
    Abstract: A rotary electric machine is disposed coaxially with an input member and is disposed more toward a first side in an axial direction than a first gear that meshes with a second gear. A third gear that rotates integrally with second and fourth gears that mesh with third gear are disposed more toward second side in axial direction than first and second gears. An axis of a counter gear mechanism is disposed below both axis of rotary electric machine and axis of differential gear mechanism. An inverter device is disposed more toward first side in axial direction than fourth gear and above axis of differential gear mechanism while being disposed at such position that inverter device overlaps fourth gear as seen in axial direction. A specific portion of inverter device is disposed between rotary electric machine and fourth gear in axial direction, at such position that specific portion overlaps counter gear mechanism as seen in up-down direction and overlaps rotary electric machine as seen in axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryohei Inoue
  • Patent number: 11981216
    Abstract: A power system includes a battery and a controller. The controller inhibits charge of the battery according to voltage or current values sensed before and after contactors electrically connected to the battery are commanded to open and indicating that a leakage resistance associated with one of the contactors increases after the one of contactors is commanded to open, and a duration of a continuous voltage drop across another of the contactors after the another of the contactors is commanded to open exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Baojin Wang, Chingchi Chen, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, Aaron Walker, Rui Wang, Xianzhi Gong, Xu Wang, John Paul Gibeau
  • Patent number: 11981217
    Abstract: A system for a drive energy store of a hybrid or electric vehicle is provided. The system includes a receiver which is designed to receive state information of the drive energy store, the state information specifying whether a defect is present or imminent in the drive energy store; and a charging controller, which is designed to adjust a maximum charging voltage and/or a maximum state of charge for a charging process of the drive energy store by a recovery mechanism and/or a load point shift and/or an external charging station to a reduced value if the state information indicates that the defect is imminent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Armin Friegel, Robert Lustig, Bernhard Sessner, Hubertus Welsch
  • Patent number: 11981218
    Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for requesting a battery to be unlocked from an e-vehicle using an application for authorizing a user to unlock the battery. A request is received at a cloud-based server, to unlock the battery from the micro mobility vehicle. Authorisation data is provided, by the cloud-based server, if the user making the request is permitted to unlock the battery at the e-vehicle. Further, methods and apparatus for controlling a self-serviced battery swap station by a cloud-based server are described. In one example battery data may be obtained from a cloud-connected battery swap station and used to generate battery charging control data. In one example, the battery charging control data is sent to the battery swap station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: PUSHME BIKES LIMITED
    Inventors: Georgios Kalligeros, Christos Grivas
  • Patent number: 11981219
    Abstract: A battery charging system including a first battery pack having a first battery that is charged in a non-contact connection; a second battery pack having a second battery that is charged in a non-contact connection, a first capacitor connected in series between positive and negative poles of the second battery, and a first BMS configured to measure a voltage of the second battery and voltages of both ends the first capacitor; and the first BMS charges the second battery with the voltage of the first battery when the first battery voltage is higher than the second battery voltage, and charges the first battery with the voltage of the second battery when the first battery voltage is lower than the second battery voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventor: Hyeon Jin Song
  • Patent number: 11981220
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a system that includes: an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising one or more on-board batteries, and a self-powering payload coupled to the UAV, wherein the self-powering payload comprises: one or more transformable devices configured to alter an orientation of the one or more transformable devices with respect to a transmission line in proximity to the UAV when the UAV is air-borne; one or more coil devices mounted on the one or more transformable devices and configured to capture a magnetic flux of an electromagnetic field generated by the transmission line; and an electric circuit configured to generate, based on the captured magnetic flux, charging currents for the one or more on-board batteries on the UAV while the UAV is in air-borne.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Khaled F. Abusalem, Soliman A. Al-Walaie, Osama Bakur Bahwal, Hadeel Algallaf
  • Patent number: 11981221
    Abstract: The invention relates to a contact device for being arranged on an electrically driven vehicle, in particular electric bus or the like, or on a charging station for an electrically driven vehicle having at least two contact bar arrangements (10), each comprising one contact bar carrier (11) and at least one contact bar (12) which is disposed on the contact bar carrier and which is electrically connectable to a charging contact of a charging contact carrier of a charging contact device of the charging station or to a contact bar of the vehicle, the contact bar having a connecting device (13) for connecting the contact bar to an electrical conductor (14), which is guidable towards the vehicle or towards the charging station, the connecting device comprising a groove (15), which extends longitudinally in the contact bar, and a connecting element (16), which is attached to the groove, for being connected to the electrical conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: SCHUNK TRANSIT SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Schneider, Matthias Domes, Timo Staubach
  • Patent number: 11981222
    Abstract: A system may include at least one stationary inductive charging device for inductively charging a motor vehicle and at least one compressor. The charging device may include a base plate, a cover, an interior volume defined between the base plate and the cover, a coil, a magnetic flux guiding unit, an intermediate wall, an inlet, and an outlet. The intermediate wall may divide the interior volume into a distribution chamber and a receiving chamber. The coil and the magnetic flux guiding unit may be arranged in the receiving chamber. The inlet may be arranged on a pressure side of the compressor such that compressed gas flows into the distribution chamber via the inlet. The intermediate wall may define at least one passage fluidically connecting the distribution chamber and the receiving chamber such that gas flows into the receiving chamber via the passage with reduced pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Himmer, Holger Schroth
  • Patent number: 11981223
    Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and computer systems are disclosed herein as implemented by a controller operatively coupled to a network of electric vehicles. The methods and systems include the controller (i) receiving a notification that an electric vehicle is stranded without sufficient power to operate; (ii) receiving information regarding the stranded electric vehicle; (iii) detecting one or more other electric vehicles in a vicinity of the stranded electric vehicle; (iv) receiving information regarding the detected one or more other electric vehicles; and/or (v) determining, based upon the received information, which of the detected one or more other electric vehicles to send a power source request. Alternatively, the notification may indicate that an electric vehicle has a low state of charge (SOC), or is otherwise has a battery in need of being recharged to facilitate the electric vehicle traveling to a destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
    Inventor: Joseph R. Brannan
  • Patent number: 11981224
    Abstract: A vehicle charging station includes a shroud configured to guide a vehicle charge plug that is lowered from a vehicle toward a charge connector as the vehicle moves toward the charging station. The vehicle charge plug and the charge connector have contacts arranged on a connector face that is generally perpendicular to a surface on which the vehicle charging station rests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Westfall, Hannah Bailey, Jacob Mathews
  • Patent number: 11981225
    Abstract: This display device comprises a display provided in a moving body, a range calculation unit for calculating reachable range that the moving body can reach on the basis of the amount of remaining energy that the moving body has, and a display control unit for displaying the moving body, a prescribed facility (charging station), and the reachable range on a screen of the display such that the same are superimposed on a map and displaying the prescribed facility so as to be fixed at a prescribed position on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tasuku Saka, Masayuki Morita, Tomohisa Manabe, Nobuya Nishimura
  • Patent number: 11981226
    Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing a battery swapping system for an electrically powered vehicle. The vehicle includes a propulsion system, a first battery powering the propulsion system, and another power source powering the propulsion system. The vehicle further includes a controller configured to enable unloading the first battery to a first charging station by propulsion of the vehicle towards and then away from the first charging station. The controller is further configured to subsequently enable loading a second battery from a second charging station by propulsion of the vehicle powered by the another power source towards the second charging station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rajashekar Sohmshetty, Archana Sohmshetty, Ajay Sohmshetty
  • Patent number: 11981227
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for installing traction batteries underneath a cab of a cab-over-engine vehicle. A base portion defines a space into which a portion of a traction battery pack is receivable by lowering the traction battery pack into said space. Front and rear securing element are connected to the base portion for securing the base portion to front and rear bushings, respectively, of the vehicle. At least one of the securing elements comprises a first securing portion for connecting that securing element to one of said bushings, respectively, and a second securing portion projecting upwardly from the base portion for connecting that securing element to the traction battery pack when the traction battery pack has been received in said space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Sondre Landvik, Krister Andersson, Roger Hedlund, Guilherme Selbach, Mikael Boisen
  • Patent number: 11981228
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a battery assembly includes a processing device configured to receive measurement data from a plurality of battery components, and input the measurement data to a battery model configured to determine parametric data. Based on the battery model, the processing device is configured to acquire the parametric data, extract statistical information based on at least one parameter of each battery component, and input the statistical information to a failure identification module that includes a first classifier configured to determine whether the battery assembly is in a failure condition based on the statistical information. The processing device is configured to output a health indicator having a first value indicating that the battery assembly is healthy based on first classifier determining that the battery assembly is in the healthy condition, and a faulty value based on the first classifier determining that the battery assembly is in a failure condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Shiming Duan, Chaitanya Sankavaram, Xiaomeng Peng
  • Patent number: 11981229
    Abstract: An on-board network for a motor vehicle including a control device, an energy storage device, and multiple components operable via the energy storage device. The on-board network is divided into at least two sub-networks and the sub-networks each include at least one of the components. The components of different sub-networks are each assigned to at least one different operating state of the motor vehicle. Each of the sub-networks can be separated from the energy storage device via at least one switching device and the control device is configured to activate the switching devices as a function of operating state information which describes at least one present operating state of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Karl Jelinek, Christian Lippert, Stefan Schoberer
  • Patent number: 11981230
    Abstract: A method of operating a machine battery system having multiple battery packs connectable in parallel includes bringing a first battery pack with the highest offline pack voltage online for discharging, including a pack controller circuit of the first battery pack bringing one or more individual battery strings of the first battery pack online; bringing a next battery pack with a next highest offline pack voltage online when the next highest offline pack voltage is within a predetermined discharge threshold voltage of a load voltage, including the pack controller circuit bringing one or more individual battery strings of the next battery pack online; and waiting to bring the next battery pack online, when the next highest offline pack voltage is less than a predetermined discharge threshold voltage of the load voltage, until the next highest offline pack voltage is within the predetermined discharge threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander C. Crosman, III, Joseph Oluwagbeminiyi Oyekan
  • Patent number: 11981231
    Abstract: A power system includes an inverter, a pair of traction batteries electrically in series, and collectively in parallel with the inverter, a plurality of switches electrically in series, and collectively electrically in parallel with the traction batteries and inverter such that the switches are connected between the traction batteries and inverter, and one or more controllers programmed to operate the switches during charge of one of the traction batteries or operation of the inverter to balance states of charge of the traction batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lihua Chen, Boris Curuvija, Baoming Ge
  • Patent number: 11981232
    Abstract: A seat includes a cushion comprising a foam body and a trim cover disposed thereon, the trim cover having a forward portion at a front of the cushion and at least one elastic band attached to the forward portion; and a movable cushion length adjuster having an extended position and a retracted position, the movable length adjuster comprising a body with an occupant surface on a first side, and features on a second side, opposite to the first side. The at least one elastic band is routed on the features, and in the retracted position, the movable cushion length adjuster at least partially covers a portion of the cushion, and in the extended position, the length adjuster is spaced apart from the portion such that the at least one elastic band tensions the trim cover by pulling on the forward portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roberto Riva, Armando Pirri, Marco Miniati
  • Patent number: 11981233
    Abstract: An autonomous can include one or more configurable passenger seats to accommodate a plurality of different seating configurations. For instance, the one or more passenger seats can include a passenger seat defining a seating orientation. The passenger seat can be configurable in a first configuration in which the seating orientation is directed towards a forward end of the autonomous vehicle and a second configuration in which the seating orientation is directed towards a rear end of the autonomous vehicle. The passenger seat can include a seatback rotatable about a pivot point on a base of the passenger seat to switch between the first configuration and the second configuration. Alternatively, or additionally, the autonomous vehicle can include a door assembly pivotably fixed to a vehicle body of the autonomous vehicle such that a swept path of the door assembly when moving between an open position and a closed position is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Adam Kanitz
  • Patent number: 11981234
    Abstract: Systems and mechanisms for facilitating concurrent positional adjustments of a seat with one or more steering controllers along a longitudinal direction of a vehicle, are disclosed. The embodiments provide a mechanism by which operators of a wide range of body types may comfortably occupy and use vehicles configured with lap bar controls, such as zero-turn radius mowers. In one example, the seat and steering controllers are both mounted on a support structure that is configured to be movable relative to a chassis of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Teegan L. Aldridge, Vincent A. Prinzo
  • Patent number: 11981235
    Abstract: A child safety seat includes: a base; a connector pivotally connected to the base via a pivot shaft and configured to be connected to a locking interface associated with the vehicle seat; and a damper configured to maintain the connector in the initial pivotal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: WONDERLAND SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventor: Zhengwen Guo