Patents Issued in August 20, 2024
  • Patent number: 12065019
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods, devices, and systems for cooling a vehicular electronics system. In one aspect, a vehicular refrigerant system includes: (1) a refrigerant loop having a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, a condenser configured to condense the compressed refrigerant, an expansion device configured to enable expansion of the condensed refrigerant, and a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from a liquid coolant to the expanded refrigerant; (2) a liquid coolant loop configured to transfer heat from an electronics system via the liquid coolant; and (3) a controller configured to: (a) obtain operating data regarding the refrigerant, the liquid coolant, and/or the electronics system; and (b) adjust operation of the refrigerant loop and/or the liquid coolant loop based on the obtained operating data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Bergstrom, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Zeigler, Brett S. Connell
  • Patent number: 12065020
    Abstract: A cooling module including: a radiator including: first and second header tanks disposed to face each other; and hook parts respectively disposed at upper and lower sides of the first header tank and a lower side of the second header tank; and a condenser including: third and fourth header tanks disposed to face each other; a flange connection part coupled to the third header tank; and a gas-liquid separator coupled to the fourth header tank, in which the condenser is coupled to the radiator as the flange connection part, the third header tank, and the gas-liquid separator are inserted into the plurality of the hook parts, respectively, in a direction from an upper side to a lower side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventors: Sung Hong Shin, Jun Il Jang, Hyuk Kim
  • Patent number: 12065021
    Abstract: A vapor cycle refrigeration system for an aircraft comprises a compressor, a condenser unit with a condenser radiator, a condenser fan and a condenser air duct configured to direct a stream of air generated by the condenser fan through the condenser radiator, an expansion device, an evaporator unit with an evaporator radiator, an evaporator fan and an evaporator air duct configured to direct a stream of air generated by the evaporator fan through the evaporator radiator, and a piping system connecting the compressor, the condenser radiator, the expansion device and the evaporator radiator in a closed circuit for a refrigerant, wherein each of the compressor, the condenser radiator, the condenser fan, the expansion device, the evaporator radiator, the evaporator fan and the piping system is fully supported directly or indirectly by at least one of the condenser air duct and the evaporator air duct such that the system is self-supporting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Lilium eAircraft GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Gaile, Axel Dietrich
  • Patent number: 12065023
    Abstract: A vehicular rear slider window assembly includes a fixed window panel having an inner side and an outer side, an upper rail and a lower rail attached at the inner side, and a movable window panel having a lower perimeter edge received in a channel of the lower rail and an upper perimeter edge received in a channel of the upper rail. The lower rail includes a first attaching surface that attaches at the inner side and a second attaching surface opposite the first attaching surface. A retaining element is attached along the lower rail and at the second attaching surface. The retaining element includes an attaching portion that attaches at the second attaching surface and a retaining portion that extends at least partially across the channel of the lower rail to limit vertical movement of the movable window panel relative to the upper and lower rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Darin J. Snider, Benjamin J. Wolters
  • Patent number: 12065024
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body including a truck bed at least partially defining a cargo area, a vehicle interior with passenger seating, and a multi-component hard top assembly configured to selectively and removably couple to the vehicle body to provide an enclosed configuration at least partially enclosing the vehicle interior. The multi-component hard top assembly includes a rear window assembly configured to selectively and removably couple to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Michael S Boyle, Joshua Hall, Robert Rizzo, Cole T Schaenzer, Christopher J Allen, Jimmy L Suder, Jeffery E Long, Robert H Perkins, Mikil L Sockow, David C Fischer
  • Patent number: 12065025
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle body-use resin member disposed on an upper portion of a window member in a vehicle. At least one in-vehicle member is mounted on the vehicle body-use resin member. The vehicle body-use resin member has a visible light transmittance of 50% or less. The visible light transmittance may be 20% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: AGC INC.
    Inventor: Kuniko Nagai
  • Patent number: 12065026
    Abstract: A tonneau cover for a bed of a truck is provided. The tonneau cover includes several improvements including but not limited to a bulkhead panel that is secured to the truck. A first cover panel section pivotably attached to the bulkhead panel. A first intermediate panel section pivotably attached to the first cover panel section and a second panel section. A second intermediate panel section pivotably attached to the second cover panel section and a third panel section. The first cover panel section, the second cover panel section, and the third cover panel section fold to form a stack of cover panel sections which is pivoted upright onto the bulkhead panel which supports the stack of cover panel sections in an upright position. The second intermediate panel section sets upon the bulkhead panel when the stack of cover panel sections is pivoted upright onto the bulkhead panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Leer Group
    Inventor: Eugene A. Dylewski, II
  • Patent number: 12065027
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a reducer for an electric vehicle, the reducer including an input shaft connected to a motor, a differential disposed coaxially with the input shaft and relatively rotatable, a planetary gear train configured to decelerate power of the input shaft and transmit the power to a differential casing of the differential, and a drive shaft configured to penetrate the input shaft and coupled to one side gear of the differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Il Han Yoo, Se Hwan Cheon, Min Su Sun
  • Patent number: 12065028
    Abstract: A battery cell module for an electrically drivable motor vehicle has a bottom side and a top side. The battery cell module includes a support structure for battery cells and battery cells supported by the support structure. The battery cell module has at least one pressure element, which can be loaded on the bottom side and relocated relative to the support structure in order to transfer a load, in the case of limited load input into the support structure, from the bottom side to the top side. An electrically drivable motor vehicle has a bottom-side structure and a top-side structure. The bottom-side structure and the top-side structure delimit a receiving chamber for battery cell modules. The motor vehicle has at least one such battery cell module. The pressure element is supportable on the bottom-side structure and on the top-side structure in order to transfer a load, in the case of limited load input into the support structure, from the bottom side to the top side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Richard Eiletz, Christoph Warkotsch
  • Patent number: 12065029
    Abstract: An underbody module for a motor vehicle includes a left side element and a right side element, wherein the side elements extend in a longitudinal direction and are connected on the end sides by transverse elements, as a result of which an upper contact surface and a lower contact surface are formed. A floor element is arranged on the upper contact surface. A cover element is arranged or can be arranged on the lower contact surface, as a result of which an arrangement space is formed or can be formed between the floor element and the cover element, wherein the floor element is arranged in a gas-tight manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Burja, Robert Loch
  • Patent number: 12065030
    Abstract: A rear vehicle-body structure absorbs an impact while also accommodating an elongated battery installation and an increase in an amount of batteries installed. The rear vehicle-body structure includes a rear side frame which extends in a vehicle front-rear direction in a vehicle rear portion, a rear-side battery frame which extends in a vehicle width direction in vehicle rear of a battery and in vehicle front of the rear side frame and protects the battery, and a frame bracket which couples the rear side frame with the rear-side battery frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Kamemoto, Kouji Matsushita, Kazutaka Ishikura
  • Patent number: 12065031
    Abstract: In a fuel cell vehicle, an occupant room is disposed at a front part of a vehicle body frame, and a rear side of the occupant room of the vehicle body frame is a load mount part. A hydrogen handling device is supported at least by the load mount part. The fuel cell vehicle includes a cover room that surrounds at least an upper part and a side part of the hydrogen handling device that is supported by the load mount part. A load room is disposed on the load mount part of the vehicle body frame. A discharge duct that discharges a hydrogen gas in the cover room upward from between the load room and the occupant room is connected to the cover room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takanori Mori
  • Patent number: 12065032
    Abstract: A covering device (100) for a vehicle, includes: a cover (10); a drive element (40a, 40b) formed to enable a movement of the cover, wherein the drive element brings about a force which acts on the cover. The covering device has a force-limitation apparatus (30a, 30b) which limits the force brought about by the drive element to a limit force so that the covering device is protected in the event of an overload acting on the covering device and/or a user is protected when using the covering device. An actuator (200) has a drive apparatus (210) with a drive element (211); an output drive element (290); and a force-decoupling apparatus (230). The force-decoupling apparatus is formed so that it at least temporarily does not output a force taken up by the drive element or at least temporarily outputs it in a delayed manner to the output drive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS, INC.
    Inventors: Zsolt Wilke, Andreas Rudolf, Christian Beck, Matthias Hegwein
  • Patent number: 12065033
    Abstract: A device for fastening a tank to a vehicle is provided. The tank is substantially in the form of a cylinder with an axis arranged substantially horizontally. The device comprises at least two substantially identical, substantially flat frames, substantially perpendicular to the axis, comprising an opening presenting a shape substantially identical to a section perpendicular to the axis of the tank so as to be able to enclose, at least partially, the tank. The device further includes a fastening interface to the vehicle and an impact energy dissipation feature that dissipates impact energy transmitted to the tank according to a substantially horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the axis. The impact energy dissipation features is arranged between the opening and the fastening interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: FAURECIA SYSTEMES D'ECHAPPEMENT
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Koehl, Damien Fleche
  • Patent number: 12065034
    Abstract: A rear portal trailing arm assembly for a vehicle rear suspension that includes a CV joint hub for coupling with a transaxle and a wheel hub for coupling with a rear wheel. A gear transfer case extends rearward from the CV joint hub to an axle case and functions similarly to a rear trailing arm. Forward mounts facilitate coupling the gear transfer case to the chassis such that the trailing arm assembly pivots vertically with respect to the chassis. A rearward mount facilitates coupling a strut with the gear transfer case to control the vertical motion of the rear wheel. Multiple gear assemblies are meshed within the gear transfer case. An axle is coupled with the meshed gear assemblies and housed within the axle case, such that torque applied to the CV joint hub is communicated to the wheel hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Inventor: Robby Gordon
  • Patent number: 12065035
    Abstract: An in-wheel drive device includes: a wheel bearing including a hub and an outer race spaced apart outward in a radial direction from the hub; and a speed reducer including a ring gear coupled to the wheel bearing. An outer surface of the ring gear, in the radial direction, and an inner surface of the wheel bearing, in the radial direction, adjoin to define first and second regions. The ring gear includes a protruding portion disposed on the outer surface of the ring gear in the second region and having a shape protruding toward the inner surface of the wheel bearing. The wheel bearing includes a recessed portion disposed on the inner surface of the wheel bearing in the second region and having a shape corresponding to a shape of the protruding portion. The protruding portion and the recessed portion engage each other in the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyeong Ho Shin
  • Patent number: 12065036
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body having a cabin, a first seat and a second seat arranged in the cabin, a planar transparent member placed on a side surface of the cabin, and that separates an interior of the cabin and a vehicle exterior from each other, and a display device placed on the side surface of the cabin and arranged along the planar transparent member, the display device having a plurality of pixels. At least a part of the display device is placed on the side surface and between the first seat and the second seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Nishio, Naoki Usui, Takuma Masuda
  • Patent number: 12065037
    Abstract: Anti-vibration mount comprising a first frame, a second frame, an elastomeric main body connecting the first frame and the second frame, the elastomeric main body allowing relative displacements of the second frame relative to the first frame in a first direction of vibration and in a second direction of vibration perpendicular to the first direction of vibration, the elastomeric main body also being suitable for mounting a weight in the first direction of vibration. An inertia body is connected to the first frame by an elastic suspension interposed between the inertia body and the first frame along the second direction of vibration. An elastomeric lateral abutment body is interposed between the first frame and the inertia body to limit the relative displacements of the second frame with respect to the first frame in the second direction of vibration. The inertia body has a natural frequency lower than 800 Hz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: HUTCHINSON
    Inventors: Pierre Bristot, Khalid Aazizou, David Meunier
  • Patent number: 12065038
    Abstract: The control device of the alternative rotating electrical machine is configured as follows. a d-axis current command value and a q-axis current command value are kept at zero in dq vector control, in the state where the alternative rotating electrical machine is rotating. A time during which the output of the middle point level judging means is Hi is counted. A duty is calculated out from the ratio with a carrier wave cycle, and a conversion is conducted into a two-axis rotating coordinate system (three-phase to two-phase conversion) from the calculated out duty and the magnetic pole position, to calculate out a two-phase signal. The magnetic pole position origin point correction amount is calculated out based on a predetermined operation equation, from the two-phase signal. A magnetic pole position origin point correction is performed based on the calculated out magnetic pole position correction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Nishijima, Keiichi Enoki, Shingo Harada
  • Patent number: 12065039
    Abstract: Embodiments for a torque vectoring unit for an electric vehicle are provided herein. In an example, a torque vectoring unit includes an inner rotor, an outer rotor enclosing the inner rotor, and a stator enclosing the outer rotor, with the inner rotor, the outer rotor and the stator being concentrically arranged to one another. The inner rotor is drivingly connectable to a first wheel and the outer rotor is drivingly connectable to a second wheel, and the inner rotor and the outer rotor represent a first electric motor and the outer rotor and the stator represent a second electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: DANA BELGIUM N.V.
    Inventor: Joachim Druant
  • Patent number: 12065040
    Abstract: A testing platform for evacuated tube high-temperature superconducting magnetic levitation (HTS maglev) under a high-speed operation state, including an evacuated tube, a supporting platform assembly, a model train and a gantry. The supporting platform assembly is arranged in the evacuated tube, and is provided with a permanent magnet track and a stator winding. A mover and a cryogenic dewar are arranged at a bottom of the model train, and multiple superconducting bulks are arranged in the cryogenic dewar. A side wall of the model train is made of a metal material. The gantry is arranged on the supporting platform assembly, and permanent magnets are arranged on upright posts of the gantry. A testing method using the testing platform is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Southwest Jiaotong University
    Inventors: Weihua Zhang, Zigang Deng, Wenxiang Zhou, Haiquan Bi, Yuanbo Wang, Qiwen Ma, Le Liang
  • Patent number: 12065041
    Abstract: As a control mode for determining the torque distribution, set is either an in-phase mode in which respective positive and negative of output torque of the motors coincide with each other, or an out-of-phase mode in which the respective positive and negative of the output torque of the motors are different from each other. A distribution adjustment control is executed to adjust the torque distribution when the control mode is mutually transitioned between the in-phase mode and the out-of-phase mode. In the distribution adjustment control in a free running period of first output torque whose positive and negative are inverted at a time of transitioning the control mode, second output torque whose positive and negative are not inverted is adjusted to approach the total requested torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Tsukizaki
  • Patent number: 12065042
    Abstract: Tow bar arrangement (100) for interconnection of a pulling vehicle (10) and a pulled trailer (20). The arrangement (100) comprises a control device (110) with a force sensor (111) arranged to sense an instantaneous relative force between vehicle (10) and trailer (20). The control device (110) is arranged to produce a control signal for an electric motor (21) arranged to propel the trailer (20) so that a motor force counter-acts said measured force. The invention is characterised in that the control device (110) is arranged to a first time series of force measurements, in that the control device (110) comprises a low-pass filter (112) producing a second low-pass filtered time series, and in that a regulator (113) is arranged to regulate said second time series to produce said control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Electro Mobility Europe AB
    Inventors: Roland Andersson, Anders Nordzell, Ludger Sommer
  • Patent number: 12065043
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a battery pack including a secondary battery, a battery sensor configured to detect a state of the secondary battery, and a first control device; and a second control device provided separately from the battery pack, wherein: the first control device is configured to set a power upper limit value indicating an upper limit value of a battery power of the secondary battery by using a detection value of the battery sensor; and the second control device is configured to set a guard value of the upper limit value of the battery power by using a temperature of the secondary battery and set the power upper limit value such that the power upper limit value does not exceed the guard value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kikuchi, Junichi Matsumoto, Akio Uotani
  • Patent number: 12065044
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for electrical power distribution. In one example, a system includes plurality of electric consumers comprising one or more operating modes with different levels of power consumption, an energy storage and an electric machine arranged in the vehicle and configured to provide energy to the energy storage device or power to the electric consumers and torque to wheels of the vehicle, a power allocating device coupled to the energy storage device and the plurality of electric consumers, and a controller configured to maintain two indices for allocating power to the plurality of electric consumers, wherein a first index comprises a first power allocation strategy based on power from only the energy storage device and a second index comprises a second power allocation strategy based on power from the energy storage device and the electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Urs Christen, David Ramiro, Handian Chen, Fazal U. Syed, Sassan Farahmand, Brendan Jenkins, Douglas Michael Smith
  • Patent number: 12065045
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted power supply system includes a sampling circuit, a voltage comparison control circuit, a power conversion circuit, and a motor. The sampling circuit is configured to obtain an output voltage value of an output terminal of the power conversion circuit. The voltage comparison control circuit is configured to output a first power adjustment signal to the power conversion circuit when the output voltage value is less than a first target voltage value. The power conversion circuit is configured to increase an output voltage to a first target voltage based on the first power adjustment signal, to output the output voltage to the motor and increase an input voltage of the motor. When a voltage of a power supply is low, the input voltage of the motor can be maintained at a required level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Huawei Digital Power Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Quanxi Lin, Tong Wang, Hong Tuo
  • Patent number: 12065046
    Abstract: A method of charging one or more electric vehicles (EVs) includes receiving a voltage over a dedicated circuit from an electric power supply. A charging current is generated using the voltage and directed to a first output connection if a first EV is connected to a head that is connected to the first output connection. The charging current to the first one of the output connections is stopped, then directed to a second output connection if a second EV is connected to a head coupled to the second output connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: CyberSwitchingPatents, LLC
    Inventors: Charles H. Reynolds, Ronald L. Silorio
  • Patent number: 12065047
    Abstract: A system and method for a recharging station including a landing pad, a rechargeable component coupled to the landing pad, a power delivery unit configured to deliver power from a power supply unit or power storage unit to the recharging component, and a support component coupled to the bottom of the landing pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: John Charles Palombini, Kyle Clark, Cole Hanson, Richard Donnelly, Edward Hall
  • Patent number: 12065048
    Abstract: A system includes a behind-the-meter vehicle charging station. The vehicle charging station includes a vehicle-charging interface configured to supply the vehicle-charging power to a vehicle. The vehicle charging station further includes a communication unit configured to trigger a notification in response to a change in power availability. Additionally, the system includes a control system configured to modulate power delivery to the behind-the-meter charging station based on one or more monitored power system conditions or an operational directive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: LANCIUM LLC
    Inventors: Michael T. McNamara, David J. Henson, Raymond E. Cline, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12065049
    Abstract: A cart charging station includes a supporting member, a power transmission device, and an engaging member. The power transmission device is coupled to the supporting member such that a power transmission surface thereof faces a power receiving surface of a power reception device mounted on a cart at the cart charging station. The power transmission device is configured to transmit electric power to the power reception device in a non-contact manner. The engaging member is configured to engage with the power reception device of the cart and restrict movement of the power reception device in a frontward direction and the width directions of the cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masakazu Kato
  • Patent number: 12065050
    Abstract: A proximity detection system for facilitating charging of electric aircraft. The proximity detection system includes at least a computing device. The at least a computing device is configured to receive a detection datum from at least a sensor, determine a proximal element as a function of the detection datum, and communicate a notification as a function of the proximal element to at least one of the electric aircraft and a charging structure. The detection datum includes information on at least one of the electric aircraft and the charging structure. The proximal element includes information on a spacing between the electric aircraft and the charging structure. A proximity detection method for facilitating charging of an electric aircraft is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventor: Herman Wiegman
  • Patent number: 12065051
    Abstract: A plug connection system that autonomously charges an electric vehicle (EV) is provided. The method includes: obtaining a trained machine learning (ML) model from a back-end server; capturing an image using an image capturing device of the charging system, wherein a portion of the image comprises the EV charging portal; inputting the image into the trained ML model to determine one or more regions of interest associated with the EV charging portal within the image; determining a location of the EV charging portal based on the one or more determined regions of interest and one or more image processing techniques; and providing information to maneuver the robotic arm of the charging system to a physical position based on the determined location of the EV charging portal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: ABB E-mobility B.V.
    Inventor: Matthew Hetrich
  • Patent number: 12065052
    Abstract: An evaluation jig comprises a female terminal connectable to a male terminal of a charging connector. The female terminal includes a plurality of contact pieces and a support portion. Each contact piece has a flexible piece, and a contact portion protruding toward the center axis from an inner surface of the flexible piece. The flexible piece forms a portion of a cylinder having the center axis. The flexible piece has a length equal to or larger than twice an outer diameter of the cylinder in a direction parallel to the center axis. The flexible piece is elastically deformable so that the flexible piece has a distal end portion to be displaceable in a radial direction of the cylinder relative to a proximal end portion of the flexible piece. The contact portion has a shape curved so as to protrude inward in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hisato Kawahara, Hiroaki Yuasa, Hidetoshi Kusumi, Kyoko Inayoshi
  • Patent number: 12065053
    Abstract: This disclosure presents a portable load bank apparatus, system, method of control, and method of manufacture. A portable load bank apparatus may comprise one or more of a vehicle, a load bank, a set of batteries, a set of battery chargers, one or more processors, and/or other components. The load bank may be configured to perform a load test of an external power source. The processor(s) may be configured to cause one or more battery chargers in the set of battery chargers to direct an amount of a power output received by the load bank from the external power source to the set of batteries. The set of batteries may be used to provide electrical energy to one or more of an electric motor of the vehicle, one or more other electric vehicle, and/or other sources that may need electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Inventor: Shelby Kenneth Campbell Tyne
  • Patent number: 12065054
    Abstract: The invention provided an electric vehicle charging scheduling method, apparatus and system based on cloud-edge collaboration, a storage medium and an electronic device. In the present invention, a charging request of an electric vehicle user is accepted and processed by an edge computing unit, and a target charging station for a to-be-charged electric vehicle is determined with a minimum traveling cost as a target, so that a data transmission distance is reduced, and the electric vehicle user is timely assisted in selecting the target charging station and completing a charging appointment. After the charging appointment is made, charging data is uploaded to a charging optimization scheduling model pre-trained by a cloud platform for obtaining an electric vehicle charging scheduling strategy, so that powerful cloud platform computing abilities and rapid response advantages of the edge computing unit are fully utilized, the problem of network congestion is avoided, and timeliness is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Hefei University of Technology
    Inventors: Kaile Zhou, Dingding Hu, Lanlan Li, Xinhui Lu, Zhineng Fei
  • Patent number: 12065055
    Abstract: A grid to vehicle system is described. In some examples, the system selectively controls one or more electric vehicles connected to an electric grid based on conditions associated with the electric grid. For example, the system may control charging operations of the electric vehicles based on load balancing conditions associated with the electric grid, based on cost conditions associated with electric power provided by the electric grid, and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: RECARGO, INC.
    Inventors: Forrest North, Armen Petrosian, Lucas Manfield
  • Patent number: 12065056
    Abstract: A controller of an EMS server determines whether it has received a supply and demand request from a power transmission and distribution utility server. When having received the supply and demand request, the controller determines whether the supply and demand request is for requesting an increase in power demand or for requesting an increase in power demand. The controller decomposes the supply and demand request into first to third requests. The controller creates a negawatt DR execution plan or a posiwatt DR execution plan based on a determination result of S3. The controller allocates power adjustment resources to the first to third requests in consideration of responsiveness of each of the power adjustment resources. The controller transmits the first to third request signals to target power adjustment resources in accordance with the execution plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Orihashi, Shigeki Kinomura, Tamaki Ozawa, Chiaki Kanda
  • Patent number: 12065057
    Abstract: A control device for a virtual power plant that adjusts balance between supply and demand of electric power in a transmission and distribution network by controlling charging and discharging operations of storage batteries mounted on vehicles, includes: an estimation unit configured to estimate, based on past action patterns of the vehicles, possibilities of participation of the vehicles in the virtual power plant when a charging and discharging operation is requested; and a control unit configured to control charging and discharging operations of the storage batteries mounted on the vehicles based on the estimation result of the estimation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masato Ehara
  • Patent number: 12065058
    Abstract: Example embodiments of systems, devices, and methods are provided herein for cooling a modular energy system. The embodiments can utilize an enclosure surrounding the modular energy system to route the coolant in a manner that passes in proximity with components of modules of the modular energy system. The embodiments can provide for a sequence of pumping coolant such that the coolant cools components of the electric vehicle having the lowest desired operating temperature first, followed by the components having relatively higher desired operating temperatures. Example embodiments of systems, devices, and methods are also provided herein for a modular energy system with removable and replaceable energy sources. The system can be positioned within an electric vehicle in a manner that permits rapid removal of energy sources having a relatively low state of charge and replacement of those energy sources with different energy sources having a relatively higher state of charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: TAE Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikhail Slepchenkov, Roozbeh Naderi
  • Patent number: 12065059
    Abstract: A ground service system for an electric aircraft is disclosed. The system includes a charging module configured to charge a battery of an electric aircraft. The charging module includes a charging cable electrically connected to an energy source. The system includes a cooling module configured to regulate a temperature of the battery. The cooling module includes a cooling cable configured to carry a coolant. The system also includes a cabin soak module configured to provide a cabin soak coolant to a cabin of the electric aircraft. The cabin soak module includes a cabin soak cable configured to carry a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Jake Pill, Cole William Hanson, Edward Hall, Richard Donnelly, James Whitehill, Bruce Williams
  • Patent number: 12065060
    Abstract: An FCV includes: a driving device that generates traveling power by using at least one of FC energy and battery energy; and a display device that presents an indicator indicating the traveling power that is being generated by the driving device. When the traveling power is less than a threshold value, the driving device generates the traveling power by using one energy of the FC energy and the battery energy without using the other energy of the FC energy and the battery energy. When the traveling power is more than or equal to the threshold value, the driving device generates the traveling power by using both the FC energy and the battery energy. At the indicator, the display device presents information indicating the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 12065061
    Abstract: The embodiments described and claimed herein are improved vehicle access systems. In particular, one embodiment includes three compact, motorized mechanisms for pivoting a passenger seat toward a door opening, extending the passenger seat outside the door opening, lowering the passenger seat, and tilting the passenger seat to help the passenger stand. The first mechanism concurrently pivots the passenger seat and moves it sideways during the pivoting operation so that it is aligned with the door opening. The second mechanism extends the passenger seat outside the door opening. The third mechanism lowers the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: ADAPT SOLUTIONS
    Inventors: Christian Lemay, Etienne Carbonneau
  • Patent number: 12065062
    Abstract: A child safety seat and a telescopic structure thereof. The telescopic structure of the child safety seat includes: a first part; a second part slidably cooperated with the first part; and a hydraulic damper disposed between the first part and the second part. The hydraulic damper is configured to cushion relative sliding between the first part and the second part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Wonderland Switzerland AG
    Inventor: Xiaolong Mo
  • Patent number: 12065063
    Abstract: A kinetic seat assembly including a primary seat cushion frame including a rear rod extending between opposite rails, a secondary seat back frame movable relative to the primary seat cushion frame, a pair of clamps provided on the rear rod of the primary seat cushion frame, and a pair of vertical dampers coupled between the secondary seat back frame and the pair of clamps on the primary seat cushion frame, each clamp receiving an end of a corresponding vertical damper. In embodiments, the vertical dampers are arranged in a V-shape such that the vertical dampers are oriented at an angle relative to one another such that a distance between a first end of each vertical damper is greater than a distance between a second end of each vertical damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Rupert Muck, Charles P. Patterson, Peter J. Moegling, Matthew R. Speck, Leon T. Toma
  • Patent number: 12065064
    Abstract: A conveyance seat includes a large-capacity pocket formed on the rear surface of a seat back of the seat. The pocket has: a pocket forming sheet overlapping an outer surface of a back side skin material positioned on the rear surface of the seat back; and a pocket sewn portion. The pocket sewn portion has: right and left first sewn portions and right and left second sewn portions formed at positions sandwiching an opening portion in a seat width direction to form the opening portion of the pocket in an upper end portion of the pocket forming sheet; right and left third sewn portions forming right and left outer edge portions of the pocket; and a fourth sewn portion forming a lower edge portion of the pocket. The right and left second sewn portions are disposed inside the right and left third sewn portions in the seat width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuichi Akutsu, Soichiro Tanaka, Takamasa Sonoda, Ryosuke Kojima, Kazuya Aoki, Muneyuki Nogami
  • Patent number: 12065065
    Abstract: For the purpose of simplified production of a motor vehicle seat which can be used in a versatile manner, with a seat part, a backrest and a headrest, the seat part and/or the backrest and/or the headrest have or has a number of chambers which are produced additively from an elastic material, particularly preferably silicone and/or a polyurethane, and which are in each case designed to be filled at least temporarily with a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Friedrich, Lukas Knorr, Sophie Richter, Barbara Schmidt
  • Patent number: 12065066
    Abstract: A seat assembly may include a seat, a seat actuator, a sensor assembly, and an electrical control unit (ECU). The seat actuator may be configured to adjust the seat. The sensor assembly may be connected to the seat and may be configured to detect a pressure applied to the seat. The ECU may be operatively connected to the seat actuator and the sensor assembly. The ECU may be configured to reduce soft tissue stress in soft tissue of a user via adjusting the seat with the seat actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Francesco Migneco, Sajad Arabnejad
  • Patent number: 12065067
    Abstract: A support surface includes a table top, moving portions, base portions, and sensors. The moving portions are configured to move the table top in multiple degrees of freedom. Each moving portion is configured to move the table top in a degree of freedom and prevent movement of the table top in other degrees of freedom. The base portions are coupled to the moving portions and are configured to support the moving portions. The sensors are configured to receive a user input and communicate the user input to the moving portions so that the moving portions move the table top based upon the user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Athena Y. Huang, Tyson B. Manullang, Kurt R. Stiehl
  • Patent number: 12065068
    Abstract: A vehicle console includes a housing having at least one cupholder, a deployable shelf located proximate to the housing and movable between a recessed position in thermal communication with the at least cupholder and an extended position extending outward from the housing. The deployable shelf has a thermally conductive surface, and a heater operatively coupled to the thermally conductive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Dustin Shedlarski, Micah Jones, Hussein H. Berry
  • Patent number: 12065069
    Abstract: A wheel chock utilizing a magnet that enables quick employment while providing for easy and efficient transport and storage is disclosed. The wheel chock comprises a generally triangular shaped body having a top portion, a flat bottom portion, opposing sides, and a rear portion; and a magnet securely coupled to the rear portion via a fastening mechanism. The magnet is configured to exert a vertical magnetic force of approximately 100 pounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Inventor: Bradlee Figart