Electric Patents (Class 180/65.1)
  • Patent number: 11147209
    Abstract: A riding lawn mower includes front and rear wheels and a frame extending therebetween. The riding lawn mower has a first portion coupled to the front wheels and a second portion coupled to the rear wheels, the first portion coupled to the second portion at a pivot point. The mower comprises a motor and battery supported by the frame and a drive mechanism configured to rotate the second portion of the base at the pivot point toward the first portion of the base, whereby a force required to lift the mower at the front wheel is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ataco Steel Products Corp.
    Inventor: Thomas J. George
  • Patent number: 11142441
    Abstract: A forklift includes a fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a battery stack and a capacitor and is electrically connected to a vehicle system. The vehicle system includes a control valve that switches supply of hydraulic oil to a power steering cylinder and a cargo-handling cylinder, a cargo-handling pump that supplies hydraulic oil stored in a hydraulic oil tank to the control valve, a cargo-handling motor that drives the cargo-handling pump, and an on-load valve that returns the hydraulic oil from the control valve to the hydraulic oil tank. The fuel cell system operates the fuel cell system to execute a warm-up control. A vehicle ECU continues supplying power from the fuel cell stack to the cargo-handling motor during the execution of the warm-up control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naoya Tomimoto
  • Patent number: 11142037
    Abstract: A thermal management system for a vehicle includes a cooling device which includes a radiator, electrical components, and at least one water pump which are connected through a coolant line, to circulate a coolant through the coolant line to supply the coolant to the electrical components and an oil cooler which is mounted on the coolant line and connected to a drive motor to cool the drive motor; and an HVAC module which has a heater connected to the coolant line through first and second connection lines to supply the coolant with a temperature which is increased as the coolant passes through the electrical components and the oil cooler in a heating mode of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Yeon Kim, Su Whan Kim
  • Patent number: 11129760
    Abstract: A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a surface. The patient transport apparatus comprises a base and support wheels coupled to the base. An auxiliary wheel assembly is coupled to the base and comprises one or more auxiliary wheels that influence motion of the patient transport apparatus over the surface to assist caregivers. An actuator system is operatively coupled to the auxiliary wheels to move the auxiliary wheels relative to the base from a stowed position to a first deployed position, and further to a second deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin M. Patmore, Henry Kuhnen
  • Patent number: 11130384
    Abstract: A heating and cooling system for an electric vehicle includes an electric pump that pumps fluid around a first loop to selectively cool part of the drive train of the vehicle. The fluid passes through a cabin heater that extracts heat energy from the fluid and back to the part of the drive train. An electric compressor pumps fluid around a second loop through a condenser which extracts heat energy from the fluid which flows through an expansion valve and an evaporator and back to the electric compressor. A cabin chiller including an evaporator is located in a flow path receiving fluid output from the condenser through an expansion valve upstream in the flow path. The fluid from the evaporator is drawn back into the second loop by the electric compressor. The chilled fluid flowing through the evaporator extracts heat from the fluid flowing around the first loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: WILLIAMS ADVANCED ENGINEERING LIMITED
    Inventor: Davide Conti
  • Patent number: 11119486
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to provide an improved mobility vehicle are disclosed. An example vehicle includes a sensor positioned with respect to a seat to detect pressure by a user with respect to the sensor and to generate a signal corresponding to the pressure; and a processor to convert the signal into a control command for a powertrain to move the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jose Daniel Magraner Bonifacio
  • Patent number: 11117495
    Abstract: A motorized seat that may be used in various marine applications to help improve adjustability and user comfort. In one implementation, a left armrest motor, a right armrest motor, and a footrest motor are selectively controllable and configured to move the left armrest between a left armrest stowed position and a left armrest lowered position, the right armrest between a right armrest stowed position and a right armrest lowered position, and the footrest between a footrest stowed position and a footrest lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: GLOBAL INTERIOR SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Derek Heath, Doug Heath
  • Patent number: 11121419
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing and utilizing heat associated with battery charge and/or discharge cycles are described herein. A system as described herein includes a battery array comprising one or more batteries, a heat collector physically coupled to respective batteries of the battery array that captures heat associated with at least one of charge cycles or discharge cycles of the respective batteries of the battery array, and a routing controller communicatively coupled to the heat collector that initiates transference of the heat captured by the heat collector as an energy source to one or more subsystems that are distinct from the heat collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: RESILIENCE MAGNUM IP, LLC
    Inventors: Michael E. Giorgi, Patrick M. Mause, Steven Rosen
  • Patent number: 11117458
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention is a fuel cell system architecture provides a good weight distribution, improved trunk space without reducing the security against front-end and rear end collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Plastic Omnium Advanced Innovation and Research
    Inventors: Joel Op De Beeck, Bernard Gautherin, Damien Boquel, Eric Deparis, Paul Wouters, Jean-Francois Berard
  • Patent number: 11114710
    Abstract: A battery module includes: a plurality of battery cells; a top plate configured to cover an upper side of the battery cells; a bottom plate configured to cover a lower side of the battery cells; a pair of side plates configured to cover both side surfaces of the battery cells; a bus bar unit configured to cover a front side and a rear side of the battery cells, the bus bar being electrically connected to the battery cells; and a pair of heatsinks each having a coolant injection portion and a coolant discharge portion protruding out of the battery module. The pair of heat sinks are provided at the upper side and the lower side of the battery cells, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Inventors: Sung-Won Seo, Dal-Mo Kang, Jeong-O Mun, Yoon-Koo Lee, Alexander Eichhorn, Andreas Track
  • Patent number: 11108302
    Abstract: A machine includes a liquid system and a shaft. The shaft is rotatable about a rotation axis and includes a first part and a second part engaged coaxially with the first part. The first part is rotatable relative to the second part about the rotation axis to define a liquid pump between the first part and the second part. The pump is hydraulically connected to the liquid system. A method of cooling the machine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Dana Tomescu, Daniel Alecu
  • Patent number: 11096845
    Abstract: Wheeled vehicles, such as wheelchairs, that are adapted to traverse obstacles are provided. The wheeled vehicles include a frame, drive wheels, front anti-tip wheels positioned in front of the drive wheels and rear anti-tip wheels positioned behind the drive wheels. One exemplary vehicle includes front anti-tip wheels supported by rigid arms that are fixed to the frame and drive assemblies that are independently suspended from the frame. Another exemplary vehicle includes a linkage that links the front and rear anti-tip wheels, such that movement of one of the front or rear anti-tip wheel relative to the frame causes movement of the other wheel relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Invacare Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Cuson, Robert A. Bekoscke, Daniel J. Stothard
  • Patent number: 11097606
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a modular way to build a rolling chassis using composite materials without custom forming, and yielding appropriate weight distribution (centre of gravity) and torsional and bending rigidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: ELECTRAMECCANICA VEHICLES CORP.
    Inventors: Rodney J. Trenne, Richard Winston Hoyle, Henry Richard Reisner, Edward Russell Theobald, Jerry Kroll
  • Patent number: 11085172
    Abstract: A storage battery (21) is configured of a plurality of cells (22A) to (22N) series-connected to each other. A battery controller (27) receives power supplied from a lead battery (31). The battery controller (27) executes balancing control that reduces variation in cell voltages (VcA) to (VcN) of the plurality of cells (22A) to (22N). The battery controller (27) executes the balancing control in a time range during which a voltage of the lead battery (31) becomes equal to or more than a predetermined given voltage value (V1) and a charging rate of the storage battery (21) becomes equal to or more than a predetermined given charging rate value (SOC1) after a key switch (16) is switched from an on state to an off state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruki Sugiyama, Ken Takeuchi, Akira Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11088412
    Abstract: A battery tray for supporting batteries at a lower portion of a vehicle frame includes a floor plate and a perimeter wall disposed around the of the floor plate to substantially surround a containment area for storing vehicle battery cells. The perimeter wall includes a tubular member that extends along a periphery of the floor plate to form a perimeter wall around a containment area for storing vehicle battery cells. The perimeter wall is attached at an upper surface of the floor plate, such that the containment area may be generally bounded horizontally by the perimeter wall and at the bottom by the floor plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SHAPE CORP.
    Inventors: Joseph Robert Matecki, Mark Charles Stephens
  • Patent number: 11088566
    Abstract: A motorized personal transport controller and charging port for conveniently charging electronic devices includes a control housing having a top side, an outer perimeter, and a bottom side. The top side, the outer perimeter, and the bottom side form an inner cavity. The control housing is configured to be coupled to a motorized personal transport. A plurality of controls is coupled to the control housing and is configured to control the motorized personal transport. A charging means is coupled to the control housing. The charging means is configured to be in operational communication with a battery of the motorized personal and to charge a plurality of personal electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Inventor: James Drum
  • Patent number: 11084396
    Abstract: A method for a light electric vehicle that supports a weight of a user that includes the steps of supplying a support surface to support the weight of a user; supplying a motor controller containing a processor to control operation of an electric motor mounted i) on the support surface, or ii) proximal to the support surface, where the motor controller and its processor are electrically connected to the rechargeable electric battery, where the electric motor is electrically connected to the motor controller and the rechargeable electric battery, as well as connected to a drive mechanism to drive one or more wheels; and supplying a mode selector to set a first riding-experience mode for the light electric vehicle, wherein the first riding-experience mode has a first acceleration maximum and a second riding experience mode has a second acceleration maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: NEUTRON HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Sanjay Dastoor, John Ulmen, Salomon Trujillo, Matthew Tran
  • Patent number: 11077745
    Abstract: A high voltage battery carrier for a vehicle includes: a main carrier coupled to a vehicle body frame and fixed to a high voltage battery; a subcarrier coupled to an upper portion or a lower portion of the main carrier and configured to form a space in which an electrical and electronic part is accommodated when coupled to the main carrier; and a detachable carrier which is vertically detachably installed on the subcarrier. The electrical and electronic part is coupled to the detachable carrier. With this arrangement, installation space can be reduced and workability is improved due to easy attachment and detachment of the electrical and electronic part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jae Young Choi
  • Patent number: 11072223
    Abstract: A control apparatus of a heat exchanging system according to the invention activates a connection system to connect an engine water passage to a heater water passage and then, shuts off a heater water passage portion between a portion, into which heat exchanging water flows from the engine water passage and a portion, from which the heat exchanging water flows out toward the engine water passage, and decreases heater pump and engine pump duty ratios when the duty ratios should be decreased for controlling core and engine flow rates to requested flow rates after the particular water passage is shut off, and the engine water passage is connected to the heater water passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidefumi Aikawa, Yoichi Ogura, Masatoshi Yano, Yuji Miyoshi, Yu Ofune
  • Patent number: 11066104
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a battery mounting portion arranged on a floor of a vehicle and having a battery disposed thereon; a first cross member arranged in a front side of the battery mounting portion and reinforcing the floor; a second cross member arranged in a rear side of the battery mounting portion and reinforcing the floor; first and second extension members extending in a longitudinal direction so as to connect the first and second cross members while being spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction, and reinforcing a lower portion of the battery mounting portion; and a coupling structure coupled to the first and second cross members in a state of coupling the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hyung Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 11059382
    Abstract: A battery pack replacement and explosion-proof system: Start to control the second battery pack robot system and the ferry robot to uninstall and install the first battery pack and the second battery pack; the second connection point of the first power supply protector's grounding conductor unloads and absorbs the large current entering along the first power line; the third connection point unloads and absorbs the large current along the second power line; the fifth connection point of the second power surge protector unloads and absorbs the large current along the third power line; the sixth connection point unloads and absorbs the large current along the fourth power line; the first connection point and the fourth connection point unloads and absorbs the large current along the first and the second control line and signal lines of BMS, various parts of the grounding conduct currents into the earth through the conductive tyre.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Inventor: Lei Han
  • Patent number: 11058268
    Abstract: Provided is a mopping extension attachable to a robotic floor cleaning device including: a fluid reservoir for storing one or more cleaning fluids; a cloth for receiving the one or more cleaning fluids, wherein the cloth is oriented toward the work surface; and, at least one or more dispersed nozzle sets for controlling delivery of the one or more cleaning fluids to the cloth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventors: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Soroush Mehrnia, Renee Bautista
  • Patent number: 11063323
    Abstract: A battery module can include multiple cell tubes and a conductive plate. The multiple cell tubes can accommodate multiple battery cells within the multiple cell tubes so that individual of the multiple battery cells are positioned within individual of the multiple cell tubes. The conductive plate can include a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board can include a first conductive layer and an isolating layer. The isolating layer can include a blind hole through which a wire bonding extends. The wire bonding can be electrically connected to the first conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: H55 SA
    Inventors: Sébastien Demont, Michaël Roger Fournier, Stéphane Pierre-Jean Boirin
  • Patent number: 11056696
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system for the treatment of water formed during an operation of at least one fuel cell of a vehicle, having a cavity, a condenser and an underbody-side system outer wall, and is designed to bound an underbody of the vehicle, wherein the condenser is arranged between the cavity and the underbody-side system outer wall, wherein the cavity is connected via an inlet to the at least one fuel cell, wherein, when the vehicle is in motion, the condenser is acted upon by air of an airflow and is cooled, wherein the condenser is designed to cool water which, originating from the at least one fuel cell, flows into the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Josef Maier, Johannes Landgraf, Benjamin Lemezys
  • Patent number: 11052741
    Abstract: Suitable for frame vehicles, the kit provides a frame to be mounted on the chassis with attachment devices at a head section and at a middle section of the frame that supports an electric motor, a transmission and at least one battery system. Replacement of the conventional engine and transmission by the frame-mounted unit can be fast. The frame can be attached at the middle section using shear bolts to avoid impeding a crumple of the chassis during a front impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Inventors: Duy-An Ta, Noël Giguère, François-Nicolas Lanciault
  • Patent number: 11058036
    Abstract: An electronic assembly for a rotary electric machine for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The electronic assembly includes electronic component blocks having different thermal dissipation needs, the blocks including a power block and a control block. The assembly also includes a device for cooling the blocks and having a protective cover suitable for covering the power and control blocks. The protective cover includes a first set of openings configured to be positioned opposite a first cooling element coupled to the power block, and opposite the control block, the first cooling element being a first dissipator provided with a base plate, the base plate protruding with respect to the power block to create a first radial flow of cooling air (F1) for the power block and a second radial flow of cooling air (F2) for the control block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Manuel Falguier, Michel Fakes, Fabien Guerin, Yannick Le-Meitour, Alexis Hosni
  • Patent number: 11046170
    Abstract: There is provided herein a modular electric wheel assembly comprising integral/in-built acceleration and braking componentry and/or steering and suspension componentry allowing for the modular application thereof. Each modular wheel assembly may receive drive control data from various sensors (such as accelerator and brake pedal position sensors, steering column rotational offset sensors and the like), vehicle control systems or the like so as to be able to independently drive, brake, steer and/or provide active suspension for the vehicle. In embodiments, the wheel assemblies may communicate with each other across a wheel assembly vehicular network wherein a master wheel assembly may receive drive control data and control the slave wheel assemblies accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventor: Brendan Hart
  • Patent number: 11045003
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a chair for supporting a person feeding a baby. The chair includes a seat. The chair includes an armrest operatively connected to the seat. The armrest is selectively rotatable about a vertical axis, and moveable forward/rearward, laterally inward/outward and vertically relative to the seat. The armrest is shaped to receive a baby thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventor: Melissa Fietz
  • Patent number: 11043707
    Abstract: An accessory component assembly is provided that includes a frame, a first vehicle accessory, and a second vehicle accessory. The frame is configured to support vehicle accessories. The first vehicle accessory is mounted to the frame. The second vehicle accessory is mounted to the frame. The frame is configured to simultaneously couple the first vehicle accessory and the second vehicle accessory to a chassis of a vehicle such that the accessory component assembly can be functionally coupled to at least two other vehicle sub-systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Hexagon Purus North America Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Todd F. Sloan, Chris Forsberg, Eric M. Coupal-Sikes, Landon Tyerman, Benjamin Parker
  • Patent number: 11038442
    Abstract: A device that includes a memory and a processor is disclosed. The processor may be configured to receive a control signal for operating a plurality of traction motors of a work machine. The control signal may include information relating to an actual speed of the work machine, a target speed of the work machine, and a generator speed of a generator operatively coupled to the traction motors. The processor may be configured to determine respective torque commands associated with the traction motors based on the actual speed and the target speed, and determine a generator power limit based on the generator speed. The processor may be configured to determine a threshold based on the respective torque commands and the generator power limit, adjust the respective torque commands based on the threshold, and cause the traction motors to be operated based on the adjusted respective torque commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Kuras, Ankit Sharma, Lance Cowper
  • Patent number: 11034226
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle interior; a front room provided in front of the vehicle interior; an electric motor control device provided at a rear side of the vehicle interior and below a floor panel; a battery provided below the vehicle interior and below the floor panel; a cooling device provided in the front room; a first cooling pipe configured to supply a refrigerant from the cooling device to the electric motor control device; and a second cooling pipe configured to discharge the refrigerant from the electric motor control device to the cooling device. The floor panel has a recessed portion recessed upwards, and the first cooling pipe and the second cooling pipe are accommodated in the recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoto Kochi, Tetsuhisa Sakamoto, Ryosaku Izawa
  • Patent number: 11027782
    Abstract: A battery unit is positioned under the floor of a vehicle chamber. A battery-side extension is provided on the lower surface of the front part of the battery unit case. A member-side extension member is provided, on the rear part of a suspension member, at a position facing the battery-side extension in the vehicle front-and-rear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Fujii, Yoshihito Tomizawa
  • Patent number: 11021077
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply system includes a first drive motor, a second drive motor, a first power line to which a first inverter and a first battery are connected, a second power line to which a second inverter and a second battery are connected, a voltage converter that convert a voltage between the power lines, and a charging and discharging control device that controls charging and discharging of the batteries and by operating the inverters and and the voltage converter. A vehicle is able to travel in a drive mode of any of an all-wheel drive mode and a two-wheel drive mode. The charging and discharging control device drives the first drive motor with power that is discharged from the first battery in a case where the drive mode is the two-wheel drive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Oyama, Hirokazu Oguma
  • Patent number: 11021014
    Abstract: A tube assembly for a wheelchair frame comprises a tubular member having at least a first portion and a second portion angled relative to the first portion, the first portion configured to be in a seating zone of the wheelchair frame. The second portion is configured to be in a bottom front zone of the wheelchair frame, the tubular member defining a surface concavity in its peripheral surface delimited by a peripheral step, the surface concavity located at a junction between the first portion and the second portion of the tubular member. An interface member has a peripheral contour shaped and sized for the interface member to be received in the surface concavity and contoured at least partially by the peripheral step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: MOTION COMPOSITES INC.
    Inventors: Alexandre Bleau, Michael Archambault, Pierre-Andre Couture, Alec Stephani, Maxime Lamarre, David Gingras
  • Patent number: 11013385
    Abstract: An automatic cleaning device includes: a sensor system for collecting a pre-set environment parameter of surroundings of the automatic cleaning device; and an application processor. The application processor includes a central processing unit electrically coupled to the sensor system to acquire the pre-set environment parameter collected by the sensor system. The application processor further includes a graphic processing unit electrically coupled to the central processing unit. The graphic processing unit obtains the pre-set environment parameter from the central processing unit and then generates a map of the surroundings of the automatic cleaning device based on the pre-set environment parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignees: Xiaomi Inc., Beijing Rockrobo Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yingnan Xue, Yongfeng Xia
  • Patent number: 11008033
    Abstract: Hitch mounted robot systems and methods for operating the same are disclosed. A hitch mounted robot system includes a coupling mechanism that is insertable into a hitch receiver on a vehicle and a height adjustment mechanism coupled to the coupling mechanism. The height adjustment mechanism automatically moves the coupling mechanism in a system vertical direction to lift the hitch mounted robot system off a ground surface when the coupling mechanism is inserted into the hitch receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Bondaryk, Eric Krotkov
  • Patent number: 11002666
    Abstract: A system for facilitating the measurement of optical parameters of a substance sitting on a surface, so that identification of the substance by reflectance spectroscopy can be made without ambiguity; the system comprises a structure using a bistatic arrangement and an accompanying method to limit, to just two beams, the propagation of light from a laser transmitter capable of producing coherent light of multiple wavelengths, via an interposed transparent dielectric, to a receiver thereby preventing multiple reflections within the transparent dielectric from reaching the receiver; and the bistatic arrangement comprises a multi-wavelength laser transmitter and a receiver mounted on a telescoping boom, with both the laser transmitter and receiver being independently orientable, with the positions and orientations of the laser transmitter, the receiver and the telescoping boom electronically sensed at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Inventors: Richard Fauconier, Mandoye Ndoye, Webert Montlouis
  • Patent number: 11005135
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a battery arrangement for an electrified vehicle. Among other things, the battery arrangement includes first and second battery modules, each of which includes a battery module housing. Adjacent surfaces of these battery module housings are interlocked such that the first and second battery modules are configured to slide relative to one another in a transverse direction of the electrified vehicle. Accordingly, this disclosure increases safety while saving space and without requiring undue reinforcements of the chassis structure, which would increase the weight of the vehicle and reduce the energy efficiency the vehicle. These and other benefits will be appreciated from the following description.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marius Sawatzki, Dominik Mueller, Daniel Meckenstock, Joergen Hilmann
  • Patent number: 11001122
    Abstract: A vehicle temperature regulation system includes: a power unit including a motor driven by a supply of electrical power from a battery to cause wheels to rotate; a first cooling unit including a first heat exchanger disposed at a vehicle front side of the power unit, and a first circulation path that allows refrigerant to circulate between the power unit and the first heat exchanger to perform heat exchange; a second cooling unit including a second heat exchanger disposed at a vehicle rear side of the power unit, an air conditioning unit, a compressor, and a second circulation path that allows refrigerant to circulate between the second heat exchanger, the air conditioning unit, and the compressor to perform heat exchange; and a duct that interconnects the air conditioning unit and the battery and through which cool air or warm air is supplied from the air conditioning unit to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Ajisaka
  • Patent number: 10988013
    Abstract: Provided are an electric drive system for a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle using the electric drive system. The electric drive system for a motor vehicle comprises: an inverter unit (100) configured to convert externally-supplied DC power to AC power; an electric motor unit (300) configured to convert the power from the inverter unit (100) into mechanical rotation and output the mechanical rotation from an output shaft (303); and a gearbox unit (200) configured to decelerate the rotation transmitted from an input shaft (202) and output the decelerated rotation. The electric motor unit (300), the gearbox unit (200) and the inverter unit (100) have respective independent enclosures. The electric motor unit (300), the gearbox unit (200) and the inverter unit (100) are detachably and mutually connected in an axial direction along the input shaft (202) of the gearbox unit (200) with the gearbox unit (200) positioned in between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: NIO (ANHUI) HOLDING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xu Chai, Chendong Huang, Bin He, Hongyu Lan, Mengyang Liu, Yibin Ren, Bozhi Liang, Shaobiao Chai
  • Patent number: 10981555
    Abstract: Disclosed are a vehicle equipped with an electric motor, which is capable of preventing damage to a mechanical axle-fixing device when a parking range is selected under a specific condition, and a parking control method therefore. The parking control method includes calculating output torque of the electric motor to stop the vehicle when a parking (P) range is selected in the situation in which a specific condition is satisfied, controlling the electric motor in response to the output torque, and activating a driving shaft fixing unit when the vehicle is stopped by the controlling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Soo Lim Han, Han Seung Myoung, Ja Chun Han
  • Patent number: 10976371
    Abstract: A battery monitoring device includes a monitoring control unit configured to monitor a battery state of each battery cell of a battery module formed by arranging the plurality of battery cells and control each of the battery cells on the basis of a monitoring result. The monitoring control unit has a heat radiation source that radiates heat as an electric current flows, and the heat radiation source is arranged in a position where air discharged from a gap between the neighboring battery cells collides with the heat radiation source. For example, the heat radiation source is arranged to face an outlet port from which the air of the gap between the neighboring battery cells is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Haruhiko Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10973714
    Abstract: An electrically assisted wheelchair includes a controller that obtains an inclination assist value by correcting the assist value when a road surface is inclined in a left-right direction of the seat, and performs a downhill turning preventing operation of causing the wheelchair body to travel straight by applying right auxiliary power and left auxiliary power corresponding to the inclination assist value. The controller adjusts the right auxiliary power and the left auxiliary power by correcting the inclination assist value based on a hand rim operation of the user to operate at least one of the right hand rim and the left hand rim in the downhill turning preventing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuki Uemura
  • Patent number: 10960743
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a vehicle interior compartment and variable vehicle structures, by way of which the vehicle interior compartment can be modified. In order to improve the comfort in an autonomous driving mode, the vehicle interior compartment is enlarged in an autonomous driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Inventor: Nils Sauvlet
  • Patent number: 10960764
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first interface a second interface, a third interface and a converter. The first interface may be configured to exchange a high-voltage signal with a high-voltage battery of a vehicle. The second interface may be configured to receive a first low-voltage signal from a source external to the vehicle. The third interface may be configured to present a second low-voltage signal to a power rail of the vehicle. The converter may be configured to (i) generate the high-voltage signal by up-converting the first low-voltage signal while in an up-conversion mode to recharge the high-voltage battery of the vehicle and (ii) generate the second low-voltage signal on the power rail by down-converting the high-voltage signal received from the high-voltage battery while in a down-conversion mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Inventors: Omar Pighi, Paolo Grisleri, Alessandro Giacomazzo
  • Patent number: 10960771
    Abstract: A method is provided for increasing the operating range of a vehicle which is driven by an electric motor. The method determines that a state of charge reserve of an energy store of the vehicle should be used for operating the electric motor. The state of charge reserve lies outside a state of charge range which is intended for the energy store. In response to this, the method uses electrical energy from the state of charge reserve of the energy store in order to operate the electric motor of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Christ, Michael Rath
  • Patent number: 10946739
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle adapted to be operated based on fuel combustion or electric power. In one example, an accessory train of the vehicle, including an air conditioning pump and a power steering pump, may be operated according to a first mode or according to a second mode based on a power system of the vehicle. When in the second mode, the vehicle may be instructed to coordinate operation of the air conditioning pump and the power steering pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, William Charles Ruona
  • Patent number: 10945900
    Abstract: A powered wheelchair for beach terrain is provided that includes a an occupant seat assembly mounted to a frame that has an electric drive system with a pair of electric motors mounted thereto. A hand grip support frame is coupled to a rear end of the frame. The electric drive system is drivingly coupled to at least two of a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted to the frame. The powered wheelchair includes a portable power source and a control system mounted to the main frame. The control system is electrically coupled to the portable power source and the electric drive system. The control system has a first set of operating controls disposed in proximity to the occupant seat assembly and a second set of operating controls disposed in proximity the hand grip support frame for switch selective operative control of the powered wheelchair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Ousborne, Nicholas J. Ousborne
  • Patent number: 10951025
    Abstract: A hybrid energy storage system includes at least one first energy store and at least a second energy store, each with a nominal energy flow at least in one direction, wherein the energy stores exchange electrical energy with one another and/or with at least one external energy source and/or energy sink via electro-physical energy flows, using at least one control circuit. The control circuit operates the energy sink using at least one boost converter, which has at least one electronic switch, and/or a buck converter in the event of a required energy flow of the energy sink which is higher than the nominal energy flow of the second energy store, with an energy flow of the first energy store, while the second energy store supplies an energy flow from zero up to a constant energy flow which corresponds at maximum to the nominal energy flow of the second energy store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: RUTRONIK ELEKTRONISCHE BAUELEMENTE GMBH
    Inventors: Ringo Lehmann, Lutz Zacharias, Mirko Bodach, Sven Slawinski, Andreas Mangler, Markus Krieg
  • Patent number: 10940926
    Abstract: A fuel cell watercraft includes: a hull; an electric motor Serving as a power source adapted to generate propulsion of the hull; a fuel cell unit adapted to supply electric power to the electric motor; a hydrogen fuel tank adapted to supply hydrogen fuel to the fuel cell unit; a secondary battery serving as an auxiliary power supply for the fuel cell unit; and power regulation means for regulating the electric power supplied to the electric motor, in which the hull includes first and second storage spaces isolated from each other, the first and second storage spaces include equipment hatches able to be opened and closed by lid members, the fuel cell unit and the hydrogen fuel tank are housed in the first storage space, and the secondary battery and the power regulation means are housed in the second storage space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventor: Kota Sako