Electric Patents (Class 180/65.1)
  • Patent number: 10576833
    Abstract: An exemplary charger positioning method includes, among other things, positioning a charging plug of a conductive charger relative to a charge port of a vehicle based on a wireless transmission between the conductive charger and the vehicle. An exemplary charger assembly includes a transmitter system associated with one of a vehicle or a conductive charger, a receiver system associated with the other of the vehicle or the conductive charger, and an actuator that moves a charging plug of the conductive charger to a charging position in response to a transmission from the transmitter system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hadi Malek, Daniel Boston, Jacob Mathews
  • Patent number: 10569657
    Abstract: A vehicle brake system, including: a brake operation member to be operated by a driver of a vehicle; a hydraulic brake device provided for one of a front wheel and a rear wheel and configured to generate a hydraulic braking force in accordance with an operation of the brake operation member, the hydraulic braking force depending on a pressure of a working fluid; and an electric brake device provided for the other of the front wheel and the rear wheel and configured to generate an electric braking force in accordance with the operation of the brake operation member, the electric braking force depending on a motion of an electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Yamamoto, Yu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10569795
    Abstract: An auxiliary transport vehicle according to the disclosure comprises a drive unit and an attachment that is placed thereon, wherein the drive unit comprises just two wheels with a common axis of rotation and each with an electric drive, an electronic control device and an electrical energy storage device, and wherein the control device is embodied for actuating the drives in such a way that the auxiliary transport vehicle is kept in an upright position, and for autonomously driving the auxiliary transport vehicle to a specifiable destination and for following an external control device. The disclosure also concerns an auxiliary transport system and a method for operating an auxiliary transport vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Anais Castinel
  • Patent number: 10549620
    Abstract: A mounting system for an electric vehicle includes a front cross beam extending from a right side of a passenger compartment of the electric vehicle to a left side of the passenger compartment. The mounting system includes a rear cross beam extending from the right side to the left side. An underside of each of the front cross beam and the rear cross beam defines a plurality of mounting features configured for mounting a battery assembly to an underside of the electric vehicle. A plurality of seat rails extend across and mounted to the front cross beam and the rear cross beam, the plurality of seat rails being configured for mounting seats within the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Thunder Power Electric Vehicle Limited
    Inventor: Jens Maier
  • Patent number: 10549650
    Abstract: Single, internally adjustable modular battery systems are provided, for handling power delivery from and to various power systems such as electric vehicles, photovoltaic systems, solar systems, grid-scale battery energy storage systems, home energy storage systems and power walls. Batteries comprise a main fast-charging lithium ion battery (FC), configured to deliver power to the electric vehicle, a supercapacitor-emulating fast-charging lithium ion battery (SCeFC), configured to receive power and deliver power to the FC and/or to the EV and to operate at high rates within a limited operation range of state of charge (SoC), respective module management systems, and a control unit. Both the FC and the SCeFC have anodes based on the same anode active material and the control unit is configured to manage the FC and the SCeFC and manage power delivery to and from the power system(s), to optimize the operation of the FC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Storedot Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel Aronov
  • Patent number: 10552368
    Abstract: Provided is an in-vehicle control device that allows the giving and receiving of data via inter-core communication at the timing of a user, as well as being capable of minimizing processing load while satisfying safety requirements of different functional safety levels in the inter-core communication of a multicore microcomputer. The data communication between a plurality of cores is performed by a writing means for writing the data of a core register into a region of a shared memory of the cores, where safety levels are set, using a hardware function. The cores have different functional safety levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shingo Ito, Kosei Goto, Takeshi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 10549973
    Abstract: An industrial truck comprising a lift frame with a load part for carrying a load, a reach carriage acting on the lift frame for moving the lift frame forward and backward, at least one sensor configured to measure an actual speed of the reach carriage, and a control unit configured to specify a target speed for the reach carriage, to determine a control deviation of the actual speed measured by the at least one sensor from the target speed, and to regulate the movement speed of the reach carriage based on the determined speed deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Jungheinrich Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christian Puke
  • Patent number: 10518775
    Abstract: A vehicle includes primary and secondary axles including primary and secondary electric machines, respectively. A vehicle controller is programmed to, responsive to a braking torque request, command regenerative torques, that are a proportion of the braking torque request, to the electric machines such that the proportion commanded to the secondary electric machine decreases responsive to lateral acceleration of the vehicle increasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jose Velazquez Alcantar, Corwin Stout, Rajit Johri, Joseph Jay Torres
  • Patent number: 10518656
    Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for charging a vehicle. A vehicle and charging station can be designed such that an electric or hybrid vehicle can operate in a fashion similar to a conventional vehicle by being opportunity charged throughout a known route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Proterra Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Morris, Dale Hill, John Horth, Reuben Sarkar, Teresa J. Abbott, William Joseph Lord Reeves, Ryan Thomas Wiens
  • Patent number: 10514266
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and a system for displaying a distance to empty (traveling range) of a vehicle, capable of updating the distance to empty more quickly by reducing an amount of computation for calculating the distance to empty (traveling range) of the vehicle. The method includes calculating a distance to empty reachable with current energy of a vehicle based on status information of the vehicle and displaying the calculated distance to empty on a display; and recalculating a distance to empty by reflecting only changed pieces of the status information of the vehicle to update the distance to empty, and replacing the distance to empty displayed on the display with the updated distance to empty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Sooyoung Shin, Sangwoo Lee
  • Patent number: 10507736
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle, which is capable of preventing direct input of an impact to an external power feeding device that stores a high-voltage component, and is capable of protecting the external power feeding device. A vehicle 100 includes: an external power feeding device 70 that stores a high-voltage component for performing external power feeding; and a secondary battery 60 that stores a part of electric power, both of which are provided in a rear in a travel direction of the vehicle 100. The external power feeding device 70 is disposed in front of a rear end 61 of the secondary battery 60, and is disposed below a lower end 62 of the secondary battery 60 in a vertical direction when viewed from a side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Katano, Akiyoshi Furuzawa
  • Patent number: 10505238
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a cooling fan that blows cooled air to a main battery and a temperature sensor. When the temperature of the main battery is equal to or higher than a first predetermined temperature after start up of an electric drive vehicle, the cooling fan is driven with a constant command value for a predetermined time period and detection process of abnormal condition is performed for detecting presence or absence of abnormal condition of the cooling fan based on an actual rotation speed of the cooling fan. When the start up of the electric drive vehicle is based on an external charging operation of the secondary battery, driving of the cooling fan with the constant command value is inhibited. This structure ensures sufficient opportunities for detecting presence or absence of abnormal condition of the cooling fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junta Izumi, Noritaka Ikejiri, Kiyoe Ochiai, Kiyohito Machida, Masakazu Habu
  • Patent number: 10500951
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle in which an electric motor is disposed such that a rotational axis of a rotor of the electric motor is located to one side, from the center of the front-back direction, relative to: a second power transmission member that is disposed on a power transmission path between a first rotating element and one wheel LWf; a third power transmission member that is arranged on a power transmission path between a third rotating element and the other wheel; or a differential mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Andrii Pydin
  • Patent number: 10494034
    Abstract: An assembly includes a subframe, a rocker, a battery cage supported by the rocker, and a battery supported by the battery cage. The assembly includes a reinforcement bolted to the rocker and positioned to be along a load path through the subframe resulting from a vehicle frontal impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew B. Makowski, Abdelmonaam Sassi, Thiag Subbian, Jayanth Kumar Basavalingiah, Jamil M. Alwan, Chelliah Madasamy
  • Patent number: 10493834
    Abstract: A vehicle including: a floor panel; a pair of left and right front seats which are disposed on the floor panel; and a high-voltage battery which is disposed between the front seats and which is held on a frame member, wherein a guide member which guides the frame member is provided between the front seats on the floor panel, and wherein the guide member has a pair of left and right guide rails and a positioning portion which controls a position of the frame member in relation to the guide member in at least a front-rear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsubasa Ikeya, Tetsuya Takezawa
  • Patent number: 10490333
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a transmission and an inductor assembly that is mounted within a chamber of the transmission. The inductor assembly includes a coil, a core and an insulator having first and second portions that are oriented toward each other. Each portion includes a base, a support extending from the base, and a spool extending transversely from the support to engage the other portion. Each spool includes an external surface for supporting the coil and a cavity extending therethrough for receiving the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Behzad Vafakhah, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar, Shahram Zarei, Brandon Dobbins, Vincent Skalski, Sudhir Kumar
  • Patent number: 10471834
    Abstract: A plug-in vehicle capable of wired-charging a battery through a charging connector using an external charger and a method for controlling the same are provided. The method for controlling charging of a vehicle configured to perform a charging operation using external power includes determining whether a refrigerant circulation device operates normally and the amount of refrigerant is normal when a temperature sensor of a charger malfunctions. When the refrigerant circulation device operates normally and the amount of refrigerant is normal, a temperature of the charger is estimated using a temperature of a heat dissipation device through which the refrigerant passes and the output of the charger is adjusted based on the estimated temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Hwa Jeon, Sang Kyu Lee, Kil Young Youn, Seung Hyeon Bin, Gu Bae Kang
  • Patent number: 10476280
    Abstract: Provided is an energy storage device management device which includes a controller configured to decide a charge voltage to be applied to a plurality of energy storage devices connected in series, wherein the controller is configured to perform deciding the charge voltage based on a difference in charge amount or a voltage difference between the energy storage devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventor: Atsushi Fukushima
  • Patent number: 10476117
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply system includes: a plurality of battery modules each having a plurality of high-voltage batteries; a case for accommodating the plurality of battery modules; and a cooling circuit having a radiator, a cooling pump, a plurality of battery cooling units for cooling the plurality of battery modules, the case being disposed below a floor panel. In the cooling circuit, the plurality of battery module cooling units are disposed in parallel; and a branch portion which is provided to an upstream side of the plurality of battery module cooling units and a merging portion which is provided to a downstream side of the plurality of battery module cooling units are provided inside the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoko Ito, Daijiro Takizawa, Toru Ogaki
  • Patent number: 10476051
    Abstract: A heat exchanger integrated into an electric vehicle's battery pack enclosure is provided, where the heat exchanger conduits are mechanically and thermally coupled to the inside surface of the enclosure base plate and where the battery pack enclosure is mounted such that ambient air flows over the outside surface of the enclosure base plate during vehicle motion. A thermal management system is coupled to, and controls operation of, the integrated battery pack heat exchanger such that in a first operational mode the heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the batteries within the battery pack, and in a second operational mode the heat exchanger is thermally decoupled from the batteries within the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Mardall, Paul Yeomans
  • Patent number: 10468941
    Abstract: An infinitely variable speed converter having at least two dynamo/motors, to reduce the thickness in the direction of the central shaft. A space is provided in a portion surrounded by a rotor arranged to rotate clockwise with either a drive disk or a drive gear, a rotor arranged to rotate counterclockwise with either a drive disk or a drive gear, and a radial interior of a stator formed by annularly disposing field magnets. When a traction roller or a traction gear penetrated by a drive shaft is inserted into the provided space, contacting the drive disk to be subject to a couple and thereby rotating while the traction gear comes into contact with the drive gear, whereby an output can be provided to the drive shaft that penetrates the traction roller or the traction gear, so that the entire structure can be compactified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Inventor: Kydo Ikeda
  • Patent number: 10468689
    Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a dual activation mode thermal battery for powering a load. The thermal battery can include a first power source activable upon receiving mechanical energy. The thermal battery can also include a second power source activable through one of the electrical power produced by the first power source and external electrical stimuli, the second power source is configured to, upon activation provide a voltage for powering the load, wherein the first power source and the second power source are thermally and electrically isolated and the initiator thermal energy output from one initiator is prevented from initiating the other power source directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: EaglePicher Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joe Don Edington, James J. Ferraro, Steven Brandon
  • Patent number: 10457156
    Abstract: A vehicle power source system includes: a high-voltage battery; a high-voltage system equipment having a DC-DC converter and a charger; and a cooling circuit having a high-voltage battery cooling unit for cooling the high-voltage battery, a DC-DC converter cooling unit for cooling the DC-DC converter, and charger cooling unit for cooling the charger. In the cooling circuit, the DC-DC converter cooling unit and the charger cooling unit are disposed in parallel on a downstream side of the high-voltage battery cooling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daijiro Takizawa, Satoko Ito
  • Patent number: 10457273
    Abstract: A system and method for providing torque-assist to a rotary shaft of an internal combustion engine control an electric machine in response to operation of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve to assist the rotation of the rotary shaft. The system and method facilitate periodic operation of the EGR valve to purge condensation without objectionable torque reduction when the engine is operating near full load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ashish Kumar Naidu, Ian Halleron, Peter George Brittle, James Wright
  • Patent number: 10449826
    Abstract: A temperature control device for a battery and for a vehicle interior, having a first heat exchanger and having a second heat exchanger that are thermally coupled, the second heat exchanger being thermally coupled to the battery, and the first heat exchanger to a temperature control chamber that has a downstream segment that is thermally coupled to the vehicle interior and has a first upstream segment and a second upstream segment, the first upstream segment being thermally coupled to the vehicle interior and the second upstream segment to a surrounding environment of the vehicle, the first heat exchanger being capable of being thermally coupled alternately to the first upstream segment or to the second upstream segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Schumann, Andreas Letsch
  • Patent number: 10442468
    Abstract: A metal pipe has a circular cross section with an outer diameter D and a length not less than 6D. The metal pipe includes a high-strength portion (1A) and low-strength portions (1B). The high-strength portion (1A) is disposed along the entire circumference of the metal pipe to extend a dimension, as measured in the longitudinal direction of the metal pipe, that is not less than (?)D and not more than 3D of the metal pipe. The high-strength portion (1A) has a yield strength not less than 500 MPa (or a tensile strength not less than 980 MPa). The low-strength portions (1B) are disposed along the entire circumference of the metal pipe to be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the metal pipe to sandwich the high-strength portion (1A). The low-strength portions (1B) have a yield strength of 60 to 85% of that of the high-strength portion (1A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoshi Hirose
  • Patent number: 10436128
    Abstract: A control system of a vehicle includes: an engine; a plurality of accessories including an air conditioner; a battery; a generator; and an ECU configured to automatically stop the engine, control the generator to charge or discharge the battery, inhibit the engine from being automatically stopped, calculate a first stop time as a length of time for which the engine can be automatically stopped, during operation of the air conditioner, calculate a first electric quantity as an estimated quantity of electricity consumed, calculate a second stop time as a length of time for which the vehicle is predicted to be stopped in the future, calculate a second electric quantity as an estimated quantity of electricity consumed, and determine the SOC target value, based on the first electric quantity and the second electric quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanori Shinohara, Kohei Tochigi
  • Patent number: 10439436
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for transmitting power inductively from a transmitter (11) to a receiver (10), the receiver (10) comprising a signal generator for generating a signal, triggered by an event reflecting that the receiver intends to receive power from the transmitter, wherein said signal intends to activate said transmitter from standby mode to activated mode; and comprising a signal transmitting coil (103) for transmitting said signal to said transmitter; said transmitter (11) comprising a signal receiving coil (112); a detector (114) for detecting said signal received by the receiving coil; and a unit (115) for activating the transmitter from standby mode to activated mode upon the detection of said signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Andries van Wageningen, Bart Michiel De Boer, Christoph Loef, Lennart Yseboodt, Menno Anne Treffers, Willem Franke Pasveer, Eberhard Waffenschmidt
  • Patent number: 10439417
    Abstract: A battery system includes: a battery configured to be charged or discharged; a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the battery; a heater configured to warm the battery; a charger configured to supply electric power from an external power supply to the battery and the heater; a relay provided in a passage through which the electric power from the charger is supplied to the battery; and a controller configured to control operations of the charger and the relay. The controller is configured to supply predetermined electric power from the charger to the heater and turn off the relay so as not to supply the electric power from the charger to the battery in a case where an SOC of the battery is equal to or more than a threshold and the temperature of the battery is lower than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Murata
  • Patent number: 10434019
    Abstract: A wheelchair suspension includes a frame, a drive assembly pivot arm, a drive assembly, a front caster pivot arm, a front caster, and a spring and shock absorbing assembly. The drive assembly pivot arm is pivotally connected to the frame. The drive assembly includes a drive wheel and is mounted to the drive assembly pivot arm. The front caster pivot arm is pivotally mounted to the frame and coupled to the drive assembly pivot arm. The front caster is coupled to the at least one front caster pivot arm. The spring and shock absorbing assembly is pivotally connected to the drive assembly pivot arm at a first pivotal connection and pivotally connected to the front caster pivot arm at a second pivotal connection. The first and second pivotal connections are positioned such that a majority of the force applied by the spring and shock absorbing assembly is applied to the drive wheel when the suspension is on a flat, horizontal support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Invacare Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Bekoscke, Kevin Burns
  • Patent number: 10426370
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide an EMG signal controller or a wheelchair using an EMG signal controller to allow full vehicular direct drive control, and wheelchair accessory control, by using one or more EMG sensors applied to certain muscles of a subject, and translating the movement of the muscles of the subject that the EMG sensors are connected, to electrical signals causing for the operation of a motorized wheelchair. The controller and wheelchair are designed specifically for paralyzed individuals with limited motion, but may be used by any subject with or without any physical or nervous system disabilities. The present invention further provides an emergency stop which is activated in the event that the subject using the wheelchair experiences a seizure or other neurological shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Inventors: Brendan Jones, Albert Manero, II, John Sparkman
  • Patent number: 10406044
    Abstract: A person support apparatus includes a base, wheels, a drive system, a support surface, a lift system, and a control. The control controls the drive system in response to forward/reverse forces applied thereto, and also controls the lift system in response to upward or downward forces applied thereto. In some embodiments, a controller compares a magnitude of the forward/reverse force to a magnitude of the upward/downward force and commands the drive system to drive the wheels if the magnitude of the forward/reverse force exceeds the magnitude of the upward/downward force. The control may include a user-engageable portion that is constructed to not move with respect to a force sensor when forward or reverse forces are applied to the user-engageable portion. The controller controls the drive system in response to the forward or reverse forces applied to the user-engageable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Jerald A. Trepanier, Connor Feldpausch St.John, Michael T. Brubaker, Christopher Gentile, Gary L. Bartley
  • Patent number: 10394233
    Abstract: A ride-on vehicle is provided that has optional remote control capabilities. The ride-on vehicle comprises front and rear wheels, a steering wheel, a steering motor, a drive motor, an accelerator, a parent override switch and a main controller for controlling the drive motor and the steering motor based on input signals. A remote control is also provided to send signals to the main controller. The main controller provides for three modes of operation of the ride-on vehicle, including a child only drive mode, a partial child and partial remote drive mode, and a full remote drive mode, and wherein the main controller switches between the three modes of operation in real time based on signals received from the remote control and the parent override switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Radio Flyer Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew E. Young, Daniel R. Greenberg
  • Patent number: 10391956
    Abstract: In a method for securing a high voltage on-board electric grid of a motor vehicle for repair and/or maintenance of the motor vehicle, the energy inflow of an energy supply unit into the onboard electric grid is blocked during or after a voltage disconnection of the high-voltage on-board electric grid, in which an energy inflow of the energy supply unit to the high-voltage on-board electric grid is interrupted. Additionally or alternatively, the energy inflow of at least one other energy supply device is blocked, wherein the at least one other energy inflow is designed in order to supply energy from a further energy source to the high-voltage on-board electric grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Marco Thömmes, Margot Höhne, Felix Engelhard, Thomas Bittner, Heinz Neugebauer
  • Patent number: 10388999
    Abstract: Provided is a battery module including a first cooling plate, a battery pack mounted on the first cooling plate, a cover to shield the battery pack, the cover being coupled to the first cooling plate, a coupling portion fixed to the cover, and a circuit module into which the coupling portion is inserted, the circuit module being mounted on the cover to be electrically connected to the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jungkyun Jung
  • Patent number: 10378641
    Abstract: A power system includes: an electric motor that drives wheels of a vehicle; a transmission that is disposed on power transmission paths between the electric motor and the wheels; and a differential gear system that distributes output power shifted by the transmission to the wheels. The transmission includes: a first gear mechanically connected to the electric motor; a second gear that has a rotation axis in common with the first gear and is mechanically connected to a differential gear casing of the differential gear system; a pinion gear that meshes with the first gear and the second gear; and a pinion holder that rotatably supports the pillion gear. The pinion holder has a pinion gear supporting portion which is disposed on a side of the differential gear casing to support the pinion gear, relative to a meshing portion between the second gear and the pinion gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Nakano, Megumi Maruyama, Jun Ohmura
  • Patent number: 10377241
    Abstract: Includes electric motor (330) driving driving wheel (610) , speed control unit (300) controlling driving of electric motor (330) based on instructed speed ?r*, brake control unit (400) controlling hydraulic brake (500) applying mechanical braking to an electromotive vehicle, speed sensor (340) detecting traveling speed ?r of the electromotive vehicle, and determination unit (200) determining whether the mechanical braking needs to be applied in response to the difference between instructed speed ?r* and traveling speed ?r, and controlling operation of brake control unit (400) based on the determination result. Determination unit (200) determines that mechanical braking needs to be applied when instructed speed ?r* indicates deceleration and traveling speed ?r is higher than instructed speed ?r* , and performs control so that brake control unit (400) works hydraulic brake (500).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuji Inoue, Shinji Masuda, Ryouji Oonishi, Hajime Homma
  • Patent number: 10381922
    Abstract: Provided is a power converter including: a power module that converts direct-current electric power from a power storage apparatus and alternating-current electric power to be supplied to a load; a DC/DC converter that converts direct-current voltage from the power storage apparatus; a charger that controls charging of power storage apparatus with electrical power supplied via an external connector; a capacitor module that has a capacitor for smoothing voltage; and a case that accommodates the power module, the DC/DC converter, the charger, and the capacitor module. In the case, the power module, the charger, and the DC/DC converter are arranged around the capacitor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumihiro Okazaki, Gen Okuzuka, Yuuichirou Nomura, Masaharu Nagano
  • Patent number: 10374448
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply control device includes a plurality of area power supply slaves connected with respective different device groups configured with a plurality of different devices installed in a vehicle, and controlling power supplied to the devices in the connected device groups, a plurality of area power supply masters that are connected with respective different area power supply slaves and control power supplied to the connected area power supply slaves, and a vehicle power supply master connected with the area power supply masters and a battery of the vehicle and controlling power supplied to the area power supply masters from the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuuji Satake, Yoshihito Aoki
  • Patent number: 10369889
    Abstract: Pursuant to some embodiments, insurance systems, methods and devices are provided in which electric vehicle information, including electric vehicle charging information, may be received over a communications network. The electric vehicle charging information may be automatically associated with automobile insurance premium information. An integrated presentation of the electric vehicle charging information and the automobile insurance premium information may then be transmitted, over the communications network, for presentation to an owner of the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company
    Inventors: Rohini H. Pandhi, David F. Peak
  • Patent number: 10363808
    Abstract: The wheel drive motor according to the invention includes a motor shaft (35) having a large diameter portion (35d) located at a central part in the axial direction and a small diameter portion (35b) located on a first side in the axial direction, a bearing (36b) rotatably supporting the small diameter portion (35b), and a rotor (24) secured to an outer circumferential surface (35j) of the large diameter portion (35d). An end part (24p) of the rotor (24) located on the first side in the axial direction projects over an end face (35e) of the large diameter portion (35d) located on the first side in the axial direction toward the side on which the small diameter portion (35b) is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohisa Uozumi, Masaru Kuroda, Kenichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10364009
    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: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Kota Sako
  • Patent number: 10358169
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a floor pan and a battery assembly mounted to an underside of the floor pan. The battery assembly includes an open top such that the floor pan acts as a cover of the battery assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Miller, Dave Moschet
  • Patent number: 10361573
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a first battery with a first capacity, a second battery with a second capacity less than the first capacity, and a variable resistor. The second battery has a larger maximum discharge current than the first battery. The variable resistor circuit limits the discharge current of the first battery to a predetermined limit current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Jun Do, Hwa-Su Kim, Cheol-Gi Son, Dong-Rak Kim, Kwang-Min Yoo, In-Seob Song, Jeong-Kurn Park, Su-Jun Park, Jong-Rock Choi, Jun-Young Kim
  • Patent number: 10361545
    Abstract: There is provided a wire harness and a manufacturing method thereof. A wire harness routed in a vehicle body is provided with an electric wire and a metallic shield pipe in which the electric wire is inserted. The shield pipe has a rigidity that enables self-maintenance of an after-bent shape. The shield pipe is bent with the electric wire being inserted therein so as to form the shield pipe in a shape conforming to piping to be assembled to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuto Ito, Yoshio Shionome, Takashi Oguri, Jin Omori
  • Patent number: 10361603
    Abstract: In a mechanically and electrically integrated driving apparatus, a common coolant flow channel for cooling a motor unit and an inverter unit is disposed inside a wall portion of a frame unit. Power modules are placed in close contact with an inner wall surface of the frame unit. A bracket that is separate from the frame unit is fitted into the frame unit. A space inside the frame unit is divided by the bracket into: a space in which the motor unit is housed; and a space in which the inverter unit is housed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi Aizawa, Yoshihiro Miyama, Akihiro Daikoku, Norihiro Watanabe, Hideaki Arita, Shota Hanioka, Shigetoshi Ipposhi
  • Patent number: 10352287
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to controlling engine of a vehicle. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, when it is determined that the vehicle has entered a deep water area, an engine start-stop function of the vehicle is disabled. The deep water area has a water depth which allows water to enter the engine of the vehicle or causes the engine of the vehicle to be susceptible to water inflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tao Chen, Mingyong Tang, Huayijun Liu
  • Patent number: 10355586
    Abstract: A power converter includes: a power module that converts direct-current electric power from a power storage apparatus and alternating-current electrical power to be supplied to a load; a charger that converts alternating-current electrical power supplied via an external connector to direct-current electric power and charges the power storage apparatus therewith; a capacitor module that is arranged between the power module and the charger and that has a capacitor that smoothes voltage; a DC/DC converter that converts direct-current voltage supplied from the power storage apparatus; and a signal line connected to the charger, wherein the power module and the capacitor module are connected by high-voltage wire on one surface side of the capacitor module, and the signal line is connected to the charger by extending via other surface of the capacitor module opposite from the one surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumihiro Okazaki, Gen Okuzuka, Yuuichirou Nomura, Masaharu Nagano
  • Patent number: 10343674
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle having one or more controllers, at least two axles independently driven by respective electric machines (EMs) that are each coupled to a separate battery, and a combustion engine (CE) coupled to one of the axles. At least one of the controller(s) are configured to deliver power to one of the axles in a single axle drive mode, and in response to a torque demand signal (TDS) exceeding a single axle power limit, to deliver power to another axle, and/or all axles. The controller(s) are further configured to respond to the TDS exceeding a multiple axle power limit, and to deliver additional CE power to the coupled axle. In response to a braking signal, the controller(s) may also adjust at least one of the EMs to capture mechanical braking energy from a respective axle, and generate negative torque to charge one or more of the separate batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael E. Reibling, Hari Krishna Addanki, Raymond C Siciak, John Sturza
  • Patent number: 10343484
    Abstract: Electric vehicle thermal management systems and electric vehicles using the thermal management system, are disclosed. A passenger cabin is heated by the heat dissipated from a battery and/or a motor. A cooling circuit in the management system fluidly connects the battery, the motor and a first radiator in series. The first radiator provides a heat source to the passenger cabin by means of the heat dissipated from the battery and/or the electric motor. Under certain conditions, the electric motor is selectively separated from the cooling circuit, so that when the passenger cabin needs to be heated, the thermal management system can provide heat to the passenger cabin without affecting the heat dissipation of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: THUNDER POWER NEW ENERGY VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Ming-Chieh Cheng