Control Of Motor Or Generator Specific To Hybrid Operation Patents (Class 180/65.285)
  • Patent number: 11932122
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a motor of a vehicle system monitor operating conditions of the vehicle system and determine whether the operating conditions of the vehicle system match designated operating conditions. Responsive to determining that the operating conditions of the vehicle system that are monitored match the designated operating conditions, an electrical signature representative of an electric current supplied to the motor of the vehicle system is examined and damage to one or more of the motor of the vehicle system or a mechanical coupling of the motor to one or more of a wheel or axle of the vehicle system is identified based on the electrical signature that is examined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Prabhakar Neti, Kevin Michael Jones, Anthony Paul Fama, Corey Jackson
  • Patent number: 11921161
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for detecting broken bar faults of an induction motor during operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Dehong Liu, Zhe Zhang
  • Patent number: 11884162
    Abstract: A motor control system for a commercial vehicle having an electric axle includes: first and second motors disposed in a rear-wheel electric axle; an accelerator position sensor for detecting a degree to which an accelerator is depressed; a wheel speed sensor detecting a wheel speed change; and a controller determining a driver's required torque on the basis of detection signals of the accelerator position sensor and the wheel speed sensor and then controlling a torque of the first motor in such a manner as to approach target torque for satisfying the driver's required torque and at the same time either controlling either a torque of the second motor to a level that compensates for a torque error of the first motor or controlling the torque of the first motor and the torque of the second motor at alternating fixed duty ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: June Oh
  • Patent number: 11855549
    Abstract: Method for monitoring the distribution of power in a hybrid propulsion system comprising one or more electrical sources delivering an AC voltage, each of which is associated with an AC-to-DC controlled rectifier and one or more batteries, wherein, the AC-to-DC controlled rectifier and the battery each being connected directly to an HVDC bus supplying one or more electrical loads with power, the monitoring of the distribution of power is performed through the individual AC-to-DC controlled rectifier by a feedback loop to a power setpoint (Pref) on the basis of a measured power of the battery (Pbat) and a feedback loop to a voltage setpoint (Vref) on the basis of a measured voltage of the HVDC bus (VHVDC), either one of these two feedback loops delivering an RMS current setpoint Idref and Iqref for a feedback loop on the basis of a current (Igen) of the electrical source delivering an AC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: SAFRAN, SAFRAN ELECTRICAL & POWER, SAFRAN HELICOPTER ENGINES
    Inventors: Garance Vinson, Florent Rougier, Stéphane Meyer Beddok
  • Patent number: 11794715
    Abstract: Responsive to accelerator pedal release and a speed of a vehicle being less than a threshold in a presence of indication that available powertrain torque has been reduced for at least a predetermined period of time during an absence of brake pedal engagement, a controller operates friction brakes to bring the vehicle to a stop. Responsive to accelerator pedal release and the speed being less than the threshold in an absence of the indication that available powertrain torque has been reduced and brake pedal engagement, the controller operates an electric machine and not the friction brakes to bring the vehicle to a stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Michael Bolger, Sergey Gennadievich Semenov, Joshua Hoop, Devin James O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 11784506
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a string of power sources and step-down circuitry. The power sources are connected in series to provide a first voltage rail at a first voltage, and the string of power sources is divided into power-source segments. The step-down circuitry electrically is configured to provide a second voltage rail at a second, lesser voltage. The step-down circuitry includes control circuitry configured to monitor states of charge of the power-source segments, and control selection of one of the power-source segments to deliver an output from which the second voltage rail is provided, based on the states of charge. One or more first electronic components are electrically coupled to the first voltage rail, and designed to operate at the first voltage. And one or more second electronic components are electrically coupled to the second voltage rail, and designed to operate at the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation, A Subsidiary Of The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Wenjiang Yu, John F. Merk, James Perkinson
  • Patent number: 11702062
    Abstract: An operating strategy optimized for dynamic requirements for 48V drive systems of MHEV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Christian Glück, Viktor Kell
  • Patent number: 11685364
    Abstract: A vehicle controller for a vehicle including a drive source including an electric motor includes: a sense-of-beating producer configured to acquire a total required torque which is a required torque of the entire vehicle and configured to derive a total target torque corresponding to the total required torque as applied to a predetermined engine combustion cycle; and a target motor torque deriver configured to, based on the total target torque, derive a target motor torque for torque control of the electric motor. The vehicle controller controls the electric motor based on the target motor torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kyotaro Nakayama, Daisuke Yanase, Daisuke Kawai, Tomoki Tada
  • Patent number: 11679683
    Abstract: A method for implementing virtual internal combustion engine vibration in an electric vehicle includes collecting operation variable information for determining a torque instruction and implementing the virtual internal combustion engine vibration, determining a virtual internal combustion engine vibration characteristic based on the collected operation variable information, determining a vibration torque instruction having the determined virtual internal combustion engine vibration characteristic, correcting the vibration torque instruction by correcting the determined virtual internal combustion engine vibration characteristic of the vibration torque instruction and/or a value of the vibration torque instruction, based on a basic motor torque instruction determined by the collected operation variable information and preset backlash occurring area information, determining a final motor torque instruction using the basic motor torque instruction and the corrected vibration torque instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ji Won Oh, Dong Chul Park, Jeong Soo Eo, Tae Kun Yun
  • Patent number: 11653593
    Abstract: Mowing systems include a remote control unit such as a handheld unit for use with a mower, between which is provided 1- or 2-way communications. Components and features are included in the mower, the remote control unit, or both to enhance the safety, functionality, or user experience of the system's user/operator. One aspect relates to a handheld unit having a logic-implemented safety interlock for a PTO switch and/or a speed switch to prevent such switches from becoming active simultaneously with an enablement command for the PTO unit and/or drive unit of the mower. Another aspect relates to incorporating an inclinometer and/or motion sensor such as an accelerometer into the handheld unit, and controlling operation of the mower based on outputs) from such sensor(s). Another aspect relates to providing a display or other visual indicator on the handheld unit, and displaying on the visual indicator an indication of a tilt angle of the mower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Embankscape Equipment LLC
    Inventor: Michael D. Brandt
  • Patent number: 11654878
    Abstract: A transfer (13) that changes a distribution ratio of torque to be transmitted to a wheel using an electric motor (43), is controlled by a TF-ECU (18). The TF-ECU (18) includes a driver circuit (200) that drives the electric motor (43), a current sensor (53) that detects an actual current of the electric motor (43), and a microcomputer (100) that calculates a target current (I*) corresponding to a desired distribution ratio of torque and performs current feedback control for calculating an operation amount (D) of the electric motor (43) so as to adjust an actual current (Ia) to the target current (I*), and then outputs to the driver circuit (200) a drive signal corresponding to the operation amount (D).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuro Tamura
  • Patent number: 11642957
    Abstract: A hybrid drive includes a control unit, an internal combustion engine, an electrical machine and a dual clutch transmission having an output shaft. The dual clutch transmission includes a first sub-transmission and a second sub-transmission, each couplable to the output shaft. A drive shaft of the internal combustion engine is couplable to a first input shaft of the first sub-transmission via a first clutch and to a second input shaft of the second sub-transmission via a second clutch. The control unit is configured to permit the second clutch to be closed even when the hybrid drive is being operated purely electrically so that the driveshaft of the internal combustion engine is driven by the electrical machine. A control unit and a method for operation of a hybrid drive are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Etzel, Michael Friedrich, Sebastian Liebert
  • Patent number: 11637516
    Abstract: A system and method uses field-oriented control (FOC) of a multi-phase motor to prevent thermal runaway of the thermal battery that powers the motor. An offset is applied to the flux command signal to ensure that the power level drawn from the thermal battery exceeds a minimum power level to avoid thermal runaway. This is done without any additional hardware, hence the reduced cost, inefficiencies and packaging volume of such hardware. In different modes, the offset is applied to prevent thermal runaway regardless of torque production, when the system is in failure and torque production is zero, for variable and intermittent periods when torque production is zero, and during normal operation to augment power drawn to produce torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Andrew C. Walecka, Andrew Thompson
  • Patent number: 11611303
    Abstract: A method of detecting a connection fault of an electric motor, applies to a driving mechanism of an inverter, and includes: measuring a three-phase stator current of the electric motor; transforming the three-phase stator current to acquire dual-axis current components in a stationary coordinate; calculating an angle of rotation of the electric motor according to the dual-axis current components; calculating an angular velocity according to the angle of rotation; comparing a frequency of the angular velocity with a frequency of an output voltage of the inverter; and determining that the electric motor occurs a connection fault if a difference between the frequency of the angular velocity and the frequency of the output voltage is greater than a predetermined frequency difference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Shao-Kai Tseng, Sheng-Han Wu, Yu-Ling Lee
  • Patent number: 11557909
    Abstract: A system includes a first bus, a second bus, a first battery that includes a first plurality of cells, and a second battery that includes a second plurality of cells, wherein the second battery is connected to the second bus. A first converter connects the high-voltage battery to the first bus. A second converter connects the first bus to the second bus. A controller is configured to control operation of the first converter and the second converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Philip W. Juang, Christopher D. Laws, Brandon Pierquet, Giridhar N. Murching, William A. Braff
  • Patent number: 11541858
    Abstract: An overrunable test vehicle including an electronically-controlled anti-slip braking system for reducing wheel slip during rapid deceleration comprising: a chassis, at least one electric motor connected to a first axle, a hydraulic braking system connected with the chassis and at least a second axle, a rotational speed sensor for determining a rotational speed of a connected axle, a ground speed sensor, and a controller connected with the electric motor, the hydraulic braking system, the rotational speed sensor, and the ground speed sensor. The controller is configured to calculate a difference between the rotational speed of the axle and the ground speed of the chassis to determine a slip threshold of the wheels, actuate the hydraulic brake system to apply a first stopping force, control at least one motor parameter of the electric motor to apply a second stopping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Humanetics Austria GmbH
    Inventors: David Wirthl, Lukas Proprentner, Alexander Brennsteiner, Kyrill Krajoski, Patrick Hofmanninger
  • Patent number: 11524672
    Abstract: An electric motor drive retrofit system (EMDRS) comprises a power system, an energy storage system (ESS), a cooling system, a vehicle control unit (VCU), and a user interface device (UID). A non-hybrid combustion engine drive vehicle with tight space constraints is retrofittable with the EMDRS to provide hybrid drive functionality. EMDRS includes a motor generator unit (MGU) coupled to a motor control unit that transfers charge between MGU and ESS. During retrofit, the MGU is coupled between a transmission and an internal combustion engine (ICE) of the vehicle without extending a powertrain length by more than five inches. VCU does not interfere with any pre-existing vehicle electronics. The VCU controls the EMDRS to add torque (discharging ESS) or to remove torque (charging the ESS) based on a selected operating mode and vehicle sensor information (for example, brake and throttle pressure). Operating modes are selected by driver via the UID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Elephant Racing, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Edward Moreland, William Dean Davis
  • Patent number: 11469703
    Abstract: A circuit system and a circuit control method applied to a motor drive are disclosed. The circuit control method includes the steps of providing a phase-locked circuit unit and providing a PWM control unit. The phase-locked circuit unit enables a first carrier signal and a second carrier signal to have identical amplitudes and starting points. The PWM control unit compares the first carrier signal with a reference signal for controlling a switch. When a load current is independently supplied by at least one DC capacitor, a SVPWM control unit controls an inverter unit for the load current to be zero, thereby reducing DC voltage ripple, operation loss and transient voltage surge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: National Cheng Kung University
    Inventors: Mi-Ching Tsai, Fu-Sheng Pai, Min-Fu Hsieh, Kai-Jung Shih, Zheng-Xuan Wu
  • Patent number: 11458946
    Abstract: A clutch is disengaged when a torque condition is satisfied at a predetermined time when a system is stopped as a fuel supply to an engine is stopped from a state where the engine is operating with the clutch being engaged. The torque condition is a condition under which torque acting on an output shaft of the engine is torque in a direction in which an engine speed of the engine is decreased and torque output to a rotary shaft of a motor is torque in a direction in which a motor speed of the motor is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taichi Washio, Masayuki Baba, Nobufusa Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11411521
    Abstract: A system for controlling an operation of an induction motor (IM). A controller processor detects a spectrum of a current signal from received sensor data using a module. Obtain a number of rotor bars and a number of pole pairs of the IM to identify a principle slot harmonics (PSH) type IM from stored IM data. Use the PSH-type IM to identify a static eccentricity (SE) fault signature signal located at a secondary PSH frequency of the PSH-type IM. Determine a level of signal strength in the spectrum of the current signal at a location of the secondary PSH frequency, and compare to a SE fault table database to obtain a SE fault level of the PSH-type IM. Compare the SE fault level to a database to obtain a SE fault threshold, and if the SE fault level is outside the SE threshold, generate an interrupt command to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Lei Zhou, Bingnan Wang, Chungwei Lin
  • Patent number: 11299139
    Abstract: A drive train for a vehicle includes a first electromagnetic device, a second electromagnetic device electrically coupled to the first electromagnetic device by an electrical power transmission system, and an engine coupled to the first electromagnetic device and configured to drive the first electromagnetic device to provide electrical energy. In all modes of operation where the engine drives the first electromagnetic device to provide the electrical energy, the first electromagnetic device operates without providing the electrical energy to an energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Deepak Shukla, Rongjun Zhang, Nader Nasr
  • Patent number: 11287791
    Abstract: A power-source monitoring apparatus according to an embodiment includes an abnormality detecting unit, a measurement unit, and a recording unit. The abnormality detecting unit detects an abnormality in a power source. The power source supplies electric power to an autonomous driving apparatus of a vehicle. The measurement unit measures an elapsed time interval from a time point at which the abnormality detecting unit detects an abnormality in the power source. The recording unit records therein the elapsed time interval measured by the measurement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventor: Yasunori Kozuki
  • Patent number: 11285814
    Abstract: A system includes at least one load in a vehicle, a battery electrically connected to the load, a power source electrically connected to the load, and a computer communicatively connected to the power source. The computer is programmed to reduce a voltage supplied by the power source to the load so that the battery discharges to supply power to the load, and then, in response to an electrical quantity of the system being outside an electrical-quantity range while the battery is discharging, perform a minimal risk condition or prevent the vehicle from movably operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Awad Alla, David Celinske, Mathew Alan Boesch, Sami Dagher, Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Patent number: 11251740
    Abstract: A current sensor state determination device determines that an abnormality is caused in a current sensor when a sum of phase currents based on current detection values from each of the current sensors in three phases is greater than a first determination value, and determines that no abnormality is caused in the current sensor when the sum of phase currents is equal to or less than the first determination value. The state determination device determines that the current sensor is normal when it is determined that (i) no abnormality is caused in a preset electric angle range equal to or less than one electric-angle cycle of the rotating electric machine and (ii) a value of an electric current flowing in the rotating electric machine in a rotating coordinates system calculated based on the current detection value is equal to or greater than a second determination value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Suzuki, Daisuke Kobayashi, Masaya Taki
  • Patent number: 11220254
    Abstract: A hybrid drive transmission unit for a vehicle with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor for the drive part, includes a power-split transmission with sub-transmissions and a torsion-damping unit with a gyrating mass interconnected between the internal combustion engine and the power-split transmission. A clutch is interconnected between the internal combustion engine and the torsion-damping unit, by which the internal combustion engine can be activated, switching from the electromotive operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernhard Hoess, Thomas Jung, Sebastian Kobler
  • Patent number: 11198358
    Abstract: A motor vehicle drive apparatus includes a device configured to connect an internal combustion engine to an electromechanical energy converter, and first and second drive trains. The second drivetrain is arranged parallel to the first drivetrain in relation to torque transmission between the electromechanical energy converter and the internal combustion engine. The first drivetrain has a one-way clutch which is set up in such a manner that torque is transmittable via the first drivetrain from the electromechanical energy converter to the internal combustion engine during starting of the internal combustion engine. The second drivetrain has a speed-sensitive clutch which in a first state is open until a first speed threshold is reached, so that in the first state no torque is transmittable with the second drivetrain from the internal combustion engine to the electromechanical energy converter. The speed-sensitive clutch is closed from the crossing of this first speed threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Georg Koetzinger
  • Patent number: 11137072
    Abstract: A transmission device and method for operating a transmission for a motor vehicle, which transmission device has an input shaft which is operatively connectable to a drive device of the motor vehicle, and has a first output shaft and a second output shaft, and has a spur gear differential transmission configured as a planetary transmission, whereby the input shaft and an intermediate shaft are coupled to the first output shaft and the second output shaft. An electric machine is coupled to the input shaft in a first shifting position of the shifting device and to the intermediate shaft in a second shifting position of the shifting device, and the electric machine is operated for applying a torque to the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Carsten Trautmann, Christian Meixner
  • Patent number: 11065974
    Abstract: A vehicle control system for an autonomous vehicle configured to charge a battery by an external power source during propulsion while preventing a deterioration of the battery. A controller detects a charging zone where the electric storage device can be charged by the external power source, and restricts at least any one of a charging of the electric storage device and a discharging of electricity from the electric storage device so as to limit a load factor of the electric storage device to be smaller than a predetermined limit value when the vehicle passes through the charging zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kodera, Takahito Endo, Kensei Hata, Yushi Seki
  • Patent number: 10989187
    Abstract: A control system for controlling operation of an execution device is provided. The control system includes a master controller, a microprocessor, and a signal line. The master controller is configured to send a control signal to the microprocessor via the signal line. The microprocessor is configured to send the control signal to the execution device to drive the execution device to operate, acquire, at a time interval, a feedback signal representing an operation state of the execution device, and send the feedback signal to the signal line. The master controller is further configured to acquire the feedback signal from the signal line, determine, from the feedback signal, the operation state of the execution device, and regulate the control signal based on the operation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Hangzhou Sanhua Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuang Li, Hongtao Zhang, Lulu Zhang, Wei Ye, Bin Zhang
  • Patent number: 10894537
    Abstract: A speed change control system that suppress a change in a vehicle behavior, and prevents a reduction in an energy efficiency. The speed change control system is applied to a vehicle comprising: a transmission; a wheel connected to the transmission; a motor in which torque or speed is changed by changing a speed ratio of the transmission; and an electric storage device connected to the motor. A controller is configured to select a first mode if an SOC level of an electric storage device is lower than a predetermined level, and select a second mode if the SOC level of the electric storage device is equal to or higher than the predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ken Kuretake
  • Patent number: 10894539
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle starts execution of temporary increase control that temporarily increases an allowable discharge power that is a maximum power dischargeable from a power storage device, on satisfaction of a predetermined start condition, and terminates execution of the temporary increase control on satisfaction of a predetermined termination condition. When a predetermined stop condition that is different from the predetermined termination condition is satisfied during execution of the temporary increase control, the hybrid vehicle terminates execution of the temporary increase control and prohibits subsequent execution of the temporary increase control until elapse of a first predetermined time. This configuration suppresses frequent repetition of a temporary increase of the allowable discharge power (output limit) of the power storage device such as a battery and its cancellation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keita Sato
  • Patent number: 10814874
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for controlling a creep torque in an environmentally-friendly vehicle. The apparatus includes detectors that detect driving-related information of the vehicle and a controller that calculates rolling resistance based on the driving-related information and variably controls the creep torque in consideration of the calculated rolling resistance depending on whether the vehicle satisfies a creep cruise control operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hui Un Son, Jin Kyeom Cho
  • Patent number: 10807489
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for charging an onboard energy storage device in a hybrid vehicle depending on vehicle operating conditions. In one example, a method includes charging the onboard energy storage device through a dual clutch transmission via an electric machine positioned downstream of the dual clutch transmission, and controlling a driveline disconnect clutch positioned downstream of the electric machine. In this way, charging of the onboard energy storage device may be conducted under conditions where a speed of the vehicle is either above a predetermined threshold speed, or below the predetermined threshold speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Stan L. Bower
  • Patent number: 10770761
    Abstract: Under a condition that a command to stop a fuel cell system is received and a state of charge of a secondary battery is equal to or lower than a threshold which is a value obtained by adding a first predetermined value to a lower limit at which electric power required to stop and start the fuel cell system is supplied, forced charging of the secondary battery by a fuel cell is performed until the state of charge reaches the threshold. After the forced charging is performed, in a case where the command to stop the fuel cell system is received within a predetermined period, the controller sets the threshold to a value obtained by adding a second predetermined value lower than the first predetermined value to the lower limit under the condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takao Watanabe, Junichi Matsuo, Shinji Aso
  • Patent number: 10744989
    Abstract: This brake device is provided with: a brake actuator which applies to a wheel a brake torque depending on the rotation of an electric motor; a booster circuit which boosts a reference voltage outputted from a battery; and a motor control unit which controls the electric motor. Depending on the state of the booster circuit, the motor control unit switches between a first drive process for driving the electric motor by supplying thereto a boost voltage, which is a voltage that has been boosted by the booster circuit, and a second drive process for driving the electric motor by supplying a reference voltage to the electric motor and by performing spark advance control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuki Ota
  • Patent number: 10696165
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for controlling a range extender (104) in an electric vehicle (100). The apparatus comprises means for receiving trip information, means for retrieving power usage information relating to a previous trip, the previous trip having trip information which is at least in part in common with the trip information; and means for activating the range extender (104) in dependence on said power usage information. The invention also extends to an associated method, computer product and system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: TEVVA MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Asher Bennett, Moria Bennett, John Hankinson, Malcolm Powell, Trevor Power, Robert Watson, Zhengye Zhu
  • Patent number: 10693164
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle may include: an electric traction motor; an inverter; a fuel cell system; a first boost converter including first low voltage terminals connected to a fuel cell and first high voltage terminals connected to the inverter, the first boost converter including a first capacitor connected between positive and negative terminals of the first high voltage terminals; a first relay connected between the first boost converter and the inverter; and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to: shut down the fuel cell system; while a voltage of the fuel cell is higher than a voltage threshold, discharge the first capacitor and maintain a voltage thereof higher than the voltage of the fuel cell; and when the voltage of the fuel cell becomes lower than the voltage threshold, stop discharging the first capacitor and disconnect the first boost converter from the inverter by opening the first relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Seo
  • Patent number: 10661778
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle including: an engine; a motor; a power storage device; and a control device configured to: i) automatically start and stop the engine; ii) execute, in a current trip, a power storage capacity decreasing control of controlling the engine and the motor such that a power storage capacity of the power storage device in a case where the hybrid vehicle is predicted to be parked at a predetermined point is lower than that in a case where the hybrid vehicle is predicted to not be parked at the predetermined point, and execute, in a next trip, a power storage capacity recovering control; and iii) limit execution of the power storage capacity decreasing control when the hybrid vehicle is predicted to be parked at the predetermined point is predicted and a stopping prohibiting condition for the engine is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keisuke Morisaki
  • Patent number: 10597020
    Abstract: A hybrid electric powertrain includes an electric machine delivering torque to an engine in an engine start event having initial cranking and transition phases. In response to a request for an engine start event, a controller commands delivery of the motor torque to the crankshaft. In the initial cranking phase the controller regulates crankshaft acceleration from zero speed up to a target cranking speed in a closed-loop manner via a predetermined fixed profile. In the transition phase, the crankshaft accelerates from the target cranking speed to a target idle speed using a feed-forward torque value blended, using a calibration table, from a predetermined engine drag torque to a reported engine torque. In the transition phase the controller periodically adjusts a speed trajectory of the crankshaft, with the magnitude and frequency of adjustment based on combustion of the engine and calibration of the feed-forward torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Anthony L. Christman, Michael D. Potts, Paul S. Lombardo, Anthony Burt, Jeffrey R. Aldrich
  • Patent number: 10536047
    Abstract: An electric motor control system and methods of manufacture are provided. The system includes a power supply module including a printed circuit board (PCB) and a plurality of power processing components configured to convert an input voltage into an output voltage. The system also includes a motor management module including an encapsulated, heat-sharing package for housing a plurality of moisture-sensitive driver components configured to convert the output voltage from the power supply module and provide output voltages for application to windings of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Carlos Becerra, Ming Li, Mohamad Khalil Dahouk
  • Patent number: 10486656
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, an electric motor supported by the vehicle body frame, a power transmission mechanism including a drive shaft connected to an output shaft of the electric motor to transmit power generated by the electric motor to a wheel on which a tire is mounted, a supporting member supported by the vehicle body frame to rotatably support the drive shaft, and a parking brake provided on an outside of the supporting member to restrict a rotation of the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Naitou, Takuya Ishizaka
  • Patent number: 10343683
    Abstract: A power transmission system of a vehicle and a gear-shift control method are provided. The power transmission system includes a first drive assembly (101) and a second drive assembly (102). The first drive assembly includes a first automatic transmission (2) and a first motor (1) connected with the first automatic transmission (2) for outputting power to two wheels of the vehicle. The second drive assembly (102) includes a second automatic transmission (2000) and a second motor (1000) connected with the second automatic transmission (2000) for outputting power to the other two wheels of the vehicle. The first and second automatic transmission are configured to be shifted to a preset gear or a gear adjacent to the preset gear, such that when one of the first and second automatic transmission is shifted to the preset gear, the other one of the first and second automatic transmission is shifted to the preset gear or the gear adjacent to the preset gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Jintao Zhang, Cailin Fu
  • Patent number: 10330714
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting quality of an indoor power distribution line including a power input module, a switch circuit, a load circuit and a detecting module is provided. The power input module receives an AC power through an indoor power distribution line. The switch circuit is controlled by the detecting module to transmit the AC power to the load circuit. When the switch circuit is on, the detecting module detects a voltage and a current of the load circuit to respectively serve as a first voltage value and a first current value. When the switch circuit is off, the detecting module detects a voltage of the AC power to serve as a second voltage value. The detecting module determines the quality of the indoor power distribution line based on a measurement resistance thereof obtained according to the first voltage value, the first current value and the second voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Inventor: Cheng-Tsuen Hsu
  • Patent number: 10309842
    Abstract: A magnet temperature estimation device for a rotating electric machine includes a rotating electric machine configured with a rotor having a magnet and a stator having a coil, a coolant supply part configured to supply a coolant flowing from the stator toward the rotor, and a magnet temperature calculation part configured to calculate a temperature of the magnet using a temperature of a coolant that receives heat from the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Munehiro Matsubara, Yuta Ito
  • Patent number: 10272913
    Abstract: A method for recovering energy during braking of a vehicle is provided. The vehicle has at least one rotatable ground engaging member, a generator operatively connected to the at least one rotatable ground engaging member, and at least one energy storage device coupled to the generator. The method has the steps of: determining a speed of the vehicle; determining a desired slip of the at least one rotatable ground engaging member based at least in part on the speed of the vehicle; and applying a braking torque to the at least one rotatable ground engaging member using the generator based at least in part on the desired slip. A regenerative braking system for a vehicle and a vehicle having such a system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: CONSORTIUM DE RECHERCHE BRP—UNIVERSITE DE SHERBROOKE S.E.N.C.
    Inventors: Maxime Boisvert, Philippe Micheau, Didier Mammosser
  • Patent number: 10099557
    Abstract: A vehicle driven by a motor includes: a secondary battery configured to supply an electric power to the motor; a power regeneration portion configured to supply, to the secondary battery, a regenerative electric power that is recovered at a time of braking the vehicle; a power storage amount detecting portion configured to detect a power storage amount of the secondary battery; and a controlling portion configured to control charging and discharging of the secondary battery. The controlling portion estimates a regenerative electric power, and estimates an expected power-storage increasing amount, so as to calculate a virtual power storage amount from a sum total of the expected power-storage increasing amount and an actual power storage amount. The controlling portion performs charging and discharging on the secondary battery based on the virtual power storage amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuo Matsubara, Kenji Umayahara
  • Patent number: 10033326
    Abstract: A vehicle having at least two electric machines includes an oil circulation path that circulates oil through the electric machines. A controller commands the electric machines to fulfill torque demands. The controller utilizes the oil temperature in the oil circulation path to control the commanded torque output by the electric machines. In the event of a failure or fault in an oil temperature sensor, the controller estimates the oil temperature from the temperature of coils within at least one of the electric machines. The estimated oil temperature is utilized instead of the sensed oil temperature to control the torque outputs to satisfy torque demands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Balakrishna Rao, Rimma Isayeva, Daniel Luedtke
  • Patent number: 10017045
    Abstract: A transmission for a hybrid powertrain includes a first input, a second input, a third input, and an output. A sun gear is attached to and rotatable with the first input. A carrier is attached to and rotatable with the third input. The carrier rotatably supports a plurality of pinions. Each of the pinions includes a first pinion gear and a second pinion gear. Each second pinion gear of the pinions is disposed in meshing engagement with the sun gear. A first ring gear is disposed in meshing engagement with each first pinion gear of the pinions. The first ring gear is disposed in torque communication with the second input. A second ring gear is disposed in meshing engagement with each second pinion gear of the pinions. The second ring gear is disposed in torque communication with the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shawn H. Swales, Craig S. Ross
  • Patent number: 10000124
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods to multiple levels of redundancy in torque steering control and propulsion control of an autonomous vehicle include determining that a powertrain unit of the autonomous vehicle is non-operational and disabling propulsion operation of the non-operational powertrain unit and implementing torque steering operation in another powertrain unit while propelling the autonomous vehicle using other powertrain units that are configured to implement torque steering operation and propulsion operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy David Kentley-Klay
  • Patent number: 9981563
    Abstract: In electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), interruption of charging due to overheating is prevented by adjusting the pulse duty cycle on the control pilot conductor communicating the maximum allowed current level to the electric vehicle, the adjustment being performed whenever the EVSE temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature below the maximum operating temperature as a function of the approach of the temperature to the maximum operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert Joseph Flack