Automobile Patents (Class 307/10.1)
  • Patent number: 11642965
    Abstract: A system and a method of powering an external device with a vehicular battery system allow a user to charge electrically-powered devices with the electrical power source of his or her vehicle. The system includes an electrically-driven vehicle which includes a high-voltage battery. The system further includes a power modifier, an auxiliary battery, at least one external device, at least one on/off relay, and a user controller. The power modifier modifies the high-voltage DC drawn from the high-voltage battery to safely charge the auxiliary battery. The auxiliary battery stores electrical power. The external device may be any electrically-powered device. The on/off relay allows a user to turn the system on or off when desired. The user controller is communicably coupled to the on/off relay through a relay wireless communication module. The user controller allows a user to remotely operate the on/off relay and, thus, remotely turn the system on or off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventor: Keith Johnson
  • Patent number: 11643100
    Abstract: An in-vehicle display apparatus includes a display device and a display control section that causes information of a vehicle to be displayed as an image in the display device. The vehicle is capable of switching between a driving manipulation mode and a driving assistance mode. The display control section, in the driving manipulation mode, causes display to be performed in a driving manipulation display format, in which a speed meter image and a rotational speed meter image that indicate a physical quantity accompanying the drive force of the vehicle using an indicator and a parameter change with respect to the indicator are displayed. The display control section, in the driving assistance mode, causes display to be performed in a driving assistance display format, in which the speed meter image and the rotational speed meter image are deleted and a driving assistance image is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Genta Shiba, Koji Tajima
  • Patent number: 11643034
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply system and a method for operating the same are provided. The vehicle power supply system includes a main battery and a sub-battery to supply power to an electronic load inside a vehicle, and a controller to control supplying of the power to the electronic load using at least one of the main battery or the sub-battery, by monitoring the main battery and the sub-battery. The controller determines whether the main battery allows entrance into Idle Stop and Go, determines whether the sub-battery is able to assist the ISG, and controls the sub-battery to assist the main battery to supply the power to the electronic load, when the main battery allows the entrance into the ISG, when the sub-battery is able to assist the ISG, and when entering into the ISG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Sun Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 11639116
    Abstract: A power delivery system for an electric vehicle provides efficient power management for either continuous or intermittent high-performance operation, using a boost stage and an on-board charging circuit. A main battery, configured as a high-capacity power source, supplies power to the electric motor under normal load conditions. An auxiliary boost battery assists the main battery in supplying a high-level current at a higher discharge rate thereby causing the motor to operate in a high-performance drive mode. A charging circuit recharges the boost battery from the main battery during operation of the motor. The charging circuit also maintains a charge balance between the boost battery and the main battery when the two batteries have different chemistries. In one embodiment, participation of the boost battery in powering the electric motor can be controlled automatically according to sensed changes in the load. In another embodiment, power management can be based on timed intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
    Inventor: Yi-Tsung Wu
  • Patent number: 11618310
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle includes: an internal combustion engine; a rotary electric machine; an electric storage device; and a power control unit that converts electric power between the rotary electric machine and the electric storage device, and controls the rotary electric machine, the hybrid electric vehicle being capable of traveling by rotating a driving wheel by using power of at least one of the internal combustion engine and the rotary electric machine. Further, the power control unit is provided below the rotary electric machine, and a heat generation source that has higher temperature than the power control unit, a heat transfer inhibition unit that inhibits heat transfer from the heat generation source to the power control unit, and the power control unit are disposed in this order from one side to another side in a vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirotaka Koyanagi
  • Patent number: 11616375
    Abstract: Rechargeable battery systems and rechargeable battery system operational methods are described. According to one aspect, a rechargeable battery system includes a plurality of rechargeable battery cells coupled between a plurality of terminals and charge shuttling circuitry configured to couple with and shuttle electrical energy between individual ones of the rechargeable battery cells, and wherein the charge shuttling circuitry is configured to receive the electrical energy from one of the rechargeable battery cells at a first voltage and to provide the electrical energy to another of the rechargeable battery cells at a second voltage greater than the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Lithion Battery Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Nysen
  • Patent number: 11597290
    Abstract: A flow battery system can include at least one pair of electrolyte storage, a first battery stack, and a second battery stack. The electrolyte storage pair can include an anolyte storage configured to contain an anolyte solution, and a catholyte storage configured to contain a catholyte solution. The first battery stack can be fluid communication with the electrolyte storage pair. The first battery stack can also be configured to receive electrical energy from a power source and to facilitate redox reactions storing the received electrical power as chemical energy by the anolyte and catholyte solutions. The second battery stack can be in fluid communication with the at least one pair of electrolyte storage. The second battery stack can also be configured to supply electrical energy to an electrical load, and to facilitate redox reactions releasing chemical energy stored by the anolyte and catholyte solutions as electrical energy to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: LARGO CLEAN ENERGY CORP.
    Inventors: Chad Jeromy Allison, Michael Falcinelli, Peter Gottlieb, Gregory A. Morehead
  • Patent number: 11584316
    Abstract: A communication system includes a host control device and a vicarious inputting and outputting unit that controls an electric device by communicating with the host control device. The vicarious inputting and outputting unit includes a standard board provided with a first control circuit which controls the electric device and at least one of an input circuit and an output circuit for a standard electric device. The first control circuit has an extension terminal for connection to an extension board provided with at least one of an input circuit and an output circuit for an extended electric device and is provided so as to be able to operate in response to respective specifications of plural kinds of extension terminals, and a specification of the extension terminal is set through communication with the host control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Suzuki, Jun Goto, Hideo Takahashi, Sadaharu Okuda
  • Patent number: 11545823
    Abstract: Circuits, methods, and apparatus that may provide power supply voltages in a safe and reliable manner that meets safety and regulatory concerns and does not exceed physical limitations of cables and other circuits and components used to provide the power supply voltages. One example may provide a cable having a sufficient number of conductors to provide power without exceeding a maximum current density for the conductors. Another example may provide a cable having more than the sufficient number of conductors in order to provide an amount of redundancy. Current sense circuits may be included for one or more conductors. When an excess current is sensed, a power source in the power supply may be shut down, the power source may be disconnected from one or more conductors, or both events may occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Costa, Bharat K. Patel, Neal V. Cecil, Timur O. Starobinets, Ruenjou Lu, Dane Oleson, Fei Ni
  • Patent number: 11541767
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply includes an electric accumulator pack, an electric motor, first and second switches, an output determiner, and a switch controller. The electric accumulator pack includes first and second electric accumulators. The first and second switches are controlled between on- and off-states. The output determiner determines whether the first electric accumulator is in a first output state or a second output state, and whether the second electric accumulator is in the first output state or the second output state. If at least one of the first electric accumulator or the second electric accumulator is in the first output state, the switch controller controls either one of the first and second switches to the on-state, and the other switch to the off-state. If both the first and second electric accumulators are in the second output state, the switch controller controls both the first and second switches to the on-state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuki Makino, Itaru Seta, Yosuke Ohtomo, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Takashi Kono, Shinya Sagawa, Masaki Komuro, Masakazu Yoshino
  • Patent number: 11535106
    Abstract: A power supply system includes power circuit which connects first and second batteries with a drive motor, and a management ECU which controls transfer of power between the batteries and the drive motor. The management ECU limits the output power of the second battery to no more than a second output upper limit, during combined output travel which drives the drive motor by way of the combined output of the first and second batteries. In addition, the management ECU sets the second output upper limit to a second maximum output of the second battery in the case of the first SOC of the first batter being greater than a remaining amount warning threshold, and sets the second output upper limit to a range extending upper limit which is smaller than the second maximum output, in the case of the first SOC being less than the remaining amount warning threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Oguma, Yasuo Yamada, Arata Ohishi, Minoru Nagasawa, Yoshihiro Kanamaru, Yoshihisa Kato
  • Patent number: 11524582
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery, an electric machine, an electrical outlet, and a controller. The electric machine is configured to charge the battery. The electrical outlet is configured to draw power from the battery to power an external device. The controller is programmed to adjust a rate at which the electric machine charges the battery based on a power consumption at the electrical outlet exceeding a threshold and a battery degradation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Seth Anthony Bryan, William David Treharne, Fazal Urrahman Syed, Garrett Carlson, Douglas Michael Smith
  • Patent number: 11511630
    Abstract: A motor control system is configured to: determine a current supply limit for an electric motor; receive a current supply of the electric motor; identify one or more motor commands; adjust the one or more motor commands in response to a determination that the current supply is greater than the current supply limit; and selectively control the electric motor using the adjusted one or more motor commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Jeffery A. Zuraski
  • Patent number: 11511729
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a hybrid vehicle and a method thereof are provided. The apparatus includes a hybrid starter & generator (HSG) controller that determines whether an HSG has failed, and a hybrid vehicle controller that controls reverse drive by controlling locking up an engine clutch and maintaining a main relay of a battery to be continuously turned on, based on whether a request for the reverse drive is input from a user. The hybrid vehicle controller changes and applies a vehicle torque control calculation method based on a state of charge (SoC) of the battery, when the HSG has failed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Seong Wook Moon, Jeong Eun Kim
  • Patent number: 11512862
    Abstract: A software implementation and method for garage ventilation control logic to intelligently modulate the rate of speed of a plurality of garage fan motors in an enclosed commercial parking garage structure. The savings are primarily driven by the known cubic relationship between fan power draw and fan speed, whereby fans operating at lower speeds will draw much less power than operating at higher speeds, taking advantage of the highly non-linear relationship between the two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: NAGLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Francis J Nagle, Jr., Ronald A Lea, Robin D Shaffer
  • Patent number: 11505144
    Abstract: In a power supply system, a first route includes a first power supply connected to a first load. A second route includes a second power supply connected to a second load. A connection path connects the first and second routes at a connection point. The first power supply includes a voltage generator generating an operating voltage operating the first and second loads. The second power supply includes an electrical storage device charging based on power supplied from the voltage generator. A switching circuit includes a first switch having a diode component with an anode and a cathode being directed to the electrical storage device and the connection path, respectively, and is disposed between the connection point and the electrical storage device. A switch state controller outputs a switch-off command to the first switch when the electrical storage device is in the fully charged condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsuo Morita
  • Patent number: 11505059
    Abstract: An active grille system having a linear actuation mechanism. The active grille system has vanes connected to a link arm. The vanes rotate between an open position and a closed position using force transmitted by the link arm. Connected to the frame is an actuator that has a mover that provides force to a linear actuation mechanism that is connected to the link arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA EXTERIORS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael James Cowan, Martin Robert Matthews
  • Patent number: 11492133
    Abstract: A system includes three switches each having a single pole and dual throws. The respective single pole is on a supply side of the each respective switch. The dual throws are on a load side of each respective switch, and include a respective normally open (NO) throw and a respective normally closed (NC) throw. A first voltage detector is connected from the single pole of the first switch to the NC throw of the third switch. A second voltage detector is connected from the single pole of the second switch to the NC throw of the first switch. A third voltage detector is connected from the single pole of the third switch to a NC throw of the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Koninklijke Fabriek Inventum B.V.
    Inventors: Dennis Mulders, Hans Huijsing
  • Patent number: 11496065
    Abstract: A power module is provided that is configured to supply power to a load. The power module includes a current generator configured to generate a current; a current rail configured to receive the current and output the current from the power module, wherein the current rail includes a first opening formed therethrough, and the current, while flowing along the current rail in an output direction, flows around the first opening; and a housing that houses the current generator, wherein the housing includes an outer frame from which the current rail outwardly extends, wherein the outer frame includes a recess aligned with the first opening of the current rail such that the recess and the first opening form a unitary opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Leo Aichriedler, Gerald Wriessnegger
  • Patent number: 11485301
    Abstract: A power source supply circuit supplies an output power source of a battery to a vehicle control apparatus that includes a first instrument control portion that selectively receives a voltage applied to a first power source input portion or a voltage applied to a second power source input portion as an operation voltage and a second instrument control portion that receives a voltage applied to a second power source input portion or a third power source input portion as the operation voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Shiomi
  • Patent number: 11485287
    Abstract: An electronic mirror system includes: a camera for capturing images of surroundings of a vehicle; a display unit for displaying an image captured by the camera; a switch unit including an adjustment switch and a multi-function switch; and a control unit for performing a process according to a signal from the switch unit. When the multi-function switch is operated, the control unit executes a process selected from a plurality of set processes according to a state of the vehicle; and in a case where the executed process is a transition to a mode for changing setting information of the system, and when the adjustment switch is operated after the transition, the control unit changes the setting information according to a signal from the adjustment switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Fukuda, Tomoaki Iida, Goro Asai, Kunihiro Sugihara, Taichi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 11476700
    Abstract: In a power supply control apparatus, a control unit is configured to execute: discharge control of turning off a first switch and turning on a second switch to discharge electric power from a backup power supply to a backup load; first charge control of turning on the first switch and turning off the second switch to charge the backup power supply via a charging DC/DC converter; and second charge control of turning on the first switch and turning on the second switch to charge the backup power supply via the second switch. In charging the backup power supply, the second charge control is executed only in a case in which a current value of a charging current is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value and equal to or less than a second predetermined value that is greater than the first predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masato Sasahara
  • Patent number: 11472353
    Abstract: Provided are a wire harness, a connector and a communication relay method with which effects such as reduction in the relay processing load of an in-vehicle device or improvement in the scalability of an in-vehicle device can be expected. A wire harness according to an embodiment includes a connector to be detachably connected to an in-vehicle device, a plurality of communication lines connected to the connector, and a relay unit provided in the connector and configured to relay communication between the plurality of communication lines and to relay communication between the communication lines and the in-vehicle device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Yasunori, Makoto Chujo
  • Patent number: 11469906
    Abstract: Among other things, we describe systems and method for implementing data security in an autonomous vehicle system. The systems and methods can include inter-process communication security via key management, in which asymmetric cryptography and other validation techniques are used to validate data received from sensors. The systems and method can also include penetrative testing, in which valid sensor inputs are modified and transmitted throughout a distributed network through one or more sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: MOTIONAL AD LLC
    Inventors: Rajesh K. Venkateswaran, Anurag Sanu, Junsung Kim, Dana Miller, Brett Sandler, Silvio Maeta, James Esper, Vasudeva Pai Melgangolli, Yunpeng Xu, Michael Maass, Parth Shah, Scott Sweeny
  • Patent number: 11465587
    Abstract: A sensing device can include an accelerometer, a transceiver, and a computing device in communication with the accelerometer and transceiver. The computing device can transmit a first set of signals at a first power level to a remote device. The computing device can determine, via the accelerometer, a movement of the sensing device. The computing device can increase a power level for transmission from the first power level to a second power level in response to the movement. The computing device can transmit future signals at the second power level to the remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: KEEP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: David Moeller, Jonathan Manuzak, Ian Mathews, Rahul Maran, Nick Allison
  • Patent number: 11469788
    Abstract: Multiple sensors are coupled to a first pin of a PSI5 transceiver to receive a sensor bus signal. A Manchester decoder is coupled to a second pin and a battery is coupled to a third pin. A comparator receives a first voltage that is proportional to a current on the sensor bus signal and a second voltage that is proportional to a base current on the sensor bus signal and sends a data output signal to the second pin. A sample-and-hold circuit captures a third voltage used to effect the second voltage responsive to a high value on a base current sampling signal. A base-current-renewal circuit detects edge transitions on the data output signal and when the data output signal has no edge transitions for a period of time greater than a gap time defined in a PSI5 standard, sets the base current sampling signal high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sri Navaneethakrishnan Easwaran, Ted F. Lekan, Michael J. Zroka, Darren J. Rollman
  • Patent number: 11460503
    Abstract: An electrical system comprising a battery system and a control system is disclosed. The battery system may comprise a first switching device, a first battery electrically coupled in series with the first switching device, a second battery electrically coupled in parallel with the first switching device and the first battery when the first switching device is in a closed position, and a second switching device coupled in series with a load. The control system may be configured to perform diagnostics on the battery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Mark R. Johnson, Michael R. Blemberg, Ronald J. Dulle, Steven G. Rinaldo, Zhihong Jin, Douglas G. Grimsley
  • Patent number: 11453261
    Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, an autonomous system is provided that includes: a tow vehicle, a trailer, and a control system. The tow vehicle has a vehicle battery. The trailer is coupled to the tow vehicle, and has a trailer battery. The control system includes a sensor and a processor. The sensor is configured to at least facilitate measuring a state of charge of the trailer battery. The processor is coupled to the sensor, and is configured to at least facilitate selectively providing current from the tow vehicle to the trailer based on the state of charge of the trailer battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Stacey M. Marmara, Todd J. Brinkman, David B. Antanaitis, Steven Reini, Douglas J. Spry, Brandon E. Pieniozek
  • Patent number: 11453303
    Abstract: A power supply circuit of an electrified vehicle according to the present disclosure is mounted on the electrified vehicle including: a battery configured to receive an electric power from an external DC power supply; an accessory configured to operate at a system voltage of the battery; and a DC inlet to which a voltage higher than the system voltage is applied from the external DC power supply. The power supply circuit includes a first power line, a step-down converter and a second power line. The first power line is configured to connect the DC inlet and the battery. The step-down converter is disposed on the first power line and configured to lower a voltage supplied to the battery from the DC inlet. The second power line has one end connected to the first power line between the step-down converter and the battery, and another end connected to the accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11447019
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a power storage device, a drive device, a system main relay attached to a power line, and a charge circuit connected to the power line on a side of the drive device from the system main relay. The vehicle control device turns off the system main relay in a power shortage of the power storage device, and store a power shortage state of the power storage device to prohibit reactivation of the system. The vehicle control device, when charging of the power storage device using the charge circuit is requested, determines whether the power shortage state of the power storage device is stored, and when the power shortage state of the power storage device is stored, releases prohibition of system reactivation when an output limit of the power storage device reaches predetermined electric power or more due to charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaru Kimura
  • Patent number: 11444921
    Abstract: A vehicular firewall providing device includes a processor configured to match a data packet received from an external device and a plurality of rules at a set order, and to perform rule reordering defined to change the order based on a matching result. The processor is further configured to perform the rule reordering after the state, in which the vehicle autonomously travels, is terminated, upon detecting a hacking attack sign in a state in which a vehicle autonomously travels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Junsang Park, Youngil Kim
  • Patent number: 11427260
    Abstract: A reinforcement is formed into an elongated shape, and includes a reinforcement body in which a housing part opened toward an outer peripheral side is formed and a covering part attached to close an opening of the housing part. A module component which is an electrical component or a wiring component may be housed in the reinforcement while being attached to the covering part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Yamaguchi, Housei Mizuno, Shinya Sadohara, Hiroki Hirai, Shinya Itou
  • Patent number: 11427105
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes an automotive battery system that uses switching devices to increase operational performance and reliability. The battery system includes a battery cell, a primary switching device electrically coupled to a terminal of the battery cell, and a secondary switching device electrically coupled to the terminal of the battery cell and in parallel with the primary switching device. The primary switching device includes an electromechanical switching device that enables charging or discharging of the battery and generates a boosted voltage. A secondary switching device includes a solid-state switching device and a diode, electrically coupled in series, which detect short circuit conditions in a power-efficient manner and remove the short circuit condition by using the boosted voltage to actuate the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Michael R. Blemberg, Ronald J. Dulle, Mark R. Johnson, Bryan L. Thieme
  • Patent number: 11431191
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing power. A system comprising a generator, an inverter, and a battery can be used to provide power. The system can also comprise a transfer switch. The system can provide power to another device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Constellation Energy Generation, LLC
    Inventors: David D. Heilman, Justin R. Smith
  • Patent number: 11424464
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes fuel cell, electrical storage device that stores electric power generated by the fuel cell, and control device of the fuel cell, the control device performs first control which causes the fuel cell to generate power and increases charging rate of the electrical storage device and second control which restricts output of the fuel cell to be smaller than that in the first control and decreases charging rate of the electrical storage device, and when switching condition, in which electric power demand from the external devices becomes greater than predetermined electric power or state in which electric power demand from the external devices is greater than the predetermined electric power continues for predetermined time, is satisfied, the control device increases power output by the fuel cell during the first control being performed to be larger than that before the switching condition was satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryoji Sakai, Akihiro Matsui
  • Patent number: 11414051
    Abstract: A keyed-alike digital consumer access key is generated for distribution to a plurality of vehicles of a fleet. The keyed-alike digital consumer access key is deployed to the plurality of vehicles. The keyed-alike digital consumer access key is deployed to a mobile device. A request from a mobile device may be received to gain access to the plurality of vehicles. Responsive to validating the mobile device, the mobile device may be sent the keyed-alike digital consumer access key and a unique identifier corresponding to the mobile device, the keyed-alike digital consumer access key for use by the mobile device in authentication to one or more of the plurality of vehicles, the unique identifier for use by the mobile device in tracking which mobile device is accessing the one or more of the plurality of vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Hassani, Ryan Edwin Hanson, Hamid M. Golgiri, Kevin Thomas Hille
  • Patent number: 11417918
    Abstract: In a battery monitoring system including a plurality of battery modules each including one or more cells, the battery modules are connected in series to each other. The battery monitoring system monitors the state of each cell based on the voltage value of the cell and the current value of the battery modules. A current detection unit detects the current value. Each voltage detection unit is associated with the corresponding one of the battery modules and detects the voltage value. Each slave unit is associated with the corresponding one of the battery modules, and wirelessly transmits information including synchronous current and voltage values detected by the current detection unit and the voltage detection unit. A master unit receives the information transmitted from the slave units. A central monitoring unit receives the information received by the master unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Numata, Shunichi Kubo
  • Patent number: 11415269
    Abstract: A system and a method for sensing hydrogen charge state of a fuel cell electric vehicle are provided. The system includes an infrared transmission unit that transmits a fuel door sensing infrared signal for sensing a fuel door opened while charging hydrogen and a nozzle sensing infrared signal for sensing a charging station-side hydrogen charging nozzle connected to a hydrogen charging inlet of a vehicle. An infrared reception unit receives the fuel door sensing infrared signal and thereafter, reflected on a fuel door and the nozzle sensing infrared signal transmitted from the infrared transmission unit and thereafter, reflected on the hydrogen charging nozzle. A controller determines that the vehicle is being charged with hydrogen when sensing an open state of the fuel door and a hydrogen charging inlet connection state of the hydrogen charging nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ji Hyun Shim, Ki Ho Hwang, Hyung Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 11407371
    Abstract: A vehicular circuit body includes a trunk line that includes a power source line and a communication line, and that is routed in a vehicle body; and a plurality of control boxes that are disposed in a distribution manner along the trunk line. The trunk line includes a first trunk line portion extending in a front-and-rear direction of the vehicle body and a second trunk line portion extending in a leftward-and-rightward direction of the vehicle body. The plurality of control boxes include a branch control box that connects the first trunk line portion and the second trunk line portion, and distributes power from one of the first trunk line portion and the second trunk line portion to the other one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Takamatsu, Koichi Uezono, Kousuke Kinoshita, Atsushi Nakata, Yasuyuki Saito, Kazuyuki Oiwa, Terumitsu Sugimoto, Taku Furuta, Noriaki Sasaki, Yukinari Naganishi, Sadaharu Okuda, Kunihiko Yamada
  • Patent number: 11400948
    Abstract: A method for controlling vehicle functions to increase the well-being and/or to increase the attention of at least one vehicle user in a vehicle. A number of vehicle functions are activated when at least one specific user menu is selected. Here, a lead function assigned to the user menu from the number of vehicle functions is predetermined in each case and the time and content processes of the other vehicle functions assigned to the user menu are coordinated with respect to the lead function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Hansjoerg Hofmann, Daniel Muecke, Jan Dassler, Gudrun Schoenherr, Matthias Ulmer
  • Patent number: 11396235
    Abstract: A method for operating a traction power supply system of an electrically-driven transportation vehicle in response to a short circuit, wherein the traction power supply system includes a voltage source and at least two electric drive units connected to the voltage source via respective electrical distribution paths, and wherein at least one electrical isolating element for selective isolation of the voltage source is arranged in the distribution path of each drive unit, wherein, in response to a short circuit in the traction power supply system being detected, the method includes detecting in which distribution path and/or in which drive unit the short circuit is present; operating the traction power supply system in a ready-to-drive state, wherein only that drive unit in which or in the distribution path of which the short circuit is present is isolated from the voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Inventors: Fabian Albrecht, Marcus Sommerfeld
  • Patent number: 11394312
    Abstract: A power module is provided that is configured to supply power to a load. The power module includes a current generator, a current rail, and a magnetic sensor. The current generator is configured to generate a current. The current rail is configured to receive the current and output the current from the power module. The current rail includes a first opening formed therethrough, and the current, while flowing along the current rail in an output direction, produces a magnetic field. The magnetic sensor is disposed in the first opening of the current rail, and is configured to generate a differential sensor signal based on the magnetic field impinging thereon. The current generator is further configured to regulate the current based on the differential sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Inventors: Leo Aichriedler, Gerald Wriessnegger
  • Patent number: 11393225
    Abstract: A system for detecting and resolving an abnormal settling event in a vehicle includes an image sensor and a processing system. The processing system is configured to, upon commencement of a passenger entry into the vehicle, receive image data from the image sensor, process the image data to determine a location of at least one passenger in the cabin, detect that the at least one passenger is located outside of the one or more seats of the vehicle, after a first predetermined time period has elapsed from the commencement of the passenger entry into the vehicle, based on the determined location of the at least one passenger in the cabin, and operate at least one component of the vehicle in a predefined manner in response to detecting that the at least one passenger is located outside of the one or more seats after the first predetermined time period has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Weissert, Davis Barch, Vimalanandan Selva Vinayagam, Govind Rathore, Pranavkumar Masariya
  • Patent number: 11385289
    Abstract: A control device that controls a power supply circuit including a battery, a first relay, and a second relay performs: a sequence process of turning on the second relay after turning on the first relay; a process of measuring an elapsed time until a voltage of a load starts increasing after the second relay has been turned on by performing the sequence process; and a process of determining that the second relay has deteriorated when determination conditions including a condition that the elapsed time is equal to or greater than a prescribed determination value are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hisato Nishida
  • Patent number: 11379007
    Abstract: A transparent display device includes a flexible circuit board, a plurality of lamps, and a plurality of IC components. The flexible circuit board includes lamp fixing portions, a first bending portion, and second bending portions. The lamp fixing portions are spaced apart from each other and arranged in X-axis columns. Each lamp fixing portion extends as a strip along a Y axis. The X axis is perpendicular to the Y axis. Each lamp fixing portion includes an X-axis end edge and a Y-axis side edge. The first bending portion is bent from the end edge of each lamp fixing portion. Each second bending portion is bent from the side edge of one lamp fixing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignees: HONGFUJIN PRECISION ELECTRONICS (ZHENGZHOU) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eddy Liu, Jun-Kang Fang, Wei Wu, Bin Wang
  • Patent number: 11374412
    Abstract: A power source resident in furniture provides power to at least one charging port or socket used to provide power to an electronic device. The furniture may be an articulated furniture having at least one motor. The furniture may have at least one type of switch that manages the power to the charging port. The switch may reduce wasted energy consumption due to heat lost at the charging port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: PARKER HOUSE MFG. CO., INC.
    Inventors: Christopher John Lupo, Lorin Kenneth Rosenthal, Aaron R London, Lindon Alford Baker
  • Patent number: 11370374
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing a supply of power to a communications system in a vehicle. A power management system obtains at least one of schedule information for a party associated with the vehicle or historical data for the communications system is obtained. The power management system controls the supply of power from a power source to the communication system when the vehicle is turned off based on the at least one of the schedule information or the historical data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew L. Wells, Eric Randell Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11368150
    Abstract: A device includes an output circuit configured to drive a gate of a field effect transistor (FET) in response to a drive signal. The FET includes a body diode. Control logic is configured to generate the drive signal to control the output circuit to drive the FET. A measurement circuit is configured to sample a first voltage across the FET in response to a first state of the drive signal and configured to sample a second voltage across the FET in response to a second state of the drive signal. The second state of the drive signal is different from the first state. The control logic is configured to determine a difference between the first voltage and a reference voltage. The control logic is configured to compare the difference to a degradation threshold to determine a level of degradation of the FET. The reference voltage is determined based on the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Gangyao Wang, Xiong Li, Suxuan Guo
  • Patent number: 11355939
    Abstract: A device discharges an intermediate circuit capacitor. The device includes a power converter for supplying electricity to an electrical machine powering a vehicle, having the intermediate circuit capacitor and a discharge device with a series circuit of a controllable switching element and a load resistor, and a high-voltage battery feeding the power converter on the input side. The power converter has a control equipment to control the switching element, depending on a signal state at an input of the control equipment, to perform a fixed predefined number of switching operations, in which the switching element conducts, with a fixed predefined duration and a fixed predefined delay between two successive switching operations. The load resistor and its heat transfer to the power converter are set so that the load resistor is not damaged if a maximum constant voltage of the high-voltage battery is applied during a respective switching operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: VALEO SIEMENS EAUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Rainer Edelhäuser, Thomas Götze
  • Patent number: 11345415
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant detection system and method for using the same. The vehicle occupant detection system includes: a controller; a plurality of life detection sensors, wherein the plurality of life detection sensors are installed within an interior cabin of a mass-transit vehicle and are each associated with a life detection zone; a local warning system having at least one human-machine interface (HMI) output device; and a vehicle interface that communicatively couples the controller to a vehicle electrical system of the mass-transit vehicle. The vehicle occupant detection system is configured to: (i) acquire sensor data by scanning the life detection zone using the plurality of life detection sensors; (ii) determine whether an occupant is present based on the sensor data; and (iii) provide an indication to a user that an occupant is present using the HMI output device when it is determined that an occupant is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: lEE INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS & ENGINEERING S.A.
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Funyak, Bjorn M. Hansson, Oliver Diekmann, Russ Holland