Automobile Patents (Class 307/10.1)
  • Patent number: 11155240
    Abstract: An access arrangement for a vehicle comprises a vehicle-side unlocking device for unlocking a locking mechanism. Furthermore, it comprises a vehicle-side rechargeable electrical energy storage device which is set up to supply the unlocking device with energy independently of the on-board power supply of the vehicle. Moreover, the access arrangement has a vehicle-side energy supply device comprising a first section for receiving wirelessly transmitted energy and for converting the transmitted energy into electrical energy, and a second section for charging the vehicle-side rechargeable electrical energy storage device. In particular, the access arrangement also comprises a vehicle-side authentication device for checking access authorization, which is supplied with energy independently of the on-board power supply by means of the vehicle-side rechargeable electrical energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Emmerling, Annette Hebling, Christine Igl, Georg Käufl, Stefan Hermann, Alexander Heinrich
  • Patent number: 11148537
    Abstract: A method for controlling wireless power transfer (WPT), performed by an electric vehicle (EV) device receiving power from a supply device is provided. The method includes checking service details regarding at least one method for fine positioning and pairing between the supply device and the EV device and selecting a service. Fine positioning is performed with the supply device according to a pairing method associated with the selected service. Additionally, LF pairing is performed based on the selected service; an initial alignment check is performed using pre-charging power transmission; and LPE pairing is performed based on the selected service and a result of the initial alignment check.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Myongji University Industry and Academia Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Jae Yong Seong, Min Ho Shin
  • Patent number: 11148618
    Abstract: A vehicle seat wiring harness system includes a vehicle seat having a wiring bundle connected to at least an electrical motor energized to displace the vehicle seat and a first fixed point. A wire harness chain is positioned between the first fixed point and a second fixed point connected to a vehicle floor member. The wire harness chain includes multiple links individually including a first connecting wall oppositely positioned with respect to a second connecting wall. A longitudinal cavity is defined between the first connecting wall and the second connecting wall of successive ones of the multiple links. Multiple wires are loosely routed through the longitudinal cavity of the wire harness chain and connected to the wiring bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Rami Z. Sayed
  • Patent number: 11146254
    Abstract: To provide a technique to complement overcurrent protection and short circuit protection. An LVIC includes an overcurrent detector configured to detect whether or not a first current flowing through a load and a semiconductor switching element is abnormal and a short-circuit detector configured to detect whether or not a second current flowing not through the load but through the semiconductor switching element is abnormal. The LVIC interrupts the semiconductor switching element based on a detection result of the overcurrent detector and a detection result of the short-circuit detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Sakai
  • Patent number: 11146095
    Abstract: Optimized bus powered peripheral battery charging includes a circuit to initiate a change in an advanced configuration and power interface (ACPI) state in a controller allowing charging of a peripheral device battery, the circuit including a signal converter coupled between an input port and the controller to sense when a the peripheral device battery is coupled to an input port and to restrict the controller from changing ACPI state multiple times for a given peripheral device battery coupling; and a ground loop detector coupled in parallel to the signal converter between the input port and the controller to allow the controller to know that the peripheral device battery has maintained being coupled to the input port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Greg R. Fiebrich, Douglas Messick, Kyle Cross
  • Patent number: 11142151
    Abstract: A power management system for a vehicle includes a high voltage power source configured to provide power to vehicle subsystems, and at least one control module operably coupled to the high voltage power source and configured to receive power demand requests from the vehicle subsystems, and prioritize supply of power from the high voltage power source based on an assigned priority associated with each of the received power demand requests. The assigned priority may vary based on vehicle status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: David Cox, Themi Petridis
  • Patent number: 11135919
    Abstract: A steering wheel control interface module that can automatically detect the type of vehicle it is installed in and automatically detect the type of aftermarket radio it is sending messages to. In addition, the interface module can retain certain user pre-selects and use those to properly set the state of an aftermarket radio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Metra Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Charles David Daly, William H. Jones, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11139717
    Abstract: A power generation system includes: at least one power generating device generating electric power by rotation of an input shaft; and a power storage circuit including at least one capacitor and storing energy of the electric power generated by the power generating device. The power storage circuit has a capacitance equal to or near an energy-maximizing capacitance, the energy-maximizing capacitance indicating a capacitance maximizing an upper limit energy in characteristics of energy to capacitance, the characteristics being calculated as the upper limit energy to be stored in the power storage circuit, with respect to the capacitance of the power storage circuit. The characteristics of energy to capacitance are calculated based on: the capacitance of the power storage circuit, an electromotive force of the power generating device, an internal resistance of the power generating device, and a duration of one power generating action of the power generating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Abe
  • Patent number: 11139653
    Abstract: A system power supply circuit receives an input voltage VIN, and supplies a power supply voltage to multiple load circuits including a microcomputer. Multiple power supply circuits support the multiple load circuits. An abnormality detection circuit generates an abnormality detection signal that is negated when the input voltage VIN is within, and asserted when it deviates from, the first voltage range, and outputs this signal to the microcomputer. The interface circuit can communicate with the microcomputer. The interface circuit receives a control signal generated by the microcomputer in response to abnormality detection signal assertion, and suspends power supply circuit operation of a channel indicated by the control signal. When the input voltage VIN deviates from a second voltage range defined to be wider than the first voltage range, an internal protection circuit suspends at least one power supply circuit of a predetermined channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Fujiwara, Takashi Kimura
  • Patent number: 11133702
    Abstract: In a vehicle power supply system, when a main power supply device is normal, a backup controller turns on a switch circuit and turns off a switch circuit to supply power from the main power supply device to a load unit LD1 and a load unit, and can travel a vehicle in a normal mode which is in a normal driving state. On the other hand, when the main power supply device is abnormal, the backup controller supplies power from the backup battery to the load unit and does not supply power from the backup battery to the load unit by turning on the switch circuit and turning off the switch circuit, and can travel the vehicle in the limit mode in which the functions are more limited than in the normal mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaaki Izawa, Masataka Komiyama, Yuta Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11130413
    Abstract: An electrical machine arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a first electrical machine, a first energy store, which is connected to the first electrical machine for supplying power to the electrical machine, a second electrical machine, a second energy store, which is connected to the second electrical machine, for supplying power to the second electrical machine and which is connected to the first energy store by use of an intermediate circuit, and a coupling element. This coupling element is connected into the intermediate circuit and permits energy to be transmitted from the second energy store to the first energy store and can prevent energy transmission from the first energy store to the second energy store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Dominik Gruber
  • Patent number: 11130457
    Abstract: A power supply circuit includes a power supply switch configured to perform switching between connection and disconnection of an electric power supply path from a power supply to a second controller. The power supply switch is configured to be controlled by a first power supply signal transmitted from a first controller to the power supply circuit. The power supply circuit is configured to bring the power supply switch into a disconnected state to thereby bring the second controller into a stop state, when a prescribed disconnection condition is satisfied, the prescribed disconnection condition including a condition that the first power supply signal is switched from an on signal to an off signal. The second controller is configured to voluntarily enter the stop state or a power saving mode, when the second controller does not enter the stop state even if the disconnection condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Kenji Nakao, Yuho Terai, Tsuyoshi Hirose
  • Patent number: 11130414
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes an electric motor constructed to provide motive power to the utility vehicle; a lithium ion battery pack coupled to the electric motor at a first voltage and operative to provide electrical power at the first voltage to the electric motor for driving the utility vehicle, the lithium ion battery pack including a DC/DC converter constructed to output electrical power at a second voltage; and a vehicle control module (VCM) coupled to the DC/DC converter, constructed to operate at the second voltage and constructed to control at least some operations of the utility vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: CLUB CAR, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Steele, Robert Edwards, John Robbins, Bruce Tenerowicz
  • Patent number: 11130528
    Abstract: A rear paneling for a road vehicle has U-shaped extruded profiles (11, 12) mounted on the crossmember of the road vehicle and runners fit next to the reversing camera (20) for raising the reversing camera (20) over a solid body colliding with the rear paneling (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Ritz, Dominik Thum, Ralf Goebel
  • Patent number: 11127990
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a battery module, and the battery module includes at least one battery cell, a protection circuit module that includes a rigid printed circuit board, and is electrically connected with the battery cell, at least one temperature sensing element provided at a surface of the battery cell, and a flexible printed circuit board that electrically connects the protection circuit module and the temperature sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Helmut Hammerschmied, Maximilian Hofer, Urban Cotic
  • Patent number: 11117538
    Abstract: An electrical assembly includes a support assembly and a track assembly. The support assembly may include a controller, a first safety device, and/or a second safety device. The track assembly may include a first tack and/or a second track. The support assembly may be configured for selective mechanical and/or electrical connection with the track assembly in a first direction and/or in a second direction. The controller may be configured to receive a first signal and/or a second signal from the track assembly. The controller may provide the first signal to the first safety device and/or provide the second signal to the second safety device when the support assembly is connected with the track assembly in the first direction and when the support assembly is connected with the track assembly in the second direction. The first safety device may include an airbag that may be activated by pyrotechnics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Raul Ricart, Antoni Ferré Fàbregas, Esteban Herrera
  • Patent number: 11110815
    Abstract: A method for controlling a mild hybrid electric vehicle may include detecting degradation state of a first battery, determining whether the degradation state of the first battery exceeds a degradation reference value or not, stopping normal operation of a mild hybrid starter & generator (MHSG) if the degradation state of the first battery exceeds a degradation reference value, determining whether an SOC value of a second battery is below a charge reference value or not, and operating the MHSG restrictively and inducing electric power conversion to the second battery if the SOC value of the second battery is below the charge reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Hwa Yong Jang
  • Patent number: 11110890
    Abstract: A method for locking and/or unlocking a vehicle having an input device for a code on the vehicle, via which the vehicle can be locked and/or unlocked, involves requesting the code via a mobile device having a mobile number registered to the respective vehicle with a data server. After the request, the data server generates a current code and send this to the mobile device and to the vehicle. The code can then be input via the input device and compared to the code sent to the vehicle and, should they match, locking and/or unlocking of the vehicle is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: DAIMLER AG
    Inventors: Verena Lutterbeck, Benjamin Burger
  • Patent number: 11104232
    Abstract: An energy supply device for a vehicle having an electric drive, comprising a high-voltage battery having two high-voltage connection contacts and at least one battery string, which is arranged between the high-voltage connection contacts, and at least two string contacts between which the at least one battery string is arranged, and a DC/DC converter, the output side of which provides a low voltage for a low-voltage system of the vehicle and the input side of which is electrically conductively connected to the at least one battery string by way of the two string contacts, wherein the energy supply device is embodied to supply electrical energy to the low-voltage system of the vehicle by way of the at least one battery string in the event of a fault. The invention relates furthermore to a vehicle having an above energy supply device and to a corresponding method for supplying energy for a vehicle having an electric drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jürgen Mittnacht, Marcus Zacher
  • Patent number: 11104240
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes a system main relay attached to an electric power line for motive power and a charging relay attached to a charging electric power line through which a portion of the electric power line for motive power positioned between the system main relay and a drive circuit and a vehicle-side connection portion connected to a station-side connection portion of a direct current charging station are connected to each other. When the vehicle-side connection portion and the station-side connection portion are disconnected from each other while an electric storage device is being charged with electric power from the direct current charging station, diagnosis about double-pole welding abnormality of the charging relay is performed after the charging relay is turned off with the system main relay being in a turned-on state and the system main relay is turned off after the diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akito Motohira, Tomoya Ono, Yuya Aoki, Koichi Kojima, Takeshi Aridome
  • Patent number: 11108248
    Abstract: A power supply system including a low-voltage system and a high-voltage system having the high-voltage battery, that can provide an energy-efficient system of equalization of the high-voltage battery, is provided. The power supply system includes the high-voltage system having the high-voltage battery constituted of a plurality of battery cells, the low-voltage system, an insulation transmission part configured to transmit, in an insulated fashion, energy from each of the battery cells to the low-voltage system individually, and an equalization and transmission processing part configured to measure voltage of each of the battery cells, set a target battery cell to be processed for equalization, and control operation of the insulation transmission part and thereby transmit energy of the target battery cell to the low-voltage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mototatsu Matsunaga, Koichi Uezono
  • Patent number: 11104298
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly module (20) for a motor vehicle (1), comprising an optical sensor system (30) which is suitable a) for monitoring a detection area (21) located outside of the vehicle (1), b) if a user (10) is detected in the detection area (21), for triggering a signal to commence an authentication check between an ID transponder (13) and the motor vehicle (1), c) for monitoring an actuation area (22) which is located outside of the vehicle (1) and which is different from the detection area (21), d) if a user (10) is detected in the actuation area (22), for providing a working signal for the vehicle (1), wherein an emergency actuation means (90) is provided for additionally triggering the working signal, which emergency actuation means is suitable e) for providing a working signal for the vehicle (1) via an activation of the emergency actuation means (90) by a body part (11, 12) of the user (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Iko Lindic, Helmut Schumacher, Norbert Heller, Oliver Müller, Bernd Ette, Nadine Sticherling, Alexander Ziegler, Jean Malabo Yomkil, Stefan Mönig, Mirko Schindler, Christof Hache
  • Patent number: 11097625
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery, an electric power acquirer, a power supply unit, first and second relays, and a controller. The first relay connects and disconnects the battery to and from a power supply line. The second relay connects and disconnects the electric power acquirer to and from the power supply line. The controller executes a first switching control including switching the second relay to a connected state with the first relay kept in a connected state. In the switching of the second relay to the connected state in the first switching control, the controller reduces a difference between a potential of the second relay on the side on which the electric power acquirer is disposed and a potential of the second relay on the side on which the battery is disposed, using electric power inputted from the electric power acquirer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumiyuki Moriya, Yuta Totsuka, Hidehiro Takagi
  • Patent number: 11097675
    Abstract: A vehicular power supply system includes a first power supply mounted on a vehicle, a first power supply line connected to the first power supply and disposed on one side in a width direction or a front-rear direction of the vehicle, a second power supply mounted on the vehicle, that is different from the first power supply, a second power supply line connected to the second power supply and disposed on another side in the width direction or the front-rear direction of the vehicle, a third power supply line in which one end is connected to the first power supply line and another end is connected to the second power supply line, and a power semiconductor that switches between short-circuiting and opening of the third power supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takafumi Toda
  • Patent number: 11091106
    Abstract: A vehicle power network includes a bus providing power to an automotive safety integrity level (ASIL)-rated load and an auxiliary-rated load. The ASIL-rated load includes a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor. The instructions include, to, in response to determining a minimal risk condition (MRC), selectively terminate power to the auxiliary-rated load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Adel Awad Alla, Sami Dagher, Ray C. Siciak
  • Patent number: 11092480
    Abstract: Light obstruction can be detected using a light obstruction sensor. In one example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method includes receiving, by a light obstruction sensor, light being emitted by a light source, a light level being associated with the light, and the light source and the light obstruction sensor being disposed in a light assembly. The method further includes determining, by a processing device, whether the light level exceeds a first threshold. The method further includes, responsive to determining that the light level exceeds the first threshold, determining that the light being emitted by the light source is at least partially impaired by an object. The method further includes validating, by the processing device, the determination that the light source is at least partially impaired by the object to confirm whether the light source is at least partially impaired by the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tynan J. Garrett, Andrew Hicks, Michael P. Lyons, Miles C. Pedrone, Yunli Tang
  • Patent number: 11091042
    Abstract: An electric vehicle drive system, a backup power supply device and a backup power supply method for an electric vehicle drive system are provided. The method includes: converting a voltage on a high voltage DC bus of an electric vehicle into a backup input voltage; determining whether a low voltage battery in the electric vehicle drive system has power supply abnormity; and determining the backup input voltage to be an input voltage of a low voltage power supply circuit in the electric vehicle drive system, in a case that the low voltage battery has power supply abnormity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: SUNGROW POWER SUPPLY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Enli Du, Guoqing Cai, Wenjie Chen
  • Patent number: 11091107
    Abstract: A connection unit includes: a first terminal; a second terminal; a third terminal; a first switch part and a second switch part connected in series between the first terminal and the second terminal; a first diode; and a second diode, wherein the third terminal is connected between the first switch part and the second switch part that are connected in series, the flow of electricity in one direction between the third terminal and at least one of the first terminal and the second terminal is enabled and the flow of electricity in the direction opposite to the one direction is interrupted, by at least one of the first switch part and the second switch part is turned off, and flow of electricity between the first terminal and the second terminal is interrupted in both directions by the first switch part and the second switch part being turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kosei Maekawa
  • Patent number: 11088639
    Abstract: A motor driving device includes a first hysteresis comparator, a second hysteresis comparator, a logic circuit, a control unit, and an inverter circuit. The logic circuit receives a start signal or a start completion signal to output the first output signal as a commutation signal according to the start signal, or to output the second output signal as the commutation signal according to the start completion signal, clamps the second output signal by the first output signal, stops outputting the commutation signal after the potential state of the commutation signal is changed, and unclamps the second output signal with the first output signal and outputs the commutation signal in response to a difference voltage between the first input signal and the second input signal being greater than a positive value of the first hysteresis voltage or less than a negative value of the first hysteresis voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kun-Min Chen, Ching-Shan Lu, Shih-Hai Chien
  • Patent number: 11088578
    Abstract: Embodiments involve rotors for axial flux induction rotating electric machines that use a soft magnetic composite for the rotor core. A first embodiment is directed to a rotor for a rotating electrical machine that transmits magnetic flux parallel to a shaft of the rotor. The rotor includes a rotor winding and a plurality of cores. The rotor winding consists of a solid piece of conductive material that comprises a plurality of cavities. Each core is placed in a respective cavity and comprises a highly resistive isotropic ferromagnetic powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Maxxwell Motors. Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Cunnyngham, Maksym Pryimak
  • Patent number: 11077744
    Abstract: A battery pack has a plurality of unit cells, a casing for accommodating the plurality of unit cells, and a base which is a part of the casing and has a heat dissipation wall and a first side wall disposed so as to be capable of transferring heat to the heat dissipation wall. The battery pack includes a stay disposed on the first side wall in the base and fixed to a vehicle-side member, and a switching device disposed so that released heat can be transferred to the heat dissipation wall or the first side wall. The switching device includes a first switching device and a third switching device having a smaller heating value than the first switching device has. The first switching device is disposed at a position closer to the stay than the third switching device is in planar view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshimitsu Inoue
  • Patent number: 11081412
    Abstract: A semiconductor device of embodiments includes a first semiconductor chip; a metal plate having a first plane and a second plane facing the first plane and including a first ceramic plate provided between the first plane and the second plane; and a first insulating board provided between the first semiconductor chip and the metal plate and facing the first plane, in which the first ceramic plate does not exist between the first semiconductor chip and the second plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventors: Takenori Yamada, Tomohiro Iguchi
  • Patent number: 11081734
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a battery module, and the battery module includes at least one battery cell, a protection circuit module that includes a rigid printed circuit board, and is electrically connected with the battery cell, at least one temperature sensing element provided at a surface of the battery cell, and a flexible printed circuit board that electrically connects the protection circuit module and the temperature sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Helmut Hammerschmied, Maximilian Hofer, Urban Cotic
  • Patent number: 11075394
    Abstract: A drive circuit comprising a DC bus configured to supply power to a load, a first fuel cell coupled to the DC bus and configured to provide a first power output to the DC bus, and a second fuel cell coupled to the DC bus and configured to provide a second power output to the DC bus supplemental to the first fuel cell. The drive circuit further includes an energy storage device coupled to the DC bus and configured to receive energy from the DC bus when a combined output of the first and second fuel cells is greater than a power demand from a load, and provide energy to the DC bus when the combined output of the first and second fuel cells is less than the power demand from the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Dean King, Timothy Gerard Richter
  • Patent number: 11074769
    Abstract: Personal safety concerns for users of vehicles can be indicated, identified, communicated, analyzed, or acted on to make the users and other participants in the technology aware of the safety concerns and to reduce the risks to the users associated with the safety concerns. Personal safety concerns can be recognized based on safety concern triggers. Once recognized, the personal safety concerns can be reported to the users and other participants in the technology by safety alerts. The safety alert can prompt one or more telematics devices at the vehicle to capture, store, or transmit telematics data, including, for example, audio, image, or video data or combinations of them. The captured telematics data can be used to verify the safety alert and the safety concern and present the captured data to a third party participant to enable the third party participant to determine an appropriate response or action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Cambridge Mobile Telematics Inc.
    Inventors: Hari Balakrishnan, Ben Bowne, Lewis David Girod, James E. Hicks, Jr., Samuel Ross Madden, Katherine Wellman
  • Patent number: 11070156
    Abstract: A power system includes: a first power circuit, having a first battery; a second power circuit, having a second battery, wherein a used voltage range of the second battery with respect to a closed circuit voltage overlaps with the first battery, and a static voltage of the second battery is lower than the first battery; a voltage converter, converting a voltage between the power circuits; a power converter, converting power between the first power circuit and a driving motor; and a management ECU and a motor ECU, operating the power converter based on required power. The management ECU and the motor ECU calculates limit power with respect to output power of the first battery based on an internal state of the second battery, and operates the power converter so that the output power of the first battery does not exceed the limit power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Oguma, Naoto Tagaya
  • Patent number: 11070547
    Abstract: An electronic control device, a communication management method performable, and a non-transitory storage medium storing a program are disclosed. The electronic control device is connected to an in-vehicle network and is configured to restrict predetermined communication in the in-vehicle network. The electronic control device includes a key connection unit configured to accept connection of a key device, a key verification unit configured to verify the key device connected to the key connection unit, and a function controller configured to permit the predetermined communication in the in-vehicle network when the verification of the key device using the key verification unit succeeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naoya Koshimae
  • Patent number: 11066866
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling a motor for a speed regulator power window is provided. The motor for the power window is adjusted to operate with a maximum output when a user operates a switch if an external environmental state of a vehicle coincides with a configured reference condition. The output of the motor is adjusted to operate the window at one of a normal speed, a high speed, and a low speed set by the user when the external environmental state of the vehicle does not coincide with the configured reference condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jae Man Song
  • Patent number: 11059439
    Abstract: An in-vehicle power supply device according to the present disclosure includes an input terminal, a charge-discharge circuit connected to the input terminal, a first output terminal connected to the charge-discharge circuit via a first switch unit and a first cut-off unit, a second output terminal connected to the charge-discharge circuit via a second switch unit and a second cut-off unit, and a controller connected to the input terminal, the first output terminal, and the second output terminal. The controller controls the charge-discharge circuit, the first switch unit, the first cut-off unit, the second switch unit, and the second cut-off unit. When the controller detects that a voltage of the first output terminal becomes lower than the first load threshold voltage, the first cut-off unit changes from a connected state to a cut-off state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Youichi Kageyama, Kazuo Takenaka, Yugo Setsu, Hisao Hiragi, Katsunori Atago, Takashi Higashide
  • Patent number: 11062682
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a display device that is visible from a front side, a measurement unit configured to measure a distance between the vehicle and a front vehicle which travels in the same direction as the vehicle, and a display control unit configured to horizontally invert display content on the display device based on the measured distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuya Nishimura, Yoshihiro Oe, Naoki Uenoyama, Hirofumi Kamimaru
  • Patent number: 11052740
    Abstract: An electric vehicle power supply includes a housing, a power supply, and a plurality of fasteners. The housing defines an internal cavity and has inwardly protruding tabs that extend into the cavity. The power assembly has a front cover and an end cover. The power assembly also has an array of electrical switching units arranged horizontally between the front and end covers. The front and end covers have outwardly protruding tabs. Each of the plurality of fasteners extend vertically, engage one inwardly protruding tab, and engage one outwardly protruding tab to secure the power assembly to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Akash Changarankumarath Pradeepkumar, Alfredo R. Munoz, Michael W. Degner, Edward Chan-Jiun Jih, Guangyin Lei
  • Patent number: 11052815
    Abstract: An auxiliary lighting system for an auxiliary device and methods are provided. The auxiliary lighting system senses the operational state of various ones of the vehicle lights of the vehicle and operably controls the operational state of various auxiliary lights based on the operational state of one or more of the vehicle lights. The method includes controlling the auxiliary lighting system based on the operational state of the vehicle lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Sno-Way International, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy G. Koch, Wilhelm F. Von Menze, Jacob R. Brehmer, Terry C. Wendorff
  • Patent number: 11046208
    Abstract: A pre-crash seat actuator system for moving a vehicle seat includes an occupant protection control system that determines a collision is imminent and provides a trigger signal and an enable signal. A vehicle seat controller receives the trigger signal and determines a moving the vehicle seat to a desired position to mitigate severity of a collision. In response to the trigger signal, the vehicle seat controller provides a fast mode voltage for moving the vehicle seat in a fast mode. A smart control adapter determines whether the fast mode voltage and the enable signal are both received, to provide the fast mode voltage to a vehicle seat electric drive. In another embodiment, the vehicle seat controller receives the trigger signal and a collision signal to provide fast mode voltage, and the seat is returned to an original position when a crash does not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Heiko Freienstein, George Marutz, II, Kevin Orava
  • Patent number: 11050373
    Abstract: A rotary electric system includes a rotary electric device that includes: a stator including a stator winding; and a rotor. The stator winding includes: a first coil group that generates a rotating magnetic field to rotate the rotor; and a second coil group that generates power with induced electromotive force due to rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Toshiba Industrial Products and Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuto Sakai
  • Patent number: 11040596
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes an article storage condition acquiring section that acquires a storage condition of an article that is accommodated in a room of a vehicle, and an indoor environment control section that controls an indoor environment of the vehicle by operating an air-conditioning device of the vehicle, and sunshades, based on the storage condition acquired in the article storage condition acquiring section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsuyuki Suzuki, Naoko Imai, Tomoko Shintani
  • Patent number: 11043848
    Abstract: One general aspect includes methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for fault protection of a bidirectional wireless power transfer system. The method includes the actions of detecting, by control circuitry of a wireless power transfer device, a fault for the bidirectional wireless power transfer system. Identifying an operating personality of the wireless power transfer device and a hardware configuration of the wireless power transfer device. Identifying, in response to detecting the fault and based on the operating personality and the hardware configuration, protection operations for protecting the wireless power transfer device from the fault. Controlling operations of the wireless power transfer device according to the protection operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Milisav Danilovic, Bryan Ashworth Esteban, Kinjeo Yeung
  • Patent number: 11038415
    Abstract: In a power supply device, a first switching power supply is disposed in a first power line connecting a receiver for receiving power from an external power supply and the power storage device and converts the power received from the external power supply to supply it to the power storage device. A second switching power supply is disposed in the second power line including a first end connected the first power line at a branch point, and a second end connected to the load device, and converts the power received from the power storage device to supply it to the load device. The first noise removal filter is disposed between the branch point and the power storage device in the first power line. The second noise removal filter is disposed between the branch point and the second switching power supply in the second power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kento Mochizuki, Shuhei Chizuwa
  • Patent number: 11037750
    Abstract: A power distribution box assembly can include a power distribution box housing, a fuse block, and a plurality of eyelet terminals. The fuse block can include a stamped busbar assembly, a plurality of studs, and a housing. The stamped busbar assembly can include a main power supply portion, a plurality of fuse elements, and a plurality of terminal connecting portions coupled to the plurality of fuse elements. Each of the plurality of terminal connecting portions can: (i) extend from its respective fuse element in a terminal direction that is orthogonal to both directions that the main power supply portion and the fuse elements extend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Max Noel Gaitan, Jen Vun Ng, Jeffrey Lixin Liu
  • Patent number: 11030836
    Abstract: A door lock system includes a first circuit performing a first communication to request a response for determining availability of unlocking a door, a second circuit performing a second communication for determining availability of unlocking the door and transmitting a reception result of the second communication to an outside of the door lock system, and a control circuit controlling operations of the first circuit and the second circuit. The control circuit stops one of the first communication and the second communication from being performed in a case where the other one of the first communication and the second communication is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takaaki Koizumi, Yuki Hayashi, Rikako Kotani, Takehiro Tabata
  • Patent number: 11027677
    Abstract: A method to automatically activate at least one cold weather feature of a vehicle includes determining if the vehicle is in a state for activating at least one cold weather feature, and then determining at least one cold weather condition exists for activating at least one cold weather feature. When it is determined that at least one cold weather condition exists the at least one cold weather feature is automatically activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Gary Rushton, Mohannad Murad, Lynn Y. Lau